CO2 to Terpenes: Autotrophic and Electroautotrophic α‐Humulene Production with Cupriavidus necator

We show that CO₂ can be converted by an engineered “Knallgas” bacterium (Cupriavidus necator) into the terpene α‐humulene. Heterologous expression of the mevalonate pathway and α‐humulene synthase resulted in the production of approximately 10 mg α‐humulene per gram cell dry mass (CDW) under heterotrophic conditions. This first example of chemolithoautotrophic production of a terpene from carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen is a promising starting point for the production of different high‐value terpene compounds from abundant and simple raw materials. Furthermore, the production system was used to produce 17 mg α‐humulene per gram CDW from CO₂ and electrical energy in microbial electrosynthesis (MES) mode. Given that the system can convert CO₂ by using electrical energy from solar energy, it opens a new route to artificial photosynthetic systems.     

Electronic structure study of thermal intraconversions of some dicyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic compounds

The electronic structure of dicyclopenta[de,mn]anthracene (P1), dicyclopenta[ de,kl]anthracene (P2), and dicyclopenta[jk,mn]phenanthrene (P3) and their mutual isomerization processes are investigated using density functional theory. Two mechanisms for the thermal intraconversion of P1 to P2 were found. The first mechanism occurs via ethynylaceanthrylene (I0), and the second involves a 1,2-hydrogen shift. It is supposed that I0 is initially formed during the flash vacuum pyrolysis experiments, eventually rearranging to P2 on high temperatures. The energetics of the latter mechanism also indicate that P1 isomerizes to P2. The mechanism for a transformation of P2 to P3 is based on a ring contraction/ring conversion process and requires extremely high temperatures. Our investigation is in accord with the experimental results: unsuccessful synthesis of P1, stability of P2 at high temperature, and formation of P3 under extreme temperature regime.     

Comparing the stability of tribenzo[ b , n , pqr ]perylene and tribenzo[ b , k , pqr ]perylene

Two isomeric benzenoid hydrocarbons – tribenzo[b,n,pqr]perylene and tribenzo[b,k,pqr]perylene played a crucial role in the formulation of the Clar aromatic sextet theory. The basic assumption of this theory is that tribenzo[b,n,pqr]perylene is more stable than tribenzo[b,k,pqr]perylene because the former has five, whereas the latter only four aromatic sextets. We now approach this stability problem from a different direction. By means of a recently developed molecular-orbital-based method it is possible to estimate the energy effects of individual cycles, as well as pairs, triplets, etc. of cycles in polycyclic conjugated molecules. From these energy-effects one can better understand which structural details are responsible for the thermodynamic stability of the underlying molecule. In particular, it is possible to rationalize (in a quantitative manner) the causes of differences in the thermodynamic stability of isomers. Our analysis corroborates the conclusion of Clar theory, but points out a number of hitherto overlooked structure-stability connections. Correspondence: Ivan Gutman, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, P.O. Box 60, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.     

Systematische Studie zu den Koordinationseigenschaften des Guanidin‐Liganden N1,N2‐Bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐yliden)‐ethan‐1,2‐diamin mit den Metallen Mn,Co, Ni,Ag und Cu

A Systematic Study on the Coordination Properties of the Guanidine Ligand N¹,N²‐Bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)‐ethane‐1,2‐diamine with the Metals Mn, Co, Ni, Ag and Cu The syntheses and characterization of the compounds [Mn(DMEG₂e)Cl₂] ( 1 ), [Co(DMEG₂e)Cl₂] ( 2 ), [Ni(DMEG₂e)₂]I₂ ( 3 ), [Cu(DMEG₂e)I] ( 4 ) and {[Ag(DMEG₂e)]BF₄}_n ( 5 ) with the bisguanidine ligand N¹,N²‐bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (DMEG₂e) are described. All complexes are synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding metal salt with the DMEG₂e ligand in MeCN or THF. The coordination of the metal atoms vary from a distorted tetrahedron in 1 and 2 , a distorted trigonal planar coordination in 4 to linear coordination in 5 . Contrasting to the compounds 1 , 2 , 4 and 5 which exhibit a 1:1 ratio of metal to ligand, two DMEG₂e ligands are bound to the Ni atom in the case of 3 resulting in a coordination polyhedron which represents the stage exactly in the middle between the square‐planar and the tetrahedral geometry. Whereas crystals of 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 contain discrete molecules, in 5 the Ag atoms are alternately linked by two different DMEG₂e ligands to form a chain structure. The comparative discussion of several DMEG₂e containing complexes with the compounds reported herein supplements this systematic study.     

Synthetic Matching of Complex Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Chemical Space

Monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) are endowed with high structural and spatial complexity and characterized by diverse biological activities. Given this complexity-activity combination in MIAs, rapid and efficient access to chemical matter related to and with complexity similar to these alkaloids would be highly desirable, since such compound classes might display novel bioactivity. We describe the design and synthesis of a pseudo-natural product (pseudo-NP) collection obtained by the unprecedented combination of MIA fragments through complexity-generating transformations, resulting in arrangements not currently accessible by biosynthetic pathways. Cheminformatic analyses revealed that both the pseudo-NPs and the MIAs reside in a unique and common area of chemical space with high spatial complexity-density that is only sparsely populated by other natural products and drugs. Investigation of bioactivity guided by morphological profiling identified pseudo-NPs that inhibit DNA synthesis and modulate tubulin. These results demonstrate that the pseudo-NP collection occupies similar biologically relevant chemical space that Nature has endowed MIAs with.     

Synthesis and light gas separations in cross-linked gemini room temperature ionic liquid polymer membranes

Cross-linkable gemini room temperature ionic liquids (GRTILs) were synthesized and photo-cross-linked into thin films. The resultant polymer membranes were tested for their permeabilities to CO₂, N₂, CH₄ and H₂. Permeabilities for each gas were found to be much lower when compared to previously reported poly(RTIL) membranes, mainly as a result of highly restricted diffusion. Separation factors were similar to previously studied poly(RTIL) membranes. CH₄ and N₂ fluxes were small enough to consider these membranes as “barrier” films to the transport of those gases. Poly(GRTILs) may have use in applications where flow of those gases is not desirable.     

Metabolic Tumor Imaging with Rapidly Signal-Enhanced 1-13C-Pyruvate-d3

The metabolism of malignant cells differs significantly from that of healthy cells and thus, it is possible to perform metabolic imaging to reveal not only the exact location of a tumor, but also intratumoral areas of high metabolic activity. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of metabolic tumor imaging using signal-enhanced 1-¹³C-pyruvate-d₃, which is rapidly enhanced via para-hydrogen, and thus, the signal is amplified by several orders of magnitudes in less than a minute. Using as a model, human melanoma xenografts injected with signal-enhanced 1-¹³C-pyruvate-d3, we show that the conversion of pyruvate into lactate can be monitored along with its kinetics, which could pave the way for rapidly detecting and monitoring changes in tumor metabolism.     

Optical response of the Cu2S2 diamond core in (NGuaS)2Cl2

Density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT calculations are presented for the dicopper thiolate complex Cu₂(NGuaS)₂Cl₂ [NGuaS=2‐(1,1,3,3‐tetramethylguanidino) benzenethiolate] with a special focus on the bonding mechanism of the Cu₂S₂Cl₂ core and the spectroscopic response. This complex is relevant for the understanding of dicopper redox centers, for example, the Cu_A center. Its UV/Vis absorption is theoretically studied and found to be similar to other structural Cu_A models. The spectrum can be roughly divided in the known regions of metal d‐d absorptions and metal to ligand charge transfer regions. Nevertheless the chloride ions play an important role as electron donors, with the thiolate groups as electron acceptors. The bonding mechanism is dissected by means of charge decomposition analysis which reveals the large covalency of the Cu₂S₂ diamond core mediated between Cu and S‐S π and π* orbitals forming Cu‐S σ bonds. Measured resonant Raman spectra are shown for 360‐ and 720‐nm excitation wavelength and interpreted using the calculated vibrational eigenmodes and frequencies. The calculations help to rationalize the varying resonant behavior at different optical excitations. Especially the phenylene rings are only resonant for 720 nm. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.