Partial regularity and singular sets of solutions of higher order parabolic systems

In the present paper we provide a broad survey of the regularity theory for non-differentiable higher order parabolic systems of the type

HgCl2(Caf): Co‐crystallization of Mercuric Chloride and Caffeine

Colourless single crystals of the co‐crystallizate of mercuric chloride and caffeine, HgCl₂(Caf), were obtained from an ethanolic solution of mercuric chloride, HgCl₂, and caffeine (Caf) and recrystallized from hot water. The crystal structure (monoclinic, P2₁, Z = 2, a = 398.36(8), b = 1964.5(4), c = 809.6(2) pm, β = 99.24(3)°, Z = 2, R₁ = 0.0584 for 1430 F_o > 4σ(F_o)) contains helical chains (parallel to the 2₁ screw axis) of almost unaffected HgCl₂ molecules and caffeine molecules which are very weakly bound to one keto‐oxygen atom (O4) of one and N9 of a second caffeine molecule at distances of 282 and 281 pm, respectively. To the contrary, theoretical calculations show that the molecule HgCl₂(Caf)₂ is stable (in the gas phase at T = 0 K) with surprisingly strong bonding as indicated by the “tetrahedrization” of the molecule.     

Enantioselective synthesis of non-natural aromatic alpha-amino acids

We present two complementary methods for the stereoselective synthesis of non-natural alpha-amino acids with aromatic or heteroaromatic side chains. One approach is based on the chemical transformation of methionine, whereas the other applies the stereoselective Myers alkylation of glycine. The resulting product types differ in the linker length between glycine and the aromatic substituent. Since methionine and pseudoephedrine are available in both absolute configurations, R- or S-configured enantiopure amino acids with either C(2) or C(3) linkers can be obtained on gram scales. In each case the key step of the synthesis is hydroboration of the unsaturated building blocks 9 and 17, followed by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling with aryl halides. Attention must in certain cases be paid to the stereochemical integrity when basic Suzuki conditions are applied. Our initial difficulties are reported as well as the final "racemization-proof" procedures. The protecting groups chosen for the alpha-amino acids should be compatible with solid-phase peptide synthesis. This was confirmed by the successful synthesis of a series of tripeptides.     

Facile migratory insertion of a N-heterocyclic carbene into a ruthenium-carbon double bond: a new type of reaction of a NHC ligand

The reaction of [RuCp(IPri)(CH3CN)2]PF6 (IPri = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) with HCCR (R = COOMe, COOEt, COMe) yields the allyl carbene complexes [RuCp(=C(R)-eta3-CHC(R)CH-IPri)]PF6. This conversion involves selective head-to-tail coupling of two alkynes and an unusual migratory insertion of the N-heterocyclic carbene into the ruthenium-carbon double bond of a ruthenacyclopentatriene intermediate.     

Randomizing the Unfolded State of Peptides (and Proteins) by Nearest Neighbor Interactions between Unlike Residues

To explore the influence of nearest neighbors on conformational biases in unfolded peptides, we combined vibrational and 2D NMR spectroscopy to obtain the conformational distributions of selected “GxyG” host–guest peptides in aqueous solution: GDyG, GSyG, GxLG, GxVG, where x/y=A, K, L, V. Large changes of conformational propensities were observed due to nearest‐neighbor interactions, at variance with the isolated pair hypothesis. We found that protonated aspartic acid and serine lose their above‐the‐average preference for turn‐like structures in favor of polyproline II (pPII) populations in the presence of neighbors with bulky side chains. Such residues also decrease the above‐the‐average pPII preference of alanine. These observations suggest that the underlying mechanism involves a disruption of the hydration shell. Thermodynamic analysis of ³J(H^N,H^α) (T) data for each x,y residue reveals that modest changes in the conformational ensemble masks larger changes of enthalpy and entropy governing the pPII?β equilibrium indicating a significant residue dependent temperature dependence of the peptides’ conformational ensembles. These results suggest that nearest‐neighbor interactions between unlike residues act as conformational randomizers close to the enthalpy–entropy compensation temperature, eliminating intrinsic biases in favor of largely balanced pPII/β dominated ensembles at physiological temperatures.     

Stereocontrol in Dinuclear Triple Lithium‐Bridged Titanium(IV) Complexes: Solving Some Stereochemical Mysteries

Compounds 1 a – f ‐H₂ form “monomeric” triscatecholate titanium(IV) complexes [Ti( 1 a – f )₃]^2?, which in the presence of Li cations are in equilibrium with the triple lithium‐bridged “dimers” [Li₃(Ti( 1 a – f )₃)₂]^?. The equilibrium strongly depends on the donor ability of the solvent. Usually, in solvents with high donor ability, the stereochemically labile monomer is preferred, whereas in nondonor solvents, the dimer is the major species. In the latter, the stereochemistry at the complex units is “locked”. The configuration at the titanium(IV) triscatecholates is influenced by addition of chiral ammonium countercations. In this case, the induced stereochemical information at the monomer is transferred to the dimer. Alternatively, the configuration at the metal complexes can be controlled by enantiomerically pure ester side chains. Due to the different orientation of the ester groups in the monomer or dimer, opposite configurations of the triscatecholates were observed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy for [Ti( 1 c – e )₃]^2? or [Li₃(Ti( 1 c – e )₃)₂]^?. A surprising exception was found for the dimer [Li₃(Ti( 1 f )₃)₂]^?. Herein, the dimer is the dominating species in weak donor (methanol), as well as strong donor (DMSO), solvents. This is due to the bulkiness of the ester substituent destabilizing the monomer. Due to the size of the substituent in [Li₃(Ti( 1 f )₃)₂]^? the esters have to adopt an unusual conformation in the dimer resulting in a stereocontrol of the small methyl group. Following this, opposite stereocontrol mechanisms were observed for the central metal‐complex units of [Li₃(Ti( 1 c – e )₃)₂]^? or [Li₃(Ti( 1 f )₃)₂]^?.     

Highly Luminescent and Color‐Tunable Salicylate Ionic Liquids

High quantum yields of up to 40.5 % can be achieved in salicylate‐bearing ionic liquids. A range of these ionic liquids have been synthesized and their photoluminescent properties studied in detail. The differences noted can be related back to the structure of the ionic liquid cation and possible interionic interactions. It is found that shifts of emission, particularly in the pyridinium‐based ionic liquids, can be related to cation–anion pairing interactions. Facile and controlled emission color mixing is demonstrated through combining different ILs, with emission colors ranging from blue to yellow.     

Deracemization By Simultaneous Bio‐oxidative Kinetic Resolution and Stereoinversion

Deracemization, that is, the transformation of a racemate into a single product enantiomer with theoretically 100 % conversion and 100 % ee, is an appealing but also challenging option for asymmetric synthesis. Herein a novel chemo‐enzymatic deracemization concept by a cascade is described: the pathway involves two enantioselective oxidation steps and one non‐stereoselective reduction step, enabling stereoinversion and a simultaneous kinetic resolution. The concept was exemplified for the transformation of rac‐benzylisoquinolines to optically pure (S)‐berbines. The racemic substrates were transformed to optically pure products (ee>97 %) with up to 98 % conversion and up to 88 % yield of isolated product.