Asymmetric conjugate addition reactions of Meldrum's acid derived acceptors employing chiral phosphoramidite ligands

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of Et(2)Zn to Meldrum's acid derived acceptors, mediated by a catalyst formed from Cu(O(2)CCF(3))(2) and a phosphoramidite ligand, is reported. Adducts are obtained in useful yields and up to 94% ee.     

The first conjugate addition reaction of terminal alkynes catalytic in copper: conjugate addition of alkynes in water

We document that alkynyl copper reagents generated under aqueous conditions from terminal acetylenes, catalytic Cu(OAc)2, and sodium ascorbate undergo additions to Meldrum's acid-derived Michael acceptors at room temperature (Scheme 1). The additions are not only novel, but also constitute the first example of the conjugate addition reaction of an acetylide catalytic in copper.     

Top down characterization of larger proteins (45 kDa) by electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry.

The structural characterization of proteins expressed from the genome is a major problem in proteomics. The solution to this problem requires the separation of the protein of interest from a complex mixture, the identification of its DNA-predicted sequence, and the characterization of sequencing errors and posttranslational modifications. For this, the "top down" mass spectrometry (MS) approach, extended by the greatly increased protein fragmentation from electron capture dissociation (ECD), has been applied to characterize proteins involved in the biosynthesis of thiamin, Coenzyme A, and the hydroxylation of proline residues in proteins. With Fourier transform (FT) MS, electrospray ionization (ESI) of a complex mixture from an E. coli cell extract gave 102 accurate molecular weight values (2-30 kDa), but none corresponding to the predicted masses of the four desired enzymes for thiamin biosynthesis (GoxB, ThiS, ThiG, and ThiF). MS/MS of one ion species (representing approximately 1% of the mixture) identified it with the DNA-predicted sequence of ThiS, although the predicted and measured molecular weights were different. Further purification yielded a 2-component mixture whose ECD spectrum characterized both proteins simultaneously as ThiS and ThiG, showing an additional N-terminal Met on the 8 kDa ThiS and removal of an N-terminal Met and Ser from the 27 kDa ThiG. For a second system, the molecular weight of the 45 kDa phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase/decarboxylase (CoaBC), an enzyme involved in Coenzyme A biosynthesis, was 131 Da lower than that of the DNA prediction; the ECD spectrum showed that this is due to the removal of the N-terminal Met. For a third system, viral prolyl 4-hydroxylase (26 kDa), ECD showed that multiple molecular ions (+98, +178, etc.) are due to phosphate noncovalent adducts, and MS/MS pinpointed the overall mass discrepancy of 135 Da to removal of the initiation Met (131 Da) and to formation of disulfide bonds (2 x 2 Da) at C32-C49 and C143-C147, although 10 S-S positions were possible. In contrast, "bottom up" proteolysis characterization of the CoaBC and the P4H proteins was relatively unsuccessful. The addition of ECD substantially increases the capabilities of top down FTMS for the detailed structural characterization of large proteins.     

Stereochemically rich pentaketides from bis(isoxazolines): a general strategy for efficient polyketide synthesis

[reaction: see text] A strategy based on diastereoselective dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrile oxides and allylic alcoholates has been applied to the synthesis of bis(isoxazolines) that are precursors to polyketide fragments. These intermediates can be elaborated into protected polyols by chemoselective reductive opening of each isoxazoline sequentially or, alternatively, both simultaneously, potentially providing access to all stereoisomers of this carbon skeleton.     

Zn-alkynylide additions to acyl iminiums

[reaction: see text] A new addition reaction of zinc-alkynylides to N-acyl and N-phosphinoyl iminiums is reported. These can be prepared in situ from imines with acid halides in the presence of a Zn-acetylide. The reaction is general with regard to imine, alkyne, and acid halides, allowing access to a large number of differentially protected propargylic amines.