High yielding synthesis of 3a-hydroxypyrrolo[2,3-b]indoline dipeptide methyl esters: synthons for expedient introduction of the hydroxypyrroloindoline moiety into larger peptide-based natural products and for the creation of tryptathionine bridges

This work describes a rapid and high yielding oxidation of 14 tryptophanylated amino acid methyl esters to the corresponding 3a-hydroxypyrrolo[2,3-b]indoline (Hpi) amino acids with generally facile separation of syn-cis and anti-cis diastereomers. Structural X-ray diffraction data are presented for both diastereomers of Tr-Hpi-Gly-OMe, which allow for a putative assignment of the other 13 pairs of diastereomers reported herein, based on correlations with 1H NMR chemical shifts. Selective and high yielding deprotection at either the N or C terminus is described, allowing the Hpi motif to be introduced efficiently into potential targets with minimal protecting group manipulation. Two tripeptides containing Hpi and cysteine were prepared and treated with acid in the Savige-Fontana reaction to produce a cyclic tryptathionine linkage, characteristic of both amatoxins and phallotoxins.     

Coupling of an aldehyde or ketone to pyridine mediated by a tungsten imido complex

The reactivity of W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(py)2 and W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(pic)2 (py=pyridine; pic=4-picoline) with unsaturated substrates has been investigated. Treatment of W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(py)2 with diphenylacetylene or 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene generates W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(eta2-PhCCPh) and W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(eta4-CH2=C(Me)C(Me)=CH2), respectively, while the addition of ethylene to W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(py)2 generates the known metallacycle W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(CH2CH2CH2CH2). The addition of 2 equiv of acetone to W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(pic)2 provides the azaoxymetallacycle W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(OCH(Me)2)(OC(Me)2-o-C5H3N-p-Me), the result of acetone insertion into the ortho C-H bond of picoline. Similarily, the addition of 2 equiv of RC(O)H [R=Ph, tBu] to W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(py)2 generates W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(OCH2R)(OCHR-o-C5H4N) [R=Ph, tBu,]. In contrast, reaction between W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(py)2 and 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde yields the diolate W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(OCH(C5H4N)CH(C5H4N)O). The synthesis of W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(PMe3)(py)(eta2-OC(H)C6H4-p-Me), formed by the addition of p-tolualdehyde to a mixture of W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(py)2 and PMe3, suggests that an eta2-aldehyde intermediate is involved in the formation of the azaoxymetallacycle, while the isolation of W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(Cl)(OC(Me)(CMe3)-o-C5H4N), formed by the reaction of pinacolone with W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(py)2, in the presence of adventitious CH2Cl2, suggests that the reaction proceeds via the hydride W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(H)(OC(Me)(CMe3)-o-C5H4N).     

A dimeric constrained‐geometry titanium complex linked by double Ti–CH2–Al–CH2 heterocycles

In the structure of bis({N‐[di­methyl(1η⁵‐2,3,4,6‐tetra­methyl­in­den­yl)­silyl]­cyclo­hexyl­amido‐1κN}(methyl‐3κC)‐di‐μ₃‐methyl­ene‐1:2:3κ³C;1:3:3′κ³C‐tris(pentafluorophenyl‐2κC)titanium) benzene disolvate, [Me₂Si(η⁵‐2,3,4,6‐Me₄C₉H₂)(C₆H₁₁N)]Ti[(μ₃‐CH₂)Al(C₆F₅)₃][AlMe(μ₃‐CH₂)]₂ or [Ti₂(C₂₁H₇AlF₁₅)₂(C₂₁H₃₁NSi)₂]·2C₆D₆, the dimer is located on an inversion center, and the two Ti centers are linked by double Ti(μ₃‐CH₂)Al(C₆F₅)₃AlMe(μ₃‐CH₂) heterocycles. The electron‐deficient Ti centers are further stabilized by two α‐agostic interactions between Ti and one H atom of each bridging methyl­ene group.     

Improved procedure for the synthesis of thiazolium-type peptide coupling reagents: BMTB as a new efficient reagent

An efficient scalable synthesis of 2-halothiazolium-type peptide coupling reagents has been developed. The key step is the formation of the 2-bromothiazole scaffold through cyclization of α-thiocyanato ketones with hydrogen bromide. Using this method, the new coupling reagent 2-bromo-N-methylthiazolium bromide (BMTB) was synthesized. BMTB was tested in a difficult model coupling reaction of two sterically hindered N-methylated amino acids and showed higher activity than the well-established peptide coupling reagent HATU.     

Limit on right handed weak coupling parameters from inelastic neutrino interactions

Right handed weak quark currents coupled to the usual left handed weak lepton current would be seen in inclusive antineutrino scattering on nuclei as a contribution at largey with the quark (not antiquark) structure function. We do not see such a term, and can therefore put an upper limit on the relative strengths of such right handed currents: \(\varrho ^2 = \frac{{\sigma _R }}{{\sigma _L }}< 0.009\) , 90% confidence. This measurement puts limits on the mixing angle of left-right symmetric models. In distinction to similar limits derived from muon decay or β decay, our limits are also valid if the right handed neutrino is heavy.     

Mn12O12(OMe)2(O2CPh)16(H2O)2]2- single-molecule magnets and other manganese compounds from a reductive aggregation procedure

A new synthetic procedure has been developed in Mn cluster chemistry involving reductive aggregation of permanganate (MnO4-) ions in MeOH in the presence of benzoic acid, and the first products from its use are described. The reductive aggregation of NBu(n)4MnO4 in MeOH/benzoic acid gave the new 4Mn(IV), 8Mn(III) anion [Mn12O12(OMe)2(O2CPh)16(H2O)2]2-, which was isolated as a mixture of two crystal forms (NBu(n)4)2[Mn12O12(OMe)2(O2CPh)16(H2O)2].2H2O.4CH2Cl2 (1a) and (NBu(n)4)2[Mn12O12(OMe)2(O2CPh)16(H2O)2].2H2O.CH2Cl2 (1b). The anion of 1 contains a central [Mn(IV)4(mu3-O)2(mu-O)2(mu-OMe)2]6+ unit surrounded by a nonplanar ring of eight Mn(III) atoms that are connected to the central Mn4 unit by eight bridging mu3-O2- ions. This compound is very similar to the well-known [Mn12O12(O2CR)16(H2O)4] complexes (hereafter called "normal Mn12"), with the main difference being the structure of the central cores. Longer reaction times (approximately 2 weeks) led to isolation of polymeric [Mn(OMe)(O2CPh)2]n2, which contains a linear chain of repeating [Mn(III)(mu-O2CPh)2(mu-OMe)Mn(III)] units. The chains are parallel to each other and interact weakly through pi-stacking between the benzoate rings. When KMnO4 was used instead of NBu(n)4MnO4, two types of compounds were obtained, [Mn12O12(O2CPh)16(H2O)4] (3), a normal Mn12 complex, and [Mn4O2(O2CPh)8(MeOH)4].2MeOH (4.2MeOH), a new member of the Mn4 butterfly family. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 exhibits three irreversible processes, two reductions and one oxidation. One-electron reduction of 1 by treatment with 1 equiv of I- in CH2Cl2 gave (NBu(n)4[Mn12O12(O2CPh)16(H2O)3].6CH2Cl2 (5.6CH2Cl2), a normal Mn12 complex in a one-electron reduced state. The variable-temperature magnetic properties of 1, 2, and 5 were studied by both direct current (dc) and alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements. Variable-temperature dc magnetic susceptibility studies revealed that (i) complex 1 possesses an S = 6 ground state, (ii) complex 2 contains antiferromagnetically coupled chains, and (iii) complex 5 is a typical [Mn12]- cluster with an S = 19/2 ground state. Variable-temperature ac susceptibility measurements suggested that 5 and both isomeric forms of 1 (1a,b) are single-molecule magnets (SMMs). This was confirmed by the observation of hysteresis loops in magnetization vs dc field scans. In addition, 1a,b, like normal Mn12 clusters, display both faster and slower relaxing magnetization dynamics that are assigned to the presence of Jahn-Teller isomerism.     

Insertion Reactions of Carbon Disulfide into Mg‐C and Mg‐N Bonds: Syntheses and Structural Determinations of Mg(S2CY)2(THF)n(Y=NEt2, NiPr2, iPr,Ph) and BrMg(S2CZ)(THF)3(Z=Ph,iPr)

The insertion reaction of CS₂ with Mg(NR₂)₂ (R= Et, ⁱPr), MgR′₂ (R′= Et, Ph) and R″MgBr (R″= ⁱPr, Ph) respectively lead solid products, Mg(S₂CNR₂)₂(THF)_n ( 1 : R= Et, n=2; 2 : R= ⁱPr, n=1), Mg(S₂C′R)₂(THF)₂ ( 3 : ′R= Et, 4 : ′R= Ph), BrMg(S₂C″R) (THF)₃ ( 5 : ″R= ⁱPr, 6 : ″R= Ph) in which the inserted carbon disulfides act as terminal chelating ligands. These compounds were characterized with ¹H, ¹³C NMR, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and X‐ray crystallography.     

Formation of Metallo-6(A)-((2-(bis(2-aminoethyl)amino)ethyl)amino)-6(A)-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrins and Their Complexation of Tryptophan in Aqueous Solution

A pH titration study shows that 6(A)-((2-(bis(2-aminoethyl)amino)ethyl)amino)-6(A)-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin (betaCDtren) forms binary metallocyclodextrins, [M(betaCDtren)](2+), for which log(K/dm(3) mol(-)(1)) = 11.65 +/- 0.06, 17.29 +/- 0.05, and 12.25 +/- 0.03, respectively, when M(2+) = Ni(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+), where K is the stability constant in aqueous solution at 298.2 K and I = 0.10 mol dm(-)(3) (NaClO(4)). The ternary metallocyclodextrins [M(betaCDtren)Trp](+), where Trp(-) is the tryptophan anion, are characterized by log(K/dm(3) mol(-)(1)) = 8.2 +/- 0.2 and 8.1 +/- 0.2, 9.5 +/- 0.3 and 9.4 +/- 0.2, and 8.1 +/- 0.1 and 8.3 +/- 0.1, respectively, where the first and second values represent the stepwise stability constants for the complexation of (R)- and (S)-Trp(-), respectively, when M(2+) = Ni(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+). From comparisons of stabilities and UV-visible spectra, the binary and ternary metallocyclodextrins appear to be six-coordinate when M(2+) = Ni(2+) and Zn(2+) and five-coordinate when M(2+) = Cu(2+). The factors affecting the stoichiometries and stabilities of the metallocyclodextrins, are discussed and comparisons are made with related systems.     

Intra- and intermolecular complexation in C6 monoazacoronand substituted cyclodextrins

The preparation of 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-(6-(2-(1,4,7,10-tetraoxa-13-azacyclopentadecan-13-yl)acetamido)hexylamino)-alpha-cyclodextrin, 3, 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-(6-(2-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxa-16-azacyclooctadecan-16-yl)acetamido)hexylamino)-alpha-cyclodextrin, 4, and their beta-cyclodextrin analogues, 5 and 6, are described. (1)H (600 MHz) ROESY NMR spectra of the C(6) substituted beta-cyclodextrins, 5 and 6, are consistent with the intramolecular complexation of their azacyclopentadecanyl- and azacyclooctadecanyl(acetamido)hexylamino substituents in the beta-cyclodextrin annulus in D(2)O at pD = 8.5 whereas those of their alpha-cyclodextrin analogues, 3 and 4 are not complexed in the alpha-cyclodextrin annulus. This is attributed to the monoazacoronand components of the substituents being able to pass through the beta-cyclodextrin annulus whereas they are too large to pass through the alpha-cyclodextrin annulus. However, the substituents of 3 and 4 are intermolecularly complexed by beta-cyclodextrin to form pseudo [2]-rotaxanes. Metallocyclodextrins are formed by 5 through complexation by the monoazacoronand substituent component for which log (K/dm(3) mol(-1))= <2, 6.34 and 5.38 for Ca(2+), Zn(2+) and La(3+), respectively, in aqueous solution at 298.2 K and I= 0.10 mol dm(-3)(NEt(4)ClO(4)).     

Efficient Oxidation of Cyclohexane over Bulk Nickel Oxide under Mild Conditions

Nickel oxide powder was prepared by simple calcination of nickel nitrate hexahydrate at 500 °C for 5 h and used as a catalyst for the oxidation of cyclohexane to produce the cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol—KA oil. Molecular oxygen (O₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), t-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) and meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) were evaluated as oxidizing agents under different conditions. m-CPBA exhibited higher catalytic activity compared to other oxidants. Using 1.5 equivalent of m-CPBA as an oxygen donor agent for 24 h at 70 °C, in acetonitrile as a solvent, NiO powder showed exceptional catalytic activity for the oxidation of cyclohexane to produce KA oil. Compared to different catalytic systems reported in the literature, for the first time, about 85% of cyclohexane was converted to products, with 99% KA oil selectivity, including around 87% and 13% selectivity toward cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, respectively. The reusability of NiO catalyst was also investigated. During four successive cycles, the conversion of cyclohexane and the selectivity toward cyclohexanone were decreased progressively to 63% and 60%, respectively, while the selectivity toward cyclohexanol was increased gradually to 40%.