Gas-phase reactions of charged phenyl radicals with neutral biomolecules evaporated by laser-induced acoustic desorption

A generally applicable method for the study of phenyl radicals' reactions with neutral biomolecules in the gas phase is demonstrated. Neutral biomolecules were evaporated into a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR) by means of laser-induced acoustic desorption (LIAD) and subsequently reacted with trapped charged phenyl radicals. The structural integrity of the evaporated alanylalanine molecules was verified by reaction with dichlorophosphenium ions. Examination of the reactions of charged phenyl radicals with alanylalanine and thymidine evaporated via LIAD revealed hydrogen atom abstraction for both alanylalanine and thymidine as well as an addition/elimination product for the reaction with thymidine. These reactions are consistent with the results obtained by others in solution. Further, a previously unstudied reaction of the nucleotide of thymine (T1) with charged phenyl radical was found to yield analogous products as the reaction with thymidine.     

An efficient ionic liquid mediated synthesis of substituted 5H[1,3]-thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazoline-3,5-(2H)-dione and 5H-thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-5-one

A new, environmentally benign two-step synthesis of 5H[1,3]-thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazoline-3,5-(2H)-dione and 5H-thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-5-one derivatives has been accomplished stepwise. The substituted 2-aminobenzoic acid upon condensation with thiourea in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide at moderate temperature under nitrogen atmosphere yielded 2-thioxo-1H-4-quinazolinones. The resulting intermediate 2-thioxo-1H-4-quinazolinones, when reacted with 2-chloroethanoic acid/2-chloropropanal underwent cyclization to yield the desired product in excellent yields.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of cytotoxic taiwaniaquinones A and F

The first synthesis of cytotoxic (-)-taiwaniaquinone A and (-)-taiwaniaquinone F has been achieved through the intramolecular aldol condensation of a ketoaldehyde and the oxidative cleavage of an isopropylidene ketal.     

Nickel-mediated cross-coupling via C–O activation assisted by organoaluminum

We report the alkylation and arylation cross-coupling of aryl ethers based on C–O bond activation using a nickel catalyst and organoaluminum reagents. Ni(cod)₂ in combination with 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane ligand in toluene solution at 130°C are the best conditions. The naphthyl ether or methoxy pyridine derivatives are suitable substrates for alkylation and arylation reaction with a wider scope of aluminum reagents in good yields. Computational analysis on the pyridine substrate is provided to help delineate the mechanistic pathway and demonstrate the important aspects of the cooperative interaction bimetallic catalysis. First, the coordination of AlMe₃ to the O atom of pyridine is essential for C–O activation. Second, the β-H transfer from methoxy to pyridine could be discouraged through the use of bidentate phosphine as a ligand. Finally, excess AlMe₃ reagent is critical for facilitating a reductive elimination process.     

The Effect of Number of Arms on the Aggregation Behavior of Thermoresponsive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Star Polymers

The thermoresponsive nature of aqueous solutions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM) star polymers containing 2, 3, 4, and 6 arms has been investigated by turbidity, dynamic light scattering, rheology, and rheo-SALS. Simulations of the thermosensitive nature of the single star polymers have also been conducted. Some of the samples form aggregates even at temperatures significantly below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAAM. Increasing concentration and number of arms promotes associations at low temperatures. When the temperature is raised, there is a competition between size increase due to enhanced aggregation and a size reduction caused by contraction. Monte Carlo simulations show that the single stars contract with increasing temperature, and that this contraction is more pronounced when the number of arms is increased. Some samples exhibit a minimum in the turbidity data after the initial increase at the cloud point. The combined rheology and rheo-SALS data suggest that this is due to a fragmentation of the aggregates followed by re-aggregation at even higher temperatures. Although the 6-arm star polymer aggregates more than the other stars at low temperatures, the more compact structure renders it less prone to aggregation at temperatures above the cloud point.     

Eta3-pyranyl and eta3-pyridinyl molybdenum pi-complexes as chiral scaffolds for the enantioselective construction of substituted oxa- and aza[3.3.1]bicyclics: first enantio- and regiocontrolled [5+3] cycloaddition reactions

The first Mo-mediated [5+3] cycloadditions are reported. 3-Substituted pyranyl and pyridinyl molybdenum pi-complexes participate in enantiocontrolled [5+3] cycloadditions and provide a new and efficient synthetic approach to oxa- and aza[3.3.1]bicyclics of high enantiomeric purity. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields and with complete regio- and endo-selectivities; it diverts to a [2+3] cycloaddition pathway when 2-substituted heterocycle pi-complexes are used. This methodology, coupled with a variety of general demetalation protocols, holds much promise in synthetic applications.     

Stereoselective synthesis of hex-2-(E)-en-4-yn-1,6-dioates and E,Z-muconic acid diesters via organo-catalyzed self-coupling of propiolates

Alkyl propiolate couples with itself in the presence of catalytic DABCO under very mild conditions to provide a quantitative yield of E-hex-2-en-4-yne dioates. Hydrogenation of these enyne dioates using Lindlar catalyst provides the corresponding E,Z-diene dioate, a common structural motif found in an array of natural products.     

Cleavage of oximes using a solid supported hypervalent organoiodine reagent

A facile and efficient oxidative cleavage of oximes to form carbonyl compounds is reported using phenyl iodonium (III) diacetate (PIDA) and polymer supported polydiacetoxyiodostyrene. Regeneration of carbonyl compounds from corresponding oximes is an important reaction, since oxime derivatives constitute one of the primary methods for purification and characterization of carbonyl compounds. This process overcomes many of the disadvantages associated with other oxidative methods such as long reaction times, difficulties in isolation of products and formation of over oxidized products.     

Addition of S-H bonds across electron-deficient olefins catalyzed by well-defined copper(I) thiolate complexes

A series of monomeric (NHC)Cu(SR) (R = Ph or CH2Ph; NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized including single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. These complexes catalyze the addition of S-H bonds across electron-deficient olefins to regioselectively produce "anti-Markovnikov" products.     

Coulomb and overlap self-similarities: a comparative selectivity analysis of structure-function relationships for auxin-like molecules

Auxins are defined mainly by a set of physiological actions, but the structure-effect relationship still is based on chemical intuition. Currently a well-defined auxin molecular structure is not available. The existence of different auxin binding proteins and mechanisms of auxin action, the wide diversity of the auxin molecules, and the pleiotropic effects of auxin imply a completely different mechanism as described for the animal hormone concept. Here, we present a computational approach dealing with semiempirical optimizations of the auxin molecules themselves, which represent a number of about 250 different chemical structures. Our approach uses molecular quantum similarity measures and additional quantum variables for the analysis of auxin-like molecules. The finding of similarities in molecules by focusing basically on their electron structure results in new insights in the relationship of the different auxin groups. Additional statistical analysis allows the identification of relationships between similarity groups and their biological activity, respectively. It is postulated that the auxin-like molecular recognition depends more on specific molecular assembling states than on a specific ring system or side chain.