Development of a capillary electrophoretic method for the separation of diastereoisomers of a new human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor

A capillary electrophoretic (CE) method was developed for the separation of diastereoisomers of a new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor TMC114. In total 16 isomers of this drug have been synthesized (eight pairs of enantiomers). We succeeded in the separation of the eight diastereoisomers, but no enantiomers could be separated. Because of the high similarity and water-insolubility of these isomers, the separation is a real challenge. Different CE modes were tried out: capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE), micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC), and microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEEKC). Only MEEKC offered resolution of these compounds.     

The solid-phase Nicholas reaction: scope and limitations

Two libraries of alpha-substituted alkynes has been prepared on solid phase using a sequential Sonogashira/Nicholas reaction approach. The scope of nucleophiles in the Nicholas reaction on solid phase has been investigated, including carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, fluoride, and hydride nucleophiles. The conditions for the reaction sequence have been optimized in terms of Lewis acid, catalyst for the Sonogashira step, temperature, reaction time, and decomplexation method, enabling the five-step sequence to be performed in 1 day.     

Direct Addition of Grignard Reagents to Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids Enabled by Bulky turbo-Organomagnesium Anilides

The synthesis of ketones through addition of organometallic reagents to aliphatic carboxylic acids is a straightforward strategy that is limited to organolithium reagents. More desirable Grignard reagents can be activated and controlled with a bulky aniline-derived turbo-Hauser base. This operationally simple procedure allows the straightforward preparation of a variety of aliphatic and perfluoroalkyl ketones alike from functionalized alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl Grignard reagents.     

Pyrimidoquinazolinophenanthroline Opens Next Chapter in Design of Bridging Ligands for Artificial Photosynthesis**

The synthesis and detailed characterization of a new Ru polypyridine complex containing a heteroditopic bridging ligand with previously unexplored metal-metal distances is presented. Due to the twisted geometry of the novel ligand, the resultant division of the ligand in two distinct subunits leads to steady state as well as excited state properties of the corresponding mononuclear Ru(II) polypyridine complex resembling those of prototype [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine). The localization of the initially optically excited and the nature of the long-lived excited states on the Ru-facing ligand spheres is evaluated by resonance Raman and fs-TA spectroscopy, respectively, and supported by DFT and TDDFT calculations. Coordination of a second metal (Zn or Rh) to the available bis-pyrimidyl-like coordination sphere strongly influences the frontier orbitals, apparent by, for example, luminescence quenching. Thus, the new bridging ligand motif offers electronic properties, which can be adjusted by the nature of the second metal center. Using the heterodinuclear Ru−Rh complex, visible light-driven reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH was achieved, highlighting the potential of this system for photocatalytic applications.     

Three Inter‐Alkali Metal Acetylides: KNaC2, KRbC2, and NaRbC2: Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and Structural Systematics

Three alkali metal acetylides, namely KNaC₂, KRbC₂, and NaRbC₂, were synthesized and characterized by means of X‐ray powder diffraction. KNaC₂ and KRbC₂ crystallize as a variant of the anti‐PbCl₂‐type structure (Pnma, Z = 4), whereas NaRbC₂ crystallizes as a variant of the anti‐PbFCl‐type structure (Pmmn, Z = 2). Based on a simple systematic approach developed by Sabrowsky et al. for inter‐alkali metal chalcogenides all known inter‐alkali metal acetylides can be classified into two classes: variants of the anti‐PbCl₂ type structure and variants of the anti‐PbFCl type structure. Acetylides with Q(ABC₂) ≤ 1.45 crystallize in the anti‐PbCl₂‐type structure, whereas for Q(ABC₂) > 1.45 the anti‐PbFCl‐type structure is found (Q(ABC₂) = V_m(A₂C₂)/V_m(B₂C₂) with V_m(A₂C₂) > V_m(B₂C₂); V_m: molar volume, A, B = alkali metals).     

Control of reaction mechanisms in cationically polymerized epoxy resins facilitates the adjustment of morphology and mechanical properties

Structure–property relations of cationically polymerized epoxy thermosets with different morphologies are examined. The morphology adjustment of amorphous epoxy based copolymers and partially crystalline polymer alloys is carried out with star‐shaped poly(ε‐caprolactone) (SPCL) bearing various numbers of hydroxyl end groups. These hydroxyl groups are known for their reactivity toward epoxides following the activated monomer (AM) mechanism. For this reason, four‐armed SPCL was synthesized with four hydroxyl end groups (SPCL‐tetraol) and, in addition, with successively esterified ones down to a SPCL with four ester end groups (SPCL‐tetraester). SPCL species bearing fewer or no hydroxyl end groups segregate into needle‐like nanodomains within the epoxy networks and, if the concentration is high enough, also into crystalline domains. The stronger phase separation of SPCL‐tetraester within the epoxy network compared with SPCL‐tetraol is due to a reduction of the AM mechanism. The mechanical properties resulting from different morphologies lead to a trade‐off between higher storage moduli and T_g values in the case of the more phase separated (and partially crystalline) polymer alloys and higher strain at break in the case of the amorphous copolymers. Nevertheless, in both cases toughness is improved or at least kept on the same level as for the pure epoxy resin. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2188–2199     

The sixteen CB(11)H(n)Me(12-n)(-) anions with fivefold substitution symmetry: anodic oxidation and electronic structure

The 15 symmetrically methylated derivatives of the CB11H12(-) anion (1a) have been synthesized and found to vary greatly in ease of oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry in liquid SO2 yielded fully reversible oxidation potentials for five of those that have no adjacent unsubstituted vertices in positions 7-12; three others showed some indication of reversibility. The anions 1a-16a and the Jahn-Teller distorted neutral radicals 1r-16r have been characterized by ab initio and density functional theory calculations. In the state average CASSCF(13,12)/6-31+G* approximation, the ground state potential energy surface of 1r contains five symmetry-related pairs of minima. The computational results account for the reversible redox potentials very well when the solvent is included explicitly (RI-DFT(BP)/TZVP, COSMO). For display and for a semiquantitative understanding of methyl substituent effects in terms of perturbation theory, the molecular orbitals of 1a have been expressed in the symmetry-adapted cluster basis. The results serve as an underpinning for a set of additive empirical increments for redox potential prediction. Relative to the usual hydrogen standard, a single methyl group facilitates oxidation by approximately 50, 70, 70, and 10 mV in positions 1, 2, 7, and 12, respectively. This electron donor effect on the redox potential is due to a contribution, whereas those of (inductive and direct field) type are negligible.     

Perovskites as Precursors for Ni/La2O3 Catalysts in the Dry Reforming of Methane: Synthesis by Constant pH Co‐Precipitation,Reduction Mechanism and Effect of Ru‐Doping

LaNiO₃ perovskite is an interesting precursor for Ni/La₂O₃ catalysts for the dry reforming of methane at high temperatures. Precursors have been synthesized by co‐precipitation without, with 2.5 at %, and with 5 at % Ru doping. The presence of Ru leads to a stabilization of the perovskite structure and hinders the decomposition into NiO and Ruddlesden‐Popper mixed oxides La_n+1Ni_nO_3n+1, which was observed for the Ru‐free sample upon calcination at 1000 °C (n = 3). Upon reduction in hydrogen, a mechanism involving at least two steps was observed and the first major step was identified as the partial reduction of the precursor leading to a LaNiO_2.5‐like intermediate. The second major step is the reduction to Ni metal supported on La₂O₃ independent of the Ru content of the catalyst. In the presence of Ru, indications for Ni‐Ru alloy formation and for a higher dispersion of the metallic phase were found. The catalytic activity in DRM of the catalyst containing 2.5 % Ru was superior to the catalysts with more or without Ru. Furthermore, the propensity of coke formation was reduced by the presence of Ru.