Deprotonation-electrophile trapping of terminal epoxides

Organolithium-induced deprotonation of terminal epoxides in the presence of appropriate diamine ligands allows trapping with a range of electrophiles, yielding functionalised di- and tri-substituted epoxides in good yields and with control of stereochemistry at the epoxide.     

Electrospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry fingerprinting of Acanthophis (death adder) venoms: taxonomic and toxinological implications

Death adders (genus Acanthophis) are unique among elapid snakes in both morphology and venom composition. Despite this genus being among the most divergent of all elapids, the venom has been historically regarded as relatively quite simple. In this study, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis has revealed a much greater diversity in venom composition, including the presence of molecules of novel molecular weights that may represent a new class of venom component. Furthermore, significant variation exists between species and populations, which allow for the LC/MS fingerprinting of each species. Mass profiling of Acanthophis venoms clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of this technique which underpins fundamental studies ranging from chemotaxonomy to drug design.     

The synthesis of peptides and proteins containing non-natural amino acids

Methods for the incorporation of non-natural amino acids into proteins have advanced significantly over recent years and in this tutorial review we aim to give a general overview of the area. These techniques offer the possibility of modulating the structures and functions of proteins and thus permit the generation of novel designed systems for both biocatalytic and mechanistic studies. Four complementary approaches are discussed in detail along with examples of their application. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are also discussed.     

Synthèses de produits organofluorés VI Solvolyse de chlorofluorocyclopropanes

Fluoro-organic Syntheses VI: The Solvolysis of Chlorofluoro-cyclopropanes 2-Fluoro-allylic carbocations, generated from 1-chloro-1-fluoro-cyclopropanes or 2-fluoro-allyl p-toluene-sulfonates in water or acetic acid, undergo either proton loss or addition of hydroxyl or acetoxyl. In the latter case, an alkyl-substituted 2-fluoro-allyl ion leads predominantly to the more branched product (e.g. 3-fluoro-2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol) which may be converted into the less branched one (e.g. 2-fluoro-3-methyl-2-buten-2-ol) through reversible reactions.     

Metallaborane reaction chemistry. A facile and reversible dioxygen capture by a B-frame-supported bimetallic: structure of [(PMe2Ph)4(O2)Pt2B10H10

[(PMe2Ph)4Pt2B10H10] reversibly takes up atmospheric dioxygen to give the fluxional dioxygen-dimetallaborane complex [(PMe2Ph)4(O2)Pt2B10H10], which has Pt-Pt 2.7143(3), Pt-O 2.141(4) and 2.151(4) and O-O 1.434(6)A.     

The biosynthesis of quadrone and terrecyclic acid

Feedings of [1-¹³C]- and [1,2-¹³C₂]acetate Aspergillus terreus gave quadrone and terrecyclic acid which were analyzed by ¹³C NMR. The pattern of ¹³C-enrichments and couplings is consistent with the formation of 1 and 2 by cyclization of farnesyl pyrophosphate.     

Synthesis of the β-lactam antibiotic (+)- thienamycin via an intermediate π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complex

The π-allyltricarbonyliron lactone complex (7), formed by reaction of E-1,2-epoxy-2-methyl-6,6-dimethoxyhex-3-ene(5) with co-ordinatively unsaturated iron carbonyl species, was reacted with benzylamine to give a lactam complex (8) by an S_N'-like mechanism. This complex upon oxidation with Ce(IV) afforded cis-3-isopropenyl-4-[(2',2'-dim (9) which was chemically modified into trans-3-(1'-hydroxyethyl)-4-[(2',2-dimethoxy)ethyl] azetidin-2-one (13), a key intermediate previously used in the synthesis of the antibiotic thienamycin. Similar reaction with (S)-(-)--methylbenzylamine afforded a separable mixture of diastereoisomeric iron lactam complexes (16 and 17). These complexes could be individually converted to the corresponding optically active β-lactam derivatives (27 and 28) and, hence, are precursors for the synthesis of either natural (+)-thienamycin or unnatural (-)-thienamycin.     

The infrared spectra (600-140 cm−1 of the imidazole,pyrazine and pyrimidine adducts of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) acetylacetonates

Summary The complexes M(acac)₂(imidazole)₂ (M = Co or NO and [M(acac)₂B]_n (M = Co, Ni or Zn; B = pyrazine or pyrimidine) have been prepared and their i.r. spectra determined over the 600–140 cm^–1. range. The metal-oxygen and metal-nitrogen stretching frequencies, (M-O) and v(M-N), are assigned on the basis of the band shifts induced by deuteriation of the adducted base and by substitution of the metal ion. Three or fourv(M-O) bands are observed within the 600-200 cm^–1 range. The twov(M-O) bands of higher frequency are considered to the coupled with internal ligand modes. TwovM-N) bands are observed within the 280–170 cm^–1. range. The metal-ligand stretching frequencies are in good agreement with the values previously established for these vibrations in the [M(imidazole)₆]²⁺ and Ni(acac)₂(pyridine)₂ complexes.     

Should dithiophosphinate esters function as RAFT agents?

[graph: see text] High-level ab initio calculations indicate that *CH3 addition to the sulfur center of S=P(Z)(Z')SCH3 (Z,Z' = CH3, CN, OCH3, Ph) is considerably less exothermic than addition to the corresponding RAFT agents, S=C(Z)SCH3. This suggests that dithiophosphinate esters may have only limited use in controlling free-radical polymerization, but should make excellent radical chain carriers in organic synthesis. The results cast doubt on the notion that phosphoranyl radicals are more "intrinsically" stabilized than carbon-centered radicals.