Recherches sur la synthese totale des alcaloides appartenant a la serie de la carpaine et de la cassine—V : Synthese totale de l'acide (±) carpamique

The total synthesis is described of (±) 6-(7-carboxy hept-1-yl) 3-hydroxy 2-methyl piperidine [(±) carpamic acid] in five steps from 1-ethoxycarbonyl 6-methyl hept-5-en-2-one.     

New routes to 1-deoxy-(3,4-dihydro-7,8-dimethyl-2,4-dioxopyrimido[4,5-b]-quinolin-10(2H)yl)-D-ribitols (5-deazariboflavins)

The acid-catalyzed reaction of 6-(N-D-ribityl-3,4-xylidino)uracil ( 1 ) with trimethyl ortho-formate yields a bis(methoxymethylene) derivative ( 2 ), which is readily deprotected to give 5-deazariboflavin ( 3 ). Correspondingly, 5-methyl-5-deazariboflavin ( 6 ) is produced by cyclization of the tetraacetate of 1 with acetyl chloride in the presence of stannic chloride followed by deacetylation.     

Field ionization mass spectrometry—II: Benzyloxycarbonyl and t-butyloxycarbonyl derivatives of some simple peptides

A brief discussion is given of some factors that merit consideration in the analysis of peptides by mass spectrometry, with emphasis on sequence determination. The first systematic study of simple peptides by field ionization (FI) is described, and comparison made with the corresponding electron-impact (EI) ionization spectra, both at low resolution (approx. 1500). The substances examined were either benzyloxycarbonyl or t-butyloxycarbonyl derivatives of di-through pentapeptide methyl esters, containing the amino acids glycine, alanine, leucine, serine, threonine, proline and tyrosine. The incidences of sequence-characteristic cleavage peaks and rearrangement ion peaks were both slightly lower in the FI than the EI spectra, although the peak relative intensities generally were higher under FI conditions.     

Synthesis of 2– and 4-amino-1,5-naphthyridines

The structure of the product obtained from the reaction of potassium amide in liquid ammonia on 1,5-naphthyridine has been identified as 4-amino-1,5-naphthyridine by comparison with a known sample. The 2-amino isomer was not detected in the mixture. The NMR spectra for 2-and 4-amino-1,5-naphthyridine along with the corresponding chloroisomers are described.     

The Biosynthesis of Cellulose

Abstract

Cellulose is one of the major commercial products of Sweden and constitutes the most abundant of the natural polymer systems. Thus, it is of interest to review the molecular design and architecture of cellulose with particular reference to the controls of its biosynthesis. The bioassembly process is highly ordered and structured, reflecting the intricate series of events which must occur to generate a thermodynamically metastable crystalline submicroscopic, ribbonlike structure. The plant cell wall is an extremely complex composite of many different polymers. Cellulose is the “reinforcing rod” component of the wall. True architectural design demands a polymer which can withstand great flexing and torsional strain. Using comparative Hydrophobic Cluster Analysis of a bacterial cellulose synthase and other glycosyl transferases, the multidomain architecture of glycosyl transferases has been analyzed. All polymerization reactions which are processive require at least three catalytic sites located on two different domains. In contrast, retaining reactions with glycosyl transferases require only a single domain and two sites. Cellulose synthase appears to have evolved a mechanism to simultaneously bind at least three UDP-glucoses and to polymerize, by double addition, two UDP-glucoses in such a manner that the 2-fold screw axis of the β-1,4-glucan chain is maintained. Thus, no primer is required as the glucose monomers are added two-by-two to the growing chain. At the next higher level of assembly, the catalytic sites simultaneously polymerize parallel glucan chain polymers in close proximity so that they will favorably associate to crystallize into the metastable cellulose I allomorph. Recent energy analysis suggests that the first stage of this association is the formation of a minisheet through van der Waals forces, followed by layering of these minisheets to form the crystalline microfibril. In native cellulose biogenesis, the microfibril shape and size appear to be determined by a multimeric enzyme complex (TC) which resides in the plasma membrane. This complex, known as a terminal complex, was discovered through electron microscopy of freeze fracture replicas. The entire complex moves in the plane of the fluid plasma membrane as the result of polymerization/crystallization reactions. The assembly stages for native cellulose I are coordinated on a spatial/temporal scale, and they are under the genetic control of the organism. This might lead one to conclude that cellulose I could only be assembled with Nature's indigenous machinery; however, this is not the case. Recently, in collaboration with Professor Kobayashi and his colleagues in Sendai and Tokyo, we have synthesized cellulose I abiotically under conditions very different from those in the living cell or from isolated cell components. Purification of an endoglucanase from Trichoderma which serves as the catalyst and the addition of β-cellobiosyl fluoride as the substrate in acetonitrile/acetate buffer has led to the assembly of synthetic cellulose I. Although natural and synthetic assembly pathways are very different, there are similar, underlying fundamental mechanisms common to both. These mechanisms will be discussed in relation to the more thermodynamically stable allomorph of cellulose (cellulose II) first demonstrated by Professor Rånby in 1952. The evolution of cellulose biosynthesis will be summarized in terms of the demands for maintaining optimal cellular environments to generate the complex macromolecular assemblies for cell wall biogenesis. Nature provides an exceptional model for cellulose biosynthesis that will lead us toward the biotechnological production of improved natural cellulose as well as synthetic cellulose and its derivatives.     

Synthesis of (−)‐Hebelophyllene E: An Entry to Geminal Dimethyl‐Cyclobutanes by [2+2] Cycloaddition of Alkenes and Allenoates

The first synthesis of hebelophyllene E is presented, along with assignment of its previously unknown relative configuration through synthesis of epi‐ent‐hebelophyllene E. Development of a catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloaddition of alkenes and allenoates provides access to the required chiral geminal dimethylcyclobutanes. Key to its success is the identification of a novel oxazaborolidine catalyst which promotes the cycloaddition in high enantioselectivities with good functional‐group tolerance (9 examples, up to 97:3 e.r.). Thus, a late‐stage cycloaddition using a fully functionalized alkene, followed by a diastereoselective reduction allows a concise entry to this class of natural products.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Heteroarylboration of 1,3‐Dienes with 3‐Bromopyridines: A cine Substitution

A method for the heteroarylboration of 1,3‐dienes is presented. The process involves an unusual cine substitution of 3‐bromopyridine derivatives to deliver highly functionalized heterocyclic products. Mechanistic studies are included that clarify the details of this unusual process.