Glycosidation with a disarmed glycosyl iodide: promotion and scope

[reaction: see text] Glucuronyl iodide 1 has been studied in detail as a "disarmed" glycosyl donor. In a model reaction, using N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) as a promoter and 2-phenylethanol as acceptor, best results were obtained using NIS with I(2), followed by trimethylsilyltrifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf). When a series of primary and secondary alcohols was glycosylated using these conditions, yields of 60-83% of beta-glucuronides were obtained. Various "nonheavy" metal salts also effectively catalyzed the model reaction but led to significant amounts of alpha-product with less reactive secondary alcohols.     

Combining alkali metals and zinc to harness heterometallic cooperativity in cyclic ester ring-opening polymerisation

Heterometallic cooperativity is an emerging strategy to elevate polymerisation catalyst performance. Here, we report the first heterotrimetallic Na/Zn₂ and K/Zn₂ complexes supported by a ProPhenol ligand, which deliver “best of both” in cyclic ester ring-opening polymerisation, combining the outstanding activity (Na/K) and good control (Zn₂) of homometallic analogues. Detailed NMR studies and density-functional theory calculations suggest that the Na/Zn₂ and K/Zn₂ complexes retain their heterometallic structures in the solution-state. To the best of our knowledge, the K/Zn₂ analogue is the most active heterometallic catalyst reported for rac-lactide polymerisation (k_obs = 1.7 × 10⁻² s⁻¹), giving activities five times faster than the Na/Zn₂ complex. These versatile catalysts also display outstanding performance in ε-caprolatone and δ-valerolactone ring-opening polymerisation. These studies provide underpinning methodologies for future heterometallic polymerisation catalyst design, both in cyclic ester polymerisation and other ring-opening (co)polymerisation reactions.

Cooperative heterotrimetallic Na/Zn₂ and K/Zn₂ complexes combine the excellent activities and control of the homometallic analogues, giving “best of both” in cyclic ester ring-opening polymerisation.     

Ultrasensitive single-cell proteomics workflow identifies >1000 protein groups per mammalian cell

We report on the combination of nanodroplet sample preparation, ultra-low-flow nanoLC, high-field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), and the latest-generation Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid mass spectrometer for greatly improved single-cell proteome profiling. FAIMS effectively filtered out singly charged ions for more effective MS analysis of multiply charged peptides, resulting in an average of 1056 protein groups identified from single HeLa cells without MS1-level feature matching. This is 2.3 times more identifications than without FAIMS and a far greater level of proteome coverage for single mammalian cells than has been previously reported for a label-free study. Differential analysis of single microdissected motor neurons and interneurons from human spinal tissue indicated a similar level of proteome coverage, and the two subpopulations of cells were readily differentiated based on single-cell label-free quantification.

The combination of nanodroplet sample preparation, ultra-low-flow nanoLC, high-field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) and latest-generation mass spectrometry instrumentation provides dramatically improved single-cell proteome profiling.     

The ligand, the metal and the 'Holey'-host: Synthesis, structural and magnetic characterisation of Co(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) metal-organic frameworks incorporating 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine

We report herein the single crystal structures of four metal-organic framework complexes incorporating the 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine ligand, H(2)dcbp: alpha-[Co(dcbp)(H(2)O)(2)], 1; beta-[Co(dcbp)(H(2)O)(2)], 2, [Ni(dcbp)(H(2)O)(2)], and [[Mn(dcbp)].1/2DEF], 4 (DEF = diethylformamide). In each complex the ligand is deprotonated giving neutral species with 1:1 stoichiometry that form three-dimensional coordination polymers. Supramolecular isomerism (polymorphism) in 1 and 2 arises from the different ligand connectivity around the octahedral Co(II) centres. The two coordinated water molecules in 1 occupy cis positions, which are trans to the chelating bipyridine nitrogen atoms, leaving the carboxylate oxygen atoms in axial trans positions. In 2 all like donors occupy cis positions. Different modes of carboxylate coordination in 1 and 2 give dissimilar network topologies. A rare example of two interpenetrating 6(4)8(2)-b (quartz-like) chiral networks in 1 results from both dcbp carboxylate groups coordinating in a monodentate fashion to adjacent Co(II) centres, whereas in 2 only one carboxylate group bridges between adjacent Co(II) centres giving rise to a single chiral (10,3)-a net. In 1 and 2 the coordinated water molecules hydrogen bond to the non-coordinated carboxylate oxygen atoms. These interactions give rise to water-carboxylate double helices in , and support the coordination network in 2. Strikingly for a pair of dimorphs the crystal densities of 1 and 2 differ by ca. 0.3 g cm(-3)(1.654 vs. 1.940 g cm(-3), respectively). Compound 3 is isomorphous with 1 and likewise features two chiral interpenetrating nets of quartz topology. In 4, chelating bipyridine nitrogen atoms and four carboxylate oxygen atoms from a total of five adjacent dcbp ligands provide distorted octahedral geometry around Mn(II). The carboxylate groups bridge adjacent Mn(II) centres to produce bis-carboxylato chains which cross-link and generate a 3D network that is perforated with channels. The channels are occupied with disordered DEF molecules. The network topology in 4 is quite different to 1-3 and has a (4.6(2))(4(2).6)(4(3).6(6).8(6)) Schlafli notation. Magnetic susceptibility studies performed on 1, 2, [[Mn(dcbp)].1/2DMF] 5 (DMF = dimethylformamide) and [[Mn(dcbp)].2H(2)O] 6 reveal very weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal centres in each case.     

An ab initio molecular orbital study of the grignard reagents CH3MgCl and [CH3MgCl]2: The Schlenk equilibrium

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations are used to study the modified Schlenk equilibrium: 2RMgCl (RMgCl)² MgR₂ + MgCl₂ Mg(Cl₂)MgR₂ with R=H and CH₃. In the absence of any solvents, calculations indicate that the formation of the various possible bridged dimers (RMgCl)₂ is substantially exothermic. However, using dimethylether as a model solvent, we show that the formation of the dimer (Me₂O)(CH₃)Mg(Cl₂)Mg(CH₃)(OMe₂) is exothermic only when entropic effects are included.