Batch tautomer generation with MolTPC

Besides all their conformational degrees of freedom, drug‐like molecules and natural products often also undergo tautomeric interconversions. Compared to the huge efforts made in experimental investigation of tautomerism, open and free algorithmic solutions for prototropic tautomer generation are surprisingly rare. The few freely available software packages limit their output to a subset of the possible configurational space by sometimes unwanted prior assumptions and complete neglection of ring‐chain tautomerism. Here, we describe an adjustable fully automatic tautomer enumeration approach, which is freely available and also incorporates the detection of ring‐chain variants. The algorithm is implemented in the MolTPC framework and accessible on SourceForge. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mechanistic Insights into the Rhenium‐Catalyzed Alcohol‐To‐Olefin Dehydration Reaction

Rhenium‐based complexes are powerful catalysts for the dehydration of various alcohols to the corresponding olefins. Here, we report on both experimental and theoretical (DFT) studies into the mechanism of the rhenium‐catalyzed dehydration of alcohols to olefins in general, and the methyltrioxorhenium‐catalyzed dehydration of 1‐phenylethanol to styrene in particular. The experimental and theoretical studies are in good agreement, both showing the involvement of several proton transfers, and of a carbenium ion intermediate in the catalytic cycle.     

Stereochemistry of planarchiral compounds,part X

2,7-Dibromo-1,6-methano[10]anulene (3) and 2,9-Dibromo-syn-1,6:8,13-diimino[14]anulene (9) were quantitatively separated into their enantiomers by chromatography on triacetylcellulose (TAC) in ethanol. X-ray structure analysis (Bijvoet technique) established the chiralities (+)(R)-3 and (+)(S)-9 for the dextrorotatory enantiomers.Comparison of the CD spectra allowed the configurational assignment to further optically active [10] and [14] anulenes which were also accessible by chromatography onTAC. Conversion of (+)(R)-2-bromo-1,6-methano[10]anulene (2) into the corresponding methylester (–)-4 confirmed its previously proposed chirality (–)(R).2,7-Dibromo-1,6-oxido[10]anulene (7) and 2,9-dibromo-syn-diimino[14]anulene (9) are in contrast to the 2,9-dibromo-syn-dioxido[14]anulene (10) optically stable until 250°C. Consequently their inversion barriers are higher than 42 kcal (176 kJ) mol^–1.The CD spectra of mono and disubstituted anulenes (with C₁ and C₂ symmetry, resp.) are compared: For the [10]anulenes theCotton effect around 330 nm seems to be specific for their configuration with a positive effect indicating (S)-chirality and vice versa. Some regularities concerning the chromatographic resolutions are discussed.

---

Stereochemie planar chialer Verbindungen, 10. Mitt.: Röntgenkristallstruktur und absolute Chiralität überbrückter [10]- und [14] Anulene

Zusammenfassung 2,7-Dibrom-1,6-methano[10]anulen (3) und 2,9-Dibrom-syn-1,6:8,13-diimino[14]anulen (9) wurden durch Chromatographie an Triacetylcellulose (TAC) in Ethanol quantitativ in ihre Enantiomeren getrennt. Röntgenstruktur-analyse (Bijvoet-Technik) bewies für die rechtsdrehenden Enantiomeren die Chiralität (+)(R)-3 bzw. (+)(S)-9.Ein Vergleich der CD-Spektren ermöglichte die Konfigurationszuordnung weiterer optisch aktiver [10]- und [14]Anulene, die gleichfalls durch Chromato-graphie anTAC erhalten worden waren. Umwandlung von (+)(R)-2-Brom-1,6-methano[10]anulen (2) in den entsprechenden Methylester (–)-4 bestätigte dessen schon früher vorgeschlagene Chiralität (–)(R).Dibrom-1,6-oxido[10]anulen (7) und Dibrom-diimino[14]anulen (9) sind im Gegensatz zum Dioxido[14]anulen (10) bis 250°C optisch stabil. Ihre Inver-sionsbarrieren liegen somit über 42 kcal (176kJ) mol^–1.Die CD-Spektren von mono- und disubstituierten Anulenen (mit C₁ bzw. C₂-Symmetrie) werden verglichen: Für die [10]Anulene scheint derCottoneffekt um 330 nm konfigurationsspezifisch zu sein, wobei ein positiver Effekt (S)-Chiralität anzeigt — und vice versa. Einige Regelmäßigkeiten bezüglich der chromatographischen Enantiomerentrennung werden diskutiert.