Achieving High Affinity and Selectivity for Asymmetric Dimethylarginine by Putting a Lid on a Box

The methylation states of Lys and Arg represent a particularly challenging set of targets to distinguish selectively in water using synthetic receptors. To date, trimethyllysine (Kme3) is the only post translational modification (PTM) of the eight possible methylation states of Lys and Arg that can be recognized selectively. Here, we report the first synthetic receptor capable of selectively recognizing asymmetric dimethylarginine (Rme2a). This was achieved by using a biased dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) library to generate a receptor mimicking the 5‐sided box‐like shape of Rme2 reader proteins, a feature that has been hypothesized to impart selectivity. Additionally, we synthesized a thioether‐linked analogue of the resulting receptor to provide a novel scaffold with maintained selectivity but greater stability. This work introduces strategies that can be applied towards achieving selectivity based on subtle differences in hydrophilic guests in aqueous solutions.     

Asymmetric synthesis of novel spirocycles via a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed desymmetrization

A straightforward method for the asymmetric preparation of novel lactone and lactam spirocycles is described. An initial desymmetrization via a chiral Brønsted acid yields enantioenriched lactones which readily undergo a second cyclization to give the desired spirocycle.     

Cyclopropanation of Terminal Alkenes through Sequential Atom‐Transfer Radical Addition/1,3‐Elimination

An operationally simple method to affect an atom‐transfer radical addition of commercially available ICH₂Bpin to terminal alkenes has been developed. The intermediate iodide can be transformed in a one‐pot process into the corresponding cyclopropane upon treatment with a fluoride source. This method is highly selective for the cyclopropanation of unactivated terminal alkenes over non‐terminal alkenes and electron‐deficient alkenes. Due to the mildness of the procedure, a wide range of functional groups such as esters, amides, alcohols, ketones, and vinylic cyclopropanes are well tolerated.     

Regio‐ and Enantio‐selective Chemo‐enzymatic C−H‐Lactonization of Decanoic Acid to (S)‐δ‐Decalactone

The conversion of saturated fatty acids to high value chiral hydroxy‐acids and lactones poses a number of synthetic challenges: the activation of unreactive C?H bonds and the need for regio‐ and stereoselectivity. Here the first example of a wild‐type cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP116B46 from Tepidiphilus thermophilus) capable of enantio‐ and regioselective C5 hydroxylation of decanoic acid 1 to (S)‐5‐hydroxydecanoic acid 2 is reported. Subsequent lactonization yields (S)‐δ‐decalactone 3 , a high value fragrance compound, with greater than 90 % ee. Docking studies provide a rationale for the high regio‐ and enantioselectivity of the reaction.     

Asymmetric anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides (arrow) as chemical sensors

Anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROW) are described which trap light in a low index layer between a lower, high-index confining layer and an upper total internal reflection boundary. In this configuration, most of the light (greater than 80%) travels in the low index porous polymer layer, the refractive index of which is monitored by examining the angle at which light is coupled out of the waveguide. It is shown that asymmetric ARROW sensors can be constructed using conventional chemical vapour deposition and spin-coating techniques and their sensitivity is as predicted by theoretical modelling.     

What is the nature of polyacetylene neutral and anionic chains HC(2n)H and HC(2n)H(-) (n = 6-12) that have recently been observed?

The optimized geometries, adiabatic electron affinities, and IR-active vibrational frequencies have been predicted for the long linear carbon chains HC(2n)H. The B3LYP density functional combined with the DZP basis set was used in this theoretical study. The computed physical properties are discussed. The predicted electron affinities form a remarkably regular sequence: 1.78 (HC(12)H), 2.08 (HC(14)H), 2.32 (HC(16)H), 2.53 (HC(18)H), 2.69 (HC(20)H), 2.83 (HC(22)H), and 2.95 eV (HC(24)H). The predicted structures display an alternating triple and very short single bond pattern, with the degree of bond alternation significantly less for the radical anions.     

Nonclassical titanocene silyl hydrides

The titanocene silyl hydride complexes [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)(H)(SiR3)] [SiR3=SiMePhCl (6), SiPh2Cl (7), SiMeCl2 (8), SiCl3 (9)] were prepared by HSiR3 addition to [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)2] and were studied by NMR and IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (for 6, 8, and 9), and DFT calculations. Spectroscopic and structural data established that these complexes exhibit nonclassical Ti-H-Si-Cl interligand hypervalent interactions. In particular, the observation of silicon-hydride coupling constants J(Si,H) in 6-9 in the range 22-40 Hz, the signs of which we found to be negative for 8 and 9, is conclusive evidence of the presence of a direct Si-H bond. The analogous reaction of [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)2] with HSi(OEt)3 does not afford the expected classical silyl hydride complex [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)(H)[Si(OEt)3]], and instead NMR-silent titanium (apparently TiIII) complex(es) and the silane redistribution product Si(OEt)4 are formed. The structural data and DFT calculations for the compounds [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)(H)(SiR3)] show that the strength of interligand hypervalent interactions in the chlorosilyl complexes decreases as the number of chloro groups on silicon increases. However, in the absence of an Si-bound electron-withdrawing group trans to the Si-H moiety, a silane sigma complex is formed, characterized by a long Ti-Si bond of 2.658 A and short Si-H contact of 1.840 A in the model complex [Ti(Cp)2(PMe3)(H)(SiMe3)]. Both the silane sigma complexes and silyl hydride complexes with interligand hypervalent interactions exhibit bond paths between the silicon and hydride atoms in Atoms in Molecules (AIM) studies. To date a classical titanocene phosphane silyl hydride complex without any Si-H interaction has not been observed, and therefore titanocene silyl hydrides are, depending on the nature of the R groups on Si, either silane sigma complexes or compounds with an interligand hypervalent interaction.     

A novel and highly efficient synthetic route to unsymmetrical organoselenides using cesium bases

A new and convenient one-pot method for the preparation of unsymmetrical selenides has been developed. In the presence of cesium hydroxide, molecular sieves, and DMF, benzeneselenol undergoes direct alkylation with various alkyl halides for the synthesis of alkyl phenyl selenides in moderate to excellent yields. Another method to prepare unsymmetrical organoselenides was also completed by coupling terminal alkynes with benzeneselenyl bromide. As an application, the synthesis of a selenopeptide was also accomplished. Furthermore, this methodology was extended to the synthesis of an organoselenide on solid support.     

Potential energy surface discontinuities in local correlation methods

We have examined the occurrence of discontinuities in bond-breaking potential energy surfaces given by local correlation methods based on the Pulay-Saeb? orbital domain approach. Our analysis focuses on three prototypical dissociating systems: the C-F bond in fluoromethane, the C-C bond in singlet, ketene, and the central C-C bond in propadienone. We find that such discontinuities do not occur in cases of homolytic bond cleavage due to the inability of the Pipek-Mezey orbital localization method to separate singlet-coupled charges on distant fragments. However, for heterolytic bond cleavage, such as that observed in singlet ketene and propadienone, discontinuities occur both at stretched geometries and near equilibrium. These discontinuities are usually small, but may be of the same order of magnitude as the localization error in some cases.     

Density-functional generalized-gradient and hybrid calculations of electromagnetic properties using Slater basis sets

In this paper we extend our density-functional theory calculations, with generalized gradient approximation and hybrid functionals, using Slater-type orbitals (STOs), to the determination of second-order molecular properties. The key to the entire methodology involves the fitting of all STO basis function products to an auxiliary STO basis, through the minimization of electron-repulsion integrals. The selected properties are (i) dipole polarizabilities, (ii) nuclear magnetic shielding constants, and (iii) nuclear spin-spin coupling constants. In all cases the one-electron integrals involving STOs were evaluated by quadrature. The implementation for (ii) involved some complexity because we used gauge-including atomic orbitals. The presence of two-electron integrals on the right-hand side of the coupled equations meant that the fitting procedure had to be implemented. For (iii) in the hybrid case, fitting procedures were again required for the exchange contributions. For each property we studied a number of small molecules. We first obtained an estimate of the basis set limit using Gaussian-type orbitals (GTOs). We then showed how it is possible to reproduce these values using a STO basis set. For (ii) a regular TZ2P quality STO basis was adequate; for (i) the addition of one set of diffuse functions (determined by Slater's rules) gave the required accuracy; for (iii) it was necessary to add a set of 1s functions, including one very tight function, to give the desired result. In summary, we show that it is possible to predict second-order molecular properties using STO basis sets with an accuracy comparable with large GTO basis sets. We did not encounter any major difficulties with either the selection of the bases or the implementation of the procedures. Although the energy code (especially in the hybrid case) may not be competitive with a regular GTO code, for properties we find that STOs are more attractive.