Density functional theory study of the mechanism of the proline-catalyzed intermolecular aldol reaction

Transition structures associated with the C-C bond-formation step of the proline-catalyzed intermolecular aldol reaction between acetone and isobutyraldehyde have been studies using density functional theory methods at the B3LYP/6-31G** computational level. A continuum model has been selected to represent solvent effects. For this step, which is the stereocontrolling and rate-determining step, four reactive channels corresponding to the syn and anti arrangement of the active methylene of the enamine relative to the carboxylic acid group of l-proline and the re and si attack modes to both faces of the aldehyde carbonyl group have been analyzed. The B3LYP/6-31G** energies are in good agreement with experiment, allowing us to explain the origin of the catalysis and stereoselectivity for these proline-catalyzed aldol reactions. Received: 2 April 2002 / Accepted: 18 July 2002 / Published online: 11 October 2002 Acknowledgements. This work was supported by research funds provided by the Ministerio de Educación y Cultura of the Spanish Government by DGICYT (project PB98–1429). All the calculations were performed on a Cray–Silicon Graphics Origin 2000 of the Servicio de Informática de la Universidad de Valencia. We are most indebted to this center for providing us with computer capabilities. Correspondence to: L. R. Domingo e-mail: domingo@utopia.uv.es     

Molecular structure of potassium [N,N′-bis(salicylideneamino)nitroguanidonate-N,N′,-O,O′]nickel(ii), the product of condensation of (salicylideneamino)nitroguanidine with salicylaldehyde on a Ni2+ ion template

The crystal structure of the product of the condensation of (salicylideneamino)nitroguanidine with salicylaldehyde on a Ni²⁺ ion template, K[Ni(C₁₅H₁₀N₅O₄)] · DMF, has been studied. It was established that a planar Ni complex, consisting of isolated [NiL]^– anions and solvated [K⁺ · DMF] cations, is formed. The negative charge of the anion is localized mainly on the O atoms of the nitro group. The nitroguanidine fragment of the ligand occurs in the tautomeric form, which was not reported previously.Deceased in 1995Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2273–2277, September, 1996.     

Solvent-free Mukaiyama aldol reaction of O-silyl dienolates catalyzed by benzoic acid

The vinylogous aldol reaction of O-silyl dienolates deriving from 2,2-dimethyl-[1,3]-dioxin-4-ones proceeds in moderate to excellent yields in the presence of catalytic amounts of PhCOOH under solvent-free conditions. Modest to good yields can be obtained by using silica gel or 3 Å molecular sieves as heterogeneous catalysts.     

Synthesis of stereo-defined α-trifluoromethyl (Tfm)-malic units

Aldol reactions of titanium enolates of N-acyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones with ethyl trifluoropyruvate occurred with low to good stereoselectivity depending on the steric properties of the N-acyl group. Attempts to transform the resulting aldols into peptidomimetics incorporating stereo-defined α-trifluoromethyl (Tfm)-malic units are described.     

An efficient procedure for the synthesis of coumarin derivatives using TiCl4 as catalyst under solvent-free conditions

The ability of titanium(IV) chloride as a catalyst to promote the Pechmann condensation reaction with a range of phenols and β-keto esters is described.The reaction was carried out by addition of TiCl₄ to a mixture of the phenol and the β-keto ester with thorough stirring in the absence of a solvent and represents an improvement on the classical Pechmann conditions. The yields of coumarins obtained via this novel protocol were significantly higher than those using the conventional method and the reaction duration was reduced to a few minutes or even a few seconds.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of 5-Amino-4-cyano-8-isobutyl-7-isopropyl-6-thiocarbamoyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-3-thione

5-Amino-4-cyano-8-isobutyl-7-isopropyl-6-thiocarbamoyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-3-thione was synthesized by the condensation of isovaleryl aldehyde with cyanothioacetamide. The structure of the product was established by X-ray crystallography.     

Adsorption of water molecules in slit pores

We report molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on the adsorption of water in attractive and repulsive slit pores, where the slit and a bulk region are in contact with each other. Water structure, surface force and adsorption behavior are investigated as a function of the overall density in the bulk region. The gas–liquid transition in both types of pores occurs at similar densities of the bulk region.     

Kinetics of self-condensation of acetone over heterogeneous Ba(OH)2 and Sr(OH)2 catalysts

Catalytic performance of Ba(OH)₂ and Sr(OH)₂ in self-condensation of acetone was examined in the temperature range from 273 to 303 K. A kinetic model of second order with respect to acetone was used for interpretation of the results obtained for the diacetone alcohol formation.This revised version was published online in December 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

两个具有PTP1B抑制活性的4-羟基丁内酯化合物的全合成研究

Two new naturally 4-hydroxylated butenolides were concisely synthesized in excellent enantiomeric purities. An aldol condensation and a Suzuki reaction served successfully as the key steps in the synthesis.     

Diffusion Mechanisms of Zeolite Catalysts

The diffusion mechanisms within zeolite catalysts, such as resistance to diffusion at pore mouths, configurational diffusion, adsorption-controlled diffusion, influence of co-existing molecules and pore blocking, were overviewed. Two kinds of diffusivities, the intracrystalline diffusivity and the effective diffusivity, were discussed separately to clarify the diffusion mechanism.