Enantioselective Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyran‐2‐ones by Domino Michael Addition and Lactonization with New Asymmetric Organocatalysts: Cinchona‐Alkaloid‐Derived Chiral Quaternary Ammonium Phenoxides

Chiral quaternary ammonium phenoxides were readily prepared from commercially available cinchona alkaloids and proved to be useful new asymmetric organocatalysts. Among various chiral quaternary ammonium phenoxides, a cinchonidine‐derived catalyst that bears both a sterically hindered N1‐9‐anthracenylmethyl group and a strongly electron withdrawing 9‐O‐3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl group were found to be highly effective for the Michael addition of ketene silyl acetals (derived from phenyl carboxylates) and α,β‐unsaturated ketones followed by lactonization. Optically active 3,4‐dihydropyran‐2‐one derivatives were obtained in high yields with excellent control of enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity. This catalyst can be handled in air and stored at room temperature in a sealed bottle without decomposition for at least one month.     

Unique stereochemistry of 3-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives

The conformational equilibrium in solution was examined by NMR spectroscopy for a series of 7-phenyl-3-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives containing various substituents at the boron atom. The structures of these derivatives were studied in the crystalline state (X-ray diffraction analysis) and by quantum-chemical calculations (B3Pw91/6-31G*). The B...Ph transannular interactions corresponding to charge transfer from the system of the phenyl group to the vacant p-orbital of the B atom were demonstrated to be responsible for unique stability of the chair-chair conformation of these derivatives.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1884–1896, September, 2004.     

Theoretical study of structure,vibrational and electronic spectra of isomers of methyl-3-methoxy-2-propenoate

A systematic quantum mechanical study of the possible conformations, their relative stabilities, vibrational and electronic spectra and thermodynamic parameters of methyl-3-methoxy-2-propenoate has been reported for the electronic ground (S₀) and first excited (S₁) states using time-dependent and time-independent Density Functional Theory (DFT) and RHF methods in extended basis sets. Detailed studies have been restricted to the E-isomer, which is found to be substantially more stable than the Z-isomer. Four possible conformers c′Cc, c′Tc, t′Cc, t′Tc, of which the first two are most stable, have been identified in the S₀ and S₁ states. Electronic excitation to S₁ state is accompanied with a reversal in the relative stability of the c′Cc and c′Tc conformers and a substantial reduction in the rotational barrier between them, as compared with the S₀ state. Optimized geometries of these conformers in the S₀ and S₁ states are being reported. Based on suitably scaled RHF/6-31G^** and DFT/6-311G^** calculations, assignments have been provided to the fundamental vibrational bands of both these conformers in terms of frequency, form and intensity of vibrations and potential energy distribution across the symmetry coordinates in the S₀ state. A complete interpretation of the electronic spectra of the conformers has been provided.     

IR spectroscopic study of the conformational lability of 4′-ethyl-4-cyanobiphenyl

The conformational lability of 4-ethyl-4-cyanobiphenyl molecules in solid crystal (SC) and isotropic liquid (IL) states was investigated by IR spectroscopic techniques (experiment and theory). IR absorption spectra were measured at 28°C–95°C in the frequency range 400 cm^–1–4000 cm^–1. Spectrum simulation was performed using the fragment method with allowance for the conformational fluctuations of molecules. The experimental and calculated spectra were compared and analyzed, and it was shown that in the IL, the samples are mixtures of conformers. The temperature changes in the spectra in the stated range are caused by the conformational lability of molecules.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by L. M. Babkov, I. I. Gnatyuk, G. A. Puchkovskaya, and S. V. TrukhachevTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 398–405, May–June, 2004.     

A molecular mechanics and semiempirical conformational analysis of the herbicide diuron inhibitor of photosystem II

The potential energy surface (PES) for the herbicide diuron (DCMU), a photosystem II inhibitor, has been extensively investigated using the quantum-mechanical semiempirical molecular orbital methods AM1 and PM3 and molecular mechanics method. A detailed conformational search has been carried out which revealed the occurrence of four genuine minimum energy structures. The relative stability of the conformers and rotational barriers to conformational interconversion were evaluated using distinct theoretical approaches. The results showed that thetrans form of the diuron molecule is more stable than thecis form in all methods, and so it may possibly be the biologically active isomer.     

Conformational studies of soluble and immobilized frog epidermis tyrosinase by fluorescence

Fluorescence spectra and soluble quenching of intrinsic protein fluorescence were used as indexes of conformational changes suffered by frog epidermis tyrosinase. The activation process and the immobilization of the enzyme involving either free amino groups or its carbohydrate moiety were studied. The conformational changes resulting from denaturation of each one of the protein derivatives, as well as the effect of active center copper extraction, were followed by fluorescence studies. The results showed that: (a) both activation and immobilization were accompanied by conformational changes of the protein leading to more unfolded states; (b) neither enzyme nor immobilized enzyme were fully unfolded upon denaturation although enzymic activity was lost; (c) the enzyme immobilized through its carbohydrate moiety was more unfolded upon denaturation than the enzyme immobilized through amino groups, thus pointing to a higher conformational stabilization in the last situation; and (d), that tryptophyl residues moved to a localization near the active site upon activation.     

The synthesis and copolymerization of 4-hydroxybenzylglycolide: experimental and theoretical aspects

Based on tyrosine, 4-hydroxybenzylglycolide was synthesized. Its study in ring-opening copolymerization with lactides in view of the ability of the phenolic hydroxy group to initiate polymerization was performed experimentally and with DFT modeling.     

Organo-Polyoxometalate-Based Hydrogen-Bond Catalysis

Several urea-inserted organo-polyoxometalates (POMs) derived from polyoxotungstovanadate [P₂V₃W₁₅O₆₁]⁹⁻ were prepared. The insertion of the carbonyl into the polyoxometallic framework activates the urea toward Hydrogen-bond catalysis. This was shown on the Friedel-Crafts arylation of trans-β-nitrostyrene. Modelling shows that the most stable form of the organo-POMs features a cis-trans arrangement of the two N−H bonds, but that the likely catalytically active trans-trans form is accessible at room temperature. Finally, it is possible that the oxo substituents next to the vanadium atoms may help the approach of the nucleophile via H-bonding.