Ti(IV)/BINOL-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reaction of a masked acetoacetic ester: pronounced influence of catalyst concentration on nonlinear effects

Initial concentration of enantioenriched or enantiopure catalysts proved to be an important factor for the achievement of a more pronounced amplification of ee's in the Ti(IV)/BINOL-catalyzed aldol reaction of an O-silyldienolate.     

Synthesis of 2-amino-3-hydroxy- and of 2,3-diamino-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines

A new synthesis of 7-chloro-2,3-diamino-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines is described, which allows for the preparation of compounds bearing the same or different substituents at the 2 and 3 positions, starting from 2-amino-7-chloro-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepines.     

Thermal analysis study on vaporization of some analgesics. Acetanilide and derivatives

The thermal behaviour of acetanilide (Ac) and two of its analogues, namely the para-ethoxyacetanilide (p-Eto Ac) and the para-bromoacetanilide (p-Br Ac), which are used as analgesics in the pharmaceutical industry was studied with a simultaneous TG/DSC unit. The examined analgesics showed two endothermic DSC peaks due to melting and vaporization. By combining the experimental TG data with the corresponding reference vapour pressure data obtained with the Antoine equation the plot of P versus v was derived. From the slope of this equation the constant k-value was determined for Ac. Then, using the same k-value the vapour pressures of p-Eto Ac and p-Br Ac were determined in the same temperature range. The vaporization enthalpies for all the studied compounds were obtained from different methods and a very good agreement was found. Vaporization follows a zero-order kinetics. The activation energy of vaporization (E_vap) was calculated from the dynamic TG experiments, using the Arrhenius equation.     

Solid-state photodimerization of steroid enones

Androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) and 17alpha-methyltestosterone (2) are dimerized in the solid-state by UV radiation. These substances were selected by a search in the CSD among the steroid enones presenting in the crystalline state an intermolecular short contact between a hydrogen alpha to a carbonyl group and the oxygen of an enone system. Dimerization occurs by transfer of the hydrogen to the oxygen and connection between the two involved carbons. Androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) affords dimer 3 and trimer 4, both formed by connection of the C-16 of a molecule with the C-3 of a near one. Irradiation of 17alpha-methyltestosterone (2) gives the isomeric trienones 5 and 6. These compounds are reasonably formed by dehydration of unisolated intermediate products 7 and/or 8 obtained by coupling of two molecules through a linkage between the C-2 and the C-3' carbons. The formation mechanisms of the photoproducts are satisfactory explained on the basis of the molecular arrangement of the monomers in the crystal state. Modeling of the dimeric molecules was done using molecular mechanics calculations. A single-crystal X-ray of the dimer of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione confirms the structural interpretation of spectral data. The conformer found in the solid-state agrees well with the results of molecular mechanics calculations.     

Ion chromatography characterization of polysaccharides in ancient wall paintings

Specific programming of automated HPLC systems allows total on-line qualification, validation and stability monitoring using the concept of deferred standards. Setting up such a process for routine analyses in an automated HPLC system requires specific autosampler programming as well as specific monitoring software. With an autosampler, a double injection procedure is programmed, the first introducing the sample, and the second, a few minutes deferred, the deferred control standard. Two additional compounds are therefore added to the sample before and during the chromatographic process: the intemal standard for sample quantification and the deferred standard for system control. Specific methodologies are described of how to obtain classical quantitative analysis information as well as system qualification validation stability information. Experiments were performed to develop specified methodologies to monitor the quality of quantitative analysis during the life of the column by using the deferred standard concept to probe the effects of column ageing on separation characteristics.     

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.     

From achiral porphyrins to template-imprinted chiral aggregates and further. Self-replication of chiral memory from scratch

The presence of 10-13 M of chiral clusters of aromatic amino acids addresses aggregation of opposite-charged achiral porphyrin towards the formation of smart chiral assemblies. The latter supramolecular complexes are able to self-propagate and transfer their chiral information with a 100% yield. The chiral bias occurs through a correlated sequence of induction, memory, and amplification of chirality that strongly recalls possible prebiotic scenarios.     

1,2-Oxopalladation versus pi-allyl palladium route. A regioconvergent approach to a key intermediate for cyclopentanoids synthesis. New insights into the Pd(II)-catalyzed lactonization reaction

Regioconvergent synthesis of the key lactone 1 from an equimolar mixture of the two olefins 4 and 5 was achieved by unique Pd(II) chemistry. The synthetic versatility of lactone 1 has been demonstrated in the synthesis of iridoids and of the endo-Corey lactone 2, which is a key intermediate for the F(2)-isoprostane synthesis. Upon exposure of the sodium salts of 4 and 5 to a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)(2) under oxygen, in the presence of AcOH, an isomeric lactone 12 was obtained in addition to the title compound 1. The Pd(II) lactonization was optimized by fine-tuning all the factors participating in the catalytic cycle: solvent, oxidant, co-oxidant, and Pd(II) source. The Hosokawa's heterobimetallic couple emerged as the catalyst of choice. With a Cu(II)-Pd(II) couple, the redox process was transferred to copper, and the formal oxidation state of palladium remained constant during the reaction. By virtue of this new methodology, lactone 1 was obtained in a rewarding 60% yield, along with isomeric lactone 12 in 30% yield. A detailed mechanistic study was carried out in order to elucidate the formation of lactones 1 and 12. Lactone 1 was formed from either olefin 8 or olefin 10; on the other hand, lactone 12 was formed exclusively from olefin 10. An intramolecular 1,2-acyloxypalladiation was invoked for the transformation of 8 into 1, whereas the pi-allyl complexes 13 and 11 were involved in the transformation of olefin 10 into 12 and 1, respectively.