Direct synthesis of Cbz-protected β-amino ketones by iodine-catalyzed three-component condensation of aldehydes, ketones and benzyl carbamate

Iodine has been found to be very effective catalyst for a Mannich reaction between an aryl aldehyde, an aryl ketone and benzyl carbamate, even though this is a less reactive amine, to produce Cbz-protected β-aryl β-amino carbonyl compounds in high yields.     

Iron chelation properties of an extracellular siderophore exochelin MN

The coordination chemistry of an extracellular siderophore produced by Mycobacterium neoaurum, exochelin MN (ExoMN), is reported along with its pK(a) values, Fe(III) and Fe(II) chelation constants, and aqueous solution speciation as determined by spectrophotometric and potentiometric titration techniques. Exochelin MN is of particular interest as it can efficiently transport iron into pathogenic M. leprae, which is responsible for leprosy, in addition to its own parent cells. The Fe(III) coordination properties of ExoMN are important with respect to understanding the Fe(III) acquisition and uptake mechanism in pathogenic M. leprae, as the siderophores from this organism are very difficult to isolate. Exochelin MN has two hydroxamic acid groups and an unusual threo-beta-hydroxy-l-histidine available for Fe(III) chelation. The presence of threo-beta-hydroxy-l-histidine gives rise to a unique mode of Fe(III) coordination. The pK(a) values for the two hydroxamic acid moieties, the histidine imidazole ring and the alkylammonium groups on ExoMN, correspond well with the literature values for these moieties. Proton-dependent Fe(III)- and Fe(II)-ExoMN equilibrium constants were determined using a model involving sequential protonation of the Fe(III)- and Fe(II)-ExoMN complexes. These data were used to develop a model whereby deprotonation reactions on the surface of the complex in the second coordination shell result in first coordination shell isomerization. The overall formation constants were calculated: log beta(110) = 39.12 for Fe(III)-ExoMN and 16.7 for Fe(II)-ExoMN. The calculated pFe value of 31.1 is one of the highest among all siderophores and their synthetic analogues and indicates that ExoMN is thermodynamically capable of removing Fe(III) from transferrin. The E(1/2) for the Fe(III)ExoMN/Fe(II)ExoMN(-) couple was determined to be -595 mV from quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms at pH = 10.8, and the pH-dependent E(1/2) profile was used to determine the Fe(II)-ExoMN protonation constants.     

Fe(III) coordination properties of a new saccharide-based exocyclic trihydroxamate analogue of ferrichrome

The coordination chemistry of a saccharide-based ferrichrome analogue, 1-O-methyl-2,3,4-tris-O-[4-(N-hydroxy-N-methylcarbamoyl)-n-butyrate]-alpha-d-glucopyranoside (H(3)L), is reported, along with its pK(a) values, Fe(III) and Fe(II) chelation constants, and aqueous-solution speciation as determined by spectrophotometric and potentiometric titration techniques. The use of a saccharide platform to synthesize a hexadentate trihydroxamic acid chelator provides some advantages over other approaches to ferrichrome models, including significant water solubility and hydrogen-bonding capability of the backbone that can potentially provide favorable receptor recognition and biological activity. The pK(a) values for the hydroxamate moieties were found to be similar to those of other trihydroxamates. Proton-dependent Fe(III)-H(3)L and Fe(II)-H(3)L equilibrium constants were determined using a model involving the sequential protonation of the iron(III)- and iron(II)-ligand complexes. These results were used to calculate the formation constants, log beta(110) = 31.86 for Fe(III)L and 12.1 for Fe(II)L(-). The calculated pFe value of 27.1 indicates that H(3)L possesses an Fe(III) affinity comparable to or greater than those of ferrichrome and other ferrichrome analogues and is thermodynamically capable of removing Fe(III) from transferrin. E(1/2) for the Fe(III)L/Fe(II)L(-) couple was determined to be -436 mV from quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms at pH = 9, and the pH-dependent E(1/2) profile was used to determine the Fe(II)L(-) protonation constants.     

Oriented Crystallization on Organic Monolayers to Control Concomitant Polymorphism

Nucleation events and crystal growth can be guided by molecular recognition at interfaces through intermolecular interactions. The short-acting antimicrobial sulfa drug sulfathiazole is known for its concomitant crystallization, which has five known polymorphs, due to conformational flexibility and hydrogen-bond synthon variation. In its development stage of a drug the issue of concomitant crystallization needs to be addressed with respect to patent litigation, including legal actions to protect patents against infringement. A functional self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of organic thiol on a gold surface has been employed as an efficient approach to control concomitant nucleation of such flexible drugs. The crystallization on a SAM surface is mostly kinetically driven and often leads to the nucleation of novel metastable forms. Spectroscopic, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction studies reveal that a previously unknown, sixth form of the drug nucleates on the designed SAM surface.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed α‐Carbonylalkylarylation of Vinylarenes: Expedient Access to γ,γ‐Diarylcarbonyl and Aryltetralone Derivatives

We report a Ni‐catalyzed regioselective α‐carbonylalkylarylation of vinylarenes with α‐halocarbonyl compounds and arylzinc reagents. The reaction works with primary, secondary, and tertiary α‐halocarbonyl molecules, and electronically varied arylzinc reagents. The reaction generates γ,γ‐diarylcarbonyl derivatives with α‐secondary, tertiary, and quaternary carbon centers. The products can be readily converted to aryltetralones, including a precursor to Zoloft, an antidepressant drug.     

Uniqueness Result in the Cauchy Dirichlet Problem via Mehler Kernel

Using the Mehler kernel, a uniqueness theorem in the Cauchy Dirichlet problem for the Hermite heat equation with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions on a class P of bounded functions U(x, t) with certain growth on U _x (x, t) is established.     

Hydrodechlorination of Dichloromethane by a Metal-Free Triazole-Porphyrin Electrocatalyst: Demonstration of Main-Group Element Electrocatalysis**

In this work, the electrocatalytic reduction of dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂) into hydrocarbons involving a main group element-based molecular triazole-porphyrin electrocatalyst H2PorT8 is reported. This catalyst converted CH₂Cl₂ in acetonitrile to various hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, and ethylene) with a Faradaic efficiency of 70 % and current density of −13 mA cm⁻² at a potential of −2.2 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺ using water as a proton source. The findings of this study and its mechanistic interpretations demonstrated that H2PorT8 was an efficient and stable catalyst for the hydrodechlorination of CH₂Cl₂ and that main group catalysts could be potentially used for exploring new catalytic reaction mechanisms.     

Iron chelation properties of an extracellular siderophore exochelin MS

The coordination chemistry of an extracellular siderophore produced by Mycobacterium smegmatis, exochelin MS (ExoMS), is reported along with its pK(a) values, Fe(III) and Fe(II) chelation constants, and aqueous solution speciation as determined by spectrophotometric and potentiometric titrations. Exochelin MS has three hydroxamic acid groups for Fe(III) chelation and has four additional acidic protons from a carboxylic acid group and three primary amine groups, on the backbone of the molecule. The pK(a) values for the three hydroxamic acid moieties, the carboxylic acid group and the alkylammonium groups on ExoMS, correspond well with the literature values for these moieties. Equilibrium constants for proton-dependent Fe(III)-ExoMS equilibria were determined using a model involving the sequential protonation of the Fe(III)-ExoMS complexes at the first and second coordination shells. The equilibrium constants (beta) for the overall formation of Fe(III)ExoMS(H(3))(2+) and Fe(II)ExoMS(H(3))(+) from Fe((aq))(3+) or Fe((aq))(2+) and the deprotonated hydroxamate coordinating group form of the siderophore, ExoMS(H(3))(-), are calculated as log beta(III) = 28.9 and log beta(II) = 10.1. A calculated pFe value of 25.0 is very similar to that of other linear trihydroxamic acid siderophores, and indicates that ExoMS is thermodynamically capable of removing Fe(III) from transferrin. The E(1/2) for the Fe(III)-ExoMS/Fe(II)-ExoMS couple was determined from quasi reversible cyclic voltammograms at pH = 6.5 and found to be -380 mV.     

Suzuki coupling catalyzed by chloro({2-[mesityl(quinolin-8-yl-κN)boryl]-3,5-dimethylphenyl}methyl-κC)palladium(II)

The title compound was evaluated as catalyst for Suzuki coupling of aryl halides (X?=?I, Br) with phenylboronic acid at room temperature. The rates of the reactions increase with increasing Hammet sigma constant of m-substituents on the arylhalide. The presence of ortho groups on the arylhalides had the effect of lowering the reaction rates. Density functional theory study of the mechanism for the formation of a Pd⁽⁰⁾ complex from the title molecule was performed. Reductive elimination of chloride and the η⁴-BCCC moiety was endergonic and ruled out as a likely pathway. Instead, conversion of the title molecule to phenyl({2-[mesityl(quinolin-8-yl-κN)boryl]-3,5-dimethylphenyl}methyl-κC)palladium(II) complex is thermodynamically favored and predicted to further react with the solvent and the Suzuki coupling reagents to undergo reductive elimination of diphenyl to form a reactive Pd⁽⁰⁾ complex.     

A simple and efficient method for regioselective and stereoselective synthesis of vicinal bromohydrins and alkoxybromides from an olefin

A very rapid and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of vicinal bromohydrins and alkoxybromides directly from an olefin without any catalyst. The reaction was performed in CH3CN-water (4:1) or alcohol using N,N-dibromo-p-toluenesulfonamide (TsNBr2) as the brominating agent. Excellent yields and regio- and stereoselectivities have been obtained. Bromohydrins are formed instantaneously, whereas formation of alkoxybromides takes 30-60 min.