Oxidative entry to α-oxy N-acyl aminals and hemiaminals: efficient formation of 2-(N-acylaminal) substituted tetrahydropyrans

An efficient new method to synthesize α-oxy N-acyl aminals and hemiaminals in a single step from readily synthesized N-acyl enamines has been developed using PhI(OAc)₂ as the oxidant. The reaction conditions are very mild and the products are obtained in good yields (65-92%). A possible mechanistic pathway is laid out.     

Acid–base chemistry at the single ion limit

We present the results of acid–base experiments performed at the single ion (H⁺ or OH⁻) limit in ∼6 aL volume nanopores incorporating electrochemical zero-mode waveguides (E-ZMWs). At pH 3 each E-ZMW nanopore contains ca. 3600H⁺ ions, and application of a negative electrochemical potential to the gold working electrode/optical cladding layer reduces H⁺ to H₂, thereby depleting H⁺ and increasing the local pH within the nanopore. The change in pH was quantified by tracking the intensity of fluorescein, a pH-responsive fluorophore whose intensity increases with pH. This behavior was translated to the single ion limit by changing the initial pH of the electrolyte solution to pH 6, at which the average pore occupancy 〈n〉_pore ∼3.6H⁺/nanopore. Application of an electrochemical potential sufficiently negative to change the local pH to pH 7 reduces the proton nanopore occupancy to 〈n〉_pore ∼0.36H⁺/nanopore, demonstrating that the approach is sensitive to single H⁺ manipulations, as evidenced by clear potential-dependent changes in fluorescein emission intensity. In addition, at high overpotential, the observed fluorescence intensity exceeded the value predicted from the fluorescence intensity-pH calibration, an observation attributed to the nucleation of H₂ nanobubbles as confirmed both by calculations and the behavior of non-pH responsive Alexa 488 fluorophore. Apart from enhancing fundamental understanding, the approach described here opens the door to applications requiring ultrasensitive ion sensing, based on the optical detection of H⁺ population at the single ion limit.

Visualizing dynamic change in the number of protons during electroreduction of protons in attoliter volume zero-mode waveguides.     

Selective benzylic lithiation of N-Boc-2-phenylpiperidine and pyrrolidine: expedient synthesis of a 2,2-disubstituted piperidine NK1 antagonist

Unlike the lithiation of N-Boc-2-alkylpiperidines, which occurs at the 6-position, N-Boc-2-phenylpiperidine and N-Boc-2-phenylpyrrolidine can be lithiated exclusively at the 2-position. The tertiary carbanions can be trapped with a variety of electrophiles. This chemistry was used for the synthesis of a potent NK₁ ligand (K_i = 0.3 nM). The bioactive configuration at the piperidine quaternary center was determined by X-ray analysis to be (S).     

Free convection of a dusty‐gas flow along a semi‐infinite vertical cylinder

An analysis is performed to study the free convection of a dusty‐gas flow along a semi‐infinite isothermal vertical cylinder. The governing equations of the flow problem are transformed into non‐dimensional form and the resulting nonlinear, coupled parabolic partial differential equations have been solved numerically using an implicit finite difference scheme of Crank–Nicholson type. The flow variables such as gas–velocity, dust‐particle velocity and temperature, shearing stress and heat transfer coefficients are calculated numerically for various parameters occurring in the problem. It is observed that due to the presence of dust particles, the gas velocity is found to decrease. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coupled motion in proteins revealed by pressure perturbation

The cooperative nature of protein substructure and internal motion is a critical aspect of their functional competence about which little is known experimentally. NMR relaxation is used here to monitor the effects of high pressure on fast internal motion in the protein ubiquitin. In contrast to the main chain, the motions of the methyl-bearing side chains have a large and variable pressure dependence. Within the core, this pressure sensitivity correlates with the magnitude of motion at ambient pressure. Spatial clustering of the dynamic response to applied hydrostatic pressure is also seen, indicating localized cooperativity of motion on the sub-nanosecond time scale and suggesting regions of variable compressibility. These and other features indicate that the native ensemble contains a significant fraction of members with characteristics ascribed to the recently postulated "dry molten globule". The accompanying variable side-chain conformational entropy helps complete our view of the thermodynamic architecture underlying protein stability, folding, and function.     

Bifunctional coordination polymers as efficient catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion

The multidentate ligand H₂ L upon complexation with Zn (II) and Cd (II) provide a one‐dimensional polymeric networks. These coordination polymers (CPs) CP‐1 and CP‐2 containing Zn (II) and Cd (II) metals respectively are well characterized. The single crystal structural analysis confirms the formation of one‐dimensional coordination polymer with zigzag fashion in CP‐1 and ladder chain CP‐2 . Both the CPs are applied as catalysts to synthesize various cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide. The catalysts are giving better conversion under solvent‐free and additive‐free condition using 10 bar CO₂ and 100 °C as optimized pressure and temperature. The detailed kinetic experiments suggesting the first order kinetics, the energy of activation (Ea) is calculated for this catalytic conversion.     

Indirect electrochemical oxidation of substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to corresponding para-quinones with potassium bromide in water–chloroform medium

Indirect electrochemical synthesis of quinone derivatives of a series of substituted anthracene and naphthalene by the electrolysis of aqueous solution of potassium bromide (3.0 M) using Pt anode at constant current density (40 mA/cm²) has been carried out. These reactions resulted in good to excellent yields of the corresponding para-quinones as confirmed by physical and spectral data.     

Highly efficient metal-free one-pot synthesis of α-aminophosphonates through reduction followed by Kabachnik–fields reaction using three-component system

One-pot synthesis of α-aminophosphonates directly from aryl nitro compounds, aldehydes/ketones, and diethyl phosphite using sodium dithionite through reduction and followed by Kabachnik–Fields reaction under metal-free conditions is reported. The major advantages are excellent yield, high chemoselectivity, neutral reaction medium, and simple experimental procedure. This methodology consists of the following steps: 1) amine formation from nitro compound, 2) imine formation from amine and aldehyde/ketone, 3) phosphate addition to imine.     

Formal [1,3] rearrangement of 2-furylmethyl and 2-thienylmethyl vinyl ethers

Benzyl and naphthylmethyl vinyl ethers are inert in LPDE medium, whereas hetcroaromntic methyl vinyl ethers, viz., 2-furyl and 2-thicnylmelhyl vinyl ethers undergo formal [1,3] rearrangement in LPDE medium.     

Sensing of Phosphates by Using Luminescent EuIII and TbIII Complexes: Application to the Microalgal Cell Chlorella vulgaris

Phenanthroline‐based chiral ligands L¹ and L² as well as the corresponding Eu^III and Tb^III complexes were synthesized and characterized. The coordination compounds show red and green emission, which was explored for the sensing of a series of anions such as F^?, Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, NO₃^?, NO₂^?, HPO₄^2?, HSO₄^?, CH₃COO^?, and HCO₃^?. Among the anions, HPO₄^2? exhibited a strong response in the emission property of both europium(III) and terbium(III) complexes. The complexes showed interactions with the nucleoside phosphates adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP). Owing to this recognition, these complexes have been applied as staining agents in the microalgal cell Chlorella vulgaris. The stained microalgal cells were monitored through fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Initially, the complexes bind to the outer cell wall and then enter the cell wall through holes in which they probably bind to phospholipids. This leads to a quenching of the luminescence properties.