Demonstration of the Formation of a Selenocysteine Selenenic Acid through Hydrolysis of a Selenocysteine Selenenyl Iodide Utilizing a Protective Molecular Cradle.

Selenocysteine selenenic acids (Sec-SeOHs) and selenocysteine selenenyl iodides (Sec-SeIs) have long been recognized as crucial intermediates in the catalytic cycle of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio), respectively. However, the observation of these reactive species remained elusive until our recent study, where we successfully stabilized Sec-SeOHs and Sec-SeIs using a protective molecular cradle. Here, we report the first demonstration of the chemical transformation from a Sec-SeI to a Sec-SeOH through alkaline hydrolysis. A stable Sec-SeI derived from a selenocysteine methyl ester was synthesized using the protective cradle, and its structure was determined by crystallographic analysis. The alkaline hydrolysis of the Sec-SeI at -50 °C yielded the corresponding Sec-SeOH in an 89% NMR yield, the formation of which was further confirmed by its reaction with dimedone. The facile and nearly quantitative conversion of the Sec-SeI to the Sec-SeOH not only validates the potential involvement of this process in the catalytic mechanism of Dio, but also highlights its utility as a method for producing a Sec-SeOH.

Highly Electrophilic Intermediates in the Bypass Mechanism of Glutathione Peroxidase: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Structures of Selenocysteine-Derived Cyclic Selenenyl Amides.

Selenocysteine (Sec)-derived cyclic selenenyl amides, formed by the intramolecular cyclization of Sec selenenic acids (Sec-SeOHs), have been postulated to function as protective forms in the bypass mechanism of glutathione peroxidase (GPx). However, their chemical properties have not been experimentally elucidated in proteins or small-molecule systems. Recently, we reported the first nuclear magnetic resonance observation of Sec-SeOHs and their cyclization to the corresponding cyclic selenenyl amides by using selenopeptide model systems incorporated in a molecular cradle. Herein, we elucidate the structures and reactivities of Sec-derived cyclic selenenyl amides. The crystal structures and reactions toward a cysteine thiol or a 1,3-diketone-type chemical probe indicated the highly electrophilic character of cyclic selenenyl amides. This suggests that they can serve not only as protective forms to suppress the inactivation of Sec-SeOHs in GPx but also as highly electrophilic intermediates in the reactions of selenoproteins.

Modeling the Catalytic Cycle of Glutathione Peroxidase by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Analysis of Selenocysteine Selenenic Acids.

Although selenocysteine selenenic acids (Sec-SeOHs) have been recognized as key intermediates in the catalytic cycle of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), examples of the direct observation of Sec-SeOH in either protein or small-molecule systems have remained elusive so far, mostly due to their instability. Here, we report the first direct spectroscopic (1H and 77Se NMR) evidence for the formation of Sec-SeOH in small-molecule selenocysteine and selenopeptide model systems with a cradle-type protective group. The catalytic cycle of GPx was investigated using NMR-observable Sec-SeOH models. All the hitherto proposed chemical processes, i.e., not only those of the canonical catalytic cycle but also those involved in the bypass mechanism, including the intramolecular cyclization of Sec-SeOH to the corresponding five-membered ring selenenyl amide, were examined in a stepwise manner.

Isolable small-molecule cysteine sulfenic acid.

An isolable small-molecule cysteine sulfenic acid (Cys-SOH) protected by a molecular cradle was synthesized by direct oxidation of the corresponding cysteine thiol and its structure was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Studies on biologically relevant reactivity indicated its usefulness as a biorepresentative small-molecule sulfenic acid model.

Modeling of the Bioactivation of an Organic Nitrate by a Thiol to Form a Thionitrate Intermediate.

Thionitrates (R-SNO2) have been proposed as key intermediates in the biotransformation of organic nitrates that have been used for the clinical treatment of angina pectoris for over 100 years. It has been proposed and widely accepted that a thiol would react with an organic nitrate to afford a thionitrate intermediate. However, there has been no example of an experimental demonstration of this elementary chemical process in organic systems. Herein, we report that aryl- and primary-alkyl-substituted thionitrates were successfully synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding lithium thiolates with organic nitrates by taking advantage of cavity-shaped substituents. The structure of a primary-alkyl-substituted thionitrate was unambiguously established by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Synthesis of a Stable Primary-Alkyl-Substituted Selenenyl Iodide and Its Hydrolytic Conversion to the Corresponding Selenenic Acid.

A primary-alkyl-substituted selenenyl iodide was successfully synthesized through oxidative iodination of a selenol with N-iodosuccinimide by taking advantage of a cavity-shaped steric protection group. The selenenyl iodide exhibited high thermal stability and remained unchanged upon heating at 100 °C for 3 h in [D8]toluene. The selenenyl iodide was reduced to the corresponding selenol by treatment with dithiothreitol. Hydrolysis of the selenenyl iodide under alkaline conditions afforded the corresponding selenenic acid almost quantitatively, corroborating the chemical validity of the recent proposal that hydrolysis of a selenenyl iodide to a selenenic acid is potentially involved in the catalytic mechanism of an iodothyronine deiodinase.

Synthesis of a stable selenoaldehyde by self-catalyzed thermal dehydration of a primary-alkyl-substituted selenenic acid.

The unprecedented dehydration of a selenenic acid (RCH2SeOH) to a selenoaldehyde (RCH=Se) has been demonstrated. A primary-alkyl-substituted selenenic acid was synthesized for the first time by taking advantage of a bulky cavity-shaped substituent. Upon heating in solution, the selenenic acid underwent thermal dehydration to produce a stable selenoaldehyde, which was isolated as stable crystals and crystallographically characterized. Investigation of the reaction mechanism revealed that this ß dehydration reaction involves two processes, both of which reflect the characteristics of a selenenic acid: 1) dehydrative condensation of two molecules of selenenic acid to generate a selenoseleninate intermediate [RCH2SeSe(O)CH2R], an isomer of a selenenic anhydride, and 2) subsequent ß elimination of the selenenic acid from this intermediate to form a C=Se double bond, which establishes the self-catalyzed ß dehydration of the selenenic acid.

Efficient end-capping synthesis of neutral donor-acceptor [2]rotaxanes under additive-free and mild conditions.

Efficient end-capping synthesis of neutral donor-acceptor (D-A) [2]rotaxanes without loading any catalysts or activating agents was achieved by utilizing high reactivity of a pentacoordinated hydrosilane toward salicylic acid derivatives. As components of [2]rotaxanes, an electron-deficient naphthalenediimide-containing axle with a salicylic acid terminus and several electron-rich bis(naphthocrown) ether macrocycles were employed. End-capping reactions with the pentacoordinated hydrosilane underwent smoothly even at low temperature to afford the corresponding [2]rotaxanes in good yields. A [2]rotaxane containing bis-1,5-(dinaphtho)-38-crown-10 ether as a wheel molecule was synthesized and isolated in 84% yield by the end-capping at -10 °C, presenting the highest yield ever reported for the end-capping synthesis of a neutral D-A [2]rotaxane. It was found that the yields of the [2]rotaxanes in the end-capping reactions were almost parallel to the formation ratios of the corresponding pseudo[2]rotaxanes estimated by utilizing model systems. These results indicate that the end-capping reaction using the pentacoordinated hydrosilane proceeded without perturbing the threading process, and most of the pseudo[2]rotaxanes underwent efficient end-capping reaction even at low temperature.

Crystal structure of {3-[3,5-bis-(2,6-di-methyl-phen-yl)-1,2-phenyl-ene]-1-(2,6,2'',6''-tetra-methyl-1,1':3',1''-ter-phen-yl-5'-yl)imidazol-2-yl-idene}chlorido-(η(6)-p-cymene)ruthenium(II) benzene disolvate.

The title compound, [Ru(C47H43N2)Cl(C10H14)]·2C6H6, crystallized with two independent mol-ecules of benzene. One of the N-aryl moieties of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand underwent cyclo-metallation to form a five-membered ruthenacycle. The complex has a three-legged piano-stool structure with two C atoms incorporated in the five-membered ruthenacycle and a Cl atom as legs. The ruthenacycle is essentially coplanar with the imidazole ring of the NHC ligand, making a dihedral angle of 0.85 (8)°.

Catalyst-free syntheses of [2]rotaxanes utilizing a pentacoordinated hydrosilane as an end-capping agent.

A pentacoordinated hydrosilane activated by an intramolecular nitrogen-silicon dative bond was utilized as an end-capping agent for catalyst-free syntheses of [2]rotaxanes. The end-capping reaction of a pseudo[2]rotaxane bearing a salicylic acid terminus with the pentacoordinated hydrosilane readily proceeded at room temperature to produce the corresponding silyl-capped [2]rotaxane.

One-pot Negishi cross-coupling reactions of in situ generated zinc reagents with aryl chlorides, bromides, and triflates.

In situ generated aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, or benzylic polyfunctional zinc reagents obtained by the addition of zinc and LiCl to the corresponding organic iodides undergo smooth Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with aryl bromides, chlorides, and triflates in the presence of PEPPSI as a catalyst. This procedure avoids the manipulation of water and air-sensitive organozinc reagents and produces cross-coupling products in high yields.

Pentacoordinate 1H-phosphirenes: reactivity, bonding properties, and substituent effects on their structures and thermal stability.

The synthesis, reactivity, and bonding properties of several pentacoordinate P-phenyl-substituted 1H-phosphirenes are discussed. X-ray crystallographic analysis of one of them reveals a highly distorted square pyramidal (SP) arrangement around the phosphorus. NMR studies confirm that they retain the SP structure in solution and demonstrate that the endocyclic P-C bonds in the three-membered ring have a very high degree of p character, which results from their being both basal bonds in the SP structure and endocyclic bonds of the three-membered ring. Structural parameters of the three-membered ring of the pentacoordinate phosphirenes obtained by experiment and theoretical calculations are very close to those of a tetracoordinate phosphirenium cation. Thus, by analogy with tetracoordinate phosphirenium cations, it can be considered that a sigma-pi interaction between the sigma orbital of the apical bond and the pi orbital of the C=C bond in the three-membered ring is operative in pentacoordinate phosphirenes. The sigma-pi interaction is found to lower the reactivity of the C=C bond of the three-membered ring. The reactivities of the pentacoordinate phosphirenes are also affected by the substituent on the carbon atom in the three-membered ring.

Synthesis and structure of the first 1,2sigma5-selenaphosphirane.

A 1,2sigma5-selenaphosphirane bearing the Martin ligand was synthesized. Its structure in both the solid and the solution state was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis and NMR measurements, respectively. The selenaphosphirane has a polar P-Se bond, and the selenium atom is negatively charged. In the solution state, the degree of polarization of the P-Se bond depends on the acceptor number of the solvents.