Chemically Recyclable Poly(ß-thioether ester)s Based on Rigid Spirocyclic Ketal Diols Derived from Citric Acid.

Incorporating rigid cyclic acetal and ketal units into polymer structures is an important strategy toward recyclable high-performance materials from renewable resources. In the present work, citric acid, a widely used platform chemical derived from biomass, has been efficiently converted into di- and tricyclic diketones. Ketalization with glycerol or trimethylolpropane afforded rigid spirodiols, which were obtained as complex mixtures of isomers. After a comprehensive NMR analysis, the spirodiols were converted into the respective di(meth)acrylates and utilized in thiol-ene polymerizations in combination with different dithiols. The resulting poly(ß-thioether ester ketal)s were thermally stable up to 300 °C and showed glass-transition temperatures in a range of -7 to 40 °C, depending on monomer composition. The polymers were stable in aqueous acids and bases, but in a mixture of 1 M aqueous HCl and acetone, the ketal functional groups were cleanly hydrolyzed, opening the pathway for potential chemical recycling of these materials. We envision that these novel bioderived spirodiols have a great potential to become valuable and versatile bio-based building blocks for several different kinds of polymer materials.

Designed whole-cell-catalysis-assisted synthesis of 9,11-secosterols.

A method for the synthesis of 9,11-secosteroids starting from the natural corticosteroid cortisol is described. There are two key steps in this approach, combining chemistry and synthetic biology. Stereo- and regioselective hydroxylation at C9 (steroid numbering) is carried out using whole-cell biocatalysis, followed by the chemical cleavage of the C-C bond of the vicinal diol. The two-step method features mild reaction conditions and completely excludes the use of toxic oxidants.

Shortfall of B3LYP in Reproducing NMR JCH Couplings in Some Isomeric Epoxy Structures with Strong Stereoelectronic Effects: A Benchmark Study on DFT Functionals.

Unprecedented scatter plots of calculated versus measured NMR 2,3 JCH coupling constants in six densely oxygen functionalized epoxides are found with some B3LYP protocols, an effect attributed to stereoelectronic effects. Hence, 26 other exchange-correlation density functionals (xc DFs) are benchmarked in this work. Very good results are achieved with mPW1PW91 and PBE0 in conjunction with the pcJ-1 basis set (BS) of moderate size. A thorough statistical analysis of 53 relationships between the predicted and observed 2,3 JCH datasets is presented. The effects of some xc DFs, including their x and c parts, and BSs on the calculation results are discussed, also in the context of DFT modeling of electron-density distributions. Moreover, related 1 JCH datasets predicted with 11 different DF methods are considered and compared with the experimental data. Finally, some proposals for further improvement of existing DFs based on the available n JCH (n=1-3) values are briefly outlined, in line with recent results on the DFT electron densities.

Hydroformylation of Olefinic Derivatives of Isosorbide and Isomannide.

The first time application of hydroformylation on olefinic derivatives of isosorbide and isomannide is shown by which a new carbon-carbon bond is formed. Depending on the ligand and reaction conditions used, the C6 regioisomer a can be obtained in 4:1 ratio and excellent yield, whereas C5 isomer b is achieved in almost complete regioselectivity (46:1) and good yield. In the majority of cases only the exo orientation is observed for the obtained aldehydes, and the method is easily applicable also on a 1 g scale.

An NMR and MD modeling insight into nucleation of 1,2-alkanediols: selective crystallization of lipase-catalytically resolved enantiomers from the reaction mixtures.

The work on developing a scalable lipase-catalytic method for the kinetic resolution of long-chain 1,2-alkanediols, complemented by crystallization of the pure enantiomers from the reaction mixtures, offered the possibility of a more detailed study of the aggregation of such diols. MD modeling, mass spectrometry, (1)H NMR, and DOSY studies provided a novel insight into the nucleation process. An efficient protocol for stereo- and chemoselective crystallization of (S)-1,2-dodecanediol and related compounds from the crude bioconversion mixtures was developed.

Synthesis and quantitative analysis of diastereomeric linked ester conjugates with remote stereocenters using high-field NMR and chiral HPLC.

A stereochemically safe high-yielding procedure for linking unprotected as well as protected hydroxycarboxylic acids to chiral secondary alcohols via glycolic acid linker is proposed. L-menthol has been linked with both enantiomers of mandelic, malic, and methoxyphenylacetic acid using bromo- or iodoacetyl group as a precursor of the glycolic acid linker. High-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of high diastereomeric ratio (dr) (>99%) of the products bearing remote stereocenters was explored. Chiral HPLC allowed quantitation of the diastereomers up to dr 99.9/0.1. High-field NMR quantitation of the diastereomeric and parent alcoholic impurities in esters was demonstrated at the molar 0.3% and 0.03% levels, respectively. These analyses were done via comparison of integral intensities from major component (13)C satellites in (1)H or even in (13)C spectra to the (1)H or (13C signals of impurities. Despite lower sensitivity, the last option generally has much better selectivity. In this way the dynamic resolution is brought down by two orders.

Diastereoselective multicomponent cascade reaction leading to [3.2.0]-heterobicyclic compounds.

A general three-component triple cascade reaction through an iminium-enamine-iminium sequential activation initiated by a hetero-Michael addition to α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes affords [3.2.0]heterobicycles in high diastereoselectivity. The rate and diastereoselectivity of the reaction depended on the (E)-4-heterocrotonate and size of the secondary amine. The enantiomers of the major diastereoisomer of oxa- and azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane derivatives were separated by enzymatic kinetic resolution with immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase B (CALB), with E values up to 153. The absolute configuration of the nonacylated enantiomer of oxabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.

Theoretical prediction and assignment of vicinal 1H-1H coupling constants of diastereomeric 3-alkoxy-6,7-epoxy-2-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes.

Spin-spin coupling constants between nuclei in NMR spectroscopy reflect their spatial arrangement. A number of calculation methods, applying different levels of theory, have been developed to support the stereochemical assignment of novel compounds. Nevertheless, revisions of the assignment of structures in the literature are not rare. In the present work, the reliability of the calculation methods amenable for a theoretical prediction of spin-spin coupling constants of vicinal protons to support correct stereochemical assignment of substitution at five-membered rings of 3-alkoxy-6,7-epoxy-2-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes was studied. Experimental (3)J(H,H) coupling constants were compared with the coupling constants calculated for all possible diastereomers. The fully quantum chemical approach provided theoretical (3)J(H,H) coupling constants with an absolute deviation of no more than 1.1 Hz for 91% of the experimentally studied coupled spins, whereas the methods without quantum chemical geometry optimization resulted in completely unreliable predictions. Consequently, for a reliable stereochemical assignment of small and medium size molecules, the protocol for calculating the coupling constants based on the results of the quantum chemical geometry optimization is recommended.

Alkoxide-based precursors for direct drawing of metal oxide micro- and nanofibres.

The invention of electrospinning has solved the problem of producing micro- and nanoscaled metal oxide fibres in bulk quantities. However, until now no methods have been available for preparing a single nanofibre of a metal oxide. In this work, the direct drawing method was successfully applied to produce metal oxide (SnO2, TiO2, ZrO2, HfO2 and CeO2) fibres with a high aspect ratio (up to 10 000) and a diameter as small as 200 nm. The sol-gel processing includes consumption of precursors obtained from alkoxides by aqueous or non-aqueous polymerization. Shear thinning of the precursors enables pulling a material into a fibre. This rheological behaviour can be explained by sliding of particles owing to external forces. Transmission (propagation) of light along microscaled fibres and their excellent surface morphology suggest that metal oxide nanofibres can be directly drawn from sol precursors for use in integrated photonic systems.

Impact of short-term heat treatment on the structure and functional properties of commercial furcellaran compared to commercial carrageenans.

In the production of biopolymers, the processing operations (e.g. extraction and drying) involve some degradation of the polysaccharide-causing structural and functional changes in final products. In this study, short-term heat treatment (75-115 °C, 15 min) influence on commercial carrageenans' - furcellaran, κ-carrageenan, ι-carrageenan and a κ/λ-carrageenan - structure, molecular weight and gel rheology was studied. Compared with other carrageenans, commercial furcellaran that had undergone multiple heatings at high temperatures during production was found to be susceptible to polymer degradation. Heat caused the desulphation and degradation of furcellaran galactans and the molecular weight was significantly decreased, causing a drop in viscosity and gel hardness. The loss of the network cross-linking of furcellaran gels was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Carrageenan gel storage modulus values decreased with the increase in the temperature of the treatment. The greatest decrease in storage modulus values occurred with κ/λ-carrageenan gels, followed by ι-carrageenan > furcellaran > κ-carrageenan.

Remote activation of the nucleophilicity of isatin.

The concept of the remote activation of reactivity was first applied in asymmetric organocatalysis. An isatin 3-phenylimine derivative acts as a donor in the thiourea catalyzed asymmetric addition to unsaturated 1,4-ketoesters, affording aza-Michael adducts in high enantiomeric purity and yield.

Structural changes of starch during baking and staling of rye bread.

Rye sourdough breads go stale more slowly than wheat breads. To understand the peculiarities of bread staling, rye sourdough bread, wheat bread, and a number of starches were studied using wide-angle X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance ((13)C CP MAS NMR, (1)H NMR, (31)P NMR), polarized light microscopy, rheological methods, microcalorimetry, and measurement of water activity. The degree of crystallinity of starch in breads decreased with hydration and baking to 3% and increased during 11 days of storage to 21% in rye sourdough bread and to 26% in wheat bread. (13)C NMR spectra show that the chemical structures of rye and wheat amylopectin and amylose contents are very similar; differences were found in the starch phospholipid fraction characterized by (31)P NMR. The (13)C CP MAS NMR spectra demonstrate that starch in rye sourdough breads crystallize in different forms than in wheat bread. It is proposed that different proportions of water incorporation into the crystalline structure of starch during staling and changes in starch fine structure cause the different rates of staling of rye and wheat bread.

Synthesis and biological activity of bimorpholine and its carbanucleoside.

A new enantiomerically pure carbacyclic nucleoside analogue with bimorpholine as a nonaromatic nucleobase was synthesized. The nucleoside analogue and bimorpholine were tested for cytotoxicity using an MTT assay and the xCELLigence System. Both assays revealed that compound 3 was highly cytotoxic at a 50 µM concentration while the cytotoxic effect of compound 1 was much less prominent. No antiretroviral activity was detected for this compound. In contrast, it acted as a potent inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. Most likely this effect originates largely from the cytotoxicity of the compound; however, it is possible that a specific mechanism of HCV inhibition also exists.

A novel diastereoselective multicomponent cascade reaction.

A novel multicomponent cascade reaction led to the formation of a strained 3-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane derivative 4. The unstable ester 4 was reduced in a one-pot procedure to a stable alcohol 6. The formation of the bicyclic product is highly diastereoselective, predominantly affording one diastereoisomer. The obtained azabicycloheptanes are important pharmacophores.

Structure and thermal stability of pyruvated carrageenans from the red alga Coccotylus truncatus.

The composition, structure, and thermal stability of carrageenans from unattached Coccotylus truncatus (the Baltic Sea, Estonia) were investigated. The complex polysaccharide was characterized by (13)C NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, ICP-OES and gel permeation chromatography methods. The main components of C. truncatus galactan are 3,6-anhydro-alpha-D-galactose-2-sulfate (30+/-1.5%) and beta-D-galactose-4-sulfate (45.3%), indicating a iota-carrageenan backbone. As the minor components, alpha-D-galactose-2,6-disulfate (12+/-2%) from nu-carrageenan and 4',6'-pyruvated beta-D-galactopyranosyl residues (1.4%) from pyruvated alpha-carrageenan are found to be present, latter being responsible for the undersulfated nature of the galactan. The native polysaccharide with the average molecular weight of about 1500 kDa is highly susceptible to thermal degradation. The high-temperature treatment of this galactan gives products with 3,6-anhydro-alpha-D-galactose units predominantly at the reducing end. The carrageenan extraction from C. truncatus gives characteristically low yields (12-17%); weak gelling ability of the polysaccharides from this seaweed species (gel strength 30-40 g/cm(2)) does not depend significantly on extraction conditions.

Carbocyclic 3'-deoxyadenosine-based highly potent bisubstrate-analog inhibitor of basophilic protein kinases.

Carbocyclic analogs of 3'-deoxyadenosine were synthesized as racemates and the resulting stereoisomers were separated by chromatography on a chiral column. The conjugation of obtained compounds with hexa-(D-arginine) via 6-aminohexanoic acid linker led to a highly potent inhibitor of several basophilic protein kinases with some selectivity towards cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Bimorpholine-mediated enantioselective intramolecular and intermolecular aldol condensation.

Monosalts of N-substituted bimorpholine derivatives are efficient organocatalysts in intramolecular and intermolecular aldol reactions. The properties of the catalysts can be tuned either by the selection of an appropriate acid for the salt formation or by the change of a substituent at the nitrogen atom. In aldol condensation, i-Pr-substituted bimorpholine is the most stereoselective catalyst affording products in high yield with enantioselectivities up to 95% ee.

Synthesis of deoxy sugar esters: a chemoenzymatic stereoselective approach affording deoxy sugar derivatives also in the form of aldehyde.

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of deoxy sugar esters is described. The synthesis is based on the O-alkylation of carboxylic acid with 2-bromo-5-acetoxypentanal. The method allows treatment of hydroxy carboxylic acids without protection of alcoholic hydroxyl groups. Several stereoisomeric deoxy sugar esters were resolved (up to ee or de > 98%) using a lipase-catalyzed acetylation of hemiacetals that in certain cases afforded deoxy sugar derivatives in the form of aldehydes. The stereochemistry of the reactions was determined by the NMR spectra of mandelic acid derivatives.

Application of 13C-[2] - and 13C-[1,2] acetate in metabolic labelling studies of yeast and insect cells.

The advantage of using 13C-labelled glucose in metabolic studies is that it is an important carbon and energy source for almost all biotechnologically and medically important organisms. On the other hand, the disadvantage is its relatively high cost in the labelling experiments. Looking for cheaper alternatives we found that 13C-[2] acetate or 13C-[1,2] acetate is a prospective compound for such experiments. Acetate is well incorporated by many organisms, including mammalian and insect cell cultures as preferred source of acetyl-CoA. Our experimental results using 13C NMR demonstrated that acetate was efficiently incorporated into glutamate and alanine secreted by the insect cell culture. Using D-stat culture of Saccharomyces uvarum on glucose/13C-acetate mineral media we demonstrated that the labelling patterns of proteinogenic amino acids can be well predicted on the basis of specific substrate consumption rates using the modified scheme of yeast metabolism and stoichiometric modelling. According to this scheme aspartate and alanine in S. uvarum under the experimental conditions used is synthesised in the mitochondria. Synthesis of alanine in the mitochondria was also demonstrated for Spodoptera frugiperda. For both organisms malic enzyme was also operative. For S. uvarum it was shown that the activity of malic enzyme is sufficient for supporting the mitochondrial biosynthetic reactions with NADPH.

ATP N-glycosidase - a novel ATP-converting activity from a marine sponge Axinella polypoides.

A novel nucleosidase enzymatic activity was discovered in the marine sponge Axinella polypoides. This enzyme, designated as ATP N-glycosidase, converts adenosine-5'-triphosphate into adenine and ribose-5-triphosphate. The crude extract of A. polypoides was capable of hydrolysing 25 micro mol ATP.min-1 per g wet weight of sponge. The catalytic activity of a sponge crude extract per mg total protein is comparable with specific activities of purified plant adenosine and bacterial AMP nucleosidases. The preferred substrate for the novel enzyme is ATP but any compound containing adenosine-5'-diphosphoryl fragment is also cleaved. The biochemical properties (Km, Kip, environmental requirements) of ATP N-glycosidase show similarities with previously described adenine-specific nucleosidases; however, the pattern of its biochemical characteristics does not match with that of any of those enzymes.