Xenoprotein engineering via synthetic libraries.

Chemical methods have enabled the total synthesis of protein molecules of ever-increasing size and complexity. However, methods to engineer synthetic proteins comprising noncanonical amino acids have not kept pace, even though this capability would be a distinct advantage of the total synthesis approach to protein science. In this work, we report a platform for protein engineering based on the screening of synthetic one-bead one-compound protein libraries. Screening throughput approaching that of cell surface display was achieved by a combination of magnetic bead enrichment, flow cytometry analysis of on-bead screens, and high-throughput MS/MS-based sequencing of identified active compounds. Direct screening of a synthetic protein library by these methods resulted in the de novo discovery of mirror-image miniprotein-based binders to a ∼150-kDa protein target, a task that would be difficult or impossible by other means.

Recent advances in homogeneous nickel catalysis.

Tremendous advances have been made in nickel catalysis over the past decade. Several key properties of nickel, such as facile oxidative addition and ready access to multiple oxidation states, have allowed the development of a broad range of innovative reactions. In recent years, these properties have been increasingly understood and used to perform transformations long considered exceptionally challenging. Here we discuss some of the most recent and significant developments in homogeneous nickel catalysis, with an emphasis on both synthetic outcome and mechanism.

Nickel Catalysis: Synergy between Method Development and Total Synthesis.

Nickel(0) catalysts have proven to be powerful tools for multicomponent coupling reactions in our laboratories over the past 15 years. This interest was originally sparked by the ubiquity of allylic alcohol motifs in natural products, such as (-)-terpestacin, which we envisioned assembling by the coupling of two π components (alkyne and aldehyde) with concomitant reduction. Mechanistic investigations allowed us to elucidate several modes of controlling the regioselectivity and stereoselectivity in the oxidative cyclization, and these insights enabled us to leverage combinations of alkenes and phosphine ligands to direct regioselective outcomes. The initial success in developing the first intermolecular reductive alkyne-aldehyde coupling reaction launched a series of methodological investigations that rapidly expanded to include coupling reactions of alkynes with other electrophilic π components, such as imines and ketones, as well as electrophilic σ components, such as epoxides. Aziridines proved to be more challenging substrates for reductive coupling, but we were recently able to demonstrate that cross-coupling of aziridines and alkylzinc reagents is smoothly catalyzed by a zero-valent nickel/phenanthroline system. Moreover, the enantioselective alkyne-aldehyde coupling and the development of novel P-chiral ferrocenyl ligands enabled the total synthesis of (-)-terpestacin, amphidinolides T1 and T4, (-)-gloeosporone, and pumiliotoxins 209F and 251D. We subsequently determined that alkenes could be used in place of alkynes in several nickel-catalyzed reactions when a silyl triflate activating agent was added. We reason that such an additive functions largely to enhance the electrophilicity of the metal center by coordination to the electrophilic π component, such that less nucleophilic alkene π donors can undergo productive combination with nickel complexes. This activation manifold was further demonstrated to be effective for alkene-aldehyde couplings. In a related manner, electrophilic promoters were also successfully employed for allylic substitution reactions of allylic carbonates with simple alkenes and in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction of both benzyl and aryl electrophiles. In these instances, it is proposed that counterion exchange from a more strongly coordinating anion to the weakly or noncoordinating triflate counterion enables reaction at an electrophilic Ni(II) center rather than by coordination to one of the coupling components. Mechanistic insights also played an important role in the development of mixed N-heterocyclic carbene/phosphite ligand systems to overcome challenges in regioselective alkene-aldehyde coupling reactions. We hope that, taken together, the body of work summarized in this Account demonstrates the constructive interplay among total synthesis, methodological development, and mechanistic investigation that has driven our research program.

Catalytic Access to Alkyl Bromides, Chlorides and Iodides via Visible Light-Promoted Decarboxylative Halogenation.

Herein is reported the catalytic, visible light-promoted, decarboxylative halogenation (bromination, chlorination, and iodination) of aliphatic carboxylic acids. This operationally-simple reaction tolerates a range of functional groups, proceeds at room temperature, and is redox neutral. By employing an iridium photocatalyst in concert with a halogen atom source, the use of stoichiometric metals such as silver, mercury, thallium, and lead can be circumvented. This reaction grants access to valuable synthetic building blocks from the large pool of cheap, readily available carboxylic acids.

Highly regioselective nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of N-tosylaziridines and alkylzinc reagents.

Herein, we report the first ligand-controlled, nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of aliphatic N-tosylaziridines with aliphatic organozinc reagents. The reaction protocol displays complete regioselectivity for reaction at the less hindered C-N bond, and the products are furnished in good to excellent yield for a broad selection of substrates. Moreover, we have developed an air-stable nickel(II) chloride/ligand precatalyst that can be handled and stored outside a glovebox. In addition to increasing the activity of this catalyst system, this also greatly improves the practicality of this reaction, as the use of the very air-sensitive Ni(cod)2 is avoided. Finally, mechanistic investigations, including deuterium-labeling studies, show that the reaction proceeds with overall inversion of configuration at the terminal position of the aziridine by way of aziridine ring opening by Ni (inversion), transmetalation (retention), and reductive elimination (retention).

Simplifying nickel(0) catalysis: an air-stable nickel precatalyst for the internally selective benzylation of terminal alkenes.

The synthesis and characterization of the air-stable nickel(II) complex trans-(PCy(2)Ph)(2)Ni(o-tolyl)Cl is described in conjunction with an investigation of its use for the Mizoroki-Heck-type, room temperature, internally selective coupling of substituted benzyl chlorides with terminal alkenes. This reaction, which employs a terminal alkene as an alkenylmetal equivalent, provides rapid, convergent access to substituted allylbenzene derivatives in high yield and with regioselectivity greater than 95:5 in nearly all cases. The reaction is operationally simple, can be carried out on the benchtop with no purification or degassing of solvents or reagents, and requires no exclusion of air or water during setup. Synthesis of the precatalyst is accomplished through a straightforward procedure that employs inexpensive, commercially available reagents, requires no purification steps, and proceeds in high yield.

Accelerated Discovery in Photocatalysis by a Combined Screening Approach Involving MS Tags.

Herein we report on the development of an MS tag screening strategy that accelerates the discovery of photocatalytic reactions. By efficiently combining mechanism- and reaction-based screening dimensions, the respective advantages of each strategy were retained, whereas the drawbacks inherent to each screening approach could be eliminated. Applying this approach led to the discovery of a mild photosensitized decarboxylative hydrazide synthesis from mesoionic sydnones and carboxylic acids as starting materials.

A Broadly Applicable Strategy for Entry into Homogeneous Nickel(0) Catalysts from Air-Stable Nickel(II) Complexes.

A series of air-stable nickel complexes of the form L2Ni(aryl) X (L = monodentate phosphine, X = Cl, Br) and LNi(aryl)X (L = bis-phosphine) have been synthesized and are presented as a library of precatalysts suitable for a wide variety of nickel-catalyzed transformations. These complexes are easily synthesized from low-cost NiCl2·6H2O or NiBr2·3H2O and the desired ligand followed by addition of 1 equiv of Grignard reagent. A selection of these complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and an analysis of their structural features is provided. A case study of their use as precatalysts for the nickel-catalyzed carbonyl-ene reaction is presented, showing superior reactivity in comparison to reactions using Ni(cod)2. Furthermore, as the precatalysts are all stable to air, no glovebox or inert-atmosphere techniques are required to make use of these complexes for nickel-catalyzed reactions.