Catalytic Generation and Chemoselective Transfer of Nucleophilic Hydrides from Dihydrogen.

Copper(I)-N-heterocyclic-carbene (NHC) complexes enabled the catalytic generation of nucleophilic hydrides from dihydrogen (H2 ) and their subsequent transfer to allylic chlorides. The highly chemoselective catalyst displayed no concomitant hydrogenation reactivity; in fact, the terminal double bond formed in the hydride transfer remained intact. Switching to deuterium gas (D2 ) allowed for regioselective monodeuteration with excellent isotope incorporation.

Z-Selective Copper(I)-Catalyzed Alkyne Semihydrogenation with Tethered Cu-Alkoxide Complexes.

A highly stereoselective alkyne semihydrogenation with copper(I) complexes is reported. Copper-N-heterocyclic carbene complex catalysts, bearing an intramolecular Cu-O bond, allow for the direct transfer of both hydrogen atoms from dihydrogen to the alkyne. The corresponding alkenes can be isolated with high Z selectivity and negligible overreduction to the alkane.

Probing the Origin of Affinity in the GM1-Cholera Toxin Complex through Site-Selective Editing with Fluorine.

Carbohydrates regulate an inimitable spectrum of biological functions, yet successfully leveraging this therapeutic avenue continues to be frustrated by low affinities with glycan-specific proteins. A conspicuous exception is the interaction of monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1) with the carbohydrate-recognition domain of cholera toxin from Vibrio cholerae: this is one of the strongest protein-carbohydrate interactions known. To establish the importance of a long-discussed key hydrogen bond between C2 of the terminal galactose of GM1 and the B subunit pentamer of cholera toxin (CTB5), the total synthesis of a selectively fluorinated GM1 epitope was conducted in 19 steps. This process of molecular editing (Oδ-H → Fδ-) strategically deletes the hydrogen bond donor while retaining the localized partial charge of the substituent. Comparison of the binding affinity of F-GM1/CTB5 with native GM1, the GM1 carbohydrate epitope, and meta-mononitrophenyl-α-galactoside (MNPG) revealed a trend that fully supports the importance of this key interaction. These NMR data suggest that F-GM1 binds in a closely similar conformation as native GM1. Crystallographic analyses of the complex also confirm that the OH → F bioisosteric exchange at C2 of the terminal galactose induces a ring conformation that eliminates key hydrogen bonds: these interactions are compensated for by inter- and intramolecular fluorine-specific interactions.

Back in Person: Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry 2023.

The Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry (FiMC) is the largest international Medicinal Chemistry conference in the German speaking area and took place from April 3rd to 5th 2023 in Vienna (Austria). Fortunately, after being cancelled in 2020 and two years (2021-2022) of entirely virtual meetings, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FiMC could be held in a face-to-face format again. Organized by the Division of Medicinal Chemistry of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Division of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry of the German Pharmaceutical Society (DPhG), together with the Division of Medicinal Chemistry of the Austrian Chemical Society (GÖCH), the Austrian Pharmaceutical Society (ÖPhG), and a local organization committee from the University of Vienna headed by Thierry Langer, the meeting brought together 260 participants from 21 countries. The program included 38 lectures by leading scientists from industry and academia as well as early career investigators. Moreover, 102 posters were presented in two highly interactive poster sessions.

Application of Lithiation-Borylation to the Total Synthesis of (-)-Rakicidin F.

The stereochemistry of the lipophilic side chain of (+)-rakicidin F had not been determined until recently. Using our lithiation-borylation methodology ("assembly line synthesis") we were able to efficiently prepare the all-syn isomer as well as the C-21 epimer of the side chain, and comparison with the natural product suggested that the natural product had all-syn stereochemistry. Completion of the total synthesis using a macrolactamization of the northern amide enabled us to confirm Wang and Chen's stereochemical findings for the structure of (+)-rakicidin F.

Photocatalytic E → Z Isomerization of ß-Ionyl Derivatives.

An operationally simple E → Z isomerization of activated dienes, based on the ß-ionyl motif intrinsic to retinal, is reported using inexpensive (-)-riboflavin (vitamin B2) under irradiation at 402 nm. Selective energy transfer from photoexcited (-)-riboflavin to the starting E-isomer enables geometrical isomerization. Since the analogous process with the Z-isomer is inefficient, microscopic reversibility is circumvented, thereby enabling a directional isomerization to generate the contra-thermodynamic product (up to 99% yield, up to 99:1 Z/E). Prudent choice of photocatalyst enables chemoselective isomerization to be achieved in both inter- and intramolecular systems. The principles established from this study, together with a molecular editing approach, have facilitated the development of a regioselective isomerization of a truncated triene based on the retinal scaffold.

Copper(i)-catalysed transfer hydrogenations with ammonia borane.

Highly Z-selective alkyne transfer semihydrogenations and conjugate transfer hydrogenations of enoates can be effected by employing a readily available and air-stable copper(i)/N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex, [IPrCuOH]. As an easy to handle and potentially recyclable H2 source, ammonia borane (H3NBH3) is used.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Allylic Substitutions with a Hydride Nucleophile.

An easily accessible copper(I)/N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex enables a regioselective hydride transfer to allylic bromides, an allylic reduction. The resulting aryl- and alkyl-substituted branched α-olefins, which are valuable building blocks for synthesis, are obtained in good yields and regioselectivity. A commercially available silane, (TMSO)2Si(Me)H, is employed as hydride source. This protocol offers a unified alternative to the established metal-catalyzed allylic substitutions with carbon nucleophiles, as no adaption of the catalyst to the nature of the nucleophile is required.