Ligand Hydrogenation during Hydroformylation Catalysis Detected by In Situ High-Pressure Infra-Red Spectroscopic Analysis of a Rhodium/Phospholene-Phosphite Catalyst.

Phospholane-phosphites are known to show highly unusual selectivity towards branched aldehydes in the hydroformylation of terminal alkenes. This paper describes the synthesis of hitherto unknown unsaturated phospholene borane precursors and their conversion to the corresponding phospholene-phosphites. The relative stereochemistry of one of these ligands and its Pd complex was assigned with the aid of X-ray crystal structure determinations. These ligands were able to approach the level of selectivity observed for phospholane-phosphites in the rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of propene. High-pressure infra-red (HPIR) spectroscopic monitoring of the catalyst formation revealed that whilst the catalysts showed good thermal stability with respect to fragmentation, the C=C bond in the phospholene moiety was slowly hydrogenated in the presence of rhodium and syngas. The ability of this spectroscopic tool to detect even subtle changes in structure, remotely from the carbonyl ligands, underlines the usefulness of HPIR spectroscopy in hydroformylation catalyst development.

Synthesis of Indoloquinolines: An Intramolecular Cyclization Leading to Advanced Perophoramidine-Relevant Intermediates.

The bioactive natural product perophoramidine has proved a challenging synthetic target. An alternative route to its indolo[2,3-b]quinolone core structure involving a N-chlorosuccinimde-mediated intramolecular cyclization reaction is reported. Attempts to progress towards the natural product are also discussed with an unexpected deep-seated rearrangement of the core structure occurring during an attempted iodoetherification reaction. X-ray crystallographic analysis provides important analytical confirmation of assigned structures.

Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of Fluorinated Uridine Analogues Provide Insight into a Neighbouring-Group Participation Mechanism.

Fluorinated nucleoside analogues have attracted much attention as anticancer and antiviral agents and as probes for enzymatic function. However, the lack of direct synthetic methods, especially for 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-difluoro nucleosides, hamper their practical utility. In order to design more efficient synthetic methods, a better understanding of the conformation and mechanism of formation of these molecules is important. Herein, we report the synthesis and conformational analysis of a 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-difluoro and a 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro uridine derivative and provide an insight into the reaction mechanism. We suggest that the transformation most likely diverges from the SN1 or SN2 pathway, but instead operates via a neighbouring-group participation mechanism.

Janus Face All-cis 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)- and All-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(trifluoromethyl)- Cyclohexanes.

We report the synthesis of all-cis 1,2,4,5-tetrakis (trifluoromethyl)- and all-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis (trifluoromethyl)- cyclohexanes by direct hydrogenation of precursor tetrakis- or hexakis- (trifluoromethyl)benzenes. The resultant cyclohexanes have a stereochemistry such that all the CF3 groups are on the same face of the cyclohexyl ring. All-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclohexane is the most sterically demanding of the all-cis hexakis substituted cyclohexanes prepared to date, with a barrier (ΔG) to ring inversion calculated at 27 kcal mol-1 . The X-ray structure of all-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclohexane displays a flattened chair conformation and the electrostatic profile of this compound reveals a large diffuse negative density on the fluorine face and a focused positive density on the hydrogen face. The electropositive hydrogen face can co-ordinate chloride (K≈103 ) and to a lesser extent fluoride and iodide ions. Dehydrofluorination promoted decomposition occurs with fluoride ion acting as a base.

Benzylic Functionalisation of Phenyl all-cis-2,3,5,6-Tetrafluorocyclohexane Provides Access to New Organofluorine Building Blocks.

Selectively fluorinated hydrocarbons continue to attract attention for tuning pharmacokinetic properties in agrochemical and pharmaceutical discovery programmes. This study identifies benzylic bromination of phenyl all-cis-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorocyclohexane 2 as a key reaction for accessing building blocks containing the all-cis-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorocyclohexane ring system. These cyclohexanes are of interest as the fluorines are only on one face of the cyclohexane, and this imparts an unusual polar aspect, very different to an otherwise hydrophobic cyclohexane. Ritter type reactions of benzyl bromide 4 with DMF and acetonitrile generated the corresponding benzyl alcohol 6 and benzylacetamide 7 respectively. Benzylacetamide 7 was hydrolysed to benzyl amine 8 and syn-amino-alcohol 9, and separately the phenyl ring was oxidatively cleaved to furnish carboxylic acid acetamide 10, which after hydrolysis gave the tetrafluorocyclohexyl amino acid 11. A trans-halogenation of benzylbromide 4 with AgF2 gave benzyl fluoride 13. Oxidative cleavage of the aryl ring then gave pentafluorocyclohexyl carboxylic acid 14. This carboxylic acid was readily converted to amides 23-26 and the preferred conformations of these α-fluoroamides were explored by DFT, X-ray structure and 1 H-19 F HOESY NMR analysis.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Optoelectronic Properties of Iridium Complexes Bearing Nonconjugated Six-Membered Chelating Ligands.

We report the synthesis, characterization, and optoelectronic properties of a series of four new luminescent iridium(III) complexes, 1-4, of the form [Ir(C∧N)2(N∧N)]PF6 (where C∧N is the nonconjugated benzylpyridinato (bnpy) and N∧N is a neutral diimine ancillary ligand) with the goal of investigating the effect of the methylene spacer between the coordination moieties of the C∧N ligand on the optoelectronic properties of the complexes. The crystal structures of 1-3 illustrate two possible orientations of the methylene unit of the bnpy ligand. The formation of these two separate conformers is a result of the conformational flexibility of the bnpy ligand. In complexes 3 and 4, mixtures of the two conformers were observed by 1H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl3 at room temperature, whereas only a single conformer is detected for 1 and 2. Detailed DFT calculations corroborate NMR experiments, accounting for the presence and relative populations of the two conformers. The optoelectronic properties of all four complexes, rationalized by the theoretical study, demonstrate that the interruption of conjugation in the C∧N ligands results in a reduced electrochemical gap but similar triplet state energies and lower photoluminescence quantum yields in comparison to the reference complexes R1-R4. Depending on the nature of the N∧N ligand, we observe (1) marked variations of the ratio of the conformers at ambient temperature and (2) phosphorescence ranging from yellow to red.

Synthesis of the natural product descurainolide and cyclic peptides from lignin-derived aromatics.

Alternative sources of potential feedstock chemicals are of increasing importance as the availability of oil decreases. The biopolymer lignin is viewed as a source of useful mono-aromatic compounds as exemplified by the industrial scale production of vanillin from this biomass. Alternative lignin-derived aromatics are available in pure form but to date examples of the use of these types of compounds are rare. Here we address this issue by reporting the conversion of an aromatic keto-alcohol to the anti- and syn-isomers of Descurainolide A. The key step involves a rhodium-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction. Enantio-enriched allylic alcohols were generated via an isothiourea-catalyzed kinetic resolution enabling access to both the (2R,3R) and (2S,3S) enantiomers of anti-Descurainolide A. In addition we show that the lignin-derived keto-alcohols can be converted into unnatural amino acid derivatives of tyrosine. Finally, these amino acids were incorporated into cyclic peptide scaffolds through the use of both chemical and an enzyme-mediated macrocylisation.

Structural analysis of leader peptide binding enables leader-free cyanobactin processing.

Regioselective modification of amino acids within the context of a peptide is common to a number of biosynthetic pathways, and many of the resulting products have potential as therapeutics. The ATP-dependent enzyme LynD heterocyclizes multiple cysteine residues to thiazolines within a peptide substrate. The enzyme requires the substrate to have a conserved N-terminal leader for full activity. Catalysis is almost insensitive to immediately flanking residues in the substrate, suggesting that recognition occurs distant from the active site. Nucleotide and peptide substrate co-complex structures of LynD reveal that the substrate leader peptide binds to and extends the ß-sheet of a conserved domain of LynD, whereas catalysis is accomplished in another conserved domain. The spatial segregation of catalysis from recognition combines seemingly contradictory properties of regioselectivity and promiscuity, and it appears to be a conserved strategy in other peptide-modifying enzymes. A variant of LynD that efficiently processes substrates without a leader peptide has been engineered.

Cooperative Binding in a Phosphine Oxide-Based Halogen Bonded Dimer Drives Supramolecular Oligomerization.

Triphenylphosphine oxide forms halogen-bonded (XB) complexes with pentafluoroiodobenzene and a 1,4-diaryl-5-iodotriazole. The stability of these complexes is assessed computationally and by 31P NMR spectroscopy in toluene-d8 solution, where both complexes are weakly associated. This knowledge is applied to the design and synthesis of two self-complementary phosphine oxide-iodotriazole hybrids that incorporate a phosphine oxide XB acceptor and a 1,4-diphenyl-5-iodotriazole XB donor within the same molecule. The self-complementary design of these modules facilitates their assembly in both toluene-d8 and, surprisingly, DCM-d2 into dimers, with significant stabilities, through the formation of halogen-bonded diads. The stability of these assemblies is a result of significant levels of cooperative binding that is present in both solvents. The connection of two of these hybrid units together, using a flexible spacer, facilitates the aggregation of these modules in DCM-d2 solution, through halogen bonding, forming oligomeric assemblies.

Geminally Substituted Tris(acenaphthyl) and Bis(acenaphthyl) Arsines, Stibines, and Bismuthine: A Structural and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Investigation.

Tris(acenaphthyl)- and bis(acenaphthyl)-substituted pnictogens (iPr2P-Ace)3E (2-4) (E = As, Sb, or Bi; Ace = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl) and (iPr2P-Ace)2EPh (5 and 6) (E = As or Sb) were synthesized and fully characterized by multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecules adopt propeller-like geometries with the restricted rotational freedom of the sterically encumbered iPr2P-Ace groups resulting in distinct NMR features. In the tris(acenaphthyl) species (2-4), the phosphorus atoms are isochronous in the (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectra, and the rotation of the three acenaphthyl moieties around the E-Cipso bond is locked. On the other hand, the bis(acenaphthyl) species show a fluxional behavior, resulting in an AX to A2 spin system transition in the (31)P{(1)H} variable-temperature NMR spectra. This allowed elucidation of remarkable through-space couplings ((8TS)JPP) of 11.5 Hz (for 5) and 25.8 Hz (for 6) at low temperatures. In addition, detailed line shape analysis of the thermodynamic parameters of the restricted rotation of the "propeller blades" in 5 was performed in the intermediate temperature region and also at coalescence. The lone pairs on the pnictogen atoms in 2-6 are oriented such that they form a bowl-shaped area that is somehow buried within the molecule.

Evaluation of fluoropyruvate as nucleophile in reactions catalysed by N-acetyl neuraminic acid lyase variants: scope, limitations and stereoselectivity.

The catalysis of reactions involving fluoropyruvate as donor by N-acetyl neuraminic acid lyase (NAL) variants was investigated. Under kinetic control, the wild-type enzyme catalysed the reaction between fluoropyruvate and N-acetyl mannosamine to give a 90 : 10 ratio of the (3R,4R)- and (3S,4R)-configured products; after extended reaction times, equilibration occurred to give a 30 : 70 mixture of these products. The efficiency and stereoselectivity of reactions of a range of substrates catalysed by the E192N, E192N/T167V/S208V and E192N/T167G NAL variants were also studied. Using fluoropyruvate and (2R,3S)- or (2S,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxo-N,N-dipropylbutanamide as substrates, it was possible to obtain three of the four possible diastereomeric products; for each product, the ratio of anomeric and pyranose/furanose forms was determined. The crystal structure of S. aureus NAL in complex with fluoropyruvate was determined, assisting rationalisation of the stereochemical outcome of C-C bond formation.

The synthesis and analysis of lignin-bound Hibbert ketone structures in technical lignins.

Understanding the structure of technical lignins resulting from acid-catalysed treatment of lignocellulosic biomass is important for their future applications. Here we report an investigation into the fate of lignin under acidic aqueous organosolv conditions. In particular we examine in detail the formation and reactivity of non-native Hibbert ketone structures found in isolated organosolv lignins from both Douglas fir and beech woods. Through the use of model compounds combined with HSQC, HMBC and HSQC-TOCSY NMR experiments we demonstrate that, depending on the lignin source, both S and G lignin-bound Hibbert ketone units can be present. We also show that these units can serve as a source of novel mono-aromatic compounds following an additional lignin depolymerisation reaction.

The use of residual dipolar coupling for conformational analysis of structurally related natural products.

Determining the conformational preferences of molecules in solution remains a considerable challenge. Recently, the use of residual dipolar coupling (RDC) analysis has emerged as a key method to address this. Whilst to date the majority of the applications have focused on biomolecules including proteins and DNA, the use of RDCs for studying small molecules is gaining popularity. Having said that, the method continues to develop, and here, we describe an early case study of the quantification of conformer populations in small molecules using RDC analysis. Having been inspired to study conformational preferences by unexpected differences in the NMR spectra and the reactivity of related natural products, we showed that the use of more established techniques was unsatisfactory in explaining the experimental observations. The use of RDCs provided an improved understanding that, following use of methods to quantify conformer populations using RDCs, culminated in a rationalisation of the contrasting diastereoselectivities observed in a ketone reduction reaction.

The activation mechanism of Ru-indenylidene complexes in olefin metathesis.

Olefin metathesis is a powerful tool for the formation of carbon-carbon double bonds. Several families of well-defined ruthenium (Ru) catalysts have been developed during the past 20 years; however, the reaction mechanism for all such complexes was assumed to be the same. In the present study, the initiation mechanism of Ru-indenylidene complexes was examined and compared with that of benzylidene counterparts. It was discovered that not all indenylidene complexes followed the same mechanism, highlighting the importance of steric and electronic properties of so-called spectator ligands, and that there is no single mechanism for the Ru-based olefin metathesis reaction. The experimental findings are supported quantitatively by DFT calculations.

Structure of WbdD: a bifunctional kinase and methyltransferase that regulates the chain length of the O antigen in Escherichia coli O9a.

The Escherichia coli serotype O9a O-antigen polysaccharide (O-PS) is a model for glycan biosynthesis and export by the ATP-binding cassette transporter-dependent pathway. The polymannose O9a O-PS is synthesized as a polyprenol-linked glycan by mannosyltransferase enzymes located at the cytoplasmic membrane. The chain length of the O9a O-PS is tightly regulated by the WbdD enzyme. WbdD first phosphorylates the terminal non-reducing mannose of the O-PS and then methylates the phosphate, stopping polymerization. The 2.2 Å resolution structure of WbdD reveals a bacterial methyltransferase domain joined to a eukaryotic kinase domain. The kinase domain is again fused to an extended C-terminal coiled-coil domain reminiscent of eukaryotic DMPK (Myotonic Dystrophy Protein Kinase) family kinases such as Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK). WbdD phosphorylates 2-α-d-mannosyl-d-mannose (2α-MB), a short mimic of the O9a polymer. Mutagenesis identifies those residues important in catalysis and substrate recognition and the in vivo phenotypes of these mutants are used to dissect the termination reaction. We have determined the structures of co-complexes of WbdD with two known eukaryotic protein kinase inhibitors. Although these are potent inhibitors in vitro, they do not show any in vivo activity. The structures reveal new insight into O-PS chain-length regulation in this important model system.

Synthetic, structural, NMR, and computational study of a geminally bis(peri-substituted) tridentate phosphine and its chalcogenides and transition-metal complexes.

Coupling of two acenaphthene backbones through a phosphorus atom in a geminal fashion gives the first geminally bis(peri-substituted) tridentate phosphine 1. The rigid nature of the aromatic backbone and overall crowding of the molecule result in a rather inflexible ligand, with the three phosphorus atoms forming a relatively compact triangular cluster. Phosphine 1 displays restricted dynamics on an NMR time scale, which leads to the anisochronicity of all three phosphorus nuclei at low temperatures. Strained bis- and tris(sulfides) 2 and 3 and the bis(selenide) 4 have been isolated from the reaction of 1 with sulfur and selenium, respectively. These chalcogeno derivatives display pronounced in-plane and out-of-plane distortions of the aromatic backbones, indicating the limits of their angular distortions. In addition, we report metal complexes with tetrahedral [(1)Cu(MeCN)][BF4] (5), square planar [(1)PtCl][Cl] (6), trigonal bipyramidal [(1)FeCl2] (7), and octahedral fac-[(1)Mo(CO)3] (8) geometries. In all of these complexes the tris(phosphine) backbone is distorted, however to a significantly smaller extent than that in the mentioned chalcogenides 2-4. Complexes 5 and 8 show fluxionality in (31)P and (1)H NMR. All new compounds 1-8 were fully characterized, and their crystal structures are reported. Conclusions from dynamic NMR observations were augmented by DFT calculations.

The development of highly active acyclic chiral hydrazides for asymmetric iminium ion organocatalysis.

Double asymmetric induction has been employed as a tool to optimise pyrazolidinone-derived organocatalysts for the asymmetric iminium ion catalysed Diels-Alder reaction. Mechanistic studies revealed a superior hydrazide catalyst deriving from methanolysis of the chiral pyrazolidinone precursor. This catalyst displays unusually high endo diastereoselectivity and good enantioselectivity with a range of ß-arylenals and cyclic dienes at catalyst loadings as low as 1 mol%.

NHC-mediated enantioselective formal [4 + 2] cycloadditions of alkylarylketenes and ß,γ-unsaturated α-ketocarboxylic esters and amides.

Chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) promote the asymmetric formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of alkylarylketenes with ß,γ-unsaturated α-ketocarboxylic esters and amides. Divergent diastereoselectivity is observed in this process, with γ-aryl-ß,γ-unsaturated α-ketocarboxylic esters and amides giving preferentially syn-dihydropyranones (up to 68 : 32 dr syn : anti, up to 98% ee), while γ-alkyl-derivatives generate anti-dihydropyranones (up to 18 : 82 dr syn : anti, up to 75% ee).

Organosolv Pretreatment of Cocoa Pod Husks: Isolation, Analysis, and Use of Lignin from an Abundant Waste Product.

Cocoa pod husks (CPHs) represent an underutilized component of the chocolate manufacturing process. While industry's current focus is understandably on the cocoa beans, the husks make up around 75 wt % of the fruit. Previous studies have been dominated by the carbohydrate polymers present in CPHs, but this work highlights the presence of the biopolymer lignin in this biomass. An optimized organosolv lignin isolation protocol was developed, delivering significant practical improvements. This new protocol may also prove to be useful for agricultural waste-derived biomasses in general. NMR analysis of the high quality lignin led to an improved structural understanding, with evidence provided to support deacetylation of the lignin occurring during the optimized pretreatment. Chemical transformation, using a tosylation, azidation, copper-catalyzed click protocol, delivered a modified lignin oligomer with an organophosphorus motif attached. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to demonstrate the oligomer's potential as a flame-retardant. Preliminary analysis of the other product streams isolated from the CPHs was also carried out.

Isothiourea-mediated asymmetric O- to C-carboxyl transfer of oxazolyl carbonates: structure-selectivity profiles and mechanistic studies.

The structural motif within a series of tetrahydropyrimidine-based isothioureas necessary for generating high asymmetric induction in the asymmetric Steglich rearrangement of oxazolyl carbonates is fully explored, with crossover and dynamic (19)F NMR experiments used to develop a mechanistic understanding of this transformation.