Synthesis of 2'-deoxy-1'-homo-N-nucleosides with anti-influenza activity by catalytic methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)/H2O2 oxyfunctionalization.

This paper describes a new route for the synthesis of 1'-homo-N-nucleoside derivatives by means of either methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) or supported MTO catalysts, with H(2)O(2) as the primary oxidant. Under these selective conditions, the oxyfunctionalization of the heterocyclic ring and the N heteroatom oxidation were operative processes, regardless of the type of substrate used, that is, purine or pyrimidine derivatives. In addition, the oxidation of 1'-homo-N-thionucleosides, showed the occurrence of site-specific oxidative nucleophilic substitutions of the heterocyclic ring. The MTO/H(2)O(2) system showed, in general, high reactivity under both homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions, affording the final products with high conversion values of substrates and from medium to high yields. Many of the novel 1'-homo-N-nucleoside analogues were active against the influenza A virus, without any cytotoxic effects, retaining their activity in both protected and unprotected forms.

The role of the formamide/zirconia system in the synthesis of nucleobases and biogenic carboxylic acid derivatives.

We describe the one-pot synthesis of a large variety of nucleic acid bases and related compounds from formamide in the presence of zirconium minerals as catalysts. The major products observed are: purine, 2-hydroxy pyrimidine, 5-hydroxy pyrimidine, isocytosine, adenine, urea, and carbodiimide. The synthesis of low molecular weight amides and carboxylic acid derivatives (intermediates of extant metabolism) was also observed: glyoxylamide, glycolic-, lactic-, succinic-, oxalic-, fumaric-, and maleic acids. As the major problem in the origin of informational polymers is the instability of their precursors, we also investigated the effects of zirconia minerals on the stability of ribooligonucleotides in formamide and in water. The relevance of these findings with respect to the origin of informational polymers and primordial metabolism is discussed.

Synthesis and degradation of nucleic acid components by formamide and iron sulfur minerals.

We describe the one-pot synthesis of a large panel of nucleic bases and related compounds from formamide in the presence of iron sulfur and iron-copper sulfur minerals as catalysts. The major products observed are purine, 1H-pyrimidinone, isocytosine, adenine, 2-aminopurine, carbodiimide, urea, and oxalic acid. Isocytosine and 2-aminopurine may recognize natural nucleobases by Watson-Crick and reverse Watson-Crick interactions, thus suggesting novel scenarios for the origin of primordial nucleic acids. Since the major problem in the origin of informational polymers is the instability of their precursors, we also investigate the effects of iron sulfur and iron-copper sulfur minerals on the stability of ribooligonucleotides in formamide and in water. All of the iron sulfur and iron-copper sulfur minerals stimulated degradation of RNA. The relevance of these findings with respect to the origin of informational polymers is discussed.

Origin of informational polymers: The concurrent roles of formamide and phosphates.

Formamide chemistry provides a unitary system by gathering all of the precursors needed to synthesise pregenetic informational polymers in a single milieu. This is not observed with HCN chemistry. With common catalysts, formamide affords all of the precursor nucleobases, photochemically condenses into acyclonucleosides, favours transphosphorylation and enhances micellar aggregation of surfactants. Also, formamide provides a set of physicochemical conditions that thermodynamically favour the polymeric state of nucleotides over the monomers. In the origin-of-informational-polymers scenario, formamide acts in every step, the least characterised being the set of its reactions with phosphates. On this matter, we report two complementary sets of results: 1) the synthesis of prebiotic precursors from formamide, which are catalysed by soluble and mineral phosphates-we observed the formation of rich mixtures that include uracil, 9H-purine, cytosine, dihydrouracil, hypoxanthine, adenosine, urea, parabanic acid, the amino acid N-formylglycine and the peptide-condensing agent carbodiimide; and 2) the protection of ribo- and deoxyribophosphoester bonds by phosphates. The relevance of these effects with respect to the origin of informational polymers is discussed.

Methyltrioxorhenium: a new catalyst for the activation of hydrogen peroxide to the oxidation of lignin and lignin model compounds.

The oxidative degradation of lignin under totally chlorine free conditions is one of the most relevant targets for the design of environmental friendly pulping and bleaching industrial processes. Methyltrioxorhenium was found a powerful and promising catalyst for the oxidation of both phenolic and non-phenolic lignin model compounds by use of hydrogen peroxide as primary oxidant. Three different technical lignins, hydrolytic sugar cane lignin (SCL), red spruce kraft lignin (RSL) and a hardwood organosolvent lignin (OSL), that are representative examples of widely diffused para-hydroxyphenyl-guaiacyl, guaiacyl and guaiacyl-syringyl lignins, were also extensively degraded under similar experimental conditions.

Synthesis and degradation of nucleic Acid components by formamide and cosmic dust analogues.

We show the unprecedented one-pot synthesis of a large suite of pyrimidines (including cytosine and uracil) and purines from formamide in the presence of cosmic-dust analogues (CDAs) of olivines. Since the major problem in the origin of informational macromolecules is the instability of their precursors, we also investigate the stabilizing effect of CDAs on the intrinsic instability of oligonucleotides in formamide.

Preparation and structural characterization of polymer-supported methylrhenium trioxide systems as efficient and selective catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins.

Novel heterogeneous compounds of methylrhenium trioxide (MTO) were prepared with poly(4-vinylpyridine) and polystyrene as polymeric supports. The wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS.) analysis, performed by the application of the difference method, showed, in a representative case of the poly(4-vinylpyridine)/MTO derivatives, a slightly distorted octahedral conformation on the metal's primary coordination sphere. The Re-O and Re-C bond distances were not influenced by the polymeric nature of the ligand, while the Re-N bond distance was abnormally shorter than those previously observed for homogeneous MTO/L(n) complexes, showing a strong coordination of the rhenium atom to the support. A set of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs showing the morphology of the surface of particles of poly(4-vinylpyridine)/MTO and polystyrene/MTO systems are reported. The reticulation grade of the polymer was a crucial factor for the morphology of the particles surface. Poly(4-vinylpyridine) 2% cross-linked systems were characterized by particles with very irregular shape and surface. Poly(4-vinylpyridine) 25% cross-linked systems showed particles with regular spherical shape, which morphology was similar to microcapsules obtained with polystyrene. All novel MTO compounds were efficient and selective heterogeneous catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins using environmentally friendly H2O2 as oxygen atom donor. The catalyst activity was maintained for at least five recycling experiments.