Acetate Assistance in Regioselective Hydroamination of Allenamides: A Combined Experimental and Density Functional Theory Study.

A key factor in the development of selective nucleophilic addition to allenamides is controlling the reactivity of electrophilic intermediates, which is generally achieved using an electrophilic activator via conjugated iminium intermediates. In this combined experimental and computational study, we show that a general and highly chemoselective hydroamination of allenamides can be accomplished using a combination of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) and NaOAc. Experimental mechanistic studies revealed that HFIP mediates proton transfer to activate the allenamide, while the acetate additive significantly contributes to N-selective interception. This strategy enables a general hydroamination of allenamides without the use of metals. We demonstrated that various functionalized 1,3-diamines could be readily synthesized and diversified into value-added structural motifs. Detailed mechanistic investigations using the density functional theory revealed the role of NaOAc in the formation of reactive electrophilic intermediates, which ultimately governed the selective formation of 1,3-diamine products. Critically, calculations of the potential energy surface around the proton-transfer transition state revealed that two different reactive electrophilic intermediates were formed when NaOAc was added.

General Hydroamination of Allenamides: Mechanistic Insights with an Acetate Adduct and 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol.

The 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol-assisted allenamide activation enables metal-free regioselective intermolecular interception of amines, constituting a general C-N bond formation process for accessing value-added 1,3-diamines. Exclusive N-chemoselectivity (vs C for anilines) and regioselectivity were achieved for a broad range of substrates. Late-stage modification and further transformations of the 1,3-diamine products showcased the practicability and benefits of this strategy. Experimental mechanistic studies revealed that 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol mediates the proton transfer for activation of the allenamide. Density functional theory computations revealed the role of NaOAc in the formation of the reactive electrophilic intermediate, which ultimately governs the selective formation of the 1,3-diamine product.

Electrochemically Activated Expanded Graphite with Tailor-Made Pores for Magnesium-Organocation Hybrid Batteries.

Invited for this month's cover are the groups of Prof. Hyun Deog Yoo and Prof. Jin Kyoon Park at Pusan National University, and Prof. Ji Heon Ryu at Tech University of Korea (Republic of Korea). The cover image illustrates the generation of tailor-made pores by the electrochemical activation of expanded graphite for a magnesium-organocation hybrid battery. The Research Article itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.202300035.

N-benzyl-N-methyldecan-1-amine and its derivative mitigate 2,4- dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis and collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis.

As our previous study revealed that N-benzyl-N-methyldecan-1-amine (BMDA), a new molecule originated from Allium sativum, exhibits anti-neoplastic activities, we herein explored other functions of the compound and its derivative [decyl-(4-methoxy-benzyl)-methyl-amine; DMMA] including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. Pretreatment of THP-1 cells with BMDA or DMMA inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1ß production, and blocked c-jun terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), MAPKAP kinase (MK)2 and NF-κΒ inflammatory signaling during LPS stimulation. Rectal treatment with BMDA or DMMA reduced the severity of colitis in 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS)-treated rat. Consistently, administration of the compounds decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (representing neutrophil infiltration in colonic mucosa), production of inflammatory mediators such as cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-3 and TNF-α, and activation of JNK and p38 MAPK in the colon tissues. In addition, oral administration of these compounds ameliorated collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in mice. The treatment diminished the levels of inflammatory cytokine transcripts, and protected connective tissues through the expression of anti-oxidation proteins such as nuclear factor erythroid-related factor (Nrf)2 and heme oxygenase (HO)1. Additionally, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not differ between the BMDA- or DMMA-treated and control animals, indicating that the compounds do not possess liver toxicity. Taken together, these findings propose that BMDA and DMMA could be used as new drugs for curing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and RA.

Electrochemically Activated Expanded Graphite with Tailor-Made Pores for Magnesium-Organocation Hybrid Batteries.

Persisting limitations of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in terms of safety, energy and power density, natural resources, and the price call for expeditious research to develop the "beyond Li-ion" technologies. In this regard, magnesium-organocation hybrid batteries (MOHB) hold the potential to address the above issues associated with LIBs by utilizing abundant and inexpensive elements of magnesium and carbon for the anode and cathode, respectively. Moreover, magnesium metal anode is highly energy-dense yet less susceptible to the dendrite formation, enabling safer operation compared to lithium metal anodes. In this study, we targeted to increase the capacity and rate capability of porous carbon cathode of MOHB by generating tailor-made pores, which were provided by the interlayer accommodation of solvated organic cations with controlled sizes during the electrochemical activation of expanded graphite. Our electrochemically activated expanded graphite can be used as an efficient cathode in MOHB with enhanced kinetics, specific capacitance, and cycle life.

Exploring Synthetic Strategies for 1H-Indazoles and Their N-Oxides: Electrochemical Synthesis of 1H-Indazole N-Oxides and Their Divergent C-H Functionalizations.

The selective electrochemical synthesis of 1H-indazoles and their N-oxides and the subsequent C-H functionalization of the 1H-indazole N-oxides are described. The electrochemical outcomes were determined by the nature of the cathode material. When a reticulated vitreous carbon cathode was used, a wide range of 1H-indazole N-oxides were selectively synthesized, and the electrosynthesis products were deoxygenated to N-heteroaromatics, owing to cathodic cleavage of the N-O bond via paired electrolysis, when a Zn cathode was used. The scope of this electrochemical protocol is broad, as both electron-rich and electron-poor substrates were tolerated. The potency of this electrochemical strategy was demonstrated through the late-stage functionalization of various bioactive molecules, making this reaction attractive for the synthesis of 1H-indazole derivatives for pharmaceutical research and development. Detailed mechanistic investigations involving electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry suggested a radical pathway featuring iminoxyl radicals. Owing to the rich reactivity of 1H-indazole N-oxides, diverse C-H functionalization reactions were performed. We demonstrated the synthetic utility of 1H-indazole N-oxides by synthesizing the pharmaceutical molecules lificiguat and YD (3); key intermediates for bendazac, benzydamine, norepinephrine/serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SAM-531, and gamendazole analogues; and a precursor for organic light-emitting diodes.

Photoexcitation dynamics of bromodiphenyl ethers in acetonitrile-d3 studied by femtosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy.

The efficient decomposition of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), onetime prevalent flame retardants, is central to the reduction of their harmful effects on human health. PBDE photodecomposition is a promising method, but its mechanism and products are not well understood. The photoexcitation dynamics of 3- and 4-bromodiphenyl ethers (BDE-2 and BDE-3) in CD3CN were studied from 0.3 ps to 10 µs using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. An excitation at 267 nm dissociated the Br atom from BDE-2 and BDE-3 within 0.3 ps and 14 ± 3 ps, respectively, producing a radical compound (R) and a Br atom. About 85% of R formed an intermediate (IM) that weakly interacted with the Br atom and the surrounding CD3CN solvent in 7-12 ps. The remaining R separated from the dissociated Br and underwent slow geminate rebinding (GR) with Br within 35 to 54 ns. The IM competitively engaged in GR with the interacting Br in 40-60 ps or formed CD3CN-bound radical compounds (RS) in 100-130 ps. The RS further degraded via either the dissociation of CD3-producing a cyano-bound diphenyl ether (DE) in 150 or 550 ns-or the deuterium abstraction of CD3CN in 180 or 430 ns-producing a deuterated DE. Overall, 33 ± 3 (22 ± 3)% of the photoexcited BDE-2 (BDE-3) decomposed in CD3CN under 267 nm excitation. Efficient binding of the CD3CN solvent to R deterred the yield-diminishing GR and slowed the rate of product formation. The observed photoexcitation dynamics of BDE suggest methods for the efficient decomposition of PBDE.

Silaborative Assembly of Allenamides and Alkynes: Highly Regio- and Stereocontrolled Access to Bi- or Trimetallic Skipped Dienes.

A highly stereo- and regiocontrolled multicomponent approach to skipped 1,4-dienes decorated with one boryl and two silyl functionalities is described. This Pd-catalyzed atom-economical union of allenamides, alkynes, and Me2 PhSiBpin (or Et3 SiBpin) proceeds without the use of phosphine ligands, instead relying on chelation through the internal amide group of the allenamide sulfonyl. A variety of alkynes, including those derived from complex bioactive molecules, can be efficiently coupled with allenamides and Me2 PhSiBpin in good yields and with excellent selectivity. The synthetic potential was demonstrated through multiple valuable chemoselective transformations, establishing new disconnections for functionalized dienes. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the reaction first proceeded through borylation of the allenamide, followed by silylation of the alkyne and then reductive elimination, which convergently assemble the skipped 1,4-diene.

Wash-Free, Sandwich-Type Protein Detection Using Direct Electron Transfer and Catalytic Signal Amplification of Multiple Redox Labels.

Direct electron transfer (DET) between a redox label and an electrode has been used for sensitive and selective sandwich-type detection without a wash step. However, applying DET is still highly challenging in protein detection, and a single redox label per probe is insufficient to obtain a high electrochemical signal. Here, we report a wash-free, sandwich-type detection of thrombin using DET and catalytic signal amplification of multiple redox labels. The detection scheme is based on (i) the redox label-catalyzed oxidation of a reductant, (ii) the conjugation of multiple redox labels per probe using a poly-linker, (iii) the low nonspecific adsorption of the conjugated poly-linker due to uncharged, reduced redox labels, and (iv) a facile DET using long, flexible poly-linker and spacer DNA. Amine-reactive phenazine ethosulfate and NADH were used as the redox label and reductant, respectively. N3-terminated polylysine was used as the poly-linker for the conjugation between an aptamer probe and multiple redox labels. Approximately 11 redox labels per probe and rapid catalytic NADH oxidation enable high signal amplification. Thrombin in urine could be detected without a wash step with a detection limit of ∼50 pM, which is practically promising for point-of-care testing of proteins.

Characterization and Utilization of the Elusive α,ß-Unsaturated N-Tosyliminium: the Synthesis of Highly Functionalizable Skipped Halo Enynes.

A formal haloalkynylation of allenamides has been described for the synthesis of highly stereo- and regioselective skipped halo enynes. Exclusive γ-regioselectivity is achieved through the intermediacy of a conjugated N-tosyliminium intermediate-direct evidence for the formation of which was validated by NMR and HRMS. Quantum mechanical computations reveal that the reactive intermediate geometry is key to controlling the 1,2- or 1,4-regioselectivity of alkyne interception. Divergent access to elusive unsaturated systems has also been reported.

Metal Nanozyme with Ester Hydrolysis Activity in the Presence of Ammonia-Borane and Its Use in a Sensitive Immunosensor.

Metal nanoparticle surfaces are used for peroxidase- and oxidase-like nanozymes but not for esterase-like nanozymes. It is challenging to obtain rapid catalytic hydrolysis on a metal surface and even more so without a catalytically labile substrate. Here, we report that metal nanoparticle surfaces rapidly catalyze non-redox ester hydrolysis in the presence of redox H3 N-BH3 (AB). Metal hydrides are readily generated on a Pt nanoparticle (PtNP) from AB, and as a result the PtNP becomes electron-rich, which might assist nucleophilic attack of H2 O on the carbonyl group of an ester. The nanozyme system based on PtNP, AB, and 4-aminonaphthalene-1-yl acetate provides an electrochemical signal-to-background ratio much higher than natural enzymes, due to the rapid ester hydrolysis and redox cycling involving the hydrolysis product. The nanozyme system is applied in a sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for thyroid-stimulating hormone detection. The calculated detection limit is approximately 0.3 pg mL-1 , which indicates the high sensitivity of the immunosensor using the PtNP nanozyme.

Highly Chemoselective Esterification from O-Aminoallylation of Carboxylic Acids: Metal- and Reagent-Free Hydrocarboxylation of Allenamides.

Metal-free hydrocarboxylation of allenamides with various functionalized carboxylic acids were achieved with complete regio- and stereocontrol (>49:1). This environmentally compatible transformation affords γ-acyloxyenamides with exclusive E-selectivity. Electron rich, electron poor, aliphatic, aryl, and heterocyclic carboxylic acids all gave excellent yields (avg. 89 %, 47 examples). We demonstrate the synthetic potential of this transformation in the late-stage modification of complex natural carboxylic acids and simple modification of the products to three-carbon synthons with ample opportunity for further diversification. DFT studies revealed that the reaction occurs in a stepwise manner through the intermediacy of a conjugated iminum species, which is rapidly captured by the carboxylate ion, resulting in the observed linear selectivity.

N-Benzyl-N-methyl-dodecan-1-amine, a novel compound from garlic, exerts anti-cancer effects on human A549 lung cancer cells overexpressing cancer upregulated gene (CUG)2.

Dietary garlic has been suggested to possess anticancer properties, and several attempts have been made to isolate the anticancer compounds. In this study, we efficiently synthesized N-benzyl-N-methyl-dodecan-1-amine (BMDA) by the reductive amination method. We evaluated the potential anticancer activities of BMDA against A549 lung cancer cells with cancer stem cell-like phenotypes due to the overexpression of cancer upregulated gene (CUG)2. N-Benzyl-N-methyl-dodecan-1-amine treatment sensitized A549 cells overexpressing CUG2 (A549-CUG2) to apoptosis and autophagy compared with those of the control cells. The treatment with BMDA also reduced tumor development in xenografted nude mice. Furthermore, BMDA inhibited cell migration, invasion, and sphere formation in A549-CUG2 cells, in which TGF-ß signaling is involved. Further analysis showed that BMDA hindered TGF-ß promoter activity, protein synthesis, and phosphorylation of Smad2, thus decreasing the expression of TGF-ß-targeted proteins, including Snail and Twist. N-Benzyl-N-methyl-dodecan-1-amine also decreased Twist expression in vivo. In addition, BMDA inhibited Akt-ERK activities, ß-catenin expression, and its transcriptional activity. These results suggest that BMDA can be a promising anticancer agent against cancer cells overexpressing CUG2.

Harnessing the Polarizability of Conjugated Alkynes toward [2 + 2] Cycloaddition, Alkenylation, and Ring Expansion of Indoles.

Reported is the utilization of electronically biased conjugated alkynes in the development of highly diastereo- and regioselective dearomative [2 + 2] cycloadditions, alkenylations, and ring expansions of electron-rich indoles. Regioselective protonations of cross- and linear-conjugated alkynes were found to be crucial for accessing various cyclobutene-fused indoline and alkenylated indole derivatives. Furthermore, the facile ring expansion of [2 + 2] keto adducts, which were successfully synthesized from ynones, provided 1 H-benzo[ b]azepine scaffolds.

Regiodivergent Synthesis of 1,3- and 1,4-Enynes through Kinetically Favored Hydropalladation and Ligand-Enforced Carbopalladation.

Pd-catalyzed hydroalkynylations were developed that involve ligand-enabled regiodivergent addition of an alkyne to an allenamide, giving branched and linear products stereoselectively and facilitated by the neighboring amide group. Regioselectivity was achieved with the use of (o-OMePh)3 P and BrettPhos, which allowed the functionalization of various alkynes, including steroids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, chiral ligands, and vitamins. Based on the experimental results, it was proposed that hydro- and carbopalladation processes operated during the formations of the branched and linear products, respectively.

Divergent C-H Annulation for Multifused N-Heterocycles: Regio- and Stereospecific Cyclizations of N-Alkynylindoles.

N-Alkynylindoles were divergently cyclized for the synthesis of multifused N-heterocycles. An ortho-aryl palladium species was added to the α position of an ynamine to generate (Z)-6-alkylidene/benzylidene-6H-isoindolo[2,1-a]indoles, while Pt-catalyzed ß-addition through π-activation gave 5-alkyl/arylindolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines. Double cyclizations using PdCl2 and oxidant afforded bright yellow benzo[7,8]indolizino[2,3,4,5-ija]quinolines, the synthesis of which was also demonstrated in a different synthetic route.

A Modular Synthesis of 4-Aminoquinolines and [1,3] N-to-C Rearrangement to Quinolin-4-ylmethanesulfonamides.

A copper-catalyzed regiocontrolled three-component reaction afforded diversified 4-aminoquinolines using nitriles, diaryliodoniums, and ynamides. The C7-substituted regioisomers were formed regioselectively when meta-substituted phenyliodonium salts were used. [1,3] N-to-C rearrangement of the products to quinolin-4-ylmethanesulfonamides and simultaneous deprotection of benzyl and sulfonamide group were newly developed. Finally, antimalarial CK-2-68 was successfully prepared.

An ultrasensitive and incubation-free electrochemical immunosensor using a gold-nanocatalyst label mediating outer-sphere-reaction-philic and inner-sphere-reaction-philic species.

This communication reports a new nanocatalytic scheme based on the facts that the redox reaction between a highly outer-sphere-reaction-philic (OSR-philic) species and a highly inner-sphere-reaction-philic (ISR-philic) species is slow and that an OSR- and ISR-philic Au-nanocatalyst label can mediate the two different types of redox species. This scheme allows highly sensitive and incubation free detection of creatine kinase-MB.

Base-Controlled Cu-Catalyzed Tandem Cyclization/Alkynylation for the Synthesis of Indolizines.

A base-controlled Cu-catalyzed tandem cyclization/alkynylation of propargylic amines provides rapid access to functionalized indolizine derivatives under mild reaction conditions. The reaction first proceeded via a 5-endo-dig aminocupration, followed by a coupling between the copper-bound intermediate and alkynyl bromide, to afford the products in good to excellent yields. The successful tandem reaction is attributed to the unique property of the bases, DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene) and MTBD (7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene used).

A triple-function nanotube as a reactant reservoir, reaction platform, and byproduct scavenger for photo-cyclopropanation.

Herein, we report the advanced-concept triple-functionality of a metal-organic nanotube (MONT), which acts as a reservoir for unstable reactants, a photoreaction platform, and a scavenger for byproduct iodine. Self-assembly of CdI2 with a new Y-type ligand (L) produces the substantial 1D MOF, [CdI2(L)], thus forming a thick nanotube with a 1.4 nm diameter.