Forging the Tetracyclic Core Framework of Rhodomolleins XIV and XLII: A Ring-Distortion Approach.

A ring distortion approach for the synthesis of an advanced intermediate en route to rhodomolleins XIV and XLII was described, which led to successful construction of the 5/8/5/5 tetracyclic core framework of the kalmane diterpenoids. Key steps of the strategy include an oxidative dearomatization-induced (ODI)-Diels-Alder cycloaddition, a Dowd-Beckwith rearrangement, and a bioinspired Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement.

Metal-Free Phosphination and Continued Functionalization of Pyridine: A Theoretical Study.

This study investigates the mechanism of metal-free pyridine phosphination with P(OEt)3, PPh3, and PAr2CF3 using density functional theory calculations. The results show that the reaction mechanism and rate-determining step vary depending on the phosphine and additive used. For example, phosphination of pyridine with P(OEt)3 occurs in five stages, and ethyl abstraction is the rate-determining step. Meanwhile, 2-Ph-pyridine phosphination with PPh3 is a four-step reaction with proton abstraction as the rate-limiting step. Energy decomposition analysis of the transition states reveals that steric hindrance in the phosphine molecule plays a key role in the site-selective formation of the phosphonium salt. The mechanism of 2-Ph-pyridine phosphination with PAr2CF3 is similar to that with PPh3, and analyses of the effects of substituents show that electron-withdrawing groups decreased the nucleophilicity of the phosphine, whereas aryl electron-donating groups increased it. Finally, TfO- plays an important role in the C-H fluoroalkylation of pyridine, as it brings weak interactions.

Determination of active vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in dietary supplements and ingredients by reversed-phase liquid chromatography: Single-laboratory validation.

Vitamin B12 dietary supplement can be critical to the alleviation strategies against micronutrient malnutrition and food insecurity. An HPLC-DAD method has been developed and validated, per AOAC SMPR 2016.017 (Standard Method Performance Requirements), for the quantitation of four bioactive forms of vitamin B12 (adenosylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin) from dietary ingredients and supplements. The method achieves chromatographic baseline resolution of vitamin B12 forms on a modern column platform without the expensive requirement of an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography and/or mass spectrometry. The method has a wide analytical range (0.0005%w/w-85%w/w), high precision (reproducibility relative standard deviations ranged from 1.43% to 4.67%), and high accuracy (>96% spike recovery rate for 11 out of 12 accuracy testing data points). The method detection and quantification limits are less than 0.16 and 0.52 µg/mL, respectively. To our best knowledge, it is simpler, less time-consuming, and more economical than other published methods for its intended uses.

A novel neutral xylanase with high SDS resistance from Volvariella volvacea: characterization and its synergistic hydrolysis of wheat bran with acetyl xylan esterase.

A neutral xylanase (XynII) from Volvariella volvacea was identified and characterized. Unlike other modular xylanases, it consists of only a single GH10 catalytic domain with a unique C-terminal sequence (W-R-W-F) and a phenylalanine and proline-rich motif (T-P-F-P-P-F) at N-terminus, indicating that it is a novel GH10 xylanase. XynII exhibited optimal activity at pH 7 and 60 °C and stability over a broad range of pH 4.0-10.0. XynII displayed extreme highly SDS resistance retaining 101.98, 92.99, and 69.84 % activity at the presence of 300 mM SDS on birchwood, soluble oat spelt, and beechwood xylan, respectively. It remained largely intact after 24 h of incubation with proteinase K at a protease to protein ratio of 1:50 at 37 °C. The kinetic constants K(m) value towards beechwood xylan was 0.548 mg ml⁻¹, and the k(cat)/K(m) ratio, reflecting the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme, was 126.42 ml mg⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 60 °C. XynII was a true endo-acting xylanase lacking cellulase activity. It has weak activity towards xylotriose but efficiently hydrolyzed xylans and xylooligosaccharides larger than xylotriose mainly to xylobiose. Synergistic action with acetyl xylan esterase (AXEI) from V. volvacea was observed for de-starched wheat bran. The highest degree of synergy (DS 1.42) was obtained in sequential reactions with AXEI digestion preceding XynII. The high SDS resistance and intrinsic stability suggested XynII may have potential applications in various industrial processes especially for the detergent and textile industries and animal feed industries.