Enantioconvergent Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction of Racemic Alkyne–Dicobalt Complex (Nicholas Reaction) Catalyzed by Chiral Brønsted Acid

Catalytic enantioselective syntheses enable a practical approach to enantioenriched molecules. While most of these syntheses have been accomplished by reaction at the prochiral sp²-hybridized carbon atom, little attention has been paid to enantioselective nucleophilic substitution at the sp³-hybridized carbon atom. In particular, substitution at the chiral sp³-hybridized carbon atom of racemic electrophiles has been rarely exploited. To establish an unprecedented enantioselective substitution reaction of racemic electrophiles, enantioconvergent Nicholas reaction of an alkyne–dicobalt complex derived from racemic propargylic alcohol was developed using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. In the present enantioconvergent process, both enantiomers of the racemic alcohol were transformed efficiently to a variety of thioethers with high enantioselectivity. The key to achieving success is dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DYKAT) of enantiomeric cationic intermediates generated via dehydroxylation of the starting racemic alcohol under the influence of the chiral phosphoric acid catalyst. The present fascinating DYKAT involves the efficient racemization of these enantiomeric intermediates and effective resolution of these enantiomers through utilization of the chiral conjugate base of the phosphoric acid

Quantification of the Steric Influence of Alkylphosphine–Sulfonate Ligands on Polymerization, Leading to High-Molecular-Weight Copolymers of Ethylene and Polar Monomers

A series of palladium/​​alkylphosphine–​sulfonate catalysts were synthesized and examined in the homopolymerization of ethylene and the copolymerization of ethylene and polar monomers. Catalysts with alkyl­phosphine–​sulfonate ligands containing sterically demanding alkyl substituents afforded (co)­polymers whose molecular weight was increased by up to 2 orders of magnitude relative to polymers obtained from previously reported catalyst systems. The polymer molecular weight was found to be closely correlated to the Sterimol B5 parameter of the alkyl substituents in the alkyl­phosphine–​sulfonate ligands. Thus, the use of bulky alkyl­phosphine–​sulfonate ligands represents an effective and versatile method to prepare high-molecular-weight copolymers of ethylene and various polar monomers, which are difficult to obtain by previously reported methods

Table_1_Novel insights into genetic characteristics of blaGES-encoding plasmids from hospital sewage.DOCX

IntroductionThe prevalence of Guiana extended-spectrum (GES)-type carbapenemase producers is increasing worldwide, and hospital water environments are considered as potential reservoirs. However, the genetic features underlying this resistance are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to characterize blaGES-encoding plasmids from a single-hospital sewage sample in Japan.MethodsCarbapenemase producers were screened using carbapenemase-selective agar and polymerase chain reaction. Whole-genome sequencing analyzes were performed on the carbapenemase-producing isolates.ResultsEleven gram-negative bacteria (four Enterobacter spp., three Klebsiella spp., three Aeromonas spp., and one Serratia spp.) with blaGES-24 (n = 6), blaGES-6 (n = 4), and blaGES-5 (n = 1) were isolated from the sewage sample. Five blaGES-24 and a blaGES-5 were localized in IncP-6 plasmids, whereas three blaGES-6 plasmids were localized in IncC plasmids with IncF-like regions. The remaining blaGES-6 and blaGES-24 were, respectively, localized on IncFIB-containing plasmids with IncF-like regions and a plasmid with an IncW-like replication protein. The IncP-6 and IncW-like plasmids had a close genetic relationship with plasmids from Japan, whereas the IncC/IncF-like and IncFIB/IncF-like plasmids were closely related to those from the United States and Europe. All blaGES genes were located on the class 1 integron cassette of the Tn3 transposon-related region, and the IncC/IncF-like plasmid carried two copies of the integron cassette. Eight of the eleven blaGES-encoding plasmids contained toxin-antitoxin system genes.DiscussionThe findings on the plasmids and the novel genetic content from a single wastewater sample extend our understanding regarding the diversity of resistance and the associated spread of blaGES, suggesting their high adaptability to hospital effluents. These findings highlight the need for the continuous monitoring of environmental GES-type carbapenemase producers to control their dissemination.</p

Image_1_Novel insights into genetic characteristics of blaGES-encoding plasmids from hospital sewage.pdf

IntroductionThe prevalence of Guiana extended-spectrum (GES)-type carbapenemase producers is increasing worldwide, and hospital water environments are considered as potential reservoirs. However, the genetic features underlying this resistance are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to characterize blaGES-encoding plasmids from a single-hospital sewage sample in Japan.MethodsCarbapenemase producers were screened using carbapenemase-selective agar and polymerase chain reaction. Whole-genome sequencing analyzes were performed on the carbapenemase-producing isolates.ResultsEleven gram-negative bacteria (four Enterobacter spp., three Klebsiella spp., three Aeromonas spp., and one Serratia spp.) with blaGES-24 (n = 6), blaGES-6 (n = 4), and blaGES-5 (n = 1) were isolated from the sewage sample. Five blaGES-24 and a blaGES-5 were localized in IncP-6 plasmids, whereas three blaGES-6 plasmids were localized in IncC plasmids with IncF-like regions. The remaining blaGES-6 and blaGES-24 were, respectively, localized on IncFIB-containing plasmids with IncF-like regions and a plasmid with an IncW-like replication protein. The IncP-6 and IncW-like plasmids had a close genetic relationship with plasmids from Japan, whereas the IncC/IncF-like and IncFIB/IncF-like plasmids were closely related to those from the United States and Europe. All blaGES genes were located on the class 1 integron cassette of the Tn3 transposon-related region, and the IncC/IncF-like plasmid carried two copies of the integron cassette. Eight of the eleven blaGES-encoding plasmids contained toxin-antitoxin system genes.DiscussionThe findings on the plasmids and the novel genetic content from a single wastewater sample extend our understanding regarding the diversity of resistance and the associated spread of blaGES, suggesting their high adaptability to hospital effluents. These findings highlight the need for the continuous monitoring of environmental GES-type carbapenemase producers to control their dissemination.</p