Nucleophilic Addition to (3-Methylpentadienyl)iron(1+) Cations: Counterion Control of Regioselectivity; Application to the Enantioselective Synthesis of 4,5-Disubstituted Cyclohexenones

The regioselectivity of malonate addition to (3-methylpentadienyl)Fe(CO)3+ is controlled by the malonate−counterion association. The Li+ salt of malonate proceeds via C1 nucleophilic attack to afford the 1,3Z-diene complex 4a, while reaction of highly dissociated ion pair (i.e., Na+ or Li+/12-crown-4) salt proceeds at the C2 internal carbon to eventually afford cyclohexenone products 6. Reaction of 1a with the sodium salt of bis(8-phenylmenthyl)malonate proceeds with excellent diastereocontrol to afford a single diastereomeric cyclohexenone

Synthesis of novel β-aminocyclobutanecarboxylic acid derivatives by a solvent-free aza-Michael addition and subsequent ring closure

Novel beta-aminocyclobutanecarboxylic acid derivatives were prepared via a sequential solvent-free aza-Michael addition of benzophenone imine across 3-halopropylidenemalonates and base-induced ring closure. These highly substituted cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid derivatives were subjected to a reactivity study which demonstrated the tendency of these donor-acceptor substituted four-membered rings to be converted into their corresponding ring-opened products

Preparation, Characterization and Reactivity of (3-Methylpentadienyl)iron(1+) Cations

The title cations (9 and 12) were prepared by dehydration of (3-methyl-2,4-pentadien-1-ol)Fe(CO)2L+ complexes. The structure of the (CO)2PPh3-ligated 12 was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Reaction of carbon and heteroatom nucleophiles to (3-methylpentadienyl)Fe(CO)3+ cations 9 and 12 proceeds either via attack at the dienyl terminus to give (3-methyl-1,3Z-diene)iron complexes or via attack at the internal carbon, followed by carbon monoxide insertion and reductive elimination to afford 3-methyl-4-substituted cyclohexenones. Cyclohexenone formation was found to be prevalent for addition of stabilized nucleophiles with strongly dissociated counterions to cation 9 (L = CO). Reaction of cation 9 with sodium bis[(−)-8-phenylmenthyl] malonate gave a single diastereomeric cyclohexenone

On the role of the oxidation in the methylation of guanidoacetic acid

There are two, at least, methyl transfer reactions promoted by liver slices in vitro (2). The fundamental distinction between them is that one is dependent on oxygen and the other is not

Targeting of reactive isolevuglandins in mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation.

Inflammation is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. Despite use of multiple drugs, both chronic and acute inflammation still represent major health burdens. Inflammation produces highly reactive dicarbonyl lipid peroxidation products such as isolevuglandins which covalently modify and cross-link proteins via lysine residues. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with inflammation; however, its molecular mechanisms and pathophysiological role are still obscure. We hypothesized that inflammation-induced isolevuglandins contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction and mortality. To test this hypothesis, we have (a) investigated the mitochondrial dysfunction in response to synthetic 15-E2-isolevuglandin (IsoLG) and its adducts; (b) developed a new mitochondria-targeted scavenger of isolevuglandins by conjugating 2-hydroxybenzylamine to the lipophilic cation triphenylphosphonium, (4-(4-aminomethyl)-3-hydroxyphenoxy)butyl)-triphenylphosphonium (mito2HOBA); (c) tested if mito2HOBA protects from mitochondrial dysfunction and mortality using a lipopolysaccharide model of inflammation. Acute exposure to either IsoLG or IsoLG adducts with lysine, ethanolamine or phosphatidylethanolamine inhibits mitochondrial respiration and attenuates Complex I activity. Complex II function was much more resistant to IsoLG. We confirmed that mito2HOBA markedly accumulates in isolated mitochondria and it is highly reactive with IsoLGs. To test the role of mitochondrial IsoLGs, we studied the therapeutic potential of mito2HOBA in lipopolysaccharide mouse model of sepsis. Mito2HOBA supplementation in drinking water (0.1 g/L) to lipopolysaccharide treated mice increased survival by 3-fold, improved complex I-mediated respiration, and histopathological analyses supported mito2HOBA-mediated protection of renal cortex from cell injury. These data support the role of mitochondrial IsoLG in mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation. We conclude that reducing mitochondrial IsoLGs may be a promising therapeutic target in inflammation and conditions associated with mitochondrial oxidative stress and dysfunction

Overturning established chemoselectivities : selective reduction of arenes over malonates and cyanoacetates by photoactivated organic electron donors

The prevalence of metal-based reducing reagents, including metals, metal complexes, and metal salts, has produced an empirical order of reactivity that governs our approach to chemical synthesis. However, this reactivity may be influenced by stabilization of transition states, intermediates, and products through substrate-metal bonding. This article reports that in the absence of such stabilizing interactions, established chemoselectivities can be overthrown. Thus, photoactivation of the recently developed neutral organic superelectron donor 5 selectively reduces alkyl-substituted benzene rings in the presence of activated esters and nitriles, in direct contrast to metal-based reductions, opening a new perspective on reactivity. The altered outcomes arising from the organic electron donors are attributed to selective interactions between the neutral organic donors and the arene rings of the substrates

A Three-Dimensional Dynamic Supramolecular "Sticky Fingers" Organic Framework.

Engineering high-recognition host-guest materials is a burgeoning area in basic and applied research. The challenge of exploring novel porous materials with advanced functionalities prompted us to develop dynamic crystalline structures promoted by soft interactions. The first example of a pure molecular dynamic crystalline framework is demonstrated, which is held together by means of weak "sticky fingers" van der Waals interactions. The presented organic-fullerene-based material exhibits a non-porous dynamic crystalline structure capable of undergoing single-crystal-to-single-crystal reactions. Exposure to hydrazine vapors induces structural and chemical changes that manifest as toposelective hydrogenation of alternating rings on the surface of the [60]fullerene. Control experiments confirm that the same reaction does not occur when performed in solution. Easy-to-detect changes in the macroscopic properties of the sample suggest utility as molecular sensors or energy-storage materials

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of neoagarobiose hydrolase from Saccharophagus degradans 2-40

Many agarolytic bacteria degrade agar polysaccharide into the disaccharide unit neoagarobiose [O-3,6-anhydro-α-L-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-D-galactose] using various β-agarases. Neoagarobiose hydrolase is an enzyme that acts on the α-1,3 linkage in neoagarobiose to yield D-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose. This activity is essential in both the metabolism of agar by agarolytic bacteria and the production of fermentable sugars from agar biomass for bioenergy production. Neoagarobiose hydrolase from the marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans 2-40 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 129.83, b = 76.81, c = 90.11 Å, β = 101.86°. The crystals diffracted to 1.98 Å resolution and possibly contains two molecules in the asymmetric unit