Click‐coupling of anthraquinone dyes with β‐cyclodextrin: formation of polymeric superstructures

Two novel cyclodextrin‐modified anthraquinone dyes were synthesized and investigated for their complexation behaviour and formation of superstructures. Therefore, 1‐fluoro‐4‐N‐(propargylamino)anthraquinone and 1,4‐bis(propargyloxy)anthraquinone were prepared via nucleophilic aromatic displacement and subsequently covalently ‘click‐coupled’ in a copper(I)‐catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition with β‐cyclodextrin monoazide. Both the propargyl‐modified precursor and the click‐coupled anthraquinone dyes were evaluated as hosts and guests, respectively, in β‐cyclodextrin interactions. The anthraquinone dye bearing two cyclodextrins, 1,4‐bis((1‐β‐cyclodextrin‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐5‐yl)methoxy)anthraquinone, enables the reversible formation of supramolecular crosslinked poly[(N,N‐dimethyl acrylamide)‐co‐(N‐(ferrocenoylmethyl)acrylamide)] ( 11 ), whereas the monofunctionalized compound 1‐fluoro‐4‐(((1‐β‐cyclodextrin‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐5‐yl)methyl)amino)anthraquinone can be supramolecularly linked to 11 resulting in coloured polymers. These features of β‐cyclodextrin‐linked anthraquinone dyes can be verified with either ¹H ¹H NMR rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy or the naked eye. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemoenzymatic Preparation of Enantiopure Homoadamantyl β‐Amino Acid and β‐Lactam Derivatives

Racemic cis‐10‐azatetracyclo[7.2.0.1^2,6.1^4,8]tridecan‐11‐one was prepared from homoadamant‐4‐ene by chlorosulfonyl isocyanate addition. The transformation of the β‐lactam to the corresponding β‐amino ester followed by Candida antarctica lipase A‐catalyzed enantioselective (E>>200) N‐acylation with 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl butanoate afforded methyl (1R,4R,5S,8S)‐5‐aminotricyclo[4.3.1.1^3,8]undecane‐4‐carboxylate and the (1S,4S,5R,8R)‐butanamide with>99% ee at 50% conversion. Alternatively, transformation of the β‐lactam to the corresponding N‐hydroxymethyl‐β‐lactam and the following Pseudomonas cepacia (currently Burkholderia cepacia) lipase‐catalyzed enantioseletive O‐acylation provided the (1S,4S,6R,9R)‐alcohol (ee=87%) and the corresponding (1R,4R,6S,9S)‐butanoate (ee>99%). In the latter method, competition for the enzyme between the (1R,4R,6S,9S)‐butanoate, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl butanoate and the hydrolysis product, butanoic acid, tended to stop the reaction at about 45% conversion and finally gave racemization in the (1S,4S,6R,9R)‐alcohol with time.     

The Tertiary Amine Nitrogen Atom of Piperazine Sulfonamides as a Novel Determinant of Potent and Selective β3‐Adrenoceptor Agonists

Novel compounds were prepared in fair to good yields as human β₃‐adrenoceptor (β₃‐AR) agonists. In particular, aryloxypropanolamines 7 a – d (EC₅₀=0.57–2.1 nM ) and arylethanolamines 12 a , b , e (EC₅₀=6.38–19.4 nM ) were designed to explore the effects of modifications at the right‐hand side of these molecules on their activity as β₃‐AR agonists. Piperidine sulfonamides 15 a – c , e – g (EC₅₀=6.1–36.2 nM ) and piperazine sulfonamide derivatives 20 – 29 (EC₅₀=1.79–49.3 nM ) were examined as compounds bearing a non‐aromatic linker on the right‐ and left‐hand sides of the molecules. Some piperazine sulfonamides were found to be potent and selective β₃‐AR agonists, even if the amine nitrogen atom is tertiary and not secondary, as is the case for all β₃‐AR agonists reported so far. (S)‐3‐{4‐{N‐{4‐{2‐[2‐Hydroxy‐3‐(4‐hydroxyphenoxy)propylamino]ethyl}phenyl}sulfamoyl}phenoxy}propanoic acid ( 7 d ; EC₅₀=0.57 nM ), (R)‐N‐{4‐[2‐(2‐hydroxy‐2‐phenylethylamino)ethyl]phenyl}‐4‐(3‐octylureido)benzenesulfonamide ( 12 e ; EC₅₀=6.38 nM ), (R)‐2‐[1‐(4‐methoxyphenylsulfonyl)piperidin‐4‐ylamino]‐1‐phenylethanol ( 15 f ; EC₅₀=6.1 nM ), and (S)‐4‐{2‐hydroxy‐3‐[4‐(4‐methoxyphenylsulfonyl)piperazin‐1‐yl]propoxy}phenol ( 25 ; EC₅₀=1.79 nM ) were found to be the most potent β₃‐AR agonists of the aryloxypropanolamine, arylethanolamine, piperidine sulfonamide, and piperazine sulfonamide classes, respectively. The two most potent compounds were identified as possible candidates for further development of β₃‐AR agonists useful in the treatment of β₃‐AR‐mediated pathological conditions.     

Design and Synthesis of Highly Active Peroxisome Proliferator‐Activated Receptor (PPAR) β/δ Inverse Agonists with Prolonged Cellular Activity

Based on 3‐(((4‐(hexylamino)‐2‐methoxyphenyl)amino)sulfonyl)‐2‐thiophenecarboxylic acid methyl ester (ST247, compound 2 ), a recently described peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ‐selective inverse agonist, we designed and synthesized a series of structurally related ligands. The structural modifications presented herein ultimately resulted in a series of ligands that display increased cellular activity relative to 2 . Moreover, with methyl 3‐(N‐(2‐(2‐ethoxyethoxy)‐4‐(hexylamino)phenyl)sulfamoyl)thiophene‐2‐carboxylate (PT‐S264, compound 9 u ), biologically relevant plasma concentrations in mice were achieved. The compounds presented in this study will provide useful novel tools for future investigations addressing the role of PPARβ/δ in physiological and pathophysiological processes.     

Access to Enantiopure α‐Alkyl‐β‐hydroxy Esters through Dynamic Kinetic Resolutions Employing Purified/Overexpressed Alcohol Dehydrogenases

α‐Alkyl‐β‐hydroxy esters were obtained via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) employing purified or crude E. coli overexpressed alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs). ADH‐A from R. ruber, CPADH from C. parapsilosis and TesADH from T. ethanolicus afforded syn‐(2R,3S) derivatives with very high selectivities for sterically not impeded ketones (‘small‐bulky’ substrates), while ADHs from S. yanoikuyae (SyADH) and Ralstonia sp. (RasADH) could also accept bulkier keto esters (‘bulky‐bulky’ substrates). SyADH also provided preferentially syn‐(2R,3S) isomers and RasADH showed in some cases good selectivity towards the formation of anti‐(2S,3S) derivatives. With anti‐Prelog ADHs such as LBADH from L. brevis or LKADH from L. kefir, syn‐(2S,3R) alcohols were obtained with high conversions and diastereomeric excess in some cases, especially with LBADH. Furthermore, due to the thermodynamically favoured reduction of these substrates, it was possible to employ just a minimal excess of 2‐propanol to obtain the final products with quantitative conversions.     

From Type I to Type II: Design,Synthesis, and Characterization of Potent Pyrazin‐2‐ones as DFG‐Out Inhibitors of PDGFRβ

Reversible protein kinase inhibitors that bind in the ATP cleft can be classified as type I or type II binders. Of these, type I inhibitors address the active form, whereas type II inhibitors typically lock the kinase in an inactive form. At the molecular level, the conformation of the flexible activation loop holding the key DFG motif controls access to the ATP site, thereby determining an active or inactive kinase state. Accordingly, type I and type II kinase inhibitors bind to so‐called DFG‐in or DFG‐out conformations, respectively. Based on our former study on highly selective platelet‐derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) pyrazin‐2‐one type I inhibitors, we expanded this scaffold toward the deep pocket, yielding the highly potent and effective type II inhibitor 5 (4‐[(4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl]‐N‐[3‐[[6‐oxo‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazin‐3‐yl]methyl]phenyl]benzamide). In vitro characterization, including selectivity panel data from activity‐based assays (300 kinases) and affinity‐based assays (97 kinases) of these PDGFRβ type I ( 1 ; 5‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐phenyl)‐3‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazin‐2‐one) and II ( 5 ) inhibitors showing the same pyrazin‐2‐one chemotype are compared. Implications are discussed regarding the data for selectivity and efficacy of type I and type II ligands.     

Discovery of α‐Substituted Imidazole‐4‐acetic Acid Analogues as a Novel Class of ρ1 γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor Antagonists with Effect on Retinal Vascular Tone

The ρ‐containing γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA_ARs) play an important role in controlling visual signaling. Therefore, ligands that selectively target these GABA_ARs are of interest. In this study, we demonstrate that the partial GABA_AR agonist imidazole‐4‐acetic acid (IAA) is able to penetrate the blood–brain barrier in vivo; we prepared a series of α‐ and N‐alkylated, as well as bicyclic analogues of IAA to explore the structure–activity relationship of this scaffold focusing on the acetic acid side chain of IAA. The compounds were prepared via IAA from l ‐histidine by an efficient minimal‐step synthesis, and their pharmacological properties were characterized at native rat GABA_ARs in a [³H]muscimol binding assay and at recombinant human α₁β₂γ_2S and ρ₁ GABA_ARs using the FLIPR? membrane potential assay. The (+)‐α‐methyl‐ and α‐cyclopropyl‐substituted IAA analogues ((+)‐ 6 a and 6 c , respectively) were identified as fairly potent antagonists of the ρ₁ GABA_AR that also displayed significant selectivity for this receptor over the α₁β₂γ_2S GABA_AR. Both 6 a and 6 c were shown to inhibit GABA‐induced relaxation of retinal arterioles from porcine eyes.     

Design, synthesis, and pharmacological characterization of novel spirocyclic quinuclidinyl-Δ2-isoxazoline derivatives as potent and selective agonists of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

A set of racemic spirocyclic quinuclidinyl‐Δ²‐isoxazoline derivatives was synthesized using a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition‐based approach. Target compounds were assayed for binding affinity toward rat neuronal homomeric (α7) and heteromeric (α4β2) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Δ²‐Isoxazolines 3 a (3‐Br), 6 a (3‐OMe), 5 a (3‐Ph), 8 a (3‐OnPr), and 4 a (3‐Me) were the ligands with the highest affinity for the α7 subtype (K_i values equal to 13.5, 14.2, 25.0, 71.6, and 96.2 nM , respectively), and showed excellent α7 versus α4β2 subtype selectivity. These compounds, tested in electrophysiological experiments against human α7 and α4β2 receptors stably expressed in cell lines, behaved as partial α7 agonists with varying levels of potency. The two enantiomers of (±)‐3‐methoxy‐1‐oxa‐2,7‐diaza‐7,10‐ethanospiro[4.5]dec‐2‐ene sesquifumarate 6 a were prepared using (+)‐dibenzoyl‐L ‐ or (?)‐dibenzoyl‐D ‐tartaric acid as resolving agents. Enantiomer (R)‐(?)‐ 6 a was found to be the eutomer, with K_i values of 4.6 and 48.7 nM against rat and human α7 receptors, respectively.     

Bis(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐(S)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐ylmethanol: an Improved Organocatalyst for the Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β‐Enones

The asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐enones by the readily available bis(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐(S)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐ylmethanol and tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is described. Stereoelectronic substitution on the aryl moiety of diaryl‐2‐pyrrolidinemethanols was found to significantly affect the efficiency with respect to the previously reported (S)‐diphenyl‐2‐pyrrolidinemethanol. Improved reactivity and enantioselectivity were achieved with bis(3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐(S)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐ylmethanol at reduced catalyst loading (20 mol %) with ees up to 94% for chalcone epoxides under mild reaction conditions, whereas (S)‐diphenyl‐2‐pyrrolidinemethanol afforded a maximum ee of 80%. Interestingly, the methodology is applicable to the epoxidation of more challenging aliphatic or enolizable enones with good control of the asymmetric induction (up to 87% ee).     

Fluorine‐Containing 6,7‐Dialkoxybiaryl‐Based Inhibitors for Phosphodiesterase 10 A: Synthesis and in vitro Evaluation of Inhibitory Potency,Selectivity, and Metabolism

Based on the potent phosphodiesterase 10 A (PDE10A) inhibitor PQ‐10, we synthesized 32 derivatives to determine relationships between their molecular structure and binding properties. Their roles as potential positron emission tomography (PET) ligands were evaluated, as well as their inhibitory potency toward PDE10A and other PDEs, and their metabolic stability was determined in vitro. According to our findings, halo‐alkyl substituents at position 2 of the quinazoline moiety and/or halo‐alkyloxy substituents at positions 6 or 7 affect not only the compounds′ affinity, but also their selectivity toward PDE10A. As a result of substituting the methoxy group for a monofluoroethoxy or difluoroethoxy group at position 6 of the quinazoline ring, the selectivity for PDE10A over PDE3A increased. The same result was obtained by 6,7‐difluoride substitution on the quinoxaline moiety. Finally, fluorinated compounds (R)‐7‐(fluoromethoxy)‐6‐methoxy‐4‐(3‐(quinoxaline‐2‐yloxy)pyrrolidine‐1‐yl)quinazoline ( 16 a ), 19 a – d , (R)‐tert‐butyl‐3‐(6‐fluoroquinoxalin‐2‐yloxy)pyrrolidine‐1‐carboxylate ( 29 ), and 35 (IC₅₀ PDE10A 11–65 nM ) showed the highest inhibitory potential. Further, fluoroethoxy substitution at position 7 of the quinazoline ring improved metabolic stability over that of the lead structure PQ‐10.     

Targeting Serotonin 2A and Adrenergic α1 Receptors for Ocular Antihypertensive Agents: Discovery of 3,4‐Dihydropyrazino[1,2‐b]indazol‐1(2H)‐one Derivatives

Glaucoma affects millions of people worldwide and causes optic nerve damage and blindness. The elevation of the intraocular pressure (IOP) is the main risk factor associated with this pathology, and decreasing IOP is the key therapeutic target of current pharmacological treatments. As potential ocular hypotensive agents, we studied compounds that act on two receptors (serotonin 2A and adrenergic α₁) linked to the regulation of aqueous humour dynamics. Herein we describe the design, synthesis, and pharmacological profiling of a series of novel bicyclic and tricyclic N2‐alkyl‐indazole‐amide derivatives. This study identified a 3,4‐dihydropyrazino[1,2‐b]indazol‐1(2H)‐one derivative with potent serotonin 2A receptor antagonism, >100‐fold selectivity over other serotonin subtype receptors, and high affinity for the α₁ receptor. Moreover, upon local administration, this compound showed superior ocular hypotensive action in vivo relative to the clinically used reference compound timolol.     

Synthesis and Highly Stereoselective Hydrogenation of the Statin Precursor Ethyl (5S)‐5,6‐Isopropylidenedioxy‐3‐oxohexanoate

A search for the large‐scale preparation of (5S)‐5,6‐(isopropylidenedioxy)‐3‐oxohexanoates ( 2 ) – a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmacologially important statins – starting from (S)‐malic acid is described. The synthesis of the required initial compound methyl (3S)‐3,4‐(isopropylidenedioxy)butanoate ( 1 ) by Moriwake’s reduction of dimethyl (S)‐malate ( 3 ) has been improved. Direct 2‐C chain elongation of ester 1 using the lithium enolate of tert‐butyl acetate has been shown to be successful at a 3‐ to 5‐fold excess of the enolate. Unfortunately, the product, tert‐butyl (5S)‐5,6‐(isopropylidenedioxy)‐3‐oxohexanoate ( 2a ) is unstable during distillation. Ethyl (5S)‐5,6‐(isopropylidenedioxy)‐3‐oxohexanoate ( 2b ) was prepared alternatively on a multigram scale from (3S)‐3,4‐(isopropylidenedioxy)butanoic acid ( 7 ) by activation with N,N′‐carbonyldiimidazole and subsequent reaction with Mg(OOCCH₂COOEt)₂. A convenient pathway for the in situ preparation of the latter is also described. Ethyl ester ( 2b ) can be advantageously purified by distillation. The stereochemistry of the catalytic hydrogenation of β‐keto ester ( 2b ) to ethyl (5S)‐5,6‐(isopropylidenedioxy)‐3‐hydrohyhexanoate (syn‐ 6 and anti‐ 6 ) has been studied using a number of homogeneous achiral and chiral Rh(I) and Ru(II) complexes with phosphine ligands. A comparison of Rh(I) and Ru(II) catalysts with (S)‐ and (R)‐BINAP as chiral ligands revealed opposite activity in dependence on the polarity of the solvent. No influence of the chiral backbone of substrate 2b on the enantioselectivity was noted. A ratio of syn‐ 6 /anti‐ 6 =2.3 was observed with an achiral (Ph₃P)₃RuCl₂ catalyst. Ru[(R)‐Tol‐BINAP]Cl₂ neutralized with one equivalent of AcONa afforded the most efficient catalytic system for the production of optically pure syn‐(5S)‐5,6‐isopropylidenedioxy‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate (syn‐ 6 ) at a preparative substrate/catalyst ratio of 1000:1.     

Experimental and Computation Studies on Candida antarctica Lipase B‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Alcoholysis of 4‐Bromomethyl‐β‐lactone Leading to Enantiopure 4‐Bromo‐3‐hydroxybutanoate

Both enantiomers of optically pure 4‐bromo‐3‐hydroxybutanoate, which is an important chiral building block in the syntheses of various biologically active compounds including statins, were synthesized from rac‐4‐bromomethyl‐β‐lactone through kinetic resolution. Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL‐B) enantioselectively catalyzes the ring opening of the β‐lactone with ethanol to yield ethyl (R)‐4‐bromo‐3‐hydroxybutanoate with high enantioselectivity (E>200). The unreacted (S)‐4‐bromomethyl‐β‐lactone was converted to ethyl (S)‐4‐bromo‐3‐hydroxybutanoate (>99% ee), which can be further transformed to ethyl (R)‐4‐cyano‐3‐hydroxybutanoate, through an acid‐catalyzed ring opening in ethanol. Molecular modeling revealed that the stereocenter of the fast‐reacting enantiomer, (R)‐bromomethyl‐β‐lactone, is ∼2 Å from the reacting carbonyl carbon. In addition, the slow‐reacting enantiomer, (S)‐4‐bromomethyl‐β‐lactone, encounters steric hindrance between the bromo substituent and the side chain of the Leu278 residue, while the fast‐reacting enantiomer does not have any steric clash.     

Ring-opening homopolymerization and copolymerization of lactones. Part 2. enzymatic degradability of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) stereoisomers and copolymers of β-butyrolactone with ε-caprolactone and δ-valerolactone

In this study, we have prepared poly([R,S ]-β-hydroxybutyrate) (P([R,S ]-β-HB) or PHB) from [R ,S]-β-butyrolactone ([ R,S]-β-BL), using different aluminoxane catalyst systems (triethylaluminium/water, triisobutylaluminium/water, trioctylaluminium/water and tetraisobutyldialuminoxane/water). By varying the ratio of catalyst to water and using a method of fractionation of polymers, PHB with different isotactic diad fractions (i) (from 0.41 to 0.72) and crystallinities were obtained. Copolymers poly(butyrolactone-co-caprolactone) (P(BL-co-CL)) and poly(butyrolactone-co-valerolactone) (P(BL-co-VL)) have also been synthesized from the ring-opening copolymerization of [ R,S]-β-BL with either ε-caprolactone (CL) or δ-valerolactone (VL) using tetraisobutyldialuminoxane (TIBAO) catalyst. The enzymatic degradability of these polymers was studied in aerobic and anaerobic media. The objective of this work was to determine the influence of the tacticity and crystallinity of the polymers on their degree of biodegradation and on their initial degradation rate. It was shown that the degradation rate measured for bacterial PHB 100% [R] was the highest and the degree of aerobic biodegradation reached after 36 days was around 94%. A 40–50% biodegradation was obtained for synthetic PHB, highly isotactic and predominantly syndiotactic. The non-crystalline and atactic PHB synthesized from TIBAO catalyst had a very high degree of biodegradation of around 88%. This result may suggest that not only are the [R ]-BL units hydrolysed but also the [S ]-BL units. The influence of the crystallinity on the initial degradation rate was observed for the copolymers P(BL-co-CL) and P(BL-co -VL) of various feed ratios. All these copolymers synthesized from TIBAO catalyst, exhibit a high degree of biodegradation of around 85% except for copolymers containing a very high portion of unsubstituted units, CL or VL. The anaerobic biodegradation of PHB and copolymers P(BL-co -CL) is much lower than the aerobic biodegradation, as are the initial rates, even for bacterial P([R ]-HB). © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Highly Enantioselective Phase‐Transfer Catalytic α‐Alkylation of α‐tert‐Butoxycarbonyllactams: Construction of β‐Quaternary Chiral Pyrrolidine and Piperidine Systems

A new enantioselective α‐alkylation of α‐tert‐butoxycarbonyllactams for the construction of β‐quaternary chiral pyrrolidine and piperidine core systems is reported. α‐Alkylations of N‐methyl‐α‐tert‐butoxycarbonylbutyrolactam and N‐diphenylmethyl‐α‐tert‐butoxycarbonylvalerolactam under phase‐transfer catalytic conditions (solid potassium hydroxide, toluene, −40 °C) in the presence of (S,S)‐3,4,5‐trifluorophenyl‐3,3′,5,5′‐tetrahydro‐2,6‐bis(3,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)‐4,4′‐spirobi[4H‐dinaphth[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]azepinium] bromide [(S,S)‐NAS Br] (5 mol%) afforded the corresponding α‐alkyl‐α‐tert‐butoxycarbonyllactams in very high chemical (up to 99%) and optical yields (up to 98% ee). Our new catalytic systems provide attractive synthetic methods for pyrrolidine‐ and piperidine‐based alkaloids and chiral intermediates with β‐quaternary carbon centers.     

Chiral Bioinspired Non‐Heme Iron Complexes for Enantioselective Epoxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones

Chiral bioinspired iron complexes of N₄ ligands based on the ethylenediamine backbone display remarkable levels of enantioselectivity for the first time in the asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated ketones using hydrogen peroxide (up to 87% ee) or peracetic acid as oxidant, respectively. Notablely, isotopic labeling with H₂¹⁸O strongly demonstrated that there is a reversible water binding step prior to generation of the significant intermediate. Besides, the complex [L₂Fe(III)₂(μ‐O)(μ‐CH₃CO₂)]³⁺ usually derived from the decay of the LFe(IV)O species or thermodynamic sinks for a number of iron complexes was identified by HR‐MS. In addition, the possible mechanisms were proposed and LFe(V)O species may be the main active intermediate in the catalytic system.     

Regio‐ and Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Conjugate Addition of Trimethylaluminium to Linear α,β,γ,δ‐Unsaturated Alkyl Ketones

A regio‐ and enantioselective copper‐catalyzed 1,4‐conjugate addition of trimethylaluminium to linear δ‐aryl‐substituted α,β,γ,δ‐unsaturated alkyl ketones was developed. A series of γ,δ‐unsaturated alkyl ketones were obtained in good yields with high regio‐ and enantioselectivity (up to 88% ee and 96:4 dr). Expansion of the reaction scope to substrates containing aromatic heterocycles also afforded good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee) with very high regioselectivities, exclusively providing the single 1,4‐products.

     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral β‐Aryloxy Alcohols by Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Ketone Hydrogenation via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution (DKR)

A highly efficient enantioselective synthesis of chiral β‐aryloxy alcohols by the {RuCl₂[(S)‐SDP][(R,R)‐DPEN]} [(S_a,R,R)‐ 1a ; SDP=7,7′‐bis(diarylphosphino)‐1,1′‐spirobiindane; DPEN=trans‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine] complex‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic α‐aryloxydialkyl ketones via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) has been developed. Enantioselectivities of up to 99% ee with good to high cis/anti‐selectivities (up to>99:1) were achieved.     

Negative effect of stretching on the development of β‐phase in β‐nucleated isotactic polypropylene

On the premise that shear in the slit die of an extruder was minimized as far as possible, β‐nucleated isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was extruded. Simultaneously, once the extrudate (in the melt state) left the die exit, it was stretched at various stretching rates (SRs). For iPP with a low content of β‐nucleating agent (β‐NA), the crystallinity of β‐phase (X_β) initially increases with increasing SR, and then decreases slightly with further increase in SR. However, for iPP containing a higher content of β‐NA, with increasing SR, X_β decreases monotonically, indicating a negative effect of SR on β‐phase formation. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering and polarized optical microscopy experiments reveal that, when SR is less than 30 cm min^?1, the increasing amount of row nuclei induced by increasing SR is mainly responsible for the increase of X_β. In contrast, when SR exceeds 30 cm min^?1, the overgrowth of shish structures unexpectedly restrains the development of β‐phase, and spatial confinement is considered as a better explanation for the suppression of β‐phase. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of 2‐Phenylpropanal Derivatives to Yield β‐Chiral Primary Amines via Bioamination

The amination of racemic α‐chiral aldehydes, 2‐phenylpropanal derivatives, was investigated employing ω‐transaminases. By medium and substrate engineering the optical purity of the resulting β‐chiral chiral amine could be enhanced to reach optical purities up to 99% ee. Using enantiocomplementary ω‐transaminases allowed us to access the (R)‐ as well as the (S)‐enantiomer in most cases. It is important to note that the stereopreference of the ω‐transaminases found for α‐chiral aldehydes did not correlate with the stereopreference previously observed for the amination of methyl ketones. In one case the stereopreference switched even upon exchanging a methyl substituent to a methoxy group.