One‐Step Synthesis of Methanesulfonyloxymethyl Ketones via Gold‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Terminal Alkynes: A Combination of Ligand and Counter Anion Enables High Efficiency and a One‐Pot Synthesis of 2,4‐Disubstituted Thiazoles

By using Mor‐DalPhos as the P,N‐bidentate ligand and mesylate as the counter ion, the resulting gold(I) complex catalyzes efficient oxidative transformations of various terminal alkynes into synthetically versatile methanesulfonyloxymethyl ketones. The mild reaction conditions and high efficiency permit the one‐pot synthesis of a range of valuable 2,4‐disubstituted thiazoles by subjecting the resulting reaction mixture to a further condensation with thioamides under mild conditions.

     

Electrochemical removal of ammonia,chemical oxygen demand and energy consumption from aquaculture waters containing different marine algal species

Phytoplankton over‐blooming and consequent die‐off is one of the major contributory factors for ammonia and chemical oxygen demand (COD) loadings. In this work, electrolysis technology was applied to determine its ability to remove ammonia and total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) in both laboratory‐scale batch and continuous systems. Under an initially set voltage of 5 V, a constant current of 0.1 A was applied and different retention times were used for ammonia‐removal experiments. Results showed that these conditions are not satisfactory in removing TCOD loadings contributed by algal cells. However, a retention time of 35.7 min was sufficient to remove 100% ammonia from algal‐uncontaminated waters. Ammonia removals in waters containing Chlorella spp and Isochrysis spp were 87 and 68%, respectively, after 140 min of electrolysis. Energy consumption for ammonia removal in algal‐free water was 50 W mg^?1 of ammonia. For waters containing Chlorella spp and Isochrysis spp energy consumptions were 67 and 85 W mg^?1 of ammonia, respectively. Interestingly, the applied mild electrolysis condition was just sufficient to control excess algal blooming and ammonia without increasing the dissolved COD and chlorine in shrimp grow‐out ponds. This minimizes operating costs due the process requiring less energy. Furthermore, it was also found that electrolysis does not lower alkalinity. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Efficient Enantioselective Syntheses of Sertraline, 2‐Epicatalponol and Catalponol from Tetralin‐1,4‐dione

Tetralin‐1,4‐dione, the stable tautomer of dihydroxynaphthalene, was reduced with catecholborane in the presence of 3,3‐diphenyl‐1‐butyltetrahydro‐3H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐c][1,3,2]oxazaborole as catalyst to give enantiomerically highly enriched 4‐hydroxy‐1‐tetralone (99% ee) in an efficient one‐pot procedure. The R‐enantiomer provided a rapid access to sertraline while the S‐enantiomer was converted into 2‐epicatalponol and catalponol. A more selective enantioselective route to the antithermitic catalponol made use of the planar chiral tricarbonylchromium complex of hydroxytetralone. Its precursor chromium(tricarbonyl)[η⁶‐(1‐4,4a,8a)‐tetralin‐5,8‐dione] was obtained via direct complexation of 1,4‐dihydroxynaphthalene using chromium(tricarbonyl)‐ tris(ammonia) and boron trifluoride etherate as source of the chromium(tricarbonyl) fragment. Enolate prenylation was best carried out in the presence of a tetraamine ligand. Complete inversion of the stereogenic center bearing the prenyl group of the initially obtained tetralone complex was achieved via enolate formation followed by protonation.     

Ammonia adsorption behavior of polypropylene nonwoven fabric grafted with acrylic acid

An attempt was made to synthesize an adsorbent by the photoinduced grafting of acrylic acid (AA) onto polypropylene nonwoven fabrics using benzophenone (BP) as a photosensitizer in a CH₃OH/H₂O medium. As the BP concentration was increased, the graft yield was increased up to a specific value and then decreased, and the effect of AA concentration showed the same tendency. It was also found that the graft yield increased with the reaction time and temperature. The amounts of ammonia adsorbed onto polypropylene nonwoven fabrics grafted with AA (PP‐g‐AA) were dependent on the graft yield, adsorption time, and ammonia gas pressure. The adsorption capacity of PP‐g‐AA was 5.86 mmol/g at the graft yield of 116.6%, which was much higher than that of active carbon or silica gel. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 295–301, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10328     

Hydroaminomethylation of the Renewable Limonene with Ammonia in an Aqueous Biphasic Solvent System

With the hydroaminomethylation of the natural compound limonene with ammonia an atom‐economic method for the synthesis of primary amines is described. This tandem reaction allows the direct conversion of the unfunctionalized monoterpene to a valuable amine product. For the first time, ammonia served as substrate to result in a maximum primary amine yield of 25 %. To overcome unwanted side reactions, a biphasic solvent system was used, consisting of an aqueous catalyst phase and an organic product phase. As catalyst the water‐soluble transition metal complex [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/triphenylphosphine trisulfonate was chosen. In combination with the surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride it provided a good phase interaction and the possibility for easy phase separation after the reaction.     

Utilizing Mor‐DalPhos/Palladium‐Catalyzed Monoarylation in the Multicomponent One‐Pot Synthesis of Indoles

The application of a Mor‐DalPhos/palladium catalyst system in the one‐pot, multicomponent assembly of substituted indoles from ortho‐chlorohaloarenes, alkyl ketones (including acetone), and primary amines is reported. The described protocols offer improved substrate scope in all three reaction components, under more mild conditions and without the need for an additional drying agent. Also reported are the first examples of such multicomponent reactions where all reactants are combined at the start of the reaction, without the need for inert atmosphere reaction conditions.

     

Phenylalanine Ammonia‐Lyase‐Catalyzed Deamination of an Acyclic Amino Acid: Enzyme Mechanistic Studies Aided by a Novel Microreactor Filled with Magnetic Nanoparticles

Phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL), found in many organisms, catalyzes the deamination of l ‐phenylalanine (Phe) to (E)‐cinnamate by the aid of its MIO prosthetic group. By using PAL immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles and fixed in a microfluidic reactor with an in‐line UV detector, we demonstrated that PAL can catalyze ammonia elimination from the acyclic propargylglycine (PG) to yield (E)‐pent‐2‐ene‐4‐ynoate. This highlights new opportunities to extend MIO enzymes towards acyclic substrates. As PG is acyclic, its deamination cannot involve a Friedel–Crafts‐type attack at an aromatic ring. The reversibility of the PAL reaction, demonstrated by the ammonia addition to (E)‐pent‐2‐ene‐4‐ynoate yielding enantiopure l ‐PG, contradicts the proposed highly exothermic single‐step mechanism. Computations with the QM/MM models of the N‐MIO intermediates from l ‐PG and l ‐Phe in PAL show similar arrangements within the active site, thus supporting a mechanism via the N‐MIO intermediate.     

An Efficient Method for the Selective Iridium‐Catalyzed Monoalkylation of (Hetero)aromatic Amines with Primary Alcohols

An efficient multi‐gram scale synthesis protocol of a variety of P,N ligands is described. The synthesis is achieved in a two‐step reaction. First, the amine is deprotonated and subsequently the chlorophosphine is added to yield the corresponding P,N ligand. Deprotonation of the amine is normally achieved with n‐BuLi at low temperature, but for the preparation of ligands with a 2,2′‐dipyridylamino backbone and phosphines with a high steric demand KH has to be employed in combination with reaction temperatures of 110 °C for the salt metathesis step. The reaction of two equivalents of a selected P,N ligand with one equivalent of the iridium complex [IrCl(cod)]₂ (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) affords P,N ligand‐coordinated iridium complexes in quantitative yield. X‐Ray single crystal structure analysis of one of these complexes reveals a monomeric five‐coordinated structure in the solid state. The iridium complexes were used to form catalysts for the N‐alkylation of aromatic amines with alcohols. The catalyst system was optimized by studying 8 different P,N ligands, 9 different solvents and 14 different bases. Systematic variation of the substrate to base and the amine to alcohol ratios as well as the catalyst loading led to optimized catalytic reaction conditions. The substrate scope of the developed catalytic protocol was shown by synthesizing 20 different amines of which 12 could be obtained in isolated yields higher than 90%. A new efficient catalyst system for the selective monoalkylation of primary aromatic and heteroaromatic amines with primary aromatic, heteroaromatic as well as aliphatic alcohols has been established. The reaction proceeds with rather moderate catalyst loadings.     

Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization of n‐butyl methacrylate in an aqueous dispersed system

Reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) was conducted in an aqueous dispersed system. The influence of the surfactant, catalyst, reaction time and temperature on the colloidal stability and the control of polymerization was investigated. As a result, using an azo initiator (AIBN), a non‐ionic surfactant (Brij 35) and a hydrophobic ligand (dNbpy) to complex a copper halide, polymers with predetermined molecular weight and low polydispersity were obtained as stable latexes. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Asymmetric 1,4‐Addition of Diethylzinc to Cyclic Enones Catalyzed by Cu(I)‐Chiral Sulfonamide‐Thiophosphoramide Ligands and Lithium Salts

The chiral sulfonamide‐thiophosphoramide ligand L1 , prepared from the reaction of (1R,2R)‐(−)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamine with diphenylthiophosphoryl chloride and p‐toluenesulfonyl chloride, was used as a chiral ligand in Cu(MeCN)₄ClO₄‐promoted catalytic asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to cyclic enones using LiCl as an additive in which up to 90% ee can be realized under mild conditions within 0.5 h. This chiral ligand is stable and recoverable after usual work‐up and can be reused in the same catalytic asymmetric reaction. Moreover, it was found that this series of chiral ligands represents a type of S,O‐bidentate ligands on the basis of ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic investigations. The linear effect of ligand ee and product ee further revealed that the active species is a monomeric Cu(I) complex bearing a single ligand.     

Acetylcholine Promotes Binding of α‐Conotoxin MII at α3β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

α‐Conotoxin MII (α‐CTxMII) is a 16‐residue peptide with the sequence GCCSNPVCHLEHSNLC, containing Cys2–Cys8 and Cys3–Cys16 disulfide bonds. This peptide, isolated from the venom of the marine cone snail Conus magus, is a potent and selective antagonist of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). To evaluate the impact of channel–ligand interactions on ligand‐binding affinity, homology models of the heteropentameric α₃β₂‐nAChR were constructed. The models were created in MODELLER with the aid of experimentally characterized structures of the Torpedo marmorata‐nAChR (Tm‐nAChR, PDB ID: 2BG9) and the Aplysia californica‐acetylcholine binding protein (Ac‐AChBP, PDB ID: 2BR8) as templates for the α₃‐ and β₂‐subunit isoforms derived from rat neuronal nAChR primary amino acid sequences. Molecular docking calculations were performed with AutoDock to evaluate interactions of the heteropentameric nAChR homology models with the ligands acetylcholine (ACh) and α‐CTxMII. The nAChR homology models described here bind ACh with binding energies commensurate with those of previously reported systems, and identify critical interactions that facilitate both ACh and α‐CTxMII ligand binding. The docking calculations revealed an increased binding affinity of the α₃β₂‐nAChR for α‐CTxMII with ACh bound to the receptor, and this was confirmed through two‐electrode voltage clamp experiments on oocytes from Xenopus laevis. These findings provide insights into the inhibition and mechanism of electrostatically driven antagonist properties of the α‐CTxMIIs on nAChRs.     

Electrolytic removal of ammonia from brine wastewater: scale‐up,operation and pilot‐scale evaluation

Brine wastewater with a high ammonia content from an iodine processing plant (commonly called kansui in Japan) was treated by electrolysis. The system, which can be considered as an indirect electrolytic treatment process, generates chlorine at the anodes and initiates the formation of mixed oxidants like hypochlorous acid. The oxidants then act as agents for ammonia destruction. Laboratory‐scale experiments showed that high ammonia concentrations (as much as 200 mg dm^?3) could be completely removed within a few minutes, and could be considered a good alternative for efficient ammonia removal from saline wastewaters. From laboratory‐scale experiments in the batch and continuous modes, the charge dose was analyzed and used as the operating and scale‐up factor. The value of the charge dose was not severely affected by changes in operating conditions such as electrode spacing and temperature. The charge dose from batch and continuous runs was found to be in the range of 23 C (mg NH₄‐N removed)^?1 to 29 C (mg NH₄‐N removed)^?1. Using the charge dose obtained from laboratory‐scale continuous electrolysis experiments as the scale‐up factor, a pilot‐scale reactor was designed, and the operating conditions were calculated. In the pilot‐scale reactor tests at different flow rates, the effluent ammonia concentrations were reasonably close to the calculated values predicted from the charge dose equation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Simple Chiral Diaminobinaphthyl Dilithium Salts for Intramolecular Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroamination of Amino‐1,3‐dienes

Simple and easily accessible chiral lithium amide salts are reported as efficient (pre)catalysts for the diastereo‐ [up to (E:Z)=92:8] and enantioselective [up to 72% ee (E)] hydroamination/cyclisation of conjugated primary aminodienes. These chiral lithium salts are straightforwardly prepared by in situ combination of an N‐substituted (R)‐(+)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diamine ligand and a commercial methyllithium solution. Information on the solid‐state structure of these salts was obtained by X‐ray analysis of a single crystal.     

An unstructured model for the analysis of substrate consumption and product release in relation to biosynthesis and cell maintenance during batch cultures of Geotrichum candidum and Penicillium camembertii

An unstructured model has been developed to predict microbial growth based on carbon or nitrogen substrate consumption, ammonia or carbon dioxide production and proton transfer. The model has been validated for batch cultures of Geotrichum candidum and Penicillium camembertii growing on peptones and peptones + lactate based media. The contributions of the considered kinetics to biosynthesis and cellular maintenance can be deduced from this model. The nitrogen source (peptones) was mainly utilized in biosynthesis: for P camembertii growing on peptones, 86% of the metabolized peptones. G candidum metabolized peptones preferentially to lactate as a carbon source, resulting in lactate utilization by a maintenance mechanism during the stationary state. In contrast, P camembertii, which metabolized fewer amino acids as a carbon source, utilized lactate mainly for biosynthesis (83% of the consumed lactate). Most (up to 71%) of the ammonia released was produced by deamination of amino acids utilized as both carbon and nitrogen sources by growth‐associated metabolism. With peptones, proton transfer resulted from ammonia release, most likely as a result of the growth‐associated mechanism, as supported experimentally (55–58% of the released ammonia for both microorganisms). The contribution of lactate to proton transfer resulted in 76% of protons exchanged by a growth‐associated mechanism during P camembertii growth. For total carbon dioxide production, the contributions of the energy supplies for biosynthesis and cell maintenance were similar; except during P camembertii growth in the presence of lactate (65% of growth‐associated CO₂ production). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polyphenolic extracts of Pinus radiata bark and networking mechanisms of additive‐accelerated polycondensates

The use of various chemicals for extracting polyphenolic fractions (tannins) from Pinus radiata bark was examined with the aim of obtaining high yields of high‐quality tannins to be used as wood adhesives. Extractions carried out under very highly alkaline conditions (pH > 10.5) gave relatively high yields but also excessive viscosity values even in 30% (w/w) solutions, and this demonstrated their inability to function as wood adhesives. Solutions (30% w/w) of mildly extracted (pH < 8.3) fractions gave workable viscosity values and were used in a subsequent study. A rapid acceleration effect was observed in these fractions when ammonia was used as a catalyst. Solid‐state, cross‐polarization/magic‐angle‐spinning ¹³C‐NMR of the cured samples showed evidence proving the existence of benzyl amine bridging networks in their hardened state. Simultaneously accelerated copolymerization could be observed in phenol–resorcinol–formaldehyde/P. radiata bark tannin mixtures with the addition of ammonia, as indicated by viscosity measurements. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2487–2493, 2007     

Ammonia‐gas and liquid ammonia treatments of silk fabric

Silk fabric, Habutae, was treated with 100% ammonia‐gas under atmospheric pressure and at pressures of 2, 4, and 6 kgf/cm², and with liquid ammonia at ?33°C. The effects of the treatment were investigated on the basis of the X‐ray diffraction, DSC thermogram, moisture regain, water absorption, dyeing property, and mechanical property of the fabric. Crystallinity and equilibrium dye uptake were increased apparently by the liquid ammonia treatment, whereas effect of the ammonia‐gas treatment was less than the liquid ammonia treatment. KES (Kawabata Evaluation System) shearing, bending, and tensile parameters were obtained. The modulus G, B, and hysteresis widths 2HG, 2HG5, and 2HB were decreased with the ammonia‐gas treatment. On the contrary, the liquid ammonia treatment increased the parameters considerably. Therefore, it seemed that the ammonia‐gas treatment is effective in enhancing the soft hand of the silk fabric. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3487–3492, 2006     

Grafting studies onto cellulose by atom‐transfer radical polymerization

Styrene (Sty), methyl methacrylate (MMA), methacrylamide (MAm) and acrylomorpholine (AcM) were grafted onto powder cellulose by atom‐transfer radical polymerization. Cellulose chloroacetate (Cell‐ClAc), as a macro‐initiator, was first prepared by the reaction of chloroacetyl chloride with primary alcoholic OH groups on powder cellulose. CuBr and 1,2‐dipiperidinoethane were used as a transition‐metal compound and as a ligand, respectively. These reactions were monitored by FT‐IR and weight increase in Cell‐ClAc. In case of styrene, although some weight increase occurred, no evidence of grafting could be observed in the FT‐IR spectrum, while there were strong evidence of grafting with MMA, MAm and AcM. Cell‐graft‐MAm, Cell‐graft‐AcM and Cell‐graft‐MMA showed new carbonyl bands at 1665, 1640 and 1735 cm^?1, respectively. Dye‐uptake and dye‐absorption properties of cellulose, for alizarin yellow (basic dye) and bromocresol green (acidic dye), and its moisture‐ and water‐uptake capacities improved with the grafting, but some decrease was observed in thermal stability. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Adsorption of IgG on spacer‐arm and L‐arginine ligand attached poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA) beads

This work presents data on human immunoglobulin G (HIgG) adsorption onto L ‐arginine ligand attached poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐based affinity beads which were synthesized from methyl methacrylate (MMA) and glycidiyl methacrylate (GMA) in the presence of a crosslinker (i.e., ethylene glycol dimethacrylate; EGDMA) by suspension polymerization. The epoxy groups of the poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA) beads were converted into amino groups after reaction with ammonia or 1,6‐diaminohexane (i.e., spacer‐arm). With L ‐arginine as a ligand, it was covalently immobilized on the aminated (poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐ AA) and/or the spacer‐arm attached (poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐SA) beads, using glutaric dialdehyde as a coupling agent. Both affinity poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐based beads were used in HIgG adsorption/desorption studies under defined pH, ionic strength, or temperature conditions in a batch reactor, using acid‐treated poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA) beads as a control system. The poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐SA affinity beads resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity to HIgG compared with the aminated counterpart (i.e., poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐AA). The maximum adsorption capacities of the poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐AA and poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐SA affinity beads were found to be 112.36 and 142 mg g^?1, and the affinity constants (K_d), evaluated by the Langmuir model, were 2.48 × 10^?7 and 6.98 × 10^?7M, respectively. Adsorption capacities of the poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐AA and poly(GMA/MMA/EGDMA)‐SA were decreased with HIgG by increasing the ionic strength adjusted with NaCl. Adsorption kinetic of HIgG onto both affinity adsorbents was analyzed with first‐ and second‐order kinetic equations. The first‐order equation fitted well with the experimental data. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 672–679, 2007     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Secondary Alkylamines: Selective Alkylation with Aliphatic Amines

The chemoselective N‐alkylation of tert‐alkylamines applying aliphatic amines is described for the first time. In the presence of the Shvo catalyst 1 , tert‐octylamine 4 and 1‐adamantylamine 5 are alkylated using primary, secondary, and even tertiary amines to give the corresponding monoalkylated tert‐alkylamine in moderate to very good yields and excellent selectivity. This novel reaction proceeds without an additional hydrogen source and ammonia is formed as the only by‐product.     

Lectin‐Based Drug Design: Combined Strategy to Identify Lead Compounds using STD NMR Spectroscopy,Solid‐Phase Assays and Cell Binding for a Plant Toxin Model

The growing awareness of the sugar code—i.e. the biological functionality of glycans—is leading to increased interest in lectins as drug targets. The aim of this study was to establish a strategic combination of screening procedures with increased biorelevance. As a model, we used a potent plant toxin (viscumin) and lactosides synthetically modified at the C6/C6′ positions and the reducing end aglycan. Changes in the saturation transfer difference (STD) in NMR spectroscopy, applied in inhibition assays, yielded evidence for ligand activity and affinity differences. Inhibitory potency was confirmed by the blocking of lectin binding to a glycoprotein‐bearing matrix. In cell‐based assays, iodo/azido‐substituted lactose derivatives were comparatively active. Interestingly, cell‐type dependence was observed, indicating the potential of synthetic carbohydrate derivative to interact with lectins in a cell‐type (glycan profile)‐specific manner. These results are relevent to research into human lectins, glycosciences, and beyond.