- Generation and Reactivity of Electron-Rich Carbenes on the Surface of Catalytic Gold Nanoparticles
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The reactive nature of carbenes can be modulated, and ultimately reversed, by receiving additional electron density from a metal. Here, it is shown that Au nanoparticles (NPs) generate an electron-rich carbene on surface after transferring electron density to the carbonyl group of an in situ activated diazoacetate, as assessed by Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), and Raman spectroscopy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support the observed experimental values and unveil the participation of at least three different Au atoms during carbene stabilization. The surface stabilized carbene shows an extraordinary stability against nucleophiles and reacts with electrophiles to give new products. These findings showcase the ability of catalytic Au NPs to inject electron density in energetically high but symmetrically allowed valence orbitals of sluggish molecules.
- Oliver-Meseguer, Judit,Boronat, Mercedes,Vidal-Moya, Alejandro,Concepción, Patricia,Rivero-Crespo, Miguel ángel,Leyva-Pérez, Antonio,Corma, Avelino
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supporting information
p. 3215 - 3218
(2018/03/13)
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- New aziridine-based inhibitors of cathepsin L-like cysteine proteases with selectivity for the Leishmania cysteine protease LmCPB2.8
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In the present work a series of aziridine-2,3-dicarboxylate inhibitors of papain-like cysteine proteases was designed, synthesized and tested. The compounds displayed selectivity for the parasitic protozoon Leishmania mexicana cathepsin L-like cysteine protease LmCPB2.8. The computational methods of homology modelling and molecular docking predicted some significant differences in the S2 pocket of LmCPB2.8 and cruzain, a related enzyme from Trypanosoma cruzi. Due to the presence of Tyr209 in LmCPB2.8 rather than Glu208 in cruzain sterically demanding, lipophilic ester groups (inhibitor 7d, 9d, 12d and 14d) are predicted to occupy the S2 pocket of the Leishmania protease, but do not form favorable interactions in cruzain, which is in common with our experimental results. Further, inhibitor 18 bearing a free carboxylic acid attached to the aziridine moiety showed a time-dependent inhibition of LmCPB2.8 (Ki = 0.41 μM; k2nd = 190,569 M?1 min?1). Docking results suggested a strong ionic interaction with the positively charged His163 of the active site. Biological and theoretical data confirm that the novel selective aziridine-based inhibitors are promising candidates for further optimization as LmCPB2.8 inhibitors.
- Fey, Philipp,Chartomatsidou, Roula,Kiefer, Werner,Mottram, Jeremy C.,Kersten, Christian,Schirmeister, Tanja
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p. 587 - 597
(2018/07/25)
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- The MOF-driven synthesis of supported palladium clusters with catalytic activity for carbene-mediated chemistry
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The development of catalysts able to assist industrially important chemical processes is a topic of high importance. In view of the catalytic capabilities of small metal clusters, research efforts are being focused on the synthesis of novel catalysts bearing such active sites. Here we report a heterogeneous catalyst consisting of Pd4 clusters with mixed-valence 0/+1 oxidation states, stabilized and homogeneously organized within the walls of a metal-organic framework (MOF). The resulting solid catalyst outperforms state-of-the-art metal catalysts in carbene-mediated reactions of diazoacetates, with high yields (>90%) and turnover numbers (up to 100,000). In addition, the MOF-supported Pd4 clusters retain their catalytic activity in repeated batch and flow reactions (>20 cycles). Our findings demonstrate how this synthetic approach may now instruct the future design of heterogeneous catalysts with advantageous reaction capabilities for other important processes.
- Fortea-Pérez, Francisco R.,Mon, Marta,Ferrando-Soria, Jesús,Boronat, Mercedes,Leyva-Pérez, Antonio,Corma, Avelino,Herrera, Juan Manuel,Osadchii, Dmitrii,Gascon, Jorge,Armentano, Donatella,Pardo, Emilio
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p. 760 - 766
(2017/07/04)
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- Photoorganocatalytic synthesis of lactones: Via a selective C-H activation-alkylation of alcohols
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Selective C-H activation is an area of growing importance in modern organic chemistry. Herein, we report our efforts in combining organocatalysis and photocatalysis for the development of a highly efficient and selective visible-light mediated protocol for the C-H activation and addition of various alcohols to a plethora of Michael acceptors, followed by a cyclization reaction leading to lactones, a repeatedly occurring motif in nature. Utilizing phenylglyoxylic acid as the photocatalyst and common household bulbs as the light source, we describe a versatile α-alkylation/lactonization of alcohols with α,β-unsaturated esters leading to products in excellent yields. The reaction mechanism was extensively studied.
- Kaplaneris, Nikolaos,Bisticha, Aikaterini,Papadopoulos, Giorgos N.,Limnios, Dimitris,Kokotos, Christoforos G.
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supporting information
p. 4451 - 4456
(2017/09/29)
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- A mild Boc deprotection and the importance of a free carboxylate
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We report a facile and rapid removal of Boc protecting groups using microwave heating in H2O, with deprotection only requiring a free carboxylic acid group in the starting material. Unlike previous approaches, no additional reagents are required.
- Thaqi, Ali,McCluskey, Adam,Scott, Janet L.
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supporting information; experimental part
p. 6962 - 6964
(2009/04/07)
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- Highly chemo- and stereoselective intermolecular coupling of diazoacetates to give cis-olefins by using Grubbs second-generation catalyst
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Highly stereoselective formation of cis-2-ene-1,4-diesters by homo- and heterocoupling of α-diazoacetates in the presence of Grubbs second-generation catalyst is demonstrated. The dual reactivity of the catalyst in alkene metathesis and diazocoupling has been exploited in the synthesis of 12-26-membered macrocyclic dienyl dilactones by one-pot carbene dimerisation/ring-closing metathesis.
- Hodgson, David M.,Angrish, Deepshikha
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p. 3470 - 3479
(2008/02/08)
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