The redox-Bohr group associated with iron-sulfur cluster N2 of complex I

Proton pumping respiratory complex I (NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is a major component of the oxidative phosphorylation system in mitochondria and many bacteria. In mammalian cells it provides 40% of the proton motive force needed to make ATP. Defects in this giant and most complicated membrane-bound enzyme cause numerous human disorders. Yet the mechanism of complex I is still elusive. A group exhibiting redox-linked protonation that is associated with iron-sulfur cluster N2 of complex I has been proposed to act as a central component of the proton pumping machinery. Here we show that a histidine in the 49-kDa subunit that resides near iron-sulfur cluster N2 confers this redox-Bohr effect. Mutating this residue to methionine in complex I from Yarrowia lipolytica resulted in a marked shift of the redox midpoint potential of iron-sulfur cluster N2 to the negative and abolished the redox-Bohr effect. However, the mutation did not significantly affect the catalytic activity of complex I and protons were pumped with an unchanged stoichiometry of 4 H+/2e(-). This finding has significant implications on the discussion about possible proton pumping mechanism for complex I.

Multi component coupling reactions of N-acetyl-2-azetine

N-Acetyl-2-azetine undergoes Lewis acid catalysed formal [4+2]-cycloaddition with imines derived from aromatic amines to initially give an approximately 1: 1 mixture of exo-endo-diastereoisomeric 1-(2a,3,4,8b-tetrahydro-2H-1,4-diaza-cyclobuta[a]naphthalen-1-yl)-ethanone cycloadducts which were detected by proton NMR spectroscopy. These products, which were too unstable to isolate, and characterise, reacted further with aromatic amines to give 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinolines in good to excellent yield, predominantly as a single diastereoisomer, with the minor diastereoisomer converting to the major diastereoisomer on silica. The cycloaddition was irreversible and a mechanism is presented for the formation of the major diastereoisomer from the mixture of diastereoisomeric intermediates. A range of conditions is described for converting the 2,3,4-trisubsitituted tetrahydroquinolines into 2,3-disubstituted quinolines.

Three component coupling reactions of N-acetyl-2-azetine-rapid stereoselective entry to 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinolines

N-Acetyl-2-azetine undergoes Lewis acid catalysed [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with imines derived from aromatic amines and gave a 1:1 mixture of exo-endo diastereoisomeric azetidine cycloadducts which reacted further with aromatic amine, to give 2,3,4-trisubsitituted tetrahydroquinolines in good to excellent yield, predominantly as one diastereoisomer.

A study of Heck cyclization reactions to form phenanthridine ring systems

A survey of conditions for the palladium catalyzed intramol. Heck cyclization of protected amines has shown that the Herrmann-Beller palladacycle can be exploited under 'cationic' conditions to provide a robust and rapid route (

Transamidation reactions of  -lactams: a synthesis of ( )-dihydroperiphylline.

Ammonolysis of N-(halogenoalkyl)azetidin-2-ones affords medium ring azalactams via transamidation but large or strained rings are not isolated, acyclic ?-amino-amides being produced; two successive transamidative ring expansions from 4-phenylazetidin-2-one give a synthesis of (?)-dihydroperiphylline (I).

N-H insertion reactions of rhodium carbenoids. Part 2. Preparation of N-substituted amino(phosphoryl)acetates (N-substituted phosphorylglycine esters).

Rhodium(II) acetate-catalyzed reaction of Et 2-diazo-2-diethoxyphosphorylate, EtO2CC(:N2)PO(OEt)2, with carbamates, amides, ureas or anilines gives a range of N-substituted 2-amino-2-diethoxyphosphorylacetates, EtO2CCH(NHR1)PO(OEt)2 (where R1 = Boc, Cbz, acetyl, propionyl, pivaloyl, n-Pr, Ph and substituted Ph groups), by N-H insertion reaction of the intermediate rhodium carbenoid.

N-H insertion reactions of rhodium carbenoids. Part 1. Preparation of  -amino acid and  -aminophosphonic acid derivatives.

Rh(II) acetate-catalyzed decompn. of diazophenylacetates PhC(N2)CO2Me 1 and PhC(N2)CO2R* 3 [R*OH = (-)-borneol, (+)-menthol, (-)-8-phenylmenthol] in the presence of a range of N-H compds. results in an N-H insertion reaction of the intermediate carbenoids and formation of N-substituted phenylglycine derivs. PhCH(NR1R2)CO2Me 2 [R1 = R2 = Et; R1 = 4-MeOC6H4, COCH2CHMe2, CO2CH2Ph, (S)-CH(CO2Me)CH2Ph, (S)-CHMePh, R2 = H; 64-83% yields] and PhCH(NR1R2)CO2R* 4 (R1 = R2 = Et; R1 = COMe, CO2Me, R2 = H; same R*; 37-71% yields). The corresponding reactions of di-Me ?-diazobenzylphosphonate PhC(N2)P(O)(OMe)2 5 with primary amines constitute a simple route to aminophosphonates PhCH(NHR)P(O)(OMe)2 6 (R = COMe, COEt, CO2CH2Ph, CO2CMe3, 4-ClC6H4, 4-MeC6H4, 4-MeOC6H4; 13-96% yields).

Rhodium carbenoid O-H insertion reactions with phenols; a facile method for the synthesis of trialkyl 2-aryloxyphosphonoacetates and their use in the preparation of 2-aryloxy-3-phenylpropanoates

Substituted phenols undergo a facile Rh carbenoid-mediated O-H insertion reaction with (EtO)2P(O)C(:N2)CO2R (I; R = Et, Me) to give 44-86% 2-aryloxyphosphonoacetates II (R1 = e.g., H, 4-Me, 4-Cl, 2-OH, 4-PhCH2O). Phenols contg. strongly electron withdrawing groups, bulky ortho-substituents or certain ortho-heteroatom substituents show reduced or variable yields. Catechol affords a mono-adduct which cyclizes to lactate III. Aniline inserts preferentially and exclusively over phenol in a competition reaction with I (R = Et) to give (EtO)2P(O)CH(NHPh)CO2Et. II are versatile intermediates in a prepn. of 2-aryloxy-3-phenylpropenoates IV by Wadsworth-Emmons reaction with benzaldehydes R2C6H4CHO (R2 = PhCH2O, 2-Cl, H). Dissolving Mg metal redn. provides a mild method for the conversion of propenoates IV into the corresponding propanoates.

Competing O-H insertion and  -elimination in rhodium carbenoid reactions; synthesis of 2-alkoxy-3-arylpropanoates

Rhodium(II) carboxylate catalyzed decompn. of diazo esters 3 (shown as I) and PhCH2C(CO2Et)N2 4 in the presence of alcs. or water results in formation of 2-alkoxy- or 2-hydroxy-3-arylpropanoates, resp., by O-H insertion in competition with cinnamates by elimination; the ratio of insertion to elimination is dramatically affected by the carboxylate ligand on rhodium. Use of methanol-d as the alc. confirms that the alkene does not arise by elimination from the initial alkoxyester product.

Functionalised ionic liquids: synthesis of ionic liquids with tethered basic groups and their use in Heck and Knoevenagel reactions

A simple and efficient synthesis of a novel series of ionic liquids bearing nucleophilic (Me2N) and non-nucleophilic base ((Pr2N)-Pr-i) functionalities is described. The non-nucleophilic base functionality resembles the structure of the Hunig's base (N, N-diisopropylethylamine), which has been used widely in organic synthesis. A qualitative measure of the basicity of these ionic liquids is presented by utilising their interaction with universal indicator. The basicity of these ionic liquids was found to be dependent on the amine tether and choice of linker between the two nitrogen centres. The relative base strength of these ionic liquids was also probed by using them as catalysts in the Heck and Knoevenagel reactions.

Synthesis and Reactions of Enantiopure Substituted Benzene cis-Hexahydro-1,2-diols

Enantiopure cis-dihydro-1,2-diol metabolites, obtained from toluene dioxygenase-catalysed cis-dihydroxylation of six monosubstituted benzene substrates, have been converted to their corresponding cis-hexahydro-12-diol derivatives by catalytic hydrogenation via their cis-tetrahydro-1,2-diol intermediates. Optimal reaction conditions for total catalytic hydrogenation of the cis-dihydro-1,2-diols have been established using six heterogeneous catalysts. The relative and absolute configurations of the resulting benzene cis-hexahydro-1,2-diol products have been unequivocally established by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Methods have been developed to obtain enantiopure cis-hexahydro-1,2-diol diastereoisomers, to desymmetrise a meso-cis-hexahydro-1,2-diol and to synthesise 2-substituted cyclohexanols. The potential of these enantiopure cyclohexanols as chiral reagents was briefly evaluated through their application in the synthesis of two enantiomerically enriched phosphine oxides from the corresponding racemic phosphine precursors.

Thermochemistry of Ionic Liquid-Catalyzed Reactions: Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Beckmann Rearrangement-Kinetic or Thermodynamic Control?

A thermodynamic analysis of the experimental conditions of the Beckmann rearrangement reaction of oximes into amides has been undertaken to examine whether the reaction is under thermodynamic or kinetic control. To answer this question, the thermodynamic properties of the typical Beckmann rearrangement reactions in the ideal gaseous state-cyclohexanone oxime to caprolactam and 2-butanone oxime to N-methylpropanarnide-were studied by using the quantum mechanical method. Gibbs energy and equilibrium constants of the Beckmann rearrangement have been assessed in the gaseous and the liquid phases. Results of the thermodynamic analysis have shown that Beckmann rearrange ments are kinetically controlled. Thus, a search for possible active ionic liquid based catalysts for the mild reaction conditions has been performed.