Chiral surfactant-type catalyst: enantioselective reduction of long-chain aliphatic ketoesters in water

Total syntheses of Kavaratamide A and 5-epi-Kavaratamide A

The total synthesis of Kavaratamide A, a new Linear Lipodepsipeptide from the Marine Cyanobacterium Moorena bouillonii was achieved by assembling the side chain in stage through condensation coupling, carbon-chain extension, Steglich esterification and Evans aldol reaction. In addition, total synthesis of Kavaratamide A's isomer, 5-epi-kavaratamide A, is also successfully achieved. Cytotoxicity test suggested that Kavaratamide A and 5-epi-Kavaratamide A have a moderate bioactivity against cancer cells.

Stereoselective synthesis of chiral δ-lactones via an engineered carbonyl reductase

A carbonyl reductase variant, SmCR_M5, from Serratia marcescens was obtained through structure-guided directed evolution. The variant showed improved specific activity (U mg^-1) towards most of the 16 tested substrates and gave high stereoselectivities of up to 99% in the asymmetric synthesis of 13 γ-/δ-lactones. In particular, SmCR_M5 showed a 13.8-fold higher specific activity towards the model substrate, i.e., 5-oxodecanoic acid, and gave (R)-δ-decalactone in 99% ee with a space-time yield (STY) of 301 g L^-1 d^-1. The preparative synthesis of six δ-lactones in high yields and with high enantiopurities showed the feasibility of the biocatalytic synthesis of these high-value-added chemicals, providing a cost-effective and green alternative to noble-metal catalysis.

Anti-inflammatory constituents from Phyllostachys makinoi Hayata

A novel chromone analogue, phyllomakin A (1), and a new flavonolignan, (-)-quiquelignan C (2), along with 18 phenolic and 2 triterpenoids, were isolated from the leaves of Phyllostachys makinoi Hayata. The structures of 1-22 were elucidated by an application of various spectroscopic analyses (1D & 2D NMR and MS) and compared with reported data. A biological evaluation showed that compound 3 had very potent anti-NO production activity (IC₅₀ = 4.80 µM), while compounds 2, 6, 11, and 15 showed moderate inhibitory effects (IC₅₀ = 10.19, 13.26, 13.56, and 10.96 µM, respectively) without affecting cell viability at 20 μM.

Chiral Vanadyl(V) Complexes Enable Efficient Asymmetric Reduction of β-Ketoamides: Application toward (S)-Duloxetine

High-valent chiral oxidovanadium(V) complexes derived from 3,5-substituted-N-salicylidene-l-tert-leucine were used as catalysts in asymmetric reduction of N-benzyl-β-ketoamides. Among six different solvents, three different alcohol additives, and two different boranes examined, the use of pinacolborane in tetrahydrofuran (THF) with a t-BuOH additive led to the best results at -20 °C. The corresponding β-hydroxyamides can be furnished with yields up to 92% and an enantiomeric excess (ee) up to 99%. We have successfully extended this catalytic protocol for the synthesis of an (S)-duloxetine precursor.

Vancomycin-Iridium (III) Interaction: An Unexplored Route for Enantioselective Imine Reduction

The chiral structure of antibiotic vancomycin (Van) was exploited as an innovative coordination sphere for the preparation of an IrCp* based hybrid catalysts. We found that Van is able to coordinate iridium (Ir(III)) and the complexation was demonstrated by several analytical techniques such as MALDI-TOF, UV, Circular dichroism (CD), Raman IR, and NMR. The hybrid system so obtained was employed in the Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation (ATH) of cyclic imines allowing to obtain a valuable 61% e.e. (R) in the asymmetric reduction of quinaldine 2. The catalytic system exhibited a saturation kinetics with a calculated efficiency of K_cat/K_M = 0.688 h⁻¹mM⁻¹.

Added-Value Surfactants

Surfactants are ubiquitous in cellular membranes, detergents or as emulsification agents. Due to their amphiphilic properties, they cannot only mediate between two domains of very different solvent compatibility like water and organic but also show fascinating self-assembly features resulting in micelles, vesicles, or lyotropic liquid crystals. The current review article highlights some approaches towards the next generation surfactants, for example, those with catalytically active heads. Furthermore, it is shown that amphiphilic properties can be obtained beyond the classical hydrophobic-hydrophilic interplay, for instance with surfactants containing one molecular block with a special shape. Whereas, classical surfactants are static, researchers have become more interested in species that are able to change their properties depending on external triggers. The article discusses examples for surfactants sensitive to chemical (e.g., pH value) or physical triggers (temperature, electric and magnetic fields).

Catalytic Organic Reactions in Water toward Sustainable Society

Traditional organic synthesis relies heavily on organic solvents for a multitude of tasks, including dissolving the components and facilitating chemical reactions, because many reagents and reactive species are incompatible or immiscible with water. Given that they are used in vast quantities as compared to reactants, solvents have been the focus of environmental concerns. Along with reducing the environmental impact of organic synthesis, the use of water as a reaction medium also benefits chemical processes by simplifying operations, allowing mild reaction conditions, and sometimes delivering unforeseen reactivities and selectivities. After the "watershed" in organic synthesis revealed the importance of water, the development of water-compatible catalysts has flourished, triggering a quantum leap in water-centered organic synthesis. Given that organic compounds are typically practically insoluble in water, simple extractive workup can readily separate a water-soluble homogeneous catalyst as an aqueous solution from a product that is soluble in organic solvents. In contrast, the use of heterogeneous catalysts facilitates catalyst recycling by allowing simple centrifugation and filtration methods to be used. This Review addresses advances over the past decade in catalytic reactions using water as a reaction medium.

2-Oxoesters: A Novel Class of Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Cytosolic Group IVA Phospholipase A2

Cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (GIVA cPLA₂) is the only PLA₂ that exhibits a marked preference for hydrolysis of arachidonic acid containing phospholipid substrates releasing free arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids and giving rise to the generation of diverse lipid mediators involved in inflammatory conditions. Thus, the development of potent and selective GIVA cPLA₂ inhibitors is of great importance. We have developed a novel class of such inhibitors based on the 2-oxoester functionality. This functionality in combination with a long aliphatic chain or a chain carrying an appropriate aromatic system, such as the biphenyl system, and a free carboxyl group leads to highly potent and selective GIVA cPLA₂ inhibitors (X_I(50) values 0.00007–0.00008) and docking studies aid in understanding this selectivity. A methyl 2-oxoester, with a short chain carrying a naphthalene ring, was found to preferentially inhibit the other major intracellular PLA₂, the calcium-independent PLA₂. In RAW264.7 macrophages, treatment with the most potent 2-oxoester GIVA cPLA₂ inhibitor resulted in over 50% decrease in KLA-elicited prostaglandin D₂ production. The novel, highly potent and selective GIVA cPLA₂ inhibitors provide excellent tools for the study of the role of the enzyme and could contribute to the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aryl ketoesters with a chiral double-chain surfactant-type catalyst in water

A chiral double-chain surfactant-type ligand was designed and synthesized. The rhodium catalyst formed from the ligand can self-assemble into chiral vesicular aggregates in water, which was applied to ATH of broad range of aromatic ketoesters in neat water.

Chiral-at-metal iridium complex for efficient enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of ketones

A pyrazole co-ligand permits a low loading iridium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation which is proposed to proceed through metal–ligand cooperativity.

Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of δ-keto Weinreb amides: enantioselective synthesis of (+)-Centrolobine

An efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of δ-keto Weinreb amides catalyzed by a Ru-Xyl-SunPhos-Daipen bifunctional catalyst has been achieved.

Cooperative effects of ruthenium micellar catalysts and added surfactants in transfer hydrogenation of ketones in water

Added surfactants S boost the performances of surface-active catalysts RuLⁿ (n = 8, 16) in transfer hydrogenation of hydrophobic ketones in water by forming mixed micelles.