Deuterium Isotope and Solvent Effects on the Kinetics of the Keto-enol Interconversion of 2-Acetylcyclohexanone

The effect of deuteration on the keto-enol equilibrium and photostability of the sunscreen agent avobenzone

The remarkable properties of deuterium have led to many exciting and favourable results in enhancing material properties, for applications in the physical, medical, and biological sciences. Deuterated isotopologues of avobenzone, a sunscreen active ingredient, were synthesised to examine for any changes to the equilibrium between the diketone and enol isomers, as well as their UV photostability and photoprotective properties. Prior to UV irradiation, deuteration of the diketone methylene/enol moiety (i.e. avobenzone-d2) led to an increase in the % diketone compared to non-deuterated, determined by 1H NMR experiments in CDCl3 and C6D12. This can be rationalised from two angles; mechanistically by a deuterium kinetic isotope effect for the CH vs. CD abstraction step during tautomerisation from the diketone to the enol, and a weaker chelating hydrogen bond for the enol when deuterated allowing increased equilibration to the diketone. Avobenzone-d2 was further examined by solid state 13C NMR. The higher % diketone for avobenzone-d2 was postulated to favour increased photodegradation by a non-reversible pathway. This was investigated by UV irradiation of the avobenzone isotopologues in C6D12, both in real time in situ within the NMR by fibre optic cable as well as ex situ using sunlight. An increase in the relative amount of photoproducts for avobenzone-d2 compared to non-deuterated was observed by 1H NMR upon UV irradiation ex situ. Overall, the study demonstrates that deuteration can be applied to alter complex equilibria, and has potential to be manifested as changes to the properties and behaviour of materials.

Monoaurated vs. diaurated intermediates: causality or independence?

Diaurated intermediates of gold-catalysed reactions have been a long-standing subject of debate. Although diaurated complexes were regarded as a drain of active monoaurated intermediates in catalytic cycles, they were also identified as the products of gold-gold cooperation in dual-activation reactions. This study shows investigation of intermediates in water addition to alkynes catalysed by [(IPr)Au(CH3CN)(BF4)]. Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) allowed us to detect both monoaurated and diaurated complexes in this reaction. Infrared photodissociation spectra of the trapped complexes show that the structure of the intermediates corresponds to α-gold ketone intermediates protonated or aurated at the oxygen atom. Delayed reactant labelling experiments provided the half life of the intermediates in reaction of 1-phenylpropyne (∼7 min) and the kinetic isotope effects for hydrogen introduction to the carbon atom (KIE ∼ 4-6) and for the protodeauration (KIE ∼ 2). The results suggest that the ESI-MS detected monoaurated and diaurated complexes report on species with a very similar or the same kinetics in solution. Kinetic analysis of the overall reaction showed that the reaction rate is first-order dependent on the concentration of the gold catalyst. Finally, all results are consistent with the reaction mechanism proceeding via monoaurated neutral α-gold ketone intermediates only.

Efficient conversion of primary azides to aldehydes catalyzed by active site variants of myoglobin

The oxidation of primary azides to aldehydes constitutes a convenient but underdeveloped transformation for which no efficient methods are available. Here, we demonstrate that engineered variants of the hemoprotein myoglobin can catalyze this transformation with high efficiency (up to 8,500 turnovers) and selectivity across a range of structurally diverse aryl-substituted primary azides. Mutagenesis of the 'distal' histidine residue was particularly effective in enhancing the azide oxidation reactivity of myoglobin, enabling these reactions to proceed in good to excellent yields (37-89%) and to be carried out at a synthetically useful scale. Kinetic isotope effect, isotope labeling, and substrate binding experiments support a mechanism involving heme-catalyzed decomposition of the organic azide followed by alpha hydrogen deprotonation to generate an aldimine which, upon hydrolysis, releases the aldehyde product. This work provides the first example of a biocatalytic azide-to-aldehyde conversion and expands the range of non-native chemical transformations accessible through hemoprotein-mediated catalysis.

Deuterated Water Effects on Acid Ionization Constants

Linear relations of the form DeltapK = pK(D) - pK(H) = a + b pK(H) relating ionization constants of acids in light and heavy water must have the same slope b for any kind of acid unless the previously unconsidered charge type is important or this equation is not valid.

Tautomerization of 2-acetylcyclohexanone. 1. Characterization of keto-enol/enolate equilibria and reaction rates in water

The keto-enol tautomerism of 2-acetylcyclohexanone (ACHE) was studied in water under different experimental conditions. By contrast with other previously studied beta-diketones, the keto-enol interconversion in the ACHE system is a slow process. Under equilibrium conditions, the analysis of the absorbance readings of ACHE aqueous solutions yielded more than 40% of enol content at 25 degrees C; nevertheless, in aprotic solvents such as dioxane, ACHE is almost completely enolized. In alkaline medium, the enolate ion is the only existing species; the study of the effect of pH on the UV-absorption spectrum of ACHE yielded a value of 9.85 for the overall pK(a) of ACHE. Under nonequilibrium conditions, the keto-enol tautomerization was studied in water. Several factors affecting the reaction have been investigated, which include H(+)-catalysis, ionic strength effect, buffer catalysis, deuterium isotope effects, temperature effect, or solvent effects.

Ionization kinetics of the carbon acid phenindione

The ionization kinetics of carbon acids are slow relative to those of classical acids and bases. Phenindione (2-phenyl-1,3-indandione) is a 1,3-diketone carbon acid of macroscopic experimental pKa 4.09 at 25 degrees and ionic strength 0.1. The ionization kinetics of phenindione were determined at an ionic strength of 0.1 and 25 degrees using stopped-flow spectrophotometry and a pH jump technique. A log k'obs-pH profile for the approach to the ionization equilibrium was determined, and a mechanism consistent with the profile was postulated. The percent enol versus diketo form of phenindione and the pKaenol and pKadiketo were calculated from the kinetic data. Phenindione acid deprotonation kinetics by various oxygen and nitrogen bases suggested that, with bases of pKa 4.7--8.5 and in the pH 5--8.5 range, the acidic phenindione proton as approximately 45% transferred in the rate-determining transition state.