Organic Chemistry By Dr. I. L. Finar. Vol. 2: Stereochemistry and the Chemistry of Natural Products. Pp. xi + 733. (London and New York: Longmans, Green and Co., Ltd., 1956.) 40s. net.

Advanced Organic Chemistry

Summary: Nitroaromatic compounds are relatively rare in nature and have been introduced into the environment mainly by human activities. This important class of industrial chemicals is widely used in the synthesis of many diverse products, including dyes, polymers, pesticides, and explosives. Unfortunately, their extensive use has led to environmental contamination of soil and groundwater. The nitro group, which provides chemical and functional diversity in these molecules, also contributes to the recalcitrance of these compounds to biodegradation. The electron-withdrawing nature of the nitro group, in concert with the stability of the benzene ring, makes nitroaromatic compounds resistant to oxidative degradation. Recalcitrance is further compounded by their acute toxicity, mutagenicity, and easy reduction into carcinogenic aromatic amines. Nitroaromatic compounds are hazardous to human health and are registered on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of priority pollutants for environmental remediation. Although the majority of these compounds are synthetic in nature, microorganisms in contaminated environments have rapidly adapted to their presence by evolving new biodegradation pathways that take advantage of them as sources of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. This review provides an overview of the synthesis of both man-made and biogenic nitroaromatic compounds, the bacteria that have been identified to grow on and completely mineralize nitroaromatic compounds, and the pathways that are present in these strains. The possible evolutionary origins of the newly evolved pathways are also discussed.

Nitroaromatic Compounds, from Synthesis to Biodegradation

Inhibitors of NADH-ubiquinone reductase: an overview.

Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems

Loline alkaloids: Currencies of mutualism.

The structure of aureothin, a nitro compound obtained from Streptomyces thioluteus

Oxidation reaction of steroid alcohols by ruthenium tetroxide.

The mass spectra of several compounds obtained during the process of Stork's isoxazole synthesis9 as well as the related isoxazoles have been investigated. The fragmentations of simple alkyl isoxazoles are nicely formulated via azirine intermediates. A striking difference between the spectra of isoxazoles and those of methylfurans as to the relative abundance of [M — l] peaks is noteworthy. The very low abundance of these peaks in the former reflects the unique character of isoxazole nucleus due to the preferential cleavage of NO linkage rather than a benzylic CH bond rupture. If an alkyl substituent is present at 4-position in 3,5-dimethylisoxazoles, strong peaks at m/e 110, 68 and 43 are common in their spectra. The analyses of metastable transitions and high resolution measurements have demonstrated that the formation of these ions can be interpreted by a mechanism involving the cleavage of NO linkage.

Mass spectra of some alkyl isoxazoles

Three isomeric compounds, I, II and III, were prepared and their mass spectra recorded. Comparisons of the spectra showed that the fragmentation of I proceeds only by way of II, and that II itself is transformed in part to III upon electron impact. It is suggested that selective ionization of each one of the two isolated functional groups in II may afford two isomeric radical ions, IIa and IIb. A possible interrelation to the photochemistry of these compounds is also discussed.

Hisao Nakata

Papers

The structure of aureothin, a nitro compound obtained from Streptomyces thioluteus

Oxidation reaction of steroid alcohols by ruthenium tetroxide.

Mass spectra of some alkyl isoxazoles

The primary fragmentation step of isoxazole upon electron impact. A correlation with photochemistry

The structure of teleocidin B