Implicit Solvation Models: Equilibria, Structure, Spectra, and Dynamics.

Insofar as one of the fundamental objectives of organic synthesis is the construction of complex molecules from simpler ones, the importance of synthetic efficiency becomes immediately apparent and has been well-recognized.1 The increase in molecular complexity2 that necessarily accompanies the course of a synthesis provides a guide (and a measure) of synthetic efficiency. As a goal, one would like to optimally match the change in molecular complexity at each step with reactions of comparable synthetic complexity. Thus, the creation of many bonds, rings, and stereocenters in a single transformation is a necessary (though not sufficient) condition for high synthetic efficiency. The ultimate, perfect match would constitute single-step syntheses. More realistically, especially in view of the desire for general synthetic methods, the combination of mulScott E. Denmark was born in New York in 1953. He obtained an S.B. degree from MIT in 1975 and carried out research with Daniel Kemp and Richard Holm. His graduate studies at the ETH-Zurich with Albert Eschenmoser culminated with the D. Sc. Tech. degree in 1980. That same year he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at UrbanasChampaign and was promoted to full professor in 1987. In 1991 he was named the Reynold C. Fuson Professor of Chemistry. His research interests are primarily in the invention of new synthetic reactions, structure and reactivity of organoelement reagents, and the origin of stereocontrol in fundamental carbon−carbon bond forming reactions.

Tandem [4+2]/[3+2] Cycloadditions of Nitroalkenes.

Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions

Heterocycles from alkylidenecyclopropanes.

Nonmetal oxidation catalysts have gained much attention in recent years. The reason for this surge in activity is 2-fold: On one hand, a number of such catalysts has become readily accessible; on the other hand, such catalysts are quite resistant toward self-oxidation and compatible under aerobic and aqueous reaction conditions. In this review, we have focused on five nonmetal catalytic systems which have attained prominence in the oxidation field in view of their efficacy and their potential for future development; stoichiometric cases have been mentioned to provide overview and scope. Such nonmetal oxidation catalysts include the alpha-halo carbonyl compounds 1, ketones 2, imines 3, iminium salts 4, and nitroxyl radicals 5. In combination with a suitable oxygen source (H2O2, KHSO5, NaOCl), these catalysts serve as precursors to the corresponding oxidants, namely, the perhydrates I, dioxiranes II, oxaziridines III, oxaziridinium ions IV, and finally oxoammonium ions V. A few of the salient features about these nonmetal, catalytic systems shall be reiterated in this summary. The first class entails the alpha-halo ketones, which catalyze the oxidation of a variety of organic substrates [figure: see text] by hydrogen peroxide as the oxygen source. The perhydrates I, formed in situ by the addition of hydrogen peroxide to the alpha-halo ketones, are quite strong electrophilic oxidants and expectedly transfer an oxygen atom to diverse nucleophilic acceptors. Thus, alpha-halo ketones have been successfully employed for catalytic epoxidation, heteroatom (S, N) oxidation, and arene oxidation. Although high diastereoselectivities have been achieved by these nonmetal catalysts, no enantioselective epoxidation and sulfoxidation have so far been reported. Consequently, it is anticipated that catalytic oxidations by perhydrates hold promise for further development, especially, and should ways be found to transfer the oxygen atom enantioselectively. The second class, namely, the dioxiranes, has been extensively used during the last two decades as a convenient oxidant in organic synthesis. These powerful and versatile oxidizing agents are readily available from the appropriate ketones by their treatment [figure: see text] with potassium monoperoxysulfate. The oxidations may be performed either under stoichiometric or catalytic conditions; the latter mode of operation is featured in this review. In this case, a variety of structurally diverse ketones have been shown to catalyze the dioxirane-mediated epoxidation of alkenes by monoperoxysulfate as the oxygen source. By employing chiral ketones, highly enantioselective (up to 99% ee) epoxidations have been developed, of which the sugar-based ketones are so far the most effective. Reports on catalytic oxidations by dioxiranes other than epoxidations are scarce; nevertheless, fructose-derived ketones have been successfully employed as catalysts for the enantioselective CH oxidation in vic diols to afford the corresponding optically active alpha-hydroxy ketones. To date, no catalytic asymmetric sulfoxidations by dioxiranes appear to have been documented in the literature, an area of catalytic dioxirane chemistry that merits attention. A third class is the imines; their reaction with hydrogen peroxide or monoperoxysulfate affords oxaziridines. These relatively weak electrophilic oxidants only manage to oxidize electron-rich substrates such as enolates, silyl enol ethers, sulfides, selenides, and amines; however, the epoxidation of alkenes has been achieved with activated oxaziridines produced from perfluorinated imines. Most of the oxidations by in-situ-generated oxaziridines have been performed stoichiometrically, with the exception of sulfoxidations. When chiral imines are used as catalysts, optically active sulfoxides are obtained in good ee values, a catalytic asymmetric oxidation by oxaziridines that merits further exploration. The fourth class is made up by the iminium ions, which with monoperoxysulfate lead to the corresponding oxaziridinium ions, structurally similar to the above oxaziridine oxidants except they possess a much more strongly electrophilic oxygen atom due to the positively charged ammonium functionality. Thus, oxaziridinium ions effectively execute besides sulfoxidation and amine oxidation the epoxidation of alkenes under catalytic conditions. As expected, chiral iminium salts catalyze asymmetric epoxidations; however, only moderate enantioselectivities have been obtained so far. Although asymmetric sulfoxidation has been achieved by using stoichiometric amounts of isolated optically active oxaziridinium salts, iminium-ion-catalyzed asymmetric sulf-oxidations have not been reported to date, which offers attractive opportunities for further work. The fifth and final class of nonmetal catalysts concerns the stable nitroxyl-radical derivatives such as TEMPO, which react with the common oxidizing agents (sodium hypochlorite, monoperoxysulfate, peracids) to generate oxoammonium ions. The latter are strong oxidants that chemoselectively and efficiently perform the CH oxidation in alcohols to produce carbonyl compounds rather than engage in the transfer of their oxygen atom to the substrate. Consequently, oxoammonium ions behave quite distinctly compared to the previous four classes of oxidants in that their catalytic activity entails formally a dehydrogenation, one of the few effective nonmetal-based catalytic transformations of alcohols to carbonyl products. Since less than 1 mol% of nitroxyl radical is required to catalyze the alcohol oxidation by the inexpensive sodium hypochlorite as primary oxidant under mild reaction conditions, this catalytic process holds much promise for future practical applications.

Synthetic applications of nonmetal catalysts for homogeneous oxidations.

The problem of competition between concerted and stepwise diradical mechanisms in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions was addressed by studying the reaction between nitrone and ethene with DFT (R(U)B3LYP/6-31G*) and post HF methods. According to calculations this reaction should take place via the concerted cycloaddition path. The stepwise process is a viable but not competitive alternative. The R(U)B3LYP/6-31G* study was extended to the reaction of the same 1,3-dipole with cyclobutadiene and benzocyclobutadiene. The very reactive antiaromatic cyclobutadiene has an electronic structure that is particularly disposed to promote stepwise diradical pathways. Calculations suggest that its reaction with nitrone represents a borderline case in which the stepwise process can compete with the concerted one on similar footing. Attenuation of the antiaromatic character of the dipolarophile, i.e., on passing from cyclobutadiene to benzocyclobutadiene, causes the concerted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to become once again prevale...

Concerted vs stepwise mechanism in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrone to ethene, cyclobutadiene, and benzocyclobutadiene. A computational study

The site of formation of kinins in the nephron was determined by stop-flow studies in dogs. Klinin, inulin, sodium, potassium concentrations were measured in the fractions collected during the stop-flow procedures. In addition, in three of the 17 stop-flow experiments, kallikrein activity was also measured. The highest kinin concentration after correction for water reabsorption was found in the fractions that were probably trapped in the distal part of the nephron. Either one or two peak was located either in the fraction overlapping (in one instance) or in the fractions coming prior to the fractions with the highest concentration of potassium. This first peak was present in all but one of the stop-flow experiments and was greater than the second peak. The second peak of kinins was found in 13 of the 17 stop-flow exeriments and was located in the fractions with the lowest sodium concentration. Those fractions with the lowest sodium concentration. Those fractions with the lowest sodium concentration also had the highest kallikrein concentration. No evidence of kinin formation was found in the fractions representing the proximal nephron. We conclude, therefore, that kinins are formed in the distal part of the nephron, with the highest concentration found in the last part of the distal nephron and/or in the renal papilla and pelvis.

Site of formation of kinins in the dog nephron

The 1,3-dipolar cycloreversion reaction represents a general scheme of fragmentation of pentaatomic heterocycles to produce 1,3-dipolar systems and dipolarophiles. This review summarize cycloreversions which give rise to octet-stabilized 1,3-dipoles. The reaction can be either thermal or photochemical or electron impact induced. The aim of the article is to survey the published results, to emphasize the synthetic potential of this reaction, and to stimulate the study of its several not yet unambiguously defined mechanistic aspects.

1,3‐Dipolar Cycloreversions

Experimental endo/exo selectivity data for the reaction of cyclic and open-chain nitrones with Z-disubstituted dipolarophiles as well as computational data cast serious doubt on the role of secondary overlaps as important endo orienting factors in nitrone cycloadditions

How important are secondary orbital interactions in favoring the endo mode in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones?

Structures and energetics of reactants and transition structures of the cycloadditions of diazomethane (DZM) and formonitrile oxide (FNO) with ethene (ET), propene (PR), acrylonitrile (ACN), and methyl vinyl ether (MVE) have been investigated with the use of ab initio molecular orbital calculations The reaction of acetonitrile oxide (MNO) with acrylonitrile has been also included for comparisons Structure optimizations were performed at the RHF/6-31G(d) and density functional B3LYP/6-31G(d) levels of approximation Single-point electronic energies were computed up to the MP4SDTQ/6-31G(d) level Kinetic contributions to activation enthalpies and entropies were computed at the RHF/6-31G(d) level Transition structures of ethene cycloadditions (prototype reactions) were also checked with the MP2/6-31G(d) approximation Solvent effects were introduced both at a semiempirical level (AMSOL) and at an ab initio level using the Pisa model (interlocking spheres) and the IPCM procedure (isodensity surface polariz

Ab Initio Study of the Regiochemistry of 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions. Reactions of Diazomethane and Formonitrile Oxide with Ethene, Propene, Acrylonitrile, and Methyl Vinyl Ether.

Remo Gandolfi

Papers

Concerted vs stepwise mechanism in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrone to ethene, cyclobutadiene, and benzocyclobutadiene. A computational study

Site of formation of kinins in the dog nephron

1,3‐Dipolar Cycloreversions

How important are secondary orbital interactions in favoring the endo mode in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones?

Ab Initio Study of the Regiochemistry of 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions. Reactions of Diazomethane and Formonitrile Oxide with Ethene, Propene, Acrylonitrile, and Methyl Vinyl Ether.