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Scott E. Allen

Bio: Scott E. Allen is an academic researcher from University of Pennsylvania. The author has contributed to research in topics: Enantioselective synthesis & Catalysis. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 15 publications receiving 1607 citations. Previous affiliations of Scott E. Allen include University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & Pennsylvania State University.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The chemistry of copper is extremely rich because it can easily access Cu0, CuI, CuII, and CuIII oxidation states allowing it to act through one-electron or two-Electron processes, which feature confer a remarkably broad range of activities allowing copper to catalyze the oxidation and oxidative union of many substrates.
Abstract: The chemistry of copper is extremely rich because it can easily access Cu0, CuI, CuII, and CuIII oxidation states allowing it to act through one-electron or two-electron processes. As a result, both radical pathways and powerful two-electron bond forming pathways via organmetallic intermediates, similar to those of palladium, can occur. In addition, the different oxidation states of copper associate well with a large number of different functional groups via Lewis acid interactions or π-coordination. In total, these feature confer a remarkably broad range of activities allowing copper to catalyze the oxidation and oxidative union of many substrates. Oxygen is a highly atom economical, environmentally benign, and abundant oxidant, which makes it ideal in many ways.1 The high activation energies in the reactions of oxygen require that catalysts be employed.2 In combination with molecular oxygen, the chemistry of copper catalysis increases exponentially since oxygen can act as either a sink for electrons (oxidase activity) and/or as a source of oxygen atoms that are incorporated into the product (oxygenase activity). The oxidation of copper with oxygen is a facile process allowing catalytic turnover in net oxidative processes and ready access to the higher CuIII oxidation state, which enables a range of powerful transformations including two-electron reductive elimination to CuI. Molecular oxygen is also not hampered by toxic byproducts, being either reduced to water, occasionally via H2O2 (oxidase activity) or incorporated into the target structure with high atom economy (oxygenase activity). Such oxidations using oxygen or air (21% oxygen) have been employed safely in numerous commodity chemical continuous and batch processes.3 However, batch reactors employing volatile hydrocarbon solvents require that oxygen concentrations be kept low in the head space (typically <5–11%) to avoid flammable mixtures, which can limit the oxygen concentration in the reaction mixture.4,5,6 A number of alternate approaches have been developed allowing oxidation chemistry to be used safely across a broader array of conditions. For example, use of carbon dioxide instead of nitrogen as a diluent leads to reduced flammability.5 Alternately, water can be added to moderate the flammability allowing even pure oxygen to be employed.6 New reactor designs also allow pure oxygen to be used instead of diluted oxygen by maintaining gas bubbles in the solvent, which greatly improves reaction rates and prevents the build up of higher concentrations of oxygen in the head space.4a,7 Supercritical carbon dioxide has been found to be advantageous as a solvent due its chemical inertness towards oxidizing agents and its complete miscibility with oxygen or air over a wide range of temperatures.8 An number of flow technologies9 including flow reactors,10 capillary flow reactors,11 microchannel/microstructure structure reactors,12 and membrane reactors13 limit the amount of or afford separation of hydrocarbon/oxygen vapor phase thereby reducing the potential for explosions. Enzymatic oxidizing systems based upon copper that exploit the many advantages and unique aspects of copper as a catalyst and oxygen as an oxidant as described in the preceding paragraphs are well known. They represent a powerful set of catalysts able to direct beautiful redox chemistry in a highly site-selective and stereoselective manner on simple as well as highly functionalized molecules. This ability has inspired organic chemists to discover small molecule catalysts that can emulate such processes. In addition, copper has been recognized as a powerful catalyst in several industrial processes (e.g. phenol polymerization, Glaser-Hay alkyne coupling) stimulating the study of the fundamental reaction steps and the organometallic copper intermediates. These studies have inspiried the development of nonenzymatic copper catalysts. For these reasons, the study of copper catalysis using molecular oxygen has undergone explosive growth, from 30 citations per year in the 1980s to over 300 citations per year in the 2000s. A number of elegant reviews on the subject of catalytic copper oxidation chemistry have appeared. Most recently, reviews provide selected coverage of copper catalysts14 or a discussion of their use in the aerobic functionalization of C–H bonds.15 Other recent reviews cover copper and other metal catalysts with a range of oxidants, including oxygen, but several reaction types are not covered.16 Several other works provide a valuable overview of earlier efforts in the field.17 This review comprehensively covers copper catalyzed oxidation chemistry using oxygen as the oxidant up through 2011. Stoichiometric reactions with copper are discussed, as necessary, to put the development of the catalytic processes in context. Mixed metal systems utilizing copper, such as palladium catalyzed Wacker processes, are not included here. Decomposition reactions involving copper/oxygen and model systems of copper enzymes are not discussed exhaustively. To facilitate analysis of the reactions under discussion, the current mechanistic hypothesis is provided for each reaction. As our understanding of the basic chemical steps involving copper improve, it is expected that many of these mechanisms will evolve accordingly.

1,326 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that a concerted, but highly asynchronous, Diels-Alder reaction occurs rather than the stepwise Michael-type or Claisen-type pathways and two crucial interactions are identified that enable high selectivity: an oxyanion-steering mechanism and a CH-π interaction.
Abstract: The N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition has been shown to give γ,δ-unsaturated δ-lactones in excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivity. However, preliminary computational studies of the geometry of the intermediate enolate rendered ambiguous both the origins of selectivity and the reaction pathway. Here, we show that a concerted, but highly asynchronous, Diels–Alder reaction occurs rather than the stepwise Michael-type or Claisen-type pathways. In addition, two crucial interactions are identified that enable high selectivity: an oxyanion-steering mechanism and a CH−π interaction. The calculations accurately predict the enantioselectivity of a number of N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts in the hetero-Diels–Alder reaction.

79 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A general method of synthesis for lactones and lactams related to carbohydrates has been developed that relies on the biocatalyticgeneration of 1-chloro-2,3-dihydroxycyclohexa-4,6-diene, obtained in excellent yield by fermentation of chlorobenzene with Pseudomonasputida 39D, followed by further functionalization to nitrogen-substituted cyclitols.
Abstract: A general method of synthesis for lactones and lactams related to carbohydrates has been developed that relies on the biocatalyticgeneration of 1-chloro-2,3-dihydroxycyclohexa-4,6-diene (l), obtained in excellent yield by fermentation of chlorobenzene with Pseudomonasputida 39D, followed by further functionalization to nitrogen-substituted cyclitols. These amino or azido cyclitols of type 15 are then subjected to controlled ozonolysis, which yields either lactones such as 27 or lactams containing five-membered (28) or six-membered (20 and 23) rings. Such compounds are useful intermediates for the preparation of aza sugars. Mannojirimycin (84 has been synthesized in seven steps from chlorobenzene. Kifunensine (7) has been prepared in 11 steps from chlorobenzene following an intersection with Hashimoto's procedure. Full experimental and spectral details are provided for all compounds. The potential of this general method and implications of the disclosed design features in the field of amino sugar and aza sugar synthesis are indicated.

72 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
26 Dec 2017
TL;DR: The majority of Bacilli natural products are comprised of a small set of highly conserved, well-distributed, known natural product compounds, most of these metabolites have important roles influencing the physiology and development of Bacillus species.
Abstract: Bacteria possess an amazing capacity to synthesize a diverse range of structurally complex, bioactive natural products known as specialized (or secondary) metabolites. Many of these specialized metabolites are used as clinical therapeutics, while others have important ecological roles in microbial communities. The biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that generate these metabolites can be identified in bacterial genome sequences using their highly conserved genetic features. We analyzed an unprecedented 1,566 bacterial genomes from Bacillus species and identified nearly 20,000 BGCs. By comparing these BGCs to one another as well as a curated set of known specialized metabolite BGCs, we discovered that the majority of Bacillus natural products are comprised of a small set of highly conserved, well-distributed, known natural product compounds. Most of these metabolites have important roles influencing the physiology and development of Bacillus species. We identified, in addition to these characterized compounds, many unique, weakly conserved BGCs scattered across the genus that are predicted to encode unknown natural products. Many of these "singleton" BGCs appear to have been acquired via horizontal gene transfer. Based on this large-scale characterization of metabolite production in the Bacilli, we go on to connect the alkylpyrones, natural products that are highly conserved but previously biologically uncharacterized, to a role in Bacillus physiology: inhibiting spore development. IMPORTANCEBacilli are capable of producing a diverse array of specialized metabolites, many of which have gained attention for their roles as signals that affect bacterial physiology and development. Up to this point, however, the Bacillus genus's metabolic capacity has been underexplored. We undertook a deep genomic analysis of 1,566 Bacillus genomes to understand the full spectrum of metabolites that this bacterial group can make. We discovered that the majority of the specialized metabolites produced by Bacillus species are highly conserved, known compounds with important signaling roles in the physiology and development of this bacterium. Additionally, there is significant unique biosynthetic machinery distributed across the genus that might lead to new, unknown metabolites with diverse biological functions. Inspired by the findings of our genomic analysis, we speculate that the highly conserved alkylpyrones might have an important biological activity within this genus. We go on to validate this prediction by demonstrating that these natural products are developmental signals in Bacillus and act by inhibiting sporulation.

56 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Generation of a more vanadium catalyst by ligand design and by addition of an exogenous Brønsted or Lewis acid was found to be key to coupling the more oxidatively resistant phenols.

54 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A critical appraisal of different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications in catalysis.
Abstract: The applications of copper (Cu) and Cu-based nanoparticles, which are based on the earth-abundant and inexpensive copper metal, have generated a great deal of interest in recent years, especially in the field of catalysis. The possible modification of the chemical and physical properties of these nanoparticles using different synthetic strategies and conditions and/or via postsynthetic chemical treatments has been largely responsible for the rapid growth of interest in these nanomaterials and their applications in catalysis. In addition, the design and development of novel support and/or multimetallic systems (e.g., alloys, etc.) has also made significant contributions to the field. In this comprehensive review, we report different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles (metallic copper, copper oxides, and hybrid copper nanostructures) and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications i...

1,823 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C-H activation until summer 2018 is provided.
Abstract: C–H activation has surfaced as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular sciences, with notable applications to material sciences, crop protection, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Despite major advances, the vast majority of these C–H functionalizations required precious 4d or 5d transition metal catalysts. Given the cost-effective and sustainable nature of earth-abundant first row transition metals, the development of less toxic, inexpensive 3d metal catalysts for C–H activation has gained considerable recent momentum as a significantly more environmentally-benign and economically-attractive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C–H activation until summer 2018.

1,417 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and applications of transition metal-mediated/catalyzed oxidative C-H/C-H coupling reactions between two (hetero)arenes.
Abstract: Transition metal-mediated C–H bond activation and functionalization represent one of the most straightforward and powerful tools in modern organic synthetic chemistry. Bi(hetero)aryls are privileged π-conjugated structural cores in biologically active molecules, organic functional materials, ligands, and organic synthetic intermediates. The oxidative C–H/C–H coupling reactions between two (hetero)arenes through 2-fold C–H activation offer a valuable opportunity for rapid assembly of diverse bi(hetero)aryls and further exploitation of their applications in pharmaceutical and material sciences. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and applications of transition metal-mediated/catalyzed oxidative C–H/C–H coupling reactions between two (hetero)arenes. The substrate scope, limitation, reaction mechanism, regioselectivity, and chemoselectivity, as well as related control strategies of these reactions are discussed. Additionally, the applications of these established methods in the s...

822 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This Review highlights the most recent advances in visible-light-induced EnT reactions, which provide a distinct reaction pathway for single-electron transfer reactions.
Abstract: Visible-light photocatalysis is a rapidly developing and powerful strategy to initiate organic transformations, as it closely adheres to the tenants of green and sustainable chemistry. Generally, most visible-light-induced photochemical reactions occur through single-electron transfer (SET) pathways. Recently, visible-light-induced energy-transfer (EnT) reactions have received considerable attentions from the synthetic community as this strategy provides a distinct reaction pathway, and remarkable achievements have been made in this field. In this Review, we highlight the most recent advances in visible-light-induced EnT reactions.

596 citations