Diastereoselective synthesis of spiropyrazolones via 1,3-dipolar [3+2] cycloadditions between pyrazolone-based olefins and N, N’-cyclic azomethine imines

Under the catalysis of PhCO2H, the 1,3-dipolar [3+2] cycloaddition between pyrazolone-based olefins and N, N’-cyclic azomethine imines proceeded readily, thus delivering structurally novel spiropyrazolones with up to 98% yield and >20:1 dr. The relative stereochemical configuration of the obtained spiropyrazolones was unambiguously assigned by X-ray single crystal structure analysis. The diastereoselective formation of the title spiropyrazolones was interpreted by the hypothesized reaction mechanism.

Formal [5+3] Cycloaddition between Isatin-Based α-(Trifluoromethyl)imine Ylides and Vinyloxiranes: Diastereoselective Access to Medium-Heterocycle-Fused Spirooxindoles

In the presence of Pd2(dba)3·CHCl3 (2.5 mol%), PPh3 (10 mol%), and 60% NaH (1.5 equiv), the formal [5+3] cycloaddition between isatin-based α-(trifluoromethyl)imines and vinyloxiranes proceeded readily in 1,2-DCE at 40 ℃ and afforded cis-configured medium-heterocycle-fused spirooxindoles in the reasonable chemical yields with >20:1 dr. The relative stereochemical configuration of the title products was identified by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Determining the Relative Configuration of Propargyl Cyclopropanes by Co-Crystallization

Determining the diastereoselectivity of new synthetic mo­lecules can be a challenge when NMR methods fail and the compounds are difficult to crystallize. Encapsulating organic crystals can be used to overcome this challenge. Here we show that the diastereomeric confi­guration of racemic mixtures of propargyl cyclopropanes can be determined by co-crystallization with 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(2-bromo-4-methoxyphenyl)adamantane and X-ray crystallography. Three crystal structures are reported that unambiguously identify the products of Fe-catalyzed cyclopropanations as cis- or trans-isomers. These findings expand the scope of co-crystallization with tetraaryladamantanes as a method to determine the stereochemical configuration of organic molecules that are difficult to crystallize by themselves.

Correction: Insects (Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan)) change the stereochemical configuration of 1-phenylethanol emitted from tea (Camellia sinensis) flowers

Correction for ‘Insects (Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan)) change the stereochemical configuration of 1-phenylethanol emitted from tea (Camellia sinensis) flowers’ by Ying Zhou et al., RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 32336–32343. DOI: 10.1039/C7RA03219F.

Systematic synthetic study of four diastereomerically distinct limonene-1,2-diols and their corresponding cyclic carbonates

In order to produce versatile and potentially functional terpene-based compounds, a (R)-limonene-derived diol and its corresponding five-membered cyclic carbonate were prepared. The diol (cyclic carbonate) comprises four diastereomers based on the stereochemical configuration of the diol (and cyclic carbonate) moiety. By choosing the appropriate starting compounds (trans- and cis-limonene oxide) and conditions, the desired diastereomers were synthesised in moderate to high yields with, in most cases, high stereoselectivity. Comparison of the NMR data of the obtained diols and carbonates revealed that the four different diastereomers of each compound could be distinguished by reference to their characteristic signals.

Structure-Immunogenicity Relationship of α- and β-Tetrasaccharide Glycoforms from Bacillus anthracis Exosporium and Fragments Thereof

The tetrasaccharide (2-O-methyl-4-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutamido)-4,6-dideoxy-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-l-rhamnopyranose) from the major exosporium protein (BclA) of Bacillus anthracis has been proposed as a target for development of diagnostics and immune therapy or prophylaxis. While the immunodominant character of the anthrose residue has been previously elucidated, the role of the stereochemical configuration of the downstream rhamnose is unknown. Because the linkage of this residue to the GlcNAc bridging the glycan and the protein is lost during isolation of the tetrasaccharide, its α- and β-glycoforms have been synthesized. Herein, we prepared neoglycoconjugates from a series of fragments of the tetrasaccharide, including the complete α- and β-tetrasaccharide glycoforms, a 2-demethoxylated version of the α-tetrasaccharide, and the α- and β-trirhamnosides and CRM197. By immunization of mice, we showed that the anti α- and β-tetrasaccharide serum equally recognized both glycoforms. In contrast the sera produced following immunization with the α- and β-trirhamnoside fragments exhibited higher recognition for their own antigens than for their anomeric counterparts. The anti α- and β-tetrasaccharide sera recognized Sterne spores in a comparable fashion. ΔBclA spores not expressing the major exosporium protein were also recognized by the same sera, while mutants that produced the carbohydrate antigen with deletion of either rhamnose or anthrose were not. The tetrasaccharide could, therefore, be expressed in proteins other than BlcA. This work proves that α- and β-tetrasaccharide are equally potent immunogens.