Biomimetic Ketone Reduction by Disulfide Radical Anion

The conversion of ribonucleosides to 2′-deoxyribonucleosides is catalyzed by ribonucleoside reductase enzymes in nature. One of the key steps in this complex radical mechanism is the reduction of the 3′-ketodeoxynucleotide by a pair of cysteine residues, providing the electrons via a disulfide radical anion (RSSR•−) in the active site of the enzyme. In the present study, the bioinspired conversion of ketones to corresponding alcohols was achieved by the intermediacy of disulfide radical anion of cysteine (CysSSCys)•− in water. High concentration of cysteine and pH 10.6 are necessary for high-yielding reactions. The photoinitiated radical chain reaction includes the one-electron reduction of carbonyl moiety by disulfide radical anion, protonation of the resulting ketyl radical anion by water, and H-atom abstraction from CysSH. The (CysSSCys)•− transient species generated by ionizing radiation in aqueous solutions allowed the measurement of kinetic data with ketones by pulse radiolysis. By measuring the rate of the decay of (CysSSCys)•−at λmax = 420 nm at various concentrations of ketones, we found the rate constants of three cyclic ketones to be in the range of 104–105 M−1s−1 at ~22 °C.

The discovery of new phloroglucinol glycosides from Agrimonia pilosa and the mechanism of oxidative dearomatization of the methyl-substituted phloroglucinol derivatives

New phloroglucinol glycosides, aglycones, and oxidative dearomatized products of aglycones were discovered from Agrimonia pilosa, and the mechanism of the auto oxidative dearomatization was disclosed as a free radical chain reaction with 3O2.

Direct targets and subsequent pathways for molecular hydrogen to exert multiple functions: Focusing on interventions in radical reactions.

: Molecular hydrogen (H2 ) was long regarded as non-functional in mammalian cells. We overturned the concept by demonstrating that H2 exhibits antioxidant effects and protects cells against oxidative stress. Subsequently, it has been revealed that H2 has multiple functions in addition to antioxidant effects, including ant-inflammatory, anti-allergic functions, and as a cell death and autophagy regulation. Additionally, H2 stimulates energy metabolism. Because H2 does not readily react with most biomolecules without a catalyst, it is essential to identify the primary targets with which H2 reacts or interacts directly. As a first event, H2 may react directly with strong oxidants such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH) in vivo. This review addresses the key issues related to this in vivo reaction. •OH may have a physiological role because it triggers a free radical chain reaction and may be involved in the regulation of Ca2+ - or mitochondrial ATP-dependent K+ - channeling. In the subsequent pathway, H2 suppressed a free radical chain reaction, leading to decreases in lipid peroxide and its end products. Derived from the peroxides, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal functions as a mediator that up-regulates multiple functional PGC-1α. As the other direct target in vitro and in vivo, H2 intervenes in the free radical chain reaction to modify oxidized phospholipids, which may act as an antagonist of Ca2+ -channels. The resulting suppression of Ca2+ - signaling inactivates multiple functional NFAT and CREB transcription factors, which may explain H2 multifunctionality. This review also addresses the involvement of NFAT in the beneficial role of H2 in COVID-19, Alzheimer’s disease and advanced cancer. We discuss some unsolved issues of H2 action on lipopolysaccharide signaling, MAPK and NF-κB pathways and the Nrf2 paradox. Finally, as a novel idea for the direct targeting of H2 , this review introduces the possibility that H2 causes structural changes in proteins via hydrate water changes.

Effects of N2 and 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoropropane (C3H2F6) on Inhibition of Coal Flames

Two gaseous fire-extinguishing agents, N2 and C3H2F6, were used to suppress open-flame coal combustion, and their inhibitory effects as well as the corresponding mechanisms were probed by simulations and confined-space experiments. The influence of N2 on the flame surface area linearly increased with increasing N2 concentration, while a sudden increase in reduction was observed from C3H2F6. In addition, C3H2F6 was capable of inducing well-pronounced flame flash-off and featured an extinguishing time smaller than that of N2, thus being a more efficient extinguishing agent. The above findings were rationalized by numerical simulations, which revealed that whereas N2 extinguished the flame mainly by dilution of reactive intermediates, C3H2F6 decomposed to produce F-containing species that competed with coal for OH, H, and O free radicals and thus cut off the free-radical chain reaction.

Catalyst- and Silane- Controlled Enantioselective Hydrofunctionalization of Alkenes by Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydrogen Atom Transfer and Radical-Polar Crossover

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans, which are found in the structures of many biologically active natural products, via a transition-metal catalyzed-hydrogen atom transfer (TM-HAT) and radical-polar crossover (RPC) mechanism is described herein. Hydroalkoxylation of non-conjugated alkenes proceeded efficiently with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) using a suitable chiral cobalt catalyst, <i>N</i>-fluoro-2,4,6-collidinium tetrafluoroborate, and diethylsilane. Surprisingly, absolute configuration of the product was highly dependent on the steric hindrance of the silane. Slow addition of the silane, the dioxygen effect in the solvent, thermal dependency, and DFT calculation results supported the unprecedented scenario of two competing selective mechanisms. For the less-hindered diethylsilane, a high concentration of diffused carbon-centered radicals invoked diastereoenrichment of an alkylcobalt(III) intermediate by a radical chain reaction, which eventually determined the absolute configuration of the product. On the other hand, a more hindered silane resulted in less opportunity for radical chain reaction, instead facilitating enantioselective kinetic resolution during the late-stage nucleophilic displacement of the alkylcobalt(IV) intermediate.

Catalyst- and Silane- Controlled Enantioselective Hydrofunctionalization of Alkenes by Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydrogen Atom Transfer and Radical-Polar Crossover

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydrofurans, which are found in the structures of many biologically active natural products, via a transition-metal catalyzed-hydrogen atom transfer (TM-HAT) and radical-polar crossover (RPC) mechanism is described herein. Hydroalkoxylation of non-conjugated alkenes proceeded efficiently with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee) using a suitable chiral cobalt catalyst, <i>N</i>-fluoro-2,4,6-collidinium tetrafluoroborate, and diethylsilane. Surprisingly, absolute configuration of the product was highly dependent on the steric hindrance of the silane. Slow addition of the silane, the dioxygen effect in the solvent, thermal dependency, and DFT calculation results supported the unprecedented scenario of two competing selective mechanisms. For the less-hindered diethylsilane, a high concentration of diffused carbon-centered radicals invoked diastereoenrichment of an alkylcobalt(III) intermediate by a radical chain reaction, which eventually determined the absolute configuration of the product. On the other hand, a more hindered silane resulted in less opportunity for radical chain reaction, instead facilitating enantioselective kinetic resolution during the late-stage nucleophilic displacement of the alkylcobalt(IV) intermediate.