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The Pd‐catalysed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation (DAAA) has been applied to the enantioselective synthesis of sterically hindered benzofuran‐3(2H)‐one‐derived α‐aryl‐β‐keto esters employing the (R,R)‐ANDEN phenyl Trost ligand. A range of substrates were synthesised, employing previously developed aryllead triacetate methodology to install various aryl groups. The resulting α‐aryl‐α‐allyl benzofuran‐3(2H)‐one DAAA products were obtained in moderate to high yields and in enantioselectivities of up to 96 % ee, with the best results observed for substrates containing a di‐ortho‐substitution pattern on the aryl ring as well as naphthyl‐containing substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a malignancy of mature B cells, and it is the most frequent form of leukemia diagnosed in Western countries. It is characterized by the proliferation and accumulation of neoplastic B lymphocytes in the blood, lymph nodes, bone marrow and spleen. We report the synthesis and antiproliferative effects of a series of novel ethanoanthracene compounds in CLL cell lines. Structural modifications were achieved via the Diels–Alder reaction of 9-(2-nitrovinyl)anthracene and 3-(anthracen-9-yl)-1-arylprop-2-en-1-ones (anthracene chalcones) with dienophiles, including maleic anhydride and N-substituted maleimides, to afford a series of 9-(E)-(2-nitrovinyl)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[3,4]epipyrroloanthracene-12,14-diones, 9-(E)-3-oxo-3-phenylprop-1-en-1-yl)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[3,4]epipyrroloanthracene-12,14-diones and related compounds. Single-crystal X-ray analysis confirmed the structures of the novel ethanoanthracenes 23f, 23h, 24a, 24g, 25f and 27. The products were evaluated in HG-3 and PGA-1 CLL cell lines (representative of poor and good patient prognosis, respectively). The most potent compounds were identified as 20a, 20f, 23a and 25n with IC50 values in the ranges of 0.17–2.69 µM (HG-3) and 0.35–1.97 µM (PGA-1). The pro-apoptotic effects of the potent compounds 20a, 20f, 23a and 25n were demonstrated in CLL cell lines HG-3 (82–95%) and PGA-1 (87–97%) at 10 µM, with low toxicity (12–16%) observed in healthy-donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at concentrations representative of the compounds IC50 values for both the HG-3 and PGA-1 CLL cell lines. The antiproliferative effect of the selected compounds, 20a, 20f, 23a and 25n, was mediated through ROS flux with a marked increase in cell viability upon pretreatment with the antioxidant NAC. 25n also demonstrated sub-micromolar activity in the NCI 60 cancer cell line panel, with a mean GI50 value of 0.245 µM. This ethanoanthracene series of compounds offers potential for the further development of lead structures as novel chemotherapeutics to target CLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Cover Feature: Asymmetric Synthesis of Quaternary α-Aryl Stereocentres in Benzofuran-3(2H)-Ones Using Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation" was published in Chemistry - A European Journal. The cover image features the Samuel Beckett bridge and the Convention Centre Dublin, which will host the 9th EuChemS Congress in July 2024. The image also includes a chemistry scheme illustrating a racemic β‐keto allyl ester and two diastereomeric transition states. The article provides more information on this topic and can be accessed through the DOI: 10.1002/chem.202401738. [Extracted from the article]

One or multiple chlorophyll a molecules are employed in the reaction center of photosystem II′s main electron donor (defined as P680). We have a poor understanding of how the reaction center facilitates water oxidation in photosystem II and the roles that mono‐ and/or multimeric chlorophyll groups play when P680 oxidizes a neighboring tyrosine in order to drive water oxidation at the oxygen evolving complex. We have prepared a dimeric MgII‐porphyrin complex [Mg2(BTPP)] (1, H4‐BTPP=1,2‐bis‐(10,15,20‐triphenylporphyrin‐5‐yl)‐benzene) as a structural and functional mimic of the dimeric core of P680. 1 was oxidized by one‐electron to the corresponding π‐cation radical complex 2. The radical cation was characterized by UV/Vis‐NIR, FT‐IR, and EPR spectroscopic techniques. 2 was shown to be reactive towards phenols to give the corresponding phenoxyl radicals, mimicking the reactivity of the P680 cation radical which oxidizes tyrosine to tyrosyl radical. Critically, the dimeric π‐cation radical showed markedly higher rates of proton coupled electron transfer oxidation (PCET) of phenols when compared to its monomeric counterpart [Mg(TPP)] (TPP=5,10,15,20‐tetraphenylporphyrin). Our findings demonstrate that MgII‐porphyrin complexes are reliable mimics of photosynthetic PCET processes and suggest that photosynthetic reaction centers with multiple π‐conjugated complexes likely lower the barrier to PCET oxidation by π‐cation radical species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFive new copper(II) complexes of substituted quinoxaline ligands have been prepared and characterized via single crystal X-ray diffraction, including [Cu(5-Mequinox)2(NO3)2] (2), [Cu(5-Mequinox)(NO3)(H2O)(μ-1,3-NO3)]n (3), the chloride salt (5-MequinoxH)2[Cu3Cl8] (4), the complex [Cu(6-Mequinox)2(NO3)2] (5) and [(2-carboxylato-3-methylquinox)(2-hydroxymethyl-3-methylquinox)nitratocopper(II)]. CH3CN (6) [quinox = quinoxaline; 5-Mequinox = 5-methylquinoxaline; 6-Mequinox = 6-methylquinoxaline]. None of the complexes produced diazine bridged chain structures (as seen in [(quinox)Cu(NO3)2]n (1)), although 3 forms chains via a bridging nitrate ion. Crystal packing is controlled primarily through hydrogen bonding and π-stacking of nitrate ions. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility data of the parent compound [(quinox)Cu(NO3)2]n are also reported and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heme paradigm where Fe=O acts as the C-H oxidant and Fe-OH rebounds with the formed carbon-centered radical guides the design of the prototypical synthetic hydroxylation catalyst. We are exploring methods to evolve beyond the metal-oxo oxidant and hydroxide rebound, to incorporate a wider array of functional group. We have demonstrated the application of CoII(OTf)2 (10 mol% catalyst; OTf = trimfluoromethanesulfonate) in combination with polydentate N-donor ligands (e.g. BPMEN = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine) and Selectfluor in the oxidative fluorination of saturated hydrocarbons in high yields. The addition of CsF to the reaction mixture induced near-quantitative yields of fluorinated saturated hydrocarbons (>90% yield of fluorinated product). For 1-hydroxy, 1-acetyl, 1-carboxy-, and 1-acetamido-adamantane, we demonstrated fluorination at the 3-position. We propose two mechanisms for the CoII-catalyzed reaction: either (i) an N-radical, derived from Selectfluor, acted as the C-H oxidant followed by radical rebound with CoIII-F; or (ii) a CoIV-(F)2 species was the C-H oxidant followed by radical rebound with CoIII-F. Our combined spectroscopic, kinetic, and chemical trapping evidence suggested that an N-radical was not the active oxidant. We concluded that a CoIV-(F)2 species was the likely active oxidant and CoIII-F was the likely F-atom donor to a carbon centered radical producing a C-F bond., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Unlike their planar counterparts, classic synthetic protocols for C-C bond forming reactions on nonplanar porphyrins are underdeveloped. The development of C-C bond forming reactions on nonplanar porphyrins is critical in advancing this field of study for more complex porphyrin architectures, which could be used in supramolecular assemblies, catalysis, or sensing. In this work a library of arm-extended dodecasubstituted porphyrins was synthesized through the optimization of the classic Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of peripheral haloaryl substituents with a range of boronic acids. We report on palladium-catalyzed coupling attempts on the ortho -, meta -, and para -meso-phenyl position of sterically demanding dodecasubstituted saddle-shaped porphyrins. While para- and meta- substitutions could be achieved, ortho -functionalization in these systems remains elusive. Furthermore, borylation of a dodecasubstituted porphyrin's meso-phenyl position was explored and a subsequent C-C coupling showed the polarity of the reaction can be reversed resulting in higher yields. X-ray analysis of the target compounds revealed the formation of supramolecular assemblies, capable of accommodating substrates in their void., (Copyright © 2024, Cribbin et al.)

In exploring structural and functional mimics of nitrile hydratases, we report the synthesis of the pseudo -trigonal bipyramidal Co II complexes (K)[Co II (DMF)(L Ph )] ( 1(DMF) ), (NMe 4 ) 2 [Co II (OAc)(L Ph )] ( 1(OAc) ), and (NMe 4 ) 2 [Co II (OH)(L Ph )] ( 1(OH) ) (L Ph = 2,2',2''-nitrilo- tris -( N -phenylacetamide; DMF = N , N -dimethylformamide; - OAc = acetate)). The complexes were characterized using NMR, FT-IR, ESI-MS, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography, showing the L Ph ligand to bind in a tetradentate tripodal fashion alongside the respective ancillary donor. One of the complexes, 1(OH) , is an unusual structural and functional mimic of the Co active site in Co nitrile hydratases. 1(OH) reacted with acetonitrile to yield the Co II -acetamide complex (NMe 4 ) 2 [Co II (NHC(O)CH 3 )(L Ph )], 2 , which was also thoroughly characterized. In the presence of excess hydroxide, 1(OH) was found to catalyze quantitative conversion of the added hydroxide into acetamide. Despite the differences in Co oxidation state in nitrile hydratases and 1(OH) (Co III versus Co II , respectively), 1(OH) was nonetheless an effective nitrile hydration catalyst, selectively producing acetamide over multiple turnovers.