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Abstract: The gene encoding a versatile biocatalyst that shows high enantioselectivity for a variety of ketones, SCR (Saccharomyces cerevisiae carbonyl reductase), has been identified, cloned, and expressed in E. coli. Recombinant E. coli co-producing SCR and GDH (glucose dehydrogenase) is an easy-to-use, synthetically useful biocatalyst, and 8 out of the 16 alcohols obtained had enantiomeric purities of >98% ee. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Keywords: chirality; dyes/pigments; heterocycles; luminescence; photophysics EN chirality dyes/pigments heterocycles luminescence photophysics 1 1 1 04/03/20 20200401 NES 200401 B Chiral BODIPY derivatives b and congeners have been recognized as promising circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) dyes. These chiral BODIPY congeners showed CPL both in solution and in the solid state with | I g i SB lum sb | values up to 3.8×10 SP -3 sp in the visible to NIR region. Chirality, dyes/pigments, heterocycles, luminescence, photophysics. [Extracted from the article]

D2‐symmetric (R)‐binaphthyl‐bridged pyrenophanes containing thioether bonds were synthesized. The pyrenophanes exhibited the temperature‐induced sign inversion of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) while maintaining the emission wavelength and reversibility. The Δglum value reached 0.02, and the FL quenching by heat was negligible. The sign inversion of CPL originates from the inversion of intramolecular excimer chirality associated with excitation dynamics. The two pyrenes form a kinetically trapped left‐handed twist excimer at low temperatures, while they form a thermodynamically favored right‐handed twist excimer at high temperatures. The thioether linkers can impart flexibility suitable for the inversion of chirality of the excimers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directly linked carbazole-based core-modified diporphyrin D2 and fused diporphyrin F2 were synthesized. These diporphyrins showed significant electronic interactions and conjugation allowing for redshifted near infrared (NIR) absorption and small HOMO–LUMO gaps as confirmed by NIR absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements, and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Bifunctional Porphyrin Catalysts for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Epoxides and C02: Structural Optimization and Mechanistic Study" in the September 2014 issue is presented.

(R,R,R)-Quaternaphthyls possessing eight and six pyrenes (compounds 4 and 3) displayed intense excimer-CPL. The glum values in solution and in the solid state were +0.034–0.037 and +0.0053–0.0056, respectively. The glum values of 3 and 4 were indistinguishable, indicating that the pyrenes of 3 and 4 assumed the same conformation, even in excited states. The intense CPL was caused by conformationally rigid pyrenes arranged via the cumulative steric effects along the quaternaphthyl axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annulation reactions of the butadiyne-bridged carbazole dimer 1 produced carbazole-based chalcogenaisophlorins 2-4, which were transformed into the corresponding palladium complexes 2Pd-4Pd. The structures were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Metallation fixed the structures which displayed weak antiaromatic character derived from the 20p isophlorin framework. These complexes showed weak near-infrared (NIR) absorption typical for antiaromatic porphyrinoids in solution. In addition, 2Pd and 3Pd showed relatively strong solid-state NIR absorption. X-ray diffraction analyses of 2Pd and 3Pd revealed trimeric and dimeric stacked layered structures, respectively, and DFT calculations suggest that the solid-state NIR absorption is ascribed to intermolecular charge transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifunctional ZnII porphyrin catalysts bearing tributylammonium bromide groups at the meta positions of the meso-phenyl groups showed high catalytic activity for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2. Herein, several substituents with different electronic properties were introduced at the para positions. Introduction of electron-donating groups decreased the catalytic activity, whereas the introduction of electron-withdrawing groups increased the activity. The substituents modulated the Lewis acidity of the zinc center, which was confirmed by binding constant experiments. The bifunctional catalyst bearing cyano groups showed the highest catalytic activity with a turnover frequency of up to 42 000 h−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BPh3 catalyzes the N‐methylation of secondary amines and the C‐methylenation (methylene‐bridge formation between aromatic rings) of N,N‐dimethylanilines or 1‐methylindoles in the presence of CO2 and PhSiH3; these reactions proceed at 30–40 °C under solvent‐free conditions. In contrast, B(C6F5)3 shows little or no activity. 11B NMR spectra suggested the generation of [HBPh3]−. The detailed mechanism of the BPh3‐catalyzed N‐methylation of N‐methylaniline (1) with CO2 and PhSiH3 was studied by using DFT calculations. BPh3 promotes the conversion of two substrates (N‐methylaniline and CO2) into a zwitterionic carbamate to give three‐component species [Ph(Me)(H)N+CO2−⋅⋅⋅BPh3]. The carbamate and BPh3 act as the nucleophile and Lewis acid, respectively, for the activation of PhSiH3 to generate [HBPh3]−, which is used to produce key CO2‐derived species, such as silyl formate and bis(silyl)acetal, essential for the N‐methylation of 1. DFT calculations also suggested other mechanisms involving water for the generation of [HBPh3]− species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of D2‐symmetric macrocycles composed of alternately linked pyrene and binaphthyl moieties (binaphthyl‐bridged pyrenophanes) have been synthesized. Among them, a pyrenophane possessing ether linkers at the 2,7‐positions of the pyrenes exhibited intense circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with a |glum| value of 0.053. This value is by far the highest for excimers and was not sensitive to temperature, solvent, or concentration. The CPL originated from a twisting pyrene excimer, with the (R)‐binaphthyl moieties producing a left‐handed twist excimer, which exhibited (−)‐CPL. The electric and magnetic transition dipole moments are perfectly parallel, which is the best relationship for strong CPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BPh3 catalyzed the N-methylation of secondary amines and the C-methylenation (methylene-bridge formation between aromatic rings) of N,N-dimethylanilines or 1-methylindoles in the presence of CO2 (1 atm) and PhSiH3 without solvent at 30–40 °C. A cascade reaction from 1-methyl-2-oxindole to 3,3′-methylenebis(1-methylindole) via 1-methylindole also proceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RutheniumII complexes bearing three axially chiral bipyridyl ligands were synthesized as a new family of chiral complex dyes, and Δ‐(S)‐ and Λ‐(S)‐diastereomers were obtained. The X‐ray crystal structure analyses, spectroscopy, and DFT calculations suggested that all the bipyridyls maintained chirality in both the ground and excited states, and the Δ‐(S)‐ and Λ‐(S)‐isomers are the matched (more relaxed) and mismatched (more constrained) pairs, respectively. The mismatched Λ‐(S)‐isomer exhibited red circularly polarized phosphorescence (CPP) both in solution and in the solid state. The solution state CPP is the most intense of ruthenium complexes, while the solid state CPP is the first example of them. It is supposed that, for the Λ‐(S)‐isomer, the six cumulative CH/π interactions suppress further distortion in the T1 state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Synthetically useful cyanohydrin acetates, ArCH(OAc)CN (Ar=C6H5, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl, 4-Me–C6H4, 4-Cl–C6H4, 4-F–C6H4, 4-CF3–C6H4), were successfully synthesized in high enantiomeric purities (79–93% ee) via the lipase-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of cyanohydrins synthesized in situ from the corresponding aldehydes and acetone cyanohydrin. The combined use of silica-supported BTAH (benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide) and porous ceramic-immobilized lipase under the optimized reaction conditions enabled the remarkable acceleration of the enantioselective DKR reactions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Taft's substituent constant of the pentafluorophenyl group (σ*(C6F5)) was reestimated to be 1.50 by correlation between IR spectral data (vC-O) and σ* constants for a series of esters (involving the pentafluorobenzyl group) of 3-phenyipropanoic acid and butanoic acid. The possibility of the disturbance of the correlation by the intramolecular &phi-φ interaction between C6F5 and C6H5 groups in pentafiuorobenzyl 3-phenyipropanoate was excluded by ab initio and DFT calculations of the stable conformations and their carbonyl frequencies. The reestimated σ*(C6F5) value was used for calculation of the pKa value of pentafluorobenzyl alcohol [14.5 (or 14.3)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbazole‐based aza[7]helicenes and hetero[9]helicenes were successfully obtained via the intramolecular Scholl reaction of 3,6‐bis(biphenyl‐2‐yl)carbazole congeners, while the reaction of 3,6‐bis(naphthylphenyl)‐appended carbazole gave a triple helicene via an unexpected simultaneous double aryl rearrangement. DFT calculations suggested that the rearrangement proceeded via an arenium cation intermediate. In addition, the reaction of methoxy‐appended substrate gave an azahepta[8]circulene via the concurrent C−C bond formation. These helical dyes showed circularly polarized luminescence. The azahepta[8]circulene was further transformed into deeply saddle‐distorted dibenzodiaza[8]circulenes as the first example of its solution‐based synthesis and unambiguous structural determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The one-step C-methylenation of anilines and indoles with CO2 and phenylsilane was catalyzed by a pentanuclear ZnII complex to give diarylmethanes via geminal C–H and C–C bond formation. It is proposed that the zinc–hydride complex generated in situ is a catalytically active species and that bis(silyl)acetal is a key intermediate. When aniline was used as a substrate, both the C-methylenation and N-methylation proceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a method to improve protein thermostability, "loop-walking method". Three consecutive positions in 12 loops of Burkholderia cepacia lipase were subjected to random mutagenesis to make 12 libraries. Screening allowed us to identify L7 as a hot-spot loop having an impact on thermostability, and the P233G/L234E/V235M mutant was found from 214 variants in the L7 library. Although a more excellent mutant might be discovered by screening all the 8000 P233X/L234X/V235X mutants, it was difficult to assay all of them. We therefore employed machine learning. Using thermostability data of the 214 mutants, a computational discrimination model was constructed to predict thermostability potentials. Among 7786 combinations ranked in silico, 20 promising candidates were selected and assayed. The P233D/L234P/V235S mutant retained 66% activity after heat treatment at 60 °C for 30 min, which was higher than those of the wild-type enzyme (5%) and the P233G/L234E/V235M mutant (35%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of axially chiral 1,1′‐binaphthyls with trialkylsiloxy (OSiR3) groups were synthesized. Among them, 1 a–c possessing OSiR3 groups at the 7,7′‐positions and methyl groups at the 2,2′‐positions were liquids at room temperature, and the neat liquids showed circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) (R=Bu; Φfl,liquid=0.21, |glum,liquid|=1.6×10−3). The |glum,liquid| value is the highest of pure liquids. These compounds remained liquid over a broad range of temperatures, down to −50 °C. Time‐dependent DFT calculations indicated that in the excited state, the binaphthyls adopt a transoid conformation with a small angle between the electric and magnetic transition dipole moments (θμ,m=77°), which is a key factor in their CPL activity. The best binaphthyl dihedral angle in the excited state is approximately 110°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of carbazolyl‐appended Schiff bases were readily synthesized from 1‐formylcarbazoles and aniline derivatives. Boron complexation of the resulting ligands allowed for facile preparation of new carbazole‐based BODIPY analogues showing solid‐state fluorescence. Furthermore, some dyes were converted into chiral compounds through the Et2AlCl‐mediated incorporation of a binaphthyl unit. The chiral dyes showed aggregation‐induced fluorescence and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with the ΦF and glum of up to 0.22 and −3.5×10−3, respectively, in the solid state. The solid‐state fluorescence and CPL were well characterized by the crystal packing analyses and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) was used as a C1 source to prepare silyl formates, formamides, and aldehydes. Tetrabutylammonium acetate (TBAA) catalyzed the solvent-free N-formylation of amines with CO2 and hydrosilane to give formamides including Weinreb formamide, Me(MeO)NCHO, which was successively converted into aldehydes by one-pot reactions with Grignard reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helical carbazole‐based BODIPY analogues were readily synthesized via aza[7]helicenes. The structures of azahelicene‐incorporated BF2 dyes were elucidated by x‐ray diffraction analysis. DFT calculations revealed that the π‐conjugated system expanded from the helicene moiety to the BODIPY framework. The azahelicene‐fused boron complexes showed the Cotton effects and the circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in the visible region. Furthermore, an axially chiral binaphthyl group was attached to the helically chiral dyes, which enhanced the chiroptical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of carbazole‐based boron dipyrromethenes (BODIPYs) 2 a–g bearing binaphthyl units have been synthesized by the Et2AlCl‐mediated reaction of the corresponding BODIPY difluorides 1 a–g with 1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2,2′‐diol. Substituents such as halogen, nitrile, and amino groups were tolerated under the reaction conditions, and the reaction of the phenylethynyl‐substituted 1 h gave (R,R)‐3 h bearing two binaphthyl units. The chiroptical properties of these dyes with different substituents were investigated by UV/Vis, CD, fluorescence, and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectroscopy. The CD spectra showed Cotton effects in the absorption region of the BODIPY moieties. In addition, they showed CPL both in solution and in the solid state. Interestingly, several dyes recorded higher glum values in the solid state, probably due to intermolecular interactions. Because (R,R)‐3 h recorded relatively low glum values, the diastereomer (R,S)‐3 h was prepared. The (R,S) diastereomer showed intense CPL, which suggests a synergetic effect of the two binaphthyl groups. Finally, chiral carbazole‐based BODIPY dimers have been synthesized for the first time and their chiroptical properties were investigated. They showed redshifted fluorescence and CPL, which reached the near‐IR (NIR) region in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral π-expansion of carbazole-based porphyrins was achieved for the first time by the Pt-catalyzed cyclization and the incorporation of a benzocarbazole unit. These two types of fused porphyrins showed red-shifted and broad NIR absorption due to the expanded π-conjugation as confirmed by NIR absorption spectroscopy and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral carbazole-based BODIPYs with a binaphthyl unit were synthesized via an Al-mediated reaction. Et2AlCl was found to be a convenient reagent for the reaction to give the chiral BODIPYs in high yields. It has been shown for the first time that these chiral carbazole-based BODIPYs show circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) both in solution and in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doubly (R)-binaphthyl-strapped porphyrins with methylene chains were synthesized. The CD spectra showed the positive Cotton effect around the Soret bands, and several porphyrins showed CPL. In addition, we found that the chiral porphyrins were applicable to kinetic resolution of epoxide with CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of oligonaphthodioxepins was synthesized, revealing a helically arranged octamer, ( R, R, R, R, R, R, R)- 3, which showed intense circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) both in solution and in the solid state. The fluorescence quantum yields (ΦFL) in solution and in the solid state were 0.90 and 0.22, respectively, and the glum values in solution and in the solid state were +2.2×10−3 and +7.0×10−3, respectively. This is one of the highest solid-state CPL glum values yet reported. The high ΦFL and glum values were due to the rigidity, as well as to the fact that ( R, R, R, R, R, R, R)- 3 was a non-planar molecule. Moreover, ( R, R, R, R, R, R, R)- 3 was highly stable both chemically and stereochemically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common protocols for the quantitative determination of the enantiomeric excess ( ee) of raw mixtures by ESI-MS reveal inadequate in cases where the distribution of diastereomeric derivatives diverges from the ee of original solutions. This phenomenon is attributable to a matrix effect, i.e., to the stereospecific formation of high order noncovalent adducts in the ESI droplets, which alters the actual availability of the diastereomeric species under MS analysis. In this frame, the assumption of classic protocols that the ionization correction factor q is independent on the composition of the mixture submitted to analysis is questionable. An alternative methodology is presented in this paper, which is aimed at circumventing the problem by excluding any chemical derivatization of the original raw mixture. It is based on the measurement of the actual distribution of ESI-formed proton-bound diastereomeric complexes from the enantiomeric mixture through a careful analysis of their reaction kinetics with a suitable reactant. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipase-catalyzed enantioface-selective protonation of the enol acetate of 2-methylcyclohexanone was performed by using Burkholderia cepacia lipase immobilized on porous ceramic particles, `Lipase PS-C II'' (Amano Enzyme Inc.), in i-Pr2O and ethanol, giving (R)-2-methylcyclohexanone with 77% ee at best with 82% conversion at 0 °C. The enantioselectivity (E-value) was found to be temperature dependent and significant in controlling the efficiency of the asymmetric protonation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although helicenes are promising molecules, the synthetic difficulty and tediousness have often been problems, and only small amounts of optically pure helicenes have been obtained by using chiral HPLC in most cases. Herein, aza[7]helicenes or closed-aza[7]helicenes with (1R)-menthyl substituents were selectively synthesized via the intramolecular Scholl reaction, and the diastereomeric pairs were separated by silica gel column chromatography. The optically pure helicenes were further transformed into the corresponding cyclic dimers, and the chiroptical properties were investigated. The rigid π-frameworks of the dimers led to the high molar extinction coefficients and fluorescence quantum yields, while the twisted helicene moieties induced clear Cotton effects and CPL in the visible region, and the high CPL brightness (B CPL ) was achieved. Furthermore, the cyclic dimers were found to have the macrocyclic cavity with the two NH groups suitable for the selective binding of a fluoride anion, which induced significantly redshifted fluorescence and CPL in the red region., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The catalytic reactions of indoles with CO 2 and phenylsilane afforded indolo[3,2- b ]carbazoles, where the fused benzene ring was constructed by forming two C-H bonds and four C-C bonds with two CO 2 molecules via deoxygenative conversions. Nine-membered cyclophanes made up of three indoles and three CO 2 molecules were also obtained, where the cyclophane framework was constructed by forming six C-H bonds and six C-C bonds. These multicomponent cascade reactions giving completely different carbocycles were switched simply by choosing the solvent, acetonitrile or ethyl acetate.

Tetrabutylammonium acetate (TBAA) and Cu(OAc) 2 worked as a binary catalytic system for the solvent-free N -formylation of amines with CO 2 and PhSiH 3 . This catalysis making C-H and C-N bonds with CO 2 was coupled with the C-C bond-forming reactions to achieve the one-pot synthesis of enamines, aldehydes, and nitriles. The X-ray crystal structure of a Cu(OAc) 2 -TBAA complex was also revealed.

Chemical fixation of CO 2 has received much attention. In particular, catalytic C-C bond formation with CO 2 giving carboxylic acids is of great significance. Among the CO 2 fixation methods, multiple carboxylation is one of the challenging subjects. Here we investigated the Cu-catalyzed carboxylation of a variety of boronic acid pinacol esters (C(sp 2 )-, C(sp 3 )-, and C(sp)-B compounds) with CO 2 , which efficiently provided the corresponding products, including aryl, alkenyl, alkyl, and alkynyl carboxylic acids. This carboxylation was also applicable to multiple CO 2 fixation giving di- and tri-carboxylic acids under robust reaction conditions (totally 29 examples).

Oxidation of dihydroxyhetero[7]helicenes gave dihetero[8]circulenes via the concomitant C-C coupling and dehydrative furan formation. The pristine dihetero[8]circulenes were synthesized in four steps and characterized for the first time. X-ray crystal structures and DFT-optimized structures revealed the distorted saddle-like structures, and the degree of the distortion was found to be correlated with the photophysical properties.

Catalytic CO 2 reduction with phenylsilane under solvent-free conditions was linked with the one-pot synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrans from β-dicarbonyl compounds and styrenes. The synthesis includes three processes: (1) bis(silyl)acetal formation from CO 2 and phenylsilane and a domino reaction of (2) Knoevenagel condensation and (3) inverse-electron-demand oxa-Diels-Alder reaction. The first process was catalyzed by a pentanuclear Zn II complex (0.07 mol %) to generate bis(silyl)acetals, which were hydrolyzed into formaldehyde to be used in the second step.

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) dyes are recognized to be new generation materials and have been actively developed. Molecular recognition systems provide nice approaches to novel CPL materials, such as stimuli-responsive switches and chemical sensing materials. CPL may be induced simply by mixing chiral or achiral, luminescent or nonluminescent host and guest; there are several combinations. Molecular recognition can potentially save time and effort to construct well-ordered chiral structures with noncovalent attractive interactions as compared with the multi-step synthesis of covalently bonded dyes. It is a challenging subject to engage molecular recognition events with CPL, and it is important and interesting to see how it is achieved. In fact, simple molecular recognition systems can even enable the fine adjustment of CPL performance and detailed conformational/configurational analysis of the excited state. Here we overview the recent achievements of simple host-guest complexes capable of exhibiting CPL, summarizing concisely the host/guest structures, CPL intensities, and characteristics., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)