The Chemistry of Hydroxamic Acids andN-Hydroxyimides

Mechanistic snapshots of rhodium-catalyzed acylnitrene transfer reactions

Rhodium acylnitrene complexes are widely implicated in catalytic C-H amidation reactions but have eluded isolation and structural characterization. To overcome this challenge, we designed a chromophoric octahedral rhodium complex with a bidentate dioxazolone ligand, in which photoinduced metal-to-ligand charge transfer initiates catalytic C-H amidation. X-ray photocrystallographic analysis of the Rh-dioxazolone complex allowed structural elucidation of the targeted Rh-acylnitrenoid and provided firm evidence that the singlet nitrenoid species is primarily responsible for acylamino transfer reactions. We also monitored in crystallo reaction of a nucleophile with the in situ generated Rh-acylnitrenoid, providing a crystallographically traceable reaction system to capture mechanistic snapshots of nitrenoid transfer.

Synthesis and application of thiocarbamates via thiol-dioxazolone modified Lossen rearrangement

Thiocarbamates afforded from thiol-dioxazolone modified Lossen rearrangement under mild conditions were further applied to prepare polythiocarbamates with self-healing properties.

Lossen Rearrangement of p-Toluenesulfonates of N-Oxyimides in Basic Condition, Theoretical Study, and Molecular Docking

The sulfonic esters of N-oxyimides are a group of compounds with a wide range of biological activities, as well as a unique reactivity toward amines. They undergo this reaction with primary amines and other nucleophilic reagents according to a Lossen-like rearrangement. The reaction is initiated by nucleophilic attack on a carbonyl group in the succinimide ring followed by isocyanate formation, which next interacts with another nucleophile molecule forming an addition product (e.g., ureido or urethane derivative). However, the secondary amines are also susceptible to other reactions leading to products containing the maleimide ring formed by sulphonic acid elimination. In the case of tertiary amines, this reaction is predominant. To explain the phenomenon of the reactivity of the N- oxyimides toward different types of amines, we employed various spectroscopic and X-ray approaches as well as DFT calculation. Results suggest that the basicity of the amine used for the reaction plays a crucial role in the reaction mechanism that eventually dominates the entire chemical process. Moreover, we applied molecular docking to investigate the ability of the products to act as serine protease inhibitors using human leukocyte elastase (HLE).

Implantable HDAC-inhibiting chemotherapeutics derived from hydrophobic amino acids for localized anticancer therapy

Epigenetic targeting of different cancers by inhibiting particular histone deacetylase (HDAC) isozymes is a promising treatment approach against cancer. Development of locally-implantable molecular inhibitors of HDAC (henceforth called HDACi) promises high tumour site concentration and reduced systemic degradation of the HDACi. Herein, we report the design of such implantable HDACi based on amphiphilic derivatives of hydrophobic amino acids endowed with a hydroxamic acid (hxa)-based zinc-binding residue. The amino acids present in HDACi influenced the HDAC isozyme that could be inhibited most effectively; the l-phenylalanine derivative 4e inhibited the HDAC6 isozyme most potently (IC50 ∼ 88 nM), while the l-isoleucine derivative 4h was most effective against the isozyme HDAC2 (IC50 ∼ 94 nM). We also noticed that the l-Phe derivative 4e was up to 5× more potent towards inhibiting HDAC6 than its optical antipode 4f derived from d-Phe. This was rationalized in terms of the varying extent of penetration of the enantiomeric inhibitors inside the catalytic tunnel of the enzyme. Since the isozymes HDAC6 and HDAC2 are overexpressed in different cancer cells, 4e and 4h elicited selective anticancer activity in different cancer cell lines. Additive therapeutic action of the combination therapy of 4e and 4h was observed on lung cancer cells that overexpress both these isozymes. Further, 4e formed implantable self-assembled hydrogels that achieved sustained and selective killing of cancer cells in the vicinity of implantation.

Direct C-H bond halogenation and pseudohalogenation of hydrocarbons mediated by high-valent 3d metal-oxo species

Late-stage direct functionalization of the C-H bond is synthetically desirable. Metalloenzymes having metal-oxo active sites are well known to selectively catalyze hydroxylation and halogenation reactions with high efficiency. This review highlights the recent developments in the field of direct C-H halogenation and pseudohalogenation reactions catalyzed by the functional models of metalloenzymes.

Structure-Property Relationship Study of N-(Hydroxy)Peptides for the Design of Self-Assembled Parallel β-Sheets

The design of novel and functional biomimetic foldamers remains a major challenge in creating mimics of native protein structures. Herein, we report the stabilization of a remarkably short β-sheet by incorporating N-(hydroxy)glycine (Hyg) residues into the backbone of peptides. These peptide-peptoid hybrids form unique parallel β-sheet structures by self-assembly upon hydrogenation. Our spectroscopic and crystallographic data suggest that the local conformational perturbations induced by N-(hydroxy)amides are outweighed by a network of strong interstrand hydrogen bonds.

Synthesis of Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives Using Blocked (Masked) O-Isocyanate Precursors

Hydroxamic acids are present in a several pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Synthetic strategies providing access to hydroxamic acid derivatives remain limited, typically requiring the use of nucleophilic hydroxylamine reagents. Herein, a synthesis of hydroxamates from unactivated carboxylic acids is reported making use of rare blocked (masked) O-substituted isocyanates. The applicability of this transformation was highlighted by targeting the synthesis of vorinostat and belinostat derivatives.

Fully Renewable Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes via the Lossen Rearrangement

In this work, a straightforward and efficient synthesis approach to renewable non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) is described. For this purpose, suitable and renewable carbamate monomers, possessing two double bonds, are synthesized from hydroxamic fatty acid derivatives via the Lossen rearrangement in a one-step synthesis, and sustainable dithiols are synthesized from dialkenes derived from renewable feedstock (i.e., limonene and 1,4-cyclohexadiene). Subsequently, the comonomers are polymerized with the highly efficient thiol-ene reaction to produce NIPUs with M_n values up to 26 kg mol^-1 bearing thioether linkages. The main side product of the Lossen rearrangement, a symmetric urea, can also be polymerized in the same fashion. Important in the view of sustainability, the monomer mixture can also be used directly, without separation. The obtained polymers are characterized by NMR, attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and size exclusion chromatography.

Hydroxamic Acid: An Underrated Moiety? Marrying Bioinorganic Chemistry and Polymer Science

Even 150 years after their discovery, hydroxamic acids are mainly known as the starting material for the Lossen rearrangement in textbooks. However, hydroxamic acids feature a plethora of existing and potential applications ranging from medical purposes to materials science, based on their excellent complexation properties. This underrated functional moiety can undergo a broad variety of organic transformations and possesses unique coordination properties for a large variety of metal ions, for example, Fe(III), Zn(II), Mn(II), and Cr(III). This renders it ideal for biomedical applications in the field of metal-associated diseases or the inhibition of metalloenzymes, as well as for the separation of metals. Considering their chemical stability and reactivity, their biological origin and both medical and industrial applications, this Perspective aims at highlighting hydroxamic acids as highly promising chelators in the fields of both medical and materials science. Furthermore, the state of the art in combining hydroxamic acids with a variety of polymer structures is discussed and a perspective regarding their vast potential at the interface of bioinorganic and polymer chemistry is given.

Synthesis, characterization, and biological properties of oxidovanadium(IV) complexes of acetylsalicylhydroxamic acid (N-acetyloxy-2-hydroxybenzamide) as potential antimicrobials

New oxidovanadium(IV) complexes of composition [VO(AcSHA)2] 1 and [VO(acac)(AcSHA)] 2 are synthesized by reactions of VOSO4.5H2O and [VO(acac)2] with acetylsalicylhydroxamic acid AcSH2A (C6H4(OH)(CONHOCOCH3)) in a 1:2 molar ratio in absolute ethanol. The compounds are characterized by the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, and mass spectrometry along with elemental analyses, molar conductivity, and magnetic moment measurements. The infrared spectra of the complexes suggest bonding through carbonyl and phenolic oxygen atoms (O,O coordination). The magnetic moment, electron spin resonance, and mass spectra of the complexes indicate that both exist as monomers, and a distorted square pyramidal geometry around vanadium is proposed. The thermal behavior of the complexes is studied by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis techniques under an N2 atmosphere, yielding VO2 as the decomposition product. The in vitro antimicrobial assays against pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi (minimum inhibitory concentration method) show the appreciable antimicrobial potential relative to the respective standard drugs, tetracycline hydrochloride, and fluconazole.

Synthesis, Characterisation, and Biological Properties of Oxidovanadium(IV) 3,5-Dinitrosalicylhydroxamate Complexes

The new oxidovanadium(iv) complexes of composition [VO(3,5(NO2)2C6H2(OH)CONHO)2] 1 and [VO(acac)(3,5(NO2)2C6H2(OH)CONHO)] 2 (where acac=(CH3COCHCOCH3)–] have been synthesised by the reactions of VOSO4·5H2O and [VO(acac)2] with potassium 3,5-dinitrosalicylhydroxamate (3,5-(NO2)2SHK) and characterised by elemental analyses, molar conductivity, magnetic moment measurements and FT-IR, UV-vis, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. Infrared spectra of complexes have indicated bonding through oxygen atoms of carbonyl and hydroxamic groups (O,O coordination). The magnetic moment, ESR, and mass spectra of the complexes suggested their monomeric nature, and a distorted square-pyramidal geometry around the vanadium has tentatively been proposed. The electrochemical behaviour of 1 and 2 has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. Thermal behaviour of the complexes studied by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis techniques has yielded VO2 as the decomposition product. The invitro antimicrobial activity of the ligand and complexes has been assayed against pathogenic bacteria and fungi by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. The invitro antioxidant activity of the complexes has been determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method.

Configurations of lead(II)-benzohydroxamic acid complexes in colloid and interface: A new perspective

Lead(II)-benzohydroxamic acid (Pb-BHA) complex collectors perform well with respect to scheelite flotation, and, due to their structure, they are widely used for industrial purposes. This paper examines the controversial issue of whether "O, O" five-membered ring or "N, O" four-membered ring complexes are formed when BHA coordinates with Pb ions, with their structure being comprehensively studied from the aspect of colloid and interface science. The configurations of Pb-BHA complexes are examined in a solution and on a mineral surface with experimental and computational methods. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) revealed that the five-membered ring is the dominant form of Pb-BHA complexes in a solution, whereas four-membered ring complexes are the stronger electron acceptor of the two. Moreover, XPS and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) confirmed that the four-membered ring complexes are stable with respect to being adsorbed on the scheelite surface. Therefore, although the four-membered ring is not as stable as the five-membered ring in a solution, it offers advantages with respect to adsorption on an electron-rich mineral surface during short-flotation processes.

A general concept for the introduction of hydroxamic acids into polymers

Polyethers (PEG) with hydroxamic acid groups enable chelation of a variety of metal ions, coating of metal oxide surfaces and stabilization of nanoparticles. In contrast to catechol, hydroxamic acids are oxidation stable and biocompatible.

Hydroxamic acids (HA) form stable complexes with a large variety of metal-ions, affording hydroxamates with high complexation constants. Hydroxamic acid moieties play a crucial role in the natural iron metabolism. In this work, 1,4,2-dioxazoles linked to a hydroxyl group are introduced as key compounds for the installation of hydroxamic acids at synthetic polymers in well-defined positions. A general synthetic scheme is developed that gives access to a series of novel functional key building blocks that can be universally used to obtain hydroxamic acid-based monomers and polymers, for instance as protected HA-functional initiators or for the synthesis of a variety of novel HA-based monomers, such as epoxides or methacrylates. To demonstrate the excellent stability of the dioxazole-protected hydroxamic acids, direct incorporation of the dioxazole-protected hydroxamic acids into polyethers is demonstrated via oxyanionic polymerization. Convenient subsequent deprotection is feasible under mild acidic conditions. α-Functional HA-polyethers, i.e. poly ethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and polyglycerol based on ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and ethoxy ethyl glycidyl ether, respectively are prepared with low dispersities (<1.2) in the molecular weight range of 1000 to 8500 g mol^–1. Water-soluble hydroxamic acid functional poly(ethylene glycol) (HA-PEG) is explored for a variety of biomedical applications and surface coating. Complexation of Fe(iii) ions, coating of various metal surfaces, enabling e.g., solubilization of FeO_x nanoparticles by HA-PEGs, are presented. No impact of the polyether chain on the chelation properties was observed, while significantly lower anti-proliferative effects were observed than for deferoxamine. HA-PEGs show the same complexation behavior as their low molecular weight counterparts. Hydroxamic acid functional polymers are proposed as an oxidatively stable alternative to the highly established catechol-based systems.

One stone two birds: cobalt-catalyzed in situ generation of isocyanates and benzyl alcohols for the synthesis of N-aryl carbamates

An efficient method for the synthesis of N-aryl carbamates from N-Boc-protected amines has been developed. The cobalt-catalyzed in situ generation of isocyanates from N-Boc-protected amines and benzyl alcohols from benzyl formates has been achieved for the first time, which in turn furnished the corresponding benzyl carbamates in moderate to high yields. The reaction was catalyzed by CoI₂ with tris-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-phosphine as the ligand and zinc powder as the reductant. The developed reaction conditions were found to be compatible for aromatic amines with both electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents.

Consecutive Lossen rearrangement/transamidation reaction of hydroxamic acids under catalyst- and additive-free conditions

The Lossen rearrangement is a classic process for transforming activated hydroxamic acids into isocyanate under basic or thermal conditions. In the current report we disclosed a consecutive Lossen rearrangement/transamidation reaction in which unactivated hydroxamic acids were converted into N-substituted formamides in a one-pot manner under catalyst- and additive-free conditions. One feature of this novel transformation is that the formamide plays triple roles in the reaction by acting as a readily available solvent, a promoter for additive-free Lossen rearrangement, and a source of the formyl group in the final products. Acyl groups other than formyl could also be introduced into the product when changing the solvent to other low molecular weight aliphatic amide derivatives. The solvent-promoted Lossen rearrangement was better understood by DFT calculations, and the intermediacy of isocyanate and amine was supported well by experiments, in which the desired products were obtained in excellent yields under similar conditions. Not only monosubstituted formamides were synthesized from hydroxamic acids, but also N,N-disubstituted formamides were obtained when secondary amines were used as precursors.

Recovery of the polymers formed during thermal cracking of N-substituted dicarbamates over Fe–Ni/Al2O3

Regenerated carbamate from the thermal cracking polymers via the alcoholysis reaction in the presence of ethyl carbamate.

Electrochemically induced oxidative S–O coupling: synthesis of sulfonates from sulfonyl hydrazides and N-hydroxyimides or N-hydroxybenzotriazoles

A variety of sulfonates were synthesized from sulfonyl hydrazides and N-hydroxy compounds via electrochemically induced oxidative S–O bond formation.

The Lossen rearrangement from free hydroxamic acids

During more than a century, the Lossen rearrangement was supposed to occur exclusively in the presence of stochiometric amount of activating reagents. Very recently, it was demonstrated that the Lossen rearrangement can take place directly from free hydroxamic acids offering a renewal of interest for this reaction.

The Curtius rearrangement: mechanistic insight and recent applications in natural product syntheses

The Curtius rearrangement is a versatile reaction in which a carboxylic acid can be converted to an isocyanate through an acyl azide intermediate under mild conditions. The resulting stable isocyanate can then be readily transformed into a variety of amines and amine derivatives including urethanes and ureas. There have been wide-ranging applications of the Curtius rearrangement in the synthesis of natural products and their derivatives. Also, this reaction has been extensively utilized in the synthesis and application of a variety of biomolecules. In this review, we present mechanistic studies, chemical methodologies and reagents for the synthesis of isocyanates from carboxylic acids, the conversion of isocyanates to amines and amine derivatives, and their applications in the synthesis of bioactive natural products and their congeners.

Amide-forming chemical ligation via O-acyl hydroxamic acids

The facile rearrangement of "S-acyl isopeptides" to native peptide bonds via S,N-acyl shift is central to the success of native chemical ligation, the widely used approach for protein total synthesis. Proximity-driven amide bond formation via acyl transfer reactions in other contexts has proven generally less effective. Here, we show that under neutral aqueous conditions, "O-acyl isopeptides" derived from hydroxy-asparagine [aspartic acid-β-hydroxamic acid; Asp(β-HA)] rearrange to form native peptide bonds via an O,N-acyl shift. This process constitutes a rare example of an O,N-acyl shift that proceeds rapidly across a medium-size ring (t_1/2 ∼ 15 min), and takes place in water with minimal interference from hydrolysis. In contrast to serine/threonine or tyrosine, which form O-acyl isopeptides only by the use of highly activated acyl donors and appropriate protecting groups in organic solvent, Asp(β-HA) is sufficiently reactive to form O-acyl isopeptides by treatment with an unprotected peptide-^αthioester, at low mM concentration, in water. These findings were applied to an acyl transfer-based chemical ligation strategy, in which an unprotected N-terminal Asp(β-HA)-peptide and peptide-^αthioester react under aqueous conditions to give a ligation product ultimately linked by a native peptide bond.

5-Membered cyclic ethers via phenonium ion mediated cyclization through carbonate chemistry

Cyclization of 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenol via DMC chemistry in acidic conditions is herein discussed for the first time. Reaction conditions have been investigated and optimized. This substrate is quite appealing as it incorporates a 2-hydroxyethyl moiety in ortho to the aromatic hydroxyl group capable of stabilizing the related phenonium ion. When the reaction mechanism was investigated via theoretical calculations, the results suggest that the most favorable pathway encompasses a DMC-mediated formation of the phenonium ion that is converted into the 2-(2-methoxyethyl)phenol. The related cyclic ether is then formed via intramolecular cyclization of this intermediate. This peculiar cyclization reaction is another example of the versatility of DMC herein used as solvent, methoxycarbonylation agent and leaving group in the intramolecular cyclization leading to the phenonium ion.

Catalytic substitution/cyclization sequences of O-substituted Isocyanates: synthesis of 1-alkoxybenzimidazolones and 1-alkoxy-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2(1H)-ones

O-Substituted isocyanates (O-isocyanates) have rarely been used in organic synthesis, given their tendency to undergo side reactions (e.g., trimerization). Herein, we show that masked (blocked) O-isocyanate precursors allow one-pot or cascade reaction sequences featuring base-catalyzed substitution with 2-iodoanilines and 2-iodobenzylamines followed by copper-catalyzed cyclization, to form benzimidazolones and 3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2(1H)-ones. This work shows that O-isocyanates can serve as efficient building blocks for the synthesis of hydroxylamine-containing heterocycles.

Alkyl Isocyanates via Manganese-Catalyzed C-H Activation for the Preparation of Substituted Ureas

Organic isocyanates are versatile intermediates that provide access to a wide range of functionalities. In this work, we have developed the first synthetic method for preparing aliphatic isocyanates via direct C-H activation. This method proceeds efficiently at room temperature and can be applied to functionalize secondary, tertiary, and benzylic C-H bonds with good yields and functional group compatibility. Moreover, the isocyanate products can be readily converted to substituted ureas without isolation, demonstrating the synthetic potential of the method. To study the reaction mechanism, we have synthesized and characterized a rare Mn^IV-NCO intermediate and demonstrated its ability to transfer the isocyanate moiety to alkyl radicals. Using EPR spectroscopy, we have directly observed a Mn^IV intermediate under catalytic conditions. Isocyanation of celestolide with a chiral manganese salen catalyst followed by trapping with aniline afforded the urea product in 51% enantiomeric excess. This represents the only example of an asymmetric synthesis of an organic urea via C-H activation. When combined with our DFT calculations, these results clearly demonstrate that the C-NCO bond was formed through capture of a substrate radical by a Mn^IV-NCO intermediate.

Revisiting a Classic Transformation: A Lossen Rearrangement Initiated by Nitriles and "Pseudo-Catalytic" in Isocyanate

The direct conversion of a hydroxamic acid to an amine has been accomplished in a single step in the synthesis of HIV drug candidate BMS-955176. This process utilizes catalytic base and proceeds under mild conditions (CH₃CN, cat. DBU, 60 °C), without the need for strong electrophiles required for typical Lossen rearrangements, and can be applied to aliphatic and aromatic hydroxamic acids. Through investigation of the kinetics of this transformation, a mechanism was revealed involving a novel initiation pathway and a self-propagation cycle. The initiation pathway involves activation of hydroxamic acid by nitriles and subsequent Lossen rearrangement to generate the corresponding isocyanate. The isocyanate functions as a "pseudo-catalyst" for this system, leading to generation of product through a second Lossen rearrangement and regeneration of a new isocyanate molecule. Thorough mechanistic understanding allowed for this highly efficient process to be implemented on a 55 kg scale in 95.5% isolated yield.

Emerging Developments Using Nitrogen-Heteroatom Bonds as Amination Reagents in the Synthesis of Aminoarenes

Aminoarenes constitute valuable building blocks in organic synthesis and an essential skeleton ubiquitously found in ligands, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. This Synopsis presents recent amination methods using nitrogen-heteroatom bonds as a powerful and versatile platform to rapidly synthesize diverse aminoarenes, with a focus on aryne amino functionalization and transition-metal-catalyzed arene C-H amination.

An Exceptionally Facile Two-Step Structural Isomerization and Detoxication via a Water-Assisted Double Lossen Rearrangement

N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI), which is best known as an organocatalyst for efficient C-H activation, has been found to be oxidized by quinoid compounds to its corresponding catalytically active nitroxide-radical. Here, we found that NHPI can be isomerized into isatoic anhydride by an unusually facile two-step method using tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (TCBQ, p-chloranil), accompanied by a two-step hydrolytic dechlorination of highly toxic TCBQ into the much less toxic dihydroxylation product, 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (chloranilic acid). Interestingly, through the complementary application of oxygen-18 isotope-labeling, HPLC combined with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight and high resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometric studies, we determined that water was the source and origin of oxygen for isatoic anhydride. Based on these data, we proposed that nucleophilic attack with a subsequent water-assisted Lossen rearrangement coupled with rapid intramolecular addition and cyclization in two consecutive steps was responsible for this unusual structural isomerization of NHPI and concurrent hydroxylation/detoxication of TCBQ. This is the first report of an exceptionally facile double-isomerization of NHPI via an unprecedented water-assisted double-Lossen rearrangement under normal physiological conditions. Our findings may have broad implications for future research on hydroxamic acids and polyhalogenated quinoid carcinogens, two important classes of compounds of major chemical and biological interest.

Synthesis of Secondary Unsaturated Lactams via an Aza-Heck Reaction

The preparation of unsaturated secondary lactams via the palladium-catalyzed cyclization of O-phenyl hydroxamates onto a pendent alkene is reported. This method provides rapid access to a broad range of lactams that are widely useful building blocks in alkaloid synthesis. Mechanistic studies support an aza-Heck-type pathway.

Systematic Investigation of EDC/sNHS-Mediated Bioconjugation Reactions for Carboxylated Peptide Substrates

1-Ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide (EDC) bioconjugations have been utilized in preparing variants for medical research. While there have been advances in optimizing the reaction for aqueous applications, there has been limited focus toward identifying conditions and side reactions that interfere with product formation. We present a systematic investigation of EDC/N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (sNHS)-mediated bioconjugations on carboxylated peptides and small proteins. We identified yet-to-be-reported side products arising from both the reagents and substrates. Model peptides used in this study illustrate particular substrates are more susceptible to side reactions than others. From our studies, we found that bioconjugations are more efficient with high concentrations of amine nucleophile but not sNHS. Performing bioconjugations on a model affibody protein show that the trends established with model peptides hold for more complex systems.

Benzoic hydroxamate-based iron complexes as model compounds for humic substances: synthesis, characterization and algal growth experiments

Benzoic hydroxamate-based monomeric and dimeric Fe(iii) complexes has been investigated as humic acid models. The stability in pure water and seawater was monitored and the ability to release iron has been examined with the algae feeding trials.

A base-mediated self-propagative Lossen rearrangement of hydroxamic acids for the efficient and facile synthesis of aromatic and aliphatic primary amines

A variety of aromatic and aliphatic hydroxamic acids were converted to the corresponding primary amines via base-mediated rearrangement.

Exploration of the labeling of [11C]tubastatin A at the hydroxamic acid site with [11C]carbon monoxide

We aimed to label tubastatin A (1) with carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min) in the hydroxamic acid site to provide a potential radiotracer for imaging histone deacetylase 6 in vivo with positron emission tomography. Initial attempts at a one-pot Pd-mediated insertion of [(11)C]carbon monoxide between the aryl iodide (2) and hydroxylamine gave low radiochemical yields (<5%) of [(11) C]1. Labeling was achieved in useful radiochemical yields (16.1 ± 5.6%, n = 4) through a two-step process based on Pd-mediated insertion of [(11)C]carbon monoxide between the aryl iodide (2) and p-nitrophenol to give the [(11)C]p-nitrophenyl ester ([(11)C]5), followed by ultrasound-assisted hydroxyaminolysis of the activated ester with excess hydroxylamine in a DMSO/THF mixture in the presence of a strong phosphazene base P1-t-Bu. However, success in labeling the hydroxamic acid group of [(11)C]tubastatin A was not transferable to the labeling of three other model hydroxamic acids.

Conformational and structural studies of N-methylacetohydroxamic acid and of its mono- and bis-chelated uranium(VI) complexes

The thermodynamics and kinetics of the cis/trans isomerism of N-methylacetohydroxamic acid (NMAH) and its conjugated base (NMA(-)) have been reinvestigated in aqueous media by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Hindered rotation around the central C-N bond due to electronic delocalization becomes slow enough on the NMR time scale to observe both rotamers in equilibrium in D2O at room temperature. By properly assigning the methyl group resonances, evidence for the prevalence of the E over the Z form is unambiguously provided [K300=[E]/[Z]=2.86(2) and 9.63(5) for NMAH and NMA(-), respectively], closing thereby a long-lasting dispute about the most stable conformer. To that end, calculations of the chemical shifts by density functional theory (DFT), which accurately reproduced the experimental data, turned out to be a much more reliable method than the direct computation of the relative energy for each conformer. The Z ⇌ E interconversion dynamics was probed at 300 K in D2O by 2D exchange-correlated spectroscopy (EXSY), affording the associated rate constants [kZE=9.0(2) s(-1) and kEZ=3.14(5) s(-1) for NMAH, kZE=0.96(3) s(-1) and kEZ=0.10(2) s(-1) for NMA(-)] and activation barriers at 300 K [ΔG(≠)ZE=68.0 kJ mol(-1) and ΔG(≠)EZ=70.6 kJ mol(-1) for NMAH, ΔG(≠)ZE=73.6 kJ mol(-1) and ΔG(≠)EZ=79.2 kJ mol(-1) for NMA(-)]. For the first time, mono- and bis-chelated uranium(VI) complexes of NMA(-) have been isolated. Crystals of [UO2(NMA)(NO3)(H2O)2] and [UO2(NMA)2(H2O)] have been characterized by X-ray diffractometry, infrared and Raman spectroscopies.

4-Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) promoted solvent-free diversity-oriented synthesis of primary carbamates, S-thiocarbamates and ureas

A simple and efficient solvent-free preparation of primary carbamates, S-thiocarbamates and ureas from alcohols, phenols, thiols and amines in the presence of 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, as a cheap and green Brønsted acid, has been described.