Preparation of single-enantiomer 2-methyl-4-heptanol, a pheromone of Metamasius hemipterus, using (S)-2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid

Characteristic conformation of Mosher's amide elucidated using the cambridge structural database

Conformations of the crystalline 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-methoxy-2-phenylpropanamide derivatives (MTPA amides) deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) were examined statistically as R_acid-enantiomers. The majority of dihedral angles (48/58, ca. 83%) of the amide carbonyl groups and the trifluoromethyl groups ranged from –30° to 0° with an average angle θ¹ of −13°. The other conformational properties were also clarified: (1) one of the fluorine atoms was antiperiplanar (ap) to the amide carbonyl group, forming a staggered conformation; (2) the MTPA amides prepared from primary amines showed a Z form in amide moieties; (3) in the case of the MTPA amide prepared from a primary amine possessing secondary alkyl groups (i.e., Mosher-type MTPA amide), the dihedral angles between the methine groups and the carbonyl groups were syn and indicative of a moderate conformational flexibility; (4) the phenyl plane was inclined from the O–C_chiral bond of the methoxy moiety with an average dihedral angle θ² of +21°; (5) the methyl group of the methoxy moiety was ap to the ipso-carbon atom of the phenyl group.

Naphthyl groups in chiral recognition: structures of salts and esters of 2-methoxy-2-naphthylpropanoic acids

The crystal structures of salt 8, which was prepared from (R)-2-methoxy-2-(2-naphthyl)propanoic acid ((R)-MβNP acid, (R)-2) and (R)-1-phenylethylamine ((R)-PEA, (R)-6), and salt 9, which was prepared from (R)-2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propanoic acid ((R)-MαNP acid, (R)-1) and (R)-1-(p-tolyl)ethylamine ((R)-TEA, (R)-7), were determined by X-ray crystallography. The MβNP and MαNP anions formed ion-pairs with the PEA and TEA cations, respectively, through a methoxy-group-assisted salt bridge and aromatic CH⋅⋅⋅π interactions. The networks of salt bridges formed 2(1) columns in both salts. Finally, (S)-(2E,6E)-(1-(2) H(1) )farnesol ((S)-13) was prepared from the reaction of (2E,6E)-farnesal (11) with deuterated (R)-BINAL-H (i.e., (R)-BINAL-D). The enantiomeric excess of compound (S)-13 was determined by NMR analysis of (S)-MαNP ester 14. The solution-state structures of MαNP esters that were prepared from primary alcohols were also elucidated.

The CH/π hydrogen bond in chemistry. Conformation, supramolecules, optical resolution and interactions involving carbohydrates

The CH/π hydrogen bond is an attractive molecular force occurring between a soft acid and a soft base. Contribution from the dispersion energy is important in typical cases where aliphatic or aromatic CH groups are involved. Coulombic energy is of minor importance as compared to the other weak hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bond nature of this force, however, has been confirmed by AIM analyses. The dual characteristic of the CH/π hydrogen bond is the basis for ubiquitous existence of this force in various fields of chemistry. A salient feature is that the CH/π hydrogen bond works cooperatively. Another significant point is that it works in nonpolar as well as polar, protic solvents such as water. The interaction energy depends on the nature of the molecular fragments, CH as well as π-groups: the stronger the proton donating ability of the CH group, the larger the stabilizing effect. This Perspective focuses on the consequence of this molecular force in the conformation of organic compounds and supramolecular chemistry. Implication of the CH/π hydrogen bond extends to the specificity of molecular recognition or selectivity in organic reactions, polymer science, surface phenomena and interactions involving proteins. Many problems, unsettled to date, will become clearer in the light of the CH/π paradigm.

Preparation of single-enantiomer biofunctional molecules with (S)-2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propanoic acid

(RS)-beta-Ionol and (RS)-2-methyl-4-octanol were resolved by using (S)-2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propanoic acid [(S)-MalphaNP acid]. The specific stereochemistry of each MalphaNP ester was elucidated by 2D NMR analyses, and shielding by the 1-naphthyl group was observed in both the 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra. Solvolysis of the individual (S)-MalphaNP esters gave four single-enantiomer alcohols. The normal-phase HPLC elution order of each MalphaNP ester is also discussed.

Enantioselective separation of racemic juvenile hormone III by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and preparation of [(2)H(3)]juvenile hormone III as an internal standard for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry quantification

Juvenile hormone III (JH III) racemate was prepared from methyl (2E,6E)-farnesoate via epoxidation with 3-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA). Enantioselective separation of JH III was conducted using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a chiral stationary phase. [(2)H(3)]Methyl (2E,6E)-farnesoate was also prepared from (2E,6E)-farnesoic acid and [(2)H(4)]methanol (methanol-d(4)) using 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP); the conjugated double bond underwent isomerization to some degree. Epoxidation of [(2)H(3)]methyl (2E,6E)-farnesoate with mCPBA gave a novel deuterium-substituted internal standard [(2)H(3)]JH III (JH III-d(3)). The standard curve was produced by linear regression using the peak area ratios of JH III and JH III-d(3) in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).