Synthesis of enantiopure, axially chiral, Cα-tetrasubstituted α-amino acids with binaphthyl-based crowned side chains and 3D-structural analysis of their peptides

Molecular Symmetry and Art: Visualizing the Near-Symmetry of Molecules in Piet Mondrian's De Stijl

Symmetry and shape are essential aspects of molecular structure and how we interpret molecules and their properties. We, as chemists, are comfortable with pictorial representations of structure, in which some nuance is lost-investigating molecular shape numerically by looking at how closely it fits a reference, such as a plane, or a set of vectors or coordinates, is informative, though far from engaging. Often relationships between chemical structure and derived values are obscured. Taking our inspiration from Piet Mondrian's Compositions, we have depicted the symmetry information encoded within 3D data as blocks of color, to show clearly how chemical arguments and resultant molecular distortion may contribute to symmetry. Great art gives us a new perspective on the world; as a pastiche, this art may allow us to look at familiar molecules, such as porphyrins, in a new light, understanding how their shape and properties are intertwined.

Synthesis of axially chiral amino acid and amino alcohols via additive-ligand-free Pd-catalyzed domino coupling reaction and subsequent transformations of the product amidoaza[5]helicene

Novel optically active axially chiral amino acid and amino alcohols have been synthesized efficiently via lactam ring-opening, with the aid of an optically active alcohol, amidoaza[5]helicene 5, which has been readily prepared by an additive-ligand-free Pd catalyzed domino coupling reaction in a single step. The stereostructures of these chiral molecules have also been clarified.

Recent Progress on the Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclic Quaternary alpha-Amino Acids

The most recent papers describing the stereoselective synthesis of cyclic quaternary alpha-amino acids are collected in this review. The diverse synthetic approaches are classified according to the size of the ring and taking into account the bond that is formed to complete the quaternary skeleton.