Stereoretentive C-H bond activation in the aqueous phase catalytic hydrogenation of amino acids to amino alcohols

Hydrogenation of Carboxylic Acids, Esters, and Related Compounds over Heterogeneous Catalysts: A Step toward Sustainable and Carbon-Neutral Processes

The catalytic hydrogenation of esters and carboxylic acids represents a fundamental and important class of organic transformations, which is widely applied in energy, environmental, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries. Due to the low reactivity of the carbonyl group in carboxylic acids and esters, this type of reaction is, however, rather challenging. Hence, specifically active catalysts are required to achieve a satisfactory yield. Nevertheless, in recent years, remarkable progress has been made on the development of catalysts for this type of reaction, especially heterogeneous catalysts, which are generally dominating in industry. Here in this review, we discuss the recent breakthroughs as well as milestone achievements for the hydrogenation of industrially important carboxylic acids and esters utilizing heterogeneous catalysts. In addition, related catalytic hydrogenations that are considered of importance for the development of cleaner energy technologies and a circular chemical industry will be discussed in detail. Special attention is paid to the insights into the structure-activity relationship, which will help the readers to develop rational design strategies for the synthesis of more efficient heterogeneous catalysts.

Catalytic Production of Functional Monomers from Lysine and Their Application in High-Valued Polymers

Lysine is a key raw material in the chemical industry owing to its sustainability, mature fermentation process and unique chemical structure, besides being an important nutritional supplement. Multiple commodities can be produced from lysine, which thus inspired various catalytic strategies for the production of these lysine-based chemicals and their downstream applications in functional polymer production. In this review, we present a fundamental and comprehensive study on the catalytic production process of several important lysine-based chemicals and their application in highly valued polymers. Specifically, we first focus on the synthesis process and some of the current industrial production methods of lysine-based chemicals, including ε-caprolactam, α-amino-ε-caprolactam and its derivatives, cadaverine, lysinol and pipecolic acid. Second, the applications and prospects of these lysine-based monomers in functional polymers are discussed such as derived poly (lysine), nylon-56, nylon-6 and its derivatives, which are all of growing interest in pharmaceuticals, human health, textile processes, fire control and electronic manufacturing. We finally conclude with the prospects of the development of both the design and synthesis of new lysine derivatives and the expansion of the as-synthesized lysine-based monomers in potential fields.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Stereoselective Deuteration of Benzylic C-H Bonds via Reversible η6 -Coordination

We report a convenient method for benzylic H/D exchange of a wide variety of substrates bearing primary, secondary, or tertiary C-H bonds via a reversible η⁶ -coordination strategy. A doubly cationic [Cp^CF3 Rh^III ]²⁺ catalyst that serves as an arenophile facilitates deprotonation of inert benzylic hydrogen atoms (pK_a >40 in DMSO) without affecting other hydrogen atoms, such as those on aromatic rings or in α-positions of carboxylate groups. Notably, the H/D exchange reactions feature high stereoretention. We demonstrated the potential utility of this method by using it for deuterium labeling of ten pharmaceuticals and their analogues.

A general, versatile and divergent synthesis of selectively deuterated amines

Deuterated organic molecules are of utmost importance in many areas of science and have been recently intensively investigated in medicinal chemistry due to their enhanced metabolic stability. The development of efficient and broadly applicable methods for the selective incorporation of deuterium atoms into organic molecules from readily available starting materials and reagents is therefore of extreme importance. Such methods however often lack generality and selectivity, notably in the nitrogen series. With nitrogen-containing molecules being indeed ubiquitous in medicinal chemistry, there is a strong need for efficient methods enabling the selective synthesis of deuterated amines. In this perspective, we report herein a general, versatile, divergent and metal-free synthesis of amines selectively deuterated at their α and/or β positions. Upon simple treatment of readily available ynamides with a mixture of triflic acid and triethylsilane, either deuterated or not, a range of amines can be smoothly obtained with high levels of deuterium incorporation by a unique sequence involving a domino keteniminium/iminium activation.

A general, versatile, divergent and metal-free synthesis of amines selectively deuterated at their α and/or β positions and relying on a simple treatment of ynamides with triflic acid and triethylsilane, either deuterated or not, is reported.

Trends in the Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange at the Carbon Centers. Preparation of Internal Standards for Quantitative Analysis by LC-MS

The application of internal standards in quantitative and qualitative bioanalysis is a commonly used procedure. They are usually isotopically labeled analogs of the analyte, used in quantitative LC-MS analysis. Usually, ²H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹⁸O isotopes are used. The synthesis of deuterated isotopologues is relatively inexpensive, however, due to the isotopic effect of deuterium and the lack of isotopologue co-elution, usually they are not considered as good internal standards for LC-MS quantification. On the other hand, the preparation of ¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹⁸O containing standards of drugs and their metabolites requires a complicated multistep de novo synthesis, starting from the isotopically labeled substrates, which are usually expensive. Therefore, there is a strong need for the development of low-cost methods for isotope-labeled standard preparations for quantitative analysis by LC-MS. The presented review concentrates on the preparation of deuterium-labeled standards by hydrogen−deuterium exchange reactions at the carbon centers. Recent advances in the development of the methods of isotopologues preparation and their application in quantitative analysis by LC-MS are evaluated.

Nanocatalyzed Hydrogen Isotope Exchange

Recently, hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reactions have experienced impressive development due to the growing importance of isotope containing compounds in various fields including materials and life sciences, in addition to their classical use for mechanistic studies in chemistry and biology. Tritium-labeled compounds are also of crucial interest to study the in vivo fate of a bioactive substance or in radioligand binding assays. Over the past few years, deuterium-labeled drugs have been extensively studied for the improvement of ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) properties of existing bioactive molecules as a consequence of the primary kinetic isotope effect. Furthermore, in the emergent "omic" fields, the need for new stable isotopically labeled internal standards (SILS) for quantitative GC- or LC-MS analyses is increasing. Because of their numerous applications, the development of powerful synthetic methods to access deuterated and tritiated molecules with either high isotope incorporation and/or selectivities is of paramount importance.HIE reactions allow a late-stage incorporation of hydrogen isotopes in a single synthetic step, thus representing an advantageous alternative to conventional multistep synthesis approaches which are time- and resource-consuming. Moreover, HIE reactions can be considered as the most fundamental C-H functionalization processes and are therefore of great interest for the chemists' community. Depending on the purpose, HIE reactions must either be highly regioselective or allow a maximal incorporation of hydrogen isotopes, sometimes both. In this context, metal-catalyzed HIE reactions are generally performed using either homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis which may have considerable drawbacks including an insufficient isotope incorporation and a lack of chemo- and/or regioselectivity, respectively.Over the past 6 years, we have shown that nanocatalysis can be considered as a powerful tool to access complex labeled molecules (e.g., pharmaceuticals, peptides and oligonucleotides) via regio- and chemoselective or even enantiospecific labeling processes occurring at the surface of metallic nanoclusters (Ru or Ir). Numerous heterocyclic (both saturated and unsaturated) and acyclic scaffolds have been labeled with an impressive functional group tolerance, and highly deuterated compounds or high molar activity tritiated drugs have been obtained. An insight into mechanisms has also been provided by theoretical calculations to explain the regioselectivities of the isotope incorporation. Our studies have suggested that undisclosed key intermediates, including 4- and 5-membered dimetallacycles, account for the particular regioselectivities observed during the process, in contrast to the 5- or 6-membered metallacycle key intermediates usually encountered in homogeneous catalysis. These findings together with the important number of available coordination sites explain the compelling reactivity of metal nanoparticles, in between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. They represent innovative tools combining the advantages of both methods for the isotopic labeling and activation of C-H bonds of complex molecules.

Chemoselective H/D exchange catalyzed by nickel nanoparticles stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

With this work, we report the synthesis and full characterization of nickel nanoparticles (NPs) stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, namely 1,3-bis(cyclohexyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazol-2-ylidene (ICy) and 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazol-2-ylidene (IMes). Although the resulting NPs have the same size, they display different magnetic properties and different reactivities, which result from ligand effects. In the context of H/D exchange on pharmaceutically relevant heterocycles, Ni@NHC shows a high chemoselectivity, avoiding the formation of undesired reduced side-products and enabling a variety of H/D exchange on nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds. Using 2-phenylpyridine as a model substrate, it was observed that deuteration occurred preferably at the α position of the nitrogen atom, which is the most accessible position for the C-H activation. In addition, Ni@IMes NPs are also able to fully deuterate the ortho positions of the phenyl substituents.

Synthesis of Enantioenriched α-Deuterated α-Amino Acids Enabled by an Organophotocatalytic Radical Approach

A mild, versatile organophotoredox protocol has been developed for the preparation of diverse, enantioenriched α-deuterated α-amino acids. Distinct from the well-established two-electron transformations, this radical-based strategy offers the unrivaled capacity of the convergent unification of readily accessible feedstock carboxylic acids and a chiral methyleneoxazolidinone fragment and the simultaneous highly diastereo-, chemo-, and regioselective incorporation of deuterium. Furthermore, the approach has addressed the long-standing challenge of the installation of sterically demanding side chains into α-amino acids.

σ-H-H, σ-C-H, and σ-Si-H Bond Activation Catalyzed by Metal Nanoparticles

Activation of H-H, Si-H, and C-H bonds through σ-bond coordination has grown in the past 30 years from a scientific curiosity to an important tool in the functionalization of hydrocarbons. Several mechanisms were discovered via which the initially σ-bonded substrate could be converted: oxidative addition, heterolytic cleavage, σ-bond metathesis, electrophilic attack, etc. The use of metal nanoparticles (NPs) in this area is a more recent development, but obviously nanoparticles offer a much richer basis than classical homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for tuning reactivity for such a demanding process as C-H functionalization. Here, we will review the surface chemistry of nanoparticles and catalytic reactions occurring in the liquid phase, catalyzed by either colloidal or supported metal NPs. We consider nanoparticles prepared in solution, which are stabilized and tuned by polymers, ligands, and supports. The question we have addressed concerns the differences and similarities between molecular complexes and metal NPs in their reactivity toward σ-bond activation and functionalization.

Protein-Rich Biomass Waste as a Resource for Future Biorefineries: State of the Art, Challenges, and Opportunities

Protein-rich biomass provides a valuable feedstock for the chemical industry. This Review describes every process step in the value chain from protein waste to chemicals. The first part deals with the physicochemical extraction of proteins from biomass, hydrolytic degradation to peptides and amino acids, and separation of amino acid mixtures. The second part provides an overview of physical and (bio)chemical technologies for the production of polymers, commodity chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other fine chemicals. This can be achieved by incorporation of oligopeptides into polymers, or by modification and defunctionalization of amino acids, for example, their reduction to amino alcohols, decarboxylation to amines, (cyclic) amides and nitriles, deamination to (di)carboxylic acids, and synthesis of fine chemicals and ionic liquids. Bio- and chemocatalytic approaches are compared in terms of scope, efficiency, and sustainability.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Stereoretentive Hydrogen Isotope Exchange of C(sp3)-H Bonds

Cobalt dialkyl complexes bearing α-diimine ligands proved to be active precatalysts for the nondirected, C(sp3)-H selective hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) of alkylarenes using D2 gas as the deuterium source. Alkylarenes with a variety of substitution patterns and heteroatom substituents on the arene ring were successfully labeled, enabling high levels of incorporation into primary, secondary, and tertiary benzylic C(sp3)-H bonds. In some cases, the HIE proceeded with high diastereoselectivity and application of the cobalt-catalyzed method to enantioenriched substrates with benzylic stereocenters provided enantioretentive hydrogen isotope exchange at tertiary carbons.

Controlled defunctionalisation of biobased organic acids

Considerable progress has been made in the field of hydrogenation, decarboxylation and deamination of both citric and amino acids to valuable chemicals, which is why they should be (re)considered as valid biobased platform chemicals.

High-effective approach from amino acid esters to chiral amino alcohols over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst and its catalytic reaction mechanism

Developing the high-efficient and green synthetic method for chiral amino alcohols is an intriguing target. We have developed the Mg(2+)-doped Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst for hydrogenation of L-phenylalanine methyl ester to chiral L-phenylalaninol without racemization. The effect of different L-phenylalanine esters on this title reaction was studied, verifying that Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 is an excellent catalyst for the hydrogenation of amino acid esters to chiral amino alcohols. DFT calculation was used to study the adsorption of substrate on the catalyst, and showed that the substrate adsorbs on the surface active sites mainly by amino group (-NH2) absorbed on Al2O3, and carbonyl (C=O) and alkoxy (RO-) group oxygen absorbed on the boundary of Cu and Al2O3. This catalytic hydrogenation undergoes the formation of a hemiacetal intermediate and the cleavage of the C-O bond (rate-determining step) by reacting with dissociated H to obtain amino aldehyde and methanol ad-species. The former is further hydrogenated to amino alcohols, and the latter desorbs from the catalyst surface.

Enantiospecific C-H Activation Using Ruthenium Nanocatalysts

The activation of C-H bonds has revolutionized modern synthetic chemistry. However, no general strategy for enantiospecific C-H activation has been developed to date. We herein report an enantiospecific C-H activation reaction followed by deuterium incorporation at stereogenic centers. Mechanistic studies suggest that the selectivity for the α-position of the directing heteroatom results from a four-membered dimetallacycle as the key intermediate. This work paves the way to novel molecular chemistry on nanoparticles.

Effect of biogenic fermentation impurities on lactic acid hydrogenation to propylene glycol

The effect of residual impurities from glucose fermentation to lactic acid (LA) on subsequent ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogenation of LA to propylene glycol (PG) is examined. Whereas refined LA feed exhibits stable conversion to PG over carbon-supported ruthenium catalyst in a trickle bed reactor, partially refined LA from fermentation shows a steep decline in PG production over short (<40 h) reaction times followed by a further slow decay in performance. Addition of model impurities to refined LA has varying effects: organic acids, sugars, or inorganic salts have little effect on conversion; alanine, a model amino acid, results in a strong but reversible decline in conversion via competitive adsorption between alanine and LA on the Ru surface. The sulfur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine irreversibly poison the catalyst for LA conversion. Addition of 0.1 wt% albumin as a model protein leads to slow decline in rate, consistent with pore plugging or combined pore plugging and poisoning of the Ru surface. This study points to the need for integrated design and operation of biological processes and chemical processes in the biorefinery in order to make efficient conversion schemes viable.

Microbial Synthesis of the Energetic Material Precursor 1,2,4-Butanetriol

The lack of a route to precursor 1,2,4-butanetriol that is amenable to large-scale synthesis has impeded substitution of 1,2,4-butanetriol trinitrate for nitroglycerin. To identify an alternative to the current commercial synthesis of racemic d,l-1,2,4-butanetriol involving NaBH4 reduction of esterified d,l-malic acid, microbial syntheses of d- and l-1,2,4-butanetriol have been established. These microbial syntheses rely on the creation of biosynthetic pathways that do not exist in nature. Oxidation of d-xylose by Pseudomonas fragi provides d-xylonic acid in 70% yield. Escherichia coli DH5alpha/pWN6.186A then catalyzes the conversion of d-xylonic acid into d-1,2,4-butanetriol in 25% yield. P. fragi is also used to oxidize l-arabinose to a mixture of l-arabino-1,4-lactone and l-arabinonic acid in 54% overall yield. After hydrolysis of the lactone, l-arabinonic acid is converted to l-1,2,4-butanetriol in 35% yield using E. coli BL21(DE3)/pWN6.222A. As a catalytic route to 1,2,4-butanetriol, microbial synthesis avoids the high H2 pressures and elevated temperatures required by catalytic hydrogenation of malic acid.