Isotopic Labeling Studies Research Articles

ChemInform Abstract: Regioselective Isomerization of 2,3‐Disubstituted Epoxides to Ketones: An Alternative to the Wacker Oxidation of Internal Alkenes.

We report an alternative pathway to the Wacker oxidation of internal olefins involving epoxidation of trans-alkenes followed by a mild and highly regioselective isomerization to give the major ketone isomers in 66–98% yield. Preliminary kinetics and isotope labeling studies suggest epoxide ring opening as the turnover limiting step in our proposed mechanism. A similar catalytic system was applied to the kinetic resolution of select trans-epoxides to give synthetically useful selectivity factors of 17–23 for benzyl-substituted substrates.

Superparamagnetic copper ferrite nanoparticles catalyzed aerobic, ligand-Free, regioselective hydroboration of alkynes: Influence of synergistic effect

We discovered a general and comprehensive approach for the regioselective hydroboration of terminal and internal alkynes to synthesize vinylboronates using inexpensive and magnetically separable copper ferrite nanoparticles at low catalyst loading using Bis(pinacolato)diboron in the absence of ligand and additives, under mild and greener conditions. A diverse range of functional groups was tolerated in the reaction, including allene and enones, and the corresponding boronates were obtained in high yields under air. Moreover, the assynthesized alkenylboronates were used as precursors to prepare wide variety of vinylorgano chalcogenides regioselectively, in high yields. The present protocol enable the conversion of CspH bonds to make Csp2B bonds via activation of BB bond, followed by formation of Csp2Se (Te or S) bonds via activation of Se (Te or S)- Se (Te or S) bonds in a regioselective manner. Deuterium isotope labeling studies showed that the proton source of vinyl boronate stem from the solvent employed.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Minimally Functionalized Alkenes: Isotopic Labeling Provides Insight into the Origin of Stereoselectivity and Alkene Insertion Preferences.

The asymmetric hydrogenation of cyclic alkenes lacking coordinating functionality with a C1-symmetric bis(imino)pyridine cobalt catalyst is described and has been applied to the synthesis of important substructures found in natural products and biologically active compounds. High activities and enantioselectivities were observed with substituted benzo-fused five-, six-, and seven-membered alkenes. The stereochemical outcome was dependent on both the ring size and exo/endo disposition. Deuterium labeling experiments support rapid and reversible 2,1-insertion that is unproductive for generating alkane product but accounts for the unusual isotopic distribution in deuterated alkanes. Analysis of the stereochemical outcome of the hydrogenated products coupled with isotopic labeling, stoichiometric, and kinetic studies established 1,2-alkene insertion as both turnover limiting and enantiodetermining with no evidence for erosion of cobalt alkyl stereochemistry by competing β-hydrogen elimination processes. A stereochemical model accounting for the preferred antipodes of the alkanes is proposed and relies on the subtle influence of the achiral aryl imine substituent on the cobalt catalyst.

Photoinitiated Reactivity of a Thiolate-Ligated, Spin-Crossover Nonheme {FeNO}(7) Complex with Dioxygen.

The nonheme iron complex, [Fe(NO)(N3PyS)]BF4, is a rare example of an {FeNO}(7) species that exhibits spin-crossover behavior. The comparison of X-ray crystallographic studies at low and high temperatures and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that a low-spin S = 1/2 ground state is populated at 0-150 K, while both low-spin S = 1/2 and high-spin S = 3/2 states are populated at T > 150 K. These results explain the observation of two N-O vibrational modes at 1737 and 1649 cm(-1) in CD3CN for [Fe(NO)(N3PyS)]BF4 at room temperature. This {FeNO}(7) complex reacts with dioxygen upon photoirradiation with visible light in acetonitrile to generate a thiolate-ligated, nonheme iron(III)-nitro complex, [Fe(III)(NO2)(N3PyS)](+), which was characterized by EPR, FTIR, UV-vis, and CSI-MS. Isotope labeling studies, coupled with FTIR and CSI-MS, show that one O atom from O2 is incorporated in the Fe(III)-NO2 product. The O2 reactivity of [Fe(NO)(N3PyS)]BF4 in methanol is dramatically different from CH3CN, leading exclusively to sulfur-based oxidation, as opposed to NO· oxidation. A mechanism is proposed for the NO· oxidation reaction that involves formation of both Fe(III)-superoxo and Fe(III)-peroxynitrite intermediates and takes into account the experimental observations. The stability of the Fe(III)-nitrite complex is limited, and decay of [Fe(III)(NO2)(N3PyS)](+) leads to {FeNO}(7) species and sulfur oxygenated products. This work demonstrates that a single mononuclear, thiolate-ligated nonheme {FeNO}(7) complex can exhibit reactivity related to both nitric oxide dioxygenase (NOD) and nitrite reductase (NiR) activity. The presence of the thiolate donor is critical to both pathways, and mechanistic insights into these biologically relevant processes are presented.

Catalytic dehydrogenation of 1,2- and 1,3-diols

Described are studies of the dehydrogenation of 1,2- and 1,3-diols in homogenous solutions catalyzed by {[2,5-diphenyl-3,4-ditoluyl-(η5-C4CO)]2H}Ru2(CO)4(μ-H) (otherwise known as the Casey/Shvo catalyst). Both in the presence and absence of a dihydrogen acceptor, these reactions led to the analogous α-hydroxyketone as the only organic product. Isotopic labeling studies indicate that this product arises from reversible dehydrogenation/hydrogenation reactions, resulting in formation of the thermodynamically favored α-hydroxyketone. When this catalytic dehydrogenation was carried out in the presence of the rhodium decarbonylation catalyst Rh(dppp)2Cl (dppp=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane), modest amounts of carbon monoxide result, suggesting that the dehydrogenation does generate at least some aldehydes that are intercepted by this catalyst. However, the efficiency of the latter reaction is poor.

Oxidative Deamination of N-Acetyl Neuraminic Acid: Substituent Effects and Mechanism.

A study of the mechanism of the oxidative deamination of the N-nitroso-N-acetyl sialyl glycosides leading with overall retention of configuration to the corresponding 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulopyranosidonic acid (KDN) glycosides is described, making use of a series of differentially O-protected N-nitroso-N-acetyl sialyl glycosides and of isotopic labeling studies. No evidence is found for stereodirecting participation by ester groups at the 4- and 7-positions. Comparisons are drawn with oxidative deamination reactions of 4-amino-4-deoxy and 2-amino-2-deoxy hexopyranosides and a common mechanism is formulated involving the intermediacy of 1-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl oxonium ions following participation by the pyranoside ring oxygen. A minor reaction pathway has been uncovered by labeling studies in the β-thiosialosides that results in the exchange of the 4-O-acetyl group by the glacial acetic acid that serves as external nucleophile in the general oxidative deamination process. A mechanism is proposed for this exchange involving participation by the thioglycoside at the level of an intermediate diazoalkane.

Ruthenium Catalyzed Intramolecular C-S Coupling Reactions: Synthetic Scope and Mechanistic Insight.

A ruthenium catalyzed intramolecular C-S coupling reaction of N-arylthioureas for the synthesis of 2-aminobenzothiazoles has been developed. Kinetic, isotope labeling, and computational studies reveal the involvement of an electrophilic ruthenation pathway instead of a direct C-H activation. Stereoelectronic effect of meta-substituents on the N-arylthiourea dictates the final regioselective outcome of the reaction.

Enantioselective Epoxidations of Olefins with Various Oxidants on Bioinspired Mn Complexes: Evidence for Different Mechanisms and Chiral Additive Amplification

It has been demonstrated that chiral manganese aminopyridine complexes [LMnII(OTf)2] are able to epoxidize olefins with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee, several examples) with various terminal oxidants (H2O2, alkyl hydroperoxides, peroxyacids, and iodosylarenes). The mechanisms of enantioselective olefin epoxidations on aminopyridine manganese(II) complexes [LMnII(OTf)2] with different oxidants are considered. The analysis of reaction products and epoxidation enantioselelctivity, Hammett correlations, and isotopic (18O) labeling studies bear evidence in favor of the formation of different oxidizing species in the presence of different terminal oxidants. The addition of cocatalytic additives (carboxylic acid or H2O) dramatically changes the catalytic behavior of catalyst systems Mn complex/hydrogen peroxide and Mn complex/alkyl hydroperoxide; in the presence of additives, the catalyst systems with H2O2 and alkyl hydroperoxides demonstrate very similar behaviors. Remarkably, in the presence of ...

Methanol synthesis via CO₂ hydrogenation over a Au/ZnO catalyst: an isotope labelling study on the role of CO in the reaction process.

Methanol synthesis for chemical energy storage, via hydrogenation of CO2 with H2 produced by renewable energies, is usually accompanied by the undesired formation of CO via the reverse water-gas shift reaction. Aiming at a better mechanistic understanding of methanol formation from CO2/H2 on highly selective supported Au/ZnO catalysts we have investigated the role of CO in the reaction process using isotope labelling experiments. Using (13)C-labelled CO2, we found for reaction at 5 bar and 240 °C that (i) the methanol formation rate is significantly higher in CO2-containing gas mixtures than in a CO2-free mixture and (ii) in mixtures containing both CO2 and CO methanol formation from CO increases with the CO content up to 1% CO, and then remains at 20% of the total methanol formation up to a CO2/CO ratio of 1/1, making CO2 the preferred carbon source in these mixtures. A shift in the preferred carbon source for MeOH from CO2 towards CO is observed with increasing reaction temperatures between 240 °C and 300 °C. At even higher temperatures CO is expected to become the dominant carbon source. The consequences of these findings for the application of Au/ZnO catalysts for chemical storage of renewable energies are discussed.

Unraveling innate substrate control in site-selective palladium-catalyzed C-H heterocycle functionalization.

Understanding the regioselectivity of C-H activation in the absence of directing groups is an important step towards the design of site-selective C-H functionalizations. The Pd(ii)-catalyzed direct arylation of chromones and enaminones provides an intriguing example where a simple substitution leads to a divergence in substrate-controlled site-selectivity. We describe computational and experimental studies which reveal this results from a switch in mechanism and therefore the selectivity-determining step. We present computational results and experimentally measured kinetic isotope effects and labelling studies consistent with this proposal. The C-H activation of these substrates proceeds via a CMD mechanism, which favors more electron rich positions and therefore displays a pronounced kinetic selectivity for the C3-position. However, C2-selective carbopalladation is also a competitive pathway for chromones so that the overall regiochemical outcome depends on which substrate undergoes activation first. Our studies provide insight into the site-selectivity based on the favorability of two competing CMD and carbopalladation processes of the substrates undergoing coupling. This model can be utilized to predict the regioselectivity of coumarins which are proficient substrates for carbopalladation. Furthermore, our model is able to account for the opposite selectivities observed for enaminone and chromone, and explains how a less reactive coupling partner leads to a switch in selectivity.

Activation of Si-H bonds across the nickel carbene bond in electron rich nickel PC(carbene)P pincer complexes.

Silicon-hydrogen bonds are shown to add to a nickel carbon double bond to yield nickel α-silylalkyl hydrido complexes. Kinetic and isotope labeling studies suggest that a concerted 4-centred addition across the Ni=C bond is operative rather than a mechanism involving Si-H oxidative addition. This constitutes an example of Si-H bond activation via ligand cooperativity.

Metabolome-Wide Analysis of Stable Isotope Labeling-Is It Worth the Effort?

Metabolome-Wide Analysis of Stable Isotope Labeling-Is It Worth the Effort?

Regioselective Isomerization of 2,3-Disubstituted Epoxides to Ketones: An Alternative to the Wacker Oxidation of Internal Alkenes

We report an alternative pathway to the Wacker oxidation of internal olefins involving epoxidation of trans-alkenes followed by a mild and highly regioselective isomerization to give the major ketone isomers in 66-98% yield. Preliminary kinetics and isotope labeling studies suggest epoxide ring opening as the turnover limiting step in our proposed mechanism. A similar catalytic system was applied to the kinetic resolution of select trans-epoxides to give synthetically useful selectivity factors of 17-23 for benzyl-substituted substrates.

Catalytic Role of Multinuclear Palladium-Oxygen Intermediates in Aerobic Oxidation Followed by Hydrogen Peroxide Disproportionation.

Aerobic oxidation of alcohols are catalyzed by the Pd-acetate compound [LPd(OAc)]2(OTf)2 (L = neocuproine = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) to form ketones and the release of hydrogen peroxide, but the latter rapidly undergoes disproportionation. We employ a series of kinetic and isotope labeling studies made largely possible by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to determine the role of intermediates in causing this complex chemical transformation. The data suggested that multiple catalytic paths for H2O2 disproportionation occur, which involve formation and consumption of multinuclear Pd species. We find that the trinuclear compound [(LPd)3(μ(3)-O)2](2+), which we have identified in a previous study, is a product of dioxygen activation that is formed during aerobic oxidations of alcohols catalyzed by [LPd(OAc)]2(OTf)2. It is also a product of hydrogen peroxide activation during disproportionation reactions catalyzed by [LPd(OAc)]2(OTf)2. The results suggest that this trinuclear Pd compound is involved in one of the simultaneous mechanisms for the reduction of oxygen and/or the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide during oxidation catalysis. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of hydrogen peroxide disproportionation reactions suggested the presence of other multinuclear Pd-O2 species in solution. Theoretical calculations of these compounds yield some insight into their structure and potential chemistry.

C-H Bond Oxidation Catalyzed by an Imine-Based Iron Complex: A Mechanistic Insight.

A family of imine-based nonheme iron(II) complexes (LX)2Fe(OTf)2 has been prepared, characterized, and employed as C-H oxidation catalysts. Ligands LX (X = 1, 2, 3, and 4) stand for tridentate imine ligands resulting from spontaneous condensation of 2-pycolyl-amine and 4-substituted-2-picolyl aldehydes. Fast and quantitative formation of the complex occurs just upon mixing aldehyde, amine, and Fe(OTf)2 in a 2:2:1 ratio in acetonitrile solution. The solid-state structures of (L1)2Fe(OTf)(ClO4) and (L3)2Fe(OTf)2 are reported, showing a low-spin octahedral iron center, with the ligands arranged in a meridional fashion. (1)H NMR analyses indicate that the solid-state structure and spin state is retained in solution. These analyses also show the presence of an amine-imine tautomeric equilibrium. (LX)2Fe(OTf)2 efficiently catalyze the oxidation of alkyl C-H bonds employing H2O2 as a terminal oxidant. Manipulation of the electronic properties of the imine ligand has only a minor impact on efficiency and selectivity of the oxidative process. A mechanistic study is presented, providing evidence that C-H oxidations are metal-based. Reactions occur with stereoretention at the hydroxylated carbon and selectively at tertiary over secondary C-H bonds. Isotopic labeling analyses show that H2O2 is the dominant origin of the oxygen atoms inserted in the oxygenated product. Experimental evidence is provided that reactions involve initial oxidation of the complexes to the ferric state, and it is proposed that a ligand arm dissociates to enable hydrogen peroxide binding and activation. Selectivity patterns and isotopic labeling studies strongly suggest that activation of hydrogen peroxide occurs by heterolytic O-O cleavage, without the assistance of a cis-binding water or alkyl carboxylic acid. The sum of these observations provides sound evidence that controlled activation of H2O2 at (LX)2Fe(OTf)2 differs from that occurring in biomimetic iron catalysts described to date.

CH Bond Activation of Methane by a Transient η(2)-Cyclopropene/Metallabicyclobutane Complex of Niobium.

This study challenges the problem of the activation of a CH bond of methane by soluble transition metal complexes. High pressure solution NMR, isotopic labeling studies, and kinetic analyses of the degenerate exchange of methane in the methyl complex [Tp(Me2)NbCH3(c-C3H5)(MeCCMe)] (1) are reported. Stoichiometric methane activation by the mesitylene complex [Tp(Me2)Nb(CH2-3,5-C6H3Me2)(c-C3H5) (MeCCMe)] (2) giving 1 is also realized. Evidence is provided that these reactions proceed via an intramolecular abstraction of a β-H of the cyclopropyl group to form either methane or mesitylene from 1 or 2, respectively, yielding the transient unsaturated η(2)-cyclopropene/metallabicyclobutane intermediate [Tp(Me2)Nb(η(2)-c-C3H4) (MeCCMe)] A. This is followed by its mechanistic reverse 1,3-CH bond addition of methane yielding the product.

Roles of water and dissolved oxygen in photocatalytic generation of free OH radicals in aqueous TiO2 suspensions: An isotope labeling study

In this work, the photocatalytic generation of free OH radicals (OHfree) in aqueous TiO2 suspensions was studied using an 18O isotope labeling and a “remote” photocatalysis approach. A probe compound, 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene (TCB), was adsorbed in pores of silica gel (SG) microparticles and, by this, was shielded from the direct hole oxidation. Penetration of the TiO2 particles (25nm in size) to the TCB, adsorbed in the SG pores, was blocked due to a small size of the SG pores (4nm). Therefore, the “remote” degradation of the TCB was solely driven by OHfree, and this allowed us to selectively determine the quantum yield of the OHfree generation. The isotope labeling with 18O has demonstrated that the major pathway of the OHfree formation is the direct hole oxidation of H2O, whereas the reduction of dissolved O2 by photogenerated electrons contributes in less than 5% of the total amount of OHfree. Nevertheless, the latter pathway becomes more important if holes are scavenged. This work sheds light on the intrinsic roles of photogenerated holes and electrons in the mechanism of the OHfree formation in aqueous TiO2 photocatalysis.

Mechanism of N,N,N-Amide Ruthenium(II) Hydride Mediated Acceptorless Alcohol Dehydrogenation: Inner-Sphere β-H Elimination versus Outer-Sphere Bifunctional Metal–Ligand Cooperativity

The reversible transformations between ketones and alcohols via sequential hydrogenation–dehydrogenation reactions are efficiently achieved using a single precatalyst HRu(bMepi)(PPh3)2 (bMepi = 1,3-bis(6′-methyl-2′-pyridylimino)isoindolate). The catalytic mechanism of HRu(bMepi)(PPh3)2 mediated acceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation (AAD) has been investigated by a series of kinetic and isotopic labeling studies, isolation of intermediates, and evaluation of Ru(b4Rpi)(PPh3)2Cl (R = H, Me, Cl, OMe, OH) complexes. Two limiting dehydrogenation scenarios are interrogated: inner-sphere β-H elimination and outer-sphere bifunctional double hydrogen transfer. Isotopic labeling experiments demonstrated that the proton and hydride transfer in a stepwise manner. Catalyst modifications suggest that the imine group on the bMepi pincer scaffold is not necessary for catalytic alcohol dehydrogenation. Evaluation of the kinetic experiments and catalyst modifications suggests a pathway whereby HRu(bMepi)(PPh3)2 operates via ...

Abstract 1204: Design of phenotype-driven flux analysis approach for personalized metabolic models of cancer patients

Abstract It is well established that departure from healthy and tightly-controlled metabolism is a hallmark of cancer and hence, studying these metabolic changes can help us gain useful therapeutic insights. Several mathematical methodologies have been developed to quantify these changes to better understand metabolic adaptations in tumor cells. However, they (i) do not consider different genetic profiles and protein signatures leading to diversity among cancer patients and (ii) do not mimic biological interactions between metabolism and cancer phenotypes (such as chemo-resistance, infinite growth potential and invasive capacities). To successfully deconstruct metabolic and phenotypic links in tumorigenesis, we have developed a novel mathematical framework. First, to achieve patient-specificity we have devised a technique for reconstructing metabolic models that integrate high-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic data using a biased random-walk algorithm. The NetWalker software effectively implements this technique to score interactions between genes and proteins based on their expression levels and connectivity with each other and their metabolic targets. These scores are then used to identify contextually important sub-networks of the central carbon metabolism. Our reconstruction of the OVCAR-3 metabolic network independently identifies metabolic features in low-invasive ovarian cancers as highlighted in previously published literature and recent discoveries in our lab. These personalized models are then used to estimate phenotypically-consistent intracellular metabolic fluxes, with our novel metabolic flux analysis technique. Our approach is designed on the rationale that cancer cells regulate metabolism to maintain multiple phenotypic functions by optimally using the limited nutrients available in their environments. We quantitatively show via correlation studies and principal component analyses on NCI-60 and CCLE cell-lines’ gene-expression data that certain phenotypes are inherently competitive. This competition is manifested in metabolic functions, which is effectively modeled using our 13C-Multiobjective Metabolic Flux Analysis (13C-MOMFA) tool. It utilizes genome-scale metabolic models by integrating high-throughput omics data, along with measurements from metabolic assays and 13-Carbon (13C) stable isotope-labeled tracer studies, to quantify fluxes in cancer cells. Our approach is the first to connect cancer metabolism to their malignant phenotype - a crucial step to discover the metabolic underpinnings of cancer pathology. It also captures the heterogeneity in cancer cells and patients, hence providing a useful framework for targeted therapy. Citation Format: Abhinav Achreja, Lifeng Yang, Tyler Moss, Vasudha Sehgal, Juan Marini, Prahlad T. Ram, Deepak Nagrath. Design of phenotype-driven flux analysis approach for personalized metabolic models of cancer patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1204. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1204

Dioxygen Activation by an in situ Reduced Cu II Hydrazone Complex

A CuII hydrazone complex has been synthesized that can be reduced in situ in boiling methanol to give the corresponding CuI complex. The latter complex readily activates dioxygen under ambient conditions, as was unambiguously shown by isotopic labeling studies. As a consequence of the dioxygen activation, the thienyl moiety appended to the hydrazone ligand is easily oxidized in β position (C–H C–O), finally leading to a change in the coordination environment of the central metal ion. All relevant complexes have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The hydrazone ligand applied in this study does not mimic a biologically relevant coordination motif in copper-containing oxygenases. Nonetheless, the reactivity of the CuI complex resembles that found in many oxygenases, indicating that hydrazone ligands may be well-suited for the generation of novel bioinspired oxidation catalysts.