Side-chain Double Bond Research Articles

Exploration and structure-based engineering of alkenal double bond reductases catalyzing the Cα[sbnd]Cβ double bond reduction of coniferaldehyde

Lignin, a complex aromatic polymer, represents a significant obstacle in lignocellulosic biomass utilization. The polymerization of lignin occurs by radical couplings, which mainly form ether and C–C bonds between monolignol units. The chemical stability of these bonds between monolignol units causes the recalcitrant nature of lignin. Since the Cα–Cβ double bond in the monolignols is a crucial chemical feature for the radical coupling, reduction of the double bond would decrease the degree of lignin polymerization, avoiding the recalcitrance of lignin. To develop a method of lignin engineering, we have focused on alkenal double bond reductases (DBR), which can reduce the Cα–Cβ double bond of a monolignol precursor. Here, a novel bacterial DBR from Parvibaculum lavamentivorans DS-1 (PlDBR) was found. This enzyme can reduce the side-chain double bond of coniferaldehyde (CALD) and has a 41% amino-acid sequence identity with CALD DBR from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtDBR). The crystal structure of the PlDBR showed that it has a larger substrate-binding pocket than AtDBR, conferring broader substrate specificity on the former. Structural and mutation analyses of PlDBR and AtDBR suggested that Tyr51 and Try252 are critical residues for the catalytic activity of PlDBR. In addition, Tyr81 of AtDBR appears to cause substrate inhibition. Replacing Tyr81 of AtDBR with a smaller amino-acid residue, as in the AtDBR variants Tyr81Leu and Tyr81Ala, resulted in a substantially higher CALD-reducing activity compared to the wild type. These variants would be promising candidates for lignin manipulation to decrease the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass.

Enhanced pyrolysis of palm kernel shell wastes to bio-based chemicals and syngas using red mud as an additive

In the present study, the red mud (RM, a waste from aluminium industry) was employed to catalyze the pyrolysis of palm kernel shell (PKS, a waste from palm oil generation industry) to produce bio-chemicals and syngas using a bench scale fixed bed reactor. The composition of the achieving bio-oil was determined by a GC/MS analyzer. The results show that RM could promote the conversion of PKS biochar and bio-oil to non-condensable gases during the pyrolysis process of PKS. The addition of RM enhanced the decomposition of oxygen-containing functional groups and double bonds in side chains on benzene rings, resulting in the formation of phenol and aromatics accounting for 85.61 area% in bio-oil. Moreover, the total energy-based yield of gaseous and liquid products reached up to 87% at 800 °C with a PKS/RM mass ratio of 1:1.8. The steam gasification reactivity of PKS biochar was also significantly improved with the addition of RM. The findings imply that RM is a promising additive that allows the utilization of PKS waste riched in lignin component to generate valuable products via pyrolysis.

OH-Initiated Reactions of para-Coumaryl Alcohol Relevant to the Lignin Pyrolysis. Part II. Kinetic Analysis.

Monolignols are precursor units and primary products of lignin pyrolysis. The currently available global (lumped) and semidetailed kinetic models, however, are lacking the comprehensive decomposition kinetics of these key intermediates in order to advance toward the fundamentally based detailed chemical-kinetic models of biomass pyrolysis. para-Coumaryl alcohol (HOPh-CH═CH-CH2OH, p-CMA) is the simplest of the three basic monolignols containing a typical side-chain double bond and both alkyl and phenolic type OH groups. The two other monomers additionally contain one and two methoxy groups, respectively, attached to the benzene ring. Previously, we developed a detailed fundamentally based mechanism for unimolecular decomposition of p-CMA (as well as its truncated allyl and cinnamyl alcohol models) and explored its reactivity toward H radicals generated during pyrolysis. The reactions of p-CMA with pyrolytic OH radicals is another set of key reactions particularly important for understanding the formation mechanisms of a wide variety of oxygenates in oxygen-deficit (anaerobic) conditions and the role of the lignin side groups in pyrolysis pathways. In Part I of the current study (J. Phys. Chem. A, 2019, 123, 2570-2585), we reported a detailed potential energy (enthalpy) surface analysis of the reaction OH + p-CMA with suggestions for a variety of chemically activated, unimolecular, and bimolecular reaction pathways. In Part II of our work, we provide a detailed kinetic analysis of the major reaction channels to evaluate their significance and possible impacts on product distributions. Temperature- and pressure-dependent rate constants are calculated using the quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel method and the master equation analysis for falloff and stabilization. Enthalpies of formation, entropies, and heat capacities are calculated using density functional theory and higher-level composite methods for stable molecules, radicals, and transition-state species. A significant difference between well depths for the chemically activated adduct radicals, [p-CMA-OH]*, is found for the α- and β-carbon addition reactions to generate the 1,3- and 1,2-diol radicals, respectively. This is due to the synergistic effect from conjugation of the proximal radical center with the aromatic ring and the strong H-bonding interaction between vicinal OH groups in the β-adduct (1,2-diol radical). Both adducts undergo isomerization and low-energy transformations, however, with different kinetic efficiencies because of the difference in stabilization energies. Reaction pathways include dissociation, intramolecular abstraction, atom and group transfers, and elimination. Of particular interest is a roaming-like low-energy dehydration reaction to form O-centered intermediate radicals. The kinetic analysis demonstrated the feasible formation of various products detected in pyrolysis experiments, suggesting that the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals can be a key process to form major products and complex oxygenates during lignin pyrolysis. Our preliminary experiments involving pyrolysis of the vaporized monomers support this basic statement. A novel mechanism for the formation of benzofuran, identified in experimentation, is also provided based on the potential conversions of hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde and corresponding isomers, which are kinetically favored products.

OH-Initiated Reactions of para-Coumaryl Alcohol Relevant to the Lignin Pyrolysis. Part III. Kinetics of H-Abstraction by H, OH, and CH3 Radicals

Lignin is the most complex component of biomass, and development of a detailed chemical kinetic model for biomass pyrolysis mainly relies on the understanding of the lignin decomposition kinetics. para-Coumaryl alcohol (p-CMA, HOPh-CH═CH-CH2OH), the focus of our analysis, is the simplest of the lignin monomers (monolignols) containing a typical side-chain double bond and both alkyl- and phenolic-type OH-groups. In parts I and II of our work (Asatryan, R. J. Phys. Chem. A 2019, 123, 2570-2585; Hudzik, J. M. J. Phys. Chem. A 2020, current issue), we created a detailed potential energy surface (PES) and performed a kinetic analysis of chemically activated, unimolecular, and bimolecular reactions pathways for p-CMA + OH. Reaction pathways analyzed include dissociation, intramolecular abstraction, group transfer, and elimination processes. The α- and β-carbon addition reactions generate 1,3- (RA1) and 1,2-diol (RB1) adduct radicals, respectively. Well depths are approximately 29 and 41 kcal/mol below the p-CMA + OH entrance level. Kinetic analysis aides in determining the major pathways for our conventional and fractional pyrolysis experiments. The current paper focuses on the H-abstraction reactions via H, OH, and CH3 light ("pool") radicals from p-CMA. The thermochemical properties of all stable, radical, and transition-state species were determined using the ωB97XD density functional theory (DFT) and higher-level CBS-QB3 composite methods. Barrier heights from the prereaction complexes, for OH-radical abstractions, to the transition states for the propanoid side chain are compared to the model H-abstraction reactions of allyl alcohol (AA) with OH and p-CMA with H and CH3 radicals. The lowest-energy, most stable, p-CMA radical formed is at the C9 allylic position (p-CMA-C9j) with exothermicity of 26.63, 41.32, and 27.34 kcal/mol for H, OH, and CH3, respectively. For OH-radical abstraction at this position, our findings are consistent with corresponding data on AA + OH at 37.44 kcal/mol and similar to that of RB1. A similar stable radical with an exothermicity of 34.95 kcal/mol occurs for the phenol hydroxyl group, generating the p-CMA-O4j radical. H-abstraction pathways are considered in relation to other major pathways previously considered for p-CMA + OH reactions including H-atom shifts, dehydration, and β-scission reactions. Derived rate coefficients for substituted phenols can be utilized in detailed kinetic models for lignin/biomass pyrolysis.

Synthesis and Some Chemical Transformations of Unsaturated Ketones of the Dihydropyran Series

Methods have been developed for the synthesis of unsaturated ketones of the dihydropyran series via aldolization-crotonization of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-carbaldehyde with some unsaturated ketones. Among the proposed methods, the optimal were reactions carried out in 20% alcoholic sodium hydroxide at room temperature, which ensured higher selectivity, high yield (85-95%) of the target products, and minimization of side processes. The obtained unsaturated ketones were subjected to various chemical transformations involving the side-chain double bond, and their new derivatives were synthesized. In particular, the oxidation of unsaturated ketones with 28% hydrogen peroxide gave the corresponding epoxy ketones which reacted with secondary amines to afford amino alcohols.

OH-Initiated Reactions of p-Coumaryl Alcohol Relevant to the Lignin Pyrolysis. Part I. Potential Energy Surface Analysis ⊥.

Cinnamyl alcohols such as p-coumaryl alcohol ( p-CMA) are lignin models and precursors (monolignols) and the most important primary products of lignin pyrolysis. However, the detection of monomers is not straightforward since they either undergo secondary transformations or repolymerize to contribute to the char formation. Both concerted-molecular and free-radical pathways are involved in these processes. Our recent fundamentally based theoretical and low-temperature matrix-isolation-EPR studies of cinnamyl alcohols highlighted the role of side-chain reactivity in diversity of pyrolysis products and provided a network of the chemically activated H + p-CMA reactions ( Asatryan J. Phys. Chem. A, 2017 , 121 , 3352 - 3371 ). The readily available hydroxyl radicals also can trigger a cascade of free-radical processes. Here, we present a comprehensive potential energy surface (PES) analysis of the OH + p-CMA reaction using various DFT and ab initio protocols. Since the p-CMA involves both an alkyl OH-group and a side-chain double bond, the title reaction can also serve as a relevant model for reactions of unsaturated alcohols with hydroxyl radicals to form various oxygenates including polyhydric alcohols which are abundant in nature. The newly identified pathways suggest certain alternatives to the known radical reactions. Of particular interest are the roaming-like low-energy dehydration reactions to generate a variety of O- and C-centered intermediate radicals, which are primarily transformed into the phenolic compounds observed in pyrolysis experiments. Several concerted unimolecular decomposition pathways for p-CMA are also revealed, not considered previously, such as the migration of terminal OH-group, and/or its splitting over the ipso-C and ortho-C atoms of the benzene ring to form bicyclic oxispiro- and chromene compounds represented in natural lignin.

Expression and characterization of a 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase from Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 capable of biotransforming isoeugenol and 4-vinylguaiacol to vanillin

A 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase gene from Serratia sp. ATCC 39,006 (SeNCED) was overexpressed in soluble form in E.coli. SeNCED showed the maximum activity at 30 °C and pH 8.0, and it was stable relatively at range of pH 5–10 and temperature of 20 °C to 30 °C. SeNCED effectively catalyzes the side chain double bond cleavage of isoeugenol and 4-vinylguaiacol to vanillin. The kinetic constant Km values toward isoeugenol and 4-vinylguaiacol were 18.92 mM and 6.31 mM and Vmax values were 50.73 IU/g and 4.77 IU/g, respectively. Moreover, the SeNCED exhibited an excellent organic solvent tolerance and the enzyme activity was substantially improved at presence of 10% of trichloromethane. The produced vanillin was achieved at an around 0.53 g/L (3.47 mM) and 0.33 g/L (2.17 mM) after 8 h reaction at 4 mM of isoeugenol and 4-vinylguaiacol, respectively, using transformed Escherichia coli cells harboring SeNCED in the presence of trichloromethane.

Comparison of Fast Pyrolysis Behavior of Cornstover Lignins Isolated by Different Methods

The effect of lignin isolation methods on lignin fast pyrolysis was investigated utilizing an online product analysis methodology to give high mass balance closure for the products. Lignin samples with high purity were isolated from cornstover using three methods: Bjorkman milling, organosolv extraction, and gamma-valerolactone (GVL) extraction. Although milled wood lignin has been extensively studied, characterization and the fast pyrolysis of milled cornstover lignin has not been previously reported. The current study shows that the milled cornstover lignin contains a higher molecular weight and more aryl ether linkages relative to organosolv and GVL extracted cornstover lignin. During fast pyrolysis, considerably more phenolics, especially those with side chain double bonds derived from aryl ether cleavage, were formed from the milled cornstover lignin concomitant with less char formation.

Solubility and Durability of Cardanol Derived Plasticizers for Soft PVC

Abstract The aim of this work is the analysis of the suitability of cardanol derivatives as primary plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Cardanol derived plasticizers (CDP) were obtained by acetylation of cardanol, followed by epoxidation of the side chain double bonds. The developed procedures allowed to achieve high yields of acetylated cardanol, whereas plasticizers characterized by different yields of epoxidation were obtained, according to the used synthesis procedure. Rheological analysis was used in order to study the gelation process of PVC plastisols with CDP. A comparison of commercial phthalate and natural derived plasticizers showed that the CDP are characterized by adequate gelation properties, involving a complete absorption of the plasticizers at relatively low temperatures. The gelation properties showed a strong dependence on the yield of the epoxidation. In particular, lower gelation temperatures, higher plasticizer absorption and faster gelation were observed for higher epoxy content in the plasticizer. Finally, ageing tests were performed on soft PVC produced by the CDP. The weight loss of soft PVC with CDP is comparable to that of commercial plasticizers, particularly at high yields of epoxidation.

ChemInform Abstract: Nucleophilic Additions to Polarized Vinylarenes.

Abstract The addition of nucleophiles to the terminal double bond carbon of a styrene incorporating an electron-withdrawing group at the ortho or para position has been studied. The conditions for this transformation have been optimized and structural modifications to the substrate have been explored. The structural changes included variation of the activating group on the aromatic ring and positioning substituents on the side chain double bond. The study revealed that nitro substitution gave the best results for addition of carbon and nitrogen nucleophiles. Cyano-substituted systems added carbon nucleophiles, but underwent polymerization or degradation with nitrogen nucleophiles. Ethoxycarbonyl-bearing substrates reacted primarily at the ester carbonyl. The reaction generally proceeded well with methyl on the α carbon of the double bond, but was slowed by methyl at the β position. The yields varied from 50% to 97% for 22 examples.

Nucleophilic additions to polarized vinylarenes

The addition of nucleophiles to the terminal double bond carbon of a styrene incorporating an electron-withdrawing group at the ortho or para position has been studied. The conditions for this transformation have been optimized and structural modifications to the substrate have been explored. The structural changes included variation of the activating group on the aromatic ring and positioning substituents on the side chain double bond. The study revealed that nitro substitution gave the best results for addition of carbon and nitrogen nucleophiles. Cyano-substituted systems added carbon nucleophiles, but underwent polymerization or degradation with nitrogen nucleophiles. Ethoxycarbonyl-bearing substrates reacted primarily at the ester carbonyl. The reaction generally proceeded well with methyl on the α carbon of the double bond, but was slowed by methyl at the β position. The yields varied from 50% to 97% for 22 examples.

Synthesis and Free Radical Copolymerization of a Vinyl Monomer from Soybean Oil

A one-step method that converts soybean oil into (acryloylamino)ethyl soyate, a new vinyl monomer of free radical polymerization, was developed. The synthesized monomer combines a vinyl double bond (acryloyl functional group) and nonconjugated (isolated) double bonds of fatty acids. The double bond of the acryloyl group is reactive in a free radical chain polymerization that yields linear macromolecules containing isolated double bonds in side chains. Monomer reactivity ratios (r1, r2) in copolymerization of the new soybean oil-based acrylic monomer (SBA) with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl acetate, as well as the Q–e parameters of the SBA, were determined. The obtained results indicate that copolymerization can be described with the classical Mayo–Lewis equation. In terms of polymerizability, the SBA can be classified as an acrylic monomer. The double bonds of the fatty acid chains remain mainly unaffected during the free radical polymerization. The remaining unsaturated fragments in the side ch...

Design, synthesis and in vitro cell-based evaluation of the anti-cancer activities of hispolon analogs

Phytochemicals play an important role in cancer therapy. Hispolon and 26 of its analogs (9 known and 17 new) were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities in a panel of six independent human cancer cell lines using the in vitro cell-based MTT assay. Among the hispolon analogs tested, compound VA-2, the most potent overall, produced its most significant effect in the colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 (IC50 1.4±1.3μM) and S1 (IC50 1.8±0.9μM) compared to its activity in the normal HEK293/pcDNA3.1 cell line (IC50 15.8±3.7μM; p<0.01 for each comparison). Based on our results, VA-2 was about 9- to 11-times more potent in colon cancer cells and 2- to 3-times more potent in prostate cancer cells compared to HEK293/pcDNA3.1 cells. Morphological analysis of VA-2 showed significant reduction of cell number, while the cells’ sizes were also markedly increased and were obvious at 68h of treatment with 1μM in HCT-116 (colon) and PC-3 (prostate) cancer cells. A known analog, compound VA-4, prepared by simple modifications on the aromatic functional groups of hispolon, inhibited prostate and colon cancer cell lines with IC50 values <10μM. In addition, hispolon isoxazole and pyrazole analogs, VA-7 and VA-15 (known), respectively, have shown significant activity with the mean IC50 values in the range 3.3–10.7μM in all the cancer cell lines tested. Activity varied among the analogs in which aromatic functional groups and β-diketone functional groups are modified. But the activity of analogs VA-16 to VA-27 was completely lost when the side chain double-bond was hydrogenated indicating the crucial role of this functionality for anticancer activity. Furthermore, many of the compounds synthesized were not substrates for the ABCB1-transporter, the most common cause of multidrug resistance in anti-cancer drugs, suggesting they may be more effective anticancer agents.

ChemInform Abstract: Facile Synthesis of 2‐Arylmethylindoles and 2‐Vinylic Indoles Through Palladium‐Catalyzed Heteroannulations of 2‐(2‐Propynyl)aniline and 2‐(2‐Propynyl)tosylanilide.

A facile method for the general synthesis of 2-arylmethylindoles has been developed through the reaction of 2-(2-propynyl)aniline or 2-(2-propynyl)tosylanilide with aryl iodides in the presence of Pd(OAc)2, PPh3, and DBU. 2-(2-Propynyl)tosylanilide is found to be reactive also towards electron deficient alkenes in the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and sodium iodide under an oxygen atmosphere, providing easy access to 2-vinylic indoles which possess exclusive E-stereochemistry in the side chain double bond. Operational simplicity, compatibility of the various functional groups, and ease of product formation are the hallmarks of these methods. A mechanism has been proposed to explain the product formation.

Some Multifunctional Methacrylic Polymers with Azobenzene Fragments and Free Double Bonds in Side Chains as Liquid Crystal Alignment Agents

Two series of polymers based on the polymethacrylic acid were obtained and investigation of their orientation ability was carried out: “azobenzene-containing” polymers; “azobenzene-oxyethylmethacrylate-containing” polymers. Under the action of actinic UV light photosensitive fragments of these materials are undergone the orientation and crosslinking due to trans-cis isomerization of azofragments and photopolymerization of free C˭C bonds. Liquid crystal photoalignment ability of these materials is investigated.

Facile synthesis of 2-arylmethylindoles and 2-vinylic indoles through palladium-catalyzed heteroannulations of 2-(2-propynyl)aniline and 2-(2-propynyl)tosylanilide

A facile method for the general synthesis of 2-arylmethylindoles has been developed through the reaction of 2-(2-propynyl)aniline or 2-(2-propynyl)tosylanilide with aryl iodides in the presence of Pd(OAc)2, PPh3, and DBU. 2-(2-Propynyl)tosylanilide is found to be reactive also towards electron deficient alkenes in the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and sodium iodide under an oxygen atmosphere, providing easy access to 2-vinylic indoles which possess exclusive E-stereochemistry in the side chain double bond. Operational simplicity, compatibility of the various functional groups, and ease of product formation are the hallmarks of these methods. A mechanism has been proposed to explain the product formation.

Thermal properties of bisitaconimide and bisbenzoxazine blends

Blends of cardanol-based bisbenzoxazine (BZc) and 4,4′-bisitaconimidodiphenyl ether (BIM) having nine different mass ratios (i.e. 100:0, 90:10, 75:25, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 25:75, 10:90 and 0:100) were prepared and their curing behaviour was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A curing mechanism comprising two-steps: (1) homopolymerization and co-curing reaction of itaconimide with alkyl side chain double bonds of cardanol BZc at lower temperature (~443 K) and (2) ring-opening polymerization of oxazine at higher temperature (~453–483 K) has been proposed. The T g of the cured resin blends was determined by DSC and the increase in BIM content in the blend resulted in an increase in T g from 408 K BZc to 474 K BIM. Increase in bisitaconimide content resulted in improvement of char yield at 1,073 K as well as an increase in mass loss temperatures (5 and 10 %). Compared to BZc, the blends showed a higher thermal stability. The lap shear strength of these blends in metal–metal joints was investigated at 323, 523 and 573 K.

Synthesis, isolation, stereostructure and cytotoxicity of paclitaxel analogs from cephalomannine

Four paclitaxel derivatives were afforded by preparative HPLC separation of two pairs of diastereoisomers, which were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation and epoxidation of the C-13 side-chain double bond of cephalomannine, a naturally occurring paclitaxel analog. The four paclitaxel derivatives were analyzed using NMR, CD spectroscopy, and side-chain hydrolysis in order to measure their optical rotations and GC characteristics. In this way, the stereoconfigurations of the products were determined. Evaluation of the compounds' activity indicated that they had differing cytotoxic activities: compound 5 had superior activity in BCG-823 tumor cells compared to paclitaxel, while compound 7 had superior activity in HCT-8 and A549 tumor cells compared to paclitaxel. These results indicate that the stereoconfiguration of the paclitaxel N-acyl side chain has a significant impact on its activity.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ СОСТАВА КАРДАНОЛА МЕТОДОМ ПОЛНОЙ ДВУМЕРНОЙ ГАЗОВОЙ ХРОМАТОГРАФИИ С ВРЕМЯПРОЛЕТНОЙ МАСС-СПЕКТРОМЕТРИЕЙ (GCXGC-TOF MS)

With the use of GCxGC-TOF MS technique qualitative and quantitative composition of a complicated material – cardanol was investigated. The presence of 33 substances belonging to 4 structural groups was established. Main constituents of cardanol produced by Southern Agro Phenols Limited (SAPL), Tamil Nadu state, India were found to be: 3-pentadecylphenol – 33,4%, 3-pentadecadienylphenol – 24,4%, 3-pentadecatrienylphenol – 33,5%. GC´GC method possess a brand new possibility on dividing components, which is very useful for isolating of individual substances varying in number of double bonds in side chains.

Thermal crosslinking of aromatic polyethers bearing pyridine groups for use as high temperature polymer electrolytes

Abstract New aromatic polyethers containing main chain polar pyridine groups, as well as crosslinkable side chain double bonds, have been synthesized employing various comonomers' ratios affording soluble high molecular weight copolymers. The new copolymers were characterized and thereafter subjected to thermal curing above the glass transition temperature without the use of crosslinking agent that successfully led to their crosslinked analogs. The properties of the crosslinked materials in respect to their potential use as high temperature polymer electrolytes were thoroughly investigated. All materials exhibit excellent film forming properties and advanced chemical and physicochemical properties with high oxidative stability, mechanical integrity, high glass transition temperatures ( T g even above 330 °C) and thermal stability up to 400 °C. The doping ability in phosphoric acid was decreased compared to the non-crosslinked copolymers. Despite the moderate phosphoric acid doping levels, in-situ conductivity reached values above 5×10 −2 S cm −1 . Polarization curves were obtained at temperatures up to 220 °C demonstrating their feasibility to be used as electrolytes for high temperature PEM fuel cells.