Aurelia Falcicchio

EXPO2013: a kit of tools for phasing crystal structures from powder data

EXPO2013, the heir of EXPO2009, has been enriched by a variety of new algorithms and graphical tools aiming at strengthening the individual steps of the powder structure solution pathway. Particular attention has been addressed to the procedures devoted to improving structural models provided by direct methods in ab initio approaches. In addition, a new procedure has been implemented, working in direct space, which may be chosen by the user as an alternative to the traditional simulated annealing algorithm.

Direct observation of a lithiated oxirane: a synergistic study using spectroscopic, crystallographic, and theoretical methods on the structure and stereodynamics of lithiated ortho-trifluoromethyl styrene oxide

α-Lithiated epoxides, long considered “fleeting” intermediates in the reactions of epoxides with strong bases, have nowadays proven to be key synthons for asymmetric synthesis. In this study, the solution and the solid state structure of an α-lithiated aryloxirane, namely α-lithiated ortho-trifluoromethyl styrene oxide (1-Li), were determined. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 1-Li performed at 100 K applying the X-TEMP-2 device revealed a self-assembled heterochiral dimeric structure with a rare central six-membered (O–Li–C)2 planar core, which is unprecedented in Li/oxygen carbenoids. Multinuclear magnetic resonance (1H, 13C, 19F, 7Li) studies suggested that 1-Li exists in THF solution as a mixture of two interconverting diastereomeric dimeric aggregates, each one featuring a single σ-contact between lithium and a carbon atom. Line shape analysis provided activation parameters for both the dynamic interconversion of the two dimers and the enantiomerisation of 1-Li, which proved to be mostly entropy controlled. The structural assignment in solution was supported by density functional theory computations through the investigation of conformers of monomeric and dimeric complexes of 1-Li featuring different degrees of specific solvation. A mechanism based on the equilibration of six-membered homo- and heterochiral dimers was proposed to explain the configurational instability exhibited by 1-Li in THF.

Preparation of Polysubstituted Isochromanes by Addition of ortho-Lithiated Aryloxiranes to Enaminones

The reaction of ortho-lithiated aryloxiranes with various enaminones straightforwardly affords new functionalized isochromanes as mixtures of two epimeric stereoisomers in reasonable to very good yields (50-90%). The two diastereomers, which show a high structural variability, can be easily separated by column chromatography.

Novel muscarinic acetylcholine receptor hybrid ligands embedding quinuclidine and 1,4-dioxane fragments

To obtain novel muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonists, the enantiomers of the hybrid compounds 3-5, in which the quinuclidin-3-yloxy fragment of solifenacin and the 6,6-diphenyl-1,4-dioxane-2-yl moiety of 2 linked by an ester or ether spacer were embedded in the same chemical entity, were prepared and evaluated for their affinity at the five mAChR subtypes (M1-M5). Stereochemistry and the nature of the linker between the quinuclidine moiety and the 1,4-dioxane nucleus play an important role on the affinities of the compounds. The presence of an ether bridge confers higher affinities for all mAChR subtypes to the ligand. Interestingly, the ether enantiomer (R,S)-5 shows the highest affinity at all mAChR subtypes with pKi values similar to that of solifenacin at M3 and higher at the other subtypes. Unlike solifenacin, it shows a preference for M1 mAChR subtype with respect to the other subtypes. This compound, lacking a permanent positive charge on the nitrogen atom, can be a useful tool for the pharmacological study of mAChRs in the central nervous system.

TiO2@PEI-Grafted-MWCNTs Hybrids Nanocomposites Catalysts for CO2 Photoreduction

Anatase (TiO2) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes bearing polyethylenimine (PEI) anchored on their surface were hybridized in different proportions according to a sol-gel method. The resulting nanocomposites (TiO2@PEI-MWCNTs), characterized by BET, XRD, XPS, SEM, and UV techniques, were found efficient catalysts for CO2 photoreduction into formic and acetic acids in water suspension and under visible light irradiation. PEI-grafted nanotubes co-catalysts are believed to act as CO2 activators by forming a carbamate intermediate allowing to accomplish the first example in the literature of polyamines/nanotubes/TiO2 mediated CO2 photoreduction to carboxylic acids.