Auxiliadora Prieto

Kumada-Tamao-Corriu coupling of heteroaromatic chlorides and aryl ethers catalyzed by (IPr)Ni(allyl)Cl.

The complex (IPr)Ni(allyl)Cl (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolidene) catalyzes the cross-coupling reactions of heteroaromatic chlorides with aryl Grignard reagents. Catalyst loadings as low as 0.1 mol % have been used to afford the products in excellent yields. This nickel-based catalytic system also promotes the activation of the C(Ar)-O bond of anisoles in the Kumada-Tamao-Corriu reaction under fairly mild conditions.

A holistic view of polyhydroxyalkanoate metabolism in Pseudomonas putida

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) metabolism has been traditionally considered as a futile cycle involved in carbon and energy storage. The use of cutting-edge technologies linked to systems biology has improved our understanding of the interaction between bacterial physiology, PHA metabolism and other cell functions in model bacteria such as Pseudomonas putida KT2440. PHA granules or carbonosomes are supramolecular complexes of biopolyester and proteins that are essential for granule segregation during cell division, and for the functioning of the PHA metabolic route as a continuous cycle. The simultaneous activities of PHA synthase and depolymerase ensure the carbon flow to the transient demand for metabolic intermediates to balance the storage and use of carbon and energy. PHA cycle also determines the number and size of bacterial cells. The importance of PHAs as nutrients for members of the microbial community different to those that produce them is illustrated here via examples of bacterial predators such as Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus that prey on PHA producers and produces specific extra-cellular depolymerases. PHA hydrolysis confers Bdellovibrio ecological advantages in terms of motility and predation efficiency, demonstrating the importance of PHA producers predation in population dynamics. Metabolic modulation strategies for broadening the portfolio of PHAs are summarized and their properties are compiled.

Synthesis, structural characterization, reactivity, and catalytic properties of copper(I) complexes with a series of tetradentate tripodal tris(pyrazolylmethyl)amine ligands.

Novel tris(pyrazolylmethyl)amine ligands Tpa(Me3), Tpa*(,Br), and Tpa(Br3) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The coordination chemistries of these three new tetradentate tripodal ligands and the already known Tpa and Tpa* have been explored using different copper(I) salts as starting materials. Cationic copper(I) complexes [Tpa(x)Cu]PF6 (1-4) have been isolated from the reaction of [Cu(NCMe)4]PF6 and 1 equiv of the ligand. Complexes 2 (Tpa(x) = Tpa*) and 3 (Tpa(x) = Tpa(Me3)) have been characterized by X-ray studies. The former is a 1D helical coordination polymer, and the latter is a tetranuclear helicate. In both structures, the Tpa(x) ligand adopts a μ(2):κ(2):κ(1)-coordination mode. However, in solution, all of the four complexes form fluxional species. When CuI is used as the copper(I) source, neutral compounds 5-8 have been obtained. Complexes 6-8 exhibit a 1:1 metal-to-ligand ratio, whereas 5 presents 2:1 stoichiometry. Its solid-state structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction, revealing its 3D polymeric nature. The polymer is composed by the assembly of [Tpa2Cu4I4] units, in which Cu4I4 presents a step-stair structure. The Tpa ligands bridge the Cu4I4 clusters, adopting also a μ(2):κ(2):κ(1)-coordination mode. As observed for the cationic derivatives, the NMR spectra of 5-8 show the equivalence of the three pyrazolyl arms of the ligands in these complexes. The reactivities of cationic copper(I) derivatives 1-4 with PPh3 and CO have been explored. In all cases, 1:1 adducts [Tpa(x)CuL]PF6 [L = PPh3 (9-11), CO (12-15)] have been isolated. The crystal structure of [Tpa*Cu(PPh3)]PF6 (9) has been obtained, showing that the coordination geometry around copper(I) is trigonal-pyramidal with the apical position occupied by the tertiary amine N atom. The Tpa* ligand binds the Cu center to three of its four N atoms, with one pyrazolyl arm remaining uncoordinated. In solution, the carbonyl adducts 13-15 exist as a mixture of two isomers; the four- and five-coordinate species can be distinguished by means of their IR νCO stretching bands. Finally, the catalytic activities of complexes 1-4 have been demonstrated in carbene- and nitrene-transfer reactions.

Catalytic Functionalization of Indoles by Copper‐Mediated Carbene Transfer

The complex [TpBr3Cu(NCMe)] (TpBr3=hydrotris(3,4,5‐tribromo)pyrazolylborate) efficiently catalyzes the CH functionalization of indole derivatives at C3 by carbene transfer from different diazoesters in a high‐yield transformation involving low catalyst loadings and short reaction times. This system has shown that the previously proposed dichotomy of carbene addition (to the double bond) vs carbene insertion (to the CH bond) corresponds to two consecutive reaction steps: the cyclopropane intermediates, observed in the reaction mixtures, are the precursors of the final CH functionalization derivatives in a ring‐opening process involving acid catalysis. Those in situ generated cyclopropanes undergo nucleophilic ring opening with Me2CuLi to afford both C2 and C3 functionalized indoles.

To be, or not to be biodegradable… that is the question for the bio-based plastics.

Global warming, market and production capacity are being the key drivers for selecting the main players for the next decades in the market of bio‐based plastics. The drop‐in bio‐based polymers such as the bio‐based polyethylene terephtalate (PET) or polyethylene (PE), chemically identical to their petrochemical counterparts but having a component of biological origin, are in the top of the list. They are followed by new polymers such as PHA and PLA with a significant market growth rate since 2014 with projections to 2020. Research will provide improved strains designed through synthetic and systems biology approaches; furthermore, the use of low‐cost substrates will contribute to the widespread application of these bio‐ based polymers. The durability of plastics is not considered anymore as a virtue, and interesting bioprospecting strategies to isolate microorganisms for assimilating the recalcitrant plastics will pave the way for in vivo strategies for plastic mineralization. In this context, waste management of bio‐based plastic will be one of the most important issues in the near future in terms of the circular economy. There is a clear need for standardized labelling and sorting instructions, which should be regulated in a coordinated way by policymakers and material producers.

Asymmetric synthesis of γ-cyano silyl enol ethers

Abstract The selective oxidative cleavage of the SAMP-hydrazone moiety of 4-silyloxy-3-enal hydrazones 6 , leading to the corresponding 4-silyloxy-3-alkenenitriles 7 , is reported. A clean, good yielding transformation was observed when m -CPBA in CH 2 Cl 2 was used as the oxidant, the presence of suspended solid NaHCO 3 being essential in preventing hydrolysis of the silyl enol ether moiety. Use of magnesium monoperoxyphthalate (MMPP) led to over-oxidated products, while hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of catalytic methyltrioxorhenium (MTO), was ineffective. Independent measurements of the enantiomeric excesses for compounds 7 demonstrated the absence of racemization during the process.

The contribution of microbial biotechnology to sustainable development goals

The signature and almost unique characteristic of microbial technology is the exceptional diversity of applications it can address, and the exceptional range of human activities and needs to which it is and can be applied. Precisely because sustainability goals have very diverse and complex components and requirements, microbial technology has the ability to contribute substantively on many levels in many arenas to global efforts to achieve sustainability. Indeed, microbial technology could be viewed as a unifying element in our progress towards sustainability.

Genome Sequence of Streptomyces exfoliatus DSMZ 41693, a Source of Poly(3-Hydroxyalkanoate)-Degrading Enzymes

ABSTRACT Here we report the draft genome sequence of Streptomyces exfoliatus DSMZ 41693, which includes a gene encoding a poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) depolymerase, an enzyme which can be used for the industrial synthesis of chiral (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids. In addition, the genome carries numerous genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including polyketides and terpenes.

Asymmetric michael addition of formaldehyde N, N-dialkylhydrazones to alkylidene malonates

Enantiopure formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones 1 smoothly react with prochiral alkylidene malonates 2 in the presence of MgI2 to afford the corresponding Michael adducts 3 in excellent yields and good diastereoselectivities; direct racemization-free BF3.OEt2-catalyzed thiolysis of the hydrazone C=N bond affords the corresponding dithioketals 7 in optically pure or enantiomerically enriched form.

“Mentor in Bioeconomics avant la lettre”: A tribute to Bernard Witholt by those who worked with him

Bernard Witholt was appointed a professor of biochemistry at the University of Groningen at the age of 30 years. He was born in 1941 in The Hague (the Netherlands), spent his early life in Brazil and moved to the USA during his teenage years. After studying biology at Amherst College (Massachusetts), he undertook a PhD at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Before returning to the Netherlands, he did his post-doc and became a staff member at the Department of Biology and Chemistry at the University of California, San Diego.