Christian Philouze

X‐Ray Structures of Copper(II) and Nickel(II) Radical Salen Complexes: The Preference of Galactose Oxidase for Copper(II)

Organic radicals are normally extremely reactive, and often nonselective and toxic species. They are found in a number of proteins, some of which are involved in essential processes such as photosynthesis and DNA synthesis. Nature has therefore nicely succeeded in domesticating them and taking advantage of their high reactivity. Galactose oxidase (GO, Scheme 1), which catalyzes aerobic oxidation of primary

Intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded versus copper(II) coordinated mono- and bis-phenoxyl radicals.

Ligands bearing two salicylidene imine moieties substituted in ortho and para positions by tert-butyl groups have been electrochemically oxidized into mono- and bis-phenoxyl radicals. The process involves an intramolecular proton coupled to electron transfer and affords a radical in which the oxygen atom is hydrogen-bonded to a protonated ammonium or iminium group. A weak intramolecular dipolar interaction exists between the two phenoxyl moieties in the bis-radical species. The copper(II) complexes of these ligands have been characterized and electrochemically oxidized. The mono-phenoxyl radical species are X-band EPR silent. The bis-phenoxyl radical species exhibits a (S= 3/2) ground state: it arises from a ferromagnetic exchange coupling between the two spins of the radicals and that of the copper(II) when the spacer is rigid enough; a flexible spacer such as ethylidene induces decomplexation of at least one phenoxyl group. Metal coordination is more efficient than hydrogen-bonding to enhance the chemical stability of the mono-phenoxyl radicals.

Synthesis and photochromism of two new 1,2-bis(thiazolyl)perfluorocyclopentenes with chelating sites

Two new dithiazolylethenes, 1a {1,2-bis[5′-methyl-2′-(2′′-pyridyl)thiazolyl]perfluorocyclopentene} and 2a {1,2-bis[4′-methyl-2′-(2′′-pyridyl)thiazolyl]perfluorocyclopentene}, have been synthesized. Their photochromic behavior has been fully investigated in solution as well as in the crystalline phase. They display both fatigue-resistant and thermally irreversible photochromic reactions, with more than 80% of the closed-ring forms (1b and 2b, respectively) in the photo-stationary state. Upon UV irradiation, a colorless solution of 1a turns purple while the yellow color of a 2a solution becomes more intense. Such marked differences in their electronic absorption spectra are reproduced by DFT calculations. Finally, although structurally closely related, only 1a shows photochromism in the crystalline phase whereas 2a displays reversible photo-modulation of fluorescence in solution.

Catecholase activity of a μ-hydroxodicopper(II) macrocyclic complex: structures, intermediates and reaction mechanism

The monohydroxo-bridged dicopper(II) complex (1), its reduced dicopper(I) analogue (2) and the trans-μ-1,2-peroxo-dicopper(II) adduct (3) with the macrocyclic N-donor ligand [22]py4pz (9,22-bis(pyridin-2′-ylmethyl)-1,4,9,14,17,22,27,28,29,30- decaazapentacyclo -[22.2.114,7.111,14.117,20]triacontane-5,7(28),11(29),12,18,20(30), 24(27),25-octaene), have been prepared and characterized, including a 3D structure of 1 and 2. These compounds represent models of the three states of the catechol oxidase active site: met, deoxy (reduced) and oxy. The dicopper(II) complex 1 catalyzes the oxidation of catechol model substrates in aerobic conditions, while in the absence of dioxygen a stoichiometric oxidation takes place, leading to the formation of quinone and the respective dicopper(I) complex. The catalytic reaction follows a Michaelis–Menten behavior. The dicopper(I) complex binds molecular dioxygen at low temperature, forming a trans-μ-1,2-peroxo-dicopper adduct, which was characterized by UV–Vis and resonance Raman spectroscopy and electrochemically. This peroxo complex stoichiometrically oxidizes a second molecule of catechol in the absence of dioxygen. A catalytic mechanism of catechol oxidation by 1 has been proposed, and its relevance to the mechanisms earlier proposed for the natural enzyme and other copper complexes is discussed.

A direct and versatile access to alpha,alpha-disubstituted 2-pyrrolidinylmethanols by SmI2-mediated reductive coupling.

Various alpha,alpha-disubstituted 2-pyrrolidinylmethanols are efficiently prepared in a single step from ketones using a SmI2-mediated cross-coupling with 1-pyrroline N-oxide. The N-hydroxy-alpha,alpha-diphenylprolinol is also easily prepared and resolved.

Electrocatalytic O2 Reduction at a Bio-inspired Mononuclear Copper Phenolato Complex Immobilized on a Carbon Nanotube Electrode

An original copper-phenolate complex, mimicking the active center of galactose oxidase, featuring a pyrene group was synthesized. Supramolecular pi-stacking allows its efficient and soft immobilization at the surface of a Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) electrode. This MWCNT-supported galactose oxidase model exhibits a 4 H(+)/4 e(-) electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction at a redox potential of 0.60 V vs. RHE at pH 5.

cis-Stereoselective SmI2-promoted reductive coupling of keto-nitrones: first synthesis of 1-epitrehazolamine

An expeditious synthesis of 1-epitrehazolamine is presented from readily available 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucose. The key step involves a samarium diiodide-promoted reductive cyclization of a masked keto-nitrone to form a five-membered ring aminocyclitol. The excellent cis selectivity observed in this nitrone-ketone reductive coupling contrasts surprisingly with the trans selectivity of ketone-oxime reductive couplings.

Interaction of polycationic Ni(II)-salophen complexes with G-quadruplex DNA.

A series of nine Ni(II) salophen complexes involving one, two, or three alkyl-imidazolium side-chains was prepared. The lengths of the side-chains were varied from one to three carbons. The crystal structure of one complex revealed a square planar geometry of the nickel ion. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer melting of G-quadruplex structures in the presence of salophen complex were performed. The G-quadruplex DNA structures were stabilized in the presence of the complexes, but a duplex DNA was not. The binding constants of the complexes for parallel and antiparallel G-quadruplex DNA, as well as hairpin DNA, were measured by surface plasmon resonance. The compounds were selective for G-quadruplex DNA, as reflected by equilibrium dissociation constant KD values in the region 0.1-1 μM for G-quadruplexes and greater than 2 μM for duplex DNA. Complexes with more and shorter side-chains had the highest binding constants. The structural basis for the interaction of the complexes with the human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA was investigated by computational studies: the aromatic core of the complex stacked over the last tetrad of the G-quadruplex with peripherical cationic side chains inserted into opposite grooves. Biochemical studies (telomeric repeat amplification protocol assays) indicated that the complexes significantly inhibited telomerase activity with IC50 values as low as 700 nM; the complexes did not significantly inhibit polymerase activity.

Ligand‐Centered Redox Activity in Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) Bis(phenolate)–Dipyrrin Complexes

One for all: a trianionic ligand containing the biologically relevant moieties phenolate and porphyrin was designed and synthesized. One-electron oxidation of the nickel and cobalt complexes of these ligands affords an unprecedented and highly stable hybrid porphyrinyl-phenoxyl radical bound to the metal center. Two-electron oxidation of these complexes leads to the M(2+) -(close-shell two-electron oxidized ligand) species.

First Use of Axially Chiral Thioamides for the Stereocontrol of C−C Bond Formation

Several N-aryl-substituted thioamides with an axis of chirality along the N-C(aryl) bond were prepared in good to excellent yields. NMR spectra revealed preferences for the E rotamer (along the N-C(=S) bond). X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that the planes of the aryl and thioamide groups were almost perpendicular (79 degrees). For the first time, these atropisomeric thioamides were used for an asymmetric Claisen rearrangement. LDA deprotonation led selectively to the enethiolates of Z stereochemistry, and subsequent reaction with a variety of allyl halides furnished S-allyl keteneaminothioacetals. These intermediates were not detected as they rearranged readily to gamma-unsaturated thioamides in good to high yields and diastereoselectivities up to 88:12. Chemical correlation allowed the assignment of the (aR*,2R*) configuration to the major diastereoisomer. A model was proposed to explain the stereochemical course of the thio-Claisen rearrangement.