Abstract  Titanium complexes have been widely used as catalysts for C‑C bond-forming processes via free-radical routes. Herein we provide an overview of some of the most significant contributions in the field, that covers the last decade, emphasizing the key role played by titanium salts in the promotion of selective reactions aimed at the synthesis of multifunctional organic compounds, including nucleophilic radical additions to imines, pinacol and coupling reactions, ring opening of epoxides and living polymerization.

Abstract  A time-resolved kinetic study on the hydrogen atom abstraction reactions from a series of tertiary amines by the cumyloxyl (CumO(•)) and benzyloxyl (BnO(•)) radicals was carried out. With the sterically hindered triisobutylamine, comparable hydrogen atom abstraction rate constants (k(H)) were measured for the two radicals (k(H)(BnO(•))/k(H)(CumO(•)) = 2.8), and the reactions were described as direct hydrogen atom abstractions. With the other amines, increases in k(H)(BnO(•))/k(H)(CumO(•)) ratios of 13 to 2027 times were observed. k(H) approaches the diffusion limit in the reactions between BnO(•) and unhindered cyclic and bicyiclic amines, whereas a decrease in reactivity is observed with acyclic amines and with the hindered cyclic amine 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidine. These results provide additional support to our hypothesis that the reaction proceeds through the rate-determining formation of a C-H/N hydrogen-bonded prereaction complex between the benzyloxyl α-C-H and the nitrogen lone pair wherein hydrogen atom abstraction occurs, and demonstrate the important role of amine structure on the overall reaction mechanism. Additional mechanistic information in support of this picture is obtained from the study of the reactions of the amines with a deuterated benzyloxyl radical (PhCD(2)O(•), BnO(•)-d(2)) and the 3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyloxyl radical.

Abstract  Treatment of the porcine intestinal brush-border membranes with 100 microM ascorbic acid and 10 microM Fe2+ in the presence of various concentrations of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) resulted in a marked fluorescence development at 430 nm, depending on the hydroperoxide concentration. This fluorescence formation was closely related to lipid peroxidation of the membranes as assessed by formation of conjugated diene. However there is no linear relation between thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and fluorescence formation. On the other hand, fluorescence formation in the membranes by treatment with ascorbic acid/Fe2+ or t-BuOOH alone was negligible. The results with antioxidants and radical scavengers suggest that ascorbic acid/Fe2+/t-BuOOH-induced lipid peroxidation of the membranes is mainly due to t-butoxyl and/or t-butyl peroxy radicals. Most TBARS produced during the peroxidation reaction were released from the membranes, but fluorescent products remained in the membrane components. The fluorescence properties of products formed by lipid peroxidation of the membranes were compared with those of products derived from the interaction of malondialdehyde (MDA) or acetaldehyde with the membranes. The fluorescence products in the acetaldehyde-modified membranes also exhibited the emission maximum at 430 nm, while the emission maximum of MDA-modified membranes was 470 nm. The fluorescence intensity of MDA-modified membranes was markedly decreased by treatment with 10 mM NaBH4 but that of the peroxidized or acetaldehyde-modified membranes was enhanced by about two-fold with the treatment. In addition, a pH dependence profile revealed that the fluorescence intensity of the peroxidized or acetaldehyde-modified membranes decreases with increasing pH of the medium, whereas that of MDA-modified ones did not change over the pH range from 5.4 to 8.0. On the basis of these results, the fluorescence properties of products formed in the intestinal brush-border membranes by lipid peroxidation are discussed.

Abstract  The C-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) of molecules related to naphthalene radical chemistry were investigated using quantum chemistry calculations (CBS-QB3 and CCSD(T*)-F12), and the C-H BDE in 1,2-dihydronaphthalene was determined using time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry. A thermodynamically consistent data set of the energetics (C-H BDEs and enthalpies of formation) of the molecules involved (naphthalene, 1- and 2-hydronaphthyl radicals, 1,2- and 1,4-dihydronaphthalene, tetralyl radical, and tetralin) is presented. It was constructed using a thermodynamic cycle based on the simple notion that BDEs represent the difference between two states, bridging accurate experimental enthalpies of formation of the parent compounds with theoretical and experimental C-H BDEs leading to, and from, the radicals. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract  3-Methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol [CH(3)OC(CH(3))(2)CH(2)CH(2)OH] is used as a solvent for paints, inks, and fragrances and as a raw material for the production of industrial detergents. A rate constant of (1.64 ± 0.18) × 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for the reaction of 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol with OH radicals has been measured at 296 ± 2 K using a relative rate method, where the indicated error is the estimated overall uncertainty. Acetone, methyl acetate, glycolaldehyde, and 3-methoxy-3-methylbutanal were identified as products of the OH radical-initiated reaction, with molar formation yields of 3 ± 1%, 35 ± 9%, 13 ± 3%, and 33 ± 7%, respectively, at an average NO concentration of 1.3 × 10(14) molecules cm(-3). Using a 12-h average daytime OH radical concentration of 2 × 10(6) molecules cm(-3), the calculated lifetime of 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol with respect to reaction with OH radicals is 8.5 h. Potential reaction mechanisms are discussed.

Abstract  Soil is one of the major habitats of bacteria and fungi. In this arena their interactions are part of a communication network that keeps microhabitats in balance. Prominent mediator molecules of these inter- and intraorganismic relationships are inorganic and organic microbial volatile compounds (mVOCs). In this review the state of the art regarding the wealth of mVOC emission is presented. To date, ca. 300 bacteria and fungi were described as VOC producers and approximately 800 mVOCs were compiled in DOVE-MO (database of volatiles emitted by microorganisms). Furthermore, this paper summarizes morphological and phenotypical alterations and reactions that occur in the organisms due to the presence of mVOCs. These effects might provide clues for elucidating the biological and ecological significance of mVOC emissions and will help to unravel the entirety of belowground[lsquor] volatile-wired' interactions.

Abstract  The persistence and the removal of organic chemicals from the atmosphere are largely determined by their reactions with the OH radical and O3. Experimental determinations of the kinetic rate constants of OH and O3 with a large number of chemicals are tedious and resource intensive and development of computational approaches has widely been advocated. Recently, ensemble machine learning (EML) methods have emerged as unbiased tools to establish relationship between independent and dependent variables having a nonlinear dependence. In this study, EML-based, temperature-dependent quantitative structure-reactivity relationship (QSRR) models have been developed for predicting the kinetic rate constants for OH (kOH) and O3 (kO3) reactions with diverse chemicals. Structural diversity of chemicals was evaluated using a Tanimoto similarity index. The generalization and prediction abilities of the constructed models were established through rigorous internal and external validation performed employing statistical checks. In test data, the EML QSRR models yielded correlation (R (2)) of ≥0.91 between the measured and the predicted reactivities. The applicability domains of the constructed models were determined using methods based on descriptors range, Euclidean distance, leverage, and standardization approaches. The prediction accuracies for the higher reactivity compounds were relatively better than those of the low reactivity compounds. Proposed EML QSRR models performed well and outperformed the previous reports. The proposed QSRR models can make predictions of rate constants at different temperatures. The proposed models can be useful tools in predicting the reactivities of chemicals towards OH radical and O3 in the atmosphere.

Abstract  A time-resolved kinetic study on the reactions of the tert-butoxyl (t-BuO*), cumyloxyl (CumO*), and benzyloxyl (BnO*) radicals with alkylferrocenes has been carried out in MeCN solution. With all radicals, clear evidence for an electron transfer (ET) process has been obtained, and with the same ferrocene donor, the reactivity has been observed to increase in the order t-BuO* < CumO* < BnO*, with the difference in reactivity approaching 3 orders of magnitude on going from t-BuO* to BnO*. With BnO*, an excellent fit to the Marcus equation has been obtained, from which a value of the reduction potential of BnO* (E degrees(BnO*/BnO(-)) = 0.54 V/SCE) has been derived. The latter value appears, however, to be significantly higher than the previously determined reduction potential values for alkoxyl radicals and in contrast with the differences in the computed solution-phase electron affinities determined for t-BuO*, CumO*, and BnO*, indicating that the reaction of BnO* with ferrocene donors may not be described in terms of a straightforward outer sphere ET mechanism. From these data, and taking into account the available value of the reduction potential for CumO*, a value of E degrees (BnO*/BnO(-)) = -0.10 V/SCE has been estimated. On the basis of computational evidence for the formation of a pi-stacked prereaction complex in the reaction between BnO* and DcMFc, an alternative ET mechanism is proposed for the reactions of both CumO* and BnO*. In these cases, the delocalized nature of the unpaired electron allows for the aromatic ring to act as an electron relay by mediating the ET from the ferrocene donor to the formal oxygen radical center. This hypothesis is also in line with the observation that both BnO* and CumO* react with the ferrocene donors with rate constants that are in all cases at least 2 orders of magnitude higher than those measured for t-BuO*, wherein the radical is well-localized.

Abstract  The study was aimed at examining the effects of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) on hepatic transcriptome expression patterns of the teleost fish Lithognathus mormyrus. tBHP is an organic hydro-peroxide, widely used as a model pro-oxidant. It generates the reactive oxygen species (ROS) tert-butoxyl and tert-butylperoxyl. Complementary DNAs of tBHP-treated vs control fish were applied onto a previously produced cDNA microarray of approximately 1500 unique sequences. The effects of the tBHP application were demonstrated by leukocyte infiltration into the liver and by differential expression of various genes, some already known to be involved in ROS-related responses. Indicator genes of putative ROS effects were: aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A2, Heme oxygenase and the hemopexin-like protein. Putative indicators of transendothelial leukocyte migration and function were: p22phox, Rac1 and CD63-like genes. Interestingly, 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase was significantly down-regulated in response to all treatments. Several non-annotated genes revealed uniform directions of differential expression in response to all treatments.

Abstract  Three novel compounds, together with five known ingredients, octacosanol, 3',4',5-trihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, isorhamnetin, and ent-kaurane-3beta,16beta,17-triol, were obtained from the leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon), and their structures were elucidated as ent-kaurane-3beta,16beta,17,18-tertol (1), 3R,7E-9-butoxyl-megastigma-3-ol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), and 3S,5R,6Z-megastigma-6-en-3,5,8,9-tertol (3) on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods.

Abstract  Theoretical models have been used to derive rate coefficients for the unimolecular reaction pathways of two prototypical alkoxyl radicals (1-butoxyl and 2-pentoxyl) which can undergo 1,5 H-shift isomerisation yielding the corresponding delta-hydroxy alkyl radical. Special emphasis has been given to the contribution of tunnelling in the isomerisation channels which has not been accounted for in previous theoretical studies. The combination of high level ab initio calculations with a fully coupled multiple channel master equation (ME) treatment resulted in a significant increase of the isomerisation rates by about a factor of 2.7 for the 1-butoxyl and 2.3 for the 2-pentoxyl radical, respectively, as compared to calculations in which tunnelling was neglected, even at 298 K. The corresponding Arrhenius energies in the temperature range from 200 up to 1000 K are significantly smaller when tunnelling is accounted for and differ from previous results which focused only on temperatures around 298 K. The rate expressions derived for the 1,5 H-shift isomerisation reactions are: k(iso,1but) = 1.58 x 10(12)(T/300 K)(-2.30) exp(-4679 K/T) s(-1) and k(iso,2pent) = 4.65 x 10(12)(T/300 K)(-3.22) exp(-4782 K/T) s(-1) valid for p = 1013 mbar and temperatures between 200 K < or = T < or = 1000 K. Our results are strongly supported by recent experiments of Cox and co-workers, (D. Johnson, P. Cassanelli, and R. A. Cox, J. Phys. Chem. A, , 2004, 108, 519 and P. Cassanelli, D. Johnson, and R. A. Cox, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2005, 7, 3702, 18) which are among the very few studies performed in a temperature regime (250 < or = T < or = 320 K) where tunnelling is thought to be effective. Since tunnelling has been neglected so far in the theoretical analysis of experimental data, the reliability of existing extrapolations to higher and lower temperatures is discussed in detail.

Abstract  Using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap, alkoxyl radicals and peroxyl radicals produced from the reactions of tert-butyl hydroperoxide(tBuOOH) and cumene hydroperoxide (PhC(CH3)2OOH) with some copper(Cu)(II) complexes such as Cu(II) complexes of cimetidine (Cim), cyclo(L-histidyl-L-histidyl) (CyHH), L-histidylglycine (HG), and L-histidylglycylglycine (HGG) were detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. However, Cu(II) complexes of glycyl-L-histidine (GH), glycyl-L-histidylglycine (GHG),glycylglycyl-L-histidine (GGH), and glycylglycyl-L-histidyl-glycine (GGHG) did not cause the generation of free radicals during the reaction with tert-butyl or cumene hydroperoxide. Addition of a biological reductant such as cysteine or glutathione to the system including these Cu(II) complexes and hydroperoxides gave tert-butoxyl and cumyl alkoxyl (RO.) radicals, respectively. These alkoxyl radicals underwent subsequent beta-scission reaction and generated the carbon-centered radical (R.). Although cysteine and glutathione are considered to be cellular antioxidants, our results suggest that these biological reductants facilitate Cu(II) complexes-dependent free radical generation.

Abstract  The Chinese medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. (Qinghao) is the only known source of the sesquiterpene artemisinin (Qinghaosu), which is used in the treatment of malaria. Artemisinin is a highly oxygenated sesquiterpene, containing a unique 1,2,4-trioxane ring structure, which is responsible for the antimalarial activity of this natural product. The phytochemistry of A. annua is dominated by both sesquiterpenoids and flavonoids, as is the case for many other plants in the Asteraceae family. However, A. annua is distinguished from the other members of the family both by the very large number of natural products which have been characterised to date (almost six hundred in total, including around fifty amorphane and cadinane sesquiterpenes), and by the highly oxygenated nature of many of the terpenoidal secondary metabolites. In addition, this species also contains an unusually large number of terpene allylic hydroperoxides and endoperoxides. This observation forms the basis of a proposal that the biogenesis of many of the highly oxygenated terpene metabolites from A. annua - including artemisinin itself - may proceed by spontaneous oxidation reactions of terpene precursors, which involve these highly reactive allyllic hydroperoxides as intermediates. Although several studies of the biosynthesis of artemisinin have been reported in the literature from the 1980s and early 1990s, the collective results from these studies were rather confusing because they implied that an unfeasibly large number of different sesquiterpenes could all function as direct precursors to artemisinin (and some of the experiments also appeared to contradict one another). As a result, the complete biosynthetic pathway to artemisinin could not be stated conclusively at the time. Fortunately, studies which have been published in the last decade are now providing a clearer picture of the biosynthetic pathways in A. annua. By synthesising some of the sesquiterpene natural products which have been proposed as biogenetic precursors to artemisinin in such a way that they incorporate a stable isotopic label, and then feeding these precursors to intact A. annua plants, it has now been possible to demonstrate that dihydroartemisinic acid is a late-stage precursor to artemisinin and that the closely related secondary metabolite, artemisinic acid, is not (this approach differs from all the previous studies, which used radio-isotopically labelled precursors that were fed to a plant homogenate or a cell-free preparation). Quite remarkably, feeding experiments with labeled dihydroartemisinic acid and artemisinic acid have resulted in incorporation of label into roughly half of all the amorphane and cadinane sesquiterpenes which were already known from phytochemical studies of A. annua. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that many of the highly oxygenated sesquiterpenoids from this species arise by oxidation reactions involving allylic hydroperoxides, which seem to be such a defining feature of the chemistry of A. annua. In the particular case of artemisinin, these in vivo results are also supported by in vitro studies, demonstrating explicitly that the biosynthesis of artemisinin proceeds via the tertiary allylic hydroperoxide, which is derived from oxidation of dihydroartemisinic acid. There is some evidence that the autoxidation of dihydroartemisinic acid to this tertiary allylic hydroperoxide is a non-enzymatic process within the plant, requiring only the presence of light; and, furthermore, that the series of spontaneous rearrangement reactions which then convert this allylic hydroperoxide to the 1,2,4-trioxane ring of artemisinin are  also non-enzymatic in nature.

Abstract    Three batches of Manchego cheese were manufactured using one of the following starter culture systems: (1) a defined strain starter culture comprising Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum; (2) the above-defined strain starter culture and an adjunct culture (Lactobacillus plantarum), all these strains being isolated from high-quality Manchego cheeses and (3) a commercial starter consisting of two strains of Lactococcus lactis. Differences in volatile profile and the sensory characteristics of these cheeses were studied. After 4 months of ripening, the two batches of cheese made with the defined strain starter cultures obtained the highest scores for sensory attributes and for the overall impression. Additionally, Purge & Trap and SDE analysis showed a more complex volatile profile in these cheeses than in those made with the commercial starter. Extending the maturation time to 8 months for cheeses made with the defined starter cultures led to significant higher levels of free fatty acids and ethyl esters in those cheeses made without adjunct culture. However, panelists did not find significant differences among the sensory characteristics of the two cheeses. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Abstract    Doc number: 93 Abstract Background: Microorganisms are used as cell factories to produce valuable compounds in pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and other industrial processes. Incorporating heterologous metabolic pathways into well-characterized hosts is a major strategy for obtaining these target metabolites and improving productivity. However, selecting appropriate heterologous metabolic pathways for a host microorganism remains difficult owing to the complexity of metabolic networks. Hence, metabolic network design could benefit greatly from the availability of an in silico platform for heterologous pathway searching. Results: We developed an algorithm for finding feasible heterologous pathways by which nonnative target metabolites are produced by host microorganisms, using Escherichia coli , Corynebacterium glutamicum , and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as templates. Using this algorithm, we screened heterologous pathways for the production of all possible nonnative target metabolites contained within databases. We then assessed the feasibility of the target productions using flux balance analysis, by which we could identify target metabolites associated with maximum cellular growth rate. Conclusions: This in silico platform, designed for targeted searching of heterologous metabolic reactions, provides essential information for cell factory improvement.   Microorganisms are used as cell factories to produce valuable compounds in pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and other industrial processes. Incorporating heterologous metabolic pathways into well-characterized hosts is a major strategy for obtaining these target metabolites and improving productivity. However, selecting appropriate heterologous metabolic pathways for a host microorganism remains difficult owing to the complexity of metabolic networks. Hence, metabolic network design could benefit greatly from the availability of an in silico platform for heterologous pathway searching. We developed an algorithm for finding feasible heterologous pathways by which nonnative target metabolites are produced by host microorganisms, using Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as templates. Using this algorithm, we screened heterologous pathways for the production of all possible nonnative target metabolites contained within databases. We then assessed the feasibility of the target productions using flux balance analysis, by which we could identify target metabolites associated with maximum cellular growth rate. This in silico platform, designed for targeted searching of heterologous metabolic reactions, provides essential information for cell factory improvement.

Abstract  Four new compounds, aneglycoside A-C (1-3) and timosaponin U (4), were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Their structures were determined through extensive spectroscopic analysis, chemical characteristics, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). All the isolations were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HepG2, Hela, and SGC7901 human cancer lines. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed weak antiproliferative activities on HepG2, Hela, and SGC7901 cells.

Abstract  Carbon-centered radicals represent highly useful reactive intermediates in organic synthesis. Their nucleophilic character is reflected by fast additions to electron deficient C=X double bonds as present in iminium ions or cationic heterocycles. This review covers diverse reactions of preformed or in situ-generated cationic substrates with various types of C-radicals, including alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, trifluoromethyl, aryl, acyl, carbamoyl, and alkoxycarbonyl species. Despite its high reactivity, the strong interaction of the radical's SOMO with the LUMO of the cation frequently results in a high regioselectivity. Intra- and intermolecular processes such as the Minisci reaction, the Porta reaction, and the Knabe rearrangement will be discussed along with transition metal and photoredox catalysis or electrochemical methods to generate the odd-electron species.

Abstract    Radical involved transformations are now considered as extremely important processes in modern organic synthetic chemistry. According to the demand by atom-economic and sustainable chemistry, direct C(sp3 )-H functionalization through radical oxidative coupling represents an appealing strategy for C-C bond formations. However, the selectivity control of reactive radical intermediates is still a great challenge in these transformations. Here we show a selective radical oxidative C(sp 3 )-H/C(sp)-H cross-coupling of unactivated alkanes with terminal alkynes by using a combined Cu/Ni/Ag catalytic system. It provides a new way to access substituted alkynes from readily available materials. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that this reaction proceeds through a radical process and the C(sp 3 )-H bond cleavage is the rate-limiting step. This study may have significant implications for controlling selective C-C bond formation of reactive radical intermediates by using multimetallic catalytic systems.