Manganese Dioxide (α-MnO2) and Graphene Oxide (GO) Nanocomposites: An Efficient Promotor for the Oxidative Deprotection of Trimethylsilyl, Tetrahydropyranyl and Methoxymethyl Ethers

Manganese dioxide (α-MnO2) and graphene oxide (GO nanocomposites were prepared and successfully characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), field emission scanning-electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping methods and Xray diffraction (XRD) analyses. This reagent is an efficient catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of trimethylsilyl (TMS), tetrahedropyranyl (THP), and methoxymethyl ethers (MOM) to their corresponding carbonyl compounds in the presence of K2CO3. All reactions were performed in n-hexane under mild and completely heterogeneous reaction conditions. Our novel method has the advantages of excellent yields, short reaction times, availability and reusability of the catalyst and simple and easy work-up procedure compared to the conventional methods reported in the literature.

Two Fungal Flavonoid-specific Glucosidases/rutinosidases for Rutin Hydrolysis and Rutinoside Synthesis Under Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Reaction Conditions

The glycosidases within GH5-23 cleave the glycosidic bond of β-glucosylated or rutinosylated flavonoids. Moreover, by virtue of their transglycosylation activity, glycoconjugates with glucosyl and rutinosyl moieties are accessible. Here we report the biochemical characterization and biotechnological assessment of two heterologously expressed members of GH5-23 – McGlc from Mucor circinelloides and PcGlc from Penicillium chrysogenum. Both enzymes exhibited the highest hydrolytic activities with quercetin-3-β-O-glucopyranoside, whereas lower specificity constants were determined with the rutinosides narcissin, rutin and hesperidin. High stabilities against thermal, ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide-induced inactivation, a very limited secondary hydrolysis of the formed transglycosylation products, and no detectable product inhibition were additional features appropriate for biotechnological applications. The enzymes were compared in their efficiencies to hydrolyze rutin and to synthesize 2‑phenylethyl rutinoside under homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction conditions using high rutin concentrations of 100 and 300 mM. Highest transglycosylation efficiencies were achieved with fully dissolved rutin in reaction mixtures containing 25 % dimethyl sulfoxide. Molecular docking and multiple sequence alignments suggest that the hydrophobic environment of aromatic residues within the +1 subsite of GH5-23 glycosidases is very important for the binding of flavonoid glucosides and rutinosides.

Two fungal flavonoid-specific glucosidases/rutinosidases for rutin hydrolysis and rutinoside synthesis under homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction conditions

The glycosidases within GH5-23 cleave the glycosidic bond of β-glucosylated or rutinosylated flavonoids. Moreover, by virtue of their transglycosylation activity, glycoconjugates with glucosyl and rutinosyl moieties are accessible. Here we report the biochemical characterization and biotechnological assessment of two heterologously expressed members of GH5-23—McGlc from Mucor circinelloides and PcGlc from Penicillium chrysogenum. Both enzymes exhibited the highest hydrolytic activities with quercetin-3-β-O-glucopyranoside, whereas lower specificity constants were determined with the rutinosides narcissin, rutin and hesperidin. High stabilities against thermal, ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide-induced inactivation, a very limited secondary hydrolysis of the formed transglycosylation products, and no detectable product inhibition were additional features appropriate for biotechnological applications. The enzymes were compared in their efficiencies to hydrolyze rutin and to synthesize 2-phenylethyl rutinoside under homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction conditions using high rutin concentrations of 100 and 300 mM. Highest transglycosylation efficiencies were achieved with fully dissolved rutin in reaction mixtures containing 25% dimethyl sulfoxide. Molecular docking and multiple sequence alignments suggest that the hydrophobic environment of aromatic residues within the + 1 subsite of GH5-23 glycosidases is very important for the binding of flavonoid glucosides and rutinosides.

Reactivity of substrates with multiple competitive reactive sites toward NBS under neat reaction conditions promoted by visible light

Regioselectivity of visible-light-induced transformations of a range of (hetero)aryl alkyl-substituted ketones bearing several competitive reactive sites (α-carbonyl, benzyl and aromatic ring) with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) was studied under solvent-free reaction conditions (SFRC) and in the absence of inert-gas atmosphere, radical initiators and catalysts. An 8-W energy-saving household lamp was used for irradiation. Heterogeneous reaction conditions were dealt with throughout the study. All substrates were mono- or dibrominated at the α-carbonyl position, and additionally, some benzylic or aromatic bromination was observed in substrates with benzylic carbon atoms or electron-donating methoxy groups, respectively. Surprisingly, ipso-substitution of the acyl group with a bromine atom took place with (4-methoxynaphthyl) alkyl ketones. While the addition of the radical scavenger TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yloxy) decreased the extent of α- and ring bromination, it completely suppressed the benzylic bromination and α,α-dibromination with NBS under SFRC.

Catalytic Synthesis of Pyrano- and Furoquinolines Using Nano Silica Chromic Acid at Room Temperature

Nano silica chromic acid (nano-SCA) is found to catalyze efficiently the three component-coupling reactions of aldehydes, amines, and cyclic enol ethers such as 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran and 2,3-dihydrofuran under mild conditions to afford the corresponding pyrano- and furanoquinolines in excellent yields with high endoselectivity. Interestingly, 2,3-dihydrofuran afforded selectively endoproducts under the similar reaction conditions. Heterogeneous reaction conditions, easy procedure, short reaction time, and high yields are some important advantages of this method.