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International audience; An access to functionalised eight-membered carbocyclic ring compounds was developed by simply stirring an unusual vinylogous Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropane (DAC) in boiling o-xylene. Both experimental and computational studies were performed to explain the diastereoselectivity/regioselectivity transfer observed and to provide an overall picture of the mechanism.

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International audience; We report here the development of a rotating molecular switch based on metal-catalyzed reversible (de)-hydrogenation. Under an argon atmosphere, acceptorless dehydrogenation induces a switch from an alcohol to a ketone, while reversing to a hydrogen pressure switches back the system to the alcohol. Based on a tolane scaffold, such reversible (de)-hydrogenation enables 180°rotation. The absence of waste accumulation in a switch relying on chemical stimuli is of great significance and could potentially be applied to the design of efficient complex molecular machines.

These 2 coordination clusters are similar but different both in the fine details of their structures as well as their magnetic behaviour. [Fe$_{2}$Dy$_{2}$(μ$_{3}$-OH)$_{2}$(Me-teaH)$_{2}$(O$_{2}$CPh)$_{6}$], which normally forms with the racemic version of Me-teaH3 by using enantiopure ligand, allows access to the S-version, but for the R-version there is significant racemisation. Surprisingly, by using the synthesis of [Fe$_{2}$Dy$_{2}$(μ$_{3}$-OH)$_{2}$(Me-teaH)$_{2}$(O$_{2}$CPh)$_{4}$(NO$_{3}$)$_{2}$] both enantiopure R- and S-compounds were obtained. In both cases breaking the symmetry of the parent compounds leads to enhanced SMM behaviour. The {Fe$_{2}$Dy$_{2}$} butterfly systems can show single molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour, the nature of which depends on details of the electronic structure, as previously demonstrated for the [Fe$_{2}$Dy$_{2}$(μ$_{3}$-OH)$_{2}$(Me-teaH)$_{2}$(O$_{2}$CPh)$_{6}$] compound, where the [N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino]-2-propanol (Me-teaH$_{3}$) ligand is usually used in its racemic form. Here, we describe the consequences for the SMM properties by using enantiopure versions of this ligand and present the first homochiral 3d/4 f SMM, which could only be obtained for the S enantiomer of the ligand for [Fe$_{2}$Dy$_{2}$(μ$_{3}$-OH)$_{2}$(Me-teaH)$_{2}$(O$_{2}$CPh)$_{6}$] since the R enantiomer underwent significant racemisation. To investigate this further, we prepared the [Fe$_{2}$Dy$_{2}$(μ$_{3}$-OH)$_{2}$(Me-teaH)$_{2}$(O$_{2}$CPh)$_{4}$(NO$_{3}$)$_{2}$] version, which could be obtained as the RS-, R- and S-compounds. Remarkably, the enantiopure versions show enhanced slow relaxation of magnetisation. The use of the enantiomerically pure ligand suppresses QTM, leading to the conclusion that use of enantiopure ligands is a “gamechanger” by breaking the cluster symmetry and altering the intimate details of the coordination cluster's molecular structure.

International audience; The synthetic equivalents of the enantiopure binaphthyl bis(aryne) atropisomers derived from BINOL (1,1'bi-2,2'-naphtol) featuring a stereogenic axis vicinal to the two reactive triple bonds can be generated for the first time in solution in an enantiospecific manner. Using a two-step sequence based on the bidirectional [4+2] cycloaddition of furan derivatives followed by an aromatizative deoxygenation reaction, several 9,9'-bianthracenyl-based atropisomers could be prepared enantiospecifically in high enantiomeric purity. Alternatively, bidirectional reactions with anthracene, 2bromostyrene, and perylene as the arynophiles afforded very congested bis(benzotriptycene), bis(tetraphene) and bis(anthra[1,2,3,4-ghi]perylene) nanocarbon atropisomers in equally high enantiomeric purity. In complement, cross reactions with two different arynophiles revealed possible. The unusual atropisomer prototypes described in this study open the way to enantiopure nanographene atropisomers designed for functions.

Chiral zirconium(IV) double cage sandwich complex Zr(1)2 has been synthesized in one step from porphyrin cage H21. Zr(1)2 was obtained as a racemate, which was resolved by HPLC and the enantiomers were isolated in >99.5 % ee. Their absolute configurations were assigned on the basis of X‐ray crystallography and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) experiments on the enantiomers of Zr(1)2 revealed that the chirality around the zirconium center is propagated throughout the whole cage structure. The axial conformational chirality of the double cage complex displayed a VCD fingerprint similar to the one observed previously for a related chiral cage compound with planar and point chirality. Zr(1)2 shows fluorescence, which is quenched when viologen guests bind in its cavities. The binding of viologen and dihydroxybenzene derivatives in the two cavities of Zr(1)2 occurs with negative allostery, the cooperativity factors α (=4 K2/K1) being as low as 0.0076 for the binding of N,N’‐dimethylviologen. These allosteric effects are attributed to a pinching of the second cavity as a result of guest binding in the first cavity., Starting from achiral porphyrin cage compounds, chiral zirconium(IV) double decker porphyrin cages have been prepared and their enantiomers resolved. The binding of two viologen guests in the double decker porphyrin cages occurs via a strongly negative allosteric effect, resulting in an almost 3 orders of magnitude weaker binding of the second viologen guest compared to that of the first.

International audience; Smart materials reversibly changing properties in response to a stimuli are promising for a broad array of applications. In this article, we report the use of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) as fuel to create new types of timecontrolled materials switching reversibly from a gel to a solution (gel−sol−gel cycle). Applying various neutral amines as organogelators, TCA addition induces amine protonation, switching the system to a solution, while TCA decarboxylation over time enables a return to the initial gel state. Consequently, the newly obtained materials possess interesting time-dependent properties applied in the generation of remoldable objects, as an erasing ink, as chiroptical switches, or for the generation of new types of electrical systems.

Unambiguous identification of the components of a natural mixture remains a challenging and meticulous issue. Usually, different analytical techniques and laborious separation protocols are employed; nevertheless, in some cases, delicate and equivocal problems are hardly addressed by traditional methods. In this context, an original methodology for the analysis of natural samples consisting of recent mass spectrometry methods based on ion mobility (MS-IM) is proposed. As an example, a polar fraction obtained by the essential oil prepared from Senecio transiens, an endemic plant harvested on the Corsica Island, was selected for this study to show how IM-MS-based methods easily provide very useful insights suggesting the presence of two diastereomers. To unambiguously confirm this hypothesis and verify reliability of the IM-MS results, the purified compounds were further analysed by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methodologies, allowing the structural elucidation and the identification of two new natural compounds, diastereomers of 4-acetoxy-5,9-dimethyl-3-(2-methylpropenyl)-2-oxabicyclo[4.4.0] dec-9-ene, reported here for the first time.

G-quadruplexes (GQs), a non-canonical form of DNA, are receiving a huge interest as target sites for potential applications in antiviral and anticancer drug treatments. The biological functions of GQs can be controlled by specifically binding proteins known as GQs binding proteins. Some of the GQs binding proteins contain an arginine and glycine-rich sequence known as RGG peptide. Despite the important role of RGG, the GQs-RGG interaction remains poorly understood. By single molecule measurements, the interaction dynamics can be determined in principle. However, the RGG–GQs interaction occurs at micromolar concentrations, making conventional single-molecule experiments impossible with a diffraction-limited confocal microscope. Here, we use a 120 nm zero-mode waveguide (ZMW) nanoaperture to overcome the diffraction limit. The combination of dual-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) with FRET is used to unveil the interaction dynamics and measure the association and dissociation rates. Our data show that the RGG–GQs interaction is predominantly driven by electrostatics but that a specific affinity between the RGG sequence and the GQs structure is preserved. The single molecule approach at micromolar concentration is the key to improve our understanding of GQs function and develop its therapeutic applications by screening a large library of GQs-targeting peptides and proteins., Graphical Abstract Graphical AbstractNanoaperture to study fast dynamics between G-quadruplexes and peptides.

International audience; The racemization mechanism of tert-butyl-phenylphosphido-borane is investigated experimentally andtheoretically. Based on this converging approach, it is shown,first, that several phosphido-borane molecular speciescoexist at the time of the reaction and, second, that oneparticular of both initially assumed reactive routes mostsignificantly contribute to the overall racemization process.From our converging modelling and experimentalmeasurement, it comes out that the most probable species tobe here encountered is a phosphido-borane-Li(THF)2 neutralsolvate, which P-stereogenic center monomolecularinversion through a Y-shaped transition structure (ΔrG°≠: 81kJ.mol-1) brings the largest contribution to the racemizationprocess

International audience; 3,4-Dimercaptophenylalanines and 2,3-dimercaptophenylalanines have been synthesized for the first time by nucleophilic substitution of a protected aminomalonate on 3,4- and 2,3-dimercaptobenzyl bromide derivatives. The dithiol functions were protected as thioketals, and the key precursors, diphenylthioketal-protected dimercaptobenzyl bromides, were synthesized via two distinct routes from either dihydroxy benzoates or toluene-3,4-dithiol. Racemic mixtures of the fully protected amino acids were separated by chiral HPLC into the corresponding enantiomers. The absolute configuration of both 3,4- and 2,3-analogues could be assigned based on X-ray crystallography and VCD/DFT measurements. Thioketal groups were deprotected upon reaction with mercury oxide and aqueous tetrafluoroboric acid followed by treatment with H2S gas under an argon atmosphere to obtain the corresponding dimercapto amino acids. The optically pure l-Fmoc-protected 3,4-analogue (S- enantiomer) was successfully incorporated into a decapeptide using standard solid-phase peptide synthesis. Therefore, dithiolene-functionalized peptides are now accessible from a simple synthetic procedure, and this should afford new molecular tools for research into the catalysis, diagnostic, and nanotechnology fields.

3,4-Dimercaptophenylalanines and 2,3-dimercaptophenylalanines have been synthesized for the first time by nucleophilic substitution of a protected aminomalonate on 3,4- and 2,3-dimercaptobenzyl bromide derivatives. The dithiol functions were protected as thioketals, and the key precursors, diphenylthioketal-protected dimercaptobenzyl bromides, were synthesized via two distinct routes from either dihydroxy benzoates or toluene-3,4-dithiol. Racemic mixtures of the fully protected amino acids were separated by chiral HPLC into the corresponding enantiomers. The absolute configuration of both 3,4- and 2,3-analogues could be assigned based on X-ray crystallography and VCD/DFT measurements. Thioketal groups were deprotected upon reaction with mercury oxide and aqueous tetrafluoroboric acid followed by treatment with H

International audience; An expedient synthesis of a new family of configurationally stable dioxa[6]helicenes was established using a sequential helicoselective organocatalyzed heteroannulation/eliminative aromatization via enantioenriched fused 2-nitro dihydrofurans featuring both central and helical chiralities. Starting from simple achiral precursors, a broad range of these previously unknown chiral heterocyclic scaffolds were obtained with good efficiency, and their aromatization proceeded with very high enantiopurity retention in most cases.

Porphyrin cage-compounds are used as biomimetic models and substrate-selective catalysts in supramolecular chemistry. In this work we present the resolution of planar-chiral porphyrin cages and the determination of their absolute configuration by vibrational circular dichroism in combination with density functional theory calculations. The chiral porphyrin-cages form complexes with achiral and chiral viologen-guests and upon binding one of the axial enantiomorphs of the guest is bound selectively, as is indicated by induced-electronic-dichroism-spectra in combination with calculations. This host-guest binding also leads to unusual enhanced vibrational circular dichroism, which is the result of a combination of phenomena, such as rigidification of the host and guest structures, charge transfer, and coupling of specific vibration modes of the host and guest. The results offer insights in how the porphyrin cage-compounds may be used to construct a future molecular Turing machine that can write chiral information onto polymer chains., Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy can be useful for determining the absolute configuration of chiral molecules, as long as the signal intensities are high enough. Here, the authors establish the absolute configurations of two large chiral porphyrin cages and, notably, discover that host-guest binding enhances their VCD intensities.

International audience; We report a molecular design and concept using p-system elongation and steric effects from helicenes surrounding a triphenylene core toward stable chiral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with a maximal p-distortion to tackle their aromaticity, supramolecular and molecular properties. The selective syntheses, and the structural, conformational and chiroptical properties of two diastereomeric large multi-helicenes of formula C90H48 having a triphenylene core and embedding three [5]helicene units on their inner edges and three [7]helicene units at their periphery are reported based on diastereoselective and, when applicable, enantiospecific (!) Yamamoto-type cyclotrimerizations of racemic or enantiopure 9,10-dibromo[7]helicene. Both molecules have an extremely distorted triphenylene core, and one of them exhibits the largest torsion angle recorded so far for a benzene ring (twist = 36.9º). The analysis of aromaticity distribution in these model molecules using magnetic criteria revealed a non-aromatic character of their triphenylene cores and provides a new look at aromaticity in threedimensional PAHs. One diastereomer can complex up to three silver(I) ions in the bay region (cavities) of its peripheral [7]helicene units, opening the door to chiral cationic metal-nanographene hybrids.

International audience; To improve the supramolecular properties of organic compounds, chemists continuously need to identify new tools. Herein, the influence of the stereoselective insertion of halogen atoms (F or Cl) on different supramolecular properties is analyzed. Inserting anti-halohydrins in polyols considerably strengthens the H-bonding networks and other supramolecular interactions. This behavior resulted in improved anion binding, H-bonding catalysis, or organogel properties of the designed polyols with strong perspectives for applications in other classes of substrates.

The chirality issues in the essential oils (EOs) of leaves and flowers from Bubonium graveolens were addressed by chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with polarimetric detection and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). The chemical compositions of the crude oils of three samples were established by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The well‐known cis‐chrysanthenyl acetate (1), oxocyclonerolidol (2), and the recently disclosed cis‐acetyloxychrysanthenyl acetate (3), the three major chiral compounds, were isolated by preparative HPLC. The naturally occurring oxocycloneroledol (2), mostly found in the leaf oil (49.4–55.6%), presents a (+) sign in the mobile phase during HPLC on a chiral stationary phase (CSP) with a Jasco polarimetric detection. The naturally occurring cis‐chrysanthenyl acetate (1) and cis‐acetyloxychrysanthenyl acetate (3), mostly found in the flower EO (35.9–74.9% and 10.0–34.3%, respectively), both present a (−) sign. HPLC on a CSP with polarimetric detection is an unprecedented approach to readily differentiate the flower and leaf EOs according to their chiral signature. The comparison of the experimental and calculated VCD spectra of pure isolated 1, 2, and 3 provided their absolute configuration as being (1S,5R,6S)‐(−)‐2,7,7‐trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐2‐en‐6‐yl acetate 1, (2R,6R)‐(+)‐6‐ethenyl‐2,6‐dimethyl‐2‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐en‐1‐yl)dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐3(4H)‐one) 2 and (1S,5R,6R,7S)‐(−)‐7‐(acetyloxy)‐2,6‐dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐2‐en‐6‐yl]methyl acetate 3. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 were already known in B. graveolens but this is the first report of the absolute configuration of (+)‐2 and (−)‐3. The VCD chiral signatures of the crude oils were also recorded.

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International audience; An improved green synthesis of the E2F inhibitor HLM0066474 is described, using solvent-free and microwave irradiation conditions. The two enantiomers are separated using semi-preparative separation on Chiralpak ID and their absolute configuration is determined by vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) analysis. Biological evaluation of both enantiomers on E2F1 transcriptional activity reveals that the (+)-R, but not the (−)-S enantiomer is biologically active in repressing E2F1 transcriptional activity.

International audience; The combined characterization of structural and optical properties of organic interfaces adsorbed on inorganic solid substrates down to the molecular scale is crucial from a fundamental point of view, but also if one tackles efficient applied devices. In this work, a set of joint structural and optical analyses of self-assemblies of π-conjugated bis-pyrene derivatives upon adsorption on two alkali halides bulk insulators is reported. The structural analysis is performed by means of noncontact atomic force microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum either at room or at the liquid-nitrogen temperature with molecular resolution. The surface coverage ranges from the submonolayer (ML) regime up to 5 ML. In situ optical spectroscopy is performed by means of differential reflectance (DR) spectroscopy. A thorough fitting methodology of the DR spectra allows us to derive the complete dielectric function of the molecular adlayers treated in an anisotropic formalism, albeit restricted to an uniaxial approximation. Conclusions regarding the process of condensation of the molecules into H aggregates from its early stages up to the solid molecular phase are drawn. This work highlights three main reasons to bridge high-resolution structural and optical characterization of the molecular layers, which all point towards the necessity to constrain the fitting process, namely, (i) characterizing the growth mode of the molecules, (ii) identifying the structural order of the resulting assemblies, and (iii) discriminating their constitutive phases by means of molecular resolution imaging.

International audience; For the first time, chirality in (3 Z,9 Z)-1,2,5,8-dithiadiazecine-6,7(5 H,8 H)-dione series was recognized. Enantiomers of the 4,9-dimethyl-5,8-diphenyl analogue were isolated at room temperature, and their thermal stability was determined. X-ray crystallography confirmed the occurrence of a pair of enantiomers in the crystal. Absolute configurations were assigned by comparing experimental and calculated vibrational/electronic circular dichroism spectra of isolated enantiomers. A distorted tesseract (four-dimensional hypercube) was used to visualize the calculated enantiomerization process, which requires the rotation around four chirality axes. Conformers of higher energy as well as several concurrent pathways of similar energies were revealed.

International audience; A family of p-cyclophanes based on bis- or tetrafunctionalized 1,4-bisthiophenol units linked by disulfide bridges was obtained by self-assembly on a gram scale and without any chromatographic purification. The nature of the functionalities borne by these so-called dyn[4]arenes plays a crucial role on their structural features as well as their molecular recognition abilities. Tuning these functions on demand yields tailored receptors for cations, anions, or zwitterions in organic or aqueous media.

International audience; The combination of aminocatalysis with N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis has been extended to a switchable dual catalytic system, which allowed a direct enantioselective entry to bridged bicyclo[3.n.1] ring systems and the total synthesis of the natural product (1R)-suberosanone.

A convenient enantioselective approach for the pinacol coupling of 1-acetylazulene involving easily accessible (R)- or (S)-BINOLs as chiral additive is reported. This supposes the preformation of the chiral titanium-BINOL complex in 1:2 ratio and subsequent reduction with zinc when, 2,3-di(azulen-1-yl)butane-2,3-diol can be isolated in around 60% enantiomeric excess. The absolute configuration of the isolated enantiomers was assigned by comparison of the experimental and Boltzmann-weighted calculated VCD and ECD spectra and assigned as (+)-(2S;3S)-di(azulen-1-yl)butane-2,3-diol. Chirality 27:826-834, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Access to hydroxy-functionalized P-chiral phosphine-boranes has become an important field in the synthesis of P-stereogenic compounds used as ligands in asymmetric catalysis. A family of optically pure α and β-hydroxyalkyl tertiary phosphine-boranes has been prepared by using a three-step procedure from readily accessible enantiopure adamantylphosphinate, obtained by semi-preparative HPLC on multigram scale. Firstly, a two-step one-pot transformation affords the enantiopure hydroxyalkyl tertiary phosphine oxides in good yields and enantioselectivities. The third step, BH3 -mediated reduction, allows the formation of the desired phosphine-boranes with excellent stereospecifity. The mechanistic study of this reduction provides new evidence to elucidate the crucial role of the pendant hydroxy group and the subsequent activation of the P=O bond by the boron atom.

The title compound was obtained as a side product during dimerization-oxidation steps of the carbene generated from N-methylbenzothiazolium iodide. Chromatography on (S,S)-Whelk O1 column showed on cooling a typical plateau shape chromatogram indicating an exchange between two enantiomers on the column. The thermal barrier to racemization was determined (85 kJ.mol(-1) at 10 °C) by dynamic high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC).The absolute configuration of the first (M) and second eluted (P) enantiomers on the (S, S)-Whelk O1 column was established by comparing the reconstructed circular dichroism (CD) spectra from the CD detector signal and the calculated CD spectrum of the (P) enantiomer. Mass spectrometry revealed that 3,3'-dimethyl-3H,3'H-2,2'-spirobi[[1,3]benzothiazole] can be viewed as a masked thiophenate attached to a benzothiazolium framework.

International audience; Racemic-protected α-ethynylphenylalanine was synthesized from dl-2-benzylserine using α-benzylserinal as key intermediate and was uccessfully resolved by HPLC on a chiral stationary phase at a semipreparative scale. The absolute configuration of both enantiomers was determined by vibrational circular dichroism.

International audience; In this article, we explore, both theoretically and experimentally, the general reactivity of alkyl hydrogeno-phenylphosphinates with alcohols. We show that alcohol molecules act exclusively as nucleophilic species, and add to alkyl hydrogeno-phenylphosphinates, leading to pentacoordinated intermediates. These intermediates are shown to subsequently competitively undergo alcohol eliminations and/or Berry pseudorotations. This offers several possible routes for racemizations and/or alcohol exchange reactions. Transition standard Gibbs free energies predicted from DFT calculations for the overall alcohol exchange mechanism are shown to be compatible with those experimentally measured in case ethanol reacts with ethyl hydrogeno-phenylphosphinate (134.5∼136.0 kJ mol −1 at 78 °C).

International audience; The organocatalytic enantioselective conjugate addition of secondary β-ketoamides to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is reported. Use of bifunctional Takemoto’s thiourea catalyst allows enantiocontrol of the reaction leading either to simple Michael adducts or spirocyclic aminals in up to 99 % ee. The origin of the enantioselectivity has been rationalised based on combined DFT calculations and kinetic analysis. This study provides a deeper understanding of the reaction mechanism, which involves a predominant role of the secondary amide proton, and clarifies the complex interactions occurring between substrates and the catalyst.

Enantiopure (±)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine and its oxidized form (±)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine-N-oxide were prepared and then separated by chiral HPLC. Their stereochemical structures and their conformational distribution in solution were investigated using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) combined with density functional theory (DFT). The experimental spectra have been compared with theoretical data. This comparison indicated that (−)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine and its oxidized form (+)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine-N-oxide have an (S,S)-configuration and exist in several conformations. The good fit confirms the reliability of the conformational analysis. Our results indicated that going from the reduced form to the oxidized one strongly influences the type of conformers in solution. Moreover, DFT calculations showed that for all of the conformers of (S,S)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine-N-oxide, the formation of four centered intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the hydrogen of the –CH, –CH2, and –CH3 groups and the nitroxide oxygen is possible. Moreover the stability of the conformers of both compounds is influenced by the all-trans structure of the sec-butyl moieties.

An original synthesis of chiral benzofulvenes triggered by organocopper reagents is reported. These enantiopure products are available through a highly chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective bis(alkylating) cycloisomerization process. A double chirality transfer (central-to-axial-to-central) is observed.

The absolute configurations (AC) of azaheterocylic compounds resulting from the cascade rearrangement of enediynes involving only light atoms were unambiguously assigned by the joint use of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and copper radiation single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). These AC determinations proved that the rearrangements of enediynes proceeded with memory of chirality and retention of configuration. Chirality 25:832-839, 2013. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A widely studied achiral porphyrin, which is highly soluble in aqueous solutions (TPPS4), is shown to self‐assemble into helical nanotubes. These were imaged by electron cryo‐microscopy and a state‐of‐the‐art image analysis allows building a map at ∼5 Å resolution, one of the highest obtained so far for molecular materials. The authors were able to trace the apparent symmetry breaking to existing nuclei in the “as received samples”, while carefully purified samples show that both handnesses occur in equal amounts.magnified image

One of the fundamental and intriguing aspects of life is the homochirality of the essential molecules. In this field, the absolute asymmetric synthesis of α-amino acids is a major challenge. Herein, we report access, by chemical means, to tertiary α-amino acid derivatives in up to 96 % ee without using any chiral reagent. In our strategy, the dynamic axial chirality of tertiary aromatic amides is frozen in a crystal and is responsible for the stereoselectivity of the subsequent steps. Furthermore, we could control the configuration of the final product by manually sorting and selecting the initial crystals. Based on vibrational circular dichroism studies, we could rationalize the observed stereoselectivity.

International audience; A one-step synthesis of a nanographene propeller with a D 3-symmetry was obtained starting from 7,8-dibromo[5]helicene by Yamamoto nickel(0) couplings. It afforded a chiral polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) embedding six enantiomerically stable [5]helicene units. This dense accumulation of helical strain resulted in a distorted geometry, but stable stereochemistry. The conformational, structural, chiroptical, and photophysical properties of the molecule are reported.

The chiral pentadentate low-spin (S = 1) oxoiron(IV) complex [FeIV(O)(asN4Py)]2+ (2) was synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. Its formation kinetics, reactivity, and (enantio)selectivity in an oxygen-atom-transfer reaction was investigated in detail and compared to a similar pentadentate ligand-containing system.

A new method for the construction of chiral indenes bearing two stereogenic centers is developed.

During a program dedicated to the biocatalytic access of structurally useful α-hydroxy ketones, we made the unexpected observation that epoxy enol acetates derived from (+)- and (–)-menthone stereoselectively rearranged on exposure to silica through a diastereoselective process, providing easy access to the complete set of α-hydroxymenthone stereoisomers. The absolute configurations of the four stereoisomers were unambiguously established by IR-VCD and X-ray diffraction, thus clarifying some literature discrepancy. Two of the four stereoisomers could also be obtained through astereoconvergent process, thus avoiding the inherent 50 % yield limitations of such diastereoselective reactions. A solvent-free version allowing an extremely rapid reaction (< 2 h) is also described. Finally, the observed diastereoselection was investigated by DFT calculations.

The structures and absolute configurations of the enantiomers (3aR,8aR)-2,2-dimethyl-4,4,8,8-tetraphenyl-4,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3aH-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-e][1,3]diazepin-6-one 0.33-hydrate, C32H30N2O3·0.33H2O, (Ia), and (3aS,8aS)-2,2-dimethyl-4,4,8,8-tetraphenyl-4,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3aH-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-e][1,3]diazepin-6-one 0.39-hydrate, C32H30N2O3·0.39H2O, (Ib), have been elucidated unambiguously using the complementary power of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). The enantiomers crystallize in the Sohncke space groupP21212 and pack as dimers stabilized by two symmetric hydrogen bonds involving one amide group each of the cyclic urea moiety. This double interaction is capped by a water molecule that partially occupies a site lying on the twofold axis and forms an uncommon hydrogen bond between the two monomers. A comparison between the solid-state VCD characterizations and the Bayesian statistics on Bijvoet differences determined from the XRD measurements reveals a tendency towards the correct determination of the absolute configuration by this latter method.

Bridging the gap: Configurationally stable ethano-bridged Tröger bases have been prepared in a single step by the direct rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction of methano-bridged Tröger bases and diazo esters (see scheme). The process is general, enantiospecific, diastereoselective (with introduction of a new quaternary carbon center), and regioselective.

Binuclear square planar Ni(II) complexes are described, formed by two tridentate ligands with two imine-nitrogens coordinating two nickel atoms. Such complexes are synthetically readily available with great structural variety and present new types of ridge-tile-like chiral compounds that are reasonably stable in the appropriate "bent" conformation. Enantiomerically pure samples of these compounds have been obtained for the first time using HPLC with a chiral stationary phase. Absolute configurations and chiroptical properties are fully characterized by ECD, VCD, ORD spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations. These new compounds with ridge-tile-like chiral topology are configurationally reasonably stable [DeltaG(double dagger) = 121.4 kJ mol(-1), t(1/2) = 14.9 h (78 degrees C, ethanol)], and therefore their chemistry, physical properties, and applications can be systematically studied.

Pd(II)-coordinated phosphinous acids catalyzed the formal enantioselective [2+1] cycloaddition of norbornene derivatives with terminal alkynes. The absolute configuration of (+)-3aa was assigned using VCD.

A working partnership: Metal-ligand cooperativity is responsible for the high activity of the rhodium amido complex 1 in the dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols with water, methanol, or amines, including ammonia (see scheme), to give carboxylic acids, methyl carboxylates, or amides, respectively. The catalysis proceeds under mild reaction conditions in the presence of a recyclable hydrogen acceptor A. The multistep mechanism was elucidated by computational methods.