Asymmetric Catalysis

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Asymmetric Catalysis SPECIAL FEATURE EDITORIAL Asymmetric Catalysis ighlighting this issue of William Knowles and his colleagues at but for the most part, these serve to re- PNAS and the forthcoming Monsanto demonstrated that rhodium mind us how much still remains to be one* is a Special Feature complexes containing chiral phosphine done to advance our understanding to comprising 8 Perspectives ligands were able to catalyze the enan- the point where rational design of such H catalysts can be undertaken with some and 44 research articles that cover tioselective addition of H2 to one of the aspects of asymmetric catalysis, the faces of a prochiral olefinic substrate confidence. Finally, one Perspective phenomenon whereby a chiral catalyst generating a chiral COH center with draws on insights derived from studies promotes the conversion of an achiral high enantioselectivity. This process was on asymmetric catalysis to speculate substrate to a chiral product with a pref- soon commercialized to produce the about the origins of the symmetry- erence for the formation of one of the anti-Parkinson drug, L-dopa, followed breaking that gave rise to the enantio- mirror image isomers (enantiomers). over the next three decades by the de- meric enrichment that characterizes The demand for chiral compounds, velopment of many other commercial living systems. Although the develop- often as single enantiomers, has esca- processes, as well as laboratory scale ments to date may engender the notion lated sharply in recent years, driven syntheses, to generate enantiomerically that little remains to be done, quite the particularly by the demands of the phar- enriched compounds. In recognition of converse is true. The most formidable maceutical industry, but also by other his achievement, Knowles shared the challenges of this field still lie ahead. applications, including agricultural 2001 Nobel Prize in chemistry with Interfacing with a variety of disci- chemicals, flavors, fragrances, and mate- Ryoji Noyori, also for work on asym- plines, including organic synthesis, organometallic chemistry, kinetics and rials. Two-thirds of prescription drugs metric catalytic hydrogenation, and with mechanisms, structural chemistry, biol- are chiral, with the majority of new K. Barry Sharpless for his work on ogy, and materials science, the theme of chiral drugs being single enantiomers. asymmetric catalytic oxidation. asymmetric catalysis seems particularly Although the most obvious applications This collection of Special Feature ar- appropriate for highlighting in a multi- are bio-related, materials science also ticles serves as an eloquent testimonial disciplinary journal such as PNAS. relies on the properties imparted by to how far this field has evolved. While This Special Feature on asymmetric chirality, notably in chiral polymers several contributions deal with the O O catalysis is one of a series of such and liquid crystals. This widespread generation of chiral C H and C O collections of articles that PNAS has demand for chiral compounds has stim- centers through asymmetric catalytic published in recent years, comprising ulated intensive research to develop hydrogenation and oxidation, respec- Perspectives and research articles fo- improved methods for synthesizing such tively, themes that dominated the early cussed on specific cutting-edge multidis- compounds. years of the field, the scope of asymmet- ciplinary topics. Themes of previous Historically, enantiomerically enriched ric catalysis has grown to encompass a features have included: Astrobiology; compounds were generated either by wide range of other reactions, greatly Evolutionary Developmental Biology; chemical transformation of an enantio- expanding the accessible methodologies Rapid Climate Change; Social and merically enriched precursor, often de- for generating enantiomerically enriched Behavioral Sciences; Supramolecular rived directly or indirectly from nature’s organic compounds. More than half the Chemistry and Self-Assembly; Bio- chiral pool, or by resolving an equimolar articles in the collection deal with the inorganic Chemistry; and, most recently, (racemic) mixture of the two enanti- generation of chiral carbon centers Science and Technology for Sustainable omers. Both of these approaches suffer through COC bond forming reactions, Development. Scheduled for future is- from potentially severe drawbacks, the including the nucleophilic addition of sues of PNAS are special features on former in requiring stoichiometric organometallic reagents to aldehydes, Natural Products Synthesis and on amounts of a suitable precursor and the ketones, and imines; conjugate addi- Chemical Theory and Computations. latter in typically yielding only up to tions; aldol reactions; allylic alkylations; One objective of these Special Features 50% of the desired enantiomer. Diels–Alder reactions; 1.3-dipolar addi- is to advance the journal’s ongoing ini- Asymmetric catalysis, in which each tions; enyne cyclizations; cyclopropana- tiative to expand its coverage of the molecule of chiral catalyst, by virtue of tion; and olefin-metathesis; as well as physical and social sciences. PNAS con- being continually regenerated, can yield with the application of these and related tinues to encourage and welcome re- many molecules of chiral product, has reactions to the synthesis of chiral natu- search articles in all areas of the natural significant potential advantages over ral products. Other themes include: the and social sciences and mathematics. these older procedures. Indeed, enantio- design and application of new chiral li- Jack Halpern merically pure compounds are produced gands, including helical polymers and in nature by such chirality transfer from resin-supported phosphines, for metal- Barry M. Trost enzymic catalysts. However, it was only based asymmetric catalysts; enhancing relatively recently that such asymmetric the enantioselectivity of enzymes by *Supplementing the articles in this issue, the forthcoming catalysis, with enantiomeric excesses ap- ‘‘adaptive evolution’’; and modeling issue of PNAS (no. 16, April 20, 2004) will include 4 addi- proaching 100%, was achieved with syn- aspects of asymmetric catalysis compu- tional Perspectives and 22 additional research articles that thetic catalysts. A major breakthrough tationally. A few articles address mecha- also are part of this Special Feature. occurred in the early 1970s, when nistic aspects of asymmetric catalysis, © 2004 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA www.pnas.org͞cgi͞doi͞10.1073͞pnas.0401811101 PNAS ͉ April 13, 2004 ͉ vol. 101 ͉ no. 15 ͉ 5347 Downloaded by guest on October 2, 2021.
Recommended publications
  • Chiral Auxiliaries and Optical Resolving Agents
    Chiral Auxiliaries and Optical Resolving Agents Most bioactive substances are optically active. For instance, if This brochure introduces a variety of chiral auxiliaries and a substance is synthesized as a racemic compound, its optical resolving agents. We hope that it will be useful for your enantiomer may show no activity or even undesired bioactivity. research of the synthesis of optically active compounds. Thus, methods to gain enantiopure compounds have been Additionally, TCI has some brochures introducing chiral developed. When synthesizing enantiopure compounds, the compounds for the chiral pool method in “Chiral Building Blocks”, methods are roughly divided into three methods. “Terpenes”, “Amino Acids” and other brochures. Sugar derivatives are also introduced in a catalog, “Reagents for Glyco Chemistry Chiral pool method: & Biology”, and category pages of sugar chains. Furthermore, The method using an easily available chiral compound as a TCI has many kinds of catalysts for asymmetric synthesis and starting material like an amino acid or sugar. introduce them in brochures such as “Asymmetric Synthesis” and Asymmetric synthesis: “Asymmetric Organocatalysts”, and other contents. The method to introduce an asymmetric point to compounds You can search our information through “asymmetric synthesis” without an asymmetric point. Syntheses using achiral as a keyword. auxiliaries are included here. Optical resolution: The method to separate a racemic compound into two ● Reactions with Chiral Auxiliaries enantiomers. The direct method using a chiral column and One of the most famous named reactions using chiral auxiliaries1) the indirect method to separate two enantiomers using is the Evans aldol reaction.2) This reaction is quite useful because optical resolving agents to convert into diastereomers are this reaction can efficiently introduce two asymmetric carbons into examples.
    [Show full text]
  • Separation of the Mixtures of Chiral Compounds by Crystallization
    1 Separation of the Mixtures of Chiral Compounds by Crystallization Emese Pálovics2, Ferenc Faigl1,2 and Elemér Fogassy1* 1Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 2Research Group for Organic Chemical Technology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary 1. Introduction Reaction of a racemic acid or base with an optically active base or acid gives a pair of diastereomeric salts. Members of this pair exhibit different physicochemical properties (e.g., solubility, melting point, boiling point, adsorbtion, phase distribution) and can be separated owing to these differences. The most important method for the separation of enantiomers is the crystallization. This is the subject of this chapter. Preparation of enantiopure (ee~100%) compounds is one of the most important aims both for industrial practice and research. Actually, the resolution of racemic compounds (1:1 mixture of molecules having mirror-imagine relationship) still remains the most common method for producing pure enantiomers on a large scale. In these cases the enantiomeric mixtures or a sort of their derivatives are separated directly. This separation is based on the fact that the enantiomeric ratio in the crystallized phase differs from the initial composition. In this way, obtaining pure enantiomers requires one or more recrystallizations. (Figure 1). The results of these crystallizations (recrystallizations) of mixtures of chiral compounds differ from those observed at the achiral compounds. Expectedly, not only the stereoisomer in excess can be crystallized, because the mixture of enantiomers (with mirror image relationship) follows the regularities established from binary melting point phase diagrams, and ternary composition solubility diagrams, respectively, as a function of the starting enantiomer proportion.
    [Show full text]
  • A Reminder… Chirality: a Type of Stereoisomerism
    A Reminder… Same molecular formula, isomers but not identical. constitutional isomers stereoisomers Different in the way their Same connectivity, but different atoms are connected. spatial arrangement. and trans-2-butene cis-2-butene are stereoisomers. Chirality: A Type of Stereoisomerism Any object that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image is chiral. Any object that can be superimposed on its mirror image is achiral. Chirality: A Type of Stereoisomerism Molecules can also be chiral or achiral. How do we know which? Example #1: Is this molecule chiral? 1. If a molecule can be superimposed on its mirror image, it is achiral. achiral. Mirror Plane of Symmetry = Achiral Example #1: Is this molecule chiral? 2. If you can find a mirror plane of symmetry in the molecule, in any achiral. conformation, it is achiral. Can subject unstable conformations to this test. ≡ achiral. Finding Chirality in Molecules Example #2: Is this molecule chiral? 1. If a molecule cannot be superimposed on its mirror image, it is chiral. chiral. The mirror image of a chiral molecule is called its enantiomer. Finding Chirality in Molecules Example #2: Is this molecule chiral? 2. If you cannot find a mirror plane of symmetry in the molecule, in any conformation, it is chiral. chiral. (Or maybe you haven’t looked hard enough.) Pharmacology of Enantiomers (+)-esomeprazole (-)-esomeprazole proton pump inhibitor inactive Prilosec: Mixture of both enantiomers. Patent to AstraZeneca expired 2002. Nexium: (+) enantiomer only. Process patent coverage to 2007. More examples at http://z.umn.edu/2301drugs. (+)-ibuprofen (-)-ibuprofen (+)-carvone (-)-carvone analgesic inactive (but is converted to spearmint oil caraway oil + enantiomer by an enzyme) Each enantiomer is recognized Advil (Wyeth) is a mixture of both enantiomers.
    [Show full text]
  • II. Stereochemistry 5
    B.Sc.(H) Chemistry Semester - II Core Course - III (CC-III) Organic Chemistry - I II. Stereochemistry 5. Physical and Chemical Properties of Stereoisomers Dr. Rajeev Ranjan University Department of Chemistry Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi 1 Syllabus & Coverage Syllabus II Stereochemistry: Fischer Projection, Newmann and Sawhorse Projection formulae and their interconversions. Geometrical isomerism: cis–trans and syn-anti isomerism, E/Z notations with Cahn Ingold and Prelog (CIP) rules for determining absolute configuration. Optical Isomerism: Optical Activity, Specific Rotation, Chirality/Asymmetry, Enantiomers, Molecules with two or more chiral-centres, Distereoisomers, Meso structures, Racemic mixture. Resolution of Racemic mixtures. Relative and absolute configuration: D/L and R/S designations. Coverage: 1. Types of Isomers : Comparing Structures 2. Optical Activity 3. Racemic Mixtures : Separation of Racemic Mixtures 4. Enantiomeric Excess and Optical Purity 5. Relative and Absolute Configuration 6. Physical and Chemical Properties of Stereoisomers 2 Stereochemistry Types of Isomers Dr. Rajeev Ranjan 3 Stereochemistry Determining the Relationship Between Two Non-Identical Molecules Dr. Rajeev Ranjan 4 Stereochemistry Comparing Structures: Are the structures connected the same? yes no Are they mirror images? Constitutional Isomers yes no Enantiomers Enantiomers Is there a plane of symmetry? All chiral centers will be opposite between them. yes no Meso Diastereomers superimposable Dr. Rajeev Ranjan 5 Stereochemistry Optical Activity: • The chemical and physical properties of two enantiomers are identical except in their interaction with chiral substances. • The physical property that differs is the behavior when subjected to plane-polarized light ( this physical property is often called an optical property). • Plane-polarized (polarized) light is light that has an electric vector that oscillates in a single plane.
    [Show full text]
  • Enantioselective Synthesis of the (1S,5R)-Enantiomer of Litseaverticillols a and B
    Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 70 (10), 2564–2566, 2006 Note Enantioselective Synthesis of the (1S,5R)-Enantiomer of Litseaverticillols A and B y Akira MORITA, Hiromasa KIYOTA, and Shigefumi KUWAHARA Laboratory of Applied Bioorganic Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan Received May 8, 2006; Accepted May 31, 2006; Online Publication, October 7, 2006 [doi:10.1271/bbb.60253] An enantioselective synthesis of the (1S,5R)-enan- which have recently culminated in the first enantiose- tiomer of litseaverticillols A and B was accomplished in lective total synthesis of (1R,5S)-(À)-1 and (1R,5S)-(À)- line with our previously reported synthetic pathway for 2.4) In this note, we describe the synthesis of their their (1R,5S)-enantiomer. The use of ‘‘EtSCeCl2’’ pre- enantiomers directed toward an evaluation of the differ- pared from EtSLi and CeCl3, instead of previously ence in biological activity between the enantiomers of employed EtSLi itself, for the formation of thiol ester litseaverticillols A and B. intermediates prevented any undesirable epimerization Our synthesis of (1S,5R)-1 and (1S,5R)-2 basically occurring in the process. followed our previous synthesis of their corresponding enantiomers, (1R,5S)-1 and (1R,5S)-2, respectively,4) Key words: litseaverticillol; enantioselective synthesis; except that (R)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one was employed sesquiterpenoid; anti-HIV as the source of chirality, instead of its (S)-form used in the previous synthesis. Homogeranic
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture 3: Stereochemistry and Drugs Key Objectives: 1
    Lecture 3: Stereochemistry and drugs Key objectives: 1. Be able to explain the role of stereochemistry in drug action or metabolism 2. Be able to identify a chiral center (or centers) in a drug 3. Be able to explain the difference between enantiomers and diastereomers Value of chirality and stereochemistry: Chirality as expressed through stereoisomers increases the specificity of molecule recognition and signaling. Like a key in a lock, or a hand in a glove. Some useful definitions: Chirality (and chiral centers): An object (such as a molecule) that is asymmetric and therefore not superimposable on its own image. Chiral centers are the most common features within molecules that give rise to chirality. Stereoisomer: A molecule that possesses at least one chiral center (or center of chirality). Enantiomers: A type of stereoisomer that exists in mirror image forms. See Figure 1. Diastereomers: A type of stereoisomer that possesses more than one chiral center. Stereospecific: A term used to describe a stereochemical property that one isomer possesses but the other does not. For example, the stereospecific metabolism of the S-enantiomer of a compound by an enzyme but the R-enantiomer is not metabolized by that enzyme. Stereoselective: A term used to describe a stereochemical property that is shared by both stereoisomers, but the property is greater in one isomer than the other. For example, the stereoselective binding of the R-enantiomer for a receptor indicates that the S-enantiomer also binds but not as avidly as the R-enantiomer. Enantiomers Figure 1: For enantiomers, many times we use the example of our left and right hands to demonstrate their asymmetry.
    [Show full text]
  • Cross-Linked Protein Crystal Technology in Bioseparation and Biocatalytic Applications
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Aaltodoc Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Chemical Technology Technical Biochemistry Report 1/2004 Espoo 2004 TKK-BE-8 CROSS-LINKED PROTEIN CRYSTAL TECHNOLOGY IN BIOSEPARATION AND BIOCATALYTIC APPLICATIONS Antti Vuolanto Dissertation for the degree of Doctor in Science in Technology to be presented with due permission of the Department of Chemical Technology for public examination and debate in Auditorium KE 2 (Komppa Auditorium) at Helsinki University of Technology (Espoo, Finland) on the 20th of August, 2004, at 12 noon. Helsinki University of Technology Department of Chemical Technology Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering Teknillinen korkeakoulu Kemian osasto Bioprosessitekniikan laboratorio Distribution: Helsinki University of Technology Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering P.O. Box 6100 FIN-02015 HUT Tel. +358-9-4512541 Fax. +358-9-462373 E-mail: [email protected] ©Antti Vuolanto ISBN 951-22-7176-1 (printed) ISBN 951-22-7177-X (pdf) ISSN 0359-6621 Espoo 2004 Vuolanto, Antti. Cross-linked protein crystal technology in bioseparation and biocatalytic applications. Espoo 2004, Helsinki University of Technology. Abstract Chemical cross-linking of protein crystals form an insoluble and active protein matrix. Cross-linked protein crystals (CLPCs) have many excellent properties including high volumetric activity and stability. In this thesis CLPC technology was studied in bioseparation and biocatalytic applications. A novel immunoaffinity separation material, cross-linked antibody crystals (CLAC), was developed in this thesis for enantiospecific separation of a chiral drug, finrozole. Previously, the preparation of an antibody Fab fragment ENA5His capable of enantiospecific affinity separation of the chiral drug has been described.
    [Show full text]
  • Diastereomers Diastereomers
    Diastereomers Diastereomers: Stereoisomers that are not mirror images. enantiomer (R) (S) (S) (R) diastereomers diastereomer diastereomer enantiomer (R) (S) (R) (S) Diastereomers Diastereomers: Stereoisomers that are not mirror images. (R) enantiomer (S) (S) (R) diastereomer To draw the enantiomer of a molecule with chiral centers, invert stereochemistry at all chiral centers. (R) To draw a diastereomer of a molecule (R) with chiral centers, invert stereochemistry at only some chiral centers. Meso Compounds Meso: A molecule that contains chiral centers, but is achiral. 3 Are these molecules chiral? (R) (S) (These are diff eren t f rom th e 3 molecules I just showed; they have 2 -Cl’s, rather than 1 -Cl & 1 -OH. enantiomer (R) (S) (R) (S) These molecules are chiral mirror images of one another. (R,R) and (S,S) are not the same. Meso Compounds Meso: A molecule that contains chiral centers, but is achiral. 3 enantiomer ? (R) (S) (S) (R) no! 3 same molecule! enantiomer (R) (S) (R) (S) Meso Compounds Meso: A molecule that contains chiral centers, but is achiral. 3 enantiomer ? (R) (S) (S) (R) no! 3 same molecule! If a molecule • contains the same number of (R) and (S) stereocenters, and • those stereocenters have identical groups attached, then the molecule is achiral and meso. Meso Compounds Meso: A molecule that contains chiral centers, but is achiral. 3 same molecule (R) (S) (S) (R) 3 meso diastereomers meso diastereomer diastereomer enantiomer (R) (S) (R) (S) chiral chiral Properties of Enantiomers Most physical properties of enantiomers are identical. diethyl-(R,R)-tartrate diethyl-(S,S)-tartrate boiling point 280 °C 280 °C melting point 19 °C 19 °C density 1.204 g/mL 1.204 g/mL refractive index 1.447 1.447 i.e., chirality does not affect most physical properties.
    [Show full text]
  • The Racemate-To-Homochiral Approach to Crystal Engineering Via Chiral Symmetry-Breaking
    CrystEngComm The Racemate -to -Homochiral Approach to Crystal Engineering via Chiral Symmetry-Breaking Journal: CrystEngComm Manuscript ID: CE-HIG-02-2015-000402.R1 Article Type: Highlight Date Submitted by the Author: 04-Apr-2015 Complete List of Authors: An, Guanghui; Heilongjiang University, School of Chemistry and Materials Science Yan, Pengfei; Heilongjiang University, School of Chemistry and Materials Science Sun, Jingwen; Heilongjiang University, School of Chemistry and Materials Science Li, Yuxin; School of Chemsitry and Materials Science of Heilongjiang University, Yao, Xu; Heilongjiang University, School of Chemistry and Materials Science Li, Guangming; School of Chemsitry and Materials Science of Heilongjiang University, Page 1 of 12Journal Name CrystEngComm Dynamic Article Links ► Cite this: DOI: 10.1039/c0xx00000x www.rsc.org/xxxxxx ARTICLE TYPE The Racemate-to-Homochiral Approach to Crystal Engineering via Chiral Symmetry-Breaking Guanghui An, a Pengfei Yan, a Jingwen Sun, a Yuxin Li, a Xu Yao, a Guangming Li,* a Received (in XXX, XXX) Xth XXXXXXXXX 20XX, Accepted Xth XXXXXXXXX 20XX 5 DOI: 10.1039/b000000x The racemate-to-homochiral approach is to transform or separate the racemic mixture into homo chiral compounds. This protocol, if without an external chiral source, is categorized into chiral symmetry- breaking. The resolution processes without chiral induction are highly important for the investigation on the origin of homochirality in life, pharmaceutical synthesis, chemical industrial and material science. 10 Besides the study on the models and mechanisms to explain the racemate-to-homochiral approach which may give the probable origin of homochirality in life, the recent developments in this field have been plotted towards the separation of enantiomers for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, chiral chemicals.
    [Show full text]
  • Enantiomers & Diastereomers
    Chapter 5 Stereochemistry Chiral Molecules Ch. 5 - 1 1. Chirality & Stereochemistry An object is achiral (not chiral) if the object and its mirror image are identical Ch. 5 - 2 A chiral object is one that cannot be superposed on its mirror image Ch. 5 - 3 1A. The Biological Significance of Chirality Chiral molecules are molecules that cannot be superimposable with their mirror images O O ● One enantiomer NH causes birth defects, N O the other cures morning sickness O Thalidomide Ch. 5 - 4 HO NH HO OMe Tretoquinol OMe OMe ● One enantiomer is a bronchodilator, the other inhibits platelet aggregation Ch. 5 - 5 66% of all drugs in development are chiral, 51% are being studied as a single enantiomer Of the $475 billion in world-wide sales of formulated pharmaceutical products in 2008, $205 billion was attributable to single enantiomer drugs Ch. 5 - 6 2. Isomerisom: Constitutional Isomers & Stereoisomers 2A. Constitutional Isomers Isomers: different compounds that have the same molecular formula ● Constitutional isomers: isomers that have the same molecular formula but different connectivity – their atoms are connected in a different order Ch. 5 - 7 Examples Molecular Constitutional Formula Isomers C4H10 and Butane 2-Methylpropane Cl Cl C3H7Cl and 1-Chloropropane 2-Chloropropane Ch. 5 - 8 Examples Molecular Constitutional Formula Isomers CH O CH C H O OH and 3 3 2 6 Ethanol Methoxymethane O OCH and 3 C H O OH 4 8 2 O Butanoic acid Methyl propanoate Ch. 5 - 9 2B. Stereoisomers Stereoisomers are NOT constitutional isomers Stereoisomers have their atoms connected in the same sequence but they differ in the arrangement of their atoms in space.
    [Show full text]
  • Lectures 2014
    Selective Organic Synthesis KD 2390 (9 hp) Christina Moberg The advent of organic chemistry shaped the world • Biology is dependent on organic synthesis • Organic synthesis is the foundation for biotechnology, nanotechnology, pharmaceutical industry, and material industry About the course: • Disposition: lectures, exercises, lab, workshop • Course book: Clayden, Greeves and Warren Organic Chemistry, Oxford University Press, 2012 (ISBN 978-0-19-927029-3) [or Clayden, Greeves, Warren and Wothers: Organic Chemistry, Oxford University Press, 2001 (ISBN 0 19 850346 6)] and distributed material • Examination: oral exam, lab work (lab and workshop compulsory) After the course the student should be able to:" " • Describe basic stereochemical concepts • Describe principles for stereoselective synthesis, in particular for enantioselective synthesis • Explain the stereochemistry observed in chemical reactions • Suggest methods for stereoselective synthesis of simple organic compounds containing stereogenic elements • Identify suitable reagents for stereoselective transformations • Use retrosynthetic analysis for the construction of synthetic routes for simple organic compounds • Prepare organic compounds using advanced synthetic methodology Contents • Fundamental stereochemical concepts • Synthetic strategy and principles for stereoselective, in particular enantioselective, chemical transformations • Transition metal catalysis • Applications of frontier orbital theory • Retrosynthetic analysis • Advanced organic synthesis Marcellin Pierre Eugène Berthelot (1827 - 1907) " "La Chimie crée ses objets" “This is an important point: neither biology nor chemistry would be served best by a development in which all organic chemists would simply become biological such that, as a consequence, research at the core of organic chemistry and, therefore, progress in understanding the reactivity of organic molecules, would dry out. Progress at its core in understanding and reasoning in not only essential for organic chemistry itself, but for life sciences as a whole.
    [Show full text]
  • Chirality in Chemical Molecules
    Chirality in Chemical Molecules. Molecules which are active in human physiology largely function as keys in locks. The active molecule is then called a ligand and the lock a receptor. The structures of both are highly specific to the degree that if one atom is positioned in a different position than that required by the receptor to be activated, then no stimulation of the receptor or only partial activation can take place. Again in a similar fashion if one tries to open the front door with a key that looks almost the same than the proper key for that lock, one will usually fail to get inside. A simple aspect like a lengthwise groove on the key which is on the left side instead of the right side, can mean that you can not open the lock if your key is the “chirally incorrect” one. The second aspect to understand is which molecules display chirality and which do not. The word chiral comes from the Greek which means “hand-like”. Our hands are mirror images of each other and as such are not identical. If they were, then we would not need a right hand and left hand glove. We can prove that they are not identical by trying to lay one hand on top of the other palms up. When we attempt to do this, we observe that the thumbs and fingers do not lie on top of one another. We say that they are non-super imposable upon one another. Since they are not the same and yet are mirror images of each other, they are said to exhibit chirality.
    [Show full text]