From carbohydrate-derived ketene dithioacetals to 1--thioglycals: a synthetic and theoretical insight.

A strategy for the synthesis of 1--substituted thioglycals was developed from cyclic carbohydrate-derived ketene dithioacetals in a four-step sequence. The corresponding thioglycals, in two carbohydrate series, were first obtained by removal of the exocyclic glycosyl sulfoxide, followed by treatment with an organolithium reagent. Various electrophilic groups were introduced onto the thioglycal double bond after deprotonation and formation of a glycosyl lithium intermediate.

New insight into atomic-level interpretation of interactions in molecules and reacting systems.

We hereby introduce the atomic degree of interaction (DOI), a new concept rooted in the electron density-based independent gradient model (IGM). Capturing any manifestation of electron density sharing around an atom, including covalent and non-covalent situations, this index reflects the attachment strength of an atom to its molecular neighbourhood. It is shown to be very sensitive to the local chemical environment of the atom.

Deciphering the Role of Noncovalent Interactions in the Conformations of Dibenzo-1,5-dichalcogenocines.

This work reports a combined experimental and theoretical study on the new dibenzo-1,5-ditellurocine 2-Te in order to get an overview on the parameters controlling conformational change and to explain the differences with sulfur and selenium analogues. The preference of the boat conformer over the chair one is revealed by DFT calculations. For 2-Te, a ΔG value of about 3 kJ/mol was calculated, close to the value measured by NMR (5 kJ/mol).

Mechanistic insights into Smiles rearrangement. Focus on π-π stacking interactions along the radical cascade.

The synthesis of new arene and heteroarene scaffolds of therapeutic interest has generated a renewed interest in the domino radical cyclisation-Smiles. In this work we present a detailed mechanistic investigation of the radical version of a cascade involving a desulfonative Smiles rearrangement on an aromatic ring bearing a sulfonamide linker. Competing routes have been explored to characterize the molecular mechanism of the studied reaction.

New Way for Probing Bond Strength.

The covalent chemical bond is intimately linked to electron sharing between atoms. The recent independent gradient model (IGM) and its δ descriptor provide a way to quantify locally this electron density interpenetration from wavefunction calculations. Each bond has its own IGM-δ signature.

The Independent Gradient Model: A New Approach for Probing Strong and Weak Interactions in Molecules from Wave Function Calculations.

Extraction of the chemical interaction signature from local descriptors based on electron density (ED) is still a fruitful field of development in chemical interpretation. In a previous work that used promolecular ED (frozen ED), the new descriptor, δg , was defined. It represents the difference between a virtual upper limit of the ED gradient (∇ρIGM , IGM=independent gradient model) that represents a noninteracting system and the true ED gradient (∇ρ ).

Development of the first model of a phosphorylated, ATP/Mg-containing B-Raf monomer by molecular dynamics simulations: a tool for structure-based design.

A model of phosphorylated and ATP-containing B-Raf protein kinase is needed as a tool for the structure-based design of new allosteric inhibitors, since no crystal structure of such a system has been resolved. Here, we present the development of such a model as well as a thorough analysis of its structural features. This model was prepared using a systematic molecular dynamics approach considering the presence or absence of both the phosphate group at the Thr599 site and the ATP molecule.

Accurately extracting the signature of intermolecular interactions present in the NCI plot of the reduced density gradient versus electron density.

An electron density (ED)-based methodology is developed for the automatic identification of intermolecular interactions using pro-molecular density. The expression of the ED gradient in terms of atomic components furnishes the basis for the Independent Gradient Model (IGM). This model leads to a density reference for non interacting atoms/fragments where the atomic densities are added whilst their interaction turns off.

Metalation of pyridines with nBuLi-Li-aminoalkoxide mixed aggregates: The origin of chemoselectivity.

The reactivity of alkyllithium-lithium-aminoalkoxide unimetallic superbases has been investigated. These systems are used for deprotonative lithiation of pyridine derivatives in apolar non-coordinating media with excellent regio- and chemoselectivity, in deep contrast with alkyllithium. With the aim of getting a better understanding of the chemistry behind these promising reagents, we have carried out a joint experimental and theoretical study of the metalation of 2-chloropyridine with combinations of nBuLi and (S)-(-)-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinylmethoxide (LiPM).

Structure of mixed alkyllithium/lithium alkoxide aggregates in ethereal solvents. Insights from combined QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations.

Mixed alkyllithium/lithium alkoxides aggregates are important species in synthetic organic chemistry, but their electronic and geometric properties have not been extensively studied yet. The main objective of this work was to analyze the structure of simple prototypical aggregates in a coordinating solvent with the help of elaborated theoretical chemistry calculations. Within this aim, we have carried out molecular dynamics simulations for MeOLi, (EtLi)(MeOLi), and (EtLi)(2)(MeOLi)(2) systems in dimethyl ether solution.

A theoretical study on nBuLi/lithium aminoalkoxide aggregation in hexane and THF.

Theoretical calculations on aggregation of nBuLi/lithium aminoalkoxide superbases, such as nBuLi/LiDMAE (LiDMAE = Me(2)N(CH(2))(2)OLi) and nBuLi/LiPM (LiPM = Li-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidine methoxide) in gas phase and solution are reported. The combination of equimolar amounts of each component in hexane induced unusual reactivity of the resulting superbase, which remains misunderstood. In order to elucidate the corresponding reaction mechanisms, it is imperative to get a deeper insight into the energetics of aggregation and the effect of the medium on equilibrium constants.