Modification of chemoselectivity and

Modification of Chemoselectivity and Regioselectivity 239 Tab. 5.2. Benzylation of 2-pyridone (31). Product distribution. 

Until recently, iron-catalyzed hydrogenation reactions of alkenes and alkynes required high pressure of hydrogen (250-300 atm) and high temperature (around 200°C) [21-23], which were unacceptable for industrial processes [24, 25]. In addition, these reactions showed low or no chemoselectivity presumably due to the harsh reaction conditions. Therefore, modifications of the iron catalysts were desired. 

Hydroarylation, (addition of H-Ar, Ar = aryl), of alkynes, catalysed by Pd(OOCCH3)2 or Pd(OOCCFj)j in acetic acid, is an atom-economic reaction, giving rise to substituted c/i-stilbenes (Fujiwara reaction). Catalytic conversions and improved chemoselectivity to the mono-coupled product under mild conditions can be achieved by modification of the metal coordination sphere with NHC ligands. Hydroarylation of mesitylene by ethylpropiolate (Scheme 2.19) catalysed by complex 107 (Fig. 2.18) proceeds in good conversions (80-99%, 1 mol%) under mild conditions at room temperature. 

In 1968 Wilkinson discovered that phosphine-modified rhodium complexes display a significantly higher activity and chemoselectivity compared to the first generation cobalt catalyst [29]. Since this time ligand modification of the rhodium catalyst system has been the method of choice in order to influence catalyst activity and selectivity [10]. 

The activation of enzymes using adipic acid dihydrazide and EDC is identical to the procedure outlined for the modification of (strept)avidin (Chapter 23, Section 5). Alternatively, hydrazide groups may be created on enzymes using the heterobifunctional chemoselective reagents described in Chapter 17, Section 2. 

Addition chemistry has developed into a promising tool for the modification and derivatization of the surface of nanotubes [24, 26], However, it is difficult to achieve chemoselectivity and regioselectivity control of addition reactions, requiring hot addends such as arynes, carbenes, radicals, nitrenes or halogens under drastic reaction conditions. 

In the metal hydride reduction of two different ketones, the sterically less hindered ketone is generally reduced more easily, and modification of hydride reagents by replacement of the hydrides with sterically bulky substituents or electron-withdrawing groups enhances the chemoselectivity. MAD, however, preferentially forms complexes with sterically less hindered or more basic ketone carbonyls, enabling selective reduction of a more hindered, free ketone. Here, MAD behaves as a protector of carbonyl substrates (Sch. 118) [160]. 

The development of chemoselective reactions to give a native peptide bond at the site of hgation allows the synthesis of proteins with little or no modification to the covalent structure. A native structure at the ligation site is often desirable in the middle of protein structural domains (amino acid 60-120). The challenge of this approach is to form an amide bond chemoselectively in the presence of free amine side chains (Lys) and carboxylate side chains (Glu/Asp). Ideally, no protecting groups should be used for any of the amino acid side chains as they limit peptide solubility and require additional deprotection steps that can severely reduce the yield and convenience of the synthesis. 

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