Encoded by the UUU and UUC codons of the genetic code, L-phenylalanine (LPA) serves as an important precursor for tyrosine and various other compounds that are necessary to support life on earth. Here, we report the synthesis (both in solid and solvent phases) and characterization of the Ni(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+) complexes of LPA by several analytical, spectral, thermal, and electrochemical techniques. The results reveal that the products formed by following the two synthetic approaches are the same, and the metal ions bind to the LPA molecules in a 1:2 molar ratio (M(+2)/LPA). Complementary geometries of the metal complexes are modeled involving the most predominant LPA conformers predicted at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level. The gaseous and aqueous phase interaction enthalpies and free energies; theoretical IR and UV-vis spectra; HOMO-LUMO energy gaps; dipole moments; Wiberg bond indices as well as the partial atomic charges in LPA and its metallic complexes are calculated and evaluated using B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) as the main computational method. This study also incorporates analyses on the efficacy of the DFT-D2 level in describing dispersion contributions, performance of the BHandHLYP functional for the open-shell Cu(2+)-LPA system, and relative metal binding affinities of the singlet versus triplet states of the Ni(2+)-LPA complex. Metal-π interactions established via the aromatic side chain of LPA add to the thermodynamic stability of the complexes, whereas metal coordination induces considerable intrinsic structural rearrangements in the molecular geometry of LPA. The LPA binding affinity order of the three Lewis acids investigated emerges as Cu(2+) > Ni(2+) > Zn(2+), paralleling the Irving-Williams series. The illustrative evidence offered by the present work suggests that the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level in combination with an empirical dispersion-correction term performs well in describing the vibrational frequencies and cation-π interactions, which are undoubtedly of immense significance for natural sciences.

Amberlyst A21 was found to be an extremely efficient catalyst for synthesis of a series of 6-amino-4-alkyl/ aryl-3-methyl-2,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-carbonitriles by a four-component reaction of a mixture of ethyl acetoacetate, hydrazine hydrate, aldehyde, and malononitrile in ethanol at room temperature. The catalytic efficiency of Amberlyst A21 was compared with some other resin-bound free and anionic bases in order to ascertain the best catalyst for the said conversion. The catalyst was found to work extremely well also for acyclic/cyclic ketones to give corresponding dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles or their spirocyclic variants. Easy recovery of the catalyst and its reusability, room temperature reaction conditions, short reaction time, excellent yields, no chromatographic purification, and evasion of environmentally hazardous solvents in the entire reaction process may make this protocol very useful for academia and industry.

Molecular electrostatic potentials inl-Val and its metal complexes.

No abstract

Amberlyst A21, a neutral ion-exchange resin and a solid base, can catalyze the threecomponent reaction of aldehyde and malononitrile with various active methylene compounds at room temperature to synthesize a range of pharmaceutically important pyran annulated heterocycles. Use of the solid base could generate a highly green protocol by eliminating chromatographic purification that involves hazardous organic solvents, and facilitate easy recovery and reusability of the catalyst.