Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy provides a powerful approach for the direct study of molecular dynamics with high spatial and temporal resolution. Its application for investigating specific locations in proteins requires the incorporation of IR probe groups with spectrally isolated absorptions to avoid the congestion inherent to protein spectra. This has motivated extensive efforts toward the development of new IR probes, but there remains a need for those that can extend the experimental time range, which is limited by their vibrational lifetimes. Toward this goal, isotopically labeled p-(CN-cyano)phenylalanine was synthesized, site-selectively incorporated into the protein plastocyanin, and evaluated for its potential as a 2D IR probe. The isotopic labeling increases the vibrational lifetime about 2-fold, which results in larger signals at longer time scales. However, isotopic labeling simultaneously shifts the absorption to a spectral region with greater water absorbance, which results in greater heating-induced signals in the background that overlap those of the nitrile probe. The study demonstrates the use of a new 2D IR probe to measure the side chain dynamics in a protein and also illustrates the multiple factors to consider in development of 2D IR probes for studying proteins.

We report a highly enantioselective radical-based hydroamination of enol esters with sulfonamides jointly catalyzed by an Ir photocatalyst, Brønsted base, and tetrapeptide thiol. This method is demonstrated for the formation of 23 protected βamino-alcohol products, achieving selectivities up to 97:3 er. The stereochemistry of the product is set through selective hydrogen atom transfer from the chiral thiol catalyst to a prochiral Ccentered radical. Structure−selectivity relationships derived from structural variation of both the peptide catalyst and olefin substrate provide key insights into the development of an optimal catalyst. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies indicate that hydrogen-bonding, π−π stacking, and London dispersion interactions are contributing factors for substrate recognition and enantioinduction. These findings further the development of radicalbased asymmetric catalysis and contribute to the understanding of the noncovalent interactions relevant to such transformations.

The synthesis of triarylmethanes via Pd-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reactions between diarylmethyl 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzoates and aryl boronic acids is described. The system operates under mild conditions and has a broad substrate scope, including the coupling of diphenylmethanol derivatives that do not contain extended aromatic substituents. This is significant as these substrates, which result in the types of triarylmethane products that are prevalent in pharmaceuticals, have not previously been compatible with systems for diarylmethyl ester coupling. Furthermore, the reaction can be performed stereospecifically to generate stereoinverted products. On the basis of DFT calculations, it is proposed that the oxidative addition of the diarylmethyl 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzoate substrate occurs via an SN2 pathway, which results in the inverted products. Mechanistic studies indicate that oxidative addition of the diarylmethyl 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzoate substrates to (IPr)­Pd(0) results in the selective cleavage of the O–C­(benzyl) bond in part because of a stabilizing η3-interaction between the benzyl ligand and Pd. This is in contrast to previously described Pd-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reactions involving phenyl esters, which involve selective cleavage of the C­(acyl)–O bond, because there is no stabilizing η3-interaction. It is anticipated that this fundamental knowledge will aid the development of new catalytic systems, which use esters as electrophiles in cross-coupling reactions.

Noncanonical amino acids (NCAAs) are imperative to many facets of chemistry and biology. Herein, we report a method for the reductive hydrodifluoroalkylation of olefins that utilizes triethylamine base as the terminal reductant. The alkene acceptors include a range of electronically diverse alkenes, chief among them, dehydroalanine in variously protected forms, which provides access to synthetically relevant NCAA scaffolds under mild and general reaction conditions. We have demonstrated that a chiral auxiliary may be incorporated to provide diastereocontrol for pro-stereogenic substrates. Mechanistically motivated experiments provide some insight into the reaction mechanism, which supports a terminal step involving proton transfer for electron-poor olefins, while H atom transfer assisted by a thiol cocatalyst may complete the catalytic cycle for electron-rich olefins. The protocol is found to be compatible with additions to complex molecules, including the natural product thiostrepton.