Four synthetic ion-exchange resins (AH, BH, CH, DH) of different hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties were used as supports for heterogeneous palladium catalysts (A, B, C, D). The resins contained styrene (STY) and 2-(methacryloxy)ethylsulfonic acid (MESA) as the comonomers. Either divinylbenzene (DVB: CH, DH resins) or N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA: AH, BH resins) were used as the cross-linker. AH contained also N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) as the third comonomer. The catalysts (Pd 0.25-0.45% w/w) were obtained by ion-exchanging the acidic forms of the resins with [Pd(OAc)2] and reducing palladium(II) with excess sodium borohydride. The use of NaBH4 also ensured the neutralization of the acidic sites of the supports. No effect of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of the supports was observed in the hydrogenation of cyclohexene and 2-cyclohexen-1-one in methanol, at 25 degrees C and 0.5, 1, and 1.5 MPa, respectively. However, catalysts A and B, containing amido groups provided by either DMAA or MBAA, proved to be more active than C and D. The observed activity enhancement was directly proportional to the nitrogen/ palladium molar ratio in the catalysts. This finding suggests that amido groups promote palladium through a direct interaction with the metal surface.

Oseltamivir is an important antiviral drug, which possess three chirality centers in its structure. From eight possible stereoisomers, only two have been synthesized and evaluated so far. We describe herein the stereoselective synthesis, computational activity prediction and biological testing of another three diastereoisomers of oseltamivir. These isomers have been synthesized using stereoselective organocatalytic Michael addition, cyclization and reduction. Their binding to viral neuraminidase N1 of influenza A virus was evaluated by quantum-chemical calculations and their anti-influenza activities were tested by an in vitro virus-inhibition assay. All three isomers displayed antiviral activity lower than that of oseltamivir, however, one of the stereoisomers, (3S,4R,5S)-isomer, of oseltamivir showed in vitro potency towards the Tamiflu-sensitive influenza viral strain A/Perth/265/2009(H5N1) comparable to Tamiflu.

The kinetics of the hydrogenation of 4-nitrotoluene over Pd catalysts supported on sulfonated polystyrene and simultaneous deactivation of these catalysts were investigated. Reaction rates of both the hydrogenation and the dissolution of Pd crystallites were related to the total Pd surface. The average radius of ideal spherical crystallites, as determined by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, was taken as the starting value of the crystallite size. Stability of the polymer network was checked by Inverse Steric Exclusion Chromatography (ISEC). The ESR and Static Gradient field Spin Echo (SGSE) NMR spectroscopies were used to assess the accessibility and diffusivity before and after deactivation experiments. Langmuir-Hinshelwood type kinetic models were applied to describe the hydrogenation of 4-nitrotoluene. The kinetic law was incorporated into a more comprehensive model involving also diffusion of reactants inside catalytic particles. Simultaneous treatment of a few sets of kinetic data from batch hydrogenation carried out at 0.25-0.75 MPa yielded reliable values of model parameters. The model showed an increasing rate of dissolution of palladium with decreasing concentration of hydrogen and increasing concentration of 4-nitrotoluene. The latter fact supports the hypothesis that the nitro compound is the oxidant responsible for the dissolution of palladium.

Chiral aliphatic heterocycles are important structural feature of many pharmaceutical agents. Antibiotic resistance is a serious medical problem, therefore new antibacterial compounds are urgently needed. Herein, we describe synthesis of a series of 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine derivatives via organo-[a] SYNKOLA Ltd.

The deactivation of palladium catalysts supported on commercially available sulfonated polystyrene-divinylbenzene resins (DOWEX) in the hydrogenation of 4-nitrotoluene was studied. Catalysts were prepared from 4 and 8 mole % crosslinked polymers, with particle size between 0.04 and 0.80 mm and palladium contents ranging from 0.25 to 1 wt.% (dry state). The catalytic tests were carried out in a batch reactor vigorously shaken, at 30-50 °C, and 0.25 and 0.5 MPa. The analysis of the conversion curves showed that three factors are mainly responsible for the relatively high deactivation rates: (i) the concentration of hydrogen in the neighbourhood of palladium crystallites, (ii) temperature, (iii) the nanomorphology of the support. Some practical advice concerning the employment of polymeric hydrogenation catalysts and relevant operational conditions can be achieved from the results presented herein.