Ab initio calculations of the optical rotatory power of the natural cytokine modulator cytoxazone 1 and its trans-diastereomer 2, as well as the structural isomers cis-3 and trans-4 isocytoxazones, have been performed at four different wavelengths (589, 546, 435, and 405 nm) by Density Functional Theory. The calculation of ORD curves provides a reliable method for the assignment of absolute configuration of these conformationally flexible molecules. The absolute configurations of isocytoxazones has been established as (+)-(4R,5S)-cis-3 and (+)-(4S,5S)-trans-4.

trans‐1‐(2‐Pyridyl)‐, trans‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐, trans‐1(2‐furyl)‐, and trans‐1(3‐furyl)‐2‐phenyl epoxides with enantiomeric purities ranging from 96.8 to 99.8% [in favor of the (+, EtOH)‐isomer] are obtained in two steps from pure (R,R,R)‐oxathiane which is recovered (85‐90%) and reused. The chiral bidentate ligand 2‐phenyl‐(S)‐1‐(2‐pyridyl)ethanol with 99.6% ee was obtained in three steps and 67% overall isolated yield.

Performed phytochemical study contributes to the knowledge of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Halopteris filicina (Grateloup) Kützing, Dictyota dichotoma (Hudson) J. V. Lamouroux, Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile and Flabellia petiolata (Turra) Nizamuddin from the Adriatic Sea (single point collection). VOCs were investigated by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analysed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS/FID). H. filicina headspace contained dimethyl sulfide (DMS; 12.8%), C8-compounds (e.g. fucoserratene (I; 9.5%)), benzaldehyde (II; 8.7%), alkane C17, dictyopterene D and C (III, IV), tribromomethane (V), 1-iodopentane, others. F. petiolata headspace was characterized by DMS (22.2%), 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (9.5%), C17 (9.1%), II (6.5%), compounds I-V. DMS (59.3%), C15 (14.5%), C17 (7.2%) and C19 (6.3%) dominated in P. oceanica headspace. Sesquiterpenes were found in D. dichotoma, predominantly germacrene D (28.3%) followed by other cadinenyl (abundant), muurolenyl and amorphenyl structures. Determined VOCs may be significant for chemosystematics and chemical communications in marine ecosystem.

Unknown diaryl (1-3) and alkyl-phenyl (4, 5) N-tosyl aziridines have been successfully synthesized from pure (R,R,R,S(S))-(-)-sulfonium salt derived from Eliel's oxathiane, tosylimines 11a-f, and using a phosphazene base (EtP(2)) to generate the ylide. Both cis and trans aziridines have exceptionally high enantiomeric purities (98.7-99.9%). The (2R,3R)-configuration of trans-3 and the (2R,3S)-configuration of cis-4 have been determined by X-ray analysis using the Bijvoet method. The R-configuration found at C2 is consistent with the model and all previous results, therefore all trans-aziridines and cis-aziridines have been assigned the (2R,3R)- and the (2R,3S)-configurations, respectively. This two-step asymmetric synthesis can be easily used on gram quantities and involves no unstable/hazardous reagent. The chiral auxiliary is used in a stoichiometric amount but is recovered in high yield and reused.

This article describes an application of the host-guest chiral recognition approach called tweezer methodology for the determination of the absolute configuration of 3-hydroxy-beta-lactams. These substrates represent challenging cases due to their chemical reactivity, the presence of multiple stereogenic centers and several functional groups which offer various possibilities of binding to the Zn-porphyrin host. OPLS-2005, the force field used in this work to predict the interporphyrin twist, modeled correctly the host-guest complexation mechanism and revealed conformational details of the bound substrates. The computational study also suggested that in cases where an increase in the magnitude of the stereodifferentiation and an intense experimental CD are observed, the bound conformation of the conjugates are hydrogen bonded. The present investigation provides evidence that when the tweezer method is assisted by the OPLS-2005 based computational approach, it can be successfully applied to the configurational and conformational elucidation of multi-functional compounds with multiple stereogenic centers.