<p>Due to continuously stricter regulations regarding emissions from power generation processes, further development of existing gas turbine combustors is essential. A promising alternative to conventional flame combustion in gas turbines is catalytic combustion, which can result in ultralow emission levels of NO_x, CO and unburned hydrocarbons. The work presented in this thesis concerns the development of methane oxidation catalysts for gas turbine combustors. The application of catalytic combustion to different combustor concepts is addressed in particular.</p><p>The first part of the thesis (Paper I) reports on catalyst development for fuel-lean methane combustion. Supported Pd-based catalysts were investigated at atmospheric pressure. The effect on catalytic activity of diluting the reaction mixture with water and/or carbon dioxide was studied in order to simulate a combustion process with exhaust gas recirculation. The catalytic activity was found to decrease significantly in the presence of water and CO₂. However, modifying the catalyst by changing support material can have a considerable impact on the performance.</p><p>In the second part of this thesis (Papers II-IV), the development of rhodium catalysts for fuel-rich methane combustion is addressed. The effect of catalyst composition, oxygen-to-fuel ratio and catalyst pre-treatment on the methane conversion and the product gas composition was studied. An experimental investigation at elevated pressures of partial oxidation of methane/oxygen mixtures in exhaust gas-rich environments was also conducted. The most suitable catalyst identified for fuel-rich catalytic combustion of methane, i.e. Rh/Ce-ZrO₂, showed benefits such as low light-off temperature, high activity and enhanced hydrogen selectivity.</p><p>In the final part of the thesis (Paper V), a numerical investigation of fuel-rich catalytic combustion is presented. Measurements and predictions were compared for partial oxidation of methane in exhaust gas diluted mixtures at elevated pressures. The numerical model was validated for several Rh-based catalysts. The key parameter controlling the catalytic performance was found to be the noble metal dispersion.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-127).

One chemoautotrophic origin of life theory posits the abiotic formation of alkyl thiols as an initial step to forming biomolecules and eventually a simple chemoautotrophic cell. The premise of this theory is that a recurring reaction on the charged surfaces of pyrite served as a primordial metabolism analogous to the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway (Wächtershäuser 1988) that was later enveloped by a primitive cellular membrane. Alkyl thiols have not previously been identified in terrestrial hot springs as unequivocally abiogenic, but they have been produced in the laboratory under hydrothermal conditions in the presence of a catalyst. I analyzed the dissolved gas content of several hot springs and conducted sterile laboratory experiments in order to evaluate the abiogenic formation of methanethiol (CH3SH), the simplest of the alkyl thiols. Specifically of interest was Cinder Pool, an acid-sulfate-chloride hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. This spring is unusual in that it contains a subaqueous molten sulfur layer (~18 m depth) and thousands of iron- vii sulfur-spherules floating on the surface, which are created by gas bubbling through the molten floor of the spring. This material could potentially serve as a reactive and catalytic surface for abiogenic CH3SH formation in Cinder Pool. Gas samples were collected from Cinder Pool and an adjacent hydrothermal feature in fall of 2011 using the bubble strip method. Two samples contained measurable quantities of CH3SH and other organic sulfur gases, with concentrations of all gases generally higher at the bottom of the pool. Laboratory microcosm experiments were conducted to replicate these findings in a sterile environment. Analog Cinder Pool water was injected into serum bottles containing different iron-sulfur compounds, including cinders collected from the pool itself, as catalytic surfaces for the CH3SH generating reaction. The bottles were then charged with hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon disulfide (CS2) as reaction gases and incubated for a week at temperatures between 60 and 100oC. Bottles used either powdered FeS, FeS2 (pyrite) or cinder material as a catalytic surface, and all of these surfaces were capable of catalyzing CH3SH formation. In bottles without imposed CS2, however, cinder material was the only surface that produced any detectable CH3SH. While CH3SH is central to the autotroph-first theory and has been synthesized in the laboratory (e.g. Heinen and Lauwers 1996), it has not previously been observed to form abiotically in natural systems. I have identified CH3SH in a natural hydrothermal feature where it is unlikely to have formed secondary to microbial activity, and I have duplicated these field findings in sterile laboratory experiments using the cinders as a reactive surface for formation. / text

The functions of many cellular RNAs require that they fold into specific three-dimensional native structures, which typically involves arranging secondary structure elements and stabilizing the folded structure with tertiary contacts. However, RNA folding is inherently complex, as most RNAs fold along pathways containing multiple intermediates, including some misfolded intermediates that can accumulate and persist. Our understanding of the origins and structures of misfolded forms and the resolution of misfolding remains limited. Here, we investigate folding of the Tetrahymena intron, an extensively studied RNA folding model system since its initial discovery decades ago. The ribozyme variant predominantly misfolds, and slow refolding to the native state requires extensive structural disruption. Paradoxically, the misfolded conformation contains extensive native structure and lacks incorrect secondary and tertiary contacts despite requiring displacement of a native helix, termed P3, with incorrect secondary structure to misfold. We propose a model for a new origin of RNA misfolding to resolve this paradox, wherein misfolded ribozyme contains within its core incorrect arrangement of two single-stranded segments, i.e. altered topology. This model predicts a requirement for P3 disruption to exchange the misfolded and native topologies. We mutated P3 to modulate its stability and used the ribozyme's catalytic activity to show that P3 is disrupted during the refolding transition. Furthermore, we demonstrate that unfolding of the peripheral tertiary contacts precedes disruption of P3 to allow the necessary structural transitions. We then explored the influence of topology on the pathways leading to the misfolded and native states. Our results suggest that P3 exists in an earlier pathway intermediate that resembles the misfolded conformation, and that P3 unfolds to allow a small yet significant fraction of ribozyme to avoid misfolding. Despite being on a path to misfolding, the decision to misfold depends upon the probability of disrupting P3 and exchanging topology at this intermediate. Additionally, we show that having a stable P3 in the unfolded ribozyme allows almost complete avoidance of misfolding. Together, these studies lead to a physical model for folding and misfolding of a large RNA that is unprecedented in its scope and detail. / text

Under the conditions of transfer hydrogenation employing ortho-cyclometallated iridium C,O-benzoate catalysts, two protocols of iterative chain elongation of 1,3-diols to furnish 1,3-polyols were developed. First, one-directional chain elongation employing mono-protected 1,3-diols as starting materials was achieved. In all cases, high levels of catalyst-directed enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity were observed. Then, double asymmetric allylation of 1,n-glycols to deliver C₂-symmetric adducts with exceptional level of enantioselectivity was devised. Iterative two-directional elongation of 1,3-diols to furnish 1,3-polyols with high level of catalyst-directed diastereoselectivity was then achieved. Implementation of this methodology and other hydrogenative C-C bond formations proved to be effective means for the preparation of a known bryostatin A-ring fragment and the total synthesis of bryostatin 7. / text

The study of biology has undergone a fundamental change due to advancements in genetic engineering, DNA synthesis and DNA sequencing technologies. As opposed to the traditional dissective mentality of discovering genes via genetics, describing genetic behaviors through biochemistry, and then drawing diagrams of functional networks, researchers now have the potential (albeit limited) to construct novel biological molecules, networks, and even whole organisms with user-defined specifications. We have engineered novel catalytic DNAs (deoxyribozymes) with the ability to 'read' an input DNA sequence and then 'write' (by ligation) a separate DNA sequence which can in turn be detected sensitively. In addition, the deoxyribozymes can read unnatural (synthetic) nucleotides and write natural sequence information. Such simple nanomachines could find use in a variety of applications, including the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genomic DNA or the identification of difficult to detect (short) nucleic acids such as microRNAs. As an extension of in vitro biological engineering efforts, we aimed to construct novel signal transduction systems in vivo. To this end, we used directed evolution to generate a catalytic RNA (ribozyme) capable of creating genetic memory in E. coli. In the end we evolved an RNA which satisfied the conditions of our genetic screen. Rather than maintaining genetic memory, however, the RNA increased relative cellular gene expression by minimizing the translational burden it imposed on the host cell. Interestingly, detailed mutational analysis of the evolved RNA led us to new studies on the relationship between ribosome availability and stochasticity in cellular gene expression, an effect that had frequently been alluded to in the literature, yet never examined. We have also taken a more canonical approach to the forward engineering of biological systems with unnatural behaviors. To this end, we designed a protein-based synthetic genetic circuit that allows a community of E. coli to function as biological film, capable of capturing and recapitulating a projected light pattern at high resolution (theoretically 100 mexapixels). The ability to control bacterial gene expression at high resolution could be used to ‘print’ complex bio-materials or deconvolute signaling pathways through precise spatial and temporal control of regulatory states. / text

Οι στερεοί ηλεκτρολύτες μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως ενεργοί καταλυτικοί φορείς για την αντιστρεπτή μεταβολή της ενεργότητας καταλυτικών στρωμάτων (films) μετάλλων και μεταλλικών οξειδίων, κατόπιν πόλωσης του ηλεκτροδίου-καταλύτη και συνακόλουθης άντλησης ειδών-ενισχυτών από ή προς την καταλυτική επιφάνεια. Το φαινόμενο αυτό, το οποίο επιτρέπει τη ρύθμιση της καταλυτικής ενεργότητας in situ, είναι γνωστό στην βιβλιογραφία ως Ηλεκτροχημική Ενίσχυση (Electrochemical Promotion) ή Μη-Φαρανταϊκή Ηλεκτροχημική Τροποποίηση της Καταλυτικής Ενεργότητας (NEMCA effect), καθώς οι επαγόμενες μεταβολές στον καταλυτικό ρυθμό είναι δυνατό να υπερβαίνουν τον αντίστοιχο ρυθμό μεταφοράς ιόντων μέσα από τον στερεό ηλεκτρολύτη κατά αρκετές τάξεις μεγέθους. Στα πλαίσια του πρώτου μέρους της διατριβής αυτής παρουσιάζονται αποτελέσματα που αφορούν στη μελέτη της επίδρασης του φαινομένου της Ηλεκτροχημικής Ενίσχυσης στην αντίδραση οξείδωσης του προπανίου πάνω σε πορώδη καταλυτικά στρώματα Pt και Rh εναποτεθειμένα σε στερεό ηλεκτρολύτη YSZ, αγωγό ιόντων οξυγόνου, καθώς και πάνω σε πορώδες καταλυτικό στρώμα Pt, εναποτεθειμένο σε στερεό ηλεκτρολύτη β²-Al2O3, έναν αγωγό ιόντων Na+. Στην περίπτωση της οξείδωσης του προπανίου πάνω σε καταλυτικά στρώματα Rh/YSZ και Pt/YSZ, πραγματοποιήθηκαν πειράματα στη θερμοκρασιακή περιοχή 425 - 520οC, για υποστοιχειομετρικό λόγο οξυγόνου προς προπάνιο. Επιβολή είτε θετικών είτε αρνητικών ρευμάτων οδήγησε σε μη-φαρανταϊκή αύξηση του καταλυτικού ρυθμού, έως 6 φορές στην περίπτωση του Rh και έως 1350 φορές στην περίπτωση της Pt. Η επαγόμενη μεταβολή του καταλυτικού ρυθμού Δr βρέθηκε μεγαλύτερη από τον αντίστοιχο ηλεκτροχημικό ρυθμό μεταφοράς I/2F ιόντων οξυγόνου κατά 2330 φορές στην περίπτωση του καταλύτη Pt και κατά 830 φορές στην περίπτωση του καταλύτη Rh. Η αύξηση του ρυθμού που παρατηρήθηκε στην περίπτωση καταλύτη Pt είναι από τις υψηλότερες που έχουν αναφερθεί σε μελέτες Ηλεκτροχημικής Ενίσχυσης με χρήση στερεών ηλεκτρολυτών αγωγών ιόντων οξυγόνου. Στην περίπτωση της οξείδωσης του προπανίου πάνω σε καταλυτικό στρώμα Pt/ β²-Al2O3, έγιναν πειράματα στην θερμοκρασιακή περιοχή 320-440 οC και για στοιχειομετρικό λόγο οξυγόνου προς προπάνιο. Το σύστημα παρουσίασε ηλεκτρόφοβη συμπεριφορά, δηλαδή επιβολή αρνητικού δυναμικού και συνακόλουθη προσθήκη νατρίου στην καταλυτική επιφάνεια οδήγησε σε μείωση του ρυθμού παραγωγής CO2. Παρατηρήθηκαν σχετικές μεταβολές του καταλυτικό ρυθμού έως και 60 φορές μεγαλύτερες από την αντίστοιχη μεταβολή της κάλυψης του νατρίου. Επιπλέον, πραγματοποιήθηκαν πειράματα γραμμικής σάρωσης δυναμικών και κυκλικής βολταμμετρίας στη θερμοκρασιακή περιοχή 320 – 480 οC, κάτω από συνθήκες ηλεκτροχημικής ενίσχυσης οξείδωσης του προπανίου, αλλά και κάτω από ατμόσφαιρες Ο2, CO2 και προπανίου σε Ηe όπου και παρατηρήθηκαν περισσότερες της μιας κορυφές. Ο αριθμός, η θέση και το ύψος των κορυφών αυτών, βρέθηκε ότι εξαρτώνται από τη σύσταση της αέριας φάσης, τη θερμοκρασία, το δυναμικό εκκίνησης και την κατάσταση του καταλύτη πριν από τη σάρωση. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι σχηματίζονται περισσότερες της μιας φάσεις νατρίου πάνω στην καταλυτική επιφάνεια Pt κατά την ηλεκτροχημική μεταφορά ιόντων νατρίου προς αυτή. Στο κεφάλαιο αυτό συζητούνται οι πιθανές ηλεκτροχημικές αντιδράσεις που περιλαμβάνουν είδη νατρίου και η ταυτότητα των σχηματιζόμενων ειδών νατρίου. Τα αποτελέσματα του πρώτου μέρους της διατριβής εξηγήθηκαν με βάση τις γενικές αρχές του φαινομένου της Ηλεκτροχημικής Ενίσχυσης, λαμβανομένου υπόψη του μηχανισμού της αντίδρασης και της επίδρασης της μεταβολής του δυναμικού και του έργου εξόδου της καταλυτικής επιφάνειας πάνω στην ισχύ των δεσμών χημορόφησης και στην οξειδωτική κατάσταση του καταλύτη. Στο δεύτερο τμήμα της διατριβής εξετάζονται μια σειρά από καθοδικά περοβσκιτικά ηλεκτρόδια με άμεσο στόχο την διερεύνηση της ηλεκτροκαταλυτικής τους ενεργότητας για την αναγωγή του οξυγόνου στο θερμοκρασιακό εύρος 600-850 οC. Δοκιμάστηκαν συνολικά τέσσερα περοβσκιτικά καθοδικά ηλεκτρόδια από τα οποία το ένα ήταν σύνθετο ηλεκτρόδιο (LSM(La0.65Sr0.3MnO3)-ZrO2(Y2O3)) και τα υπόλοιπα τρία L58SCF (La0.58Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ), LS2F (La0.9Sr1.1FeO4-δ) και L78SCF (La0.78Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ) μικτής ηλεκτρονιακής-ιοντικής αγωγιμότητας. Προκειμένου να γίνει η σύγκριση της ηλεκτροκαταλυτικής ενεργότητας των καθόδων σε συνθήκες που να προσομοιώνουν τη λειτουργία τους σε κελιά καυσίμου, έγινε σύγκριση σε διαφορετικές θερμοκρασίες των πυκνοτήτων ρεύματος i που αντιστοιχούν στην ίδια υπέρταση, σε ένα εκτεταμένο εύρος καθοδικών υπερτάσεων. Η σειρά ηλεκτροκαταλυτικής ενεργότητας βρέθηκε ότι αυξάνει σύμφωνα με τη σειρά: LS2F/CGO/YSZ£ LSM/LSMSZ/CGO/YSZ<L58SCF/CGO/YSZ<L78SCF/CGO<YSZ. Η σειρά αυτή επιβεβαιώθηκε και από φάσματα σύνθετης αντίστασης σε συνθήκες ανοιχτού κυκλώματος. Στη συνέχεια της διατριβής, έγινε μελέτη της λειτουργίας κυψελίδος καυσίμου L58SCF-CGO (κάθοδος)/CGO/YSZ/Ni (1% at Au)-YSZ (άνοδος) με καύσιμο προπάνιο υπό συνθήκες εσωτερικής αναμόρφωσης του καυσίμου (συντροφοδοσία προπανίου με υδρατμό). Σαν κάθοδος χρησιμοποιήθηκε το σύνθετης αγωγιμότητας ηλεκτρόδιο L58SCF-CGO το οποίο στην παρούσα διατριβή βρέθηκε ότι έχει πολύ καλή ηλεκτροκαταλυτική ενεργότητα για την αναγωγή του οξυγόνου. Ως άνοδος χρησιμοποιήθηκε το state of the art ηλεκτρόδιο Ni-YSZ με προσθήκη μιας μικρής ποσότητας Au (1% at Au), με σκοπό την μείωση της ποσότητας του άνθρακα στην καταλυτική επιφάνεια. Τα πειράματα πραγματοποιήθηκαν στο θερμοκρασιακό εύρος 600-750 οC, στην περιοχή δηλαδή ενδιάμεσων θερμοκρασιών στην οποία εστιάζεται σήμερα το μεγαλύτερο ερευνητικό ενδιαφέρον και σε στοιχειομετρικό λόγο υδρατμού προς προπάνιο, βασισμένο στη συνολική αντίδραση αναμόρφωσης του προπανίου από υδρατμό. Τα κύρια προϊόντα της αντίδρασης αναμόρφωσης ήταν τα H2, CO, CO2 και CH4 με το Η2 και το CO να ευνοούνται ισχυρά με την αύξηση της θερμοκρασίας. Η μέγιστη ισχύς στους 750 οC βρέθηκε ίση με 34.3 mW/cm2 με αντίστοιχη πυκνότητα ρεύματος ίση με i = 100 mA cm-2. Η ισχύς αυτή είναι αρκετά ικανοποιητική δεδομένου του μεγάλου πάχους του στερεού ηλεκτρολύτη (0.5 mm). Το σύστημα επέδειξε εξαιρετική σταθερότητα κατά τη διάρκεια των μετρήσεων κάτι που επιβεβαιώθηκε και μέσα από ένα πείραμα σταθερότητας στους 800 oC διάρκειας 100 ωρών. / The current study consists of two parts. In the first part, the effect of electrochemical promotion (EP) or non-faradaic electrochemical modification of catalytic activity (NEMCA) was studied, in the catalytic reaction of the total oxidation of propane on Pt and Rh films deposited on Y2O3-stabilized-ZrO2 (or YSZ), an O2- conductor, in the temperature range 420–520 oC. In the case of Pt/YSZ and for oxygen to propane ratios lower than the stoichiometric ratio it was found that the rate of propane oxidation could be reversibly enhanced by application of both positive and negative overpotentials (‘‘inverted volcano’’ behavior), by up to a factor of 1350 and 1130, respectively. The induced rate increase Δr exceeded the corresponding electrochemically controlled rate I/2F of O2- transfer through the solid electrolyte, resulting in absolute values of the apparent faradaic efficiency Λ=Δ r/(I/2F) up to 2330. The Rh/YSZ system exhibited similar EP behavior. Abrupt changes in the oxidation state of the rhodium catalyst, accompanied by changes in the catalytic rate, were observed by changing the O2 to propane ratio and catalyst potential. The highest rate increases, by up to a factor of 6, were observed for positive overpotentials with corresponding absolute values of faradaic efficiency K up to 830. Rate increases by up to a factor of 1.7 were observed for negative overpotentials. The observed EP behavior is explained by taking into account the mechanism of the reaction and the effect of catalyst potential on the binding strength of chemisorbed reactants and intermediates and on the oxidative state of the catalyst surface. The effect of electrochemical promotion (EP) of propane combustion was also studied over a platinum film catalyst deposited on sodium β"-Al2O3, a Na+ conductor, in the temperature range 320–440oC. It was found that electrochemical pumping of sodium to the platinum surface markedly modifies its catalytic properties. For stoichiometric oxygen to propane ratio the system exhibited electrophobic behavior, i.e. addition of sodium resulted in decrease of the CO2 production rate. Relative changes in the catalytic rate by up to 60 times larger than the corresponding change in sodium coverage were measured. The observed behavior is explained by taking into account the reaction mechanism and the effect of the electrochemically controlled sodium coverage on the bonding of coadsorbed reactant species. Linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry were used to investigate the electrochemical processes taking place at the Pt/sodium β"-Al2O3 interface under conditions of electrochemical promotion of propane combustion and in mixtures of O2, CO2 or propane with helium, at temperatures between 320 and 480oC. The number, position and magnitude of the peaks in the obtained voltammograms were found to depend on gas phase composition, temperature, starting potential and pre-scan conditions. The results showed that under conditions of electrochemical promotion of propane combustion more than one sodium phases can be formed on the Pt catalyst surface as a result of electrochemical pumping of sodium ions to it. The possible electrochemical reactions involving sodium species and the identity of the formed sodium phases during electrochemical pumping are discussed on the basis of the results obtained and those of former studies. In the second part of the study, the electrochemical performance of L58SCF (La0.58Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ), LS2F (La0.9Sr1.1FeO4-δ), L78SCF (La0.78Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ) and composite LSM (La0.65Sr0.3MnO3)/LSM-YSZ (50%wt-50%wt) cathode electrodes interfaced to a double layer CGO (Ce0.8Gd0.2O2)/YSZ electrolyte was studied using impedance spectroscopy and current-overpotential measurements. The experiments were carried out in the temperature range 600-850oC and, mainly, under flow of 21% O2/He mixture over the perovskite electrodes. The highest electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction was observed for the L78SCF cathode, according to the order: LS2F/CGO/YSZ £LSM/LSMSZ/CGO/YSZ<L58SCF/CGO/YSZ<L78SCF/CGO<YSZ. The composite electrode L58SCF-CGO was used in the last part of this study, combined with a carbon tolerant Au-modified (1% atomic ratio with respect to Ni) Ni-YSZ anode, prepared by combustion synthesis, to study the steam reforming of propane under stoichiometric oxygen to steam ratio. The experiments were carried out in the temperature range 600-750 oC, which is the target range for the successful commercialization of the intermediate temperature fuel cells. The main products of the reforming reaction were H2, CO, CO2 and CH4 with H2, CO to be strongly favored by the temperature increase. The maximum power density was found to be 34.3 mW/cm2 at 750oC with corresponding current density equal to i = 100 mA cm-2. The relatively low values of the current and power densities were mainly due to the large thickness of the electrolyte (0.5 mm). Overall, the system exhibited excellent stability during the experiment, which was confirmed through a 100 h stability test.

The central dogma of molecular biology outlines the process of information transfer from a DNA sequence, to a protein chain. Beyond the step of protein synthesis, there are a variety of post-translational modifications that can take place, one of which is addition of carbohydrate chains to nascent proteins, known as glycosylation. The N-linked glycosylation pathway is responsible for the covalent attachment of multifunctional carbohydrate chains on asparagine residues of nascent proteins at Asn-X-Ser/Thr consensus sequences. These carbohydrate chains are thought to aid in cell signaling, immune recognition, and other processes. Golgi alpha-mannosidase II (GMII) is the enzyme in the N-glycosylation pathway that is responsible for cleaving two mannose linkages in the oligosaccharide GnMan5Gn2 (where Gn is N-acetylglucosamine and Man is mannose), thereby producing GnMan3Gn2 , which is the committed step in complex N-glycan synthesis. It has been speculated that GMII is an excellent therapeutic target for cancer treatment, as the unusual distribution of carbohydrates on the surface of tumour cells has been characterized in many cancers. In addition, swainsonine-—a strong, yet nonspecific inhibitor of GMII—-has been shown to block metastasis and improve the clinical outcome of patients with certain cancers, including those of the colon, breast and skin. This thesis examines Golgi alpha-mannosidase II from Drosophila melanogaster (dGMII) as a model for all GMII enzymes. First, a 1.80 Angstrom resolution crystal structure of a weak inhibitor, kifunensine, binding to dGMII provides mechanistic insights into the substrate distortion in the GMII reaction. It is hypothesized that the GMII reaction proceeds via a 1 Sinterintermedi-ate. Second, a 1.40 Angstrom resolution structure of a mutant dGMII bound to its natural substrate, GnMan5Gn, identifies key substrate binding and catalytic residues, as well as expanding the definition of the GMII active site to include two distant sugar−binding subsites. Finally, the results are taken together, with knowledge of other related enzymes to synthesize a plausible itinerary for the GMII reaction.

Domino catalysis is an ideal strategy in the synthesis of heterocyclic scaffolds, as multiple bonds can be formed under a single set of reaction conditions. In this work, we present the development of two novel domino processes which afford access to aza-analogues of the dihydrodibenzoxepine motif. Careful optimisation revealed that the Rh catalysed hydroarylation proceeds under mild conditions as compared to the C-O coupling. Furthermore, Pd was not required for the C-O bond formation when using alkenyl pyrazines as substrates. Variation of the substituents on both the heterocycle and on the boronic ester provided insight into the structural features required for successful domino reaction, and a stepwise protocol was developed for incompatible substrates. We have also developed the first multi-metal, multi-ligand domino reaction featuring both a chiral and achiral ligand in the same pot, still leading to an enantioenriched product.

No description available.