Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Ma, Peixiang; Haller, Jens D.; Zajakala, Jérémy; Macek, Pavel; Sivertsen, Astrid C.; Willbold, Dieter; Boisbouvier, Jérôme; Schanda, Paul

doi: 10.1002/anie.201481771pmid: N/A

In their Communication on page 4312 ff., P. Schanda et al. describe an NMR method used to probe conformational states of proteins. Information about the exchange kinetics, relative populations, and structures of the short‐lived state can be obtained.

Varghese, Vimal; Hudlicky, Tomas

doi: 10.1002/anie.201401117pmid: N/A

A 12‐step chemoenzymatic total synthesisof ent‐hydromorphone from β‐bromoethylbenzene is described by T. Hudlicky and V. Varghese in their Communication on page 4355 ff. The key steps consist of enzymatic dihydroxylation, Mitsunobu coupling, and oxidative dearomatization followed by intramolecular (4+2) cycloaddition. This approach holds potential for further optimization of morphine alkaloid syntheses. We acknowledge the legendary efforts of the chemists pictured, who dedicated their careers to the chemistry of morphine. Cover design: Dennis Ceci, Tomas Hudlicky, Jordan Froese (Brock University).

Hintersteiner, Martin; Kallen, Jörg; Schmied, Mario; Graf, Christine; Jung, Thomas; Mudd, Gemma; Shave, Steven; Gstach, Hubert; Auer, Manfred

doi: 10.1002/anie.201401110pmid: N/A

The immune response regulating the protein–protein interaction of the integrin leucocyte function associated antigen 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 is allosterically enhanced by the binding of IBE‐667 to a remote site on LFA‐1. M. Hintersteiner, M. Auer, and co‐workers show in their Communication on page 4322 ff. that the identification of IBE‐667 can be achieved through a combinatorial library screening approach with several techniques.

doi: 10.1002/anie.201490015pmid: N/A

doi: 10.1002/anie.201481713pmid: N/A

doi: 10.1002/anie.201310128pmid: N/A

“My favorite piece of research is the hunt for the polio vaccine. If I were not a scientist, I would be a farmer …︁” This and more about Michael G. Organ can be found on page 4272.

doi: 10.1002/anie.201401128pmid: N/A

Credi, Alberto

doi: 10.1002/anie.201311274pmid: N/A

Wiley‐VCH, Weinheim, 2013. 160 pp., softcover, € 39.90.—ISBN 978‐3527331208

Smith, David T.; Njardarson, Jon T.

doi: 10.1002/anie.201400502pmid: 24596144

The amine has landed! By employing the rhodium catalyst (Rh2(esp)2) in the presence of a readily available amine source (DPH), unactivated and styrene‐type olefins can now be stereospecifally transformed, in high yields at room temperature, into valuable NH aziridine products. esp=α,α,α′,α′‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐benzenedipropionic acid.

Haack, Peter; Limberg, Christian

doi: 10.1002/anie.201309505pmid: 24615854

Research on O2 activation at ligated CuI is fueled by its biological relevance and the quest for efficient oxidation catalysts. A rarely observed reaction is the formation of a CuII‐O‐CuII species, which is more special than it appears at first sight: a single oxo ligand between two CuII centers experiences considerable electron density, and this makes the corresponding complexes reactive and difficult to access. Hence, only a small number of these compounds have been synthesized and characterized unequivocally to date, and as biological relevance was not apparent, they remained unappreciated. However, recently they moved into the spotlight, when CuII‐O‐CuII cores were proposed as the active species in the challenging oxidation of methane to methanol at the surface of a Cu‐grafted zeolite and in the active center of the copper enzyme particulate methane monooxygenase. This Minireview provides an overview of these systems with a special focus on their reactivity and spectroscopic features.