Five-membered metallacycles are typically reluctant to undergo endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination. The rhodium-catalyzed isomerization of 4-pentenals into 3-pentenals occurs through this elementary step and cleavage of two C-H bonds, as supported by deuterium-labeling studies. The reaction proceeds without decarbonylation, leads to trans olefins exclusively, and tolerates other olefins normally ...

Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase was extracted from pig kidney cortex and partially purified. Enzyme activity was monitored against the cis-trans isomerization of succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-methylcoumaryl amide by means of a two-step process using chymotrypsin as the trans cleaving activity. The in vitro refolding of denatured type III collagen, which is rate-limited by the cis-trans isomeriza...

We discuss the basic process of photoinduced isomerization as a building block for the design of complex, multifunctional molecular devices. The excited-state dynamics associated with isomerization is detailed through application of the ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS) method, which solves the electronic and nuclear Schrödinger equations simultaneously. This first-principles molecular dynamic...

Isomerization reactions are fundamental in biology, and isomers usually differ in their biological role and pharmacological effects. In this study, we have cataloged the isomerization reactions known to occur in biology using a combination of manual and computational approaches. This method provides a robust basis for comparison and clustering of the reactions into classes. Comparing our result...

The Longuet-Higgins phase change theorem is used to show that, in certain photochemical reactions, a single product is formed via a conical intersection. The cis-trans isomerization around the double bond in the formaldiminium cation and vinylamine are shown to be possible examples. This situation is expected to hold when the reactant can be converted to the product via two distinct elementary ...

The hydrogen-deuterium exchange kinetics of 37 backbone amide residues in RNase T1 have been monitored at 25, 40, 45, and 50 degrees C at pD 5.6 and at 40 and 45 degrees C at pD 6.6. The hydrogen exchange rate constants of the hydrogen-bonded residues varied over eight orders of magnitude at 25 degrees C with 13 residues showing exchange rates consistent with exchange occurring as a result of g...

We describe a Rh-catalyzed desymmetrization of all-carbon quaternary centers from α,α-bis(allyl)aldehydes by a cascade featuring isomerization and hydroacylation. This desymmetrization competes with two other novel olefin functionalizations that are triggered by C-H bond activation, including carboacylation and bisacylation. A BIPHEP ligand promotes enantioselective formation of α-vinylcyclopen...

1,4-Benzoquinones have been found to prevent olefin isomerization of a number of allylic ethers and long-chain aliphatic alkenes during ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis reactions. Electron-deficient benzoquinones are the most effective additives for the prevention of olefin migration. This mild, inexpensive, and effective method to block olefin isomerization increases the synthetic utility...

Sub-picosecond photo-isomerization is the major primary process of energy conversion in retinal proteins and has as such been focus extensive theoretical experimental work over past decades. In this review article, we revisit long-standing question to how protein tunes isomerization speed quantum yield. We on our recent contributions field, which underscore concept a delicate mixing reactive no...