Synthesis, structure, and properties of supramolecular charge-transfer complexes between bis(18-crown-6)stilbene and ammonioalkyl derivatives of 4,4'-bipyridine and 2,7-diazapyrene

4,4'-Bipyridine and 2,7-diazapyrene derivatives (A) having two ammonioalkyl N-substituents were synthesized. The complex formation of these compounds with bis(18-crown-6)stilbene (D) was studied by spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In MeCN, π-donor D and π-acceptors A form supramolecular 1:1 (D·A) and 2:1 (D·A·D) charge-transfer complexes. The D·A complexes have a pseudocyclic structure as a result of ditopic binding of the ammonium groups to the crown-ether fragments. The better the geometric matching between the components, the higher the stability of the D·A complexes (log K up to 9.39). A key driving force of the D·A·D complex formation is the excessive steric strain in the precursor D·A complexes. The pseudocyclic D·A complexes involving the ammoniopropyl derivative of 4,4'-bipyridine were obtained as single crystals. Crystallization of the related ammonioethyl derivative was accompanied by transition of the D·A complexes to a structure of the (D·A)(m) coordination polymer type.     

Photostability via sloped conical intersections: a computational study of the excited states of the naphthalene radical cation

On the basis of an extensive ab initio electronic structure study of the ground and excited-state potential energy surfaces of the naphthalene radical cation (N*+), we propose a mechanism for its ultrafast nonradiative relaxation from the second excited state (D2) down to the ground state (D0), which could explain the experimentally observed photostability [Zhao, L.; Lian, R.; Shkrob I. A.; Crowell, R. A.; Pommeret, S.; Chronister, E. L.; Liu, A. D.; Trifunac, A. D. J. Phys. Chem. A., 2004, 108, 25]. The proposed photophysical relaxation pathway involves internal conversion from the D2 state down to the D0 state via two consecutive, accessible, sloped conical intersections (CIs). The two crossings, D0/D1 and D1/D2, are characterized at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) level. At this level of theory, the D0/D1 crossing is energetically readily accessible, while the D1/D2 CI appears too high in energy to be involved in internal conversion. However, the inclusion of dynamic correlation effects, via single point CASPT2 calculations including excitations out of the valence pi- and sigma-orbitals, lowers the D0 and D2 state energies with respect to D1. Extrapolations at the CASPT2 level predict that the D1/D2 crossing is then significantly lower in energy than with CASSCF indicating that with a higher-level treatment of dynamic correlation it may be energetically accessible following vertical excitation to D2. N*+ is proposed as one of the species contributing to a series of diffuse infrared absorption bands originating from interstellar clouds. Understanding the mechanism for photostability in the gas phase, therefore, has important consequences for astrophysics.     

Determination of Anafranil in Pharmaceuticals by Difference and Difference-Derivative Spectrophotometry

Abstract

Difference (ΔA) and difference first- (ΔD1) and second- (ΔD2) derivative spectrophotometric methods are described for the assay and quality control of anafranil, a powerful antidepressant, in pharmaceutical formulations.

The procedures are based upon the measurement of ΔA, ΔD1 and ΔD2 of anafranil in alkaline solutions against their acidic solutions as blanks.

Interferences of the excipients and diluents or irrelevant absorptions are nullified. Calibration graphs of ΔA, ΔD1 and ΔD2 versus the concentration of the drug showed linear relationships up to 10 μg/ml, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9998 to 0.9999.

Detection limits at p = 0.01 level of significance were calculated to be 0.060 (ΔA), 0.056 (ΔD1) and 0.063 (ΔD2) μg/ml. The limits of quantification were 0.45 (ΔA), 0.36 (ΔD1) and 0.81 (ΔD2) μg/ml.

The procedures have been successfully applied to the determination of anafranil in synthetic samples and in commercial pills and injections for this drug with high reliability and repeatability.     

Protein-Protein Interactions: Insight from Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Protein-protein interaction plays an essential role in almost all cellular processes and biological functions. Coupling molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) assay offered a simple, rapid, and direct approach in monitoring the protein-protein binding process and predicting the binding affinity. Our case study of designed ankyrin repeats proteins (DARPins)—AnkGAG1D4 and the single point mutated AnkGAG1D4-Y56A for HIV-1 capsid protein (CA) were investigated. As reported, AnkGAG1D4 bound with CA for inhibitory activity; however, it lost its inhibitory strength when tyrosine at residue 56 AnkGAG1D4, the most key residue was replaced by alanine (AnkGAG1D4-Y56A). Through NTA, the binding of DARPins and CA was measured by monitoring the increment of the hydrodynamic radius of the AnkGAG1D4-gold conjugated nanoparticles (AnkGAG1D4-GNP) and AnkGAG1D4-Y56A-GNP upon interaction with CA in buffer solution. The size of the AnkGAG1D4-GNP increased when it interacted with CA but not AnkGAG1D4-Y56A-GNP. In addition, a much higher binding free energy (∆GB) of AnkGAG1D4-Y56A (−31 kcal/mol) obtained from MD further suggested affinity for CA completely reduced compared to AnkGAG1D4 (−60 kcal/mol). The possible mechanism of the protein-protein binding was explored in detail by decomposing the binding free energy for crucial residues identification and hydrogen bond analysis.     

Synthesis,Optical and Electrochemical Properties of D1–A–D2–A–D1 Type Conjugated Donor-Acceptor Assemblies of Five-Membered Aromatic Heterocycles

Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds - Novel conjugated systems of the D1–A–D2–A–D1 type were synthesized based on...     

Structure elucidation of new oleanane‐type glycosides from three species of Acanthophyllum

From the roots of three species of Acanthophyllum (Caryophyllaceae), two new gypsogenic acid glycosides, 1 and 2, were isolated, 1 from A. sordidum and A. lilacinum, 2 from A. elatius and A. lilacinum, together with three known saponins, glandulosides B and C, and SAPO50. The structures of 1 and 2 were established mainly by 2D NMR techniques as 23‐O‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosylgypsogenic acid‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside (1) and gypsogenic acid‐28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside (2). The cytotoxicity of several of these saponins was evaluated against two human colon cancer cell lines (HT‐29 and HCT 116). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of the fraction components using 1D TOCSY and 1D ROESY experiments. Four new spirostane saponins from Agave brittoniana Trel. spp. Brachypus

A careful NMR analysis, especially 1D TOCSY and 1D ROESY, of two refined saponin fractions allowed us to determine the structures of four new saponins from a polar extract of the Agave brittoniana Trel. spp. Brachypus leaves. A full assignment of the 1H and 13C spectral data for these new saponins, agabrittonosides A-D (1-4), and one previously known saponin, karatavioside A (5) is reported. Their structures were established using a combination of 1D and 2D (1H, 1H-COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, g-HSQC, g-HMBC and g-HSQC-TOCSY) NMR techniques and ESI-MS. Moreover, the work represents a new approach to structural elucidation of saponins in refined fractions by NMR investigations.     

Synthesis, structures, and photoinduced electron transfer reaction in the 9,9'-spirobifluorene-bridged bipolar systems

[reaction: see text] A series of 9,9'-spirobifluorene-bridged bipolar compounds DnAm bearing various n:m ratios for triarylamine (D) versus 1,3,4-oxadiazole-conjugated oligoaryl moiety (A) have been synthesized to investigate the corresponding photoinduced electron transfer (PET) property. The excitation behaviors were probed by steady-state absorption, emission, fluorescence solvatochromism, and femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion spectroscopy. The overall reaction dynamics can be rationalized by the rate of PET, in combination with solvent relaxation dynamics. It was found that the rate of PET is dependent on the anchored D/A ratio. The rate of D1A1 and D2A1 was resolved to be approximately 2.44 x 10(12) and 2.32 x 10(12) s(-)(1), respectively, while it is irresolvable in D1A2 and D2A2 (>6.6 x 10(12) s(-)(1)). In another approach, based on the comprehensive X-ray data, cyclic voltammetry, and absorption/emission spectra, the rate of photoinduced electron transfer was also qualitatively estimated. Fair comparisons were made between experimental and theoretical approaches to gain detailed insight into the PET for the titled systems.     

Biochemical characterizations reveal different properties between CDK4/cyclin D1 and CDK2/cyclin A

CDK2 and CDK4 known promoter of cell cycling catalyze phosphorylation of RB protein. Enzyme specificity between two CDKs that work at a different cell cycle phase is not clearly understood. In order to define kinase properties of CDK2 and CDK4 in complex with cycline A or cycline D1 in relation to their respective role in cell cycling regulation, we examined enzymatic properties of both CDK4/cycline D1 and CDK2/cycline A in vitro. Association constant, Km for ATP in CDK4/cyclin D1 was found as 418 microM, a value unusually high whereas CDK2/cyclin A was 23 microM, a value close to most of other regulatory protein kinases. Turnover value for both CDK4/cyclin D1 and CDK2/cyclin A were estimated as 3.4 and 3.9 min(-1) respectively. Kinetic efficiency estimation indicates far over one order magnitude less efficiency for CDK4/cyclin D1 than the value of CDK2/cycline A (9.3 pM(-1) min(-1) and 170 pM(-1) min(-1) respectively). In addition, inhibition of cellular CDK4 caused increase of cellular levels of ATP, even though inhibition of CDK2 did not change it noticeably. These data suggest cellular CDK4/cyclin D1 activity is tightly associated with cellular ATP concentration. Also, analysis of phosphorylated serine/threonine sites on RB catalyzed by CDK4/cyclin D1 and CDK2/cyclin A showed significant differences in their preference of phosphorylation sites in RB C-terminal domain. Since RB is known to regulate various cellular proteins by binding and this binding is controlled by its phosphorylation, these data shown here clearly indicate significant difference in their biochemical properties between CDK4/cyclin D1 and CDK2/cyclin A affecting regulation of cellular RB function.     

Contribution of the asymmetric stretch, nu3B1, to the fundamental Raman spectrum of water

The OD-stretching overtone from liquid D2O, 2nu, and the fundamental OD stretch from dilute HDO, both display high-frequency depolarization ratio minima, but the fundamental OD stretch from neat D2O displays a maximum, at the equivalent position. The rhoL minima arises from the decreased depolarization ratio produced by the absence of B1 modes. The fundamentals of HDO are of A species, and the 2nu overtone of D2O only involves A1 species, e.g., 2nu3B1 has A1 species via B1 x B1 = A1. A and A1 modes display small rhoL values which produce minima in rhoL near 2665 cm(-1) for HDO, and near 5250 cm(-1) for the D2O overtone. These minima give way to a depolarization ratio maximum when the depolarized, rhoL = 34, nu3B1 fundamental, makes its appearance in D2O at 2650 cm(-1). Fundamental and overtone depolarization ratios were used to determine the nu3B1 contribution to the depolarization ratio of the fundamental OD stretch; a value of approximately 28% resulted at 2655 cm(-1). Liquid H2O displays completely analogous features; a value of approximately 20% resulted for it at 3660 cm(-1). Nonhydrogen-bonded nu3B1, and more strongly hydrogen-bonded nu3B1, modes are also indicated for D2O and H2O. A rigorous test of the current results can be accomplished by measuring the depolarization ratio of the extraordinarily weak second Raman overtone, 3nu, recently detected for D2O.     

Benzoannulation of Quinones by a Cycloaddition‐Fragmentation Approach. A Simple Synthesis of Methoxycarbonyl‐Substituted Polyacenoquinones

The cycloadducts 2A‐5A obtained from the Diels‐Alder cycloadditions of 1,2,3,4‐tetrachloro‐4,5‐dimethoxycyclopentadiene ( 1 ) with p‐benzoquinone ( 2 ), 1,4‐naphthoquinone ( 3 ), 1,4‐anthraquinone ( 4 ), and 2,3‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( 5 ) were subjected to the reaction with triethylamine in dichloromethane at room temperature. Cycloadducts 2A and 5A enolized to give the corresponding hydroquinones 2B and 5B , which were oxidized with DDQ to afford naphthoquinone ester 2D and anthraquinone ester 5D , respectively. In the cases of cycloadducts 3A and 4A , the enolization occurred concurrently with oxidation and fragmentation to produce directly the polyacenoquinone esters 3D and 4D , respectively. Under the same reaction condition, the unsymmetrical cycloadduct 6A derived from naphthoquinone ester 2D and 1 yielded isomeric polyacenoquinone esters 6Da and 6Db in a ratio of about 8:1.     

A Novel Dimeric Coumarin from Clausena lenis

A novel dimeric coumarin (1), a dimeric of seselin named diseselin A, was isolated from the aerial part of Clausena lenis. The structure was elucidated based on the MS, 1D and 2D NMR data.     

Fast photodriven electron spin coherence transfer: a quantum gate based on a spin exchange j-jump

Photoexcitation of the electron donor (D) within a linear, covalent donor-acceptor-acceptor molecule (D-A(1)-A(2)) in which A(1) = A(2) results in sub-nanosecond formation of a spin-coherent singlet radical ion pair state, (1)(D(+?)-A(1)(-?)-A(2)), for which the spin-spin exchange interaction is large: 2J = 79 ± 1 mT. Subsequent laser excitation of A(1)(-?) during the lifetime of (1)(D(+?)-A(1)(-?)-A(2)) rapidly produces (1)(D(+?)-A(1)-A(2)(-?)), which abruptly decreases 2J 3600-fold. Subsequent coherent spin evolution mixes (1)(D(+?)-A(1)-A(2)(-?)) with (3)(D(+?)-A(1)-A(2)(-?)), resulting in mixed states which display transient spin-polarized EPR transitions characteristic of a spin-correlated radical ion pair. These photodriven J-jump experiments show that it is possible to use fast laser pulses to transfer electron spin coherence between organic radical ion pairs and observe the results using an essentially background-free time-resolved EPR experiment.     

Prenylated Phenols from Sabia japonica

Six prenylated phenols, sabphenols A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.), and sabphenosides A–D ( 3 – 6 , resp.), along with eight known constituents, were isolated from the rhizomes of Sabia japonica Max . Their structures were established on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectral analysis.     

A new triterpenoid saponin from Clematis ganpiniana

A new triterpenoid saponin,named clematiganoside A(1),was isolated from the whole plant of Clematis ganpiniana.Its structure was elucidated on the basis of 1D,2D NMR,TOF-MS and ESI-MS techniques,and physicochemical properties.     

Deoxy-nitrosugars. 10th Communication. Synthesis of Isosteric Phosphonate Analogues of Ulose-1-Phosphates

A general approach to isosteric phosphonate analogues of ulose-l-phosphates is described. A base-catalysed chain elongation via a Michael addition of 1-deoxy-1-nitro-sugars 4, 8 , and 16 to the vinylphosphonate 18 followed by hydrolysis of the nitro adducts gave the analogues of D -ribulose-1-phosphate, D -fructose-1-phosphate, and D -sedoheptulose-1,7-diphosphate 21, 23 , and 27 , respectively, in high yields.     

2 alpha-(3-hydroxypropyl)- and 2 alpha-(3-hydroxypropoxy)-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 accessible to vitamin D receptor mutant related to hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets

Hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets (HVDRR) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the vitamin D receptor, which lead to resistance to 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)]. We found that the A ring-modified analogues, 2alpha-(3-hydroxypropyl)- and 2alpha-(3-hydroxypropoxy)-1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3), (O1C3 and O2C3) can bind better than the natural hormone to the mutant VDR (R274A), which similar to the HVDRR mutant, R274L, had lost the hydrogen bond to the 1alpha-hydroxyl group of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3).     

Determination of the barrier to intramolecular exciplex formation in a jet-cooled, bichromophoric molecule

The emissive properties of a bichromophor molecule (1) are reported. This contains an anilino group as an electron donor (D) and a 1-cyanonaphthalene group as an electron acceptor (A) interconnected by a saturated hydrocarbon bridge of limited flexibility, which holds D and A far apart in the electronic ground state. The emission spectrum of 1, both in solution and in the gas phase, indicates that quantitative formation of an intramolecular exciplex between D and A occurs. This exciplex formation was studied as a function of excitation energy in molecules of 1 isolated in a supersonic free jet. A barrier of 1700 ± 200 cm⁻¹ was found between the Franck-Condon excited conformation and the conformation of the exciplex. Although this value is significantly higher than that reported earlier for exciplex formation between chromophores connected by a simple polymethylene chain (≈ 900 cm⁻¹) it is much lower than the barrier predicted for folding the bridge in 1 sufficiently to bring D and A in close contact. A tentative explanation of this discrepancy is given.     

Synthesis of deoxycholic-derived chiral stationary phases possessing both arylcarbamate and arylamide moieties: evaluation of their chiral discrimination properties in the HPLC resolution of racemic compounds

Two families of chiral selectors derived from deoxycholic acid, possessing both an arylamide and an arylcarbamate group on the cholestanic backbone were synthesized and covalently bonded to silica gel to afford new chiral stationary phases (CSPs A1–D1 and A2–D2) for the HPLC resolution of racemic compounds. The chromatographic data concerning the resolution of selected racemic compounds on CSPs A1–D1 and A2–D2 were compared with those obtained using analogous CSPs possessing only arylcarbamate groups on the cholestanic system (CSPs A–D). This has allowed us to establish that the resolution capability of CSPs A1–D1 and A2–D2 depends not only on the position of the arylamide group on the cholestanic backbone, but also on the electronic characteristics of the aromatic substituents.     

Benchmarking of Halogen Bond Strength in Solution with Nickel Fluorides: Bromine versus Iodine and Perfluoroaryl versus Perfluoroalkyl Donors

The energetics of halogen bond formation in solution have been investigated for a series of nickel fluoride halogen bond acceptors; trans-[NiF(2-C₅NF₄)(PEt₃)₂] ( A1 ), trans-[NiF{2-C₅NF₃(4-H)}(PEt₃)₂] ( A2 ), trans-[NiF{2-C₅NF₃(4-NMe₂)}(PEt₃)₂] ( A3 ) and trans-[NiF{2-C₅NF₂H(4-CF₃)}(PCy₃)₂] ( A4 ) with neutral organic halogen bond donors, iodopentafluorobenzene ( D1 ), 1-iodononafluorobutane ( D2 ) and bromopentafluorobenzene ( D3 ), in order to establish the significance of changes from perfluoroaryl to perfluoroalkyl donors and from iodine to bromine donors. ¹⁹F NMR titration experiments have been employed to obtain the association constants, enthalpy, and entropy for the halogen bond formed between these donor-acceptor partners in protiotoluene. For A2 – A4 , association constants of the halogen bonds formed with iodoperfluoroalkane ( D2 ) are consistently larger than those obtained for analogous complexes with the iodoperfluoroarene ( D1 ). For complexes formed with A2 – A4 , the strength of the halogen bond is significantly lowered upon modification of the halogen donor atom from I (in D1 ) to Br (in D3 ) (for D1 : 5≤K₂₈₅≤12 m ⁻¹, for D3 : 1.0≤K₁₉₃≤1.6 m ⁻¹). The presence of the electron donating NMe₂ substituent on the pyridyl ring of acceptor A3 led to an increase in −ΔH, and the association constants of the halogen bond complexes formed with D1 – D3 , compared to those formed by A1 , A2 and A4 with the same donors.