A dynamic coupling model for sum frequency chiral response from liquids composed of molecules with a chiral side chain and an achiral chromophore

A theoretical formulation for optically active sum frequency generation (OA-SFG) from isotropic chiral solutions was proposed for molecules with a chiral side chain and an intrinsically achiral chromophore. Adapting an electron correlation model first proposed by H?hn and Weigang for linear optical activity, we presented a dynamic coupling model for OA-SFG near the electronic resonance of the achiral chromophore. As a demonstration, we used this model to explain the observed OA-SFG spectra of a series of amino acids near the electronic resonance of the intrinsically achiral carboxyl group. Our model shows that the nonlinear chiroptical response comes about by the through-space correlative electronic interactions between the chiral side chain and the achiral chromophore, and its magnitude is determined by the position and orientation of the bonds that make up the chiral side chain. Using the bond polarizability values in the literature and the conformations of amino acids obtained from calculation, we were able to reproduce the relative OA-SFG strength from a series of amino acids.     

氨基酸分子的光学活性和频效应

用带限制场Hartree-Fock (RHF/6-311++G^**)从头算的方法进行分子构型优化, 单激发态组态相互作用(CIS/6-311++G^**)计算各种需要的相关数据; 应用态求和理论, 以长度偶极矩和速度偶极矩两种形式模拟了一系列氨基酸离子的光学活性和频效应(OA-SFG)光谱. 结果表明速度偶极矩计算得到的一系列氨基酸离子的和频效应光谱强度顺序能很好地与实验相吻合, 而长度偶极矩形式计算得到的结果与实验不吻合. 引起这两种形式和频效应光谱理论计算结果差别的原因是由于长度偶极矩形式具有原点敏感性, 而速度偶极矩没有. 速度偶极矩方法更适用于分子光学活性和频效应的模拟.     

Functionalization of cellulose dialysis membranes for chiral separation using beta-cyclodextrin immobilization

A membrane-based chiral separation system for the separation of racemic tryptophan solutions is developed by the covalently binding beta-cyclodextrin onto the surface of commercial cellulose membranes. The immobilization process is monitored by XPS. AFM demonstrates the evolutionary transition of membrane surface morphology before and after the CD immobilization. Due to their different complexation with immobilized CD, dialysis transport experiments show d-tryptophan preferential permeability through the immobilized CD membranes, and the enantioselectivity is 1.10. A model based on the existence of a thin chiral solution layer of amino acid at the interface between the feed solution and the membrane has been proposed. This chiral separation model has been verified using the chiral separation results of racemic amino acids and binding constants of amino acids with CD. The effect of membrane's pore size on enantioselectivity has also been investigated. The immobilized CD membrane, having MWCO 1000, exhibits the highest enantioselectivity to the racemic tryptophan solution.     

Chiral separation with gradient elution isotachophoresis for future in situ extraterrestrial analysis

The first results of chiral separations with the gradient elution isotachophoresis method are presented. As previously described, citrate is used in the run buffer as the leading ion and borate in the sample buffer as the terminating ion. Modulation of parameters such as electrolyte pH, pressure scan rate, chiral selector concentration, combinations of CD or the percentage of ampholytes provides an easy optimization of the separations. To perform fluorescent detection 5-carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester and two fluorogenic-labeling agents, fluorescamine (Fluram) and 3-(4-carboxybenzoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde, are used to label amino acids. With the 5-carboxyfluorescein amino acids, chiral separations are easily obtained using a neutral CD ((2-hydroxypropyl)-beta-CD) at a low concentration (2 mmol/L). With Fluram amino acids, the situation is more complicated due to the formation of diastereoisomers and due to weak interactions with the different CDs used. The use of the 3-(4-carboxybenzoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde-labeling agent solves the problems observed with the Fluram agent while retaining the fluorogenic properties. These first results demonstrate the simplicity and the feasibility of gradient elution isotachophoresis for chiral separations.     

CE‐LIF chiral separation of aspartic acid and glutamic acid enantiomers using human serum albumin and sodium cholate as dual selectors

Sodium cholate (SC), β‐CD, hydroxypropyl (HP)‐β‐CD, HSA, and the dual mixtures of them were evaluated for the analysis of aspartic acid (Asp) and glutamic acid (Glu) enantiomers fluorescently tagged with 5‐(4,6‐dichloro‐s‐triazin‐2‐ylamino) fluorescein (DTAF) by CE with LIF detection. Among the investigated chiral selectors and the dual selector systems, the dual selector systems of HSA and SC resulted to be the most useful chiral selectors allowing relatively high chiral resolution. Several experimental parameters such as chiral reagent type and concentration, buffer concentration, and pH, type and concentration of organic modifier were studied in order to find the optimum conditions for the chiral resolution of the two derivatized amino acids in their enantiomers. The effect of different variables that affect derivatization (time, temperature, pH, and DTAF concentration) was studied. Under optimum conditions, the analytes were separated in a short 10.5 min analysis time, and the RSDs for migration time and peak area were less than 0.12 and 2.8%, respectively. The method was applied for the analysis of compound amino acids injection without interference from other amino acids in the sample matrices observed.     

Induced circular dichroism by complexation of gadolinium(III) porphyrinates with chiral amino acids and dipeptides: effects of axial β-diketonate ligands on chirality sensing and recognition

Synthetic gadolinium(III)porphyrins with various achiral β-diketonates as axial ligands in benzene solutions extracted chiral -amino acids and dipeptides from aqueous phases to give intense induced CD peaks in the Soret region via 1:1 supercomplexation. Their CD spectral shapes were dependent on the stereochemistry at the -positions of amino acids and of the C-terminal components of dipeptides: a reverse S-shape for the -form and an S-shape for the -form. When chiral 3-acetylcamphorate was introduced as an axial ligand, Gd(III)porphyrins showed CD spectral changes by supercomplexation with chiral alanylalanine; (+)-acetylcamphorate ligating Gd(III)porphyrin offered larger CD signal with the - or -form than the corresponding (−)-type Gd(III)porphyrin did, while the former afforded smaller CD peaks by supercomplexation with the - or -form than the latter Gd(III)porphyrin.     

Monosubstituted positively charged cyclodextrins: Synthesis and applications in chiral separation

Several series of novel structurally well-defined positively charged CDs, applicable to alpha-, beta- and gamma-CDs for chiral separation using CE and chromatographic techniques have been developed. The chiral resolution capabilities of different series CDs towards amino acids and anionic analytes in CE are systematically investigated by considering all separation parameters including CD type, alkyl chain length of the cations attached to the CD rim, CD concentration, buffer pH, separation temperature and organic solvent. Typical results are demonstrated in the context. Examples of chiral separation with HPLC and supercritical fluid chromatography are first demonstrated by using coated chiral stationary phases (CSPs). Optimum CD loading content on the coated CSPs was explored in the chiral separation of neutral analytes.     

Circular Dichroism of Amino Acids: Following the Structural Formation of Phenylalanine

Circular dichroism (CD) is frequently used to assess the secondary structure of peptides and proteins, whereas less attention has been given to their building blocks, that is, single amino acids, as they do not possess a secondary structure. Here, we follow the CD signal of amino acids and reveal that several acids exhibit a unique CD pattern as a function of their concentration. Accordingly, we propose an eight‐level classification of the CD signal of the various amino acids. Special focus is given to the CD pattern of phenylalanine (Phe), for which we observe the formation of an ultra‐narrow CD peak (full width at high maximum of only 5 nm). This CD peak can be attributed to the formation of Phe‐based chiral structural features. Further support for the formation of an ordered structure is given by using NMR, and the additional self‐assembly process of Phe to tubular structures.     

Click regulation of cyclodextrin primary face for the preparation of novel chiral stationary phases

In this study, a series of novel CD chiral stationary phases were fabricated by immobilization of mono‐6^A‐deoxy‐N₃‐cyclodextrin onto silica surfaces followed by click regulation of CD primary face with 4‐pentynoic acid (acidic moiety), 2‐propynylamine (alkaline moiety) and L‐propargylglycine (chiral amino acid moiety), respectively. Enantioseparations of various kinds of racemates including dansyl‐amino acids, chiral lactides and diketones were conducted in reversed phase modes on these chiral stationary phases, where nearly forty diketones and chiral lactides were firstly separated on cyclodextrin stationary phases. 4‐Pentynoic acid moiety can make the retention ability decline while amine moiety significantly enhanced the retention ability of the stationary phases. For most of the studied analytes, the chiral amino acid moiety had the most positive effects on both the retention time and the resolution. The inclusion complexation between chiral analytes and cyclodextrins were also investigated by fluorescence method.     

Capillary electrophoresis and molecular modeling of the chiral separation of aromatic amino acids using α/β-cyclodextrin and 18-crown-6

In this work, chiral separation of enantiomers of three amino acids was achieved using capillary electrophoresis technique with α-cyclodextrin (αCD) as a running buffer additive. Only tryptophan has exhibited baseline separation in the presence of αCD, while the enantiomers of the other two amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine, were only partially separated. The addition of 18-crown-6 (18C6) as a second additive imparted only slight improvement to the separation of all enantiomers. On the other hand, all three racemic amino acid mixtures demonstrated no indication of separation when the larger cavity cyclodextrin members, β- and γCD, are used as running buffer chiral additives. However, remarkable improvements in the separation of the enantiomers of phenylalanine and tyrosine were obtained when 18C6 is used together with βCD as a running buffer additive. Surprisingly, tryptophan enantiomers were not separated by the dual additive system of cyclodextrin and crown ether. Using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), all amino acids were found to form stable binary complexes with individual hosts as well as ternary compounds involving the crown ether and the cyclodextrin. Furthermore, we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to build a clear picture about the interaction between the guest and the hosts. Most of these complexes remained stable throughout the simulation times, and the molecular dynamics study allowed better understanding of these supramolecular assemblies.     

Zur Chemie der Pyrrolpigmente, 62. Mitt.

Sixteen diastereomeric 2,3-dihydrobilatrienes-abc substituted in position 3 with various chiral ligands, seven chiral derivatives of a 2,3-dihydrobilatriene-abc-12-propionic acid and a chiral derivative of a 8,12-bilatriene-abc-dipropionic acid were prepared. The chiroptical properties (CD) of these compounds were used as a monitor for the conformational influence of the various ligands. Therefrom it could be deduced that steric effects play a minor role in determining the topology of the chromophore. On the contrary, dipole-dipole interactions of the various partial moments of bile pigments and of the attached ligands crucially influence the conformational situation of the chromophore. This fact may be significant for the stabilization of certain chromophore conformations in biliproteids.

Herrn Prof. Dr.K. Winsauer zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

D-，L-苯丙氨酸诱导非手性菁染料的手性组装

超分子手性与分子自组装是生命体中非常重要和有趣的现象．报道了D,L-苯丙氨酸等氨基酸在氯化钠溶液中通过非共价键相互作用诱导非手性菁染料（Pseudoisocyanine,PIC）J-聚集体超分子手性的形成．实验结果表明,诱导的手性菁染料PIC聚集体发色团在π-π^＊跃迁区域产生了特征的镜像圆二色性,其圆二色信号和强度强烈地依赖于氨基酸的绝对构型、浓度、侧链基团和溶液温度．原子力显微镜照片清楚地表明,^聚集体由相互交联的纳米纤维组成,诱导的圆二色性可能来源于纤维状聚集体的宏观螺旋排列．     

Enantioselective recognition by a highly ordered porphyrin-assembly on a chiral molecular gel

Enantioselective recognition of amino acids was achieved by using a highly ordered chiral assembly of achiral porphyrin on a chiral molecular gel. Exceptionally high enantioselectivity was observed for histidine derivatives by monitoring the CD patterns and fluorescence quenching, K(SV) (l): 26.3 × 10(3) M(-1); K(SV)(D)-enantiomer: 7.03 × 10(3) M(-1).     

Chiroptical study of α-aliphatic amino acid films in the vacuum ultraviolet region

A series of natural circular dichroism (CD) and absorption spectra for films of α-aliphatic amino acids--such as alanine, aminobutyric acid, norvaline, norleucine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine--in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region were observed with the absolute values of optical constants at the undulator-based CD beamline TERAS BL5. Preliminary predictions of some CD spectra were also performed, based on quantum-chemical calculations using the crystal structure. Although the absorption spectra show similar features to each other, significant differences between the CD spectra were found, especially in the 7-8 eV region. The CD spectra of aliphatic amino acids with branched alkyl groups in the side-chain--such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine--exhibit strong negative CD peaks in this energy region. In contrast, the corresponding CD peaks were weak or absent in the spectra of amino acids with straight alkyl groups. Our simple calculation, and the absorption spectra of alkanes, suggest that this difference partly originates from the contribution of the alkyl group. Clear discrepancies between the CD spectra of these amino acids in solutions and those in the solid state were also observed; this is probably caused by the different molecular structures in each state. Our results clearly indicated that CD spectra in the VUV region were very sensitive to the conformations of chiral molecules.     

Electronic structure of the PYP chromophore in its native protein environment

We report on supermolecular ab initio calculations which clarify the role of the local amino acid environment in determining the unique electronic structure properties of the photoactive yellow protein (PYP) chromophore. The extensive ab initio calculations, at the level of the CC2 and EOM-CCSD methods, allow us to explicitly address how the interactions between the deprotonated p-coumaric thio-methyl ester (pCTM-) chromophore and the surrounding amino acids act together to create a specifically stabilized pCTM- species. Particularly noteworthy is the role of the Arg52 amino acid in stabilizing the chromophore against autoionization, and the role of the Tyr42 and Glu46 amino acids in determining the hydrogen-bonding properties that carry the dominant energetic effects.     

Separation of enantiomers in capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

Contactless conductivity detection is successfully demonstrated for the enantiomeric separation of basic drugs and amino acids in capillary electrophoresis (CE). Derivatization of the compounds or the addition of a visualization agent as for indirect optical detection schemes were not needed. Non-charged chiral selectors were employed, hydroxypropylated cyclodextrin (CD) for the more lipophilic basic drugs and 18-crown-6-tetracarboxylic acid (18C6H4) for the amino acids. Acidic buffer solutions based on lactic or citric acid were used. The detection limits were determined as 0.3 microM for pseudoephedrine as an example of a basic drug and were in the range from 2.5 to 20 microM for the amino acids.     

Circular dichroism of the photoreceptor pigment oxyblepharismin

Circular dichroism (CD) was used to study the structure of oxyblepharismin (OxyBP), the photoreceptor chromophore for the photophobic response of the blue form of Blepharisma japonicum. Both the chromophore associated to its native protein and the free chromophore in ethanol solution were investigated. CD spectra in the far-UV range indicate that OxyBP induces a slight increase in the alpha-helix content of the protein matrix. CD spectra in the near-UV and visible region of the spectrum show that OxyBP adopts a chiral conformation with a preferential geometry not only when associated to its protein matrix, but also when isolated and dissolved in ethanol. This experimental result is related to the existence of a high-energy interconversion barrier between two enantiomeric structures of the molecule and discussed on the basis of an asymmetric biosynthesis of its precursor, blepharismin.     

Primary events in dim light vision: a chemical and spectroscopic approach toward understanding protein/chromophore interactions in rhodopsin

The visual pigment rhodopsin (bovine) is a 40 kDa protein consisting of 348 amino acids, and is a prototypical member of the subfamily A of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This remarkably efficient light-activated protein (quantum yield = 0.67) binds the chromophore 11-cis-retinal covalently by attachment to Lys296 through a protonated Schiff base. The 11-cis geometry of the retinylidene chromophore keeps the partially active opsin protein locked in its inactive state (inverse agonist). Several retinal analogs with defined configurations and stereochemistry have been incorporated into the apoprotein to give rhodopsin analogs. These incorporation results along with the spectroscopic properties of the rhodopsin analogs clarify the mode of entry of the chromophore into the apoprotein and the biologically relevant conformation of the chromophore in the rhodopsin binding site. In addition, difference UV, CD, and photoaffinity labeling studies with a 3-diazo-4-oxo analog of 11-cis-retinal have been used to chart the movement of the retinylidene chromophore through the various intermediate stages of visual transduction.     

Chiral soluble polymers and microspheres for enantioselective crystallization

A series of chiral polymers based on poly(N‐acryl) amino acids was synthesized using a convergent synthetic approach. These chiral polymers have been used as chiral additives to induce enantioselective crystallization of racemic or conglomerate amino acids in solutions. These polymeric additives showed strong capabilities to enhance highly enantioselective resolution during the crystallization of amino acids. In addition, these polymers caused unusual modifications of amino acid crystal morphologies. Furthermore, spherical microparticles of those same chiral polymers were also shown active in similar chiral discriminations during amino acid crystallizations occurring on microparticle surfaces. Our study demonstrates the high potential of chiral polymers and microparticles to resolve amino acids throughout crystallization processes. High enantiomeric excesses in one targeted enantiomer of amino acids can also be maximized via time‐dependent kinetic control of crystallizations. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3009–3017, 2006     

Design and synthesis of chiral alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids and conformational study of their oligopeptides

alpha,alpha-Disubstituted amino acids are alpha-amino acids in which the hydrogen atom at the alpha-position of the L-alpha-amino acid is replaced with an alkyl substituent. The introduction of an alpha-alkyl substituent changes the properties of amino acids, with the conformational freedom of the side chain in the amino acids and the secondary structure of their peptides being especially restricted. The author developed a synthetic route of optically active alpha-ethylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids using chiral cyclic 1,2-diol as a chiral auxiliary. It was found that the preferred secondary structure of peptides composed of chiral alpha-ethylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids is a fully extended C5-conformation, whereas that of peptides composed of chiral alpha-methylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids is a 3(10)-helical structure. Also, a new chiral cyclic amino acid; (3S,4S)-1-amino-3,4-di(methoxy)cyclopentanecarboxylic acid {(S,S)-Ac5c(dOM)}, and a bicyclic amino acid; (1R,6R)-8-aminobicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-ene-8-carboxylic acid {(R,R)-Ab5,6= c}, in which the alpha-carbon atom is not the chiral center but chiral centers exist at the side-chain cycloalkane skeleton, were designed and synthesized. The (S,S)-Ac5c(dOM) hexa- and octapeptides preferentially formed left-handed (M) helices, in which the helical-screw direction is exclusively controlled by the side-chain chiral centers. Contrary to the left-handed helices of (S,S)-Ac(5)c(dOM) peptides, the (R,R)-Ab5,6= c hexapeptide formed both diastereomeric right-handed (P) and left-handed (M) helices, and the twelve chiral centers at the side chain showed no preference for helical-screw direction. Thus, the chiral environment at the side chain is important for the control of helical-screw direction. Furthermore, the author designed a new class of chiral cyclic alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids that have pendant chiral centers at the substituent of the delta-nitrogen atom. The synthetic route would provide various optically-active cyclic alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids bearing a pendant chiral moiety.