Molecular dynamics simulation of the ligand binding domain of mGluR1 in response to agonist and antagonist binding

The interdomain movements of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of mGluR1 in response to agonist or antagonist binding are studied by 2 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our results indicate that MD is able to reproduce many of the experimentally determined features of the open and closed conformations of LBD. Analysis of the ligand behavior over time allows to delineate some of the molecular determinants responsible for the agonist-induced or antagonist-blocked LBD responses.     

Affinity Screening Using Competitive Binding with Fluorine‐19 Hyperpolarized Ligands

Fluorine‐19 NMR and hyperpolarization form a powerful combination for drug screening. Under a competitive equilibrium with a selected fluorinated reporter ligand, the dissociation constant (K_D) of other ligands of interest is measurable using a single‐scan Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) experiment, without the need for a titration. This method is demonstrated by characterizing the binding of three ligands with different affinities for the serine protease trypsin. Monte Carlo simulations show that the highest accuracy is obtained when about one‐half of the bound reporter ligand is displaced in the binding competition. Such conditions can be achieved over a wide range of affinities, allowing for rapid screening of non‐fluorinated compounds when a single fluorinated ligand for the binding pocket of interest is known.     

Coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulations of protein–ligand binding

Coarse‐grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations with the MARTINI force field were performed to reproduce the protein–ligand binding processes. We chose two protein–ligand systems, the levansucrase–sugar (glucose or sucrose), and LinB–1,2‐dichloroethane systems, as target systems that differ in terms of the size and shape of the ligand‐binding pocket and the physicochemical properties of the pocket and the ligand. Spatial distributions of the Coarse‐grained (CG) ligand molecules revealed potential ligand‐binding sites on the protein surfaces other than the real ligand‐binding sites. The ligands bound most strongly to the real ligand‐binding sites. The binding and unbinding rate constants obtained from the CGMD simulation of the levansucrase–sucrose system were approximately 10 times greater than the experimental values; this is mainly due to faster diffusion of the CG ligand in the CG water model. We could obtain dissociation constants close to the experimental values for both systems. Analysis of the ligand fluxes demonstrated that the CG ligand molecules entered the ligand‐binding pockets through specific pathways. The ligands tended to move through grooves on the protein surface. Thus, the CGMD simulations produced reasonable results for the two different systems overall and are useful for studying the protein–ligand binding processes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Binding structures of tri‐N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosamine in hen egg white lysozyme using molecular dynamics with a polarizable force field

Lysozyme is a well‐studied enzyme that hydrolyzes the β‐(1,4)‐glycosidic linkage of N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosamine (NAG)_n oligomers. The active site of hen egg‐white lysozyme (HEWL) is believed to consist of six subsites, A‐F that can accommodate six sugar residues. We present studies exploring the use of polarizable force fields in conjunction with all‐atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze binding structures of complexes of lysozyme and NAG trisaccharide, (NAG)₃. MD trajectories are applied to analyze structures and conformation of the complex as well as protein–ligand interactions, including the hydrogen‐bonding network in the binding pocket. Two binding modes (ABC and BCD) of (NAG)₃ are investigated independently based on a fixed‐charge model and a polarizable model. We also apply molecular mechanics with generalized born and surface area (MM‐GBSA) methods based on MD using both nonpolarizable and polarizable force fields to compute binding free energies. We also study the correlation between root‐mean‐squared deviation and binding free energies of the wildtype and W62Y mutant; we find that for this prototypical system, approaches using the MD trajectories coupled with implicit solvent models are equivalent for polarizable and fixed‐charge models. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

DIRECT‐ID: An automated method to identify and quantify conformational variations—application to β2‐adrenergic GPCR

The conformational dynamics of a macromolecule can be modulated by a number of factors, including changes in environment, ligand binding, and interactions with other macromolecules, among others. We present a method that quantifies the differences in macromolecular conformational dynamics and automatically extracts the structural features responsible for these changes. Given a set of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a macromolecule, the norms of the differences in covariance matrices are calculated for each pair of trajectories. A matrix of these norms thus quantifies the differences in conformational dynamics across the set of simulations. For each pair of trajectories, covariance difference matrices are parsed to extract structural elements that undergo changes in conformational properties. As a demonstration of its applicability to biomacromolecular systems, the method, referred to as DIRECT‐ID, was used to identify relevant ligand‐modulated structural variations in the β₂‐adrenergic (β₂AR) G‐protein coupled receptor. Micro‐second MD simulations of the β₂AR in an explicit lipid bilayer were run in the apo state and complexed with the ligands: BI‐167107 (agonist), epinephrine (agonist), salbutamol (long‐acting partial agonist), or carazolol (inverse agonist). Each ligand modulated the conformational dynamics of β₂AR differently and DIRECT‐ID analysis of the inverse‐agonist vs. agonist‐modulated β₂AR identified residues known through previous studies to selectively propagate deactivation/activation information, along with some previously unidentified ligand‐specific microswitches across the GPCR. This study demonstrates the utility of DIRECT‐ID to rapidly extract functionally relevant conformational dynamics information from extended MD simulations of large and complex macromolecular systems. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis of (1α)‐1,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3 with a β‐Positioned Seven‐Carbon Side Chain at C(12)

A convergent synthesis of an analogue of (1α)‐1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D₃ ( 1b ) with a C₇ side chain at C(12), i.e., of 5 (Fig.), is described. A key step of the synthesis is the assembly of the triene system by a Pd^II‐catalyzed ring closure of an enol triflate (‘bottom’ fragment) followed by coupling of the resulting Pd^II intermediate with an alkenylboronate (‘upper’ fragment) (Scheme 2). The synthetic strategy allows isotopic labelling at the end of the synthesis.     

Differential Epitope Mapping by STD NMR Spectroscopy To Reveal the Nature of Protein–Ligand Contacts

Saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR spectroscopy is extensively used to obtain epitope maps of ligands binding to protein receptors, thereby revealing structural details of the interaction, which is key to direct lead optimization efforts in drug discovery. However, it does not give information about the nature of the amino acids surrounding the ligand in the binding pocket. Herein, we report the development of the novel method differential epitope mapping by STD NMR (DEEP‐STD NMR) for identifying the type of protein residues contacting the ligand. The method produces differential epitope maps through 1) differential frequency STD NMR and/or 2) differential solvent (D₂O/H₂O) STD NMR experiments. The two approaches provide different complementary information on the binding pocket. We demonstrate that DEEP‐STD NMR can be used to readily obtain pharmacophore information on the protein. Furthermore, if the 3D structure of the protein is known, this information also helps in orienting the ligand in the binding pocket.     

Fast,metadynamics‐based method for prediction of the stereochemistry‐dependent relative free energies of ligand–receptor interactions

The computational approach applicable for the molecular dynamics (MD)‐based techniques is proposed to predict the ligand–protein binding affinities dependent on the ligand stereochemistry. All possible stereoconfigurations are expressed in terms of one set of force‐field parameters [stereoconfiguration‐independent potential (SIP)], which allows for calculating all relative free energies by only single simulation. SIP can be used for studying diverse, stereoconfiguration‐dependent phenomena by means of various computational techniques of enhanced sampling. The method has been successfully tested on the β₂‐adrenergic receptor (β₂‐AR) binding the four fenoterol stereoisomers by both metadynamics simulations and replica‐exchange MD. Both the methods gave very similar results, fully confirming the presence of stereoselective effects in the fenoterol‐β₂‐AR interactions. However, the metadynamics‐based approach offered much better efficiency of sampling which allows for significant reduction of the unphysical region in SIP. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Sensitive measurement of serum 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry after removing interference with immunoaffinity extraction

Vitamin D plays important roles in bone health and a variety of other pathophysiological conditions. 1α,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D is the active form of vitamin D. Quantification of serum 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D is useful for evaluation of several diseases including chronic renal failure, hypoparathyroidism, sarcoidosis, and rickets. Measurement of 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D is very challenging due to its low circulating concentration and presence of interfering substances in serum. In this report, a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for quantifying serum 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D is described. Lithium adducts of 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D were formed prior to mass spectrometry analysis to improve ionization efficiency. We tested a number of different sample preparation procedures and found that immunoaffinity extraction was the method of choice because it completely removed isobaric interferences and matrix effects present in patient serum. Extraction efficiency, expressed as absolute recovery, was greater than 60% in both patient serum and charcoal‐stripped serum. This method was linear from 3.4 to 206.2 pg/mL for 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and 3.9 to 212.6 pg/mL for 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D₂ with an accuracy of 89.8–98.4% and 97.5–115.7%, respectively. Inter‐assay and intra‐assay coefficients of variance (CVs) for both analytes at two different concentration levels ranged from 2.5–7.0%. Comparison with a radioimmunoassay for measuring total 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D concentration using 40 patient samples showed a Deming regression slope of 0.751, a y‐intercept of 0.84 pg/mL, an r value of 0.7909, and a mean percentage difference of –27.1%. Comparison with a reference LC/MS/MS method (n = 20) showed a Deming regression slope of 1.020, a y‐intercept of 1.32 pg/mL, an r value of 0.9797, and a mean percentage difference of –2.9%. In conclusion, usage of immunoaffinity extraction enabled a sensitive LC/MS/MS method for quantification of 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D in serum. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of a 1α-C-methyl analogue of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3: interaction with a mutant vitamin D receptor Arg274Leu

Vitamin D₃ analogues have been developed for a mutant vitamin D receptor (VDR), Arg274Leu. The mutant VDR has a mutation at Arg274, which forms an important hydrogen bond with 1α-OH of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ to anchor the ligand tightly in the VDR ligand binding pocket. Stereoselective synthesis of the A-ring part of the novel vitamin D analogue, 2α-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1α-methyl-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (4), from d-galactose was accomplished with the key steps of the introduction of the methyl and allyl groups to the chiral building blocks. The new analogue 4 is ca. 7.3-fold more active than the natural hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1).     

Structural and energetic insight into the interactions between the benzolactam inhibitors and tumor marker HSP90α

The heat shock protein 90α (HSP90α) provides a promising molecular target for cancer therapy. A series of novel benzolactam inhibitors exhibited distinct inhibitory activity for HSP90α. However, the structural basis for the impact of distinct R₁ substituent groups of nine benzolactam inhibitors on HSP90α binding affinities remains unknown. In this study, we carried out molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and molecular mechanics and generalized Born/surface area (MM–GBSA) binding free energy calculations to address the differences. Molecular docking studies indicated that all nine compounds presented one conformation in the ATP-binding site of HSP90α N-terminal domain. MD simulations and subsequent MM–GBSA calculations revealed that the hydrophobic interactions between all compounds and HSP90α contributed the most to the binding affinity and a good linear correlation was obtained between the calculated and the experimental binding free energies (R = 0.88). The per residue decomposition revealed that the most remarkable differences of residue contributions were found in the residues Ala55, Ile96, and Leu107 defining a hydrophobic pocket for the R₁ group, consistent with the analysis of binding modes. This study may be helpful for the future design of novel HSP90α inhibitors.     

Regioselective Hydroxylation of C12–C15 Fatty Acids with Fluorinated Substituents by Cytochrome P450 BM3

We demonstrate herein that wild‐type cytochrome P450 BM3 can recognize non‐natural substrates, such as fluorinated C₁₂–C₁₅ chain‐length fatty acids, and show better catalysis for their efficient conversion. Although the binding affinities for fluorinated substrates in the P450 BM3 pocket are marginally lower than those for non‐fluorinated substrates, spin‐shift measurements suggest that fluoro substituents at the ω‐position can facilitate rearrangement of the dynamic structure of the bulk‐water network within the hydrophobic pocket through a micro desolvation process to expel the water ligand of the heme iron that is present in the resting state. A lowering of the Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m), however, indicates that fluorinated fatty acids are indeed better substrates compared with their non‐fluorinated counterparts. An enhancement of the turnover frequencies (k_cat) for electron transfer from NADPH to the heme iron and for C? H bond oxidation by compound I (Cpd I) to yield the product suggests that the activation energies associated with going from the enzyme–substrate (ES state) to the corresponding transition state (ES^≠ state) are significantly lowered for both steps in the case of the fluorinated substrates. Delicate control of the regioselectivity by the fluorinated terminal methyl groups of the C₁₂–C₁₅ fatty acids has been noted. Despite the fact that residues Arg47/Tyr51/Ser72 exert significant control over the hydroxylation of the subterminal carbon atoms toward the hydrocarbon tail, the fluorine substituent(s) at the ω‐position affects the regioselective hydroxylation. For substrate hydroxylation, we have found that fluorinated lauric acids probably give a better structural fit for the heme pocket than fluorinated pentadecanoic acid, even though pentadecanoic acid is by far the best substrate among the reported fatty acids. Interestingly, 12‐fluorododecanoic acid, with only one fluorine atom at the terminal methyl group, exhibits a comparable turnover frequency to that of pentadecanoic acid. Thus, fluorination of the terminal methyl group introduces additional interactions of the substrate within the hydrophobic pocket, which influence the electron transfers for both dioxygen activation and the controlled oxidation of aliphatics mediated by high‐valent oxoferryl species.     

Water Soluble Gold(I)‐diacetyl‐1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane‐arylazoimidazole Complexes: Synthesis and Spectroscopic Study

Reaction of [Au(DAPTA)(Cl)] with RaaiR’ in CH2Cl2 medium following ligand addition leads to [Au(DAPTA)(RaaiR’)](Cl) [DAPTA＝diacetyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane, RaaiR’＝p-R-C6H4-N＝N- C3H2-NN-1-R’, (1—3), abbreviated as N,N’-chelator, where N(imidazole) and N(azo) represent N and N’, respectively; R＝H (a), Me (b), Cl (c) and R’＝Me (1), CH2CH3 (2), CH2Ph (3)]. The 1H NMR spectral measurements in D2O suggest methylene, CH2, in RaaiEt gives a complex AB type multiplet while in RaaiCH2Ph it shows AB type quartets. 13C NMR spectrum in D2O suggest the molecular skeleton. The 1H-1H COSY spectrum in D2O as well as contour peaks in the 1H-13C HMQC spectrum in D2O assign the solution structure.     

The Molecular Mechanism of P2Y1 Receptor Activation

Human purinergic G protein‐coupled receptor P2Y₁ (P2Y₁R) is activated by adenosine 5′‐diphosphate (ADP) to induce platelet activation and thereby serves as an important antithrombotic drug target. Crystal structures of P2Y₁R revealed that one ligand (MRS2500) binds to the extracellular vestibule of this GPCR, whereas another (BPTU) occupies the surface between transmembrane (TM) helices TM2 and TM3. We introduced a total of 20 μs all‐atom long‐timescale molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to inquire why two molecules in completely different locations both serve as antagonists while ADP activates the receptor. Our results indicate that BPTU acts as an antagonist by stabilizing extracellular helix bundles leading to an increase of the lipid order, whereas MRS2500 blocks signaling by occupying the ligand binding site. Both antagonists stabilize an ionic lock within the receptor. However, binding of ADP breaks this ionic lock, forming a continuous water channel that leads to P2Y₁R activation.     

Mesityl‐phenolato‐vanadium(III)‐Komplexe: Synthese,Struktur und Verhalten

Mesityl‐vanadium(III)‐phenolate Complexes: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity Protolysis reactions of [VMes₃(THF)] with ortho‐substituted phenols (2‐iso‐propyl‐(H–IPP), 2‐tert‐butyl(H–TBP), 2,4,6‐trimethylphenol (HOMes) and 2,2′biphenol (H₂–Biphen) yield the partially and fully phenolate substituted complexes [VMes(OAr)₂(THF)₂] (OAr = IPP ( 1 ), TBP ( 2 )), [VMes₂(OMes)(THF)] ( 4 ), [V(OAr)₃(THF)₂] (OAr = TBP ( 3 ), OMes ( 5 )), and [V₂(Biphen)₃(THF)₄] ( 6 ). Treatment of 6 with Li₂Biphen(Et₂O)₄ results in formation of [{Li(OEt₂)}₃V(Biphen)₃] ( 7 ) and with MesLi complexes [{Li(THF)₂}₂VMes(Biphen)₂] · THF ( 8 ) and [{Li(DME)}VMes₂(Biphen)] ( 9 ) are formed. Reacting [VCl₃(THF)₃] with LiOMes in 1 : 1 to 1 : 4 ratios yields the componds [VCl_3–n(OMes)_n(THF)₂] (n = 1 ( 5 b ), 2 ( 5 a ), 3 ( 5 )) and [{Li(DME)₂}V(OMes)₄] ( 5 c ), the latter showing thermochromism due to a complexation/decomplexation equilibrium of the solvated cation. The mixed ligand mesityl phenolate complexes [{Li(DME)_n}{VMes₂(OAr)₂}] (OAr = IPP ( 10 ), TBP ( 11 ), OMes ( 12 ) (n = 2 or 3) and [{Li(DME)₂}{VMes(OMes)₃}] ( 15 ) are obtained by reaction of 1 , 2 , 5 a and 5 with MesLi. With [{Li(DME)₂(THF)}{VMes₃(IPP)}] ( 13 ) a ligand exchange product of 10 was isolated. Addition of LiOMes to [VMes₃(THF)] forming [Li(THF)₄][VMes₃(OMes)] ( 14 ) completes the series of [Li(solv.)_x][VMes_4–n(OMes)_n] (n = 1 to 4) complexes which have been oxidised to their corresponding neutral [VMes_4–n(OMes)_n] derivatives 16 to 19 by reaction with p‐chloranile. They were investigated by epr spectroscopy. The molecular structures of 1 , 3 , 5 , 5 a , 5 a – Br , 7 , 10 and 13 have been determined by X‐ray analysis. In 1 (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 29.566(3) Å, b = 14.562(2) Å, c = 15.313(1) Å, β = 100.21(1)°, Z = 8), 3 (orthorhombic, Pbcn, a = 28.119(5) Å, b = 14.549(3) Å, c = 17.784(4) Å, β = 90.00°, Z = 8), ( 5 ) (triclinic, P1, a = 8.868(1) Å, b = 14.520(3) Å, c = 14.664(3) Å, α = 111.44(1)°, β = 96.33(1)°, γ = 102.86(1)°, Z = 2), 5 a (monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 20.451(2) Å, b = 8.198(1) Å, c = 15.790(2) Å, β = 103.38(1)°, Z = 4) and 5 a – Br (monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 21.264(3) Å, b = 8.242(4) Å, c = 15.950(2) Å, β = 109.14(1)°, Z = 4) the vanadium atoms are coordinated trigonal bipyramidal with the THF molecules in the axial positions. The central atom in 7 (trigonal, P3c1, a = 20.500(3) Å, b = 20.500(3) Å, c = 18.658(4) Å, Z = 6) has an octahedral environment. The three Li(OEt₂)⁺ fragments are bound bridging the biphenolate ligands. The structures of 10 (monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 16.894(3) Å, b = 12.181(2) Å, c = 25.180(3) Å, β = 91.52(1)°, Z = 4) and 13 (orthorhombic, Pna2₁, a = 16.152(4) Å, b = 17.293(6) Å, c = 16.530(7) Å, Z = 4) are characterised by separated ions with tetrahedrally coordinated vanadate(III) anions and the lithium cations being the centres of octahedral and trigonal bipyramidal solvent environments, respectively.     

Identification of Two Distinct Sites for Antagonist and Biased Agonist Binding to the Human Chemokine Receptor CXCR3

The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is a G protein‐coupled receptor that conveys extracellular signals into cells by changing its conformation upon ligand binding. We previously hypothesized that small‐molecule allosteric CXCR3‐agonists do not bind to the same allosteric binding pocket as 8‐azaquinazolinone‐based negative allosteric modulators. We have now performed molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulations with metadynamics enhanced sampling on the CXCR3 system to refine structures and binding modes and to predict the CXCR3‐binding affinities of the biased allosteric agonist FAUC1036 and the negative allosteric modulator RAMX3. We have identified two distinct binding sites; a “shallow” and a second “deeper” pocket to which the biased allosteric agonist FAUC1036 and negative allosteric modulator RAMX3 bind, respectively.     

Development of 14-epi-19-nortachysterol and its unprecedented binding configuration for the human vitamin D receptor

In the study of the synthesis of 14-epi-19-norprevitamin D(3), we found 14-epi-19-nortachysterol derivatives through C6,7-cis/trans isomerization. We also succeeded in their chemical synthesis and revealed their marked stability and potent VDR binding affinity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first isolation of stable tachysterol analogues. Surprisingly, 14-epi-19-nortachysterol derivatives exhibited an unprecedented binding configurations for the ligand binding pocket in hVDR, C5,6-s-trans and C7,8-s-trans triene configurations, which were opposite the natural C7,8-ene-configuration of 1α,25(OH)(2)D(3).     

The effect of antagonists on the conformational exchange of the retinoid X receptor alpha ligand‐binding domain

The effect of retinoid X receptor (RXR) antagonists on the conformational exchange of the RXR ligand‐binding domain (LBD) remains poorly characterized. To address this question, we used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to compare the chemical shift perturbations induced by RXR antagonists and agonists on the RXRα LBD when partnered with itself as a homodimer and as the heterodimeric partner with the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) LBD. Chemical shift mapping on the crystal structure showed that agonist binding abolished a line‐broadening effect caused by a conformational exchange on backbone amide signals for residues in helix H3 and other regions of either the homo‐ or hetero‐dimer, whereas binding of antagonists with similar binding affinities failed to do so. A lineshape analysis of a glucocorticoid receptor‐interacting protein 1 NR box 2 coactivator peptide showed that the antagonists enhanced peptide binding to the RXRα LBD homodimer, but to a lesser extent than that enhanced by the agonists. This was further supported by a lineshape analysis of the RXR C‐terminal residue, threonine 462 (T462) in the homodimer but not in the heterodimer. Contrary to the agonists, the antagonists failed to abolish a line‐broadening effect caused by a conformational exchange on the T462 signal corresponding to the RXRα LBD–antagonist–peptide ternary complex. These results suggest that the antagonists lack the ability of the agonists to shift the equilibrium of multiple RXRα LBD conformations in favor of a compact state, and that a PPARγ LBD‐agonist complex can prevent the antagonist from enhancing the RXRα LBD‐coactivator binding interaction. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Supramolecular structures and properties models of macrocyclic polymer complexes

Two novel supramolecular complexes of types [Ru(L)(H₂L)Cl·OH₂] and [Ru(HL_n)Cl₃] (where H₂L is a potential tetradentate ligand derived from hydrazine hydrate and diethyl malonate, and HL_n is a potential bidentate ligand derived from coupling of allyl azo‐β‐diketone) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance and magnetic measurements, followed by ¹H NMR, to determine the effect of substituents on the intramolecular hydrogen bond. The electronic properties and models of the bonding of ligands and complexes were investigated by UV–Vis and IR spectroscopies. The first type of complex contains terminal hydrazinic nitrogen atoms with an unshared electron pair and may take part in nucleophilic condensations. Therefore, the reactions of allyl‐β‐diketone complexes with malonic dihydrazide have also been studied, as these cause ring closure and formation of supramolecular macrocyclic ligand complexes. The wavelengths of the principal electronic absorption peaks have been accounted for quantitatively in terms of crystal field theory, and various parameters have been evaluated. On the basis of the electronic spectra, an octahedral geometry has been established for the polymer complexes C. The macrocyclic polymer complexes D are pentacoordinate, and a trigonal‐bipyramidal environment (D_3h) is suggested for the ruthenium(III) ion. The effect of the Hammett constant on the ligand field parameters is also discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dithiolopyranthione Synthesis,Spectroscopy, and an Unusual Reactivity with DDQ

The bicyclic pyran thiolone tetrahydro‐3αH‐[1,3]dithiolo[4,5‐β]pyran‐2‐thione ( 3a ) engages in a highly unusual fragmentation in the presence of DDQ. The pyran thiolone, 3a , was synthesized by chlorination of 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran ( 1 ) followed by condensing with CS₂ and NaSH. Reaction of 3a with DDQ generates the isomerized pyran thiolone tetrahydro‐3αH‐[1,3]dithiolo[4,5‐β]pyran‐2‐thione ( 3b ) and 4‐benzyl‐5‐(3‐hydroxypropyl)‐1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione ( 4 ) via a deep‐seated rearrangement. The identity of 3b was confirmed by single crystal X‐ray analysis: P2₁/c, a = 5.807(9) Å, b = 12.99(2) Å, c = 11.445(15), β = 113.23(6)°. Mechanistic experiments and computational insight is used to explain the likely sequence of events in the highly unusual formation of 4 . Collectively, these results establish fundamental reactivity patterns for further research in this area.