A di­deoxy­dide­hydro­nucleoside derivative

We have synthesized a di­deoxy­dide­hydro­nucleoside derivative, 2(S)‐acetoxymethyl‐4‐[4‐amino‐2‐oxopyrimidin‐1(2H)‐yl]‐2,5‐di­hydro­furan, C₁₁H₁₃N₃O₄, which is an analogue of the potently anti‐HIV active compound, di­deoxy‐dide­hydro­cytidine (d4C). The target compound crystallizes with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit that differ primarily in the orientation of the C6′‐acetyl group. One mol­ecule has an extended conformation and the orientation of the acetyl group in the second mol­ecule gives an unusual hooked‐shaped conformation. The two conformers form A–B dimers via N—H?N hydrogen bonds. The dimers link via N—H?O hydrogen bonds to form chains parallel to the b cell axis.     

A ‘push-pull’ tropylium-fused aminoporphyrazine

Crossover Linstead macrocyclization of cycloheptatrienylmaleonitrile and (dimethylamino)-maleonitrile gave access to an unsymmetrical (A₃B) porphyrazine bearing six peripheral amino substituents and a fused cycloheptatrienyl ring. Subsequent hydride abstraction gave a tropylium-fused aminoporphyrazine, which contains both strongly electron-donating and withdrawing groups and thus can be labelled as a ‘push-pull’ macrocycle. Detailed structural studies of this novel porphyrazine are described.     

A pentaerythritol‐derived spirodi­phospho­nate

The title spirodi­phospho­nate, 3,9‐di­methyl‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxa‐3λ⁵,9λ⁵‐diphospha­spiro­[5.5]­un­decane‐3,9‐dione, C₇H₁₄O₆P₂, a polymer additive, has crystallographic symmetry 2. At 100 K, its six‐membered rings have chair conformations, with endocyclic torsion‐angle magnitudes in the range 51.87 (8)–58.93 (9)°. The P=O distance is 1.4749 (8) Å, while the P—C(methyl) distance is 1.7691 (12) Å.     

A new photochromic tetra­hydro­indolizine

The title compound, di­methyl 10b′‐(4‐fluoro­styryl)‐8′,9′‐di­methoxy‐4‐nitro‐5′,6′‐di­hydrospiro­[9H‐fluorene‐9,1′(10b′H)‐pyrrolo­[2,1‐a]­iso­quinoline]‐2′,3′‐di­carboxyl­ate, C₃₈H₃₁FN₂O₈, is a new photochromic tetra­hydro­indolizine. One of the C—C bonds at the spiro C atom is very long [1.630 (2) Å], thus explaining the photochromic behaviour.     

A spiro‐linked pyrene–naphtho­quinone

The title mol­ecule, 2′‐pyrenyl­spiro­[2,3‐di­hydro‐1H‐cyclo­penta­[b]­naphthalene‐2,5′‐1′,3′‐dioxane]‐4,9‐dione, C₃₂H₂₂O₄, contains an electron‐donating pyrene group spiro‐linked to an electron‐accepting naphtho­quinone. The mol­ecules are V‐shaped in profile and stack to form columns along b with alternating, approximately coplanar, pyrene and naphtho­quinone fragments. Intermolecular contacts within a column are consistent with some degree of π contact and possible long‐range delocalization. Individual columns form a herringbone pattern when the crystal is viewed along b .     

A solvation‐free‐energy functional: A reference‐modified density functional formulation

The three‐dimensional reference interaction site model (3D‐RISM) theory, which is one of the most applicable integral equation theories for molecular liquids, overestimates the absolute values of solvation‐free‐energy (SFE) for large solute molecules in water. To improve the free‐energy density functional for the SFE of solute molecules, we propose a reference‐modified density functional theory (RMDFT) that is a general theoretical approach to construct the free‐energy density functional systematically. In the RMDFT formulation, hard‐sphere (HS) fluids are introduced as the reference system instead of an ideal polyatomic molecular gas, which has been regarded as the appropriate reference system of the interaction‐site‐model density functional theory for polyatomic molecular fluids. We show that using RMDFT with a reference HS system can significantly improve the absolute values of the SFE for a set of neutral amino acid side‐chain analogues as well as for 504 small organic molecules. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A short synthesis of de-‘prenyl’-ardeemin

A four-step synthesis of the ardeemin framework by starting from N-2-aminobenzoyl-α-amino esters is described. In the last step, the acid promoted cyclization of the 1,4-anti-4-alkyl-1-(3-indolylmethyl)-2,4-dihydro-1H-pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones occurs irreversible and stereocontrolled.     

A ‘naked-eye’ chemosensor system for phytate

We report the synthesis of two new anion receptors of a covalently linked 1,3,5-triarylbenzoamido-crown ether. Our results show that combined with a picrate salt they act by means of an intermolecular charge transfer process (EDA complex), as naked-eye sensors for basic anions, especially for sodium phytate in DMSO/H₂O (1:1).     

A Biomimetic Nanoparticle to “Lure and Kill” Phospholipase A2

Inhibition of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) has long been considered for treating various diseases associated with an elevated PLA2 activity. However, safe and effective PLA2 inhibitors remain unavailable. Herein, we report a biomimetic nanoparticle design that enables a “lure and kill” mechanism designed for PLA2 inhibition (denoted “L&K‐NP”). The L&K‐NPs are made of polymeric cores wrapped with modified red blood cell membrane with two inserted key components: melittin and oleyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (OOPC). Melittin acts as a PLA2 attractant that works together with the membrane lipids to “lure” in‐coming PLA2 for attack. Meanwhile, OOPC acts as inhibitor that “kills” PLA2 upon enzymatic attack. Both compounds are integrated into the L&K‐NP structure, which voids toxicity associated with free molecules. In the study, L&K‐NPs effectively inhibit PLA2‐induced hemolysis. In mice administered with a lethal dose of venomous PLA2, L&K‐NPs also inhibit hemolysis and confer a significant survival benefit. Furthermore, L&K‐NPs show no obvious toxicity in mice. and the design provides a platform technology for a safe and effective anti‐PLA2 approach.