Synthesis and stereochemical determination of complestatin A and B (neuroprotectin A and B)

Recently, we reported the first total synthesis of chloropeptin II (1, complestatin), the more strained and challenging of the two naturally occurring chloropeptins. Central to the design of the approach and by virtue of a single-step, acid-catalyzed ring expansion rearrangement of chloropeptin II to chloropeptin I, the route also provided a total synthesis of chloropeptin I. Herein, we report a complementary and divergent oxidation of chloropeptin II (1, complestatin) to either complestatin A (2, neuroprotectin A) or complestatin B (3, neuroprotectin B), providing the first synthesis of the natural products and establishing their remaining stereochemical assignments. Key to the approach to complestatin A (2, neuroprotectin A) was the development of two different single-step indole oxidations (HCl-DMSO and NBS, THF-H(2)O) that avoid the rearrangement of chloropeptin II (1) to chloropeptin I (4), providing the 2-oxindole 2 in superb yields (93% and 82%). With a mechanistic understanding of features that impact the latter oxidation and an appreciation of the intrinsic reactivity of the chloropeptin II indole, its modification (NCS, THF-H(2)O; Cs(2)CO(3), DMF-H(2)O) provided a two-step, single-pot oxidation of chloropeptin II (1) to afford directly the 3-hydroxy-2-oxindole complestatin B (3, neuroprotectin B). Extensive studies conducted on the fully functionalized synthetic DEF ring system of chloropeptin II were key to the unambiguous assignment of the stereochemistry as well as the exploration and subsequent development of the mild oxidation conditions used in the synthesis of complestatin A and B.     

A total synthesis of (+/-)-phomactin A

A total synthesis of the PAF antagonist phomactin A (1), isolated from the marine fungus Phoma sp. is described. The synthesis is based on a Cr(II)/Ni(II) macrocyclisation from the aldehyde vinyl iodide 14, leading to the key phomactatrienol intermediate 16a, followed by elaboration of 16a to the epoxyketone 21, which undergoes spontaneous pyran and hemiacetal ring formation to 1 on deprotection with DDQ.     

A new chemiluminescence method for the determination of nickel ion

A new chemiluminescence (CL) phenomenon described as the second-chemiluminescence (SCL) was observed and a strong CL signal was detected, when Ni(II) ion was injected into the mixture after the end of the reaction of potassium permanganate with alkaline luminol. The possible CL mechanism is proposed based on the kinetic curve of the CL reaction, CL spectra, UV-vis spectra and some other experiments. A flow-injection analysis for the determination of nickle(II) ion has been developed, based on the catalysis of nickel(II) ion on the CL reaction between potassium manganate produced on-line and luminol under alkaline condition. Under the optimum conditions, the SCL intensity is linear with the concentration of nickel(II) ion in the range of 8.0-200.0 microg l-1 and 0.2-2.0 mg l-1. The R.S.D. was 4.5% for 11 determinations of 250 microg l-1 nickel(II) ion and the detection limit (3sigma) for nickel(II) ion was 0.33 microg l-1. The method was applied to determine nickel(II) ion in synthetic samples with satisfactory results.     

A new chelating sorbent for metal ion extraction under high saline conditions

A new chelating polymeric sorbent was developed by functionalizing Amberlite XAD-16 with 1,3-dimethyl-3-aminopropan-1-ol via a simple condensation mechanism. The newly developed chelating matrix offered a high resin capacity and faster sorption kinetics for the metal ions such as Mn(II), Pb(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II). Various physio-chemical parameters like pH-effect, kinetics, eluant volume and flow rate, sample breakthrough volume, matrix interference effect on the metal ion sorption have been studied. The optimum pH range for the sorption of the above mentioned metal ions were 6.0–7.5, 6.0–7.0, 8.0–8.5, 7.0–7.5, 6.5–7.5, 7.5–8.5 and 6.5–7.0, respectively. The resin capacities for Mn(II), Pb(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) were found to be 0.62, 0.23, 0.55, 0.27, 0.46, 0.21 and 0.25 mmol g⁻¹ of the resin, respectively. The lower limit of detection was 10 ng ml⁻¹ for Cd(II), 40 ng ml⁻¹ for Mn(II) and Zn(II), 32 ng ml⁻¹ for Ni(II), 25 ng ml⁻¹ for Cu(II) and Co(II) and 20 ng ml⁻¹ for Pb(II). A high preconcentration value of 300 in the case of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II),Cd(II) and a value of 500 and 250 for Pb(II) and Zn(II), respectively, were achieved. A recovery of >98% was obtained for all the metal ions with 4 M HCl as eluting agent except in the case of Cu(II) where in 6 M HCl was necessary. The chelating polymer showed low sorption behavior to alkali and alkaline earth metals and also to various inorganic anionic species present in saline matrix. The method was applied for metal ion determination from water samples like seawater, well water and tap water and also from green leafy vegetable, from certified multivitamin tablets and steel samples.     

A comparative metal ion adsorption study by trimesic acid coated alumina: a potent adsorbent

Benzene-1,3,5-tri-carboxylic acid (trimesic acid, TMA) coated on basic alumina has been shown to be an effective adsorbent for Fe(III) and Fe(II) from aqueous solution. A comparative study on the adsorption of Fe(III) and Fe(II) revealed that TMA coated alumina is more selective towards Fe(III) than Fe(II). The maximum adsorptions of Fe(III) and Fe(II) were 26.6 mg/g and 8.4 mg/g, respectively. Fe(III)/Fe(II) adsorption was also compared in some cases with adsorption of Co(II) and Ni(II). Maximum uptakes (Qm) for Co(II) and Ni(II) were found much lower (approximately 1 mg/g) than Fe(III)/Fe(II). pH dependent studies have revealed that Fe(III) was adsorbed efficiently at high acidic condition (pH approximately 1.5) compared to Fe(II), Co(II) and Ni(II), while temperature did not have significant effect on the adsorption processes. Adsorption of Fe(III) and Fe(II) was quite rapid and thermodynamically favourable. Adsorption processes fitted well in Langmuir isotherm model and followed second order rate kinetics in all cases.     

A new chelating ion-exchanger containing p-bromophenylhydroxamic acid as functional group-IV: column separations on a hydroxamic acid resin

A new chelating resin based on macroreticular acrylonitrile-divinylbenzene copolymer and containing hydroxamic acid functional groups has been synthesized. It is highly stable in acidic and alkaline solutions. The sorption characteristics of Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), U(VI), Cr(VI), V(V), Co(II), Ni(II), Ca(II) and Mg(II) have been investigated over the pH range 1.0-6.0. The effect of various electrolytes at different ionic strengths on the K(d) values for Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) has been studied systematically. Chromatographic separations of copper(II) and nickel(II) from cobalt (II), and of uranium(VI) from chromium(VI) by selective sorption at controlled pH, have been developed. The ion-exchanger can be used for purification of inorganic salts, and analysis of brass and bauxite.     

Ring A of nukacin ISK-1: a lipid II-binding motif for type-A(II) lantibiotic

Ring A of nukacin ISK-1, which is also present in different type-A(II) lantibiotics, resembles a lipid II-binding motif (TxS/TxD/EC, x denotes undefined residues) similar to that present in mersacidin (type-B lantibiotics), which suggests that nukacin ISK-1 binds to lipid II as a docking molecule. Results from our experiments on peptidoglycan precursor (UDP-MurNAc-pp) accumulation and peptide antagonism assays clearly indicated that nukacin ISK-1 inhibits cell-wall biosynthesis, accumulating lipid II precursor inside the cell, and the peptide activity can be repressed by lipid I and lipid II. Interaction analysis of nukacin ISK-1 and different ring A variants with lipid II revealed that nukacin ISK-1 and nukacin D13E (a more active variant) have a high affinity (K(D) = 0.17 and 0.19 μM, respectively) for lipid II, whereas nukacin D13A (a less active variant) showed a lower affinity, and nukacin C14S (a negative variant lacking the ring A structure) exhibited no interaction. Therefore, on the basis of the structural similarity and positional significance of the amino acids in this region, we concluded that nukacin ISK-1 binds lipid II via its ring A region and may lead to the inhibition of cell-wall biosynthesis.     

A continuous flow system design for simultaneous determination of heavy metals in river water samples

A new design of a continuous flow system applied to the simultaneous determination of the concentration of zinc(II), cadmium(II), lead(II), copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II) and chromium(VI) in river water is described. A flow cell made in the laboratory, which has been patented, based on a 'wall-jet' configuration with a three-electrode system is described. Optimum conditions for the determination of the metal ions are reported. The detection limits and relative standard deviation values were 4.01x10(-9) M and 0.078 for Zn(II), 1.76x10(-10) M and 0.056 for Cd(II), 4.69x10(-10) M and 0.134 for Pb(II), 2.29x10(-10) M and 0.138 for Cu(II), 1.61x10(-9) M and 0.093 for Ni(II), 1.91x10(-9) M and 0.113 for Co(II), and 1.35x10(-9) M and 0.081 for Cr(VI). The procedure was applied to a sample of water from the Arlanzón river and the results were compared with inductively coupled mass plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS) as reference method. The final aim of this work is to design a flow system, which can be automated.     

A new strategy for chiral recognition of amino acids

A new strategy is established for detecting chiral amino acids based on the electron transfer from hemoglobin Fe(II) to Cu(II) in copper complexes of the amino acids. The sensor shows a highly selective recognition of arginine enantiomers.     

A highly selective colorimetric aqueous sensor for mercury

A new colorimetric mercury sensor is reported based on binding to terpyridine derivatives. It is able to selectively detect Hg II ions over a number of environmentally relevant ions including Ca II, Pb II, Zn II, Cd II, Ni II, Cu II, and others. The response time upon exposure to Hg II is instantaneous. By the "naked eye," the detection limit of Hg II is 2 ppm (25 microM) in solution. With a spectrometer, this detection limit is increased down to 2 ppb (25 nM), which is the current EPA standard for drinking water. The significant problem of mercury poisoning requires new methods of detection that are sensitive and selective. Here we report a new simple system that takes advantage of the unique optical properties generated by terpyiridine-Hg complexes.     

A detailed resonance Raman spectrum of Nickel(II)-substituted Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin

Nickel(II) and cobalt(II) derivatives of the blue copper protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin have been studied by resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy at liquid-nitrogen temperatures. Vibrational assignments for the observed RR bands of Ni(II)-azurin have been made through a study of (62)Ni-substituted azurin. A comparison of Ni(II)-azurin RR spectra with those of the wild type (Cu-containing) protein showed Ni(II)-S(Cys) stretching vibrations, nu(Ni-S)(Cys), at substantially lower frequencies (approximately 360 versus approximately 400 cm(-1), respectively), indicating that the Ni(II)-S(Cys) bond is much weaker than the corresponding Cu(II)-S(Cys) bond. Resonance enhanced predominantly nu(Ni-N)(His) modes indicate that the metal-N(His) bond distances in the Ni(II) derivative are the same as those in native azurin. The vibrational data also confirm a tetrahedral disposition of ligands about the metal in Ni(II)-azurin found in the protein crystallographic structures. As expected, excitation profile measurements on Ni(II)-azurin show that the nu(Ni-S)(Cys) assignable modes give maxima at the 440-nm absorption band, which confirms a S(Cys) --> Ni(II) charge-transfer origin of the 440-nm electronic transition in Ni(II)-substituted azurin.     

A 1,8-naphthalenediol-based unsymmetrical dinucleating ligand

A facile synthesis of 2-formyl-1,8-naphthalenediol is reported. Its potential as a general precursor for the preparation of unsymmetrical multidentate chelating ligand systems based on 1,8-naphthalenediol is demonstrated by the synthesis of the dinucleating ligand L(4-)(H(4)L=N,N'-bis(2-(1,8-naphthalenediol)methylidene)propylenediamine). Reaction of H(4) L with copper acetate results in the formation of the unsymmetrical dinuclear Cu(II) complex [LCu(2)](3), which has been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. One Cu(II) ion is coordinated by a N(2)O(2) compartment of L(4-) and the other Cu(II) ion is coordinated by an O(4) compartment of L(4-) while they are bridged by two aryloxide functions of L(4-). A dimerization of two molecules of 3 to a tetranuclear entity 3(2) occurs through formation of weak apical Cu--O interactions. Analysis of the temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements (2--290 K) established a strong intradimer exchange coupling J(12)=-371 cm(-1). This strong superexchange interaction fits nicely in a magneto-structural correlation which has been established for dinuclear bis(phenoxide)-bridged Cu(II) complexes demonstrating the electronic equivalence of the aryloxides of a phenol and 1,8-naphthalenediol.     

Phytoecdysteroids of plants of the genusSilene. III. Sileneoside A — A new glycosidic ecdysteroid ofSilene brachuica

Ecdysterone (I), viticosterone E, polypodine B, and integristerone A (II) have been isolated from the epigeal part of the plantSilene brachuica Boiss. In addition to substances (I) and (II), the phytoecdysteroid sileneoside A has been isolated from the root of this plant. It has been shown that sileneoside A is ecdysterone 22-O-α-D-galactoside.     

A new method for simultaneous determination of Co(II), Ni(II) and Pd(II) as morpholine-4-carbodithioate complex by SPME-HPLC-UV system

A new approach for the analysis of Co(II), Ni(II) and Pd(II) as morpholine-4-carbodithioate (MDTC) complexes in aqueous medium by using solid phase microextraction (SPME)-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV has been developed. The method involves sorption of metal complexes on PDMS fiber from aqueous solution followed by desorption in the desorption chamber of SPME-HPLC interface using acetonitrile:water (60:40) as mobile phase. A good separation of metal complexes is achieved on C₁₈ column. The detection limits of Co(II), Ni(II) and Pd(II) are 0.17, 0.11 and 0.06 ng ml⁻¹, respectively. These can be determined by the proposed method without interference from other common metal ions such as Mo(VI), V(V), Ag(I), Sn(IV), Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Ag(I), Sn(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI). The method was applied to the determination of these metals in different alloy samples and drinking water sample.     

Biosorption of nickel(II) and copper(II) ions from aqueous solution by Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

The biosorption of nickel(II) and copper(II) ions from aqueous solution by dried Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was studied as a function of concentration, pH and temperature. The optimum pH range for nickel and copper uptake was 8.0 and 5.0, respectively. At the optimal conditions, metal ion uptake was increased as the initial metal ion concentration increased up to 250 mg l(-1). At 250 mg l(-1) copper(II) ion uptake was 21.8% whereas nickel(II) ion uptake was found to be as high as 7.3% compared to those reported earlier in the literature. Metal ion uptake experiments were carried out at different temperatures where the best ion uptake was found to be at 25 degrees C. The characteristics of the adsorption process were investigated using Scatchard analysis at 25 degrees C. Scatchard analysis of the equilibrium binding data for metal ions on S. coelicolor A3(2) gave rise to a linear plot, indicating that the Langmuir model could be applied. However, for nickel(II) ion, divergence from the Scatchard plot was evident, consistent with the participation of secondary equilibrium effects in the adsorption process. Adsorption behaviour of nickel(II) and copper(II) ions on the S. coelicolor A3(2) can be expressed by both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption data with respect to both metals provide an excellent fit to the Freundlich isotherm. However, when the Langmuir isotherm model was applied to these data, a good fit was obtained for the copper adsorption only and not for nickel(II) ion.     

停流流动注射-诱导动力学光度法同时测定微量铁和锑

依据诱导反应的基本原理, 提出了一种同时测定多元素的方法; 研究了Fe(II)、Sb(III)诱导的Cr(VI)-I^-氧化还原反应体系, 并据此建立了停流-诱导动力学光度法同时测定微量铁和锑的工作条件。线性范围分别为0~1.2μg.mL^-1Fe(II)和0~2.0μg.mL^-1Sb(III); 检测限为0.012μg/mL^-1Fe(II)和0.014μg.mL^-1Sb(III)。除Ti(III)、V(IV)及As(III)外, 其余共存离子不影响测定。用本法测定了锌标准物及模拟样品中的铁和锑含量, 结果满意。     

A one-dimensional coordination polymer constructed from planar pentanuclear copper(II) clusters with a flexible tripodal ligand

A one-dimensional coordination polymer based on planar pentanuclear copper(II) clusters has been assembled from a flexible tripodal ligand, which exhibits a quite strong antiferromagnetic coupling between Cu(II) ions.     

A coordination pi-pi framework exhibits spontaneous magnetization

A pi-pi scaffolding framework that was assembled as a one-dimensional chain structure comprising alternating Delta- and Lambda-iron(II) chiral building units, [Fe(II)(Delta)Fe(II)(Lambda)(ox)2(phen)2]n, reveals spontaneous magnetization that gives rise to pronounced hysteresis loops below 10 K.     

A convenient synthesis of copper(I) carboxylates

A simple procedure is described for the synthesis of aliphatic and aromatic copper(I) carboxylates by the reduction of copper(II) carboxylates with commercially available tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate. In this way copper(I) acetate, benzoate and stearate have been prepared in good yield and purity from the corresponding copper(II) carboxylates.     

A new kinetic photometric method for the simultaneous determination of metals based on catalytic and activating effects

Summary The potential use of the activating effect of Pb(II) on the Mn(II)-catalysed oxidation of Tiron by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline for the simultaneous determination of the two metals was investigated. The results obtained allowed the development of a new kinetic photometric method for the simultaneous determination of Pb(II) and Mn(II). The catalysed reaction was monitored by the initial rate method, which was applied to absorbance-time curves. Different Mn(II) concentrations were used to construct calibration graphs by plotting the slopes of the photometric curves obtained against the Mn(II) concentration at each Pb(II) concentration assayed. A new calibration graph was obtained in terms of the Pb(II) concentration from the slopes of such graphs. By applying the standard-addition method to the sample to be assayed a third graph was obtained, the slope and intercept of which provided the analytical concentration of Pb(II) and Mn(II), respectively. The optimized values of the different variables involved were used to determine Mn(II) and Pb(II) over the concentration ranges 1–5 and 200–800 ng/ml, respectively.