The complex of a bivalent derivative of galanthamine with torpedo acetylcholinesterase displays drastic deformation of the active-site gorge: implications for structure-based drug design

Bifunctional derivatives of the alkaloid galanthamine, designed to interact with both the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its peripheral cation binding site, have been assayed with Torpedo californica AChE (TcAChE), and the three-dimensional structures of their complexes with the enzyme have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Differences were noted between the IC(50) values obtained for TcAChE and those for Electrophorus electricus AChE. These differences are ascribed to sequence differences in one or two residues lining the active-site gorge of the enzyme. The binding of one of the inhibitors disrupts the native conformation of one wall of the gorge, formed by the loop Trp279-Phe290. It is proposed that flexibility of this loop may permit the binding of inhibitors such as galanthamine, which are too bulky to penetrate the narrow neck of the gorge formed by Tyr121 and Phe330 as seen in the crystal structure.     

Methode d'analyse quantitative par spectrometrie Raman-laser associee aux fibres optiques pour le suivi d'une fermentation alcooliqueA quantitative laser Raman spectrometric method with fibre optics for monitoring an alcoholic fermentation

Laser Raman spectrometry with a fibre-optic system is used to monitor the concentrations of ethanol, glucose and fructose at various stages of an alcoholic fermentation process. For evaluation of the data, cross-correlation and multivariate least-squares procedures are compared; the latter gives the best results. Ethanol, glucose and fructose can be determined remotely with a precision of ca. 10 g l^?1 (10–15%).     

An efficient way to 1,7-enynes and ethyl 8-yn-2-enoates from aldohexoses and to polyhydroxylated 1-vinylcyclohexenes

In this paper, we report the synthesis of carbohydrate-derived 1,7-enynes and subsequent metathesis to yield polyhydroxylated 1-vinylcyclohexenes. For example, we converted D-glucose 2 to the (6,7)-dideoxy-D-gluco-hept-6-ene-pyranose 7, which led to the desired 1,7-enyne 16. The ring-closing metathesis of this 1,7-enyne 16 with the second generation Grubbs catalyst, under Mori's conditions, gave the corresponding polyhydroxylated 1-vinylcyclohexene 25 in 76% yield. The conversion of several aldohexoses into polyhydroxylated 1-vinylcyclohexenes was carried out with satisfying yields. We report also the synthesis of two carbohydrate-derived ethyl 8-yn-2-enoates from D-glucose derivatives.     

The cyano nitronyl nitroxide radical: experimental and theoretical evidence for the fourth case of the McConnell-I mechanism

The nitronyl nitroxide 2-cyano-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (1) crystallises in the tetragonal P42(1)m space group with a=7.4050(7), c=8.649(1) A. In the crystal the molecules form layers parallel to the ab plane in which they are orthogonal to each other. In the layers there are close contacts, 2.953(2) A, between the NO groups and the bridging carbon atoms of the O-N-C-N-O fragment of neighbouring radicals. The calculated spin density shows a positive population mainly and equally localised on the NO groups and small but significant negative spin densities on the bridging carbon atom and the cyano nitrogen. Absorption spectra show temperature-dependent transitions related to the magnetic behaviour. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility in the range 2-300 K reveals that couplings between the radicals are antiferromagnetic, and is interpreted by considering a two-dimensional square array of spin S=1/2 antiferromagnetically coupled (J=-10 cm(-1) and g=2.01). This is interpreted as an exchange coupling through close contact between positive and negative spin densities in orthogonal orbitals on oxygen and carbon atoms, respectively.     

A New Method to Prepare Transition Metal Salts of Bulk and Supported Heteropolyacids. Application to the Catalysis of the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Isobutyric Acid

Transition metal salts of heteropolyacids have been prepared taking into account the strong acidic and cation exchanging properties of the solid heteropolyacids. The exchange between protons and the transition metal cation is carried out by stirring a suspension of the hydrated heteropolyacid in a solution of the metal acetylacetonate complex in toluene. The exchange occurs on the surface of the solid particles and diffusion of protons and metal cations into the hydrated lattice leads to the substitution of all the protons. The method can be utilized in order to prepare supported vanadyl and copper molybdophosphates from supported heteropolyacids and they have been studied in the catalysis of the oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutyric acid. The effect of vanadyl counter-ions on the catalytic behavior is the same as observed with bulk catalysts but, on the contrary, copper supported molybdophosphate shows an acid catalytic activity not observed with bulk catalysts.     

Crystallographic evidence of hexacoordination at phosphorus via intramolecular coordination of donor groups on phosphane and phosphane sulphide

The X-ray structure analysis of bis(8-dimethylamino-l-naphthyl)phenylphosphane (3) and of the corresponding sulphide 4 has revealed hexacoordination at phosphorus in both cases, the N … P separations being less than the sum of the van der Waal radii. Furthermore, in both cases the overall geometry corresponds to a distorted bicapped tetrahedron. The optimum geometry calculated for 4 via the program developed by Autodesk (MM + method) suggests that the structure of the molecule is a function not only of steric requirements but also of electronic effects.     

Room temperature, high-yield synthesis of multiple shapes of gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution

A seed-mediated growth method was used to control the morphology and dimensions of Au nanocrystals by the manipulation of the experimental parameters in aqueous solution at room temperature. This chemical route produces various structural architectures with rod-, rectangle-, hexagon-, cube-, triangle-, and starlike profiles and branched (such as bi-, tri-, tetra-, and multipod) Au nanocrystals of various dimensions in high yield in the presence of a single surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.     

Cobalt(II) halide complexes ofN-2-(4-picolyl)-,N-2-(6-picolyl)-andN-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-phenylthioureas

Summary Co^II complexes of various stoichiometries have been isolated from reactions of the metal chlorides and bromides withN-2-(4-picolyl)-,N-2-(6-picolyl)- andN-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N-phenylthioureas.