Asymmetric synthesis of the cis- and trans-stereoisomers of 4-aminopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid and 4-aminotetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylic acid

The diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (S)-N-benzyl-N-[small alpha]-methylbenzylamide has been successfully applied to the first asymmetric syntheses of cis-(3S,4R)- and trans-(3R,4R)-4-aminotetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylic acids (26% and 25% overall yield respectively, >98% d.e. and >97% e.e. in each case). Furthermore, the most efficient asymmetric synthesis to date of cis-(3R,4R)- and trans-(3R,4S)-4-aminopyrrolidine carboxylic acids is delineated: for cis-(3R,4R), four steps, >98% d.e., 52% overall yield; for trans-(3R,4S), five steps, >98% d.e., 50% overall yield.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of two novel heterometallic clusters: [Rh4Pt2(CO)11(dppm)2] and [Ru2Rh2Pt2(CO)12(dppm)2

Two novel heterometallic octahedral clusters [Rh(4)Pt(2)(CO)(11)(dppm)(2)](1) and [Ru(2)Rh(2)Pt(2)(CO)(12)(dppm)(2)](2) were synthesized by the reaction of [Rh(2)Pt(2)(CO)(6)(dppm)(2)] with [Rh(6)(CO)(14)(NCMe)(2)] and Ru(3)(CO)(12), respectively. Solid state structures of 1 and 2 have been established by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. Two dppm ligands in 1 are bonded to one platinum and three rhodium atoms, which form an equatorial plane of the Rh(4)Pt(2) octahedron. Two rhodium and two platinum atoms bound to the diphosphine ligands in 2 are nonplanar to give an octahedral C2 symmetric Ru(2)Rh(2)Pt(2)(dppm)2 framework. The (31)P NMR investigation of and (1D, (31)P COSY, (31)P-[(103)Rh] HMQC) and simulation of 1D spectral patterns showed that in both clusters the structures of the M(6)(PP)(2) fragments found in the solid state are maintained in solution.     

Conformational effects on the performance and selectivity of a polymeric pseudostationary phase in electrokinetic chromatography

The effect of the conformation of a polymeric pseudostationary phase on performance and selectivity in electrokinetic chromatography was studied using an amphiphilic pH-responsive polymer that forms compact intramolecular aggregates (unimer micelles) at low pH and a more open conformation at high pH. The change in conformation was found to affect the electrophoretic mobility, retention, selectivity, and separation efficiency. The low-pH conformer has higher electrophoretic mobility and greater affinity for most solutes. The unimer micelle conformation was also found to provide a solvation environment more like that of micelles and other amphiphilic self-associative polymers studied previously. It was not possible to fully characterize the effect of conformation on efficiency, but very hydrophobic solutes with long alkyl chains appeared to migrate with better efficiency when the unimer micelle conformation was employed. The results imply that polymers with a carefully optimized lipophilic-hydrophilic balance that allow self-association will perform better as pseudostationary phases. In addition, the results show that electrokinetic chromatography is a useful method for determining the changes in solvation environment provided by stimuli-responsive polymers with changes in the conditions.     

Synthesis of a selective estrogen receptor β-modulator via asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of selective estrogen receptor β-modulator (S)-4-bromo-9a-butyl-8-chloro-6-fluoro-7-hydroxy-1,2,9,9a-tetrahydro-fluoren-3-one was developed. The route features a chemoselective aromatic chlorination reaction, an asymmetric phase-transfer-catalyzed alkylation of an indanone with efficient ee upgrade by racemate crystallization, and a robust bromination reaction using imidazole as an in situ bromine trap to avoid overreaction. The synthesis proceeds in 34% yield over 8 steps from 2-fluoroanisole, and provides material with >99.5% ee.     

Intermolecular coupling of alkenes to heterocycles via C-H bond activation

The intermolecular coupling of unactivated alkenes to a range of heterocycles using a Rh(I) catalyst was investigated. A variety of functional groups were incorporated into the alkene, including esters, nitriles, acetals, and phthalimide. Furthermore, the heterocycle tolerated substitution with both electron-rich and electron-deficient groups. The intermolecular coupling became possible after it was discovered that weak acids dramatically increase the rate of both the inter- and intramolecular reactions. An extensive optimization of additives was performed, and HCl.PCy(3) (Cy = cyclohexyl) and HCl.P-t-Bu(2)Et were in general found to be the best additives for the reaction.     

Intercalation of trioxatriangulenium ion in DNA: binding,electron transfer,x-ray crystallography,and electronic structure

Trioxatriangulenium ion (TOTA(+)) is a flat, somewhat hydrophobic compound that has a low-energy unoccupied molecular orbital. It binds to duplex DNA by intercalation with a preference for G-C base pairs. Irradiation of intercalated TOTA(+) causes charge (radical cation) injection that results in strand cleavage (after piperidine treatment) primarily at GG steps. The X-ray crystal structure of TOTA(+) intercalated in the hexameric duplex d[CGATCG](2) described here reveals that intercalation of TOTA(+) results in an unusually large extension of the helical rise of the DNA and that the orientation of TOTA(+) is sensitive to hydrogen-bonding interactions with backbone atoms of the DNA. Electronic structure calculations reveal no meaningful charge transfer from DNA to TOTA(+) because the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of TOTA(+), (LUMO)(T), falls in the gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital, (HOMO)(D), and the (LUMO)(D) of the DNA bases. These calculations reveal the importance of backbone, water, and counterion interactions, which shift the energy levels of the bases and the intercalated TOTA(+) orbitals significantly. The calculations also show that the inserted TOTA(+) strongly polarizes the intercalation cavity where a sheet of excess electron density surrounds the TOTA(+).     

A self-assembling protein template for constrained synthesis and patterning of nanoparticle arrays

Self-assembling biomolecules that form highly ordered structures have attracted interest as potential alternatives to conventional lithographic processes for patterning materials. Here, we introduce a general technique for patterning nanoparticle arrays using two-dimensional crystals of genetically modified hollow protein structures called chaperonins. Constrained chemical synthesis of transition metal nanoparticles is initiated using templates functionalized with polyhistidine sequences. These nanoparticles are ordered into arrays because the template-driven synthesis is constrained by the nanoscale structure of the crystallized protein. We anticipate that this system may be used to pattern different classes of nanoparticles based on the growing library of sequences shown to specifically bind or direct the growth of materials.     

High yielding synthesis of 3a-hydroxypyrrolo[2,3-b]indoline dipeptide methyl esters: synthons for expedient introduction of the hydroxypyrroloindoline moiety into larger peptide-based natural products and for the creation of tryptathionine bridges

This work describes a rapid and high yielding oxidation of 14 tryptophanylated amino acid methyl esters to the corresponding 3a-hydroxypyrrolo[2,3-b]indoline (Hpi) amino acids with generally facile separation of syn-cis and anti-cis diastereomers. Structural X-ray diffraction data are presented for both diastereomers of Tr-Hpi-Gly-OMe, which allow for a putative assignment of the other 13 pairs of diastereomers reported herein, based on correlations with 1H NMR chemical shifts. Selective and high yielding deprotection at either the N or C terminus is described, allowing the Hpi motif to be introduced efficiently into potential targets with minimal protecting group manipulation. Two tripeptides containing Hpi and cysteine were prepared and treated with acid in the Savige-Fontana reaction to produce a cyclic tryptathionine linkage, characteristic of both amatoxins and phallotoxins.     

Analysis of serotonin release from single neuron soma using capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence with a pulsed deep-UV NeCu laser

The use of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence excited by ultraviolet (UV) lasers in the range 200–300 nm has been restricted by the available wavelengths and expense of UV lasers. The integration of a NeCu deep UV laser operating at 248.6 nm with a single channel CE system with post-column sheath flow detection allows detection limits for serotonin and tryptophan of 3.9×10^-8 M and 4.5×10^-8 M respectively. Single cell analysis of serotonergic metacerebral cells from the sea slug Aplysia californica yields a value of 800±85 fmol of serotonin in each cell soma. For the first time, serotonin is directly detected in electrically stimulated release from single metacerebral cell soma, with approximately 4% of the serotonin contained in the soma released from a semi-intact preparation with a 2 min electrical stimulation.     

Ni(III) vs. Ni(II)-thiyl radical: charge-delocalisation in a binuclear Ni(III)Ni(II)-dithiolate complex

Multi-frequency EPR spectroscopy on 61Ni-labelled samples of [Ni2(L)]3+ confirms extensive charge-delocalisation between the Ni(III) centre and thiolate donors in the Ni(II)Ni(III) complex.