An Asymmetric Synthesis of L-694,458, a Human Leukocyte Elastase Inhibitor, via Novel Enzyme Resolution of beta-Lactam Esters

A convergent synthesis of [S-(R,S)]-2-[4-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]phenoxy]-3,3-diethyl-N-[1-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]butyl]-4-oxo-1-azetidinecarboxamide (L-694,458, 1), a potent human leukocyte elastase inhibitor, was achieved via chiral synthesis of key intermediates: (S)-3,3-diethyl-4-[4'-[(N-methylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonylphenoxy]-2-azetidinone (2) and (R)-alpha-propylpiperonyl isocyanate (3). Synthesis of beta-lactam 2 was achieved by a novel enantioselective lipase hydrolysis of ester 5 to produce (S)-3,3-diethyl-4-(4'-carboxyphenoxy)-2-azetidinone (6) (60% yield, three cycles, 93% ee) with isolation, epimerization, and recycling of the undesired (R)-ester 5. Isocyanate 3 was prepared by chiral addition of Zn(n-Pr)(2) to piperonal (98% yield, 99.2% ee), azide displacement and reduction to (R)-alpha-propylpiperonylamine (11) (58% yield, 85% ee), crystallization as the D-pyroglutamic acid salt (92% yield, 98.2% ee), and isocyanate formation (98% yield) with phosgene.     

Development and validation of methods for the trace determination of phthalates in sludge and vegetables

A routine method which is simple, quick and precise has been set up and validated for phthalate analysis in environmental samples (tomato plants and sewage sludges). Six phthalates have been studied simultaneously: dimethylphthalate, diethylphthalate, di-n-butylphthalate, n-butylbenzylphthalate, di-2-ethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-octylphthalate. Optimization of sample, solvent extraction uses a Soxtec apparatus and extract purification with an a solid-phase extraction cartridge allows between 90 and 110% recovery of phthalates. Precise, sensitive and selective identification and quantifying of analytes is by GC-MS in the single ion monitoring mode. This protocol allows analytes with concentrations as low as 10 microg/kg dry matter (DM) to be determined from small (1-2 g DM) samples. This analytical method has been applied to the phthalate transfer study for agricultural recycling of sludges, where phthalate bioavailability has been studied in aquiculture using two types of experiments. Tomatoes have been grown in containers where the trace organics have been directly introduced as pure substances, and in a second experiment under the same growth conditions, sewage sludge has replaced the pure substances. Transfer of these trace organics has been followed into the various parts of the tomato plant and in general only the DEHP is worthy of note although its percentage transfer remains very low even in an experiment designed to maximize this.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography of carbohydrates

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is a relatively new technique applied to polar solutes such as carbohydrates about 10 years ago. The developments in the SFC of carbohydrates are summarized and a comparison between capillary and packed column SFC is presented. High-efficiency capillary columns are suitable only for derivatized carbohydrates since various packed columns are well adapted for non derivatized mono-, di- and trisaccharides and provide complementary selectivities.     

Kinetics of radical telomerization of vinylidene fluoride in the presence of CCl3Z chain transfer agents

The kinetics of radical telomerization of VDF at 141 °C, initiated by ditertbutylperoxide, in the presence of three chain transfer agents (CTAs), HCCl₃, CCl₄ and CCl₃Br, are presented. The values of the chain transfer constants were assessed as 35, 0.25 and 0.06 at 141 °C for CCl₃Br, CCl₄ and HCCl₃, respectively. The values of the degree of polymerization (DP_n) were obtained for each CTA and were compared for the same CTA concentration. Hence, CCl₃Br behaved as an efficient CTA towards VDF and usually afforded the monoadduct selectively, but in certain conditions the VDF diadduct can also be produced. In contrast, HCCl₃ was not so efficient since a polymeric structure was identified as the major product.     

simple and mixed ligand complexes of copper(II) with polyfunctional phenolic compounds as models of natural substances

In order to analyse metal complexation with polyfunctional phenolic compounds as ligand models of natural substances, a detailed examination is described for five simple binary complexes and three ternary mixed ligand complexes at 25°C (μ = 0.1 M NaClO₄). The ligands are tyrosine, 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzene disulfonic acid, disodium salt (tiron), 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid (caffeic acid), 3,4,5-trihydroxy-1 -cyclohexene-1 -carboxylic acid (shikimic acid) and 1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid 3-(3,4-dihydroxycinnamate) (chlorogenic acid). The ternary systems are Cu(II)/H_qA/tiron, where H_qA is tyrosine, caffeic or chlorogenic acids. Potentiometric data were used successively to evaluate the protonation of each individual ligand, to detect simple and mixed complexes (including protonated species) and to determine their stability constants (a set of 33 values of constants with several original data is provided). The calculated distribution (speciation) of each species as a function of pH is indicated. Mixed coordination enhances the stability of complexes and the stabilization is expressed in terms of various parameters. The results emphasize that mixed ligand complex formation is essential to studies of multiple equilibria.     

Covalent modification of calcium hydroxyapatite surface by grafting phenyl phosphonate moieties

The reaction between phenyl phosphonic dichloride (C₆H₅P(O)Cl₂) and synthetic calcium hydroxy- and fluorapatite has been investigated. The presence of mono- or polymeric (C₆H₅PO) fragment bound to hydroxyapatite was evidenced by IR, and solid-state ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. X-ray powder analysis has shown that the apatitic structure remains unchanged during the reaction. In contrast, no reaction was found using fluorapatite. According to the results found for these two different apatites a mechanism was proposed for the formation of covalent P-O-P bonds as the result of a reaction between the C₆H₅P(O)Cl₂ organic reagent and (HPO₄)⁻ and/or OH⁻ ions of the hydroxyapatite.     

Photodissociation of heme distal methionine in ferrous cytochrome C revealed by subpicosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy

Cytochrome c (cyt c) is an electron-transfer heme protein that also binds nitric oxide (NO). In resting cyt c, two endogenous ligands of the heme iron are histidine-18 (His) and methionine-80 (Met) side chains, and NO binding requires the cleavage of one of the axial bonds. Previous femtosecond transient absorption studies suggested the photolysis of either Fe-His or Fe-Met bonds. We aimed at unequivocally identifying the internal side chain that is photodissociated in ferrous cyt c and at monitoring heme structural dynamics, by means of time-resolved resonance Raman (TR3) spectroscopy with approximately 0.6 ps time resolution. The Fe-His stretching mode at 216 cm-1 has been observed in photoproduct TR3 spectra for the first time for a c-type heme. The same transient mode was observed for a model ferrous cyt c N-fragment (residues 1-56) ligated with two His in the resting state. Our TR3 data reveal that upon ferrous cyt c photoexcitation, (i) distal Met side chain is instantly released, producing a five-coordinated domed heme structure, (ii) proximal His side chain, coupled to the heme, exhibits distortion due to strain exerted by the protein, and (iii) alteration in heme-cysteine coupling takes place along with the relaxation of the protein-induced deformations of the heme macrocycle.     

An approach to the tricyclic core of madangamines based upon a biogenetic scheme

[reaction: see text] A short synthesis of intermediates possessing the tricyclic core of natural madangamines, bioactive alkaloids found in marine sponges, is described. The key reaction entails the condensation of the sodium salt of diethylacetonedicarboxylate with a dihydropyridinium salt derivative. This new approach is modeled on a biogenetic proposal linking madangamines to ircinals, related alkaloids occurring in sponges of the same order.     

Mechanism for resonant O electron stimulated desorption from condensed O2. Non-adiabatic transitions and dynamics

Absolute kinetic energy distributions and yields associated with ground state ³P and excited state ¹D oxygen atoms have been obtained for O⁻ anion electron stimulated desorption from condensed O₂ in the electron energy range 6–15 eV. The observed yields are understood as resulting essentially from dissociative electron attachment reactions via the two lowest ²Σ⁺_g O⁻₂ resonance states through adiabatic and non-adiabatic transitions to the limits O⁻(²P) + O(³P) and O⁻(²P) + O(¹D). The kinetic energy distributions show the prominent role of electron multiple collision processes and post-dissociation interactions of the O⁻ anions in the condensed phase.