Highly diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed cyclizations of 3,4-allenylic hydrazines and organic halides -- highly stereoselective synthesis of optically active pyrazolidine derivatives and the prediction of the stereoselectivity

Pyrazolidines containing two chiral centers, an interesting class of heterocyclic compounds possessing a range of biological activities, have been prepared highly diastereoselectively (up to 95:5) through asymmetric Pd(OAc)(2)-catalyzed cyclizations between the easy available optically active allenylic hydrazines and organic halides in THF in the presence of (R,R)-Bn-Box (L2) as the ligand. It was observed 1) that in most cases (3R,5S)-pyrazolidines were obtained in good yields with very high enantiopurities (>99%) and high diastereoselectivities (up to 95:5) in the presence of (R,R)-Bn-Box (L2), 2) that aryl halides containing electron-donating or -withdrawing groups, heteroaryl, and 1-alkenyl iodides are all suitable substrates for this diastereoselective cyclization, 3) that the absolute configurations of the newly formed chiral centers in the pyrazolidines depend on the structure of substrate 1, and 4) that the enantio- and diastereopurities of the trans-pyrazolidines are co-controlled by the chiralities of the chiral catalysts and the substrates. A model for prediction of the enantiopurities of the products and the diastereoselectivities of the reactions based on an HPLC study of the starting hydrazines and the products was established.     

Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling-cyclization of 2-(2',3'-allenyl)acetylacetates and organic halides: an efficient synthesis of 4,5-dihydrofuran derivatives

[reaction: see text] Highly chemo- and regioselective Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling-cyclization of 2-(2',3'-allenyl)acetylacetates with organic halides using K3PO4 as base in DMF efficiently afforded 4,5-dihydrofuran derivatives in moderate to excellent yields, with a selectivity of >97:3.     

Significance analysis and multiple pharmacophore models for differentiating P-glycoprotein substrates

P-glycoprotein (Pgp) mediated drug efflux affects the absorption, distribution, and clearance of a broad structural variety of drugs. Early assessment of the potential of compounds to interact with Pgp can aid in the selection and optimization of drug candidates. To differentiate nonsubstrates from substrates of Pgp, a robust predictive pharmacophore model was targeted in a supervised analysis of three-dimensional (3D) pharmacophores from 163 published compounds. A comprehensive set of pharmacophores has been generated from conformers of whole molecules of both substrates and nonsubstrates of P-glycoprotein. Four-point 3D pharmacophores were employed to increase the amount of shape information and resolution, including the ability to distinguish chirality. A novel algorithm of the pharmacophore-specific t-statistic was applied to the actual structure-activity data and 400 sets of artificial data (sampled by decorrelating the structure and Pgp efflux activity). The optimal size of the significant pharmacophore set was determined through this analysis. A simple classification tree using nine distinct pharmacophores was constructed to distinguish nonsubstrates from substrates of Pgp. An overall accuracy of 87.7% was achieved for the training set and 87.6% for the external independent test set. Furthermore, each of nine pharmacophores can be independently utilized as an accurate marker for potential Pgp substrates.     

Quantum-chemical calculations and IR spectra of the (F2)MF2 molecules (M = B, Al, Ga, In, Tl) in solid matrices: a new class of very high electron affinity neutral molecules

Electron-deficient group 13 metals react with F(2) to give the compounds MF(2) (M = B, Al, Ga, In, Tl), which combine with F(2) to form a new class of very high electron affinity neutral molecules, (F(2))MF(2), in solid argon and neon. These (F(2))MF(2) fluorine metal difluoride molecules were identified through matrix IR spectra containing new antisymmetric and symmetric M-F stretching modes. The assignments were confirmed through close comparisons with frequency calculations using DFT methods, which were calibrated against the MF(3) molecules observed in all of the spectra. Electron affinities calculated at the CCSD(T) level fall between 7.0 and 7.8 eV, which are in the range of the highest known electron affinities.     

Infrared spectra and quantum chemical calculations of the uranium-carbon molecules UC, CUC, UCH, and U(CC)2

Laser evaporation of carbon rich uranium/carbon alloy targets into condensing argon or neon matrix samples gives weak infrared absorptions that increase on annealing, which can be assigned to new uranium carbon bearing species. New bands at 827.6 cm(-1) in solid argon or 871.7 cm(-1) in neon become doublets with mixed carbon 12 and 13 isotopes and exhibit the 1.0381 carbon isotopic frequency ratio for the UC diatomic molecule. Another new band at 891.4 cm(-1) in argon gives a three-band mixed isotopic spectrum with the 1.0366 carbon isotopic frequency ratio, which is characteristic of the anti-symmetric stretching vibration of a linear CUC molecule. No evidence was found for the lower energy cyclic U(CC) isomer. Other bands at 798.6 and 544.0 cm(-1) are identified as UCH, which has a uranium-carbon triple bond similar to that in UC. Evidence is found for bicyclic U(CC)(2) and tricyclic U(CC)(3). This work shows that U and C atoms react spontaneously to form the uranium carbide U≡C and C≡U≡C molecules with uranium-carbon triple bonds.     

The HRuCCH, RuCCH2, and Ru-η2-C2H2 molecules: infrared spectra and density functional calculations

Laser-ablated ruthenium atoms undergo reaction with acetylene during condensation in excess neon and argon matrices to form a metallacycle complex, insertion into the C-H bond, and rearrangement to the vinylidene complex. The subject molecules were identified by (13)C(2)H(2) and C(2)D(2), isotopic substitutions and density functional theory (DFT) frequency calculations. The HRuCCH molecule is described by Ru-H, CH, and CC stretching modes and CCH deformation modes. A very strong CC double bond stretching, weak CH stretching, and CCH deformation frequencies were observed for the Ru═C═CH(2) complex. The metallacycle Ru-η(2)-(C(2)H(2)) is characterized through CC double bond stretching, CH stretching and CCH deformation modes. The reaction mechanism for formation of the Ru═C═CH(2) complex was investigated by B3LYP internal reaction coordinate calculations, and the hydrido-alkyny complex is the rate-determining step. The delocalized three-center-four-electron π bond using the Ru 4d(xz) electron pair contributes to the C-C π* orbital and provides stabilization energy (ΔE((2)), second-order perturbation) for the vinylidene Ru═C═CH(2) complex.     

Matrix infrared spectroscopic and electronic structure investigations of the lanthanide metal atom-methyl fluoride reaction products CH3-LnF and CH2-LnHF: the formation of single carbon-lanthanide metal bonds

Lanthanide metal atoms, produced by laser ablation, were condensed with CH(3)F in excess Ar at 8 K. New infrared absorption bands are assigned to the first insertion CH(3)LnF and oxidative addition methylene lanthanide hydride fluoride CH(2)LnHF products on the basis of (13)C and deuterium substitution and density functional theory calculations of the vibrational frequencies. It is also possible to observe the cationic species CH(3)LnF(+) for some Ln. For Ln = Eu and Yb, only CH(3)LnF is observed. CH(3)LnF in the Ln formal +2 state is predicted to be more stable than CH(2)LnHF with the Ln in the formal +3 oxidation state. CH(3)-LnF forms a single bond between Ln and C and is a substituted methane. Similar to CH(2)-LnF(2), CH(2)-LnHF does not form a π-bond between Ln and C and is best described as a LnHF-substituted CH(3) radical, with an unpaired p electron on C weakly interacting with the unpaired f electrons on the Ln. The calculated potential energy surface for the CH(3)F + La → CH(3)-LaF/CH(2)-LaHF shows a number of intermediates and transition states on multiple paths. The reaction mechanism involves the potential formation of LaF and LaHF intermediates.     

Peptide bond trans-cis isomerization and acylimine formation in chromophore maturation of the red fluorescent proteins

In red fluorescent proteins such as DsRed, an acylimine is formed from the Phe65-Gln66 linkage in GFP-like immature form, while it shows a cis configuration in its mature state. To date, the relationship between acylimine formation and trans-cis isomerization is still unresolved. We have calculated bond rotation profiles for mature and immature chromophores within the protein using our own n-layered integrated molecular orbital and molecular mechanism (ONIOM) approach. The results suggested that the isomerization is barrierless in acylimine formed in the mature state, suggesting that the acylimine formation precedes the trans-cis isomerization in DsRed chromophores. Further decomposition analysis of electrostatic contributions from individual residues has identified several residues and a specific water molecule which could play key roles in controlling the rate of the trans-cis isomerization of peptide bond in immature GFP-like protein. The results also highlight the importance of Gln66-like of tripeptide motif (chromophore) in the maturation of red fluorescent proteins. In view of the considerable interest in developing red fluorescent proteins for numerous biotechnological applications, these results should be useful for design of novel fluorescent proteins.     

Three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic focusing for continuous sampling and analysis of adherent cells

A simple three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic focusing microfluidic device integrated with continuous sampling, rapid dynamic lysis, capillary electrophoretic (CE) separation and detection of intracellular content is presented. One of the major difficulties in microfluidic cell analysis for adherent cells is that the cells are prone to attaching to the channel surface. To solve this problem, a cross microfluidic chip with three sheath-flow channels located on both sides of and below the sampling channel was developed. With the three sheath flows around the sample solution-containing cells, the formed soft fluid wall prevents the cells from adhering to the channel surface. Labeled cells were 3D hydrodynamically focused by the sheath-flow streams and smoothly introduced into the cross-section one by one. The introduction of sheath-flow streams not only ensured single-cell sampling but avoided blockage of the sampling channel by adherent cells as well. The maximum rate for introduction of individual cells into the separation channel was about 151 cells min(-1). With electric field applied on the separation channel, the aligned cells were driven into the separation channel and rapidly lysed within 400 ms at the entry of the channel by sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) added in the sheath-flow solution. The microfluidic system was evaluated by analysis of reduced glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in single HepG2 cells. The average analysis throughput of ROS and GSH in single cells was 16-18 cells min(-1).     

Inorganic nanotubes formation through the synergic evolution of dynamic templates and metallophosphates: from vesicles to nanotubes

A novel synergic evolution of dynamic assembly, from vesicles to nanotubes, between the metallophosphates and organic amines, is disclosed, by which the multicomponent metallophosphate (Cu(2)(OH)PO(4)) nanotubes are synthesized for the first time.