Phosphodiester cleavage properties of copper(II) complexes of 1,4,7-triazacyclononane ligands bearing single alkyl guanidine pendants

Three new metal-coordinating ligands, L(1)·4HCl [1-(2-guanidinoethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane tetrahydrochloride], L(2)·4HCl [1-(3-guanidinopropyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane tetrahydrochloride], and L(3)·4HCl [1-(4-guanidinobutyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane tetrahydrochloride], have been prepared via the selective N-functionalization of 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn) with ethylguanidine, propylguanidine, and butylguanidine pendants, respectively. Reaction of L(1)·4HCl with Cu(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O in basic aqueous solution led to the crystallization of a monohydroxo-bridged binuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu(2)L(1)(2)(μ-OH)](ClO(4))(3)·H(2)O (C1), while for L(2) and L(3), mononuclear complexes of composition [Cu(L(2)H)Cl(2)]Cl·(MeOH)(0.5)·(H(2)O)(0.5) (C2) and [Cu(L(3)H)Cl(2)]Cl·(DMF)(0.5)·(H(2)O)(0.5) (C3) were crystallized from methanol and DMF solutions, respectively. X-ray crystallography revealed that in addition to a tacn ring from L(1) ligand, each copper(II) center in C1 is coordinated to a neutral guanidine pendant. In contrast, the guanidinium pendants in C2 and C3 are protonated and extend away from the Cu(II)-tacn units. Complex C1 features a single μ-hydroxo bridge between the two copper(II) centers, which mediates strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal centers. Complexes C2 and C3 cleave two model phosphodiesters, bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) and 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenylphosphate (HPNPP), more rapidly than C1, which displays similar reactivity to [Cu(tacn)(OH(2))(2)](2+). All three complexes cleave supercoiled plasmid DNA (pBR 322) at significantly faster rates than the corresponding bis(alkylguanidine) complexes and [Cu(tacn)(OH(2))(2)](2+). The high DNA cleavage rate for C1 {k(obs) = 1.30 (±0.01) × 10(-4) s(-1) vs 1.23 (±0.37) × 10(-5) s(-1) for [Cu(tacn)(OH(2))(2)](2+) and 1.58 (±0.05) × 10(-5) s(-1) for the corresponding bis(ethylguanidine) analogue} indicates that the coordinated guanidine group in C1 may be displaced to allow for substrate binding/activation. Comparison of the phosphate ester cleavage properties of complexes C1-C3 with those of related complexes suggests some degree of cooperativity between the Cu(II) centers and the guanidinium groups.     

Electroanalytical sensing of chromium(III) and (VI) utilising gold screen printed macro electrodes

We report the fabrication of gold screen printed macro electrodes which are electrochemically characterised and contrasted to polycrystalline gold macroelectrodes with their potential analytical application towards the sensing of chromium(III) and (VI) critically explored. It is found that while these gold screen printed macro electrodes have electrode kinetics typically one order of magnitude lower than polycrystalline gold macroelectrodes as is measured via a standard redox probe, in terms of analytical sensing, these gold screen printed macro electrodes mimic polycrystalline gold in terms of their analytical performance towards the sensing of chromium(III) and (VI), whilst boasting additional advantages over the macro electrode due to their disposable one-shot nature and the ease of mass production. An additional advantage of these gold screen printed macro electrodes compared to polycrystalline gold is the alleviation of the requirement to potential cycle the latter to form the required gold oxide which aids in the simplification of the analytical protocol. We demonstrate that gold screen printed macro electrodes allow the low micro-molar sensing of chromium(VI) in aqueous solutions over the range 10 to 1600 μM with a limit of detection (3σ) of 4.4 μM. The feasibility of the analytical protocol is also tested through chromium(VI) detection in environmental samples.     

Reactivity of the bridged-sulfide complex Pd2Cl2(μ-S)(μ-dmpm)2 toward electrophiles

The dipalladium(I) complex Pd(2)Cl(2)(dmpm)(2) (1a) [dmpm = bis(dimethylphosphino)methane] is known to react with elemental sulfur (S(8)) to give the bridged-sulfide complex Pd(2)Cl(2)(μ-S)(dmpm)(2) (2a) but, in the presence of excess S(8), PdCl(2)[P,S-dmpm(S)] (4a) and dmpm(S)(2) are generated. Treatment of 1a with elemental selenium (Se(8)), however, gives only Pd(2)Cl(2)(μ-Se)(dmpm)(2) (3a). Complex 4a is best made by reaction of trans-PdCl(2)(PhCN)(2) with dmpm(S). Complex 2a reacts with MeI to yield initially Pd(2)I(2)(μ-S)(dmpm)(2) and MeCl, and then Pd(2)I(2)(μ-I)(2)(dmpm)(2) and Me(2)S, whereas alkylation of 2a with MeOTf generates the cationic, bridged-methanethiolato complex [Pd(2)Cl(2)(μ-SMe)(dmpm)(2)]OTf (5). Oxidation of 2a with m-CPBA forms a mixture of Pd(2)Cl(2)(μ-SO)(dmpm)(2) and Pd(2)Cl(2)(μ-SO(2))(dmpm)(2), whereas Pd(2)Br(2)(μ-S)(dmpm)(2) reacts selectively to give Pd(2)Br(2)(μ-SO)(dmpm)(2) (6b). Treatment of the Pd(2)X(2)(μ-S)(dmpm)(2) complexes with X(2) (X = halogen) removes the bridged-sulfide as S(8), with co-production of Pd(II)(dmpm)-halide species. X-ray structures of 3a, 5 and 6b are presented. Reactions of dmpm with S(8) and Se(8) are clarified. Differences in the chemistry of the dmpm systems with that of the corresponding dppm systems [dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane] are discussed.     

A versatile enantioselective synthesis of azabicyclic ring systems: a concise total synthesis of (+)-grandisine D and unnatural analogues

Closing in on azacines: We have developed a new six step approach for the rapid and enantioselective synthesis of indolizidine, pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine, and pyrrolo[1,2-a]azocine azabicyclic systems and their respective lactam congeners, which are found in a host of natural products as well as pharmaceutical preparations. This protocol enables a concise enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-grandisine?D in 16.4?% overall yield from commercial materials (see scheme).     

Thermal expansion and recrystallization of amorphous Al and Ti: A molecular dynamics study

In this study, the thermal expansion and recrystallization behavior of amorphous Al and Ti are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Amorphous phases are obtained via rapid quenching from a liquid state and are subsequently heated at a rate of 1 K/ps. Using the change in simulation size over the course of heating, the thermal expansion coefficients of amorphous Al and Ti are calculated and compared to their crystalline counterparts. From a similar set of simulations, the recrystallization temperatures of Al and Ti are determined by analyzing their potential energy profiles. In addition, the change in volume as a result of the phase transition is quantified by comparing the atomic volumes of Al and Ti in both their amorphous and crystalline states.     

Initial characterization of a type I fatty acid synthase and polyketide synthase multienzyme complex NorS in the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B(1)

The biosynthesis of the potent environmental carcinogen aflatoxin B(1) is initiated by norsolorinic acid synthase (NorS), a complex of an iterative type I polyketide synthase and a specialized yeast-like pair of fatty acid synthases. NorS has been partially purified from Aspergillus parasiticus, has been found to have a mass of approximately 1.4 x 10(6) Da, and carries out the synthesis of norsolorinic acid in the presence of acetylCoA, malonylCoA, and NADPH where hexanoylCoA is not a free intermediate. The N-acetylcysteamine thioester of hexanoic acid can substitute for the catalytic functions of HexA/B to initiate norsolorinic acid synthesis by the complex in the presence of only malonylCoA. An alpha(2)beta(2)gamma(2) stoichiometry is proposed for NorS in keeping with its estimated mass and the observed dimeric or higher-order quarternary structures of PKS and FAS enzymes.     

Efficient identification of inhibitors targeting the closed active site conformation of the HPRT from Trypanosoma cruzi

BACKGROUND: Currently, only two drugs are recommended for treatment of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease. These compounds kill the trypomastigote forms of the parasite circulating in the bloodstream, but are relatively ineffective against the intracellular stage of the parasite life cycle. Neither drug is approved by the FDA for use in the US. The hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) from T. cruzi is a possible new target for antiparasite chemotherapy. The crystal structure of the HPRT in a conformation approximating the transition state reveals a closed active site that provides a well-defined target for computational structure-based drug discovery. RESULTS: A flexible ligand docking program incorporating a desolvation correction was used to screen the Available Chemicals Directory for inhibitors targeted to the closed conformation of the trypanosomal HPRT. Of 22 potential inhibitors identified, acquired and tested, 16 yielded K(i)'s between 0.5 and 17 microM versus the substrate phosphoribosylpyrophosphate. Surprisingly, three of eight compounds tested were effective in inhibiting the growth of parasites in infected mammalian cells. CONCLUSIONS: This structure-based docking method provided a remarkably efficient path for the identification of inhibitors targeting the closed conformation of the trypanosomal HPRT. The inhibition constants of the lead inhibitors identified are unusually favorable, and the trypanostatic activity of three of the compounds in cell culture suggests that they may provide useful starting points for drug design for the treatment of Chagas' disease.     

Radical Thiol‐yne Chemistry on Diphenylacetylene: Selective and Quantitative Addition Enabling the Synthesis of Hyperbranched Poly(vinyl sulfide)s

A powerful variation of traditional radical thiol‐yne reaction with diphenylacetylene (DPA)‐based starting materials leading to the quantitative and selective formation of the corresponding vinyl sulfides is reported. A variety of different thiols are shown to undergo reaction with DPA and the influence of their structure on reactivity is studied. The results obtained from the model reactions are then used to guide the efficient synthesis of hyperbranched poly(vinyl sulfide) (hb‐PVS) systems by employing a dithiol and a trialkyne in an A₂ + B₃ approach. The polymers obtained show excellent solubility in common organic solvents and exhibit high refractive indices (e.g., 1.70 at 589 nm). The combined ease of processability and potential for cross‐linking make these materials very interesting for applications, such as coatings for optical devices. The selective mono‐addition thiol‐yne reaction on DPA serves not only as a synthetic method for the preparation of PVS but could also be applied to the general modification of acetylene‐containing materials.

     

Microbead dynamics in optical trap assisted nanopatterning

An optically pumped ZnO nanowire laser with a 10-period SiO₂/SiN _x distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) was demonstrated. Stimulated emissions with equally distributed Fabry–Pérot lasing modes were observed at pumping powers larger than 121 kW/cm². This result, when compared to nanowires of the same length and without a DBR structure, shows that a lower threshold of pumping power, higher quality factor, and larger cavity finesse can be achieved due to the high reflectivity of the DBR in the designed wavelength range. A coexistence of stimulated and spontaneous emissions was also observed above threshold and was attributed to partially confined waveguide modes in nanowires with diameters smaller than 100 nm.     

Predicting Vertical Flow Barriers Using Tracer Diffusion in Partially Saturated,Layered Porous Media

Sudden changes in isotopic tracer concentration in pore waters have been interpreted as indicating barriers to vertical advective flow through porous rocks in the subsurface, e.g. step changes in \(^{87}\hbox {Sr}/^{86}\) Sr ratio are often used in the oil and gas industry as a signature of reservoir compartmentalisation. This study shows that this is not necessarily the case. It can take millions of years for such step changes to equilibrate by diffusion if there is no flow resulting from pressure or density gradients even in high permeability, high porosity rocks, particularly if the water saturation is low. Changes in tracer concentration gradients can be good indicators of changes in porosity (or water saturation) between layers. In contrast changes in sorption without a change in porosity are almost impossible to identify. The time taken for concentration gradients to equilibrate is affected by the layer properties but can be quickly estimated from the harmonic average of the effective diffusion coefficient for each layer and a simple analytical expression for a homogeneous system. This was achieved by performing a sensitivity analysis on different layer properties (porosity contrast, saturation contrast, sorption contrast, thickness ratio) using existing analytical solutions for diffusion in layered systems.