Molecular orbital studies on the conformation of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)

In distinction to Extended Hückel Theory which predicts as the most stable conformation of free zwitterionic GABA a totally extended form, PCILO and SCF ab initio studies show that the intrinsically preferred conformation of the isolated molecule is a highly folded one, resulting from strong interactions between the two charged ends. Computations are also carried out for hydrated GABA in the supermolecule approach allowing moreover for the flexibility of binding of some of the water molecules of the first hydration shell. They predict the coexistence in solution of a large number of conformations showing different degrees of folding (or extension), a result confirmed by recent NMR studies. This and a number of similar results show that we have to adapt our thinking on the role of conformations in pharmacological activity to this situation, which was frequently obscured by the more abundant results of X-ray crystallography yielding a single conformation.     

Characterization of peptides by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using silver nitrate as a post-column complexant

Two model peptides, des-Arg1-bradykinin (DAB) and bradykinin (B), were cationized by Ag+ after their separation by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) prior to mass spectrometry (MS). Silver nitrate solution was used as a post-column reagent. The RPLC and MS experimental conditions were optimized using flow injection in order to obtain sufficiently abundant silver adducts to permit MS/MS experiments. The use of water-methanol with 0.1% formic acid as mobile phase allowed a good chromatographic separation of the two peptides with a polymeric stationary phase and sufficiently abundant silver-containing adducts, [M + Ag + H]2+ and [M + 2Ag]2+. The gas-phase dissociation of [DAB + Ag + H]2+ and [DAB + 2Ag]2+ led to interpretable mass spectra during the on-line cationization experiment. Most of the ions obtained by dissociating [DAB + Ag + H]2+ and [DAB + 2Ag]2+ species are silver-containing ions but the ions produced depend on the parent. The ions coming from the dissociation of the doubly charged silver adducts [DAB + Ag + H]2+ or [DAB + 2Ag]2+ are of interest compared with those coming from the singly charged silver species or doubly charged protonated species. The fragmentation of the doubly charged silver adducts provides ions over the entire mass range. Although the presence of several prolines in des-Arg1-bradykinin prevents the formation of some expected ions, the observation of triplets [an-H + Ag]+, [bn-H + Ag]+ and [bn + OH + Ag]+ produced by the dissociation of on-line Ag(+)-cationized peptides could contribute to greater success of automatic sequencing of peptides.     

Electron spin resonance detection of radiosterilization of pharmaceuticals: application to four nitrofurans

The detection and dosimetry of radiosterilization of pharmaceuticals is a growing concern to numerous government regulatory agencies worldwide. In the absence of suitable detection methods, attention was focused on electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. This paper reports experimental data on ESR dosimetry of irradiated nitrofurans (nitrofurantoin, nifuroxazide, nifurzide and nifurtoinol). Whereas the ESR spectrum of a non-irradiated sample shows no signal, a signal, that is dependent on the irradiation dose is observed with irradiated samples. The number of free radicals was calculated by comparing the second integral from radiosterilized samples and a Bruker strong pitch reference; the values were in the range 1.1 x 10(18)-1.5 x 10(19) radicals mol-1 (G = 0.003-0.03). In addition to qualitative detection, ESR spectrometry can be used for dose determination. When a bi-exponential function is applied to the variation of the peak-to-peak amplitude versus dose, the function correlates well with the data. However, an exponential function, easier to use than a bi-exponential function, will probably be sufficient for dose determination by retrospective dosimetry. Decay of radicals upon storage was modelled using a bi-exponential function. From this, the time limit from the irradiation (25 kGy) for identification of irradiated nitrofurans by ESR can be evaluated. With regard to the commercial aspects of drugs, radicals should be detected up to 2 years after irradiation. The kinetic decrease makes discrimination between irradiated and non-irradiated nitrofurans possible even after storage for up to 2 years, except for nifurtoinol.     

Synthesis of isoxazolo[4,5-d]pyridazin-4(5H)-ones and 4-acyl-5-hydroxy-3(2H)-pyridazinones

The title compounds were prepared from ethyl 5-acyl- or 5-(1-hydroxyethenyl)isoxazole-4-carboxylates which in turn were prepared from ethyl 3-methylamino-2-butenoate or 3(2H)-furanones.     

Factors controlling the regioselectivity of additions to α-enones—III: Reactions of 3-aryl α-enones with phosphorylated anions

Reaction of phosphonoester 2 and phosphononitrile 3 with chalcone and p-methoxychaleone in THF-t-BuOK at room temperature gives only the product resulting from CC double bond attack. The same reagents with benzalacetone lead to mixture of products resulting from CC double bond and carbonyl attack, though phosphine oxide 4 gives only the products of CC attack. Dypnone gives products of carbonyl attack with 3 and does not react with 2.These results are discussed in terms of perturbation theory: C₄ attack increases with delocalization of the reagent's negative charge and lowering of the α-enone LUMO level.     

Additions radicalaires du tétrahydrothiophène à des dérivés éthyléniques: Préparation de tétrahydrothiophènes substitués en 2

Di-t-butyl peroxide induces a free radical addition of tetrahydrothiophene to ethylenic compounds. The main products arise from an α-attack of the substrate. This reaction seems to be an interesting synthesis of these heterocycles.     

Rearrangement of 5-trimethylsilylthebaine on treatment with L-selectride: an efficient synthesis of (+)-bractazonine

Treatment of 5-trimethylsilylthebaine with L-Selectride gave rise to a rearrangement to 10-trimethylsilylbractazonine through migration of the phenyl group, whereas treatment of thebaine with strong Lewis acids is known to lead to a similar rearrangement through migration of the alkyl bridge to give, after reduction, (+)-neodihydrothebaine. It is suggested that the rearrangement of the alkyl group of thebaine is favored due to the formation of a tertiary benzylic cation. However, for 5-trimethylsilylthebaine, the lithium ion of L-Selectride acts as the Lewis acid and the beta-silyl effect dominates in the stabilization of any positive charge. This rearrangement provides a clear example of the greater relative migratory aptitude of phenyl groups over alkyl groups, and provides an efficient synthesis of (+)-bractazonine from thebaine.     

Reactivity of stable trifluoroacetaldehyde hemiaminals. 2. Generation and synthetic potentialities of fluorinated iminiums

Under Lewis acid activation, hemiaminals of trifluoroacetaldehyde and related (fluoroalkyl)aldehydes generate iminium species that can react with various nucleophiles to provide fluorinated amines.     

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.     

Conversion directe des phospholes en dihydro-6,7 phosphepines dans la sphere de coordination du tungstene

In the presence of AlCl₃, [1-β-chloroethyl-3,4-dimethylphosphole]pentacarbonyltungsten($\text{1}$) rearranges into [1-chloro-3,4-dimethyl-6,7-dihydrophosphepin]pentacarbonyltungsten ($\text{3}$).