Enantioselective aziridination using copper complexes of biaryl Schiff bases

Racemic 2,2'-diamino-6,6'-dimethylbiphenyl is resolved using simulated moving bed chromatography, and the absolute configuration of the enantiomers is confirmed via the X-ray crystal structure of a derivative. The diamine is condensed with a range of aldehydes to give bidentate aldimine proligands L. Molecular structures of the complexes formed between L and Cu(I) fall into two classes; bimetallic double helices ([Cu(2)L(2)](2+)) and monometallic ([CuL](+)). The latter are strikingly more efficient in the aziridination of alkenes than are the former in terms of rate, turnover, and enantioselection. In particular, the imine ligand formed from the diamine and 2,6-dichlorobenzaldehyde gives, in combination with Cu(I) or Cu(II), up to 99% ee in the aziridination of 6-acyl-2,2-dimethylchromene and 88-98% ee for a range of cinnamate esters. Styrenic and other alkenes are converted with lower selectivities (5-54%). The catalytic system shows a linear response in product ee to catalyst ee, and the product ee does not vary significantly during the reaction. UV spectrophotometric investigations indicate that conversion of Cu(I) to Cu(II) is not essential for catalysis but that Cu(II) is probably also a competent system.     

A genetic algorithm for structure-based de novo design

Genetic algorithms have properties which make them attractive in de novo drug design. Like other de novo design programs, genetic algorithms require a method to reduce the enormous search space of possible compounds. Most often this is done using information from known ligands. We have developed the ADAPT program, a genetic algorithm which uses molecular interactions evaluated with docking calculations as a fitness function to reduce the search space. ADAPT does not require information about known ligands. The program takes an initial set of compounds and iteratively builds new compounds based on the fitness scores of the previous set of compounds. We describe the particulars of the ADAPT algorithm and its application to three well-studied target systems. We also show that the strategies of enhanced local sampling and re-introducing diversity to the compound population during the design cycle provide better results than conventional genetic algorithm protocols.     

Rhodopsin reconstituted into a planar-supported lipid bilayer retains photoactivity after cross-linking polymerization of lipid monomers

Transmembrane proteins (TMPs), particularly ion channels and receptors, play key roles in transport and signal transduction. Many of these proteins are pharmacologically important and therefore targets for drug discovery. TMPs can be reconstituted in planar-supported lipid bilayers (PSLBs), which has led to development of TMP-based biosensors and biochips. However, PSLBs composed of natural lipids lack the high stability desired for many technological applications. One strategy is to use synthetic lipid monomers that can be polymerized to form robust bilayers. A key question is how lipid polymerization affects TMP structure and activity. In this study, we have examined the effects of UV polymerization of bis-Sorbylphosphatidylcholine (bis-SorbPC) on the photoactivation of reconstituted bovine rhodopsin (Rho), a model G-protein-coupled receptor. Plasmon-waveguide resonance spectroscopy (PWR) was used to compare the degree of Rho incorporation and activation in fluid and poly(lipid) PSLBs. The results show that reconstitution of Rho into a supported lipid bilayer composed only of bis-SorbPC, followed by photoinduced lipid cross-linking, does not measurably diminish protein function.     

Rhodopsin exhibits a preference for solvation by polyunsaturated docosohexaenoic acid

An all-atom molecular dynamics simulation of rhodopsin in a membrane environment has been carried out with lipid composition similar to that of the retinal membrane. The initial conformation of the protein was taken from the X-ray crystallographic structure (1F88), while those of the lipids came from a previous molecular dynamics simulation. During the course of the 12.5 ns simulation, the initially randomly placed lipids adopt an anisotropic solvation structure around the protein. The lipids, having one saturated stearic acid chain and one polyunsaturated docosohexaenoic acid chain with a zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine headgroup, arrange themselves to maximize contact between the polyunsaturated chain and the protein surface. This organization is driven by energetically favorable interactions between the transmembrance helices and the docosohexaenoyl chains that are largely of the van der Waals type. These observations are consistent with various experimental studies on rhodopsin and other G-protein coupled receptors and with the picture of extreme flexibility in polyunsaturated fatty acid chains that has arisen from recent NMR and computational work.     

Evaluation of multidimensional (ion-exchange/reversed-phase) protein separations using linear and step gradients in the first dimension

The performance characteristics of multidimensional liquid chromatographic protein separations were evaluated using on-line electrospray mass detection, and a novel workflow for automated LC/MS data processing. Two-dimensional ion exchange/reversed-phase LC separations of Escherichia coli cytosol were conducted using either a continuous linear or discontinuous step gradient in the first dimension. Chromatographic profiles of the top 100 most abundant components were characterized to assess overall separation reproducibility within each mode, and to characterize differences in component distribution between the two modes of operation. Analysis of the resulting data indicates that multidimensional separations of complex protein mixtures can be done reproducibly. Furthermore, under the conditions employed within this study, a linear first dimension gradient was more effective at fractionating the protein mixture, distributing fewer major components to multiple second dimension cycles than an equivalent step gradient. The application of on line mass spectrometry, and automated processing of the resulting data, proved valuable for producing component level analysis of multidimensional protein separations.     

Lewis base activation of Lewis acids. Catalytic enantioselective addition of silyl enol ethers of achiral methyl ketones to aldehydes

A highly enantioselective addition of silyl enol ethers derived from simple methyl ketones is described. The catalyst system of silicon tetrachloride activated by a chiral bisphosphoramide (R,R)-7 effectively promotes the addition of a variety of unsubstituted silyl enol ethers to aromatic, olefinic, and heteroaromatic aldehydes in excellent yield. [reaction: see text]     

On the Structure of the Spectra for a Class of Combustion Waves

The stability of a premixed laminar flame supported by a general combustion reaction system is considered using the Evans function method. The spectrum of the linearised second-order differential operator is investigated in detail. The special structure of the differential equations due to an Arrhenius temperature dependence is exploited. It is shown that, for certain combustion systems, the limit of the Jacobian of the reaction terms as the travelling wave coordinate approaches the front and rear of the flame is a lower triangular matrix. For this type of system a simple geometrical method is shown for the study of the essential spectrum of the linearised operator, and for determining the domain of the Evans function. The results are applied to some representative combustion reactions.     

Improvements to the distance geometry algorithm for conformational sampling of cyclic structures

Modifications to the distance geometry algorithm as embodied in the program DGEOM have been made to improve sampling capabilities. Specifically, torsion angle sampling replaces distance sampling for 1,4 atomic relationships and correlated distance sampling is disabled. The effects of these modifications are illustrated by comparing the different sets of conformations produced for butane. In addition, these changes are shown to increase the conformational sampling of two medium-sized rings, cycloheptadecane and caprylolactam. The current results for these molecules are compared to those of other conformational searching methods.     

Intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of nitroalkenes for construction of vicinal quaternary stereocenters

[chemical reaction: see text]. Nitroalkene (E)-1 has been synthesized to test the feasibility of an intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition in a planned synthesis of daphnilactone B. This nitro olefin contains two unique structural features, a nitromethylene lactone and a pendant diene, that combine under the action of SnCl4 in a highly selective fashion to afford nitronates 2a and 2b. These products represent the correct relationship for the vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers in the core of daphnilactone B.