Dual Chemical Modification of a Polytheonamide Mimic: Rational Design and Synthesis of Ion‐Channel‐Forming 48‐mer Peptides with Potent Cytotoxicity

Polytheonamide B ( 1 ) is a natural peptide that displays potent cytotoxicity against P388 mouse leukemia cells (IC₅₀=0.098 nm ). Linear 48‐mer 1 is known to form monovalent cation channels on binding to lipid bilayers. We previously developed a fully synthetic route to 1 , and then achieved the design and synthesis of a structurally simplified analogue of 1 , namely, dansylated polytheonamide mimic 2 . Although the synthetically more accessible 2 was found to emulate the channel function of 1 , its cytotoxicity was decreased 120‐fold. Herein, the chemical preparation and biological evaluation of seven analogues 3 – 9 of 2 are reported. Compounds 3 – 9 were modified at their N terminus and/or the side chain of residue 44 of 2 to alter their physicochemical properties. The total synthesis of 3 – 9 was accomplished in a unified fashion by a combination of solid‐phase and solution‐phase chemistry. Systematic evaluation of the hydrophobicities, single‐channel currents, ion‐exchange activities, and cytotoxicities of 3 – 9 revealed that their hydrophobicities are correlated with the total magnitude of ion exchange and determine their cytotoxic potency. Consequently, the most hydrophobic analogue 9 exhibited the lowest IC₅₀ value, which is comparable to that of 1 . Therefore, these results clarified that the bioactivity of the polytheonamide‐based peptides can be rationally controlled by changing their hydrophobicity at the N and C termini of the 48‐amino‐acid sequence.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Englerin A through Catalytic Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Carbonyl Ylide Cycloaddition

An asymmetric total synthesis of the guaiane sesquiterpene (?)‐englerin A, a potent and selective inhibitor of the growth of renal cancer cell lines, was accomplished. The basis of the approach is a highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective carbonyl ylide cycloaddition with an ethyl vinyl ether dipolarophile under catalysis by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N‐tetrachlorophthaloyl‐(S)‐tert‐leucinate], [Rh₂(S‐TCPTTL)₄], to construct the oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane framework with concomitant introduction of the oxygen substituent at C9 on the exo‐face. Another notable feature of the synthesis is ruthenium tetraoxide‐catalyzed chemoselective oxidative conversion of C9 ethyl ether to C9 acetate.     

Low band‐gap diketopyrrolopyrrole‐containing polymers for near infrared electrochromic and photovoltaic applications

Donor–acceptor type polymers bearing diketopyrrolopyrrole and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene units are reported. The polymers are green and exhibit very low band‐gaps (1.19 eV) with strong and broad absorption (maxima of about 830 nm) in the near infrared (NIR) region in their neutral film states. The polymers display color changes between dark green and light blue with exceptional optical contrasts in the NIR regions of up to 78 and 63% as thin films and single‐layer electrochromic devices, respectively. Fast switching, good stabilities as well as high coloration efficiencies (743–901 cm² C^?1) were also observed. The polymers could also be potentially used as photovoltaic material, with a power conversion efficiency of up to 1.68%. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1287–1295     

2,4-二甲基吡咯-3,5-二羧酸二乙酯的合成——推荐一个大学有机化学实验

采用Knorr吡咯合成法，以乙酰乙酸乙酯和亚硝酸钠为原料，在醋酸和锌粉作用下采用“一锅法”得到2,4-二甲基吡咯-3,5-二羧酸二乙酯。本实验涉及到控温、回流、重结晶、熔点测定、红外光谱及核磁共振等实验操作和分析检测方法。该实验原料简单易得、产物收率高，结合波谱解析方法，可以培养和提高学生合成实验的能力，加强学生对杂环合成和波谱解析的理解与分析。     

Minimalistic Ditopic Ligands: An α‐S,N‐Donor‐Substituted Alkyne as Effective Intermetallic Conjugation Linker

The capability of donor‐substituted alkynes to link different metal ions in a side‐on carbon donor‐chelate coordination mode is extended from the donor centers S and P to the second period element N. The complex [Tp′W(CO)₂{η²‐C₂(S)(NHBn)}] (Tp′=hydrido‐tris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl)borate, Bn=benzyl) bearing a terminal sulfur atom and a secondary amine substituent is accessible by a metal‐template synthesis. Subsequent deprotonation allowed the formation of remarkably stable heterobimetallic complexes with the [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)] and the [Ir(ppy)₂] moiety. Electrochemical and spectroscopic investigations (cyclic voltammetry, IR, UV/Vis, luminescence, EPR), as well as DFT calculations, and X‐ray structure determinations of the W–Ru complex in two oxidation states reveal a strong metal–metal coupling but also a limited delocalization of excited states.     

Identification of radical structures on 1‐pentamethylbenzyl‐3‐ethylimidazoliumsilver(I)bromide and 1,3‐bis(pentamethylbenzyl)‐4,5‐dimethylbenzimidazoliumsilver(I)bromide exposed to gamma rays: an EPR study

1‐Pentamethylbenzyl‐3‐ethylimidazoliumsilver(I)bromide and 1,3‐bis(pentamethylbenzyl)‐4,5dimethylbenzimidazoliumsilver(I)bromide and their Ag⁺ complexes were synthesized and their polycrystal forms were produced by recrystallization in dichloromethane/Et₂O solvent system. Structural determinations were carried out by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR with a Varian 400 NMR system using tetramethylsilane as internal standard and CDCl₃ as solvent. The disappearance of acidic N‐heterocyclic carbene proton showed the formation of Ag(I) complexes. Also, elemental analyses were carried out. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements were performed to determine the formed radical structure on the samples irradiated at the room temperature for 72 h by using ⁶⁰Co‐source with dose rate of 0.680 kGy. The EPR measurements were carried out in the temperature range of 200 K–450 K. Identical radicals were determined on the irradiated compounds. It was observed that the shapes of the spectra of the samples were independent of the temperature but, the resonance line intensities changed linearly with the temperature. Also, it was detected that the free radical on the 1‐pentamethylbenzyl‐3‐ethylimidazoliumsilver(I)bromide is not stable compared to that on the 1,3‐bis(pentamethylbenzyl)‐4,5dimethylbenzimidazoliumsilver(I)bromide. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a New Metal-organic Framework with Nou Topology

A new compound, [H2N(CH3)2]2[Zn(btec)].H2O(1, H4 btec = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid) has been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by singlecrystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure is of monoclinic, space group P21/c with a = 9.5741(3), b = 14.5044(4), c = 13.7329(5) , β = 100.582(4)°, V = 1874.61(10) 3, C14H20N2O9 Zn, Mr = 425.7, Z = 4, Dc = 1.387 g/cm3, μ = 1.349 mm-1, F(000) = 776, R = 0.0560 and w R = 0.1684 for 2834 observed reflections(I 2σ(I)). Compound 1 based on μ4-btec and tetrahedral building unit features a three-dimensional(3D) anionic framework with mixed connected nou topology. The luminescent property and thermogravimetric analysis of compound 1 are investigated.     

Concise synthesis of dopexamine dihydrochloride via benzyl protecting protocol

Benzyl protecting protocol was first employed in two routes for the concise synthesis of dopexamine dihydrochloride.This protecting group could be cleanly removed under mild condition and no unacceptable ion was brought to the final product.The total yield of route I was 43.8% from phenylacetic acid,while it was 54.1% of route II from 2-(3,4-bis(benzyloxy)phenyl)acetic acid.The titration purity of the final product was more than 99.5%,while any single or total impurities met the known standard of the drug by HPLC analysis.The measured residual palladium met an acceptable limit(<1 ppm) as an API for injection.     

Hierarchical‐Structured Anatase‐Titania/Cellulose Composite Sheet with High Photocatalytic Performance and Antibacterial Activity

Bulk hierarchical anatase‐titania/cellulose composite sheets were fabricated by subjecting an ultrathin titania gel film pre‐deposited filter paper to a solvo‐co‐hydrothermal treatment by using titanium butoxide as the precursor to grow anatase‐titania nanocrystallites on the cellulose nanofiber surfaces. The titanium butoxide specie is firstly absorbed onto the nanofibers of the cellulose substance through a solvothermal process, which was thereafter hydrolyzed and crystallized upon the subsequent hydrothermal treatment, leading to the formation of fine anatase‐titania nanoparticles with sizes of 2–5 nm uniformly anchored on the cellulose nanofibers. The resulting anatase‐titania/cellulose composite sheet shows a significant photocatalytic performance towards degradation of a methylene blue dye, and introduction of silver nanoparticles into the composite sheet yields an Ag‐NP/anatase‐titania/cellulose composite material possessing excellent antibacterial activity against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria.