Protection of the indole nucleus of tryptophan in solid-phase peptide synthesis with a dipeptide that can be cleaved rapidly at physiological pH

The synthesis of a new derivative of tryptophan Fmoc-Trp(Boc-Sar-Sar)-OH is described. Fmoc-Trp(Boc-Sar-Sar)-OH is introduced into peptides by solid-phase peptide synthesis and during treatment with TFA at the end of the synthesis, the Boc group is cleaved and the peptide is obtained with the indole nucleus modified with the sarcosinyl-sarcosinyl (Sar-Sar) moiety. This modification will introduce a cationic charge that improves the solubility of the peptide during HPLC purification. The Sar-Sar moiety is cleaved upon exposure to physiological pH. The Boc-Sar-Sar group might, therefore, also find use in the design of pro-drugs of indole-containing compounds.     

Synthesis of Patent Blue derivatized hydrophilic dendrons dedicated to sentinel node detection in breast cancer

In the last decade, methods for the precise localization of sentinel lymph node (SLN) have drawn tremendous attention by oncology surgeons and researchers in the field of medical diagnosis. The accurate identification and characterization of lymph nodes by imaging has important therapeutic and prognostic significance in patients with newly diagnosed cancers. The SLN is the first lymph node that receives lymphatic drainage from the site of a primary tumor. Two biocompatible dendronized phosphonates, one bearing a Patent Blue (PB VF) dye at its periphery, where synthesized. Indeed, such a blue dye is currently injected to label the lymph node system for its per-operative detection. Therefore, developing chemistry of Patent Blue VF to optimize early diagnosis is of great current interest.     

Intermolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions using dicobalthexacarbonyl complexed acetylenic acetals

An intermolecular Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) reaction using dicobalthexacarbonyl complexed acetylenic acetals as the electrophile is reported. Employing BF₃-OEt₂ as the Lewis acid with a sulfide as the Lewis base MBH adducts were obtained.     

New Triterpenoid and Ergostane Glycosides from the Leaves of Hydrocotyle umbellata L.

Two new triterpenoid glycosides, together with two new ergostane glycosides, umbellatosides A–D ( 1 – 4 , resp.), have been isolated from the leaves of Hydrocotyle umbellata L. Their structures were established by 2D‐NMR spectroscopic techniques (¹H,¹H‐COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) and mass spectrometry as 3β,22β‐dihydroxy‐3‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucuronopyranosyl]olean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 1 ), 3‐O‐[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucuronopyranosyl]oleanolic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 2 ), (3β,11α,26)‐ergosta‐5,24(28)‐diene‐3,11,26‐triol 3‐O‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)‐11‐O‐(α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl)‐26‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ), and (3β,11α,21,26)‐ergosta‐5,24(28)‐diene‐3,11,21,26‐tetrol 3‐O‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)‐11‐O‐(α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl)‐26‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ).     

Absorption spectra of azobenzenes simulated with time‐dependent density functional theory

Using time‐dependent density functional theory and the polarizable continuum model, we have simulated the absorption spectra of an extended series of azobenzene dyes. First, we have determined a theoretical level optimal for this important class of dyes, and it turned out that a C‐PCM‐CAM‐B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p)//C‐PCM‐B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) approach represents an effective compromise between chemical accuracy and computational cost. In a second stage, we have compared the theoretical and experimental transition energies for 46 n → π^☆ and 141 π → π^☆ excitations. For the full set, that spans over a 302–565 nm domain, we obtained a mean absolute deviation of 13 nm (0.10 eV) and a linear correlation coefficient of 0.95, illustrating the accuracy of our approach, though some significant outliers pertained. In a last step, the impact of several modifications, that is, trans/cis isomerization, variation of the acidity of the medium and azo/hydrazo tautomerism have been modeled with two functionals. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Correlation between Luminescence and EPR Spectroscopy as Evidence of Ytterbium Pair Formation in Li6Ln(BO3)3:Yb3+ (Ln=Gd,Y) Borate Single Crystals

Synthesized powders and grown single crystals of nominal compositions Li₆Ln(BO₃)₃:Yb³⁺ (Ln=Y, Gd) were investigated by means of powder and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD), as well as optical near‐IR spectroscopy in conjunction with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The appearance of two distinct zero‐phonon lines suggests the existence of two kinds of Yb³⁺ ions in the single crystals. The XRD results exclude the possibility of a phase transition occurring between room and low temperatures. EPR spectra of single crystals show the presence of both isolated ions and pairs of ytterbium ions substituted for Y³⁺. A strong temperature dependence of the intensity of Yb–Yb pairs resonance lines coincides with temperature dependence of emission peak at 978 nm, confirming a common origin of the defect giving rise to these spectra. Calculated from EPR spectra, the distance between pairs of Yb³⁺ is in good agreement with crystallographic ones: R=3.856 Å, R_cryst=3.849 Å.     

Preparation and Characterization of Protonated Fumaric Acid

Fumaric acid was reacted with the binary superacidic systems HF/SbF₅ and HF/AsF₅. The O,O'-diprotonated [C₄H₆O₄]²⁺([MF₆]^–)₂ (M = As, Sb) and the O-monoprotonated [C₄H₅O₄]⁺[MF₆]^– (M = As, Sb) species are formed depending on the stoichiometric ratio of the Lewis acid to fumaric acid. The colorless salts were characterized by low-temperature vibrational spectroscopy. In case of the hexafluoridoantimonates single-crystal X-ray structure analyses were carried out. The [C₄H₆O₄]²⁺([SbF₆]^–)₂ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with four formula units per unit cell and [C₄H₅O₄]⁺[SbF₆]^– crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with one formula unit per unit cell. The protonation of fumaric acid does not cause a notable change of the C=C bond length. The experimental data are discussed together with quantum chemical calculations of the cations [C₄H₆O₄ · 4 HF]²⁺ and [C₄H₆O₄ · 2 H₂CO · 2 HF]²⁺.     

Hydrogen Isotope Exchange Catalyzed by Ru Nanocatalysts: Labelling of Complex Molecules Containing N-Heterocycles and Reaction Mechanism Insights

Ruthenium nanocatalysis can provide effective deuteration and tritiation of oxazole, imidazole, triazole and carbazole substructures in complex molecules using D₂ or T₂ gas as isotopic sources. Depending on the substructure considered, this approach does not only represent a significant step forward in practice, with notably higher isotope uptakes, a broader substrate scope and a higher solvent applicability compared to existing procedures, but also the unique way to label important heterocycles using hydrogen isotope exchange. In terms of applications, the high incorporation of deuterium atoms, allows the synthesis of internal standards for LC-MS quantification. Moreover, the efficacy of the catalyst permits, even under subatmospheric pressure of T₂ gas, the preparation of complex radiolabeled drugs owning high molar activities. From a fundamental point of view, a detailed DFT-based mechanistic study identifying undisclosed key intermediates, allowed a deeper understanding of C−H (and N−H) activation processes occurring at the surface of metallic nanoclusters.