Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Two Novel Anionic Aluminophosphates: A One-Dimensional Chain, UT-7 ([Al(3)P(5)O(20)H](5-)[C(7)H(13)NH(3)(+)](5)), and a Layer Containing Two Cyclic Amines, UT-8 ([Al(3)P(4)O(16)](3-)[C(4)H(7)NH(3)(+)](2)[C(5)H(10)NH(2)(+)])

UT-7 and UT-8 (University of Toronto, structure numbers 7 and 8) are two novel aluminophosphate materials prepared under non-aqueous conditions. Their structures, extended in one and two dimensions, respectively, have been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and characterized by a variety of methods including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), insitu high-temperature PXRD, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). UT-7 ([Al(3)P(5)O(20)H](5)(-)[C(7)H(13)NH(3)(+)](5), triclinic space group P&onemacr;, Z = 2, a = 10.118(3) ?, b = 15.691(4) ?, c = 18.117(3) ?, alpha = 72.91(2) degrees, beta = 85.18(2) degrees, gamma = 79.49(2) degrees ) is built of polymeric one-dimensional chain units, hydrogen-bonded into anionic layers that are charge-compensated by interlamellar cycloheptylammonium cations. UT-7 is isostructural to our previously discovered UT-3 chain structure, isolated in the analogous cyclopentylamine system. UT-8 ([Al(3)P(4)O(16)](3-)[C(4)H(7)NH(3)(+)](2)[C(5)H(10)NH(2)(+)], monoclinic space group P2(1), Z = 2, a = 8.993(4) ?, b = 14.884(8) ?, c = 9.799(9) ?, beta = 103.52(3) degrees ) is a two-dimensional net isostructural to several previously reported [Al(3)P(4)O(16)](3)(-) layers. The interlayer region of UT-8 is occupied by two different cyclic organic amine species, namely piperidinium and cyclobutylammonium. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the crystal structure of an aluminophosphate material containing cyclobutylammonium or a mixture of cyclic amines. Interestingly, UT-7 is observed to thermally transform in the solid state to an as yet unknown layered material that can be independently synthesized in a similar synthetic system. In the same way as UT-3 transforms to the UT-4 layered phase, we believe UT-7 transforms to a layered material by means of a chain to layer transformation.     

A two-directional synthesis of (+/-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin

An entirely two-directional synthesis of (+/-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin is presented, utilizing a tandem oxime formation/Michael addition/[3 + 2] cycloaddition as the key step. This approach also constitutes formal syntheses of (+/-)-histrionicotoxin and (+/-)-histrionicotoxin 235A.     

Lipophilic Diamides as Ionophores for Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Cations

A series of lipophilic N, N, N′,N′-tetrasubstituted diamides were prepared and their selectivity in solvent polymeric membranes was studied, cis-N, N, N′, N′-Tetraisobutylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxamide induces a selectivity in membranes for Li⁺over alkaline earth metal cations and other alkali metal cations by a factor of about 1000 and 100 respectively. The ionophore N, N′-diheptyl-N,N′-dimethylethylmalonamide is an attractive candidate for the use in microelectrodes for the determination of intracellular Mg²⁺-activities.     

Studies of the formation of all-carbon quaternary centres, en route to lyngbyatoxin A. A comparison of phenyl and 7-substituted indole systems

Copper mediated allylic substitutions and conjugate additions to geranyl, cinnamyl and allylic indole compounds have been investigated with the aim of finding a method for the creation of the all-carbon quaternary centre present in the natural product lyngbyatoxin A. Reaction conditions have been found giving a 68% SN2' selectivity in the copper mediated addition of PhMgBr to geranyl chloride, as well as 99% and 95% SN2' selectivity in the copper catalysed addition of EtMgBr to cinnamyl chloride and acetate, respectively. When the optimised reaction conditions were applied to the corresponding allylic compounds containing a 7-substituted indole moiety, the regioselectivity was reversed giving only the SN2 product. The allylic indole-containing substrates were also found to be unproductive in Pd- or Mo-catalysed SN2'-type substitution reactions. In related studies, copper catalysed conjugate addition of EtMgBr to the tricyclic lactam 6-methyl-pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolin-4-one gave a maximum of 20% of the 1,4-addition product.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the spontaneous formation of a small DPPC vesicle in water in atomistic detail

Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to study the spontaneous aggregation of a concentrated solution of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) molecules in water into a small vesicle. The molecules were represented in atomistic detail. Starting from a DPPC solution in water, an oblong vesicle with a long axis of 15 nm and short axes of 10 nm was formed spontaneously. After 90 ns of simulation, the vesicle contained a number of water pores. Water pores were shown to facilitate exchange of lipids between inner and outer leaflets. Lipid tails were shown to be less ordered in the inner leaflet of the vesicle, as compared to those in the outer leaflet of the vesicle and an equilibrated lamellar bilayer.     

Dipolar anions are not preferentially attracted to the oil/water interface

Homogenization of hexadecane in water at pH 9 gives the same surface charge density in the presence of 0.2 mM thiocyanate or acetate anions as in the presence of chloride, indicating that these dipolar anions are not preferentially adsorbed at the oil/water interface. The decrease in the zeta potential of the emulsion droplets as the sodium salts of iodate, thiocyanate, or acetate are added from 0.1 to 10 mM is the same as that when sodium chloride is added, leading to the same conclusion. Increasing the sodium hydroxide concentration from pH 9 to 11.5 has a different effect on the zeta potential, consistent with the specific adsorption of hydroxide ion at the oil/water interface.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of η-allyl(α-diimine)nickel(II) complexes bearing trimethylsilyl groups

A set of isomeric para- and meta-trimethylsilylphenyl ortho-substituted N,N-phenyl α-diimine ligands [(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar) Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (16); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl (17)] have been synthesized through a two-step procedure. The palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction between 2,6-dibromophenylamine (7) and 4-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (8), 3-trimethylsilylphenylboronic acid (9) was used to prepare 4,4^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (10) and 3,3^′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-[1,1^′;3^′,1″]terphenyl-2^′-ylamine (11). The di-1-adamantylphosphine oxide Ad₂P(O)H (13) and di-tert-butyl-trimethylsilylanylmethylphosphine tert-Bu₂P-CH₂-SiMe₃ (14) were used for the first time as ligands for the Suzuki coupling. The condensation of 2,2,3,3-tetramethoxybutane (15) with anilines 10 and 11 afforded α-diimines 16 and 17. The reaction of π-allylnickel chloride dimer (18), α-diimines (16), (17) and sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (BAF) (19) or silver hexafluoroantimonate (20) led to two sets of isomeric complexes [η³-allyl(Ar-NC(Me)-(Me)CN-Ar)Ni]⁺ X⁻, [Ar=2,6-di(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (3), X=SbF₆ (4); Ar=2,6-di(3-trimethylsilylphenyl)phenyl, X=BAF (5), X=SbF₆ (6)]. The steric repulsion of closely positioned trimethylsilyl groups in 4 caused the distortion of the nickel square planar coordination by 17.6° according to X-ray analysis.     

Synthese von radioaktiv markierten Bromacetyl- und Diazoacetyl-α-melanotropin-Derivaten zum Studium von kovalenten Hormon-Makromolekül-Komplexen

Synthesis of radioactive α-melanotropin derivatives containing a bromoacetyl or diazoacetyl group for studies of covalent hormone-macromolecule complexes α-Melanotropin derivatives and fragments covalently bound to human serum albumin through their N-terminal end exhibit almost the same biological activity as the corresponding free N^α-acetylated peptides [6]. The preparation of such complexes requires derivatives with a ‘reactive’ N-terminal acetyl group. We describe here the synthesis of three α-melanotropin fragments and of two specifically tritiated α-melanotropin derivatives containing N^α-bromoacetyl or N^α-diazoacetyl groups: BrCH₂CO · Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val · NH₂, BrCH₂CO · Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly · OH, BrCH₂CO · Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val middot; NH₂, BrCH₂CO · D -Ala-Tyr(³H₂)-Gly-Nva-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val · NH₂, and N₂ = CHCO · Gly-Tyr(³H₂)-Ser-Nva-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly- Lys-Pro-Val · NH₂. The latter two analogues displayed a specific radioactivity of about 20 and 36 Ci/mmol, and a biological activity of 2 · 10⁹ and 6 · 10⁹ U/mmol respectively. They are also being used for affinity and photoaffinity labelling of receptor molecules and antibody combining sites.     

Preparation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical monomers towards bridge trifluoromethylated poly(p-phenylenevinylene)

The preparation and identification of a series of trifluoromethylated and bis(trifluoromethylated) precursors and monomers for bridge substituted trifluoromethylated poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) is reported. These monomers were prepared in several steps from terephthaldicarboxaldehyde and they contain symmetrical and unsymmetrical combinations of leaving groups and/or polarizers, including chlorides, sulfoxides, sulphones, tosylates and S-methyl (and also O-ethyl) xanthates. The electron withdrawing effect of the trifluoromethyl group dominated the regioselectivity of substitution, thus allowing the convenient and selective formation of unsymmetrically substituted products in high yield.