Single-Step N-Terminal Modification of Proteins via a Bio-Inspired Copper(II)-Mediated Aldol Reaction

The chemical modification of proteins is an effective technique for manipulating the properties and functions of proteins, and for creating protein-based materials. The N-terminus is a promising target for single-site modification that provides modified proteins with uniform structures and properties. In this paper, a copper(II)-mediated aldol reaction with 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (2-PC) derivatives is proposed as an operationally simple method to selectively modify the N-terminus of peptides and proteins at room temperature and physiological pH. The copper(II) ion activates the N-terminal amino acids by complexation with an imine of the N-terminal amino acid and 2-PCs, realizing the selective formation of the nucleophilic intermediate at the N-terminus. This results in a stable carbon-carbon bond between the 2-PCs and the α-carbon of various N-terminal amino acids. The reaction is applied to four different proteins, including biopharmaceuticals such as filgrastim and trastuzumab. The modified trastuzumab retains the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 recognition activity.     

Synthesis and radical polymerization of acrylate and methacrylate bearing an isocyanurate core with adamantyl bisurethane moieties

In this article, we report the synthesis of acrylate and methacrylate bearing an isocyanurate core with two adamantyl urethane moieties and their radical homo- and copolymerization with n-butyl methacrylate (BMA). The synthesized polyacrylate exhibits higher 5% weight loss and glass transition temperatures (T_d5 and T_g) than those of the comparative polyacrylate, synthesized from the isocyanurate-based acrylate with two hexyl urethane moieties, suggesting that the rigid adamantane core incorporated in the side chains of polymer largely contributes to increase in thermal stability of polymer. Similarly, the obtained copolymers show higher T_g values than that of homopolymer derived from BMA, leading to the synthesized monomers are useful as a comonomer to enhance thermal property of polymer.     

Anionic ring-opening polymerization behavior of trans-cyclohexene carbonate using metal tert-butoxides: Construction of living anionic ring-opening polymerization by lithium tert-butoxide

Anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) behavior of trans-cyclohexene carbonate (CHC) using metal alkoxides as initiators was investigated. As a result, lithium tert-butoxide-initiated ROP of CHC with a high-monomer concentration (10 M) at low temperature (−15 to −10°C) proceeded to afford a poly(trans-cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) without undesired side reactions such as mainly backbiting. The suppression of side reactions enables the control of the molecular weight (M_n = 2400–6100) of PCHC with low molar-mass dispersity values (M_w/M_n = 1.16–1.22). Furthermore, by increasing the feed ratio of the monomer to the initiator, the molecular weight increases proportionally, indicating a controllable polymerization. The results of a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, a kinetic study, and a chain extension experiment suggested a living nature of this ROP using lithium tert-butoxide.     

Monitoring fuel quality: a case study for quinizarin marker content of unleaded petrol marketed in Greece

Fuel adulteration and cross-contamination lead to low-quality fuel products, which may cause increased environmental pollution, loss of taxes and engine problems. An establishment of a quality monitoring mechanism based on laboratory measurements may reveal problematic areas of the fuel supply chain. For the purposes of this work, 97 unleaded petrol samples were measured in order to quantify mass concentration of quinizarin, a substance used in Greece to easily mark the presence of 95 Research Octane Number unleaded petrol in other types of automotive fuels. The samples were obtained from petroleum retail stations selling different brands of fuels and located in different geographic regions of Greece. Statistical analysis of the results revealed quinizarin mass concentrations below the 3 mg L^?1 legislation specification limit and significant differences between brands and geographic regions, which may attributed to the structure of the fuel supply chain in Greece in combination with quinizarin properties and way of handling. Moreover, certain approaches were used for the calculation of decision limits for assessing compliance or non-compliance. These approaches take measurement reproducibility or estimated in-house uncertainty into account, in order to minimize the probability of false rejection.     

Synthesis of conjugated polymers possessing diketopyrrolopyrrole units bearing phenyl,pyridyl, and thiazolyl groups by direct arylation polycondensation: Effects of aromatic groups in DPP on physical properties

Conjugated polymers containing phenyl‐, pyridyl‐, and thiazolyl‐flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) were synthesized by direct arylation polycondensation of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene derivatives and dibrominated DPP‐based monomers, in order to probe the effects of the aromatic groups in the DPP units on the absorption property, energy level, and crystallinity. A polymer possessing thiazolyl‐flanked DPP units was found to display long‐wavelength absorption properties and higher crystallinity than the polymers bearing phenyl‐ and pyridyl‐flanked DPP units. These features of the thiazolyl‐based polymer were afforded by its coplanar structure of the main chain. The synthesized polymers showed semiconducting properties in organic field effect transistors and organic photovoltaics. Direct arylation polycondensation is an efficient synthetic method that affords a series of DPP‐based polymers in a simple fashion and, thus, helping in a comprehensive understanding on the relationship between the aromatic groups in DPP units and their physical properties. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2337–2345