A branch-and-bound method for optimal atom-type assignment in de novo ligand design

This paper investigates a computational procedure for the determination of the atom types on the vertices of a molecular skeleton to optimize interaction with the receptor site whilst maintaining a synthetically reasonable structure. The connectivity of the skeleton is analysed and appropriate atom types are compiled for each vertex. Receptor ionization and conformational states are generated by varying the positions of hydrogen atoms and electron lone pairs in the carboxyl, rotatable hydroxyl and amino groups. The structure is divided into small non-overlapping substructures. Atom types are assigned exhaustively onto each of the substructures using a depth-first search method; chemical rules are applied to reject unacceptable atom combinations early on. An empirical interaction score is calculated and the representatives of each partial structure are stored in ascending order according to their scores. The branch-and-bound procedure is then used to find the structures with the lowest scores. The method is illustrated using five protein–ligand complexes.     

Tear anisotropy in films blown from polyethylenes of different macromolecular architectures

Blown films of different types of polyethylenes, such as branched low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), are well known to tear easily along particular directions: along the film bubble's transverse direction for LDPE and along the machine direction (MD) for HDPE. Depending on the resin characteristics and processing conditions, different structures can form within the film; it is therefore difficult to separate the effects of the crystal structure and orientation on the film tear behavior from the effects of the macromolecular architecture, such as the molecular weight distribution and long‐chain branching. Here we examine LDPE, HDPE, and linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) blown films with similar crystal orientations, as verified by through‐film X‐ray scattering measurements. With these common orientations, LDPE and HDPE films still follow the usual preferred tear directions, whereas LLDPE tears isotropically despite an oriented crystal structure. These differences are attributed to the number densities of the tie molecules, especially along MD, which are considerably greater for linear‐architecture polymers with a substantial fraction of long chains, capable of significant extension in flow. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 413–420, 2005     

Lessons in Strain and Stability: Enantioselective Synthesis of (+)‐[5]‐Ladderanoic Acid

The synthesis of structurally complex and highly strained natural products provides unique challenges and unexpected opportunities for the development of new reactions and strategies. Herein, the synthesis of (+)‐[5]‐ladderanoic acid is reported. En route to the target, unusual and unexpected strain release driven transformations were uncovered. This occurrence required a drastic revision of the synthetic design that ultimately led to the development of a novel stepwise cyclobutane assembly by an allylboration/Zweifel olefination sequence.     

Lessons in Strain and Stability: Enantioselective Synthesis of (+)-[5]-Ladderanoic Acid

The synthesis of structurally complex and highly strained natural products provides unique challenges and unexpected opportunities for the development of new reactions and strategies. Herein, the synthesis of (+)-[5]-ladderanoic acid is reported. En route to the target, unusual and unexpected strain release driven transformations were uncovered. This occurrence required a drastic revision of the synthetic design that ultimately led to the development of a novel stepwise cyclobutane assembly by an allylboration/Zweifel olefination sequence.     

Application of Fundamental Organometallic Chemistry to the Development of a Gold‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Sulfinate Derivatives

The development of a gold(I)‐catalyzed sulfination of aryl boronic acids is described. This transformation proceeds through an unprecedented mechanism which exploits the reactivity of gold(I)–heteroatom bonds to form sulfinate anions. Further in situ elaboration of the sulfinate intermediates leads to the corresponding sulfones and sulfonamides, two pharmacophores routinely encountered in drug discovery.     

The Many Roles of Quantum Chemical Predictions in Synthetic Organic Chemistry

This account discusses representative case studies for various applications of quantum chemical calculations in synthetic organic chemistry. These include confirmation of target structures, methodology development, and catalyst design. These examples demonstrate how predictions from quantum chemical calculations can be utilized to streamline synthetic efforts.     

Classification of semiconducting polymeric mesophases to optimize device postprocessing

Semiconducting polymers form a variety of phases and mesophases that respond differently to postdeposition solvent or thermal treatments. Here it is shown that classification of these materials into their appropriate mesophases can be a useful tool to optimize their thermal postdeposition treatments. Calorimetry is used to quantify differences between materials having similar molecular structures, using a well‐established framework based on the kinetics and thermodynamics of phase changes. By way of example, this classification scheme is used to identify differences in three polymers, poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) and two isomeric bithiophene–thienothiophene copolymers. It is demonstrated that poly(3‐hexylthiophene) is a “normal” polymer crystal and that the two bithiophene–thienothiophene copolymers have liquid crystalline phases. The different phase structure is notable in light of the molecular similarity of the three polymers and has an impact on the thermal postprocessing conditions that maximize field effect charge carrier mobility in thin film transistor devices. Strong superheating effects are demonstrated for the two bithiophene–thienothiophene copolymers and the impact on annealing is demonstrated using grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction. Some suggestions are also put forth for what post‐processing should be employed for each class of polymer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1641–1653     

Determination of risperidone and 9‐Hydroxyrisperidone using HPLC,in plasma of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural disorders

A simple, rapid, selective, accurate and precise method is described for the determination of risperidone and its active metabolite, 9‐hydroxyrisperidone, in plasma using a chemical derivative of risperidone (methyl‐risperidone) as the internal standard. The sample workup involved a single‐step extraction of 1 mL plasma, buffered to pH 10, with heptane–isoamyl alcohol (98:2 v/v), then evaporation of the heptane phase and reconstitution of the residue in mobile phase. HPLC separation was carried out at on C₁₈ column using a mobile phase of 0.05 m dipotassium hydrogen orthophosphate (containing 0.3% v/v triethylamine) adjusted to pH 3.7 with orthophosphoric acid (700 mL), and acetonitrile (300 mL). Flow rate was 0.6 mL/min and the detection wavelength was 280 nm. Retention times were 2.6, 3.7 and 5.8 min for 9‐hydroxy risperidone, risperidone and the internal standard, respectively. Linearity in spiked plasma was demonstrated from 2 to 100 ng/mL for both risperidone and 9‐hydroxyrisperidone (r ≥ 0.999). Total imprecision was less than 13% (determined as co‐efficient of variation) and the inaccuracy was less than 12% at spiked concentrations of 5 and 80 ng/mL. The limit of detection, determined as three times the baseline noise, was 1.5 ng/mL. Clinical application of the assay was demonstrated for analysis of post‐dose (0.55–4.0 mg/day) samples from 28 paediatric patients (aged 6.9–17.9 years) who were taking risperidone orally for behavioural and emotional disorders. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.