Crystallization of Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C N-(1-D-carboxyethyl)-L-norvaline dehydrogenase and its complex with NAD+

The novel NAD+-linked opine dehydrogenase from a soil isolate Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C belongs to an enzyme superfamily whose members exhibit quite diverse substrate specificites. Crystals of this opine dehydrogenase, obtained in the presence or absence of co-factor and substrates, have been shown to diffract to beyond 1.8 ? resolution. X-ray precession photographs have established that the crystals belong to space group P21212, with cell parameters a = 104.9, b = 80.0, c = 45.5 ? and a single subunit in the asymmetric unit. The elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of this enzyme will provide a structural framework for this novel class of dehydrogenases to enable a comparison to be made with other enzyme families and also as the basis for mutagenesis experiments directed towards the production of natural and synthetic opine-type compounds containing two chiral centres.     

Highly regioselective Diels-Alder reactions toward oroidin alkaloids: use of a tosylvinyl moiety as a nitrogen masking group with adjustable electronics

[reaction: see text] The use of the p-toluenesulfonyl (Ts) and tosylvinyl (Tsv) groups as nitrogen masking groups imparted high regioselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions directed toward members of the oroidin-derived marine alkaloid family. The electron-withdrawing Tsv group was utilized as an electronically adjustable nitrogen-protecting group as subsequent hydrogenation provided the more electron-rich tosylethyl (Tse) group. This electronic adjustment strategy avoided a protecting group exchange and provided the required electronics for the key chlorination/ring-contraction sequence.     

A unified synthetic strategy toward oroidin-derived alkaloids premised on a biosynthetic proposal

Details of the evolution of a synthetic strategy toward the spirocyclic chlorocyclopentane core of oroidin-derived alkaloids, including the axinellamines and potentially adaptable to palau'amine, are described. A proposed refinement of the Kinnel-Scheuer biosynthetic proposal for palau'amine is posited. Studies undertaken to improve the regioselectivity and efficiency of a key Diels-Alder reaction utilizing a novel protecting group strategy, microwave chemistry, and other strategies are described. Further insights regarding the suitability of different protecting groups during the epoxidation/chlorination/ring contraction sequence are disclosed. Several interesting by-products from this reaction sequence are reported. These studies have led to a unified synthetic strategy to the axinellamines and palau'amine.     

Liquid injection field desorption/ionization of transition metal fluoride complexes

Metal fluoride complexes that are extremely sensitive to air and water have been characterized by liquid injection field desorption/ionization (LIFDI) mass spectrometry. Dilute solutions of fluoride complexes of nickel, rhodium, titanium, zirconium and ruthenium in toluene and tetrahydrofuran were examined by LIFDI methods on a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. All the spectra of nickel, titanium and zirconium complexes exhibited the molecular ion as base peak. The ruthenium and rhodium complexes showed [M−HF]⁺ as base peaks but the molecular ions were easily detected. The nickel complexes do not provide useful mass spectra by EI or ESI methods. Only the titanium and zirconium species showed evidence of the fluoride ligands in the ESI spectra. Two new nickel fluoride complexes are formed by C-F activation reactions with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-dimethylaminopyridine and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-methoxypyridine yielding trans-NiF{2-C₅NF₃(4-NMe₂)}(PEt₃)₂ and trans-NiF{2-C₅NF₃(4-OMe)}(PEt₃)₂, respectively. The crystal structure of trans-NiF{2-C₅NF₃(4-NMe₂)}(PEt₃)₂ shows typical square planar coordination at nickel with an Ni-F distance of 1.8521(9) Å.     

Preparation and reactivity of imino glycals: stereocontrolled,divergent approach to imino sugars

The synthesis of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl imino D-glucal 2 from D-glucal is reported. This imino glycal participates in a variety of Lewis acid mediated carbon-carbon bond forming reactions by allylic displacement of the C-3 acetate group by added nucleophiles. Allyl silanes, trimethylsilyl enol ethers, alkenes and dialkyl zinc reagents serve as suitable reaction partners. In all the cases studied, the beta-anomer is predominant. Using imino glycal 8, epimeric at C-5, it is established that the configuration at C-5 of the piperidine ring plays a major role in controlling the stereochemical outcome. These results are rationalised by invoking the intermediacy of a conjugated N-acyliminium ion. A short stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-deoxoprosophylline is achieved using this chemistry. Additionally, imino glucal 2 is transformed into bromo piperidine 16, whose X-ray crystal structure is determined. Bromide 16 participates in palladium catalysed Stille and Suzuki cross-couplings allowing access to C-2 substituted imino sugars 17 and 18. In other studies, imino sugar C-glycosides 21 and 22 are made by combining the Lewis acid mediated carbon-carbon bond forming reactions with stereospecific dihydroxylations.     

Convergent synthesis of meso-ferrocenyl porphyrins for TiO2 sensitization

Electron-donating ferrocenyl moieties have been incorporated into supramolecular carboxyporphyrin architectures Zn(II)-5-ferrocenyl-10,20-bistolyl-15-(4-methylbenzoate)porphyrin (trans-Fc-ZnP-CO₂Me), Zn(II)-5-ferrocenyl-10,15,20-tris(4-methylbenzoate)porphyrin [trans-Fc-ZnP-(CO₂Me)₃], and Zn(II)-5,15-bisferrocenyl-10,20-bis(4-benzoate)porphyrin [trans-Fc₂-ZnP-(CO₂Me)₂] for self-assembly on metal oxide nanoparticles. Efficient and economic synthesis has required a convergent strategy toward reduced symmetry trans-A₂B₂ and trans-AB₂C substitution patterns about the porphyrin macrocycle minimizing the production of porphyrin side products and increasing yields of the target ferrocenylporphyrins. Preliminary spectroscopic data in solution and in the solid state bound to mesoporous TiO₂ films are discussed.     

Experimental evidence for the pressure dependence of the reaction rate constant between acetic acid and hydroxyl radicals

The reaction rate constant of acetic acid with the hydroxyl radical is measured at 93 Torr with our high-pressure flow system (HPFS) and found to display a negative temperature dependence that can be described by the Arrhenius expression, k(T) = (2.44 ± 0.22) × 10(-14) exp ((1027 ± 24)/T)) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Compared with our previously reported 7 Torr data, we find a noticeable pressure dependence. This dependence is observed to increase with decreasing temperature. This finding is consistent with a termolecular reaction mechanism. It is the first experimental evidence of the pressure dependence for this rate constant. A kinetics model is constructed, and the model results agree qualitatively with our experimental data. The extrapolated rate constant of the title reaction would be faster than previously believed at conditions of the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere, suggesting that the importance of acetic acid in its impact on HO(x) chemistry is currently underestimated.     

Photoactivity tests of TiO2-based inorganic sunscreens. Part 1: Non-aqueous dispersions

A new method of measuring photoactivity of a major group of inorganic sunscreens (coated titanium dioxide) is presented based on the photobleaching of the radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.