Phenylsulfonyl ene-allenes as efficient precursors to bicyclic systems via intramolecular [2 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions

Various phenylsulfonyl allene derivatives were prepared with double bonds tethered either to the alpha-position or the gamma-position of the allene. These substrates underwent a highly regio- and stereospecific thermal [2 + 2]-cycloaddition across the nonactivated cumulene double bond, forming distal cycloadducts (i.e., 57) in the case of alpha-tethered allenes and proximal adducts (i.e., 25) in the case of gamma-tethered allenes. The mechanistic rationale for the observed stereospecificity involves initial diradical formation, followed by a rapid ring closure to the more stable cis-fused ring system. The tether may be equipped with heteroatoms, allowing for the formation of fused heterocycles (e.g., 61), and the cycloaddition can be facilitated by the introduction of sterically bulky groups and/or by conformational rigidity to the tether. Other modes of cyclization were observed in the presence of sodium benzenesulfinate or Lewis acids, in which cases polar mechanisms prevail. The chemoselectivity is reversed for [4 + 2]-cycloadditions, which prefer instead to engage the vinyl sulfone moiety, independent of whether the tether is attached to the alpha- or gamma-position of the allene.     

Isolation and structure of [HC[CH(SiMe(3))(SnMe(3))](2)](+): a remarkably stable sec-alkyl cation

The reaction of the tin-substituted propene Me3Sn(R)CHCH=CHR (R = SiMe3) with MCl4 in dichloromethane in the presence of Me3SnCl gives the first examples of isolable sec-alkyl carbocation salts, [HC{CH(R)SnMe3}2]+M2Cl9- (M = Zr, Hf). The compounds are thermally stable and, unlike previously isolated trialkyl carbocations, do not require superacidic media or weakly coordinating anions for stability. The crystal structure and DFT calculations suggest polarization of the Sn substituents and hyperconjugation as the reason for the unexpected stability. The stabilizing effect of tin is significantly stronger than that of Si. The carbocations are effective initiators for the polymerization of isobutene, isoprene, and alpha-methylstyrene.     

Normal coordinate ab initio force relaxation

A procedure for optimization of molecular geometries is presented, combining ab initio calculations with vibrational molecular data from spectroscopy or empirical force fields. Theoretical cartesian forces are transformed to vibrational normal coordinate forces from which geometry increments are calculated. Test results indicate that the method saves considerable effort compared to other optimization schemes.     

The selenium-mercury interaction: synthesis,spectroscopic and x-ray structural studies of methylmercury-selenourea complexes

The synthesis of selenium bound selenourea complexes of methylmercury, [CH₃HgSeC(NH₂)₂]X (X=Cl, Br, NO₃, ClO₄) are described. A single crystal X-Ray analysis of the nitrate salt has provided for the first time bond length data pertinent to the biologically important mercury-selenium interaction. Crystals of [CH₃HgSeC(NH₂)₂] NO₃ belong to the space group PnZic with a = 7.524(1), b = 11.204(2), c = 9.738(2)Å, and z = 4. The structure was solved and refined using 561 observed reflections measured on a Syntex P2₁ diffractometer to a final R value of 0.037. The mercury atom is linearly coordinated to the methyl group and the selenium atom of the selenourea with Hg-Se of 2.477(3)Å. Strong Hg-Se bonding is indicated by the X-Ray data and by the ¹H - ¹⁹⁹Hg nmr coupling constants. A comparison of spectroscopic data for analogous thio and selenourea complexes is presented.     

Some reactions of tetrafluoroethylene oligomers

As part of a programme to prepare and evaluate a series of perfluoro- chemicals for use as inert fluids, the fluorinations of some tetrafluoroethylene oligomers over cobalt (III) fluoride have been studied.Fluorination of perfluoro-3,4-dimethylhex-3-ene (tetramer) and perfluoro-4-ethyl-3,4-dimethylhex-2-ene (pentamer) over CoF₃ at 230°C and l45°C respectively afforded the corresponding saturated fluorocarbons however, at 250°C, pentamer gave predominantly the saturated tetramer. The thermal behaviour of these saturated fluorocarbons alone and in the presence of bromine and toluene has been studied.Pyrolysis of pentamer over glass beads at 500°C gave perfluoro-1,2,3- trimethylcyclobutene and isomers of perfluoro-2,3-dimethylpenta-1,3- diene. Under similar conditions perfluoro-2-(1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl). 3-methylpent-1-ene (hexamer) gave perfluoro-1-methyl-2-(1-methyl- propyl)-cyclobut-1-ene and perfluoro-2-methyl-3-(1-methylpropyl)-buta- 1,3-diene.These reactions and the structural elucidation of the products will be discussed.     

Synthesis and anticholinesterase activity of some new fluorogenic analogues of organophosphorus nerve agents

Eighteen new fluorogenic analogues of organophosphorus nerve agents were synthesised and characterised. They included analogues of tabun, sarin, cyclosarin, soman, VX, and Russian VX, with the 7-oxy-4-methylcoumarin or 7-oxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)coumarin leaving group. These analogues inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) effectively in vitro and therefore have potential as tools for the identification of novel organophosphatases in biological systems. Analogues of VX and Russian VX with the 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin group, although poor AChE inhibitors, may have utility for screening enzyme libraries for phosphoramidases capable of cleaving P-N bonds.     

In vitro selection of aptamers with affinity for neuropeptide Y using capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (CE-SELEX) was used to select aptamers for neuropeptide Y (NPY). This is the first example of a CE-SELEX selection for aptamers that bind a target molecule smaller than itself. One of the limitations of CE-SELEX is that the aptamer must exhibit a significant mobility shift when it binds the target to facilitate fraction collection. Before this study, it was not clear if smaller targets would be capable of inducing a large enough shift in mobility for CE-SELEX to be successful. NPY is a 36-amino acid peptide (MW = 4272 g/mol), much smaller than the 80-base ssDNA used in the selection ( approximately 25 kDa). NPY binding aptamers with 300-1000 nM dissociation constants were obtained after only four rounds of selection. The specificity of the aptamers was tested using human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP). hPP is a 36-amino acid peptide with approximately 50% homology with NPY. Aptamers with up to 42-fold selectivity for NPY over hPP were observed.     

Kinetic and regiospecific interrogation of covalent intermediates in the nonribosomal peptide synthesis of yersiniabactin

For interrogation of enzyme-bound intermediates in nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), mass spectrometry is used to read out the kinetics and substrate specificity of this medicinally important class of enzymes. The protein HMWP2 (230 kDa) catalyzes 11 chemical reactions, four of which could be resolved by fast quench approaches combined with mass spectrometry. The rate of complex intermediate accumulation at the PCP1 active site was observed to occur with a rate of 19 s(-1), with the rate of cysteine acylation faster than that of intermediate translocation. Use of alternative substrates for salicylic acid (at the ArCP carrier domain) and l-cysteine (at the PCP1 carrier domain) revealed a high penalty for omission of the salicyl alcohol. For some substrates, large discrepancies were found between prior adenylation assays and the current MS-based readouts. Indirect evidence for condensation via a thiolate attack (vs an amino group) was also accumulated. This is the first report to correlate the percent occupancy of multiple active sites in parallel with kinetic and structural resolution of intermediates and provides new evidence of interdomain and intermodule communication within thiotemplate assembly lines.     

Ab initio studies of structural features not easily amenable to experiment: the molecular structures of some hydrogenfluoride clusters

The completely relaxed ab initio structures of some forms of H₂F₂ and H₃F₃ reflect the cooperative nature of hydrogen bonding and can be used to estimate the order of magnitude of the variations in local geometry which are neglected when interactive potentials for HF in clusters or in the liquid state are evaluated with constrained geometries.