A rapid,highly efficient,and general protocol for the synthesis of functionalized triarylmethanes: a straightforward access for the synthesis of (−)-tatarinoid C

A rapid, efficient, and convenient synthesis of functionalized triarylmethane is described by the Friedel–Crafts alkylation of methoxybenzenes with a variety of aldehydes in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂. The generality of the method is demonstrated by screening a variety of di- or tri-substituted arenes as well as substituted aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic aldehydes. (−)-Tatarinoid C is synthesized in a single step following the same protocol.     

FRET Enhancement in Aluminum Zero‐Mode Waveguides

Zero‐mode waveguides (ZMWs) can confine light into attoliter volumes, which enables single molecule fluorescence experiments at physiological micromolar concentrations. Of the fluorescence spectroscopy techniques that can be enhanced by ZMWs, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is one of the most widely used in life sciences. Combining zero‐mode waveguides with FRET provides new opportunities to investigate biochemical structures or follow interaction dynamics at micromolar concentrations with single‐molecule resolution. However, prior to any quantitative FRET analysis on biological samples, it is crucial to establish first the influence of the ZMW on the FRET process. Here, we quantify the FRET rates and efficiencies between individual donor–acceptor fluorophore pairs that diffuse into aluminum zero‐mode waveguides. Aluminum ZMWs are important structures thanks to their commercial availability and the large amount of literature that describe their use for single‐molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. We also compared the results between ZMWs milled in gold and aluminum, and found that although gold has a stronger influence on the decay rates, the lower losses of aluminum in the green spectral region provide larger fluorescence brightness enhancement factors. For both aluminum and gold ZMWs, we observed that the FRET rate scales linearly with the isolated donor decay rate and the local density of optical states. Detailed information about FRET in ZMWs unlocks their application as new devices for enhanced single‐molecule FRET at physiological concentrations.     

The first polymorph in the family of nucleobases: a second form of cytosine

A new polymorph of cytosine, C₄H₅N₃O, is reported half a century after the report of its first known crystal structure [Barker & Marsh (1964). Acta Cryst. 17 , 1581–1587]. Cytosine thus provides the first polymorphic example in the category of parent nucleobases. The new form, denoted (Ib), was observed unexpectedly during an attempt to cocrystallize cytosine with catechol. Form (Ib) crystallizes in the orthorhombic centrosymmetric space group Pccn with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The previously known form, denoted (Ia), crystallizes in the orthorhombic noncentrosymmetric space group P2₁2₁2₁. The cytosine molecule is planar in both forms. Hydrogen‐bonding interactions are also similar for both forms. Infinite one‐dimensional ribbons composed of cytosine base‐pair dimers in R₂²(8) arrangements are observed in both (Ia) and (Ib). However, the way that the ribbons are packed differs in (Ia) and (Ib). This appears to guide the centrosymmetric versus noncentrosymmetric space‐group selection through the formation of an inversion‐related motif in polymorph (Ib) and a helical propagation in polymorph (Ia). A few selected polymorphic systems have been gathered from the Cambridge Structural Database to understand possible structural features responsible for achiral molecules adopting centro‐ and noncentrosymmetric space groups.     

Four oxoindole‐linked α‐alkoxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives

Four structures of oxoindolyl α‐hydroxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives, namely, methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐methoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₄H₂₈N₂O₆, (I), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐ethoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₅H₃₀N₂O₆, (II), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐[(4‐methoxybenzyl)oxy]‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₇, (III), and methyl 2‐[(anthracen‐9‐yl)methoxy]‐2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₈H₃₆N₂O₆, (IV), have been determined. The diastereoselectivity of the chemical reaction involving α‐diazoesters and isatin imines in the presence of benzyl alcohol is confirmed through the relative configuration of the two stereogenic centres. In esters (I) and (III), the amide group adopts an anti conformation, whereas the conformation is syn in esters (II) and (IV). Nevertheless, the amide group forms intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds with the ester and ether O atoms in all four structures. The ether‐linked substituents are in the extended conformation in all four structures. Ester (II) is dominated by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions. In contrast, the remaining three structures are sustained by C—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

Design and Development of a Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Biosensor for the Detection of Glutathione

Glutathione (GSH-reduced form) is a tripeptide that plays a vital role as an antioxidant to remove xenobiotics in the human body and changes in GSH levels are a marker for the progression of various diseases. In this context, a highly sensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical biosensor for the detection of GSH has been developed using reduced graphene oxide Manganese oxide (rGMnO) nanocomposite as the nano-interface. Initially, graphene oxide was synthesized by Hummer's method and then thermally reduced in the presence of MnO₂ in a blast furnace to obtain rGMnO nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was characterized to validate its structure and morphological properties via Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry studies showed that upon the addition of GSH, the Pt/rGMnO modified working electrode exhibited a linear response in the range of 1–100 μM at an input voltage of −0.62 V. The developed sensor was found to have a sensitivity of 0.3256 μA μM⁻¹ and LOD of 970 nM with a recovery of 92–104 % in real blood serum samples.     

Catalyst-free facile and efficient one-pot synthesis of densely functionalized pyrroles and α-amino ketones

An efficient catalyst-free one-pot three-component synthesis of penta-substituted pyrroles has been successfully developed. A variety of penta-substituted pyrroles were straightforwardly synthesized from good to excellent yields (78%–93%) by using easily accessible starting materials under mild conditions. This protocol also provided α-amino ketones in good yields (87%–98%) without column chromatography.     

First Stereoselective Synthesis of the Cytotoxic Polyketide (4R)‐1‐(3,5‐Dihydroxyphenyl)‐4‐hydroxypentan‐2‐one

The first stereoselective synthesis of the cytotoxic polyketide (4R)‐1‐(3,5‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐4‐hydroxypentan‐2‐one ( 1 ) was achieved from readily available propylene oxide and 3,5‐dimethoxybenzyl alcohol. The synthesis involves Jacobsen's hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) and Grignard reaction as key steps.     

Design and Synthesis of High‐Affinity Dimeric Inhibitors Targeting the Interactions between Gephyrin and Inhibitory Neurotransmitter Receptors

Gephyrin is the central scaffolding protein for inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. Here we describe the development of dimeric peptides that inhibit the interaction between gephyrin and these receptors, a process which is fundamental to numerous synaptic functions and diseases of the brain. We first identified receptor‐derived minimal gephyrin‐binding peptides that displayed exclusive binding towards native gephyrin from brain lysates. We then designed and synthesized a series of dimeric ligands, which led to a remarkable 1220‐fold enhancement of the gephyrin affinity (K_D=6.8 nM ). In X‐ray crystal structures we visualized the simultaneous dimer‐to‐dimer binding in atomic detail, revealing compound‐specific binding modes. Thus, we defined the molecular basis of the affinity‐enhancing effect of multivalent gephyrin inhibitors and provide conceptually novel compounds with therapeutic potential, which will allow further elucidation of the gephyrin–receptor interplay.