Stereoselective Synthesis of the Non‐Lactonic Portion of (Z)‐Cryptofolione and Approaches towards Its Conversion to (Z)‐Cryptofolione

The stereoselective synthesis of the non‐lactonic part of the natural G₂ checkpoint inhibitor, (Z)‐cryptofolione, has been accomplished. Butane‐1,4‐diol was used as the starting material, and the stereogenic centers were generated through L ‐proline‐catalyzed α‐aminoxylation and Maruoka asymmetric allylation. We attempted to convert this non‐lactonic moiety to (Z)‐cryptofolione via olefin cross‐metathesis reaction, but by this approach another naturally occurring lactonic compound, goniothalamin, was obtained.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of new troponyl aromatic amino acid

Synthetic peptides are in huge demand in expansion of potential peptide mimics, which may have improved or comparable function as natural one. With these concerns, phenyl bearing aromatic amino acids and peptides has extensively explored, because phenyl residue has high probability in forming stable secondary structure, owing to the presence of an extra stabilizing factor as π–π non-covalent interactions. Apart from phenyl bearing benzenoid aromatic amino acids, a few non-benzenoid aromatic derivatives such as tropolone and related compounds are also occurred in nature, but troponyl containing amino acids and peptides are very poorly understood. Tropolonyl derivatives also contain carbonyl functional group, which may play an important role to provide stable conformation in peptide. Herein we report the synthesis, and conformational analysis of rationally designed new unnatural δ-amino acid, troponyl aminoethylglycine (Tr-aeg), which contains troponyl residue as side chain in flexible aminoethylglycine (aeg) amino acid backbone. We also demonstrate the role of troponyl carbonyl of Tr-aeg residue in hydrogen bonding with adjacent amide NH of their hybrid di/tri-peptides with NMR methods and DFT calculations. In future, Tr-aeg amino acid would be a potential building block in development of promisable peptide mimics.     

Biosynthesis of Ribostamycin Derivatives by Reconstitution and Heterologous Expression of Required Gene Sets

Ribostamycin is a 4,5-disubstituted 2-deoxystreptamine (DOS)-containing aminoglycoside antibiotics and naturally produced by Streptomyces ribosidificus ATCC 21294. It is also an intermediate in the biosynthesis of butirosin and neomycin. In the biosynthesis of ribostamycin, DOS is glycosylated to generate paromamine which is converted to neamine by successive dehydrogenation followed by amination, and finally ribosylation of neamine gives ribostamycin. Here, we report the biosynthesis of 6′-deamino-6′-hydroxyribostamycin (a ribostamycin derivative or pseudoribostamycin) in Streptomyces venezuelae YJ003 by reconstructing gene cassettes for direct ribosylation of paromamine. A trace amount of pseudoribostamycin was detected with ribostamycin in the isolates of ribostamycin cosmid heterologously expressed in Streptomyces lividans TK24. It has also indicated that the ribosyltransferase can accept both neamine and paromamine. Thus, the present in vivo modification of ribostamycin could be useful for the production of hybrid compounds to defend against bacterial resistance to aminoglycosides.     

Visible Colorimetric Sensor for Fluoride Ion Based on o-Phenylenediamine

A new chromogenic receptor based on 1,2-phenylene derivative containing thiourea moieties is synthesized and examined for its anion binding ability by UV–Vis and ¹H NMR studies. The results show that the receptor has selective colorimetric sensing of fluoride over all other anions like chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, hydrogen sulphate and acetate.     

Base dependent pyrrolidine ring pucker in aep-PNA monomers: NMR and PSEUROT analysis

The aep-PNA is a chiral and cyclic PNA analogue, which has a stronger and base dependent binding affinity with complementary DNA. To understand the base dependent properties at monomer level, the structural studies of aep-PNA-(T/C/A) monomers have been carried out focussing on the conformational analysis of pyrrolidine ring pucker in aep-PNA by ¹H NMR and the coupling constant data fitted into PSEUROT software. The results indicate that the type of pyrrolidine pucker depends on the electronic nature of substituent, implying the effect of pyrimidine or purine substituents in determining the ring pucker in monomers. This may consequently influence the aep-PNA oligomer conformation. Since pyrrolidine nucleic acids have emerged as an important class of PNA analogues, present results may have importance for their future development.     

Catalyst‐Free and Solvent‐Free Facile Hydroboration of Imines

A facile process for the catalyst‐free and solvent‐free hydroboration of aromatic as well as heteroaromatic imines is reported. This atom‐economic methodology is scalable, compatible with sterically and electronically diverse imines, displaying excellent tolerance towards various functional groups, and works efficiently at ambient temperature in most of the cases, affording secondary amines in good to excellent yield after hydrolysis.