A new approach towards peptidosulfonamides: synthesis of potential inhibitors of bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis enzymes MurD and MurE

Peptidosulfonamides are an emerging group of peptidomimetics with a variety of applications in medicinal chemistry. We present a novel approach to the synthesis of peptidosulfonamides, and apply it to a series of new potential inhibitors of the bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis enzymes MurD and MurE. The synthesis was conducted via N-phthalimido β-aminoethanesulfonyl chlorides, which are new building blocks for the synthesis of peptidosulfonamides. In the most crucial step, sulfonic acids or their sodium salts were converted into the corresponding sulfonyl chlorides using an excess of either SOCl₂ or SOCl₂/DMF, and then coupled to the C-protected amino acid. None of the compounds significantly inhibited MurD, however, some inhibited MurE; one had an IC₅₀ below 200 μM, which constitutes a promising starting point for further development. Molecular modelling simulations were performed on two analogues to investigate the absence of inhibitory activity of the sulfonamide compounds on MurD.     

Stereoselective Michael Addition of Carbonyl Compounds to ( E )-β-Nitrostyrene Catalysed by N -Toluensulfonyl-l -proline Amide in Ionic Liquids

Summary. N-Toluensulfonyl-l-prolin amide was tested as catalyst in the enantioselective Michael addition of carbonyl compounds to (E)-β-nitrostyrene in nine ionic liquids under different reaction conditions. The reaction rates and enantioselectivities were strongly dependent on the ionic liquids. Change of enantioselectivity was observed too and it is attributed to both the cation and the anion of ionic liquid. The best yields (up to 98%) and enantioselectivity (70% ee) of product were obtained in a basic ionic liquid [bmim]BF₄ at room temperature.     

Thermally reversible light scattering films based on the melting/crystallization of organic crystals dispersed in an epoxy matrix

Films that can be reversibly switched from opaque to transparent states by varying temperature (TRLS films), have potential applications in thermal sensors, optical devices, recording media, etc. A dispersion of organic crystals in a thermoset may be used for these purposes provided that at temperatures higher than the melting point there is a matching of refractive indices of both phases. A model system consisting on a dispersion of diphenyl (DP) crystals in an epoxy matrix based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and m-xylylenediamine, was analyzed as a possible TRLS film encapsulated between transparent covers to avoid sublimation of DP. To obtain a uniform dispersion of DP-rich domains in the epoxy matrix by polymerization-induced phase separation, it was necessary to add 5 wt% of polystyrene (PS) to the initial formulation. Phase separation induced by polymerization at 80 °C led to a dispersion of PS/DP domains in the epoxy matrix due to the low compatibility of PS with the epoxy and its high compatibility with DP. Crystallization and melting processes were confined to the interior of dispersed domains leading to an excellent reproducibility of the optical properties of TRLS films in the course of successive heating-cooling cycles.     

Electrospray mass and tandem mass spectrometry of homologous and isomeric singly, doubly, triply and quadruply charged cationic ruthenated meso-(phenyl)m-(meta- and para-pyridyl)n (m + n = 4) macrocyclic porphyrin complexes

Ten homologous or isomeric singly, doubly, triply and quadruply charged cationic macrocyclic complexes I-Va, bn+ (n = 1-4) formed by the coordination of [Ru(bipy)2Cl]+ to the pyridyl N-atoms of a series of meso-(phenyl)m-(meta or para-pyridyl)n-porphyrins (m + n = 4) were transferred to the gas phase and structurally characterized by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass (MS) and tandem mass (MS/MS) spectrometry. Previously known to be stable in solution and in the solid state, I-Va, bn+ are found to constitute also a new class of stable, long-lived multiply charged gas-phase ions with spatially separated charge sites. Increasing intramolecular electrostatic repulsion from Ia, b+ to IVa, b3+ facilitates in-source and tandem collision-induced dissociation (CID). However, for the quadruply charged ions Va, b4+, electrostatic repulsion is alleviated mainly by ion pairing with the CF3SO3- counterion forming the salt clusters [Va,b/CF3SO3]3+ and [Va,b/(CF3SO3)2]2+ with reduced charge states. Ion-pairing that yields [IVa,b/CF3SO3]2+ is also observed as a minor ESI process for the triply charged ions IVa, b3+. The gaseous ions I-Va, bn+ (n = 2, 3 or 4) dissociate by sequential 'charge partitioning' with the formation of two cationic fragments by the release of [Ru(bipy)2Cl]+. The meta (a) and para (b) isomers and the positional isomers II2+ and III2+ display nearly identical ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS spectra. ESI-MS/MS of I-Va, bn+ shows that the Ru-py(P) is, intrinsically, the weakest bond since this bond breaks preferentially upon CID.     

Synthesis of a Naphthalimide Functionalized Calix[4]arene; A Host Type Fluorophore for Inclusion Compounds in Organic Medium

This article reports the synthesis and the properties of 5,11,17,23-tetra(t-butyl)-25,27-bis-(ethoxy-1,8-naphthalimide)-26,28-hidroxy-calix[4]arene and the formation of an inclusion compound in organic medium. This functionalized calix[4]arene was conceived as the association of a potential host species with a good fluorophore for optical sensoring purposes. Calix[4]-NI as we will call it, maintains its ‘cone-pinched’ configuration and exhibits typical naphthalimide fluorescence bands in non-polar solvents. Its ability to interact with guest species via hydrogen bonding in its endo-hydrophilic cavity to form inclusion compounds was verified with absorption and fluorescence measurements using N-ethanol-1,8-naphthalimide as guest species, which was projected to fit exactly the host cavity and to interact with its naphthalimide π electrons. For this reason, it was possible to follow the formation of the inclusion compound with electronic spectroscopy.     

A trinuclear bis(dioximate)(chloro)(nitrosyl)ruthenium(II) complex containing two (2,2′-bipyridine)copper(II) groups

A trinuclear bis(cyclohexanedioximate)(chloro)(nitrosyl)ruthenium(II) complex containing two (2,2-bipyridine)-copper(II) groups has been synthesized and its electronic and electrochemical properties investigated. According to ZINDO/S calculations, the electronic structure of the ruthenium(dioximate)(nitrosyl) moiety is strongly delocalized. The electrochemical behavior has been interpreted with the aid of spectroelectrochemical measurements. In the trinuclear complex, it has been shown that the copper(II) ions can promote the oxidation of the NO species generated electrochemically, and also mediate the redox reactions of the complex, under a dioxygen atmosphere.     

Amperometric detection of nitrite and nitrate at tetraruthenated porphyrin-modified electrodes in a continuous-flow assembly

The modification of a glassy carbon surface by coating with an electrostatically assembled film of tetraruthenated cobalt porphyrin/(meso-tetra(4-sulphonatephenyl)porphyrinate zinc(II) yields an indicator electrode that allows the determination of nitrite to be performed with a limit of detection of 0.1 μM in a flow injection configuration. The dynamic range extends up to 1000 μM and the repeatability of the measurements was evaluated to be 1.5% with a throughput of 50 samples per hour. The efficiency of the bilayered film to mediate the electron transfer allows the determinations to be performed at a less positive potential (+0.75 V) with enhanced sensitivity. The coating also prevents the surface poisoning and its stability is maintained over several weeks. The same detector was used for determination of nitrate after reduction to nitrite in a reductor column containing copperised cadmium. This method was used for the determination of nitrate and nitrite in mineral water, saliva and cured meats, the results being in agreement with certified values and those obtained by using recommended procedures.     

Spektroskopische Untersuchungen der Metallkomplexe des 2,5-Dibenzoyl-3,4-dihydroxyselenophens

Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe von Metallkomplexen des 2,5-Dibenzoyl-3,4-dihydroxy-selenophens wurden spektroskopisch untersucht. Das Verhalten des Wismutkomplexes und die Möglichkeiten einer spektrophotometrischen Wismutbestimmung auf diesem Wege wurden eingehend studiert.

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Summary A spectroscopic examination was made of a series of metal complexes of 2,5-dibenzoyl-3,4-dihydroxyselenophen. The behavior of the bismuth complex and the possibilities of a spectrophotometric method of determining bismuth in this manner were studied thoroughly.

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Herrn Univ.-Prof. Dr.Hans Lieb zum 80. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Cure kinetics of a cobalt catalysed dicyanate ester monomer in air and argon atmospheres from DSC data

A kinetic analysis of the cyclotrimerisation reaction of a dicyanate ester monomer catalysed by cobalt(II) acetylacetonate and nonylphenol in air and argon atmospheres has been carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dynamic and isothermal DSC scans as well as the glass transition temperature are the experimental data obtained. From isothermal scans a higher cyanate conversion in air than in argon was obtained. The cyanate conversions are satisfactorily described with a second-order kinetic equation in the kinetically controlled region, and by m-order (m<1) equation after vitrification is reached. Activation energies determined by different procedures agree among them, showing slightly higher values in argon than in air.