Sequence and Chiral Selectivity of Drug–DNA Interactions Revealed by Force Spectroscopy

Differential binding force has been used to precisely characterize the mechanical effect of a drug molecule binding to a DNA duplex. The high‐resolution binding forces measured by the force‐induced remnant magnetization spectroscopy (FIRMS) enable the binding behavior of drug molecules with different chirality and DNA of various sequences to be distinguished. The sequence specificity of Hg²⁺ and daunomycin was revealed by force spectroscopy for the first time, and the results are consistent with those obtained by other techniques. Furthermore, the two isomers of d,l ‐tetrahydropalmatine showed selectivity for two different DNA sequences. One particular useful feature of this approach is that the small molecules under study do not require any labels.     

The Stannides AuNiSn2 and AuCuSn2 – Bulk Synthesis and Superstructure Determination

The stannides AuNiSn₂ and AuCuSn₂ were prepared by melting of the elements in silica ampoules at 1300 K followed by slow cooling to room temperature. The structures of both compounds were refined on the basis of single crystal X‐ray data: , a = 412.41(14), c = 529.24(11) pm, wR2 = 0.0268, 159 F² values, 10 variables for AuNiSn₂ and a = 425.97(17), c = 526.88(15) pm, wR2 = 0.0507, 159 F² values, 11 variables for AuCuSn₂ (twinned crystal, BASF = 0.305(4)). These stannides crystallize with a superstructure of the NiAs type with a complete ordering of the transition metal atoms. They derive from a AuSn subcell structure, where every other layer of octahedral voids in the hexagonal closest packing of the tin atoms is filled by nickel in AuNiSn₂ and by copper in AuCuSn₂. Due to the symmetry reduction smaller NiSn_6/6 (CuSn_6/6) and larger AuSn_6/6 octahedra alternate along the c axis. The crystal chemistry is discussed on the basis of a group‐subgroup scheme.     

Synthesis of Phosphanes Bearing 2‐Imino‐1,3‐thiazolidine Ligands – X‐Ray Analyses and NMR Spectroscopy

Pseudo‐ephedrine derived 2‐imino‐1,3‐thiazolidine 1 reacts with tris(diethylamino)phosphane by stepwise replacement of the diethylamino group to give the mono‐, bis‐ and tris(imino)phosphanes 2 , 3 and 4 , respectively, of which 4 could be isolated in pure state. The analogous reaction with diethylamino‐diphenylphosphane affords the imino‐diphenylphosphane 5 . The iminophosphanes react with sulfur or selenium to give the corresponding phosphorus(V) compounds. In contrast, the reaction of the iminophosphanes with oxygen is very slow; anhydrous trimethylamine N‐oxide reacts in the melt with the phosphanes to give the oxides 4(O) and 5(O) . The molecular structures of 4(O) (in mixture with 4 ), 4(Se) , 5(S) and 5(Se) were determined by X‐ray analysis. In all cases the ring‐sulfur and the phosphorus atoms are in cis‐positions at the C=N bonds. The analogous solution structures were determined by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ³¹P and ⁷⁷Se NMR spectroscopy. In the case of the compounds 5 , 5(O) , 5(S) and 5(Se) the isotope‐induced chemical shifts ¹δ^14/15N(³¹P) were determined, using INEPT‐HEED experiments.     

Cu/Fe‐Cocatalyzed Formation of β‐Ketophosphonates by a Domino Knoevenagel–Decarboxylation–Oxyphosphorylation Sequence from Aromatic Aldehydes and H‐Phosphonates

A domino Knoevenagel–decarboxylation–alkene difunctionalization sequence has been developed for the conversion of benzaldehydes into β‐ketophosphonates, catalyzed by a cooperative Cu/Fe system, whereby C?P and C?O bonds are formed simultaneously in a one‐pot reaction. The reaction proceeds in good yields and with a broad substrate scope and environmentally benign conditions.     

Investigation on the TeO2–MoO3–V2O5 System. II. Properties of the obtained glasses

Some of the properties of glasses obtained in the systems TeO₂–MoO₃ and TeO₂–MoO₃–V₂O₅ had been studied. A good correlation between the properties and the phase diagram of the TeO₂–MoO₃ system was established. The glass resistance-composition function varied between 6.85 · 10⁹ ohm · cm and 2.93 · 10¹⁰ ohm · cm. The isolines of the properties (softening temperature, density, resistance at room and higher temperatures and activation energy) of the glasses obtained from the TeO₂–MoO₃–V₂O₅ system were ploted. The electrical resistance is influenced by the concentration of V₂O₅ and MoO₃ and by temperature. The glass absorption characteristics of thin layers were determined in the visible range.     

The structure of the cations from 2– and 4-pyrimidones

An infrared spectral investigation of a number of pyrimidine and pyrimidone hexachloroantimonates is reported. Typical aromatic absorption bands found in pyrimidinium salts were absent in the pyrimidone cations. 2-And 4-Pyrimidone hexachloroantimonates, as well as their N-methyl- and N,N'-dimethyl derivatives, exhibit intense carbonyl absorption bands between 1720–1729 cm^?1 (solid state) which corroborates N-protonation of pyrimidones.     

Nucleotides Part XL. Synthesis and Characterization of Modified 2′–5′ Adenylate Trimers–Potential Antiviral Agents

2′–5′ Adenylate trimers 41–44 carrying the (tert-butyl)dimethylsilyl (tbds) group at the 3′-OH position of various sugar moieties were synthesized via the phosphoramidite method. The use of the (tert-butyloxy)carbonyl (boc) and 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylsulfonyl (npes) groups for 2′-OH protection in neighbourhood to the 3′-O-tbds residue was compared during the synthesis of the target trimers. For other functional positions, the use of the 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl (npe) and 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl (npeoc) blocking groups were favoured.     

Baimantuoluolines D – F,Three New Withanolides from the Flower of Datura metel L.

Three new withanolide compounds, named baimantuoluolines D–F, along with three known withanolides and a lignan were isolated from the flower of Datura metel L., the parts effective against psoriasis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as (5α,6β,12β,20R,22R,24R,25S)‐21,24‐epoxy‐5,6,12‐trihydroxy‐27‐methoxy‐1‐oxowith‐2‐enolide ( 1 ), (5α,6β,12β,20R,22R,24R,25S)‐21,24‐epoxy‐5,6,12,27‐tetrahydroxy‐1‐oxowith‐2‐enolide ( 2 ), and (5α,6β,12β,22R)‐5,6,12,21‐tetrahydroxy‐1‐oxowith‐24‐enolide( 3 ) on the basis of physicochemical evidence.     

PyBidine–Cu(OTf)2‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition with Imino Esters: Harmony of Cu–Lewis Acid and Imidazolidine‐NH Hydrogen Bonding in Concerto Catalysis

A bis(imidazolidine)pyridine (PyBidine)–Cu(OTf)₂ complex catalyzing the endo‐selective [3+2] cycloaddition of nitroalkenes with imino esters was applied to the reaction of methyleneindolinones with imino esters to afford spiro[pyrrolidin‐3,3′‐oxindole]s in up to 98 % ee. X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the PyBidine–Cu(OTf)₂ complex and DFT calculations suggested that an intermediate Cu enolate of the imino ester reacts with nitroalkenes or methyleneindolinones, which are activated by NH‐hydrogen bonding with the PyBidine–Cu(OTf)₂ catalyst.     

Investigation of the Interactions of β‐Peptides with DNA Duplexes by Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy

The interaction of β‐peptides with the DNA duplexes of dA₂₀dT₂₀ and a GCN4‐binding CRE sequence was examined. To gauge the factors that govern these interactions, two β‐pentadecapeptides, 1 and 2 , a β‐dodecapeptide, 3 , three β‐decapeptides, 4 – 6 , three β‐heptapeptides, 7 – 9 , and β‐octaarginine 10 were designed and synthesized. The β‐peptides were conceived to adopt a β‐peptide 3₁₄ helix, in which the side chains at position i and i + 3 are aligned vertically along one side of the helix. The side chains of Lys, Asn, and Arg were positioned such that potential H‐bonding sites were created for a helical conformation to interact with the base pairs of DNA. CD Analysis showed that β‐peptides 1, 2 , and 10 interacted with dA₂₀dT₂₀. In addition, β‐peptides 1 and 2 showed significant interaction with a DNA‐duplex 20mer containing the ATF/CREB recognition sequence for the regulatory protein GCN4. It is impossible, at this stage of the investigation, to make a safe proposal about the actual nature of the interaction of the structures(s) of the complexes, the formation of which is suggested by the CD spectra reported herein.     

Polymerization of β-cyanopropionaldehyde. III. Polymerization by organoaluminum and by organoaluminum–titanium chloride complexes

The mechanism of formation and stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene have been studied. The polymerization was carried out at ?78°C with use of aluminum compounds [Al(C₂H₅)₃, Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl, Al(C₂H₅)Cl₂, and AlCl₃] and complex catalysts [Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₄, Al(C₂H₅)₃–TiCl₃, and Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl–TiCl₃] as initiators. The stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was estimated from the optical density ratio, D₁₂₅₈/D₁₂₇₀, in the infrared absorption spectrum. Polymer yields were observed to depend upon the aluminum compound used as initiators, while the stereoregularity of the polymer was nearly independent of the particular aluminum compound used. As the catalyst ratio of titanium chloride to aluminum compound increased, the polymer yield was found to increase to a maximum and then to decrease with further increase of the ratio. It is supposed that titanium chlorides themselves increase the acid strength of aluminum compounds through chlorination, resulting in the change of the polymer yield. The highest stereoregularity of poly(cyanoethyl)oxymethylene was attained by increasing the molar ratio of titanium trichloride to aluminum and by treating β-cyanopropionaldehyde (CPA) with titanium trichloride prior to the polymerization. Complex formation of the nitrile group of CPA with titanium is considered responsible for the increase in stereoregularity. A propagation mechanism is also proposed.     

On the Phase Shifts in the Dynamics of the H2O2–Na2S2O3–H2SO4–CuSO4 Oscillator Revealed by Comparison of Potentiometric Responses of Different Indicator Electrodes

The dynamics of the H₂O₂–Na₂S₂O₃–H₂SO₄–CuSO₄ homogeneous pH oscillator was studied in the flow reactor potentiometrically using different sensors: platinum electrode, Cu(II) ion‐selective electrode (Cu‐ISE), and pH‐electrode. It was found that for the flow rates close to two bifurcation values, between which the oscillations exist, there is a detectable phase shift between the response of the Cu‐ISE and other electrodes, while it practically vanishes for the intermediate flow rates. To explain both the oscillations of the Cu‐ISE potential and the relevant phase shift, the system's dynamics was studied both experimentally and numerically. The literature kinetic mechanism of the pH oscillator was extended for the dynamics of the copper(II) and copper(I) species in the form of thiosulfate complexes, and kinetic parameters of the redox equilibria, ensuring the oscillations, were estimated. It was found that the phase shift at the relatively low flow rates occurs due to limited efficiency of the supply of CuSO₄ catalyst, as the species of lowest concentration, to the reactor, and therefore it can be minimized either by increasing the flow rate of all reactants or, alternatively, by enhancing the model concentration of CuSO₄ in the feeding stream, for its fixed flow rate. This work is one more proof that it is useful to monitor the dynamics of the homogeneous oscillatory systems with more than one electrode, if the experimental potential–time courses are to be explained in terms of an appropriate kinetic mechanism.     

Dehydrative Glycosylation Mediated by 2‐Aryl‐1,3‐dithiane 1‐Oxide via Sequential Activation of Sulfoxide and Sulfide

Developing efficient glycosylation methods and strategies is always a top priority and endless pursuit for carbohydrate chemists to acquire complex glycosidic linkages.While most glycosylation reactions are step-wise,that is,installation of the leaving group at the anomeric position first followed by activation and coupling with acceptors(Scheme 1a),dehydrative glycosylation is obviously more straightforward.[1]In this strategy,C1-hemiacetals are directly activated to couple with acceptors,thus obviating additional C1 modification steps(Scheme 1b).Unfortunately,the intrinsic stability of C1-hemiacetals impedes their applications.