Evolution of amide stacking in larger γ-peptides: triamide H-bonded cycles

The single-conformation spectroscopy of two model γ-peptides has been studied under jet-cooled conditions in the gas phase. The methyl-capped triamides, Ac-γ(2)-hPhe-γ(2)-hAla-NHMe and Ac-γ(2)-hAla-γ(2)-hPhe-NHMe, were probed by resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI) and resonant ion-dip infrared (RIDIR) spectroscopies. Four conformers of Ac-γ(2)-hPhe-γ(2)-hAla-NHMe and three of Ac-γ(2)-hAla-γ(2)-hPhe-NHMe were observed and spectroscopically interrogated. On the basis of comparison with the predictions of density functional theory calculations employing a dispersion-corrected functional (ωB97X-D/6-311++G(d,p)), all seven conformers have been assigned to particular conformational families. The preference for formation of nine-membered rings (C9) observed in a previous study [James, W. H., III et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 14243] of the smaller analog, Ac-γ(2)-hPhe-NHMe, carries over to these triamides, with four of the seven conformers forming C9/C9 sequential double-ring structures, and one conformer a C9/C14 bifurcated double ring. The remaining two conformers form C7/C7/C14 H-bonded cycles involving all three amide NH groups, unprecedented in other peptides and peptidomimetics. The amide groups in these structures form a H-bonded triangle with the two trimethylene bridges forming loops above and below the molecule's midsection. The structure is a natural extension of amide stacking, with the two terminal amides blocked from forming the amide tristack by formation of the C14 H-bond. Pair interaction energy decomposition analysis based on the fragment molecular orbital method (FMO-PIEDA) is used to determine the nonbonded contributions to the stabilization of these conformers. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis identifies amide stacking with a pair of n → π* interactions between the nitrogen lone pairs and π* orbitals on the carbonyl of the opposing amide groups.     

Thermogravimetric investigations of new γ-γ′ cobalt-based superalloys

The aim of the study is characterization of high-temperature oxidation behavior of new Co-based superalloys by thermogravimetry (TG). The following alloys have been taken into account: Co–9Al–9W, Co–20–Ni–7Al–7W, Co–10Al–5Mo–2Nb and Co–20Ni–10Al–5Mo–2Nb (at.%). The thermogravimetric analysis was carried out in the temperature range 40–1200 °C of heating rate 5° min^?1. The investigation was performed using the thermal analyzer NETZSCH STA 449 F3 Jupiter. TG–DTG plots showed oxidation behavior up to 1200 °C and indicated the temperatures of further isothermal oxidation examinations. The oxidation behavior of basic Co–9Al–9W (at.%) alloy was compared to W-free Co–10Al–5Mo–2Nb and Co–20Ni–10Al–5Mo–2Nb (at.%) alloys. The obtained data showed different oxidation behavior dependably on the type of alloying elements. Moreover, the effect of Ni addition on oxidation performance was determined. The scales grown on Co-base superalloys after thermogravimetry were evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy.     

Optimization of the new technology for manufacturing γ-polyoxymethylene

A new technology of manufacturing γ-polyoxymethylene (γ-POM) by the polymerization 1,3,5-trioxane in the presence of a boron trifluoride etherate aprotic catalytic agent and a methylal telogen in the medium of the non-ozone-depleting solvent toluene, with an yield exceeding the yield of γ-POM manufactured by the existing industrial technology by 30% is developed. Regression equations for the yield and weight-average particle size of γ-POM synthesized in the toluene medium were derived by means of the optimal experimental design technique. The equations were used to optimize parameters of the synthesis and obtain γ-POM with the weight-average particle size of 15 μm and the highest possible yield.     

Radiolabeled γ-AApeptides: a new class of tracers for positron emission tomography

A γ-AApeptide-based tracer for positron emission tomography imaging of integrin α(v)β(3) is reported. Despite its shorter sequence and linear nature, this tracer had comparable integrin α(v)β(3) binding affinity to the cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide but significantly higher resistance to enzymatic degradation and better stability.     

Synthesis of new potential chelating agents: Catechol–bisphosphonate conjugates for metal intoxication therapy

In a quest for better chelating therapy drugs for the treatment of intoxication by Fe, Al, or actinides, three new series of bisphosphonates conjugated with catechol were synthesized. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 15:251–257, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20013     

A new umpolung for direct γ-regioselective nucleophilic addition of alcohols to γ-enolizable α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

A direct γ-regioselective nucleophilic addition of alcohols toward γ-enolizable α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was developed using a catalytic amount of MeSO₃H (30 mol%) and a stoichiometric amount of chloranil (1.0 equiv) as the oxidant. The addition of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) was found to accelerate this cross-dehydrogenative coupling, furnishing diverse alcoholic adducts with high γ-regio- and E-stereoselectivities.     

Searching for precision of a new “luminescence clock” in dating calcitic rocks

The novel method of thermoluminescence (TL) dating of megalithic (cyclopean) limestone monuments and/or marble statues will be briefly reviewed. The problems and recent examples to be discussed include: (a) the determination of the accumulated archaeological dose, Dar, (b) the sample homogeneity, (c) the scattering in TL measurements, (d) the rate in solar bleaching of TL, and (e) dose-plateau inconsistencies. In retrospect, the solar bleaching of TL in some marbles refers to at least 30 mm depth, the scattering of TL measurements at best varies around ±10%, and the partial bleaching technique should be prudently applied for Dar determination. The extension of this method to date (by TL or OSL) for other rock types is discussed.     

Synthesis of γ,γ-difluoro-β-hydroxy-δ-lactones as new precursors of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor

A series of γ,γ-difluoro-β-hydroxy-δ-lactones 1 were efficiently synthesized as new precursors of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in one pot by treatment of readily prepared gem-difluoromethylenated acetonides 3 with trifluoroacetic acid. Contrarily, acetonides 3 could be transformed to the γ,γ-gem-difluoromethylenated α,β-unsaturated δ-lactones 2 through hydrolyzation and lactonization in refluxing toluene.     

Benzoylquinazolinone derivatives as new potential antidiabetic agents: α-Glucosidase inhibition,kinetic, and docking studies

Benzoylquinazolinone derivatives 3a–n were synthesized via a simple one-step reaction, and evaluated for in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compounds 3d , 3f–g , 3i , and 3m–n showed more inhibitory activity than standard drug acarbose (IC₅₀ = 750.0 ± 1.5 μM), and among them, compound 3d displayed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 261.6 ± 0.1 μM). The kinetic analysis of the compound 3d revealed that this compound inhibited α-glucosidase in a competitive manner (K_i = 255 μM). The docking studies were applied to predict binding modes of the synthesized compounds in active site of α-glucosidase.     

A new method for the synthesis of organic–polyoxometallate hybrid compounds

The reaction of the Na₂MoO₄ or Na₂WO₄ salt with organic amine and PCl₅, SiCl₄ or TiCl₄ in hydrochloric acid medium under hydrothermal conditions yields organic–polyoxometallate hybrid compounds, with the following reaction formula: Na₂MO₄ + Lewis-base + XCl_n + HCl → (Lewis-baseH)_m(XM₁₂O₄₀) + NaCl + H₂O (M = Mo or W; X = P, Si, Ti,; n = 3–5). By using this method, four new complexes, [(CH₃)₂NH]₃[H₃PW₁₂O₄₀] (1), (C₂H₅OH)₃(H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀) (2), [DMDA]₂[H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀]·H₂O (3) (DMDA = 1 N,3 N-dimethyl-1,3-diazolidine) and [(DAN)₆][H₄TiW₁₂O₄₀]·4H₂O (DAN = 4,4′-dianiline) (4), were obtained, and their crystal structures are reported. Thermal analysis of 1, 2 and 4 has been carried out. The thermal analysis indicates that the Keggin anion skeleton begins to decompose at about 300 °C. The possibility of constructing hydrogen-bond interactions by association between the polyoxometallate and the organic compound is explored. The roles of solvents and organic groups in the formation of specific crystalline architectures are discussed. The crystal structure of [H₄TiW₁₂O₄₀], a hetero-transition-metal Keggin polyoxometallate with a square-plane TiO₄, has been reported. Four architectures developed by hydrogen-bond associations of different Keggin polyoxometallates and organic bearing N–H or O–H donor functions are described. The selected organic modules (4,4′-dianiline, 1,3-dimethylimidazolidine, dimethylamine and ethanol) possess hydrogen-donor functions to allow them to act as bridges between polyoxometallate groups. Depending on the nature of the donor group, the number of hydrogens available for bonding, the geometric features and the sizes of the organic modules, diverse assembling patterns have been observed ranging from one-dimensional to three-dimensional networks. For all the networks, H₃O⁺ and H⁺ act as actual linkers between the molecular units.     

β,γ-CHF- and β,γ-CHCl-dGTP diastereomers: synthesis, discrete 31P NMR signatures, and absolute configurations of new stereochemical probes for DNA polymerases

Deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphate analogues in which the β,γ-bridging oxygen has been replaced with a CXY group are useful chemical probes to investigate DNA polymerase catalytic and base-selection mechanisms. A limitation of such probes has been that conventional synthetic methods generate a mixture of diastereomers when the bridging carbon substitution is nonequivalent (X ≠ Y). We report here a general solution to this long-standing problem with four examples of β,γ-CXY dNTP diastereomers: (S)- and (R)-β,γ-CHCl-dGTP (12a-1/12a-2) and (S)- and (R)-β,γ-CHF-dGTP (12b-1/12b-2). Central to their preparation was conversion of the prochiral parent bisphosphonic acids to the P,C-dimorpholinamide derivatives 7 of their (R)-mandelic acid monoesters, which provided access to the individual diastereomers 7a-1, 7a-2, 7b-1, and 7b-2 by preparative HPLC. Selective acidic hydrolysis of the P-N bond then afforded "portal" diastereomers, which were readily coupled to morpholine-activated dGMP. Removal of the chiral auxiliary by H(2) (Pd/C) gave the four individual diastereomeric nucleotides 12, which were characterized by (31)P, (1)H, and (19)F NMR spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry. After treatment with Chelex-100 to remove traces of paramagnetic ions, at pH ~10 the diastereomer pairs 12a,b exhibit discrete P(α) and P(β)(31)P resonances. The more upfield P(α) and more downfield P(β) resonances (and also the more upfield (19)F NMR resonance in 12b) are assigned to the R configuration at the P(β)-CHX-P(γ) carbons on the basis of the absolute configurations of the individual diastereomers as determined from the X-ray crystallographic structures of their ternary complexes with DNA and polymerase β.     

Constrained α/γ-peptides: a new stable extended structure in solution without any hydrogen bond and characterized by a four-fold symmetry

Small α/γ-peptides alternating α-aminoisobutyric acid and cyclic γ-amino acid residues are described. NMR studies together with restrained simulated annealing revealed that an extended backbone conformation largely dominates in solution for as short as 4-residues long oligomers. This new fold type is devoid of any hydrogen bond and characterized by a four-fold symmetry.     

Decomposition of γ-Cyclotrimethylene Trinitramine (γ-RDX): Relevance for Shock Wave Initiation

To elucidate the reactive behavior of RDX crystals at pressures and temperatures relevant to shock wave initiation, Raman spectroscopy and optical imaging were used to determine the pressure-temperature (P-T) stability and the decomposition of γ-RDX, the high pressure phase of RDX. Experiments were performed on single crystals in a diamond anvil cell at pressures from 6 to 12 GPa and at temperatures up to 600 K. Evidence for the direct decomposition of γ-RDX above 6 GPa, without the involvement of other phases, is provided. The upper limit of the P-T locus for the γ-RDX thermal decomposition was determined. A refined P-T phase diagram of RDX is presented that includes the current findings for γ-RDX. The static compression results are used to gain key insight into the shock initiation of RDX, including a determination of the RDX phase at decomposition and understanding the role of pressure and temperature in accelerating shock induced decomposition. This study has established the important role that γ-RDX plays in decomposition of RDX under static and shock compression conditions; thus theoretical modeling of RDX decomposition at high pressures and temperatures needs to incorporate the γ-phase response.     

γ-Chiral β-ketosulfones in asymmetric synthesis: a unified synthetic strategy for enantiopure γ-amino and γ-hydroxy vinyl sulfones

Enantiopure γ-hydroxy and γ-amino vinyl sulfones have been prepared in a short synthetic sequence from the chiral pool derived γ-acetoxy/amino β-ketosulfones.     

A biofriendly sol–gel route to new hybrid gels for enzyme encapsulation

New hybrid gels were prepared from the gelation of glycol-modified tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the presence of O-2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl guar gum (HTPG), and were then used for the in situ encapsulation of papain. Different from the sol–gel process based on commonly used TEOS, the biofriendly sol–gel process developed in this study could be conducted rapidly at ambient temperature without the addition of any organic solvent or acidic catalyst. In particular, the mechanical strength and microstructure of resultant hybrid gel matrix could be modulated by HTPG amount. In comparison with free papain, the encapsulated papain is characteristic of improved enzymatic activity, thermal and storage stability as well as good reusability.     

Synthesis and Antitumor Activity Evaluation of γ-Monofluorinated and γ,γ-Difluorinated Goniothalamin Analogues

A series of novel γ,γ‐difluorinated Goniothalamin analogues 4a – 4i and 6a – 6i were synthesized. The key steps included the construction of C‐5 stereocenter adjacent to gem‐difluoromethylene group by way of lipase AK catalyzed kinetic resolution, the introduction of aryl group via Stille coupling, and lactonization by 1,5‐oxidative cyclization. These γ,γ‐difluorinated Goniothalamin analogues 4a – 4i and their enantiomers 6a – 6i , together with several corresponding γ‐monofluorinated Goniothalamin analogues were biologically evaluated against four different cancer cell lines. Compound 7h showed a nearly equivalent potency as the parent (R)‐Goniothalamin in the micromolar range. The different fluorine effects between fluoromethylene and gem‐difluoromethylene on antitumor activity were discussed through the analysis of bioassay data.     

Evidence for Atropisomerism in Polycyclic γ-Butenolides: Synthesis,Scope, and Spectroscopic Studies

Design and development of a domino cyclative approach for the synthesis of new polycyclic γ-butenolides from β-aryl-Z-enoate propargylic alcohols, through the interception of an intermediate of the Z-enoate-assisted Meyer–Schuster rearrangement, has been reported. A systematic NMR analysis of various derivatives of this class revealed and supported the potential atropisomerism associated with them. These molecules represent first examples of butenolide ring-based atropisomeric compounds in organic chemistry. The synthetic process involves a synchronous construction of both rings with concurrent creation of the potential stereogenic rotational axis.     

Preparation of new hybrid organic/inorganic polymeric chiral stationary phases for ligand-exchange chromatography

Three new hybrid organic/inorganic polymeric ligand-exchange chiral stationary phases were developed by radical chain transfer reaction and surface grafting on silica gel,and successfully used for the enantioseparations of DL-amino acids and DL-hydroxyl acids.The resolutions were achieved by using water containing 2.0×10~(-4) mol/L of CuAc_2 as a mobile phase,column temperature of 40℃,flow rate of 1.0mL/min and detection at UV 254 nm.The elution order of D-isomer before L-isomer was observed for all DL-amino acids resolved except DL-Pro.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of β, γ-β-Hydroxyl-γ-butyrolactones

Chiral β-hydroxyl-γ-butyrolactones have attracted substantial interest in recent years due to their presence inmany strongly active natural products having antitumor, fungicidal, anti-inflammatory activity, and their use as important precursors in natural product synthesis. [1] In the course of the total synthesis of the natural product Tuxpano lide ,[2] we found a concise and efficient strategy on the stereocontrolled synthesis of β-hydroxyl-γ-butyrolactonederivatives from cheap and achiral starting material.