Peptide‐Directed Binding for the Discovery of Modulators of α‐Helix‐Mediated Protein–Protein Interactions: Proof‐of‐Concept Studies with the Apoptosis Regulator Mcl‐1

Targeting PPIs with small molecules can be challenging owing to large, hydrophobic binding surfaces. Herein, we describe a strategy that exploits selective α‐helical PPIs, transferring these characteristics to small molecules. The proof of concept is demonstrated with the apoptosis regulator Mcl‐1, commonly exploited by cancers to avoid cell death. Peptide‐directed binding uses few synthetic transformations, requires the production of a small number of compounds, and generates a high percentage of hits. In this example, about 50 % of the small molecules prepared showed an IC₅₀ value of less than 100 μm, and approximately 25 % had IC₅₀ values below 1 μm to Mcl‐1. Compounds show selectivity for Mcl‐1 over other anti‐apoptotic proteins, possess cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines, and induce hallmarks of apoptosis. This approach represents a novel and economic process for the rapid discovery of new α‐helical PPI modulators.     

The Propensity of α‐Aminoisobutyric Acid (=2‐Methylalanine; Aib) to Induce Helical Secondary Structure in an α‐Heptapeptide: A Computational Study

We present a molecular‐dynamics simulation study of an α‐heptapeptide containing an α‐aminoisobutyric acid (=2‐methylalanine; Aib) residue, Val¹‐Ala²‐Leu³‐Aib⁴‐Ile⁵‐Met⁶‐Phe⁷, and a quantum‐mechanical (QM) study of simplified models to investigate the propensity of the Aib residue to induce 3₁₀/α‐helical conformation. For comparison, we have also performed simulations of three analogues of the peptide with the Aib residue being replaced by L ‐Ala, D ‐Ala, and Gly, respectively, which provide information on the subtitution effect at C(α) (two Me groups for Aib, one for L ‐Ala and D ‐Ala, and zero for Gly). Our simulations suggest that, in MeOH, the heptapeptide hardly folds into canonical helical conformations, but appears to populate multiple conformations, i.e., C₇ and 3₁₀‐helical ones, which is in agreement with results from the QM calculations and NMR experiments. The populations of these conformations depend on the polarity of the solvent. Our study confirms that a short peptide, though with the presence of an Aib residue in the middle of the chain, does not have to fold to an α‐helical secondary structure. To generate a helical conformation for a linear peptide, several Aib residues should be present in the peptide, either sequentially or alternatively, to enhance the propensity of Aib‐containing peptides towards the helical conformation. A correction of a few of the published NMR data is reported.     

A Doppel α‐Helix Peptide Fragment Mimics the Copper(II) Interactions with the Whole Protein

The doppel protein (Dpl) is the first homologue of the prion protein (PrP^C) to be discovered; it is overexpressed in transgenic mice that lack the prion gene, resulting in neurotoxicity. The whole prion protein is able to inhibit Dpl neurotoxicity, and its N‐terminal domain is the determinant part of the protein function. This region represents the main copper(II) binding site of PrP^C. Dpl is able to bind at least one copper ion, and the specific metal‐binding site has been identified as the histidine residue at the beginning of the third helical region. However, a reliable characterization of copper(II) coordination features has not been reported. In a previous paper, we studied the copper(II) interaction with a peptide that encompasses only the loop region potentially involved in metal binding. Nevertheless, we did not find a complete match between the EPR spectroscopic parameters of the copper(II) complexes formed with the synthesized peptide and those reported for the copper(II) binding sites of the whole protein. Herein, the synthesis of the human Dpl peptide fragment hDpl(122–139) (Ac‐KPDNKLHQQVLWRLVQEL‐NH₂) and its copper(II) complex species are reported. This peptide encompasses the third α helix and part of the loop linking the second and the third helix of human doppel protein. The single‐point‐mutated peptide, hDpl(122–139)D124N, in which aspartate 124 replaces an asparagine residue, was also synthesized. This peptide was used to highlight the role of the carboxylate group on both the conformation preference of the Dpl fragment and its copper(II) coordination features. NMR spectroscopic measurements show that the hDpl(122–139) peptide fragment is in the prevailing α‐helix conformation. It is localized within the 127–137 amino acid residue region that represents a reliable conformational mimic of the related protein domain. A comparison with the single‐point‐mutated hDpl(122–139)D124N reveals the significant role played by the aspartic residue in addressing the peptide conformation towards a helical structure. It is further confirmed by CD measurements. Potentiometric titrations were carried out in aqueous solutions to obtain the stability constant values of the species formed by copper(II) with the hDpl peptides. Spectroscopic studies (EPR, NMR, CD, UV/Vis) were performed to characterize the coordination environments of the different metal complexes. The EPR parameters of the copper(II) complexes with hDpl(122–139) match those of the previously reported copper(II) binding sites of the whole hDpl. Addition of the copper(II) ion to the peptide fragment does not alter the helical conformation of hDpl(122–139), as shown by CD spectra in the far‐UV region. The aspartate‐driven preorganized secondary structure is not significantly modified by the involvement of Asp124 in the copper(II) complex species that form in the physiological pH range. To elaborate on the potential role of copper(II) in the recently reported interaction between the PrP^C and Dpl, the affinity of the copper(II) complexes towards the prion N terminus domain and the binding site of Dpl was reported.     

Conformational Study of Heteropentapeptides Containing an α‐Ethylated α,α‐Disubstituted Amino Acid: (S)‐Butylethylglycine (=2‐Amino‐2‐ethylhexanoic Acid) within a Sequence of Dimethylglycine (=2‐Aminoisobutyric Acid) Residues

Heteropentapeptides containing the α‐ethylated α,α‐disubstituted amino acid (S)‐butylethylglycine and four dimethylglycine residues, i.e., CF₃CO‐[(S)‐Beg]‐(Aib)₄‐OEt ( 4 ) and CF₃CO‐(Aib)₂‐[(S)‐Beg]‐(Aib)₂‐OEt ( 7 ), were synthesized by conventional solution methods. In the solid state, the preferred conformation of 4 was shown to be both a right‐handed (P) and a left‐handed (M) 3₁₀‐helical structure, and that of 7 was a right‐handed (P) 3₁₀‐helical structure. IR, CD, and ¹H‐NMR spectra revealed that the dominant conformation of both 4 and 7 in solution was the 3₁₀‐helical structure. These conformations were also supported by molecular‐mechanics calculations.     

Evidence that the β‐Peptide 14‐Helix is Stabilized by β3‐Residues with Side‐Chain Branching Adjacent to the β‐Carbon Atom

Oligomers of β‐substituted β‐amino acids (‘β³‐peptides') are known to adopt a helical secondary structure defined by 14‐membered ring hydrogen bonds ('14‐helix'). Here, we describe a deca‐β³‐peptide, 1 , that does not adopt the 14‐helical conformation and that may prefer an alternative secondary structure. β³‐Peptide 1 is composed exclusively of residues with side chains that are not branched adjacent to the β‐C‐atom (β³‐hLeu, β³‐hLys, and β³‐hTyr). In contrast, an analogous β‐peptide, 2 , containing β³‐hVal residues in place of the β³‐hLeu residues of 1 , adopts a 14‐helical conformation in MeOH, according to CD data. These results illustrate the importance of side‐chain branching in determining the conformational preferences of β³‐peptides.     

Allosterically Activated Protein Self‐Assembly for the Construction of Helical Microfilaments with Tunable Helicity

Protein allostery, a chemical‐to‐mechanical effect that can precisely regulate protein structure, exists in many proteins. Herein, we demonstrate that protein allostery can be used to drive self‐assembly for the construction of tunable protein architectures. Calmodulin (CaM) was chosen as a model allosteric protein. Ca²⁺‐mediated contraction of CaM to a closed state can activate CaM and its ligand to self‐assemble into a 1D protein helical microfilament. Conversely, relaxation of CaM to the open state can unwind and further dissociate the helical assemblies. Fine regulation of the protein conformation by tuning the external Ca²⁺ level allows us to obtain various protein helical nanostructures with tunable helicity. This study offers a new approach toward chemomechanically controlled protein self‐assembly.     

Discovery of Cell‐Permeable Inhibitors That Target the BRCT Domain of BRCA1 Protein by Using a Small‐Molecule Microarray

BRCTs are phosphoserine‐binding domains found in proteins involved in DNA repair, DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation. BRCA1 is a BRCT domain‐containing, tumor‐suppressing protein expressed in the cells of breast and other human tissues. Mutations in BRCA1 have been found in ca. 50 % of hereditary breast cancers. Cell‐permeable, small‐molecule BRCA1 inhibitors are promising anticancer agents, but are not available currently. Herein, with the assist of microarray‐based platforms, we have discovered the first cell‐permeable protein–protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors against BRCA1. By targeting the (BRCT)₂ domain, we showed compound 15 a and its prodrug 15 b inhibited BRCA1 activities in tumor cells, sensitized these cells to ionizing radiation‐induced apoptosis, and showed synergistic inhibitory effect when used in combination with Olaparib (a small‐molecule inhibitor of poly‐ADP‐ribose polymerase) and Etoposide (a small‐molecule inhibitor of topoisomerase II). Unlike previously reported peptide‐based PPI inhibitors of BRCA1, our compounds are small‐molecule‐like and could be directly administered to tumor cells, thus making them useful for future studies of BRCA1/PARP‐related pathways in DNA damage and repair response, and in cancer therapy.     

Folding‐Induced Folding: The Assembly of Aromatic Amide and 1,2,3‐Triazole Hybrid Helices

Folding‐induced folding for the construction of artificial hybrid helices from two different kinds of aromatic sequences is described. Linear compounds 1 a , 1 b , and 2 , containing one aromatic amide trimer or pentamer and one or two aromatic 1,2,3‐triazole tetramers, have been designed and synthesized. The trimeric and pentameric amide segments are driven by intramolecluar N?H???F hydrogen bonding to adopt a folded or helical conformation, whereas the triazole segment is intrinsically disordered. In organic solvents of low polarity, the amide foldamer segment induces the attached triazole segment(s) to fold through intramolecular stacking, leading to the formation of hybrid helices. The helical conformation of these hybrid sequences has been confirmed by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) experiments, and theoretical calculations. It was found that the amide pentamer exhibits a stronger ability to induce the folding of the attached triazole segment(s) compared with that of the shorter trimer. Enantiomers (R)‐ 3 and (S)‐ 3 , which contain an R‐ or S‐(1‐naphthyl)ethylamino group at the end of a tetraamide segment, have also been synthesized. CD experiments showed that introduction of a chiral group caused the whole framework to produce a strong helicity bias. Density‐functional‐theory calculations on (S)‐ 3 suggested that this compound exists as a right‐handed (P) helix.     

3,5‐Bis(4‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)‐1‐methyl‐4‐piperidone and 3,5‐bis(4‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)‐1‐methyl‐4‐oxopiperidinium chloride: potential biophotonic materials

In the title compound 3,5‐bis(4‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)‐1‐methyl‐4‐piperidone, C₂₂H₂₃NO₃, (I), the central heterocyclic ring adopts a flattened boat conformation, while in the related salt 3,5‐bis(4‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)‐1‐methyl‐4‐oxopiperidin­ium chloride, C₂₂H₂₄NO₃⁺·Cl⁻, (II), the ring exhibits a `sofa' conformation in which the N atom deviates from the planar fragment. The pendant benzene rings are twisted from the heterocyclic ring planes in both mol­ecules in the same direction, the range of dihedral angles between the ring planes being 24.5 (2)–32.7 (2)°. The dominant packing motif in (I) involves centrosymmetric dimers bound by weak intermolecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In (II), cations and anions are linked by strong N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, while weak C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions into a three‐dimensional framework.     

A photo‐degradable helix: Synthesis,structure, and photolysis of optically active poly[2,7‐bis(4‐t‐butylphenyl)‐9‐methylfluoren‐9‐yl acrylate]

2,7‐Bis(4‐t‐butylphenyl)‐9‐methylfluoren‐9‐yl acrylate ( BBPMFA ) was synthesized and polymerized using α,α′‐azobisisobutyronitrile or n‐Bu₃B‐air as a radical initiator and using the complex of 9‐fluorenyllithium with (S)‐(+)‐1‐(2‐pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyrrolidine as an optically active anionic initiator. Although the radical polymerization led to rather low‐molecular‐weight products at low yields, the anionic polymerization afforded polymers with higher molecular weights in higher yields. The poly( BBPMFA ) obtained by the anionic polymerization was slightly rich in isotacticity (meso diad 57%) and showed an intense circular dichroism (CD) spectrum and large dextrorotation. The intensity of the CD spectrum and magnitude of optical activity increased with an increase in M_n, suggesting that the polymer possesses a preferred‐handed helical conformation. The CD spectrum disappeared within 1 s on irradiation to the polymer in a CHCl₃ solution using a 500‐W Hg‐Xe lamp. This was ascribed to fast photolysis of the ester linkage leading to a loss of helical conformation of the entire chain. Photolysis products of poly( BBPMFA ) were poly(acrylic acid) and 2,7‐bis(4‐t‐butylphenyl)‐9‐methylenefluorene (2,7‐bis(4‐t‐butylphenyl)dibenzofulvene). The photolysis reaction seemed to proceed through the “unzipping” mechanism. The rate constant of photolysis of poly( BBPMFA ) under irradiation at monochromated 325 nm was around 0.01 s^?1 independent of molecular weight. Photolysis at 325 nm was approximately 2400 times faster than that for chemical ester solvolysis under a neutral condition in the dark. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Supramolecular Structures with the 2‐Propyl‐4,5‐dicarboxy‐1H‐imidazole Ligand: Hydrothermal Synthesis,Structures, and Photoluminescence

Self‐assembly of the rigid organic ligand 2‐propyl‐4,5‐dicarboxy‐1H‐imidazole ( L ) with different metal ions (Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺) led to four new complexes, namely, [M( L )(phen)] [M = Zn ( 1 ); Ni ( 2 ); Cd ( 3 )] and [Cu( L )( 4 )] (phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline). Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, and they were further characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Whereas compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 are discrete units, hydrogen‐bonding interactions play a vital role in these complexes. Compounds 1 and 2 form one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) structures through hydrogen‐bondinginteractions with helical character. In 1 , the hydrogen bonds (O–H ··· O) alternately bridge the M^II cations of the discrete units to form a one‐dimensional (1D) infinite helical chain. Complex 2 forms a 2D helical layer through parallel hydrogen bonds (N/O–H ··· O/N) between two adjacent helical chains. In 3 , the hydrogen bonds (N–H ··· O) connect adjacent discrete units into a ten‐membered ring with extension into a one‐dimensional double‐chain supramolecular structure. Complex 4 is a two‐dimensional gridlike (4,4) topological layer which is extended to a 3D network by hydrogen bonding. The solid‐state fluorescence spectrum of complex 3 was determined.     

Cysteine‐Containing Polyisocyanides as Versatile Nanoplatforms for Chromophoric and Bioscaffolding

The straightforward syntheses of polyisocyanides containing the alanine–cysteine motif in their side chains have been achieved. Detailed characterization of the polymers revealed a well‐defined and highly stable helical conformation of the polyimine backbone responsible for the formation of rodlike structures of over one hundred nanometers. The 4₁ helix is further stabilized by β‐sheet‐like interactions between the peptide arms. As a result, the cysteine sulfur atoms are regularly aligned along the polymer axis, which provides a unique platform for the scaffolding of various entities by using versatile click‐chemistry postmodification approaches. For instance, pyrene derivatives were introduced through thio‐specific reactions involving either maleimide, iodoacetamide, or thioester groups, leading to arrays of stacked chromophores with excimer‐like emission. A water‐soluble cysteine‐rich polyisocyanide was successfully biotinylated and coupled to streptavidin.     

Synthesis and Elaboration of All‐cis‐1,2,4,5‐Tetrafluoro‐3‐Phenylcyclohexane: A Polar Cyclohexane Motif

A stereocontrolled synthesis of all‐cis‐1,2,4,5‐ tetrafluoro‐3‐phenylcyclohexane is developed as the first functionalised example of this polar cyclohexane motif. The dipolar nature of the ring, arising due to two 1,3‐diaxial C?F bonds, is revealed in the solid‐state (X‐ray) structure. The orthogonal conformation of the aryl and cyclohexyl rings in all‐cis‐1,2,4,5‐tetrafluoro‐3‐phenylcyclohexane, and in an ortho‐nitro derivative, result in intramolecular ^1hJ_HF and ^2hJ_CF NMR couplings relayed through hydrogen bonding. The aryl group of all‐cis‐1,2,4,5‐tetrafluoro‐3‐phenylcyclohexane is elaborated in different ways to demonstrate the versatility of this compound for delivering the motif to a range of molecular building blocks.     

On the Helical Motif of the Complexes Created by Association of Helix‐Forming Schizophyllan (SPG) and Helix‐Forming Polythiophene Derivatives

π‐Conjugated polymers can finely tune their electrical and optical properties in response to their conformational changes. We believe that a deeper understanding of their higher‐order structures will stimulate further development of their applications. We had revealed that one helix‐forming natural polysaccharide (SPG) and one polythiophene derivative (PT‐1) formed a stable one‐dimensional complex and in the polythiophene main chain a helical conformation was induced through the dynamic conformational changes. The objective of our present research is to obtain a better mechanistic understanding on the interaction between SPG and polythiophenes. Here we have used particular left‐ and right‐handed helix‐forming polythiophene derivatives (D ‐ and L ‐POWTs, respectively) and studied their influence on the helical motif of the complexes. We observed that SPG interacts with both D ‐ and L ‐POWTs through their dynamic conformational changes and both D ‐ and L ‐POWTs form the right‐handed co‐helical complexes with SPG according to the inherent helical motif of SPG. In addition, it was confirmed that 1) the complexes do not coagulate in aqueous solution, and 2) the exchange in the helical motif can occur only when the polymers experience the denature–renature process. We believe, therefore, that the mechanism of the helical induction of the SPG/POWT complexes is very unique, being different from conventional equilibrium reactions.     

Template‐Assembled Synthetic G‐Quadruplex (TASQ): A Useful System for Investigating the Interactions of Ligands with Constrained Quadruplex Topologies

A new biomolecular device for investigating the interactions of ligands with constrained DNA quadruplex topologies, using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), is reported. Biomolecular systems containing an intermolecular‐like G‐quadruplex motif 1 (parallel G‐quadruplex conformation), an intramolecular G‐quadruplex 2 , and a duplex DNA 3 have been designed and developed. The method is based on the concept of template‐assembled synthetic G‐quadruplex (TASQ), whereby quadruplex DNA structures are assembled on a template that allows precise control of the parallel G‐quadruplex conformation. Various known G‐quadruplex ligands have been used to investigate the affinities of ligands for intermolecular 1 and intramolecular 2 DNA quadruplexes. As anticipated, ligands displaying a π‐stacking binding mode showed a higher binding affinity for intermolecular‐like G‐quadruplexes 1 , whereas ligands with other binding modes (groove and/or loop binding) showed no significant difference in their binding affinities for the two quadruplexes 1 or 2 . In addition, the present method has also provided information about the selectivity of ligands for G‐quadruplex DNA over the duplex DNA. A numerical parameter, termed the G‐quadruplex binding mode index (G4‐BMI), has been introduced to express the difference in the affinities of ligands for intermolecular G‐quadruplex 1 against intramolecular G‐quadruplex 2 . The G‐quadruplex binding mode index (G4‐BMI) of a ligand is defined as follows: G4‐BMI=K_D^intra/K_D^inter, where K_D^intra is the dissociation constant for intramolecular G‐quadruplex 2 and K_D^inter is the dissociation constant for intermolecular G‐quadruplex 1 . In summary, the present work has demonstrated that the use of parallel‐constrained quadruplex topology provides more precise information about the binding modes of ligands.     

Conformation of Peptides Containing a Chiral α‐Ethylated α,α‐Disubstituted α‐Amino Acid: (S)‐α‐Ethylleucine (=(2S)‐2‐Amino‐2‐ethyl‐4‐methylpentanoic Acid) within Sequences of Dimethylglycine and Diethylglycine Residues

An optically active (S)‐α‐ethylleucine ((S)‐αEtLeu) as a chiral α‐ethylated α,α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid was synthesized by means of a chiral acetal auxiliary of (R,R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diol. The chiral α‐ethylated α,α‐disubstituted amino acid (S)‐αEtLeu was introduced into the peptides constructed from 2‐aminoisobutyric acid (=dimethylglycine, Aib), and also into the peptide prepared from diethylglycine (Deg). The X‐ray crystallographic analysis revealed that both right‐handed (P) and left‐handed (M) 3₁₀‐helical structures exist in the solid state of CF₃CO‐(Aib)₂‐[(S)‐αEtLeu]‐(Aib)₂‐OEt ( 14 ) and CF₃CO‐[(S)‐αEtLeu]‐(Deg)₄‐OEt ( 18 ), respectively. The IR, CD, and ¹H‐NMR spectra indicated that the dominant conformation of pentapeptides 14 and CF₃CO‐[(S)‐αEtLeu]‐(Aib)₄‐OEt ( 16 ) in solution is a 3₁₀‐helical structure, and that of 18 in solution is a planar C₅ conformation. The conformation of peptides was also studied by molecular‐mechanics calculations.     

3‐Fluoro‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (3F‐NMDA) Stereoisomers as Conformational Probes for Exploring Agonist Binding at NMDA Receptors

N‐Methyl‐D ‐aspartate (NMDA) is the prototypical agonist of the NMDA receptor subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors. Stereogenic placement of a C? F bond at the 3‐position of (S)‐NMDA generates either the (2S,3S)‐ or (2S,3R)‐ diastereoisomers of 3F‐NMDA. The individual diastereoisomers were prepared by synthesis in enantiomerically pure forms and it was found that (2S,3S)‐3F‐NMDA is an agonist with a comparable potency to NMDA itself, whereas the (2S,3R)‐diastereoisomer has negligible potency. The difference in potency of these stereoisomers is attributed to a preference of the C? F bond (2S,3S)‐3F‐NMDA to adopt a gauche conformation to the C? N⁺ bond in the binding conformation, whereas the (2S,3R)‐3F‐NMDA forces these bonds anti, losing electrostatic stabilisation, to achieve the required binding conformation. These observations illustrate the utility of stereoselective fluorination in influencing the molecular conformation of β‐fluorinated amino acids and thus probing the active conformations of bioactive compounds at receptors.     

N‐(tert‐Butoxycarbonyl)‐α‐aminoisobutyryl‐α‐aminoisobutyric acid methyl ester: two polymorphic forms in the space group P21/n

The title compound (systematic name: methyl 2‐{2‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐2‐methylpropanamido}‐2‐methylpropanoate), C₁₄H₂₆N₂O₅, (I), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n in two polymorphic forms, each with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The molecular conformation is essentially the same in both polymorphs, with the α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues adopting ϕ and ψ values characteristic of α‐helical and mixed 3₁₀‐ and α‐helical conformations. The helical handedness of the C‐terminal residue (Aib2) is opposite to that of the N‐terminal residue (Aib1). In contrast to (I), the closely related peptide Boc‐Aib‐Aib‐OBn (Boc is tert‐butoxycarbonyl and Bn is benzyl) adopts an α_L‐P_II backbone conformation (or the mirror image conformation). Compound (I) forms hydrogen‐bonded parallel β‐sheet‐like tapes, with the carbonyl groups of Aib1 and Aib2 acting as hydrogen‐bond acceptors. This seems to represent an unusual packing for a protected dipeptide containing at least one α,α‐disubstituted residue.     

Optically Active Helical Poly[(S)‐3‐vinyl‐2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl]: New Ligand for Asymmetric Addition of Diethylzinc to Aryl Aldehyde

Poly[(S)‐3‐vinyl‐2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl] (L*) was obtained by taking off the protecting groups of poly[(S)‐3‐vinyl‐2,2′‐bis(methoxymethoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl] (poly‐ 1 ). L* was proved to keep a stable helical conformation in solution. The application of helical L* in the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes has been studied. The catalytic system employing 10 mol% of L* and 150 mol% of Ti(OⁱPr)₄ was found to promote the addition of diethylzinc to a wide range of aromatic aldehydes, giving up to 99% enantiomeric excess (ee) and up to 93% yield of the corresponding secondary alcohol at 0°C. The chiral polymer can be easily recovered and reused without loss of catalytic activity as well as enantioselectivity.     

Supramolecular architectures in the salt trimethoprimium ferrocene‐1‐carboxylate and the cocrystal 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–ferrocene‐1‐carboxylic acid (1/1)

In the salt trimethoprimium ferrocenecarboxylate [systematic name: 2,4‐diamino‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidin‐1‐ium ferrocene‐1‐carboxylate], (C₁₄H₁₉N₄O₃)[Fe(C₅H₅)(C₆H₄O₂)], (I), of the antibacterial compound trimethoprim, the carboxylate group interacts with the protonated aminopyrimidine group of trimethoprim via two N—H…O hydrogen bonds, generating a robust R ₂²(8) ring motif (heterosynthon). However, in the cocrystal 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–ferrocene‐1‐carboxylic acid (1/1), [Fe(C₅H₅)(C₆H₅O₂)]·C₆H₈ClN₃, (II), the carboxyl–aminopyrimidine interaction [R ₂²(8) motif] is absent. The carboxyl group interacts with the pyrimidine ring via a single O—H…N hydrogen bond. The pyrimidine rings, however, form base pairs via a pair of N—H…N hydrogen bonds, generating an R ₂²(8) supramolecular homosynthon. In salt (I), the unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring is disordered over two positions, with a refined site‐occupation ratio of 0.573 (10):0.427 (10). In this study, the two five‐membered cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings of ferrocene are in a staggered conformation, as is evident from the C…Cg …Cg …C pseudo‐torsion angles, which are in the range 36.13–37.53° for (I) and 22.58–23.46° for (II). Regarding the Cp ring of the minor component in salt (I), the geometry of the ferrocene ring is in an eclipsed conformation, as is evident from the C…Cg …Cg …C pseudo‐torsion angles, which are in the range 79.26–80.94°. Both crystal structures are further stabilized by weak π–π interactions.