Structural determination of cerebrosides isolated from Asterias amurensis starfish eggs using high-energy collision-induced dissociation of sodium-adducted molecules

Six cerebrosides were isolated from the eggs of the starfish Asterias amurensis using solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. This study demonstrated that the structures of cerebrosides could be completely characterized, based on their sodium‐adducted molecules, using fast atom bombardment (FAB) tandem mass spectrometry. The high‐energy collision‐induced dissociation of the sodium‐adducted molecule, [M + Na]⁺, of each cerebroside molecular species generated abundant ions, providing information on the compositions of the 2‐hydroxy fatty acids and long‐chain sphingoid bases, as well as the sugar moiety polar head group. Each homologous ion series along the fatty acid and aliphatic chain of the sphingoid base was useful for locating the double‐bond positions of both chains and the methyl branching position of the long‐chain base. The N‐fatty acyl portions were primarily long‐chain saturated or monoenoic acids (C16 to C24) with an α‐hydroxy group. The sphingoid long‐chain base portions were aliphatic chains (C18 or C22) with two or three degrees of unsaturation and with or without methyl branching. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA) study identifies an HLA-A2 binding supermotif

The 3D-QSAR CoMSIA technique was applied to a set of 458 peptides binding to the five most widespread HLA-A2-like alleles: A^*0201, A^*0202, A^*0203, A^*0206 and A^*6802. Models comprising the main physicochemical properties (steric bulk, electron density, hydrophobicity and hydrogen-bond formation abilities) were obtained with acceptable predictivity (q ² ranged from 0.385 to 0.683). The use of coefficient contour maps allowed an A2-supermotif to be identified based on common favoured and disfavoured areas. The CoMSIA definition for the best HLA-A2 binder is as follows: hydrophobic aromatic amino acid at position 1; hydrophobic bulky side chains at positions 2, 6 and 9; non-hydrogen-bond-forming amino acids at position 3; small aliphatic hydrogen-bond donors at position 4; aliphatic amino acids at position 5; small aliphatic side chains at position 7; and small aliphatic hydrophilic and hydrogen-bond forming amino acids at position 8.     

Heteroditopic receptor based on crown ether and cyclen units for the recognition of zwitterionic amino acids

The molecular recognition of five targeted amino acids differing in the nature of the side (R)- group and in the size of the aliphatic chain, glycine (Hgly), phenylalanine (Hphe), glutamic acid (Hglu^?), 4-aminobutyric acid (Hgaba), and 6-aminohexanoic acid (Heahx), has been studied with a new heteroditopic receptor based in two distinct macrocycles, a cyclen and a crown ether moiety. The bismacrocycle L was synthesized via the bis-aminal route allowing to obtain the designed compound in gram scale and in good yield. Protonation constants of L and its binding constants with amino acids were determined by potentiometry in H₂O/MeOH (1:1 v/v) solutions at 298.2 K and I=0.10 mol dm^?3 in NMe₄NO₃. Stronger binding ability of the H_nLⁿ⁺ receptor for α-amino acids, Hgly and Hphen, than for the other studied substrates were found. Structural data derived from NMR studies showed that the binding of α-amino acids result from the cooperative participation of hydrogen bonds between the carboxylate group of amino acids and the polyammonium sites of cyclen, and the ion-dipole interactions between the ammonium group of the amino acids and the oxygen atoms of the crown ether.     

Designing nickel phthalocyanine periphery by alkyl chain via [1,3,4]-oxadiazole

Nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc, 1) periphery has been decorated by alkyl chains of varying chain length via [1,3,4]-oxadiazole moiety (NiPcs 3a–3f). All the newly synthesized compounds NiPcs 3a–3d have been completely characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, solid-state UV-Vis, and solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, in addition to X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. The effect of chain length in the NiPc periphery on electronic absorption and DC electrical conductivity has been investigated.     

Liquid crystalline homopolyesters having main chain calamitic mesogens and one or two side chain azobenzene moieties in the repeat units

Combined semi-rigid homopolyesters, containing both main chain calamitic mesogens and one or two side chain azobenzene units separated by aliphatic (hexamethylene, octamethylene and decamethylene) chains in the polymer repeat units, were prepared and their liquid crystalline properties characterized. Polyesters having two side chain azobenzene units and a main chain biphenyl moiety showed a higher ordered smectic B or smectic F phase, whereas the other polymers containing a main chain 2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole unit and one or two side chain methoxyazobenzene units formed a smectic C phase despite the presence of different mesogens in the main and side chains. This is probably due to the compact molecular chain-packing and intra- and intermolecular interactions between the polymer backbones and the two azobenzene units.     

Orthogonally Self‐Assembled Multifunctional Block Copolymers

We report the synthesis of telechelic poly(norbornene) and poly(cyclooctene) homopolymers by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and their subsequent functionalization and block copolymer formation based on noncovalent interactions. Whereas all the poly(norbornene)s contain either a metal complex or a hydrogen‐bonding moiety along the polymer side‐chains, together with a single hydrogen‐bonding‐based molecular recognition moiety at one terminal end of the polymer chain. These homopolymers allow for the formation of side‐chain‐functionalized AB and ABA block copolymers through self‐assembly. The orthogonal natures of all side‐ and main‐chain self‐assembly events were demonstrated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. The resulting fully functionalized block copolymers are the first copolymers combining both side‐ and main‐chain self‐assembly, thereby providing a high degree of control over copolymer functionalization and architecture and bringing synthetic materials one step closer to the dynamic self‐assembly structures found in nature.     

Synthesis and radical ring‐opening polymerization of vinylcyclopropanes derived from amino acids with hydrophobic moieties

Six 1,1‐disubstituted vinylcyclopropanes (VCP) were synthesized from glycine and amino acids bearing hydrophobic moieties, l ‐alanine, l ‐valine, l ‐leucine, l ‐isoleucine, and l ‐phenylalanine. These VCP derivatives efficiently underwent radical ring‐opening polymerization to afford the corresponding polymers bearing trans‐vinylene moiety in the main chains and the amino acid‐derived chiral moieties in the side chains. The polymers were film‐formable, and in the films of polymers bearing the glycine‐ and alanine‐derived side chains, presence of hydrogen bonding was confirmed by IR analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers revealed that the temperatures of 5% weight loss were higher than 300 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry clarified that the polymers were amorphous ones showing glass transition temperatures in a range of 48–80 °C. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3996–4002     

Preparation and thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of semirigid copolyurethanes composed of biphenyl units and partially fluorinated aliphatic chains

New semirigid thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) copolyurethanes 4 and 5 made up of biphenyl units and partially fluorinated aliphatic chains in the backbones were synthesized by melt polycondensation of a mixture of a dioxydihexanol of biphenyl 1 and two fluorine-containing diols 2a , b taken in definite feed mole ratios with alkylene diphenyl dicarbamates 3a–i having various lengths of aliphatic chains. The assigned structures of copolyurethanes 4 and 5 were identified by FTIR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra, and elemental analyses. The thermal and mesogenic properties were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal mechanical analyses (TMA), polarizing microscopy, and temperature-changeable X-ray analyses, whose measurements indicated that the copolymers 4 and 5 form thermotropic nematic phases and have glass transition steps around room temperature. It is suggested that the incorporation of partially fluorinated aliphatic chains into the backbones has no drastic effect on the LC formation in the semirigid copolyurethanes 4 and 5 . © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1243–1249, 1998     

The preparation of N-carboxyanhydrides of α-amino acids using bis(trichloromethyl)carbonate

A synthesis of the N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA's) of several α-amino acids using bis(trichloromethyl) carbonate, 1, is reported. The triphosgene is used to supply phosgene in situ in stoichiometric amounts; it is particularly effective for preparing NCA's of amino acids with long, aliphatic side chains.     

Properties and Structures of Terephthalyl Chloride (TPC) Modified meta‐Aramid Copolymers

The properties and structures of terephthalyl chloride (TPC) modified poly(m‐phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) with TPC mole content in acylchloride from 5%–15% were studied in this paper. The composition and structure of the copolymer were determined by ¹H NMR. The content of TPC moiety in the molecular chain was calculated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to analysis the thermal properties of TPC modified PMIA copolymer. The results show that by introducing TPC units in the PMIA molecular chain, PMIA copolymers with better thermal properties were prepared. With the increase of TPC content, the TPC modified PMIA exhibit increasing thermal stability. The pyrolysis process of the copolymer was detected by FTIR spectra. When the copolymers were pyrolyzed to 500°C, an aryl nitrile band at 2230 cm^?1 appears in the FTIR spectrum. This means that at this temperature breakage of the amide bond occurred.     

Synthesis and Properties of Poly(4,8-dialkoxy-1,5-naphthalenevinylene)s

Novel conjugated materials, poly(4,8-dialkoxy-1,5-naphthalenevinylene)s (OC_n-PNV, n = 4, 6, 8, and 12), have been prepared by a method similar to the Gilch procedure. The structure, optical and thermal properties of these polymers with various alkoxy side chain lengths have been evaluated by IR, UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence emission and thermogravimetric analysis. The band gap of OC_n-PNV increases with increasing side chain length. Moreover, wavelengths of the photoluminescence (PL) emission peaks (λ_max) of OC_n-PNV solutions decrease with increasing alkoxy side chain length. This is probably due to the entanglement of long side chains that causes distortion of the conjugated main chains and thereby raises band gap of the polymer. PL λ_max's of these polymers in film state are red-shifted by 14–59 nm than those in solution state. The red-shift is due to the more chain aggregations after spin coating from solution into film state and consequently the lower band gap in the film state. Besides, the polymer with shorter side chains is more thermally stable than that with longer side chains.     

Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling of Bromotryptophan Derivatives at Ambient Temperature

Mild reaction conditions are highly desirable for bio-orthogonal side chain derivatizations of amino acids, peptides or proteins due to the sensitivity of these substrates. Transition metal catalysed cross-couplings such as Suzuki–Miyaura reactions are highly versatile, but usually require unfavourable reaction conditions, in particular, when applied with aryl bromides. Ligand-free solvent-stabilised Pd-nanoparticles represent an efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional phosphine-based catalysts, because the cross-coupling can be performed at considerably lower temperature. We report on the application of such a highly reactive heterogeneous catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of brominated tryptophan derivatives. The solvent-stabilised Pd-nanoparticles are even more efficient than the literature-known ADHP-Pd precatalyst. Interestingly, the latter also leads to the formation of quasi-homogeneous Pd-nanoparticles as the catalytic species. One advantage of our approach is the compatibility with aqueous and aerobic conditions at near-ambient temperatures and short reaction times of only 2 h. The influence of different N^α-protecting groups, boronic acids as well as the impact of different amino acid side chains in bromotryptophan-containing peptides has been studied. Notably, a surprising acceleration of the catalysis was observed when palladium-coordinating side chains were present in proximal positions.     

Preparation and properties of waterborne epoxy resin modified by poly(meth)acrylates containing long fluorinated side chains

Abstract

Two waterborne poly(meth)acrylates containing fluorinated side chains (PALF and PASF) were synthesized by conventional radical copolymerization. Then waterborne epoxy composites with hydrophobic surface were obtained through a phase-inversion emulsion technique, using the PALF and PASF acrylates as reactive surface additives. Contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope were employed to characterize the surface properties and the results confirmed that the fluorine atoms in the longer fluorinated side chains migrated to the outmost layer more efficiently. The effect of the fluorinated content and the length of the fluorine side chain on thermal and bulk properties of the waterborne epoxy resin was investigated. With increasing the fluorinated content or the length of the fluorine side chain, the contact angles and thermal properties improved while the mechanical properties showed no deterioration.     

Synthesis,characterisation, and biological activity of three new amide prodrugs of lamotrigine with reduced hepatotoxicity

Lamotrigine (LTG) is an antiepileptic drug used for the prevention of convulsions. Except several known side effects, hepatic dysfunction is also reported. Hepatotoxic side effects occur due to the dichlorophenyl moiety which develops an abnormally low level of glutathione. Depletion of glutathione causes oxidative stress and hepatic cell damage. The goal of the present study was to test the action and side effects of the three compounds synthesised and compared to LTG. Three amide prodrugs of LTG were synthesised by its reaction with N-acetylamino acids, viz, glycine, glutamic acid, and methionine. Purified synthesised prodrugs were subjected to thin layer chromatography, melting point, solubility and partition coefficients determination and characterised by UV, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The synthesised prodrugs were subjected to in vitro hydrolysis and to anticonvulsant and hepatotoxic activity studies. Significant reduction in hepatotoxicity and comparable anticonvulsant activities were obtained in all synthesised prodrugs as compared to LTG.     

Photolysis of poly(amino acid)s at 77K: An ESR study

The mechanism of the ultraviolet (λ > 250 nm) degradation of poly(amino acid)s has been studied by ESR spectroscopy at 77 K. In the aliphatic poly(amino acid)s of glycine, alanine and valine, absorption of energy occurs predominantly in the peptide group, and the initial degradation reaction is scission of the CONH bond. The imino radical, ·NHCHR, abstracts the main chain H from the CHR group, or the tertiary H from valine, to give secondary carbon radicals. The acyl radical, CHRCO·, readily loses CO to form a chain-end radical, CHR·. The aromatic poly(amino acid)s of phenylalanine and tyrosine absorb energy mainly in the phenyl chromophore and bond scission occurs in the side chain. The mechanism of photolysis of the poly(amino acid)s differs from that of the N-acetyl amino acids (except for tyrosine) due to the presence of the labile carboxyl group.     

Semi-rigid thermotropic liquid-crystalline copolycarbonates comprising main-chain hexafluoropentane segments

Novel semi-rigid fluorocarbon-containing coplycarbonates composed of biphenyl moiety and rigid rod-like hexafluoropentane chain were prepared by melt polycondensation of 6,6′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diyldioxy)dihexanol ( 1 ) and 2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoro-1,5-pentanediol ( 2 ) with alkylene diphenyl dicarbonates 3 of various aliphatic lengths (m = 6, 8, 10 and 12). The structures of the copolymers 4 were confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra and elemental analyses. The thermal and liquid-crystalline (LC) properties were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing microscopy and temperature-changeable X-ray analyses. These measurements indicated that the copolymers show well-defined thermotropic nematic textures and have block-like sequences. It is suggested that the introduction of the hexafluoropentane chain into the main chain gives more stable LC phases.     

Chiral discrimination of β‐3‐homo‐amino acids using the kinetic method

Chiral discrimination of seven enantiomeric pairs of β‐3‐homo‐amino acids was studied by using the kinetic method and trimeric metal‐bound complexes, with natural and unnatural α‐amino acids as chiral reference compounds and divalent metal ions (Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺) as the center ions. The β‐3‐homo‐amino acids were selected for this study because, first of all, chiral discrimination of β‐amino acids has not been extensively studied by mass spectrometry. Moreover, these β‐3‐homo‐amino acids studied have different aromatic side chains. Thus, the emphasis was to study the effect of the side chain (electron density of the phenyl ring, as well as the difference between phenyl and benzyl side chains) for the chiral discrimination. The results showed that by the proper choice of a metal ion and a chiral reference compound, all seven enantiomeric pairs of β‐3‐homo‐amino acids could be differentiated. Moreover, it was noted that the β‐3‐homo‐amino acids with benzyl side chains provided higher enantioselectivity than the corresponding phenyl ones. However, increasing or decreasing the electron density of the aromatic ring by different substituents in both the phenyl and benzyl side chains had practically no role for chiral discrimination of β‐3‐homo‐amino acids studied. When copper was used as the central metal, the phenyl side chain containing reference molecules (S)‐2‐amino‐2‐phenylacetic acid (L ‐Phg) and (S)‐2‐amino‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐acetic acid (L ‐4′‐OHPhg) gave rise to an additional copper‐reduced dimeric fragment ion, [Cu^I(ref)(A)]⁺. The inclusion of this ion improved noticeably the enantioselectivity values obtained. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polyamides having long methylene chain units

Three series of polyamides having long methylene chain units have been prepared from p-xylylenebisethylamine and 2,2′-pphenylenebisethylamine with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids of long methylene chain units; aliphatic diamines of long methylene chain units with terephthalic, p-benzenediacetic, and p-benzenedipropionic acids; and aliphatic diamines with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, both having long methylene chain units. The effects of the length of the methylene chain units on the melting point, the glass transition temperatures and the densities of these polyamides were investigated. The aromatic polyamides, in which even methylene chains are joined between a phenylene and an amide group generally have higher melting points than the corresponding ones with odd methylene chains. On the plots of the melting points and the densities of the aliphatic series against the amide concentrations, both the melting point and the density extrapolated to the zero amide concentration are found below the values for polymethylene.     

Polarized Raman spectra and intensities of aliphatic amino acids

Raman spectra of aliphatic α-l-amino acids, glycine, alanine, and valine were re-investigated both in aqueous solution and deuterium oxide solution. The spectra were taken of the zwitterionic and of the completely deprotonated form of the amino acids. Spectra of leucine and isoleucine were studied in water at the isoelectric point. Spectra were recorded both with parallel and perpendicular polarization and the isotropic and anisotropic scattering components were isolated.The integrated intensities of CH stretch, CC stretch and carboxylate bend vibrations are discussed. Linear relations between the number of CC and CH bonds and the total scattered intensity in the appropriate spectral regions are observed. The sum over the carboxylate modes shows characteristic intensities for the first three members of the aliphatic amino acids.An increase of isotropic scattering of ϱ_co2 near 510 cm⁻¹ with increasing chain length of the amino acid (or with increasing concentration) is interpreted as the result of micelle formation.     

Unprecedented Biodegradable Cellulose-Derived Polyesters with Pendant Citronellol Moieties: From Monomer Synthesis to Enzymatic Degradation

Levoglucosenone (LGO) is a cellulose-derived molecule that is present commercially on a multi-ton/year scale. Taking advantage of the α,β-conjugated ketone of LGO, a new citronellol-containing 5-membered lactone (HBO-citro) was synthesized through a one-pot two-step pathway involving oxa-Michael addition and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. The solvent-free treatment of HBO-citro with NaBH₄ at room temperature led to the full reduction of the lactone moiety which gave a novel fully renewable triol monomer having a citronellol side chain (Triol-citro). Noticeably, by simply changing the reducing agent, temperature and reaction duration, the partial reduction of HBO-citro can be achieved to yield a mixture of 5- and 6-membered Lactol-citro molecules. Triol-citro was chosen to prepare functional renewable polyesters having citronellol pendant chains via polycondensation reactions with diacyl chlorides having different chain lengths. Good thermal stability (T_d5% up to 170 °C) and low glass transition temperatures (as low as −42 °C) were registered for the polyesters obtained. The polymers were then hydrolyzed using a commercial lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lipopan^® 50 BG) to assess their biodegradability. A higher degradation profile was found for the polyesters prepared using co-monomers (acyl chlorides) having longer chain lengths. This is likely due to the decreased steric hindrance around the ester bonds which allowed enhanced accessibility of the enzyme.