Synthesis and biological investigation of the β-thiolactone and β-lactam analogs of tetrahydrolipstatin

The synthesis of β-thiolactone and β-lactam analogs of tetrahydrolipstatin is described from a common late-stage β-lactone derivative. These analogs, and a cis-disubstituted β-lactone analog of tetrahydrolipstatin, were screened for activity against porcine pancreatic lipase and for inhibition of cell growth of a panel of four human cancer lines.     

Comparison of the reactivity of β-thiolactones and β-lactones toward ring-opening by thiols and amines

An investigation into the comparative reactivity of simple β-lactones and β-thiolactones toward a thiol and a primary amine is reported. A simple 3-mercaptomethyl-2-oxetanone is found to undergo rearrangement in the presence of aqueous base to give the corresponding thietane-3-carboxylic acid rather than the 3-hydroxymethyl-2-thietanone. Implications for the use of β-thiolactones in bioorganic and medicinal chemistry are discussed.     

A comparative study of the structure and properties of β-galactosidases

A comparative study of β-galactosidase amino acid sequences of E. coli and another four out of 11 microorganisms selected at the first stage was performed. It was shown that the functional amino acid residues in the catalytic domain and the ligand environment of the magnesium cation for all five sequences are identical. The mechanism of the catalytic action of E. coli and K. lactis β-galactosidases was investigated by the method of nucleophilic competition. It was shown that the mechanism of the effects of nucleophilic agents is kinetically identical both enzymes: the presence of methanol or butanediols affects the stage of degalactosylation; the presence of magnesium cations promotes the activity of both β-galactosidases; and the mechanisms of the thermal inactivation of E. coli and K. lactis β-galactosidases are different.     

Pharmacology and structures of the free base of the anaesthetic kazcaine and its complex with β-cyclodextrin

The base form of the local anaesthetic kazcaine (BFK, [1-(2-ethoxyethyl)-4-ethynyl-4-benzoyloxypiperidine, C₁₈H₂₃NO₃]) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) co-crystallized as BFK:β-CD inclusion complex in 1:2 M ratio from a mixture of water and ethanol while the filtered mother liquor yielded crystals of free BFK. X-ray diffraction showed that the crystals of BFK and its inclusion complex with β-CD belong to monoclinic (P2₁/c) and triclinic (P1) space groups, respectively. The crystals of free BFK are stabilized by pairs of C–H?O, C–H?π and ≡C–H?O type interactions and van der Waals contacts. In the 1:2 BFK:β-CD complex the two β-CD molecules are in hydrogen-bonding contact with their primary hydroxyl groups, the 1-(2-ethoxyethyl)-4-ethynyl-piperidine moiety being located in one and the benzoyloxy group of BFK in the other β-CD. This crystal structure is of the channel-type, the β-CD molecules of the 1:2 BFK:β-CD complex interacting with their secondary hydroxyl groups. The pharmacological activities of the 1:2 BFK/β-CD inclusion complex have been determined in mice, rats, porpoises and rabbits and compare favourably with those of kazcaine, procaine, dicaine, lidocaine and trimecaine. The methods used include terminal (superficial), infiltration, conduction anaesthesia, and acute toxicity.     

Screening and Identification of a Fungal β-Glucosidase and the Enzymatic Synthesis of Gentiooligosaccharide

After screening with 0.1% esculoside and 0.03% FeCl₃, we identified from rotten wood a fungal isolate HML0366 that produces high amount of β-glucosidase. Phenotypic and rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequence analyses indicated that the isolate belongs to Aspergillus oryzae. The β-glucosidase produced by HML0366 had an activity of 128 U/g. high performance liquid chromatography analysis also demonstrated a high transglycosylation activity of the crude enzyme. The β-glucosidase was stable between pH 4–10 at 60 °C. A gentiobiose yield of 30.86 g/L was achieved within 72 h of the enzymatic reaction at pH 5 and 55 °C using 50% glucose as the substrate. For the first time, we report here the isolation of an A. oryzae strain producing β-glucosidase with high hydrolytic activities. The crude enzyme has a high transglycosylation activity, which enables the enzymatic synthesis of gentiooligosaccharides.     

Nucleophilic ring-opening of epoxide and aziridine acetates for the stereodivergent synthesis of β-hydroxy and β-amino γ-lactams

A highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of novel β,γ-disubstituted γ-lactams with either an anti or syn relative configuration was developed from readily available epoxide and aziridine acetates. The key steps include the regio- and diastereocontrolled nucleophilic ring-opening of these three-membered heterocycles followed by mild reductive cyclization of the γ-azido ester intermediate. The method was also extended to an asymmetric synthesis of (4R,5S)-4-hydroxy-5-phenylpyrrolidin-2-one from a chiral epoxide acetate. The main features of this versatile synthesis of functionalized γ-lactams include the involvement of inexpensive reagents and mild conditions together with high chemical efficiency.     

Effect of magnesium cations on the activity and stability of β-galactosidases

It was shown that the presence of magnesium cations in the reaction mixture increases, approximately twofold, the activity of bacterial Escherichia coli and yeast Kluyveromyces lactis β-galactosidases but does not affect the activity of bovine liver and fungous Penicillium canescens β-galactosidases. The catalytic constants for E. coli and yeast K. lactis β-galactosidases in the presence of 0.01 M and in the absence of Mg²⁺ cations were determined (490 and 220 s^?1 and 59.8 and 37.4 s^?1, respectively). It was shown that the Michaelis constants for these two enzymes are higher in the presence of Mg²⁺ cations, that the thermal stability of E. coli and K. Lactis β-galactosidases is higher in the presence of 0.01 M Mg²⁺, and that the effective rate constants of thermal inactivation of the enzymes are two-to eightfold lower, depending on conditions, in the presence of Mg²⁺ cations. The maximum stabilizing effect of magnesium cations was observed at weak alkaline pH values (7.5–8.5).     

Kinetics and Thermodynamics of the Absorption of Hydrogen in β-titanium Alloys

A thermogravimetric method was applied to study the hydrogen uptake in the near-β-titanium alloy Ti 10 2 3 and the metastable β-titanium alloy Ti 21S. The tests were performed in H₂-He gas mixtures with various partial pressures of H₂ at temperatures between 600 and 800°C. Basic findings such as the decreasing solubility of H₂ with increasing temperature could be verified, and first information on the effects of surface conditions was gained. Thus, it could be shown that, despite the low atomic mass of hydrogen, thermogravimetry is an appropriate tool for investigation of the H₂/metal interactions of titanium alloys. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Electronic and geometric structure of the protonated forms of nickel β-diketonates

The effect of protonation on the electronic and spatial structure of nickel malonodialdehynate Ni(Mal)₂ and acetylacetonate Ni(Acac)₂ were studied by quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) method. The metal ring geometry, the energies and the composition of molecular orbitals (MO), the effective charges on atoms, and the total overlap populations were determined, and the possible proton location sites were identified. The variation of the MO energy depending on the electron density distribution on the protonated and non-protonated ligands was considered. Proton addition to one of the oxygen atoms was shown to be most likely.     

Enzymatic Syntheses of N-Acetyllactosamine and N-Acetylallolactosamine by the Use of β-D-Galactosidases

Abstract

A β-D-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans induced β-D-galactopyranosyl transfer from lactose predominantly to a secondary (OH-4) rather than the primary hydroxyl group (OH-6) of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose. 4-O-β-D-Galacto-pyranosyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (N-acetyl-lactosamine) was thus readily synthesized on a gram scale and conveniently isolated by chromatography on a column of charcoal-Celite. On the other hand, the glycosyl transfer to the 6-position predominantly was efficiently induced to give 6-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (N-acetyl-allolactosamine) by consecutive use of β-D-galactosidases from Kluyveromyces lactis and B. circulans. These enzyme reactions were efficient enough to allow the one-pot preparation of the desired disaccharides.     

Spectrofluorimetric study and determination of desipramine in the presence of β-cyclodextrin

The native fluorescence intensity of desipramine was enhanced in the presence of β-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution. The inclusion complex formation between these compounds was studied by spectrofluorimetry. A stable complex with a 2: 1 stoichiometry of β-cyclodextrin to desipramine was formed (logβ₂ = 9.29 ± 0.01). In the presence of an optimum concentration of β-cyclodextrin, the fluorescence intensity was linearly proportional to desipramine concentration in the range of 0.1–100 μg/mL (7.2 × 10^?7?1.0 × 10^?4 M) with a limit of detection of 7 × 10^?8 M. The method was successfully applied to the detection of desipramine in its tablets.     

Catalytic activity of the VIII Group metals in the hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes

The kinetic regularities of the liquid-phase hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes over the Pd/C, Ru/C, Rh/C, Pt/C, and Ir/C catalysts were studied at temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 °C and at hydrogen pressures of 1–11 bar using n-octane as the solvent. The hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes occur simultaneously on the Ru/C, Rh/C, Pt/C, and Ir/C catalysts, and the reaction mixture contains the products of double bond hydrogenation, viz., cis- and trans-pinanes. The Ru, Rh, and Pd metals have a higher catalytic activity in β-pinene isomerization than Ir and Pt. Among the VIII Group metals studied, the Pd-based catalyst has the highest catalytic activity in double bond isomerization of α- and β-pinenes. The general scheme of the mechanism of hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes on the Pd/C catalyst was proposed.     

Spectral Differences of the Molecule-ion Adducts of β-Cyclodextrin and Lithium Carbonate

A small shielding effect on the hydrogen atoms of chiral carbons of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was detected by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, but a large environmental change of the chiral carbon atoms at high concentration ratios of lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) to β-CD was observed by polarimetry in aqueous solution. These findings urged us to investigate whether different formation conditions of the molecule-ion system between Li₂CO₃ and β-CD in solid state were involved in different spectral performances. To answer the question, we prepared three adducts of Li₂CO₃ to β-CD, i.e., samples 1, 2, and 3, by magnetic stirring, solvothermal and grinding conditions, respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy provided the information of formation of the three molecule-ion adducts. Besides, scanning electron microscope images provided different surface information of the three adducts. Further, significant spectral differences in thermal behavior of these adducts were found by thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Decomposition of the β-Chlorovinyl and β-Iodovinyl Complexes of Platinum(IV) in Aqueous Iodide Solutions

It was found that the -iodovinyl and -chlorovinyl complexes of platinum(IV) undergo decomposition in acidic aqueous solutions in the presence of NaI (2.5 M) with the simultaneous formation of acetylene and a corresponding vinyl halide RX (X = Cl, I). The kinetics and the composition of products are consistent with a mechanism that includes an equilibrium step of the reduction of the -halovinyl complexes of Pt(IV) by iodide ions to form corresponding Pt(II) derivatives; the degradation of the above organoplatinum compounds by halogen -elimination to form acetylene; and a step of the protodemetallation of the -vinyl derivatives of Pt(II), which leads to RX. The rate constants of individual steps and the equilibrium constant were estimated.     

Fluoroalkanosulfonyl fluorides-mediated cyclodehydration of β-hydroxy sulfonamides and β-hydroxy thioamides to the corresponding aziridines and thiazolines

An efficient method for the fluoroalkanosulfonyl fluoride-induced cyclodehydration of β-hydroxy sulfonamides and β-hydroxy thioamides to the corresponding aziridines and thiazolines is reported. Mild reaction conditions, operational simplicity, and high yields are the major advantages of this method.     

NMR Spectral Assignment of Per-substituted Key-Intermediates of β-Cyclodextrin and Implications in the Structures of the Derivatives

The compounds, 6-per-O-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)--cyclodextrin(1), 2,3-per-O-benzyl-6-per-O-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)--cyclodextrin(2), 2,3-per-O-benzyl--cyclodextrin (3),2,3,6-per-O-benzyl--cyclodextrin (4),2,3,6-per-O-benzoyl--cyclodextrin (5), are used as keyintermediates in the synthesis of selectively substituted -CD derivatives. Simple and assignable ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra (chemical shifts and coupling constants) were obtained for compounds1–4 indicating C₇ symmetry, ⁴C₁ glucose conformation and major arrangement of H6, H6' atoms at the primary side. The derivative 5, however, gave very broad peaksat room temperature. The peaks could partially be assigned at 270 K, but the broadening was still present at 220 K. This implies that there exist several conformers of similar energyand C₁ symmetry that continuously interchange, since there is not a single type of stabilizing interaction thatpredominates. We attributed this phenomenon to the presence of the carbonyl group, which probablydisfavors - stacking and induces random arrangements of the aromatic rings.     

Determination of β-blockers and β-agonists using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry--a comparative study of the derivatization step

There is a growing demand for the rapid screening of multiple β-blockers and β-agonists in a single analytical run in clinical toxicology, antidoping control, forensic and environmental science. Although GC-MS is very often used to determine pharmaceuticals from these groups of drugs, the literature data on the derivatization and MS analysis of mixtures of these compounds is limited. This paper compares and evaluates derivatization procedures for the determination of six β-blockers (acebutolol, atenolol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, pindolol) and two β-agonists (salbutamol, terbutaline) using GC techniques. Nineteen different derivatizing reagents (nine of them used for the first time with almost all the drugs) were employed in order to obtain a single derivative for each target compound with the greatest effectiveness of this reaction. Trimethylsilylation, tert-butyldimethylsilylation, acylation (e.g. trifluoroacetylation), combined trimethylsilylation and acylation, and the formation of cyclized silyl derivatives were carried out and the mass spectra (EI, 70 eV) recorded. The influence of the reaction time and temperature on these procedures was investigated. Additionally, the effects of the type of solvent and the amount of added trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) on the silylation of the target compounds using N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) were tested. Among of the five mentioned above derivatization procedures applied - trimethylsilylation was found to be the most effective for derivatizing the analytes. The best results were obtained with a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of 99% BSTFA+1% TMCS and ethyl acetate at 60 °C for 30 min. The MS data for different types of β-blocker and β-agonist derivatives is presented. The information in this paper is valuable for scientists working on the determination of β-blockers and β-agonists in biological and environmental matrices.     

Protonation and complex formation of the cis and trans isomers of alicyclic β-amino acids

The protonation constants of β-alanine and the cis and trans isomers of aliphatic 2-amino-1-carboxylic acids containing a cyclohexane, cyclopentane or cyclohexene(4) ring were determined pH-metrically, as were the formation constants of their complexes with Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions. The analysis of about 70 formation constants revealed significant differences betweeen the behaviours of the different ligands, each of which has a fixed β-alanine conformation. It is concluded that complex formation is primarily determined by the nature of the fixed β-alanine conformation and in some cases by the type of aliphatic ring.