Analysis of the activation mechanism of the guinea-pig Histamine H<Subscript>1</Subscript>-receptor

The Histamine H(1)-receptor (H1R), belonging to the amine receptor-class of family A of the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) gets activated by agonists. The consequence is a conformational change of the receptor, which may involve the binding-pocket. So, for a good prediction of the binding-mode of an agonist, it is necessary to have knowledge about these conformational changes. Meanwhile some experimental data about the structural changes of GPCRs during activation exist. Based on homology modeling of the guinea-pig H1R (gpH1R), using the crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin as template, we performed several MD simulations with distance restraints in order to get an inactive and an active structure of the gpH1R. The calculations led to a Phe6.44/Trp6.48/Phe6.52-switch and linearization of the proline kinked transmembrane helix VI during receptor activation. Our calculations showed that the Trp6.48/Phe6.52-switch induces a conformational change in Phe6.44, which slides between transmembrane helices III and VI. Additionally we observed a hydrogen bond interaction of Ser3.39 with Asn7.45 in the inactive gpH1R, but because of a counterclockwise rotation of transmembrane helix III Ser3.39 establishes a water-mediated hydrogen bond to Asp2.50 in the active gpH1R. Additionally we simulated a possible mechanism for receptor activation with a modified LigPath-algorithm.     

Study of the Properties of Electrodeposited Polypyrrole Films

Experimental and theoretical methods have been used for characterization of the properties of polypyrrole films. The AFM studies show that the morphology of polypyrrole (PPy) films on polycrystalline gold electrodes at the first stages of synthesis depends on the structure of the metal surface. It was established that mobility of anions depends remarkably on the rate of electrodeposition of the polymer film. If PPy film was deposited at relatively low current density, mobility of ClO^- ₄ anion was not high enough to guarantee electroneutrality during redox cycling and cations take part in this process especially when Li⁺ cations were replaced by more mobile ⁺ cations. Semiempirical (AM1 and PM3) quantum-chemical methods were used for theoretical studies. It was established that different size and charge of the anions together with the variation in doping levels give rise to a different optimal conformation of oligopyrrole cations which, in turn, define the resulting polymer to be either all-anti (common linear chains) or all-syn (formation of helical structures) or a combination of the two.     

Dipole moments and molecular conformations ofO-vinyl- andO-ethylacetoximes in solutions

Dipole moments of the molecules ofO-vinyl- andO-ethylacetoximes in octane and THF were measured at different temperatures. In octane, the equilibrium mixture of stableO-vinylacetoxime conformers consists of forms with different polarity. Polarity of these conformers, which are due to rotation about the C−O and N−O bonds, is mainly determined by the relative position of the lone electron pairs of nitrogen and oxygen atoms. The fraction of the polar conformer increases as temperature increases, as well as on going from octane to THF. Saturation of the vinyl group in theO-vinylacetoxime molecule nearly halves the molecular dipole moment in the nonpolar medium, which radically differentiates this compound from vinyl ethers. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1685–1690, September, 1999.     

Electronic spectra ofsyn- andanti-ring [2.2]quinolinophanes

The energies and oscillator strengths of the singlet-singlet transitions for thesyn- andanti-ring [2.2]quinolinophanes—regarded as quinoline dimers—were calculated usingPPP CI-1 method and compared with experimental spectra. The theoretical transitions were assigned to the observed broad bands and characterised in terms of locally excited and charge transfer contributions. The influence of the pseudosubstituent effect is also discussed.

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Elektronenspektrum von syn- und anti-Ring [2.2]Quinolinohanen

Zusammenfassung Die Anregungsenergie und Stärke des Oszillators vom Typ singlet-singlet fürsyn- undanti-Ring [2.2]Quinolinophanen, betrachtet als Quinolinodimere, wurde mit dem Ultraviolett-Spektrum verglichen und nach derPPP-CI-1-Methode berechnet. Den beobachteten breiten Banden wurde die theoretische Übergangsenergie zugeordnet. Die Übergänge wurden nach ihrem Anteil an lokalem Anregungscharakter (LE) und dem Ausmaß der Ladungsübertragung (CT) klassifiziert. Der Anteil des Pseudosubstituenteffekts wird diskutiert.

     

Pseudo[3]rotaxane Type Compelxation between α- and β-Cyc1odextrins and N,N′-Dsiheptyl-4,4′-bipyridinium

Pseudo[3]rotaxane type complexation of α- and β-cyclodextrins (α- and β-CDs, respectively) with N,N′-Diheptyl-4,4′-bipyridinium (diheptyl viologen; HV²⁺) was investigated. A spectral displacement method using p-nitrophenol as a dye revealed that α-CD and HV²⁺ formed a 2:1 host-guest complex with stability constants being 3280 and 976 M⁻¹ as the first and second steps of complexation, respectively. ¹H-NMR spectra strongly indicated that α-CD accommodated the heptyl groups of HV²⁺. Although previous studies based on circular dichroism spectroscopy suggested the primary hydroxy side of α-CD faced to the positively charged bipyridinium moiety od HV²⁺, 2D-NMR studies clearly demonstrated that the secondary hydroxy side of α-CD faced to the bipyridinium moiety. β-CD also formed a 2:1 complex with HV²⁺ with a similar fashion.     

Ab Initio Study of the Conformational and Geometrical Isomerism in Heteroallyl and Heteropropenyl Systems

Conformational isomerism has been studied by ab initio methods (RHF/6-31+G*, MP2/6-31+G*) for CH₂=CHCH₂X heteroallyl and CH₃CH=CHX heteropropenyl systems (X = H, Me, NMe₂, OMe, PMe₂, SMe, ONCH₂). In 3-heteroprop-1-enes, substituents preferably occupy the AC position relative to the C=C double bond. The E isomers of 1-methylthio- and 1-methoxyprop-1-enes, which are thermodynamically more stable, have two stable forms, SP and AC; for 1-dimethylamino- and 1-imethylphosphinoprop-1-enes, the stable forms are AP and SC. The molecule of the E isomer of formoxime propenyl ether exists in two stable rotamer forms, SC and AP, the latter being predominant. The Z isomers preferably exist in the form of AC (X = CH₃O, CH₃S) and AP (X = (CH₃)₂N, (CH₃)₂P, CH₂=NO) conformations. Migration of the double bond toward an heteroatom in formoxime allyl ether, forming the E and Z isomers, is energetically favorable, the Z isomer being thermodynamically preferable.     

Synthesis, Conformational Studies and Inclusion Properties of Tetrakis[(2-pyridylmethyl)oxy]thiacalix[4]arenes

An attempted O-alkylation of the flexible macrocycle 1with 2-(chloromethyl)pyridine in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ under THF reflux afforded a mixture of twoconformers of tetra-O-alkylated product 4a in a ratio of 91:9 (cone-4a:1,2-alternate-4a)in 70% yield, while other possible isomers were not observed. In the case of Na₂CO₃, there was no reaction product,only the starting compound 1, whereasonly monoalkylated compound 3 was obtained when usingK₂CO₃ as the base. The distribution of cone conformer decreased in the case of O-alkylation of tetraol 1with 4-(chloromethyl)pyridine or benzyl bromide in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ in comparison with that ofO-alkylation with 2-(chloromethyl)pyridine, while the 1,2-alternate conformer increased in the same sequence. The larger Cs⁺might increase the contribution of the metal template effect, which can hold the 2-pyridylmethyl group(s) and theoxide group(s) on the same side of the tetrathiacalix[4]arene 1 through the cation-O^- and -N-interaction in the caseof O-alkylation of tetraol 1 with 2-(chloromethyl)pyridine.Only when the template metal can hold the 2-pyridyl group(s) andthe oxide group(s) on the same side of the tetrathiacalix[4]arene is the conformation immobilized to thecone. The template effect of the cesium cation plays an important role in this alkylation reaction. The structuralcharacterization of these products is also discussed.The two-phase solvent extraction data indicated thattetrakis[(2-pyridylmethyl)oxy]thiacalix[4]arenes 4a show strong Ag⁺ affinity and a high Ag⁺ selectivity wasobserved for cone-4a. A good Job plot proves 1:1 coordination of cone-4a with Ag⁺ cation.¹H-NMR titration of cone-4a with AgSO₃CF₃ also clearly demonstrates that a 1:1complex is formed with retention of the original symmetry. In contrast, the 1,2-alternate-4a can form a 2:1 metal/thiacalix[4]arene complex and the two metal-binding sites display positive allostericity. The conformational changes ofpyridine moiety from the original outward orientation of the ring nitrogen to the inside orientation toward thethiacalixarene cavity were observed in the processof Ag⁺ complexation.     

A Nonempirical Quantum-Chemical Study and Natural Bond Orbital Analysis of C6H5XCY3 Species (X = SO or SO2, Y = H or F)

The potential functions of internal rotation about the C² _sp—S bonds for C₆H₅XCY₃ species (X = SO or SO₂, Y = H or F) have been obtained at the MP2 (full)/6-31+G(d) level of ab initio theory. It is found that the spatial structures with the plane of C² _sp—S—C³ _sp bonds, which is near perpendicular to the benzene ring plane, are the energy-favourable conformations. The values of the rotational barrier about the C² _sp—S bond are equal to (kJ/mole): 21.2 (C₆H₅SOCH₃), 29.0 (C₆H₅SOCF₃), 20.4 (C₆H₅SO₂CH₃), and 28.2 (C₆H₅SO₂CF₃). On the basis of the Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis results, it has been revealed that the double S=O bond is a strongly polarized covalent -bond, whereas -bond electrons practically are localized on the oxygen atom. The S=O bond order for aromatic sulfoxides and sulphones is mainly caused by hyperconjugational interactions according to the LP(O) ^*(S—C_ipso) and LP(O) ^*(S—C _Y ) mechanisms. In sulphones there is also the additional mechanism of hyperconjugational interactions such as LP(O^{1 *}(S—O²) and LP(O²) ^*(S—O¹). With the replacement of one hydrogen atom on the —XCY₃ group, the charge loss of the unsubstituted benzene molecule increases: —SOCH₃ < —SO₂CH₃ < — SOCF₃ < —SO₂CF₃. The substitution of the —CH₃ group for the —CF₃ group weakly influences the charge value on the sulfur atom but effects the acceptor characteristics of the substituent to a greater extent than the variation of the sulfur atom coordination.     

Preparation of 4,4a,9,9a-tetrahydrocarbazoles and 1,3a,4,8b-tetra-hydrocyclopenta[b]indoles

Halocyclization of mesylates or tosylates of 2-(cycloalk-2-en-1-yl)anilines gives N-methanesulfonyl-or N-toluenesulfonyl-1-halo-1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexahydrocarbazoles, heating of which in DMF at 160°C or in piperidine at 110°C leads to 4,4a,9,9a-tetrahydro-3H-carbazoles. Heating N-methanesulfonyl-1-iodo-1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydrocyclopenta[b]indole in DMF at 180—200°C gives 1,3a,4,9b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indole, while in the presence of an ortho-methyl substituent the dehydroiodination reaction proceeds in piperidine at 110°C in high yield. The effect of the nature of the ortho substituent of N-methyl-1-iodo-1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydrocyclopenta[b]indole on the conformational equilibrium of the cyclopentane ring has been established by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1184–1190, August, 2006.     

New homochiralortho-palladated matrix bearing a bulky substituent at the carbon stereocenter

A new homochiral dimericortho-palladated complex bearing a bulkytert-butyl substituent at the carbon stereocenter was synthesized from optically activeN,N-dimethyl-α-tert-butylbenzylamine. Regioselective activation of only the aromatic C−H bond was shown to occur during the cyclometallation process proceeding under very mild conditions due to steric effects. Spectral characteristics of mononuclear derivatives of the new dimeric complex indicate that the five-membered palladacycle exists predominantly in one of two possible chiral conformations with the axial position of thetert-butyl substituent. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1375–1384, July, 1997.