Zwitterion formation in gas-phase cyclodextrin complexes

Protonated complexes of amino acids and underivatized beta-cyclodextrin, produced by electrospray ionization and trapped in the Fourier transform mass spectrometer, undergo formation of ternary complexes when reacted with alkyl amine. Based on the reactivities of the protonated amino acid complexes with alkylamines, the reactivities of the corresponding amino acid esters, and partially derivatized beta-cyclodextrin hosts, we conclude that the ternary complexes are salt-bridge zwitterionic species composed of amino acid zwitterions and protonated alkylamine all interacting with the hydroxyl groups on the narrow rim of the cyclodextrin. Molecular modeling calculations and experimental results suggest that the interactions of the amino acids with the rims contribute greatly to the formation of the zwitterionic species.     

Method for a Convenient and Efficient Synthesis of Amino Acid Acrylic Monomers with Zwitterionic Structure

Ampholyte monomers with zwitterionic moiety derived from α‐amino acid, that is, L‐lysine and L‐serine, were obtained using a method in which their copper complexes could be produced in simple steps. The N‐acryloylation of L‐lysine and L‐serine was carried out by reaction between their copper complexes and acryloyl chloride. Specifically, the removal of copper from the copper complex of acryloyl amino acid through the use of 8‐hydroxyquinoline as an organic chelate precipitant increased the yield of the ampholyte monomers with zwitterionic moiety. These syntheses were easily carried out in a three‐step procedure.     

Diastereochemical differentiation of β-amino acids using host-guest complexes studied by fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Host-guest complexes where tetraethyl resorcarene was the host molecule were used to study the stereoselectivity of diasteromeric pairs of di-endo- and di-exo-2,3-disubstituted norbornane and norbornene amino acids by ion-molecule reactions and collision-induced dissociation with electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS). Both methods showed stereoselectivity for the diastereomeric pairs. Particularly high selectivity was achieved for di-endo- and di-exo-2,3-disubstituted norbornane amino acids with ion-molecule reactions. Also, ab initio and hybrid density functional theory calculations were performed to study the different structures of the host-guest complexes. Hydrogen bonding was crucial for the calculated lowest energy structures, and sterical considerations satisfactorily explained the ion-molecule reaction results.     

Stabilization of zwitterionic structures of amino acids (Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Ser and Pro) by ammonium ions in the gas phase

The thermochemistry of gas-phase ion-molecule interactions and structures of a variety of clusters formed between protonated amino acids and either ammonia or amines have been studied by pulsed ionization high-pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS) and ab initio calculations. The enthalpy changes for the association reactions of protonated Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Ser, and Pro with ammonia have been measured as -23.2, -21.9, -21.0, -20.8, -20.6, -22.6, and -20.4 kcal mol(-1), respectively. A very good linear relationship exists between the enthalpy changes and the proton affinities (PAs) of the amino acids, with an exception of Ser, where the hydroxyl substituent forms an extra hydrogen bond with ammonia. For the association reaction of protonated proline and methylamine, the measured enthalpy and entropy changes are -26.6 kcal mol(-1) and -30.1 cal mol(-1) K(-1), respectively. The experimental and calculated results indicate that the zwitterionic structure of proline may be well stabilized by CH3NH3(+). For the first time, the interaction strengths between these amino acids and NH4(+) have been obtained, and comparison with Na+ is discussed. Stabilization of zwitterionic structures of a series of amino acids (Gly, Ala, Val, Ser, and Pro) by various ammonium ions (NH4(+), CH3NH3(+), (CH3)2NH2(+), and (CH3)3NH+) has been investigated systematically. Energy decomposition analysis has been performed so that the salt bridge interaction strengths between zwitterionic amino acids and ammonium ions have been obtained. Some generalizations with respect to the relative stability of zwitterionic structures may be drawn. First, as the PA of an amino acid increases, within a series of Gly, Ala, Val, the zwitterionic structure becomes more energetically favorable relative to a non-zwitterionic isomer. Second, as the PA of an amine increases, the zwitterionic structure of a given amino acid within the complex becomes gradually less favorable. Third, compared to the other amino acids, Pro, the only secondary amine among the 20 naturally occurring amino acids, has a much more pronounced tendency to form the zwitterionic structure, which has been confirmed by the experimental results. Finally, substituents on the amino acid backbone that may participate in additional hydrogen bond interactions in non-zwitterionic isomer may render it more stable, as seen in Ser. These organic ammonium ions are found to be able to very effectively stabilize the zwitterionic structure of amino acids, even more effectively than metal ions, which aids significantly in the understanding of why zwitterionic structures exist extensively in biological systems.     

Effects of alkaline earth metal ion complexation on amino acid zwitterion stability: results from infrared action spectroscopy

The structures of isolated alkaline earth metal cationized amino acids are investigated using infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and theory. These results indicate that arginine, glutamine, proline, serine, and valine all adopt zwitterionic structures when complexed with divalent barium. The IRMPD spectra for these ions exhibit bands assigned to carboxylate stretching modes, spectral signatures for zwitterionic amino acids, and lack bands attributable to the carbonyl stretch of a carboxylic acid functional group. Structural and spectral assignments are strengthened through comparisons with absorbance spectra calculated for low-energy structures and the IRMPD spectra of analogous ions containing monovalent alkali metals. Many bands are significantly red-shifted from the corresponding bands for amino acids complexed with monovalent metal ions, owing to increased charge transfer to divalent metal ions. The IRMPD spectra of arginine complexed with divalent strontium and barium are very similar and indicate that arginine adopts a zwitterionic form in both ions. Calculations indicate that nonzwitterionic forms of arginine are lowest in free energy in complexes with smaller alkaline earth metal cations and that zwitterionic forms are preferentially stabilized with increasing metal ion size. B3LYP and MP2 calculations indicate that zwitterionic forms of arginine are lowest in free energy for M = Ca, Sr, and Ba.     

Gas Phase H/D Exchange of Sodiated Amino Acids: Why Do We See Zwitterions?

The gas-phase interaction of sodiated amino acids and sodiated amino acid methyl esters with various deuterium donors is investigated by combining results of H/D exchange reactions with those from density functional theory and molecular dynamics calculations. Discrepancy between experimentally and theoretically obtained structures for sodium cationized amino acids is explained by deuterium donor caused perturbation of the most stable amino acid conformation. Detailed study of H/D exchange mechanism on sodiated amino acids shows that the H/D exchange reaction is preceded by a multistep quasi-isoenergetic transition (perturbation) from a charge solvated to zwitterionic structure in the amino acid. Although the computation refers to the system AlaNa(+) and D(2)O, these mechanisms apply to all amino acids, except those where a functional side-chain group takes part in the perturbation process. The suggested perturbation mechanism applies also for other deuterium donors such as CD(3)OD or even ND(3) and indicates that a single water molecule suffices to convert the sodiated amino acid from charge solvated to zwitterionic form.     

The Complexation of Amino Acids by Crown Ethers and Cryptands in Methanol

Complex formation between several crown ethers and the cryptand (222) and -amino acids in methanol was studied by calorimetric titration. The ligand structure and the donor atoms of the ligands play an important role in determining the measured values of the reaction enthalpies and entropies. However, with the exception of the diaza crown ether (22) all stability constants are of the same order of magnitude. The enthalpic and entropic contributions to the stabilities of the complexes formed compensate each other. In methanolic solution the amino acids exist in their zwitterionic form. This equilibrium can be influenced. Under acidic, neutral or basic conditions different values of the reaction enthalpies are measured for the complexation of some amino acids with 18-crown-6. These results demonstrate that the concentration of the zwitterionic form of the -amino acids can be influenced. Thus the reaction between macrocyclic and macrobicyclic ligands and amino acids should be described by at least two different reaction schemes.     

Interactions of mono- and divalent metal ions with aspartic and glutamic acid investigated with IR photodissociation spectroscopy and theory

The interaction of metal ions with aspartic (Asp) and glutamic (Glu) acid and the role of gas-phase acidity on zwitterionic stability were investigated using infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the spectral range 950-1900 cm (-1) and by hybrid density functional theory. Lithium ions interact with both carbonyl oxygen atoms and the amine nitrogen for both amino acids, whereas cesium interacts with both of the oxygen atoms of the C-terminus and the carbonyl oxygen of the side chain for Asp. For Glu, this structure is competitive, but a structure in which the cesium ion interacts with just the carbonyl oxygen atoms is favored and the calculated spectrum for this structure is more consistent with the experimentally measured spectrum. In complexes with either of these metal ions, both amino acids are non-zwitterionic. In contrast, Glu*Ca (2+) and Glu*Ba (2+) both adopt structures in which Glu is zwitterionic and the metal ion interacts with both oxygens of the C-terminal carboxylate and the carbonyl oxygen in the side chain. Assignment of the zwitterionic form of Glu is strengthened by comparisons to the spectrum of the protonated form, which indicate spectral features associated with a protonated amino nitrogen. Comparisons with results for glutamine, which adopts nearly the same structures with these metal ions, indicate that the lower Delta H acid of Asp and Glu relative to other amino acids does not result in greater relative stability of the zwitterionic form, a result that is directly attributed to effects of the metal ions which disrupt the strong interaction between the carboxylic acid groups in the isolated, deprotonated forms of these amino acids.     

Rearrangement of 1,3-dipolar cycloadducts derived from bis(phenylazo)stilbene: a DFT level mechanistic investigation

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of bis(phenylazo)stilbene with activated ethene and ethyne derivatives and the subsequent rearrangement of the cycloadducts have been studied using model compounds at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of density functional theory (DFT). From the structural and electronic features, a five-membered zwitterionic ring system 9 (1,2,3-triazolium-1-imide system) formed from bis(phenylazo)ethylene is confirmed as the active 1,3-dipole species in the reaction. Formation of the 1,3-dipolar cycloadduct from the alkyne derivative is found to be 26.0 kcal/mol exergonic, and it requires an activation free energy of 19.4 kcal/mol. The 1,3-cycloadduct formed in the reaction undergoes a very facile migration of a nitrogen-bearing fragment, passing through a zwitterionic transition state. A small activation free energy of 8.2 kcal/mol is observed for this step of the reaction, and it is 19.6 kcal/mol exergonic. Further activation of the newly formed rearranged product is possible under elevated temperatures, again passing through a zwitterionic transition state and resulting in the formation of 2,5-dihydro-1,2,3-triazine derivatives. Such derivatives have been recently reported by Butler et al. (J. Org. Chem. 2006, 71, 5679). The charge separation in 9 and the zwitterionic transition states are stabilized through the pi-system of the phenyl rings and the carbonyl groups. Similar structural, electronic, and mechanistic features are obtained for the reaction of 9 with the ethylenic dipolarophile acrylonitrile. Molecular electrostatic potential analyses of the 1,3-dipole and the zwitterionic transitions states are found to be very useful for characterizing their electron delocalization features. The solvation effects can enhance the feasibility of these reactions as they stabilize the zwitterionic transition states to a great extent.     

Site specificity of OH α-H abstraction reaction for a β-hairpin peptide: an ab initio study

A β-hairpin peptide (PDB ID 1UAO) was modeled to explore the backbone oxidation of a protein by an OH radical to abstract one α-H atom with ab initio calculation at the B3LYB/6-31G(d) without any constraint. Three glycine residues located at three different sites in 1UAO were used to examine the possible site specificity of this backbone oxidation. The pre- and post-reactive complexes along with their associated transition states were located and verified by the intrinsic reaction coordinate method. The reaction profile of these α-H abstraction reactions was constructed. The effects of the aqueous solution were estimated by the conductor-like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) model. Rate constants were calculated with transition state theory. The reaction rate of the OH α-H abstraction varies among these three different sites. The differences among these three sites were rationalized in terms of the molecular and electronic structures of the reactive complexes along the reaction pathway. The explicit solvation effect was estimated through the similar abstraction of a zwitterionic glycine with the combination of microsolvation and a CPCM model. Our results indicate that the α-H abstraction at certain sites requires explicit salvation to obtain accurate results. A replica exchange molecular dynamics simulation was performed to demonstrate the structural change due to this type of abstraction.     

Thermodynamics of axial substitution and kinetics of reactions with amino acids for the paddlewheel complex tetrakis(acetato)chloridodiruthenium(II,III)

The known paddlewheel, tetrakis(acetato)chloridodiruthenium(II,III), offers a versatile synthetic route to a novel class of antitumor diruthenium(II,III) metallo drugs, where the equatorial ligands are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory carboxylates. This complex was studied here as a soluble starting prototype model for antitumor analogues to elucidate the reactivity of the [Ru(2)(CH(3)COO)(4)](+) framework. Thermodynamic studies on equilibration reactions for axial substitution of water by chloride and kinetic studies on reactions of the diaqua complexes with the amino acids glycine, cysteine, histidine, and tryptophan were performed. The standard thermodynamic reaction parameters ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔV° were determined and showed that both of the sequential axial substitution reactions are enthalpy driven. Kinetic rate laws and rate constants were determined for the axial substitution reactions of coordinated water by the amino acids that gave the corresponding aqua(amino acid)-Ru(2) substituted species. The results revealed that the [Ru(2)(CH(3)COO)(4)](+) paddlewheel framework remained stable during the axial ligand substitution reactions and was also mostly preserved in the presence of the amino acids.     

Use of Flow-Injection Conductometry of Strong and Weak Protolytes in Solutions Containing Amino Acids

Based on the results of systematic studies, it was demonstrated that flow-injection conductometry can be used in solutions containing amino acids for the determination of low concentrations of strong and weak acids and bases. For the analysis of aqueous and organic solutions, it was proposed to use protolytic reactions of zwitterionic forms of some amino acids as highly sensitive and universal reagents.     

氨基酸钛螯合物和高分子氨基酸钛螯合物对N-丙烯酰-1，3-噁唑烷-2-酮与环? 於┑腄iels-Alder反应的对映选择性催化作用

用磺酰化的L-缬氨酸、L-苯丙氨酸、L-亮氨酸和L-异亮氨酸的钛螯合物催化N- 丙烯酰-1,3-噁唑烷-2-酮与环戊二烯的对映选择性Diels-Alder（D-A）反应,其 ee值为48.1% ～ 78.2%。将这些磺酰基氨基酸钛螯合物受载于高分子链上,用来催 化同一D-A反应时,反应的对映选择性更好,其ee值为82.8% ～ 84.5%。     

Quantum chemical study of the molecular structure of the sodium dodecylsulfate complexes with glycine and cysteine

The quantum chemical modeling of sodium dodecylsulfate (DDSNa) complexes with glycine (Gly) and cysteine (Cys) is carried out at the DFT/B97D level using the Grimme hybrid exchange-correlation functional with a dispersion correction and the 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The structure of the Gly and Cys molecular and zwitterionic forms is examined. The structures and the formation energies of DDSNa…Gly and DDSNa…Cys complexes are determined. The effect of the amino acid structural features on the stability of the complexes they form with DDSNa is analyzed. The NBO analysis of the electron density distribution in the DDSNa molecule is performed.     

Microwave-assisted SNAr reaction of 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine for the rapid synthesis of C3-symmetrical polycarboxylate ligands

The microwave-assisted S_NAr reaction of 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine with various unprotected amino acids was developed for the synthesis of C₃-symmetrical polycarboxylate ligands which can be used as structural directing units in metal-organic frameworks. The reactions were performed in water using a domestic microwave oven as the heating device. In comparison to the reactions performed under conventional heating, the reactions under microwave irradiation proceeded much more rapidly within 20 min to afford the desired ligands in comparative yields to those obtained by conventional heating.     

Reactions and structural characterization of gold(III) complexes with amino acids, peptides and proteins

The present review article highlights recent findings in the field of gold(III) complexes with amino acids, peptides and proteins. The first section of this article provides an overview of the gold(III) reactions with amino acids, such as glycine, alanine, histidine, cysteine and methionine. The second part of the review is mainly focused on the results achieved in the mechanistic studies of the reactions between gold(III) and different peptides and structural characterization of gold(III)-peptide complexes as the final products in these reactions. The last section of this article deals with the reactions of gold(III) complexes with proteins as primary targets for cytotoxic gold compounds. Systematic summaries of these results contribute to the future development of gold(III) complexes as potential antitumor agents and also have importance in relation to the severe toxicity of gold-based drugs.     

Adsorption of alpha amino acids at the water/goethite interface

The adsorption of amino acids onto mineral surfaces plays an important role in a wide range of areas, e.g., low-temperature aqueous geochemistry, bone formation and protein-bone interactions. In this work, the adsorption of three alpha aminoacids (sarcosine, MIDA and EDDA) onto goethite (alpha-FeOOH) was studied as a function of pH and background electrolyte concentration at 25.0 degrees C, and the molecular structures of the surface complexes formed were analyzed by means of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed that adsorption of alpha amino acids were strongly dependent on the functionality and structure of the ligands. No adsorption was detected for the zwitterionic sarcosine indicating that simple alpha amino acids without other ionizable and/or functional groups display insignificant affinity for mineral surfaces such as goethite. With respect to the more complex amino acids, which are surface reactive, the number and relative positions of carboxylate and amine groups determine the types of surface interactions. These interactions range from non-specific outer-sphere to specific inner-sphere interactions as shown by the MIDA and EDDA results, respectively. The results presented herein suggest that isomerically-selective adsorption might only occur for amino acids that are capable of specific surface interactions, either through site-specific hydrogen bonding or inner-sphere complexation.     

Synthesis of novel non-proteinogenic α-amino acids with charged imidazolium fragment in the side chain

Zwitterionic imidazolium and benzimidazolium salts bearing chiral amino acid moiety were synthesized using chiral Ni^II complexes. Different N-derivatives of the synthesized enantiomerically pure amino acids were prepared; their zwitterionic structures were confirmed by X-ray analysis.     

含氨基酸Schiff碱-金属手性配合物的合成及其相关反应进展

本文综述了"含氨基酸Schiff碱-金属"手性配合物的合成及其结构。同时还讨论了"含氨基酸Schiff碱-金属"手性配合物不对称反应, 如: 烷基化反应、缩合反应、Michael加成反应、溴化反应等。这些反应为氨基酸拆分及非蛋白质类氨基酸合成提供了新方法。     

Ab-Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Condensed-Phase Reactivity: The Electrolysis of Amino Acids and Peptides

Electrolysis is a potential candidate for a quick method of wastewater cleansing. However, it is necessary to know what compounds might be formed from bioorganic matter. We want to know if there are toxic intermediates and if it is possible to influence the product formation by the variation in initial conditions. In the present study, we use Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics to simulate the fastest reaction steps under such circumstances. We investigate the behavior of amino acids and peptides under anodic conditions. Such highly reactive situations lead to chemical reactions within picoseconds, and we can model the reaction mechanisms in full detail. The role of the electric current is to discharge charged species and, hence, to produce radicals from ions. This leads to ultra-fast radical reactions in a bulk environment, which can also be seen as redox reactions as the oxidation states change. In the case of amino acids, the educts can be zwitterionic, so we also observe complex acid–base chemistry. Hence, we obtain the full spectrum of condensed-phase chemistry.