Pteridines. Part CXVII

A series of side chain reactions starting from the 6‐ and 7‐styryl‐substituted 1,3‐dimethyllumazines 1 and 21 as well as from the 6‐ and 7‐[2‐(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl]‐substituted 1,3‐dimethyllumazine 2 and 22 were performed first by addition of Br₂ to the C?C bond forming the 1′,2′‐dibromo derivatives 3, 4, 24 , and 26 in high yields (Schemes 1 and 3) (lumazine=pteridine‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione). Treatment of 3 with various nucleophiles gave rise to an unexpected tele‐substitution in 7‐position and elimination of the Br‐atoms generating 7‐alkoxy‐ (see 5 and 6 ), 7‐hydroxy‐ (see 7 ) and 7‐amino‐6‐styryl‐1,3‐dimethyllumazines (see 8 – 11 ) (Scheme 1). On the other hand, 4 underwent, with dilute DBU (1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐2‐ene), a normal HBr elimination in the side chain leading to 18 , whereas treatment with MeONa afforded a more severe structural change to 19 . Similarly, 24 and 26 reacted to 27, 32 , and 33 under mild conditions, whereas in boiling NaOMe/MeOH, 24 gave 7‐(2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylethyl)‐1,3‐dimethyllumazine ( 30 ) which was hydrolyzed to give 31 (Scheme 3). From the reactions of 4 and 24 with DBU resulted the dark violet substance 20 and 25 , respectively, in which DBU was added to the side chain (Scheme 2). The styryl derivatives 1 and 21 could be converted, by a Sharpless dihydroxylation reaction, into the corresponding stereoisomeric 6‐ and 7‐(1,2‐dihydroxy‐2‐phenylethyl)‐1,3‐dimethyllumazines 34 – 37 (Scheme 4). The dihydroxy compounds 34 and 35 were also acetylated to 38 and 39 which, on catalytic reduction followed by formylation, yielded the diastereoisomer mixtures 40 and 41 . Deacetylation to 42 and 45 allowed the chromatographic separation of the diastereoisomers resulting in the isolation of 43 and 44 as well as 46 and 47 , respectively. Introduction of a 6‐ or 7‐ethynyl side chains proceeded well by a Sonogashira reaction with 6‐ ( 48 ) or 7‐chloro‐1,3‐dimethyllumazine ( 55 ) yielding 49 – 51 and 56 – 58 (Scheme 5). The direction of H₂O addition to the triple bond is depending on the substituents since the 6‐ ( 49 ) and 7‐(phenylethynyl)‐1,3‐dimethyllumazine ( 56 ) showed attack at the 2′‐position yielding 53 and 60 , in contrast to the 6‐ ( 51 ) and 7‐ethynyl‐1,3‐dimethyllumazine ( 58 ) favoring attack at C(1′) and formation of 6‐ ( 52 ) and 7‐acetyl‐1,3‐dimethyllumazine ( 59 ).     

DFT conformational studies of the HI‐6 molecule

A systematic study of the oxime HI‐6 [1‐(2‐hydroxyiminomethyl‐1‐pyridinium)‐1‐(4‐carboxy‐aminopyridinium)dimethyl ether] hydrochloride, which is one of the most promising antidotes against soman intoxication, was carried out using density functional theory with the B3LYP (Becke, Lee, Yang, and Parr) method and the 6‐31+G*, 6‐31+G*, and 6‐31+G** basis sets. Rotational barriers, equilibrium geometries, and charge distributions were calculated in order to investigate the role of the side chain for the larger oximes used as antidotes in the treatment of neurotoxic organophosphate poisoning. Also reported is the comparison between HI‐6 and pralidoxime (2‐PAM), a smaller oxime previously studied in our research group. It is shown that conformation minima for the protonated E isomer do not depend on the size of the side chain; on the other hand, this effect has a pronounced influence on the protonated Z isomer. For the unprotonated isomers, other effects, such as electrostatic interactions and resonance, should be taken into account in their conformational analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Effect of side‐chain end groups on the optical,electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of side‐chain conjugated polythiophenes

Three new side‐chain conjugated polythiophene derivatives, poly{3‐[2‐(3‐methoxy‐4‐octyloxy‐phenyl)‐vinyl]‐thiophene} (P3MOPVT), poly{3‐[2‐(3,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐octyloxy‐phenyl)‐vinyl]‐thiophene} (P3DMOPVT), and poly{3‐[2‐(3,4‐dioctyloxy‐phenyl)‐vinyl]‐thiophene} (P3DOPVT), were synthesized by Wittig‐Hornor reaction and GRIM method and compared with poly{3‐[2‐(4‐octyloxy‐phenyl)‐vinyl]‐thiophene} (P3OPVT) for investigating the effect of the end groups of the conjugated side‐chain on the properties of the polymers. Owing to the electron‐donating ability of methoxy groups, the visible absorption peaks of P3MOPVT and P3DMOPVT solutions and films become stronger and red‐shifted compared with P3OPVT. The electrochemical bandgaps of the four polymers are 2.15 eV for P3OPVT, 1.99 eV for P3MOPVT, 1.85 eV for P3DMOPVT, and 2.36 eV for P3DOPVT, respectively, which indicate that the electron‐donating ability of the methoxy end group on the conjugated side chain of P3MOPVT and P3DMOPVT and the large steric hindrance of the two octyloxy end groups on the conjugated side chain of P3DOPVT have obvious influence on the electrochemical properties of the side‐chain conjugated polythiophenes. Polymer solar cells were fabricated with a structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Polymer:PCBM/LiF/Al. The best device, based on P3DMOPVT, shows a power conversion efficiency of 1.63% under the illumination of AM1.5, 80 mW/cm². © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4916–4922, 2006     

Antibacterial,DFT and molecular docking studies of Rh(III) complexes of Coumarinyl‐Thiosemicarbazone nuclei based ligands

Coumarinyl thiosemicarbazone derivatives (1E)‐1‐(1‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)ethylidene)thiosemicarbazide (OCET), (1E)‐1‐(1‐(6‐bromo‐2‐ oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)ethylidene)thiosemicarbazide (BOCET) and 1‐(1‐(3‐oxo‐3H‐benzo[f]chromen‐2‐yl)ethylidene)thiosemicarbazide (NOCET) and their Rh(III) complexes were synthesized, the characterization was carried out by elemental analysis, IR, UV–Visible, mass, magnetic measurement and molar conductance techniques. Data interpretation of the Rh(III) complexes indicates that the ligands of coumarinyl thiosemicarbazone derivatives were formed in stoichiometric ratios as 1:2 (metal: ligand). The studied ligands act as a bidentate ligand by using both azomethine nitrogen and thiol sulphur as monoanion center of donation. The theoretical conformational structure analyses were performed using density functional theory for ligands and complexes at B3LYP functional with 6‐31G(++)d,p basis set for ligands and LANL2DZ basis set for complexes. The charge distribution within the ligands and its Rh(III) complexes was calculated using Mulliken population analysis of (MPA) and natural population analysis (NPA). The antibacterial activity of the prepared compounds was tested against some types of Gram positive and negative bacteria. Molecular docking investigation proved that, the ligands and complexes had interesting interactions with active site amino acids of ribosyltransferase (code: 3GEY).     

Anthradithiophene–thiophene copolymers with broad UV–vis absorption for organic solar cells and field‐effect transistors

New semiconducting copolymers, poly((TIPS‐ADT)‐(4,4′‐didodecyl‐2,2′‐bithiophene)) (PTADT2) and poly((TIPS‐ADT)‐(2,2′‐(4,4′‐didodecyl‐2,2′‐bithiophene)dithiophene)) (PTADT4) , produced by incorporating 5,11‐bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) anthra[2,3‐b:7,6‐b']dithiophene (TIPS‐ADT) and alkyl‐thiophene derivatives were synthesized via Stille coupling polymerization. The optical, electrochemical, structural, field‐effect transistor, and solar cell properties of the polymers were investigated. The polymers showed good solubility at room temperature in common organic solvents due to their abundant side groups including TIPS and dodecyl side chains. Both polymers showed very broad UV absorption spectra covering the spectral range from 300 to 750 nm as a result of the combination of the different absorption ranges of the TIPS‐ADT unit (short wavelength region) and thiophene derivatives (long wavelength region). The FET device fabricated using PTADT4 containing additional unsubstituted thiophene rings as a spacer between TIPS‐ADT and thiophene derivatives showed a higher hole mobility (5.7 × 10^?4 cm²/V s) than the PTADT2 device (2.8 × 10^?5 cm²/V s), due to the improved intermolecular ordering caused by the reduced steric hindrance between bulky side chain groups. In addition, the PTADT4 :(6,6)‐phenyl‐C₇₀‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₀BM) device showed an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.30% compared with the PTADT2 :PC₇₀BM device (PCE of 0.55%) under AM 1.5G irradiation (100 mW/cm²). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Formation of Oxygen Radicals in Solutions of Different 7,8‐Dihydropterins: Quantitative Structure‐Activity Relationships

Under certain conditions, 7,8‐dihydroneopterin in aqueous solution promotes hydroxyl‐radical formation. Thus, we investigated the stimulation of hydroxyl‐radical formation by ten different 7,8‐dihydropterins (=2‐amino‐7,8‐dihydropteridin‐4(1H)‐one), i.e., 6‐(1′‐hydroxy) derivatives 1 and 2 , methyl derivatives 3 – 7 , and 6‐(1′‐oxo) derivatives 8 – 10 . All but the 6‐(1′‐oxo) derivatives produced hydroxyl radicals, as measured by the amount of salicylic acid hydroxylation products. This amount was dependent on the stability of the dihydropterin used. In the presence of chelated iron ions, hydroxylation was increased in every case; even 6‐(1′‐oxo) derivatives showed a low hydroxylation of salicylic acid. The degree of increase, however, strongly depended on the side chain of the dihydropterin. The 7,8‐dihydroneopterin ( 2 ) was investigated in more detail. Iron ions influenced both, the stability of 2 and hydroxyl‐radical formation. While iron ions determined the kinetics of the reaction, the amount of 2 was responsible for the amount of hydroxyl radicals formed. Our data establish that promotion of hydroxyl‐radical formation by 7,8‐dihydropterins depends on the oxidizability of the dihydropterins and on their iron‐chelating properties.     

Pteridines. Part CXVIII

Our approach to achieve a partial synthesis of methanopterin ( 1 ) started from 6‐acetyl‐O⁴‐isopropyl‐7‐methylpterin ( 20 ) which was obtained either by condensation from 6‐isopropoxypyrimidine‐2,4,5‐triamine ( 19 ) and pentane‐2,3,4‐trione ( 6 ) or from 6‐isopropoxy‐5‐nitrosopyrimidine‐2,4‐diamine ( 21 ) and pentane‐2,4‐dione (=acetylacetone; 22 ) (Scheme 2). NaBH₄ reduction of 20 led to 6‐(1‐hydroxyethyl)‐O⁴‐isopropyl‐7‐methylpterin ( 23 ) which was converted into the corresponding 6‐(1‐chloroethyl) and 6‐(1‐bromoethyl) derivatives 24 and 25 . A series of nucleophilic displacement reactions in the side chain and at position 4 were performed as model reactions to give 26 – 29, 32 – 35 , and 39 – 41 . Hydrolysis of the substituents at C(4) led to the corresponding pterin derivatives 30, 31, 36 – 38 , and 42 . Analogously, 25 reacted with 1‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐1‐deoxy‐2,3: 4,5‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐D ‐ribitol ( 43 ), prepared from N‐(4‐bromophenyl)benzamide ( 47 ) via 49 and 50 to give 1‐{4‐{{1‐[2‐amino‐7‐methyl‐4‐(1‐methylethoxy)pteridin‐6‐yl]ethyl}amino}phenyl}‐1‐deoxy‐D ‐ribitol ( 44 ) in 62% yield (Scheme 3). Acid cleavage of the isopropylidene groups at room temperature led to 45 and on boiling to 1‐{4‐{[1‐(2‐amino‐3,4‐dihydro‐7‐methyl‐4‐oxopteridin‐6‐yl)ethyl]amino}phenyl}‐1‐deoxy‐D ‐ribitol ( 46 ). The next step, however, attachment of the ribofuranosyl moiety with 55 or 56 to the terminal 1‐deoxy‐D ‐ribitol OH group could not been achieved. The second component, bis(4‐nitrobenzyl) 2‐{[(2‐cyanoethoxy)(diisopropylamino)phosphino]oxy}pentanedioate ( 61 ), to built‐up methanopterin ( 1 ) was synthesized from 2‐hydroxypentanedioic acid ( 59 ) and worked well in another model reaction on phosphitylation with N⁶‐benzoyl‐2′,3′‐O‐isopropylideneadenosine and oxidation to give 62 (Scheme 6).     

Photophysical and electronic properties of five PCBM-like C60 derivatives: spectral and quantum chemical view

By means of transient UV-visible absorption spectra/fluorescence spectra, combined with electronic structure calculations, the present work focuses on characterizing the photophysical and electronic properties of five PCBM-like C(60) derivatives (F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5) and understanding how these properties are expected to affect the photovoltaic performance of polymer solar cells (PSCs) with those molecules as acceptors. Spectral data reveal that the fluorescence quantum yields (Φ(F)) are enhanced and the triplet quantum yields (Φ(T)) are lowered for the five PCBM-like C(60) derivatives as compared to those of the pristine C(60), suggesting that functionalization of a C═C double bond perturbs the fullerene's π-system and breaks the I(h) symmetry of pristine C(60), which results in modifications of photophysical properties of the fullerene derivatives. PBEPBE/6-311G(d,p)//PBEPBE/6-31G(d) level of electronic structure calculations yields the HOMO-LUMO gaps and LUMO energies, showing that the electron-withdrawing effect induced by the side chain functional groups perturbs LUMO energies, from which different open circuit voltages V(oc) are resulted. The predicted V(oc) from our calculation agrees with previous experiment results. Basically, we found that functionalization of a C═C double bond sustains the fullerene structure and its electron affinitive properties. Adducted side chains contribute to adjust the HOMO-LUMO gap and LUMO levels of the acceptors to improve open circuit voltage. The results could provide fundamental insights for understanding how structural modifications influence the photovoltaic performance, which paves a way for guiding the synthesis of new fullerene derivatives with improved performance in polymer solar cells.     

Pteridines,Part CXI,Pteridine‐Based Photoaffinity Probes for Nitric Oxide Synthase and Aromatic Amino Acid Hydroxylases

Various 6‐substituted pteridines and 5,6,7,8‐tetrahydropterins carrying photolabile functions at the side chain (see 7 , 20 – 22 , 34 – 36 , 38 , and 39 ) as well as at the 5‐position (see 27 – 29 ) were synthesized from pterin and from 6‐phenylpterin ( 1 ) and 6‐(hydroxymethyl)pterin ( 10 ). Attachment of the photoaffinity labels via ester bonds required a special protecting‐group strategy based upon acid‐labile (see 30 – 33 ) and β‐eliminating blocking groups (see 17 – 19 ). The 6‐(4‐azidophenyl)pterin ( 7 ) was obtained from 6‐phenylpterin ( 1 ) via intermediates 2 and 4 – 6 , due to the low solubility of simple pterins in general. The pteridine derivatives 21 , 22 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 38 , and 39 were screened as inhibitors of neuronal (type I) NO synthase (see Table) from porcine cerebellum, of which 22 , 35 , 36 , and 38 showed interesting inhibitory activity with similar potency and effectiveness.     

Modified amylose biodegradability by α-amylases

The site-selective syntheses of water-soluble (O-2/O-3)-substituted amylose derivatives containing butyl ester, carboxymethyl, succinyl or quaternary ammonium side groups was carried out. In addition, routine chemical methods which did not employ protection-deprotection steps provided water soluble (O-2/O-3/O-6)-substituted products. The biodegradation of these products as a function of site-of-substitution and degrees of substitution (ds) was studied by the α-amylases from Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis. Consistent with the results reported previously for acetyl amylose (Ref. 1), the O-2/O-3 substituted butyl amylose derivatives degraded faster and to higher percentages than the corresponding O-2/O-3/O-6 substituted derivatives. Also, the overall rates and percentages of degradation for butyl amylose were much lower than acetyl amylose derivatives of comparable degree and site of substitution. Therefore, for the two enzymes studied, the introduction of longer chain length acyl side groups greatly reduced substrate degradability. For the charged derivatives, the rate and percentage of degradation decreased in the order carboxymethyl > succinyl > quaternary ammonium at comparable degree and site of substitution. We concluded that, as the length of the charged side chain substituent increased, the rate and extent of biodegradation decreased. Furthermore, in contrast to the results for neutral acetyl and butyl side groups, there was no significant difference in the rate and %-degradation for charged side chain substituent groups when comparing O-2/O-3 and O-2/O-3/O-6-substituted derivatives. Finally, the introduction of anionic or cationic side chain groups resulted in decreased susceptibility to α-amylase catalyzed chain cleavage when compared to similarly substituted acetyl and butyl amylose derivatives.     

Gramicidin S Derivatives Containing cis‐ and trans‐Morpholine Amino Acids (MAAs) as Turn Mimetics

The cyclic decapeptide gramicidin S (GS) was used as a model for the evaluation of four turn mimetics. For this purpose, one of the D ‐Phe‐Pro two‐residue turn motifs in the rigid cyclic β‐hairpin structure of GS was replaced with morpholine amino acids (MAA 2 – 5 ), differing in stereochemistry and length of the side‐chain. The conformational properties of the thus obtained GS analogues ( 6 – 9 ) was assessed by using NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography, and correlated with their biological properties (antimicrobial and hemolytic activity). We show that compound 8 , containing the dipeptide isostere trans‐MAA 4 , has an apparent high structural resemblance with GS and that its antibacterial activity against a panel of Gram positive and ‐negative bacterial strains is better than the derivatives 6 , 7 and 9 .     

Synthesis and characterization of 6-O-acyl-2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acids with a branched-acyl chain

We previously reported the chemical synthesis of a series of novel monoacylated vitamin C derivatives, 6-O-acyl-2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acids (6-Acyl-AA-2G) possessing a straight-acyl chain of varying length from C(4) to C(18), as effective skin antioxidants. In this paper, we describe branched type of 6-Acyl-AA-2G derivatives (6-bAcyl-AA-2G) synthesized by use of a 2-branched-chain fatty acid anhydride as an acyl donor. The stability of 6-bAcyl-AA-2G in neutral solution was much higher than that of 6-Acyl-AA-2G, while they were susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis for exerting vitamin C effect. These branched derivatives as well as 6-Acyl-AA-2G increased the radical scavenging activity against 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and the lipophilicity in octanol/water-partitioning systems with increasing length of their acyl group. In addition, the 6-bAcyl-AA-2G derivative with an acyl chain of C(12), 6-bDode-AA-2G had the excellent solubility to various solvents, suggesting easy handling in cosmetic use. These characteristics of 6-bAcyl-AA-2G may be available for skin care application as an effective antioxidant.     

Novel synthesis of N‐substituted polyacrylamides: Derivatization of poly(acrylic acid) with amines using a triazine‐based condensing reagent

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was derivatized through the reaction of its pendant carboxylic acid (CO₂H) groups with a wide range of amine‐terminated molecules. These molecules contained alkyl, hydroxyl, sulfonic acid, or perfluoroalkyl groups. N‐substitution of PAA was carried out by the simple addition of 4‐(4,6‐dimethoxy‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)‐4‐methylmorpholinium chloride (DMTMM), a triazine‐based condensing reagent, to a mixture of PAA and amine‐terminated molecules. From proton nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy, it was confirmed that these functional molecules were introduced into the PAA side chain via amide bonds. By the alteration of the synthetic conditions, functional side‐chain contents of greater than 95% were achieved for aqueous reactions with taurine, ethanol amine, and butyl amine. Side‐chain conversion was limited to ≤80% for reactions with perfluoroalkyl amines in methanol. Thus, DMTMM is an attractive replacement for carbodiimide condensing reagents such as 1,3‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 126–136, 2006     

7‐Substituted 7‐Deaza‐2′‐deoxyadenosines and 8‐Aza‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyadenosines: Fluorescence of DNA‐Base Analogues Induced by the 7‐Alkynyl Side Chain

7‐Alkynylated 7‐deazaadenine (pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐amine) 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides show strong fluorescence which is induced by the 7‐alkynyl side chain (Table 3). A large Stokes shift with an emission around 400 nm is observed when the compound is irradiated at 280 nm. The solvent dependence indicates the formation of a charged transition state. The fluorescence appears when the triple bond is in conjugation with the heterocyclic base. Electron‐donating substituents at the triple bond increase the fluorescence, while electron‐withdrawing residues reduce it. In comparison, the 7‐alkynylated 8‐aza‐7‐deazaadenine (pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐amine) 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides are rather weakly fluorescent (Table 4). Quantum yields and fluorescence decay times are measured. The synthesis of the 7‐alkynylated 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyadenosines and 8‐aza‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyadenosines was performed with 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxy‐7‐iodoadenosine ( 6 ) or 8‐aza‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxy‐7‐iodoadenosine ( 22 ) as starting materials and employing the Pd⁰‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction with the corresponding alkynes (Schemes 1, 4, and 5). Catalytic hydrogenation of the side chain of the unsaturated nucleosides 5 and 17 afforded the 7‐alkyl derivatives 18 and 19 , respectively, which do not show significant fluorescence (Scheme 2).     

Molecular structure of the octatetranyl anion, C8H-: a computational study

The equilibrium molecular structure of the octatetranyl anion, C8H(-), which has been recently detected in two astronomical environments, is investigated with the aid of both ab initio post-Hartree-Fock and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The model chemistry adopted in this study was selected after a series of benchmark calculations performed on molecular acetylene for which accurate gas-phase structural data are available. Geometry optimizations performed at the CCSD/6-311+G(2d,p), QCISD/6-311+G(2d,p), and MP4(SDQ)/6-311+G(2d,p) levels of theory yield for C8H(-) an interesting polyyne-type structure that defies the chemical formula displaying a simple alternation of triple and single carbon-carbon bonds, [:C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]CH](1-). In the optimized geometry of C8H(-), as one proceeds from the naked carbon atom on one side of the chain to the CH unit on the opposite side of the chain, the short (formally triple) carbon-carbon bonds decrease in length from 1.255 to 1.213 A whereas the long (formally single) carbon-carbon bonds increase (albeit only slightly) in length from 1.362 to 1.378 A (CCSD results). In striking contrast, both MP2 and DFT (B3LYP and PBE0) calculations fail in reproducing the pattern of the carbon-carbon bond lengths obtained with the CCSD, QCISD, and MP4 methods. The structures of three shorter n-even chains, C(n)H(-) (n = 2, 4, and 6), along with those of four n-odd compounds (n = 3, 5, 7, and 9) are also investigated at the CCSD/6-311+G(2d,p) level of theory.     

Synthesis and In Vitro Antitumor Activity of New Isoxazolo[5,4‐d]Pyrimidine Systems

The reaction of 5‐amino‐3‐methylisoxazole ( 1 ) with aldimines 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 gave basic side chain 5‐amino‐3‐methylisoxazole derivatives 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 . Annulations of derivatives 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 with anisaldehyde afforded the target isoxazolo[5,4‐d]pyrimidines 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 . Treatment of 1 with isatin ketimine anil 18 resulted in the formation of derivative 19 , which further cyclized with anisaldehyde afforded the spirotetracyclic system 20 . Mannich reaction of 1 with primary amine such as methylamine and benzylamine gave the corresponding isoxazolo[5,4‐d]pyrimidine derivatives 21 and 22 , respectively. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for their antitumor activity.     

Theoretical studies on the structural rearrangement of ligand binding pocket in human vitamin D receptor

The structural rearrangement of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of human Vitamin D receptor (hVDR) complexed with 1α, 25‐dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (natural ligand) and its analogues (denoted as b and c ) was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD simulations revealed that these ligands could induce different structural changes of LBD, in which 1α, 25‐dihydroxyvitamin D₃ only led to a minute change, suggesting that LBD adopted its canonical active conformation upon binding the natural ligand, while b and c could provoke a clear structural rearrangement of the LBD. In complex of hVDR‐LBD/ b , it is found that helix 6 (H6) and subsequent loop 6‐7 shift outward and the last turn of H11 shifts away from H12, which generate a new cavity at the bottom of binding pocket to accommodate the extra butyl group on the side chain of ligand b . As for hVDR‐LBD/ c , the steric exclusion of the second side chain of ligand c makes the N‐terminal of H7 move outsides and C‐terminal of H11 close to H12, expanding the bottom of the pocket. These calculation results agree well the experimental observations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of well‐defined functionalized polymers and star branched polymers by means of living anionic polymerization using specially designed 1,1‐diphenylethylene derivatives

This article covers precise syntheses of well‐defined chain‐end and in‐chain functionalized polymers, multi‐functionalized polymers with a definite number of functional groups, star‐branched and graft polymers by recently developed methodologies using specially designed 1,1‐diphenylethylene (DPE) derivatives. The DPE derivatives include various substituted DPE derivatives with functional groups and their derivatives, DPE‐functionalized DPE derivatives, and well‐defined DPE‐functionalized macromonomers. The synthetic utility and importance of these DPE derivatives are described via such polymer syntheses.     

Electrophilic amination of amino acids with N-Boc-oxaziridines: efficient preparation of N-orthogonally diprotected hydrazino acids and piperazic acid derivatives

A general two-step preparation of enantiopure N(alpha),N(beta)-orthogonally diprotected alpha-hydrazino acids 1 is developed on a multigram scale. The key reaction is the efficient electrophilic amination of N-benzyl amino acids 6 with N-Boc-oxaziridine 7 and accommodates various functional groups encountered in side chains of amino acids. The cyclic 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-pyridazine carboxylic acid (piperazic acid) derivatives 2 and 3 or the cyclic 3,4-dihydro-3-pyrazolecarboxylate 4 are conveniently prepared from glutamic acid or aspartic acid via orthogonally diprotected alpha-hydrazino acids 1m and 1n.     

Conjugated polymers for the fluorescent detection of nitroaromatics: Influence of side‐chain sterics and π‐system electronics

A series of eight poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) ( P1–P8 ) derivatives were tested for their ability to detect the nitroaromatic explosive 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) and its model compound 2,6‐dinitrotoluene (DNT). The polymers P1–P8 represent five structural classes that have not been examined for nitroaromatic sensing. These new motifs include PPE derivatives with a main‐chain m‐terphenyl unit ( P1 ) or oxacyclophane canopy‐like structure ( P2 ) and PPV derivatives with 2,6‐mesitylenephenylene repeats ( P3 and P4 ), 9,9‐dialkyl‐1,4‐fluorenylene repeats ( P5 and P6 ), or m‐phenylene units that periodically disrupt π‐conjugation along the backbone of the polymer ( P7 and P8 ). The time‐dependent photoluminescent response of films to TNT and DNT and the solution‐phase Stern‐Volmer quenching constants for both TNT and DNT were determined. The results are rationalized in terms of side‐chain sterics and π‐system electronics and are discussed relative to known conjugated polymers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1487–1492