Carboracycles: Macrocyclic Compounds Composed of Carborane Icosahedra Linked by Organic Bridging Groups

A family of macrocyclic compounds are described, together with their precursors. These cycles are composed of icosahedral carboranes linked via their carbon vertices through 1,3-trimethylene, alpha,alpha'-1,3-xylylene, or alpha,alpha'-2,6-lutidylene groups. The compounds cyclo-(1,3-trimethylene-1',2'-closo-1',2'-C(2)B(10)H(10))(4) (6a), cyclo-(1,3-trimethylene-1',2'-closo-9',12'-dimethyl-1',2'-C(2)B(10)H(8))(4) (6b), cyclo-(1,3-trimethylene-1',2'-closo-1',2'-C(2)B(10)H(10))(3) (9), cyclo-(alpha,alpha'-1,3-xylylene-1',2'-closo-1',2'-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (11a), cyclo-(alpha,alpha'-1,3-xylylene-1',7'-closo-1',7'-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (11b), cyclo-(alpha,alpha'-1,3-xylylene-1',7'-closo-9',10'-dimethyl-1,7-C(2)B(10)H(8))(2) (11c), cyclo-(alpha,alpha'-1,3-xylylene-1',2'-closo-1',2'-C(2)B(10)H(10))(4) (12), cyclo-(alpha,alpha'-1,3-xylylene-1',7'-closo-1',7'-C(2)B(10)H(10))(3) (13), cyclo-(alpha,alpha'-2,6-lutidylene-1',7'-closo-1',7'-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (19), and cyclo-(alpha,alpha'-2,6-lutidylene N-oxide-1',7'-closo-1',7'-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (20) have been synthesized. The structures of 6a, 6b, 9, 11a, 11b, 11c, 12, and 19 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data: for 6a, triclinic, space group P&onemacr;, a = 11.131(2) ?, b = 12.642(2) ?, c = 12.996(2) ?, alpha = 84.383(6) degrees, beta = 65.884(6) degrees, gamma = 97.292(5) degrees, Z = 1, R = 0.079; for 6b, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/a, a = 13.500(2) ?, b = 31.141(3) ?, c = 13.831(2) ?, beta = 99.90(1) degrees, Z = 2, R = 0.097; for 11a, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 14.5682(8) ?, b = 14.5046(8) ?, c = 16.1998(8) ?, beta = 95.631(2) degrees, Z = 4, R = 0.081; for 11b, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 11.650(2) ?, b = 10.606(2) ?, c = 11.730(2) ?, beta = 104.951(6) degrees, Z = 2, R = 0.069; for 11c, orthorhombic, space group Pbca, a = 12.532(2) ?, b = 14.271(2) ?, c = 18.143(3) ?, Z = 4, R = 0.076; for 19, orthorhombic, space group Pcab (No. 61, standard setting Pbca), a = 11.0428(6) ?, b = 11.3785(6) ?, c = 22.533(1) ?, Z = 4, R = 0.074.     

Synthesis of 3'-deoxynucleosides with 2-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane sugar moieties: addition of difluorocarbene to a 3',4'-unsaturated uridine derivative and 1,2-dihydrofurans derived from D- and L-xylose1

Syntheses of 3'-deoxy analogues of adenosine, cytidine, and uridine with a 2,2-difluorocyclopropane ring fused at C3'-C4' are described. Treatment of a 2',5'-protected-3',4'-unsaturated derivative of uridine with difluorocarbene [generated from (CF3)2Hg and NaI] gave a diastereomeric mixture of the 3',4'-difluoromethylene compounds (alpha-L-arabino/beta-D-ribo, approximately 5:4). The limited stereoselectivity for addition at the beta face results from competitive steric hindrance by an allylic 4-methoxybenzyloxy group at C2' on the alpha face and a homoallylic nucleobase at C1' on the beta face. Protected uracil derivatives were converted into their cytosine counterparts via 4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) intermediates. Treatment of 1,2-dihydrofurans derived from D- and L-xylose with difluorocarbene resulted in stereospecific addition at the beta face (anti to the 1,2-O-isopropylidene group on the alpha face). Glycosylations with activated enantiomeric sugar derivatives with the fused difluorocyclopropane ring on the beta face gave protected adenine nucleosides, whereas attempted glycosylation with an alpha-fused derivative gave multiple products. Removal of base- and sugar-protecting groups gave new difluoromethylene-bridged nucleoside analogues.     

Three new pentacyclic triterpenes and some flavonoids from the fruits of an Indian Ayurvedic plant Dendrophthoe falcata and their estrogen receptor binding activity

Extensive chromatographic screening of extracts of the fruits of the Indian Ayurvedic plant, Dendrophthoe falcata, resulted in the isolation of three new triterpenes, 3beta-acetoxy-1beta-(2-hydroxy-2-propoxy)-11alpha-hydroxy-olean-12-ene (1), 3beta-acetoxy-11alpha-ethoxy-1beta-hydroxy-olean-12-ene (2) and 3beta-acetoxy-1beta-hydroxy-11alpha-methoxy-olean-12-ene (3) along with nine known compounds, 3beta-acetoxy-1beta,11alpha-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene (4), 3beta-acetoxy-1beta,11alpha-dihydroxy-urs-12-ene (5), 3beta-acetoxy-urs-12-ene-11-one (6), 3beta-acetoxy-lup-20(29)-ene (7), 30-nor-lup-3beta-acetoxy-20-one (8), (20S)-3beta-acetoxy-lupan-29-oic acid (9), kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (10), quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (11), and gallic acid (12). The structures of these compounds were determined using 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution electrospray mass spectrometry. These compounds were assayed for binding to estrogen receptors-alpha and beta and kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (10) was found to be a ligand for both receptors with greater affinity for beta. The triterpenes (1-9) are reported for the first time in the genus Dendrophthoe and assumes taxonomic significance.     

Addition of difluorocarbene to 4',5'-unsaturated nucleosides: synthesis and deoxygenation reactions of difluorospirocyclopropane nucleosides

Synthetic routes to 4'-(2,2-difluorospirocyclopropane) analogues of adenosine, cytidine, and uridine are described. Treatment of 2',3'-O-isopropylidene-4',5'-unsaturated compounds derived from adenosine and uridine with difluorocarbene (generated from PhHgCF3 and NaI) gave diastereomeric mixtures of the 2,2-difluorospirocyclopropane adducts. Stereoselectivity resulting from hindrance by the isopropylidene group favored addition at the beta face. Removal of base and sugar protecting groups gave new difluorospirocyclopropane nucleoside analogues. The protected uridine analogue was converted into its cytidine counterpart via a 4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) intermediate. Stannyl radical-mediated deoxygenation of the 3'-O-TBS-2'-thionocarbamate derivatives gave the 2'-deoxy products of direct hydrogen transfer. In contrast, identical treatment of the 2'-O-TBS-3'-thionocarbamate isomers resulted in opening of the vicinal difluorocyclopropane ring upon generation of a C3' radical followed by homoallylic hydrogen transfer to give 4'-(1,1-difluoroethyl)-3',4'-unsaturated nucleoside derivatives. Structural aspects and biological effect considerations are discussed.     

Synthesis of 2-(N-Acetylamino)-2-deoxy-C-glucopyranosyl nucleosides as potential inhibitors of chitin synthases

The C-glucopyranosyl nucleosides (1-4) containing the N-acetyl glucosaminyl and uridine units have been synthesized as nonhydrolyzable substrate analogues of UDP-GlcNAc aimed to inhibit the chitin synthases. The key intermediate, 4-(2'-(N-acetylamino)-3', 4',6'-tri-O-benzyl-2'-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)but-2-enoic acid (5), was prepared from the perbenzylated (N-acetylamino)-alpha-C-allylglucoside (7), by successive oxidative cleavage, Wittig olefination, and ester deprotection. The coupling of the acid 5 with the hydroxyl or amine function of the uridine derivatives (6a or 6b) afforded, respectively, the ester 12 and amide 14. The dihydroxylation of the conjugated double bond in ester 12 or amide 14 was better achieved with osmium tetraoxide/barium chlorate, leading to the expected diols 13 and 15 as a mixture of two diastereoisomers. The desired compounds 1-4 were obtained after catalytic hydrogenation of compounds 12-15.     

A new geranylated aromatic compound from the mushroom Hericium erinaceum

A new geranylated aromatic compound, 5-[(2'E)-3',7'-dimethyl-2',6'-octadienyl]-4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-isoindolinone (1), was isolated from the fruiting bodies of the mushroom Hericium erinaceum (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Hericiaceae) together with three known sterols, 5alpha,6alpha-epoxy-(22E)-ergosta-8(14),22-diene-3beta,7alpha-diol (2), (22E)-ergosta-7,9(11),22-triene-3beta,5alpha,6beta-triol (3) and (22E)-ergosta-7,22-diene-3beta,5alpha,6alpha,9alpha-tetrol (4). The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectral data.     

Synthesis of 4-thiouridine, 6-thioinosine, and 6-thioguanosine 3',5'-O-bisphosphates as donor molecules for RNA ligation and their application to the synthesis of photoactivatable TMG-capped U1 snRNA fragments

4-Thiouridine, 6-thioguanosine, and 6-thioinosine 3',5'-bisphosphates (9, 20, and 28) were synthesized in good yields by considerably improved methods. In the former two compounds, uridine and 2-N-phenylacetylguanosine were converted via transient O-trimethylsilylation to the corresponding 4- and 6-O-benzenesulfonyl intermediates (2 and 13), which, in turn, were allowed to react with 2-cyanoethanethiol in the presence of N-methylpyrrolidine to give 4-thiouridine (3) and 2-N-phenylacetyl-6-thioguanosine derivatives (14), respectively. In situ dimethoxytritylation of these thionucleoside derivatives gave the 5'-masked products 4 and 15 in high overall yields from 1 and 11. 6-S-(2-Cyanoethyl)-5'-O-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-6-thioinosine (23) was synthesized via substitution of the 5'-O-tritylated 6-chloropurine riboside derivative 22 with 2-cyanoethanethiol. These S-(2-cyanoethyl)thionucleosides were converted to the 2'-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)ribonucleoside 3'-phosphoramidite derivatives 7, 18, and 26 or 3',5'-bisphosphate derivatives 8, 19, and 27. Treatment of 8, 19, and 27 with DBU gave thionucleoside 3',5'-bisphosphate derivatives 9, 20, and 28, which were found to be substrates of T4 RNA ligase. These thionucleoside 3',5'-bisphosphates were examined as donors for ligation with m3(2,2,7) G5'pppAmUmA, i.e., the 5'-terminal tetranucleotide fragment of U1 snRNA, The 4-thiouridine 3',5'-bisphosphate derivative 9 was found to serve as the most active substrate of T4 RNA ligase with a reaction efficiency of 96%.     

Synthesis of N3-substituted uridine and related pyrimidine nucleosides and their antinociceptive effects in mice

Seventy eight N(3)-substituted derivatives of uridine (1), thymidine (2), 2'-deoxyuridine (3), 6-azauridine (4), 2',3'-O-isopropylideneuridine (5), and arabinofuranosyluracil (6) were synthesized and their antinociceptive effects were evaluated. N(3)-(2',4'-Dimethoxyphenacyl)uridine (1l), N(3)-(2',4'-dimethoxyphenacyl)2'-deoxyuridine (3l), and N(3)-(2',5'-dimethoxyphenacyl)arabinofuranosyluracil (6m) possessed 93, 86, and 82% of the antinociceptive effects tested by hot plate, respectively. The antinociceptive effects of three derivatives were 5.8, 5.4, and 5.1-folds of the effect of N(3)-phenacyluridine (1h) (16%), respectively. The structure-activity relationship of N(3)-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides was also discussed.     

应用^3^1P NMR研究RNase A水解核糖核酸的机制

核糖核酸酶A(RNase A)水解核糖核酸的机制前人已有研究.Markham等和Brown等根据水解过程中有2′,3′-环核苷酸的生成提出了两步机制,即磷酰基转移和水解开环.Witzel等用紫外差值(ΔA_(286))光谱和pH-stat(pH恒定器)技术进行动力学研究,所得的结果支持了上述机制.Williams用同样的方法进行研究,提出除了两步机制外,还有另一途径,即二核苷(3′→5′)单磷酸二酯(A)不经过2′,3′-环核苷酸(B)而直接转化为3′-核苷酸     

Structural influences of organonitrogen ligands on vanadium oxide solids. Hydrothermal syntheses and structures of the terpyridine vanadates [V2O4(terpy)2]3[V10O28], [VO2(terpy)][V4O10], and [V9O22(terpy)3

Hydrothermal reactions of the V2O5/2,2':6':2"-terpyridine/ZnO/H2O system under a variety of conditions yielded the organic-inorganic hybrid materials [V2O4(terpy)2]3[V10O28].2H2O (VOXI-10), [VO2(terpy)][V4O10] (VOXI-11), and [V9O22(terpy)3] (VOXI-12). The structure of VOXI-10 consists of discrete binuclear cations [V2O4(terpy)2]2+ and one-dimensional chains [V10O28]6-, constructed of cyclic [V4O12]4- clusters linked through (VO4) tetrahedra. In contrast, the structure of VOXI-11 exhibits discrete mononuclear cations [VO2(terpy)]1+ and a two-dimensional vanadium oxide network, [V4O10]1-. The structure of the oxide layer is constructed from ribbons of edge-sharing square pyramids; adjacent ribbons are connected through corner-sharing interactions into the two-dimensional architecture. VOXI-12 is also a network structure; however, in this case the terpy ligand is incorporated into the two-dimensional oxide network whose unique structure is constructed from cyclic [V6O18]6- clusters and linear (V3O5(terpy)3) moieties of corner-sharing vanadium octahedra. The rings form chains through corner-sharing linkages; adjacent chains are connected through the trinuclear units. Crystal data: VOXI-10, C90H70N18O42V16, triclinic P1, a = 12.2071(7) A, b = 13.8855(8) A, 16.9832(10) A, alpha = 69.584(1) degrees, beta = 71.204(1) degrees, gamma = 84.640(1) degrees, Z = 1; VOXI-11, C15H11N3O12V5, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 7.7771(1) A, b = 10.3595(2) A, c = 25.715(4) A, beta = 92.286(1) degrees, Z = 4; VOXI-12, C45H33N9O22V9, monoclinic C2/c, a = 23.774(2) A, b = 9.4309(6) A, c = 25.380(2) A, beta = 112.047(1) degrees, Z = 4.     

Hydrolytic reactions of the phosphorodithioate analogue of uridylyl(3',5')uridine: kinetics and mechanisms for the cleavage, desulfurization, and isomerization of the internucleosidic linkage

The hydrolytic reactions of the phosphorodithioate analogue of uridylyl(3',5')uridine [3',5'-Up(s)2U] were followed by HPLC over a wide pH range at 363.2 K. Under acidic and neutral conditions, three reactions compete: (i) desulfurization to a mixture of the (Rp)- and (Sp)-diastereomers of the corresponding 3',5'- and 2',5'-phosphoromonothioates [3',5'- and 2',5'-Up(s)U], which are subsequently desulfurized to a mixture of uridylyl(3',5')- and -(2',5')uridine [3',5'- and 2',5'-UpU], (ii) isomerization to 2',5'-Up(s)2U, and (iii) cleavage to uridine, in all likelihood via a 2',3'-cyclic phosphorodithioate (2',3'-cUMPS2). Under alkaline conditions (pH > 8), only a hydroxide ion catalyzed hydrolysis to uridine via 2',3'-cUMPS2 takes place. At pH 3-7, all three reactions are pH-independent, the desulfurization being approximately 1 order of magnitude faster than the cleavage and isomerization. At pH < 3, all the reactions are hydronium ion catalyzed. On going to very acidic solutions, the cleavage gradually takes over the desulfurization and isomerization. Accordingly, the cleavage overwhelmingly predominates at pH < 0. The overall hydrolytic stability of 3',5'-Up(s)2U is comparable to that of (Sp)- and (Rp)-3',5'-Up(s)U (and to that of 3',5'-UpU, except at pH < 2). The rate of the hydroxide ion catalyzed hydrolysis of 3',5'-Up(s)2U is 37% and 53% of that of (Sp)- and (Rp)-3',5'-Up(s)U, respectively. The reactions, however, differ with the respect of the product accumulation. While the phosphoromonothioates produce a mixture of 2'- and 3'-thiophosphates as stable products, 3',5'-Up(s)2U is hydrolyzed to uridine without accumulation of the corresponding dithiophosphates. At pH < 3, where the hydrolysis is hydronium ion catalyzed, the kinetic thio-effect of the second thio substitution is small: under very acidic conditions (Ho -0.69), (Sp)-3',5'-Up(s)U reacts 1.6 times as fast as 3',5'-Up(s)2U, but the reactivity difference decreases on going to less acidic solutions. In summary, the hydrolytic stability of 3',5'-Up(s)2U closely resembles that of the corresponding phosphoromonothioate. While replacing one of the nonbridging phosphate oxygens of 3',5'-UpU with sulfur stabilizes the phosphodiester bond under acidic conditions by more than 1 order of magnitude, the replacement of the remaining nonbridging oxygen has only a minor influence on the overall hydrolytic stability.     

High-resolution observation and analysis of the I(2) (+) A(2)Π(3∕2,u)-X (2)Π(3∕2,g) system

Rotationally resolved absorption spectra of I(2) (+) were recorded in 12 065-13 062 cm(-1) region by employing optical heterodyne velocity modulation absorption spectroscopy. In total, 4054 lines were assigned to 24 bands in the A(2)Π(3∕2,u)-X(2)Π(3∕2,g) system spanning the vibrational levels υ(') = 1-4 and υ(n) (') = 11-19. The assigned lines were globally fitted and an error of 0.003 cm(-1) was obtained. Rotational constants, B(υ), were used to derive equilibrium parameters B(e) (') = 0.03977725(77) cm(-1), a(e) (') = 1.1819(24)×10(-4) cm(-1), r(e) (') = 2.584386(25) A? of the X(2)Π(3∕2,g) state, and B(e) (') = 0.0305787(37) cm(-1), a(e) (') = 1.2353(23)×10(-4) cm(-1), r(e) (') = 2.94758(18) A? of the A(2)Π(3∕2,u) state. Vibrational energies were used to derive ω(e) (') = 239.0397(55) cm(-1), ω(e)x(e) (') = 0.64951(87) cm(-1) of the X(2)Π(3∕2,g) state and ω(e) (') = 138.103(11) cm(-1), ω(e)x(e) (') = 0.45027(34) cm(-1) of the A(2)Π(3∕2,u) state. The A(2)Π(3∕2,u) (υ(n) = 13) state was found to be rotationally perturbed by the a(4)Σ(1/2,u) (-) (υ(n) = 17) state through second-order spin-orbit coupling.     

Hydrolysis and Desulfurization of the Diastereomeric Phosphoromonothioate Analogs of Uridine 2',3'-Cyclic Monophosphate

Hydrolyses of the two diastereomeric phosphoromonothioate analogs of uridine 2',3'-cyclic monophosphate [(R(P))- and (S(P))-2',3'-cUMPS] at 363.2 K have been followed by HPLC over pH-range 0-12. In aqueous alkali (pH > 9) only base-catalyzed endocyclic phosphoester hydrolysis to a nearly equimolar mixture of uridine 2'- and 3'-phosphoromonothioates (2'- and 3'-UMPS) takes place, analogously to the hydrolysis of uridine 2',3'-cyclic monophosphate (2',3'-cUMP). The (R(P))- and (S(P))-2',3'-cUMPS are hydrolyzed 50 and 30%, respectively, more slowly than 2',3'-cUMP. Under neutral and acidic conditions, desulfurization of the cyclic thiophosphates to 2',3'-cUMP competes with the phophoester hydrolysis, both reactions being acid-catalyzed at pH < 5. The desulfurization is most pronounced in strongly acidic solutions ([HCl] > 0.1 mol L(-)(1)), where more than 90% of the starting material is degraded via this route. At pH < 2, the thioates are considerably, i.e., more than 1 order of magnitude, more stable than 2',3'-cUMP. While the hydrolysis of 2',3'-cUMP is second-order in hydronium-ion concentration, that of 2',3'-cUMPS exhibits a first-order dependence. The reactivities of the two diastereomers are comparable with each other over the entire pH-range studied, the most significant difference being that the pH-independent desulfurization at pH > 5 is with the R(P)-isomer 5-fold faster than with the S(P)-isomer. In contrast to 2',3'-cUMP, depyrimidination of the starting material (i.e., release of the uracil base) competes with the hydrolysis of the thiophosphate moiety under neutral conditions (pH 6-8).     

Stabilisation of nucleic acid secondary structures by oligonucleotides with an additional nucleobase; synthesis and incorporation of 2'-deoxy-2'-C-(2-(thymine-1-yl)ethyl)uridine

A nucleoside with two nucleobases is incorporated into oligonucleotides. The synthetic building block, 2'-deoxy-2'-C-(2-(thymine-1-yl)ethyl)uridine, 2, is prepared from uridine via 5',3'-TIPDS-protected 2'-deoxy-2'-C-allyluridine by an oxidative cleavage of the allyl group, a Mitsunobu reaction for the introduction of thymine and appropriate deprotection reactions. This compound is converted into a DMT-protected phosphoramidite and incorporated once into a 13-mer oligodeoxynucleotide sequence, once in an isosequential LNA-modified oligodeoxynucleotide and four times in the middle of a 12-mer oligodeoxynucleotide. These sequences are mixed with different complementary DNA and RNA sequences in order to study the effect of the additional nucleobase in duplexes, in bulged duplexes and in three-way junctions. The first additional thymine is found to be well-accommodated in a DNA-RNA duplex, whereas a DNA-DNA duplex was slightly destabilised. A three-way junction with the additional thymine in the branching point is found to be stabilised in both a DNA-DNA and a DNA-RNA context but destabilised where the modified LNA-sequence is used. In a Mg2+-containing buffer, however, the relative stability of the three-way junctions is found to be opposite with especially the LNA-modified DNA-DNA complex being significantly stabilised by the additional nucleobase.     

Studies on the enzyme immunoassay of bio-active constituents contained in oriental medicinal drugs. V. Preparation of bovine serum albumin conjugate and beta-galactosidase labelled antigen for enzyme immunoassay of 3 beta-(monoglucuron-1' beta-yl)-18 beta-glycyrrhetic acid

In order to prepare an immunogen for enzyme immunoassay of 3 beta-(monoglucuron-1'-beta-yl)-18 beta-glycyrrhetic acid (3MGA), which was isolated from a patient with glycyrrhizin-induced pseudoaldosteronisms, benzyl glycyrrhetate (3) was allowed to react with an acetobromosugar (2) in the presence of silver carbonate to give benzyl 3 beta-(methyl 2',3',4'-triacetyl-glucuron-1' beta-yl)-glycyrrhetate (5) and methyl 3',4'-diacetyl-alpha-1',2'-O-[1-(benzyl glycyrrhet-3 beta-yl)- ethylidene]-D-glucuronate (4). On the other hand, this reaction was carried out in the presence of mercuric cyanide in nitromethane to give compound 5, benzyl 3 beta-acetyl glycyrrhetate (6) and benzyl 11-oxo-A-neooleana-3(5),12-dien-3-oate (7). 4-Aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid and glycine were introduced as chemical bridges at C-30 of 3 beta-(tert-butylglucuron-1' beta-yl)-glycyrrhetic acid (11) derived from compound 5. The former bridge was used to prepare an immunogenic conjugate with bovine serum albumin, and the latter bridge was used for antigen labelled with beta-galactosidase.     

Rare-earth amidate complexes. Easily accessed initiators for epsilon-caprolactone ring-opening polymerization

The direct synthesis of yttrium amidate complexes using the simple reaction of amide proligands and Y(N(SiMe3)2)3 results in the high-yielding preparation and isolation of crystalline, monomeric materials. The complex, tris(N-2',6'-diisopropylphenyl(naphthyl)amidate)yttrium mono(tetrahydrofuran) (4), was structurally determined to be a 7-coordinate C1 symmetric structure, maintaining one bound tetrahydrofuran molecule. Compound 4 (C12H17[NCO]C10H7)3Y(C4H8O) crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 13.7820(11) A, b = 33.598(3) A, c = 16.0575(12) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 98.762(3) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, Z = 4. Solution phase NMR spectroscopic characterization of this same complex showed a highly symmetric species, consistent with a fluxional coordination environment for these compounds. Preliminary studies into the initiation of epsilon-caprolactone ring-opening polymerization using these complexes indicate high activity, producing high molecular weight polymer.     

Evaluation of the antiviral and antimicrobial activities of triterpenes isolated from Euphorbia segetalis

A phytochemical reinvestigation of the whole plant of Euphorbia segetalis yielded five tetracyclic triterpenes: 3beta-hydroxy-cycloart-25-en-24-one (1), cycloart-25-ene-3beta,24-diol (2), cycloart-23-ene-3beta,25-diol (3), lanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-3beta-ol (4) and lanosta-7,9(11),24(31)-trien-3beta-ol (5). beta-acetoxy-cycloart-25-en-24-one (1a) and glutinol (6), lupenone (7), dammaranodienol (9), cycloartenol acetate (10), 24-methylenecycloartanol acetate (11) and beta-sitosterol (12), isolated previously, were evaluated for their antiviral activities against Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and African swine fever virus (ASFV). Lupenone exhibited strong viral plaque inhibitory effect against HSV-1 and HSV-2. The in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activities of la, cycloart-23-ene-3beta,25-diol, 3-acetate (3a) and 6-12 were also investigated.     

Optical spectroscopy of RuC: 18,000-24,000 cm(-1)

The optical spectrum of diatomic RuC has been recorded from 17 800 to 24 200 cm(-1). Three previously unidentified excited electronic states were analyzed and identified as having Omega' = 0, Omega' = 2, and Omega' = 3. The Omega' = 3 state was determined to be a 3Delta3 state that is suggested to arise from a mixture of the 10sigma(2)11sigma(2)5pi(3)2delta(3)12sigma(1)6pi(1) and 10sigma(2)11sigma(1)5pi(3)2delta(3)12sigma(2)6pi(1) electronic configurations. Three additional bands belonging to the previously observed [18.1] (1)Pi<--X (1)Sigma(+) system were analyzed to obtain B(e) (')=0.558 244(48) cm(-1), alpha(e) (')=0.004 655(27) cm(-1), omegae' = 887.201(37) cm(-1), and omega(e) 'xe' = 5.589(7) cm(-1) for the 102Ru 12C isotopomer (1sigma error limits). A Rydberg-Klein-Rees analysis was then performed using the determined spectroscopic constants of the [18.1] 1Pi state, and similar analyses were performed for the previously observed states. The resulting potential energy curves are provided for the 100Ru 12C, 101Ru 12C, 102Ru 12C, and 104Ru 12C isotopic species.     

Molecular modeling and mutagenesis reveals a tetradentate binding site for Zn2+ in GABA(A) alphabeta receptors and provides a structural basis for the modulating effect of the gamma subunit

Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA(A)-R) containing alpha1beta2gamma2 subunits are weakly inhibited by Zn2+, whereas receptors containing only the alpha1beta2 subunits are strongly inhibited. We built homology models of the ion pores of alpha1beta2 and alpha1beta2gamma2 GABA(A)-R using coordinates of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as a template. Threading the GABA(A)-R beta2 sequence onto this template placed the 17' histidine and the 20' glutamate residues at adjacent locations in the mouth of the pore, such that a nearly ideal tetradentate site for Zn2+ was formed from two histidine and two glutamate residues between adjacent beta subunits in the alpha1beta2 GABA(A)-R. Following optimization with CHARMM, the distance between the alpha-carbons of the adjacent histidine residues was approximately 9.2 A, close to the ideal distance for a Zn2+ binding site. Loss of inhibition by Zn2+ in alpha1beta2gamma2 GABA(A)-R can be explained by the geometry of these residues in the arrangement alpha1beta2gamma2alpha1beta2, in which the nearest C-alpha-C-alpha distance between the histidine residues is 15.5 A, too far apart for an energetically optimal Zn2+ binding site. We then mutated the gamma subunit at the 17' and/or 20' positions. Zn2+ inhibition was not restored in alpha1beta2gamma2 (I282H) receptors. A novel finding is that the modeling shows the native 20' lysine in gamma2 can compete with Zn2+ for binding to the inserted 17' histidine. Sensitivity to Zn2+ was restored in the double mutant receptor, alpha1beta2gamma2 (I282H; K285E), in which the competition with lysine was removed and a more favorable Zn2+ binding site was formed.     

Flavonoid glycosides and other constituents of Psorospermum androsaemifolium BAKER (Clusiaceae)

Two new flavonoid glycosides, namely 3'-(2',4'-dihydroxybenzyloxy)acanthophorin B (1b) and beta,2,3',4,4',6-hexahydroxy-alpha-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)dihydrochalcone (2) were isolated from the leaves of Psorospermum androsaemifolium together with quercetin (1), acanthophorin B (1a), alpha- (3) and beta-amyrine (3a), vismiaquinone (4), 12-hentriacontanol and hentriacontane. The structures of these secondary metabolites were established using detailed spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with published data. Compounds 1, 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 3a and 4 showed weak antifungal and antibacterial activities.