Shape selectivity versus functional group pre-organization in molecularly imprinted polymers

A systematic survey of related molecular probes differing in shape or functional group orientation was used to compare the effects of shape selectivity versus pre-organization of functional monomers on imprinting and rebinding performance of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). These studies revealed that templates with two functional group interactions with the MIPs are influenced to a larger degree by shape selective interactions than templates with three functional group interactions. For example, with two functional group interactions, increasing side chain size of compounds 1-5 increased selectivity 5-fold; while the same size change for compounds with three functional group interactions leads to a maximum 2-fold increase. Thus, the effects of shape selectivity and pre-organization of functional groups do not appear to work in concert with each other during the imprinting process or in the rebinding behavior. Furthermore, greater selectivity is generally found for templates with two functional groups, where the dominant mode of molecular recognition is shape selectivity. For example, the α value for the MIP elicited toward template compound 5 with two hydrogen bonding groups was 5-12-fold higher than equivalently shaped compounds 6-8 that have three non-covalent binding interactions (Table 3). On the other hand, pre-organization of functional groups dominated the performance of MIPs elicited toward templates with three template-functional group interactions. This is observed in Tables 6-8, where compounds with identical positioning of three functional groups all show less than an order of magnitude change in α values despite changes in shape.     

First example of a molecularly imprinted polymer incorporating a difunctionalized alloxazine flavin isomer

High-quality alloxazine (a flavin isomer) imprinted polymers have been made for the first time. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the N1,N3-di-functionalized alloxazine template 2 was made. The MIP prepared for 2 exhibited excellent, highly selective molecular recognition for template 2, as determined by HPLC analysis using columns prepared with the MIP. This has also demonstrated that the core flavin structure can survive the imprinting process.     

Experimental and theoretical studies on three spiromuscar-3-one M1 agonist derivatives

Muscarone analogues are compounds that have been proposed for the prevention or treatment of senile dementias. ARL-16607 (I), ARL-15467 (II), ARL-14995 (III) and YM-796 (IV) are spiromuscar-3-one derivatives and behave as muscarinic M₁ agonists, with different binding selectivity and efficacy at the M₁ receptors. In this work, we have elucidated the solid-state structures of I-III and compared the results obtained with the data available in the literature for IV.The solid-state arrangements of I-IV have then been used to input a series of theoretical calculations. For each molecule, eight conformations have been modeled and the obtained structures (1-32) have been submitted to a series of molecular dynamics/simulated annealing and molecular mechanics calculations aimed to explore the conformational freedom of the spiromuscar-3-one moiety. Some hints about the reactivity of I-IV have been obtained by performing Hartree-Fock, density functional theory and semiempirical quantum mechanics calculations. These studies analyzed the properties of the frontier orbitals and of the molecular electrostatic potential of I-IV.The information gained has been used to explain the better efficacy and poorer selectivity shown by III. Our results suggest that the behavior of III is due to its smaller size, the features of its molecular surface, the shape of its electrostatic potential and the orientation of its reactive domains.     

Constituting of a new surface‐initiating system on polymeric microspheres and preparation of basic protein surface‐imprinted material in aqueous solution

In this work, a new surface‐initiating system was constituted on the surfaces of cross‐linked polyvinyl alcohol (CPVA) microspheres, and on this basis, papain surface‐imprinted material was successfully prepared in aqueous solution. CPVA microspheres were modified with chlorethamin as reagent, and so a mass of primary amino group was introduced onto CPVA microspheres. Whereupon, a surface initiating system (−NH₂/S₂O₈²⁻) was formed at the interface between the microspheres and aqueous solution, in which papain as template protein, 4‐styrene sulfonate (SSS) as functional monomer, N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as cross‐linker and (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ as initiator were all dissolved. In neutral solution, the polypeptide chains of papain as a basic protein were positively charged, and the molecules of anionic monomer SSS would spontaneously gather around papain polypeptide chain, forming complex by right of strong electrostatic interaction. The free radicals produced on CPVA microspheres initiated the monomer SSS around papain polypeptide chain and the cross‐linker MBA to produce graft/cross‐linking polymerization, and at the same time, papain macromolecules were embed in the cross‐linked networks. As a result, the graft/cross‐linking polymerizing of SSS and the molecule imprinting of papain were synchronously carried out, and papain surface‐imprinted material, MIP‐PSSS/CPVA microspheres, was obtained. The experimental results show that the papain surface‐imprinted material has excellent binding affinity and high recognition selectivity for papain. The binding capacity of MIP‐PSSS/CPVA microspheres for papain reaches 44 mg/g, and relative to another basic protein, trypsin (TRY) as contrast protein, the selectivity coefficient of MIP‐PSSS/CPVA microspheres for papain is 14.35, displaying very high recognition specificity.     

Preparation and phenol-recognizing ability of a poly(methacrylic acid) molecular imprint on the surface of a silica gel

Molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction is an excellent tool for the preconcentration of trace analytes. We report on the preparation of such a material by firstly graft-polymerizing methacrylic acid onto the surface of silica gel particles, and then imprinting it by using phenol as a template and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether as a crosslinker. The binding and recognition of phenol were examined by static methods. The binding capacity at saturation is 160?mg·g^?1 in 9?h at pH 6. The selectivity coefficients relative to o-cresol and chlorophenol are 22 and 23, respectively. The pH value has a large effect. Adsorbed phenol can be eluted easily from the imprint with diluted sodium hydroxide solution, and the material is reusable.

De-novo approach for a unique spiro skeleton-1,7-dioxa-2,6-dioxospiro[4.4]nonanes

2-Oxoglutaric acid (1) underwent facile indium mediated allylation with allyl bromide (2), and ethyl 4-bromocrotonate (3), cinnamyl bromide (4) and subsequent in situ dehydration to provide respective 5-oxotetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acids 5-7 (90-95%). The reaction of 1 with 3 and 4 proceeded with high regio and stereo selectivity to provide only γ-addition products with syn stereochemistry as ascertained from their cyclic products. Compounds 5-7 underwent diastereoselective iodocyclization to provide respective 1,7-dioxa-2,6-dioxospiro[4.4]nonanes 8-13. The relative stereochemistries have been ascertained by single crystal X-ray structures, NOE experiments and coupling constants in ¹H NMR spectra.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel pyridyl/naphthyl/(diphenyl)methylseleno substituted alkanoic acids: X-ray structure of 2-pyridylselenoethanoic acid, 2-naphthylselenoethanoic acid and 2-(diphenyl)methylselenoethanoic acid

A number of novel and synthetically important pyridyl/naphthyl/(diphenyl)methylseleno substituted alkanoic acids (20-25) have been synthesized using an efficient and operationally simple strategy. Starting substrates, ethyl pyridyl/naphthyl/(diphenyl)methylseleno substituted alkanoates (8-13) were easily prepared by treatment of ethyl chloroalkanoates 7(a-c) with nucleophilic selenium reagent RSeNa⁺, generated from the cleavage of dipyridyl/dinaphthyl/bis(diphenylmethyl) diselenide (1-6) with sodium borohydride in ethanol. The ethyl pyridyl/naphthyl/(diphenyl)methylseleno substituted alkanoates (8-13) on basic hydrolysis and subsequent acidification afford pyridyl/naphthyl/(diphenyl) methylseleno substituted alkanoic acids (20-25) in excellent yields. These selenoalkanoates (8-13) and selenoalkanoic acids (20-25) have been characterized by elemental analysis and various spectroscopic techniques viz. NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ⁷⁷Se), IR and mass spectrometry. The molecular structure of 2-pyridylselenoethanoic acid (20a), 2-naphthylselenoethanoic acid (23a) and 2-(diphenyl)methylselenoethanoic acid (24a) has also been established with the help of single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 5-carboxamide-substituted tetrahydrochromeno[7,8-d]imidazoles

A fast access to novel 5-carboxamide-substituted tetrahydrochromeno[7,8-d]imidazoles 4 was developed using the readily available preclinical candidate BYK 405879 (1) as starting material. The 5-amino function was installed by the Curtius rearrangement of carboxylic acid 2 or by the Hofmann rearrangement of carboxamide 8 furnishing benzimidazole 3 as key intermediate. In the Ghosh Schild rat, some of the target compounds 10-14 showed noteworthy activity as potassium-competitive acid blockers.     

A D2 symmetric tetraamide macrocycle based on 1,1′,4,4′-tetrahydro[3,3′(2H,2′H)-spirobiquinoline]-2,2′-dione: synthesis and selectivity for lithium over sodium and alkaline earth ions

Macrocyclic ionophores d,l-3 and d,l-4 with four amide carbonyl ligands were synthesized and investigated in lithium ion-selective electrodes. In solvent PVC membranes, ion selectivity of d,l-3 and d,l-4 for lithium relative to sodium was observed as and −1.23, respectively. Spiromacrocycle d,l-3 and analogue dibenzospiromacrocycle d,l-4 have similar ion selectivity patterns for alkali metal ions, but d,l-4 could discriminate against alkaline earth metal ions better than d,l-3. It is an example of an endopolarophilic/exolipophilic macrocyclic ionophore whose selectivity for monovalent cations over divalent cations is enhanced by thick lipophilic shells.     

Rhenium and technetium tricarbonyl complexes anchored by 5-HT1A receptor-binding ligands containing P,O/N donor atom sets

The (2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine pharmacophore, a part of the WAY 100635 structure, has been functionalized with phosphinoarylbenzylamide or phosphinoarylbenzylamine chelator groups using propylene or hexylene alkyl chains as linkers (L2-L4). These heterofunctionalized phosphines bearing an arylpiperazine moiety have been used to stabilize rhenium tricarbonyl complexes of the type [Re(CO)₃Br(κ²-L)] (4, L = L2; 5, L = L3; 6, L = L4), which have been fully characterized, including by X-ray crystallographic analysis in the case of compounds 4 and 5. These monomeric complexes are six-coordinate, displaying a distorted octahedral coordination geometry with a facial arrangement of the carbonyl groups. The other three remaining positions are occupied by a bromide and by the bidentate heterofunctionalized phosphine, which coordinates through the phosphorus and the oxygen atom or through the phosphorus and the nitrogen atom in 4 and 5, respectively. The ^99mTc complexes (3a-6a) were also prepared and their characterization established by comparative HPLC, using the Re complexes as surrogates. The in vitro binding affinity for the 5HT_1A receptor subtype and the selectivity against the 5HT_2A receptors for the rhenium complexes were determined. Compound 3 is the only one which presents a reasonable affinity and selectively towards 5HT_1A (IC₅₀ = 20 nM) and 5HT_2A (IC₅₀ = 4680 nM) receptors, respectively. When the spacer length between the chelate unit and receptor binding domain increased and/or the amide group in the chelator was replaced by a secondary amine unacceptable affinity values for 5HT_1A receptors (IC₅₀ = 200-1100 nM) and lost of selectivity were observed.     

An efficient and novel synthesis of chromonyl chalcones using recyclable Zn(l-proline)2 catalyst in water

A novel approach was adopted for the synthesis of a series of chromonyl chalcones (3a-o) from 3-formylchromones (1a-c) and different cyclic active methyl compounds (2a-e), employing Zn(l-proline)₂ as a recyclable Lewis acid catalyst in water. In each conversion, the catalyst was successfully recovered and reused several times without significant loss in yield and selectivity. All the newly synthesized compounds were characterized using elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectrometry).     

Chromium imine and amine complexes as homogeneous catalysts for the trimerisation and polymerisation of ethylene

Cr(III) complexes of tridendate imine and amine ligands with N, P, O, S donor atoms 1 and 2 have been prepared and tested as catalysts in the oligomerisation and polymerisation of ethylene giving excellent selectivity towards 1-hexene and polymerisation to polyethylene when activated with cocatalysts. X-ray structure analyses of the precatalysts 1a-c, 1i, and 2b are investigated. The metal-ligand binding in 1a and 1b is nearly the same, which leads to similar catalytic activities of these precatalysts.     

Synthesis of leucine-enkephalin analogs containing α-amino squaric acid

Novel Leu-enkephalin analogs 10a-c in which the Tyr¹, Gly², or Gly³ residue of Leu-enkephalin 9 was replaced with α-amino squaric acid analog Sq-Tyr 8b or Sq-Gly 8a were synthesized starting from 14 or 18. Conformational analysis of 10a-c together with its model compound 26 and their opioid receptor binding activity were evaluated.     

New water-soluble iminecalix[4]arene with a deep hydrophobic cavity

We report the synthesis of a new water-soluble iminecalix[4]arene host 4c with a deep hydrophobic cavity. The negatively charged four carboxylate functions on the top of the cavity play a major role in the recognition of charged molecular species. The ¹H NMR titration experiments revealed that host 4c binds with cationic (10-12) and neutral guests (6-9) in water with high binding constants in the order of 10⁴-10⁵ M⁻¹. Cationic guest 9 showed highest binding constant of 2.81 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ with host 4c amongst all tested guests. Selectivity over anionic guests (13-17) is established by the presence of negative charges at the top of the deep hydrophobic cavity, as guests 15 and 17 were not recognized by host 4c. Neutral pyridine derivatives with hydrophobic chains at para positions showed high binding constants of 6.02 × 10⁴-2.23 × 10⁵ M⁻¹. The data obtained for the recognition of the guests by host 4c revealed that the ionic as well as the hydrophobic-hydrophobic interactions are crucial in the molecular recognition in aqueous medium.     

A New Alkylation-Elimination Method for Synthesis of Antiviral Fluoromethylenecyclopropane Analogues of Nucleosides

A new method for the synthesis of fluoromethylenecyclopropane nucleosides by alkylation-elimination procedure is described. Fluorination of methylenecyclopropane carboxylate 6 gave fluoroester 7. Treatment of 7 with phenylselenenyl bromide afforded the desired ethyl (E)-2-bromomethyl-1-fluoro-2-phenylselenenylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate 11 in 85% yield. DIBALH reduction of 11 gave 13, which after acetylation to 14 was reacted with 2-amino-6-chloropurine to give the 9-alkylated product 15 in 87% yield. Se-oxidation of 15 with hydrogen peroxide afforded 16, which underwent smooth elimination in a mixture of THF-DMF at 60 °C giving rise to a Z,E mixture of protected nucleosides 17. Deacetylation gave Z-1a and E-1a which were separated on a silica gel column. Both Z-1a and E-1a were converted into the respective guanine analogues Z-1b and E-1b.     

Synthesis of the first pseudo-phosphonopeptides derived from (ferrocenyl)aminomethanephosphonous acids

The first example of the condensation of (ferrocene)-N-benzhydrylamino-methanephosphonous acid (1) with α-amino acids 2a-d and several model dipeptides 4a-d and the tripeptide dl-alanyl-dl-leucinyl-glycine (4e) in the presence of DCC resulted in pseudo-phosphono-dipeptides 3a-d and pseudo-phosphono-oligopeptides 5a-d. The probable chiral assistance of the incoming amino acid or peptide in the formation of the new chiral center on phosphorus was also a feature of this method.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted unsaturated prolines from chiral sulfoximine substituted allyl titanium(IV) complexes

An asymmetric synthesis of the 3-substituted Δ^3,4-unsaturated prolines 7a-e and 3-substituted 4-methylene prolines 14a-c starting from the corresponding γ,δ-unsaturated α-amino acids 4a-e and 11a-c, respectively, is described. Amino acid derivatives 4a-e and 11a-d were obtained through aminoalkylation of the corresponding sulfoximine substituted allyl titanium(IV) complexes 2a-e and 10a-d, respectively, with the N-tert-butylsulfonyl imino ester 3. Activation of sulfoximines 4a-e and 11a-c through methylation of the sulfoximine group followed by a KF mediated isomerization of the vinyl aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-e and 12a-c, respectively, to the corresponding allyl aminosulfoxonium salt 6a-e and 13a-c, respectively, and a subsequent intramolecular nucleophilic substitution of the allylic aminosulfoxonium group afforded the enantio- and diastereomerically pure proline derivatives in medium to high yields.     

Intramolecular charge transfer dual fluorescent sensors from 4-(dialkylamino)benzanilides with metal binding site within electron acceptor

Three fluoroionophores (2a-c) were designed as the intramolecular charge transfer (CT) dual fluorescent sensors for metal cations with metal binding site within the electron acceptor. These sensors were derived from 4-dialkylaminobenzanilides (alkyl=methyl, ethyl, and n-butyl) with the amido phenyl ring being an arm of 15-crown-5 thus bearing binding site for alkaline and alkaline earth metal cations. Compounds 2a-c were expected to have two possible CT channels of opposite direction. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of 2a-c and their crown-ether free model molecules 3a-c in a variety of solvents were recorded. Dual fluorescence was observed with 2a-c and was assigned to the LE and the CT states, respectively. In nonpolar or less polar solvents the CT occurring with 2a-c was identified as that occurred with benzanilides (BA) with the amido anilines being the electron donor (the BA-like CT), while in polar solvents such as acetonitrile (ACN), the CT was still mainly the BA-like. In the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations in ACN, the CT dual fluorescence underwent substantial changes so as increased total quantum yield, red-shifted LE band and enhanced CT to LE intensity ratio. Binding of the metal cations at the 15-crown-5 moiety of 2a-c was shown to turn the CT direction that the dialkylamino group in the binding complexes being the electron donor while the benzo-15-crown-5 moiety now being within the electron acceptor. The occurrence of this CT enhances metal cation binding to 15-crown-5 ether in 2a-c, which was confirmed by the observed higher metal binding constants. Compounds 2a-c as the CT dual fluorescent sensors were shown to operate under the mechanism of the metal cation binding induced switching of the CT character from the BA-like to that occurred with 4-(dimethylamino)benzamides (the DMABA-like). Compounds 2a-c therefore represent successful examples for the CT dual fluorescent sensors for cations with the metal binding site within the electron acceptor and can be employed as sensitive ratiometric fluorescent sensors for metal cations of improved sensing performance.     

Synthesis of poly-substituted pyrroles starting from the Baylis-Hillman adducts

We synthesized poly-substituted pyrrole derivatives 4a-e, 7a-c and 10a-d from the reaction of phenacyl bromide and the aza-Baylis-Hillman adducts 1a-d or their rearranged derivatives 5a-e. The pyrroles were synthesized via the successive N-alkylation, Michael addition, elimination of p-toluenesulfinic acid and oxidative aromatization processes.     

Efficient and regioselective chromium(0)-catalyzed reaction of 2-substituted furans with diazo compounds: stereoselective synthesis of (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters

Pentacarbonyl(η²-cis-cyclooctene)chromium(0) (1) catalyzes efficiently reactions of diazo compounds with electron-rich furans. The reaction of 2-methoxyfuran (2) with alkyl α-diazoarylacetate (3a-g) furnishes the (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g) in excellent yields. These reactions are highly regioselective. The cyclopropanation intermediates formed from 1 and diazo compounds 3a-g always arise from a carbene addition to the less substituted CC bond of 2. The resulting cyclopropanation product undergoes a ring opening reaction to form the corresponding (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g). The pentacarbonylchromium(0)-catalyzed reactions of 2-alkylfuran (5a-b) with ethyl α-diazophenylacetate (3a) and 9-diazo-9H-fluorene (3h) produce the 1(E),3(E)-butadienes (6a-d) in very good yields.