Synthesis and application of polytetrahydrofuran-grafted polystyrene (PS-PTHF) resin supports for organic synthesis

Cross-linked polystyrene (PS) with polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) chains were prepared for use in solid phase organic synthesis (SPOS). The resins were prepared from styrene, styrene-PTHF macromonomers and cross-linkers 1,4-bis[4-vinylphenoxy]butane or divinylbenzene by suspension polymerization. The styrene-PTHF macromonomers were prepared by cationic polymerization of 4-vinylbenzyl bromide and 4-(4-vinylphenoxy)butyl iodide activated by silver hexafluoroantimonate and 4-(5-hydroxypentyl)styrene activated by triflic anhydride. Alternatively, polytetrahydrofuran-grafted polystyrene (PS-PTHF) resins could also be directly prepared from 5-hydroxypentyl JandaJel by cationic polymerization using triflic anhydride as the initiator. These PS-PTHF resins exhibited good swelling characteristics across a wide spectrum of polar and non-polar solvents. These resins were used in the synthesis of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one, which requires β-ketoester formation at low temperature (−78 °C), resulting in good yield and product purity; whereas the same synthesis carried out on PEG-grafted PS (PS-PEG) resin resulted in incomplete synthesis.     

Preparation and properties of high performance bismaleimide resins based on 1,3,4-oxadiazole-containing monomers

In research towards high performance polymeric materials, two novel series of bismaleimide (BMI) resins based on 1,3,4-oxadiazole-containing monomers have been designed and prepared by the copolymeriziation reaction of 5-tert-butyl-1,3-bis[5-(4-maleimidophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-yl]benzene (Buoxd) or 4,4′-bis[5-(4-maleimidophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-yl]diphenyldimethylsilane (Sioxd) and 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMDM) in different feed ratios. The structures, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of all the resulting BMI resins were carefully characterized by a combination of methods such as IR, DSC, TGA and DMA. Investigation of the copolymerization process has shown that with an increase of the weight ratio of Buoxd or Sioxd, melting transition temperature (T_m) of BMI monomer mixtures decreased and the exothermic polymerization temperature (T_p) increased. For all BMI monomer mixtures, a rapid polymerization process was observed in the early stage, as shown by the IR investigations. No glass transition was observed for the resulting BMI resins in the temperature range from 50 °C to 350 °C, indicating the formation of highly cross-linking networks. The initial thermal decomposition temperatures (T_d) of the BMI resins were in the range of 477-493 °C in nitrogen and 442-463 °C in the air. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the composites made of the BMI resins and glass cloth showed high bending modulus not only at room temperature (E′, 1.9-5.3 GPa) but also at high temperature, e.g., 400 °C (E′, 1.7-4.4 GPa).     

Acetylene-grafted resins derived from phenolics via azo coupling reaction

Novel phenolic resins with high ethynyl contents were realized via azo coupling reaction between phenol units and diazonium of 3-ethynylaniline. If Novolac and high-ortho Novolac resins were used as the starting materials directly, the ratio of ethynyl groups to phenolic rings was ca 70%; while the ratio was 100% for the resin from Friedel-Craft polycondensation of 4-(3-ethynylphenyl)salicyl alcohol. All the resins were readily soluble in acetone and ethanol, and meltable at temperatures below 100 °C. The resins underwent thermal addition-type cure with a broad exotherm of around 140-280 °C, and the starting curing temperature showed a downward drift with increase in the ethynyl content. The thermal properties of the cured resins, determined from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were considerably superior to those of Novolac- and Resole-type phenolic resins. The initial decomposition temperatures were at ca 400 °C, and the anaerobic carbon yields were ca 80% for all the resins.     

Thermal, oxidative and radiation stability of polyimides. Part IV: Polyimides based on N-[4-benzoyl-2-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-pyrrol-1-yl)-phenyl]-acetamide and different diamines

Polyimide resins were obtained from the reaction between N-[4-benzoyl-2-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-pyrrol-1-yl)-phenyl]-acetamide and the following compounds with terminal amino groups: urea, 4-[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]aniline, thiourea, 2-aminoethylamine, and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane. The thermal and thermooxidative behaviour of the polyimide resins was studied by thermogravimetric measurements (TG) in oxygen and nitrogen. Polyimide resins have been irradiated (500 kGy) and their radiation stability evaluated on the basis of thermal and thermooxidative behaviour of irradiated samples.The thermal and oxidative degradation of the examined polyimides is complex and occurs in two phases. The first step occurs in both nitrogen and oxygen but it is somewhat less pronounced in oxygen due to oxidation and formation of more stable products. All samples showed very good radiation stability and there is almost no change in the first degradation step while the span of the peaks in the second step is narrowed and temperatures are slightly lower.     

Preparation and thermal stability of boron-containing phenolic resin/clay nanocomposites

In order to further improve thermal stability of the phenolic resins, we combined boron and clay with phenolic resins to prepare nanocomposites (BH-B, BP-B, and BE-B series). Boron-containing phenolic resin/clay (montmorillonite) nanocomposites were prepared using in situ polymerization of resol-type phenolic resins. Montmorillonite (MMT) was modified by benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium chloride (BH), benzyldimethyphenylammonium chloride (BP), and benzyltriethylammonium chloride (BE). X-ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations showed that clay platelets were partially exfoliated after complete curing of the phenolic resins. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that thermal decomposition temperatures (T_d) and residual weight at 790 °C of cured boron-containing nanocomposites were much higher than the corresponding nanocomposites without boron. For example, the rise in decomposition temperature of BE-B10% is about 42 °C (from 520 to 566 °C), whereas the increase in char yields is 6.4% (from 66.2% to 72.6%). However, the boron-containing composites were more prone to absorb moisture (ca. 9-14%) than boron-free ones (ca. 3-4%), which was attributed to unreacted or partially reacted boric acid during preparation process.     

Convenient Preparation of 4-Formyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenol and Its Incorporation into Linkers and Resins for Solid-Phase Synthesis

4-Formyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenol (1) is a key synthetic intermediate used to prepare the BAL family (backbone amide linker) of acid-labile linkers and resins. The utility of these linkers and resins for solid-phase synthesis of both peptides and non-peptides has been amply demonstrated. In this article we report a simple and scalable procedure for preparation of isomerically pure 4-formyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenol (1) and its subsequent incorporation into a representative BAL linker and functionalized resin: 4-(4-formyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenoxy)butanoic acid and 4-formyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenoxy-polystyrene, respectively. The procedures are reproducible, are readily scalable, and require no chromatography.     

Improved solid-phase peptide synthesis of ‘difficult peptides’ by altering the microenvironment of the developing sequence

Three types of resins, related to the spacer, environmental and microenvironmental models were prepared by grafting commercial AMP polymer with 2-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)-2-oxoethoxy]acetic acid. All resins were highly loaded and functionalized with Rink-amide linker. A comparative synthesis of the classic difficult sequence ACP (65-74) on the prepared resins by Fmoc/t-Bu chemistry is presented. The ‘microenviromental’ model resin afforded the crude peptide in the highest purity (98%).     

1,3-Cycloaddition synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole conjugates of betulonic acid with peptides

1,2,3-Triazole conjugates of betulonic acid with peptides were synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azido peptides to N-(3-oxolup-20(29)-en-28-oyl)-4-ethynylaniline.     

Selective isolation of N-terminal peptides from proteins and their de novo sequencing by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry without regard to unblocking or blocking of N-terminal amino acids

We have developed a new method to determine the N-terminal amino acid sequences of proteins, regardless of whether their N-termini are modified. This method consists of the following five steps: (1) reduction, S-alkylation and guanidination for targeted proteins; (2) coupling of sulfo-NHS-SS-biotin to N(alpha)-amino groups of proteins; (3) digestion of the modified proteins by an appropriate protease followed by oxidation with performic acid; (4) specific isolation of N-terminal peptides from digests using DITC resins; (5) de novo sequence analysis of the N-terminal peptides by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) using the CAF (chemically assisted fragmentation) method or tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis according to unblocked or blocked peptides, respectively. By employing DITC resins instead of avidin resins used in our previous method (Yamaguchi et al., Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2007; 21: 3329), it has been possible to isolate selectively N-terminal peptides from proteins regardless of modification of N-terminal amino acids. Here we propose a universal method for N-terminal sequence analysis of proteins.     

Racemic Norlignans as Diastereoisomers from Ferula sinkiangensis Resins with Antitumor and Wound-Healing Promotion Activities

Ferulasinkins A–D (1–4), four new norlignans, were isolated from the resins of Ferula sinkiangensis, a medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family. All of them were obtained as racemic mixtures, chiral HPLC was used to produce their (+)- and (−)-antipodes. The structures of these new compounds, including their absolute configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic and computational methods. This isolation provides new insight into the chemical profiling of F. sinkiangensis resins beyond the well-investigated structure types such as sesquiterpene coumarins and disulfides. Compounds 2a and 3a were found to significantly inhibit the invasion and migration of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines via CCK-8 assay. On the other hand, the wound-healing assay also demonstrated that compounds 4a and 4b could promote the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Notably, the promoting effects of 4a and 4b were observed as more significant versus a positive control using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).     

Polystyrene resins cross-linked with di- or tri(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates as supports for solid-phase peptide synthesis

Polystyrene resins cross-linked with di(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) and tri(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), DEGDMA-PS and TEGDMA-PS, were synthesized by suspension copolymerization. Four functionalized resins, chloromethyl resin, 4-hydroxymethylphenoxymethyl resin (Wang resin), 4-methylbenzhydrylamine resin (MBHA resin) and 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin, were prepared from DEGDMA-PS and TEGDMA-PS. DEGDMA-PS and TEGDMA-PS showed high reactivity in the functionalization reactions in comparison with Merrifield resin (polystyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene, DVB-PS). DEGDMA-PS-Wang resin and TEGDMA-PS-Wang resin were used as the solid-phase support for the synthesis of a difficult sequence, the fragment of acyl carrier protein 65-74. The yields of the crude peptide synthesized using DEGDMA-PS-Wang resin, TEGDMA-PS-Wang resin and DVB-PS-Wang resin were 92.3%, 91.6% and 78.8%, respectively. The purities of the crude peptides were 85.7%, 88.1% and 73.3%, respectively.     

Enantioselective allylic alkylation using polymer-supported palladium catalysts

Chiral 2′-(4″,5″-dihydro-2″-oxazolyl)-6′-(1-hydroxyalkyl)pyridines were grafted via ester-linkages directly to cross-linked polystyrene and to polyethyleneglycol-containing resins TentaGel and ArgoGel functionalized with carboxylic acid groups or via spacers containing a carboxylic acid group. The polymeric ligands were used in the palladium-catalyzed substitution of rac-1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate. The enantioselectivities (up to 80% ee) were similar to those observed employing an analogous monomeric catalyst.     

Comparison of the applicability of 2-hydroxyethylsulfonylmethyl- and chloromethyl-polystyrenes in the solid-phase synthesis of protected peptides

In order to compare the applicability of resins in the preparation of protected peptides two solid-phase syntheses of a protected ACTH-(5–10)-hexapeptide have been performed, one using 2-hydroxyethylsulfonylmethyl-polystyrene and the other with Merrifield's chloromethylated polystyrene. To obtain a good comparison, equivalent methods were used as far as possible. Optimal conditions for deprotection of amino groups and for the liberation of the end-product were determined. Chromatographic examination of the crude fission products of the peptidyl resins presented important clues towards the nature of the underlying fission mechanism. Using an automated peptide synthesizer the pure end-product was obtained from both resins in approximately the same yield (ca. 70%). It appeared that the isolation of the product from the suffone resin is less laborious, since the critical alkali-treatment, necessary for the liberation of the product, proceeds faster and, if properly carried out, avoids transesterification.     

Synthesis and thermal characterization of phosphorus containing siliconized epoxy resins

Siliconized epoxy matrix resin was developed by reacting diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A (DGEBA) type epoxy resin with hydroxyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (silicone) modifier, using γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane crosslinker and dibutyltindilaurate catalyst. The siliconized epoxy resin was cured with 4, 4-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM), 1,6-hexanediamine (HDA), and bis (4-aminophenyl) phenylphosphate (BAPP). The BAPP cured epoxy and siliconized epoxy resins exhibit better flame-retardant behaviour than DDM and HDA cured resins. The thermal stability and flame-retardant property of the cured epoxy resins were studied by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and limiting oxygen index (LOI). The glass transition temperatures (T_g) were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the surface morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The heat deflection temperature (HDT) and moisture absorption studies were carried out as per standard testing procedure. The thermal stability and flame-retardant properties of the cured epoxy resins were improved by the incorporation of both silicone and phosphorus moieties. The synergistic effect of silicone and phosphorus enhanced the limiting oxygen index values, which was observed for siliconized epoxy resins cured with phosphorus containing diamine compound.     

Kinetics and thermal properties of epoxy resins based on bisphenol fluorene structure

The fluorene-containing epoxy, diglycidyl ether of 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene (DGEBF) was synthesized by a two-step reaction procedure. In order to investigate the relationship between fluorene structure and material properties, DGEBF and a commonly used diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) were cured with 4,4-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM) and 4,4-(9-fluorenylidene)-dianiline (FDA). The curing kinetics, thermal properties and decomposition kinetics of these four systems (DGEBA/DDM, DGEBF/DDM, DGEBA/FDA, and DGEBF/FDA) were studied in detail. The curing reactivity of fluorene epoxy resins was lower, but the thermal stability was higher than bisphenol A resins. The onset decomposition temperature of cured epoxy resins was not significantly affected by fluorene structure, but the char yield and T_g value were increased with that of fluorene content. Our results indicated that the addition of fluorene structure to epoxy resin is an effective method to improve the thermal properties of resins, but excess fluorene ring in the chain backbone can depress the curing efficiency of the resin.     

Degradation kinetics of functionalized novolac resins

We report the relationships between the degradation behaviors (i.e. the degradation kinetics, degradation activation energy, weight loss conversion, and char formation) and the structure features in three modified novolac resins bearing different curable functional groups and aromatic units i.e. Carbonyl phenyl azo novolac resin (CPAN), 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl azo) benzyl ester novolac resin (HPDEN) and Carbonyl phenyl 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl azo) benzyl ester novolac resin (CHABN). These modifications enhanced the thermal stability of the cured novolac resins by delaying the decomposition temperature up to 30-100 °C and produced prominent residue char yield up to 68% (CPAN), 56% (HPDEN) and 64% (CHABN), respectively. The two heavily cross-linked samples, CPAN and CHABN displayed even higher Ea than HPDEN. All modified novolacs displayed much higher decomposition activation energy (over 237 KJ/mol*K) compared with the generic phenolic (PN).     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3,4-dichlorophenylbutanolide intermediate in the synthesis of sertraline

3,4-Dichlorophenacylchloride was reduced with whole cell biocatalysts to give the (R)- or (S)-chlorohydrine in high yields and good to high enantiomeric excess. Yields and enantiomeric purity of the (S)-enantiomer were increased to 95 and >98%, respectively, using growing cells from Geotrichum candidum (CBS 233.76) in the presence of hydrophobic adsorbing resins at 4 g/l. The latter compound was transformed into (R)-3,4-dichlorophenylbutanolide, intermediate in the synthesis of (+)-cis-1S,4S-sertraline.     

Lewis acid-nitromethane complex-promoted Friedel-Crafts reactions of PS-DVB-resins

Aminomethyl-polystyrene resins were prepared using FeCl₃-nitromethane and FeCl₃-benzophenone complexes as Friedel-Crafts catalysts. All the resins were highly loaded and functionalized with Rink amide linker. A comparative synthesis of the classic difficult sequence ACP (65-74) on the prepared resins by Fmoc/t-Bu chemistry is presented. The target peptide of highest purity (91%) was that prepared using FeCl₃-nitromethane.     

Tetraethyleneglycol diacrylate (TTEGDA)-crosslinked polystyrene resin as an efficient solid support for gel phase peptide synthesis

Various applications of the newly developed tetraethyleneglycol diacrylate (TTEGDA)-crosslinked polystyrene resin are illustrated by the synthesis of model peptides, fully protected peptides, peptide amides and biologically important sequences. PS-TTEGDA resin was prepared by suspension polymerization of styrene and TTEGDA and functionalized with chloromethyl, 4-cholromethyl-3-nitro, aminomethyl, α-bromopropionyl, a-aminopropionyl, 4-bromomethyl 3-nitrobenzamido, 4-aminomethyl-3-nitrobenzamido groups. Peptide synthesis was carried out using these modified resins by standard solid phase methodology. Coupling and deprotection in this synthetic strategy went to near completion showing the positive role of hydrophilic and flexible crosslinking agent TTEGDA in facilitating gelphase reactions. The peptides were removed from the support by photolysis, trifluoroaceticacid (TFA) treatment,trans-esterification or ammonolysis in high purity and yield. The crude peptides were purified by column chromatography/FPLC and characterized by aminoacid analysis, sequencing or¹H-NMR.     

Preparation of orthogonally protected (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-methyl-4-phosphonobutyric acid (Pmab) as a phosphatase-stable phosphothreonine mimetic and its use in the synthesis of polo-box domain-binding peptides

Reported herein is the first stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)-4-[bis-(tert-butyloxy)phosphinyl]-2-[(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy)carbonyl]amino-3-methylbutanoic acid [(N-Fmoc, O,O-(bis-(tert-butyl))-Pmab), 4] as a hydrolytically-stable phosphothreonine mimetic bearing orthogonal protection compatible with standard solid-phase protocols. The synthetic approach used employs Evans' oxazolidinone for chiral induction. Also presented is the application of 4 in the solid-phase synthesis of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo box domain (PBD)-binding peptides. These Pmab-containing peptides retain PBD binding efficacy similar to a parent pThr containing peptide. Reagent 4 should be a highly useful reagent for the preparation of signal transduction-directed peptides.