A serendipitous synthesis of (+)-gregatin B, second structure revisions of the aspertetronins, gregatins, and graminin A, structure revision of the penicilliols

A (DHQN)(2)AQN-promoted asymmetric dihydroxylation (92% ee) of the allyl chloride derived from enynol (E)-13 and an 8-step sequence provided access to the hydroxyethylated furanone (R)-21. Oxidation with MnO(2) furnished 50% furanone (+)-(R)-2a and 2.7% isomeric furanone (+)-(R)-3a. (R)-2a possesses the accepted constitution of (+)-gregatin B but its spectra are different. Surprisingly, (+)-(R)-3a equals the natural product. Analogous structure reassignments are due for the gregatins A and C-E, the aspertetronins A-B, graminin A, and the penicilliols A and B.     

Hydrolysis of the amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) 1-40 between Asp23-Val24 produces non-aggregating fragments. An electrospray mass spectrometric study

The aggregation of full-length (residues 1-40) amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) and fragments corresponding to residues 1-23 and 24-40 was studied by electrospray mass spectrometry, using gramicidin as a non-aggregating reference. Following a lag period, A beta(1-40) at 140 microM concentration aggregates with apparent first-order kinetics. Under acidic conditions A beta(1-40) undergoes spontaneous cleavage between Asp23-Val24 and to a lesser extent also at two other Asp-X motifs. Incubation in acidic H(2)18O showed incorporation of 18O in fragment A beta(1-23), confirming that the Asp23-Val24 peptide bond had been hydrolyzed. Incubation of synthetic A beta(1-23) and A beta(24-40) peptides with A beta(1-40) showed that A beta(24-40) remained in solution for several months, that A beta(1-23) partly disappeared from solution, whereas A beta(1-40) completely disappeared. Further, treatment of sedimentable aggregates formed after co-incubation of the three peptides with hexafluoro-2-propanol or formic acid recovered the intensity of A beta(1-40). These data support previous studies showing that the region of A beta encompassing residues 16-24 is necessary for aggregation into amyloid fibrils.     

Electrochemical synthesis and chemistry of chiral 1-cyanotetrahydroisoquinolines. An approach to the asymmetric syntheses of the alkaloid (-)-crispine a and its natural (+)-antipode

The stereoselective convergent total syntheses of both enantiomers of the tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) alkaloid crispine A are described. The THIQ precursors (-)-6 (90:10 dr) and (-)-11 (85:15 dr) were prepared from the alkylation-reduction sequence of a common α-amino nitrile (+)-4 derivative that has been conveniently prepared by anodic cyanation. Elaboration of the pyrrolidine ring of the title compound was cleanly achieved by two efficient ring closures methods involving (a) the displacement of a halogen atom and (b) the formation of a cyclic iminium cation to afford (-)-crispine A in 90% and 85% yields, respectively. A crystallization of enantioenriched (-)-crispine A (90:10 er) with 1 equiv of (-)-DBTA afforded the tartrate salt (-)-14 (≥98:2 dr) in 81% yield. The absolute S configuration of (-)-crispine A was simply deduced from examination of the X-ray data of tartrate salt (-)-14. Likewise, the natural (+)-crispine A was prepared in seven workup steps in an overall 30% yield, and reciprocal crystallization with (+)-DBTA afforded the enantiomeric tartrate salt (+)-14 in a ≥98:2 dr. Both enantiomers of crispine A were liberated from their respective DBTA salts in ≥98:2 er's which were determined by proton and carbon NMR spectroscopy, utilizing (R)-(+)-tert-butylphenylphosphinothioic acid (+)-15 as chiral solvating agent.     

Activation energies for dissociation of double strand oligonucleotide anions: evidence for watson-crick base pairing in vacuo

The dissociation kinetics of a series of complementary and noncomplementary DNA duplexes, (TGCA)(2) (3-), (CCGG)(2) (3-), (AATTAAT)(2) (3-), (CCGGCCG)(2) (3-), A(7).T(7) (3-), A(7).A(7) (3-), T(7).T(7) (3-), and A(7).C(7) (3-) were investigated using blackbody infrared radiative dissociation in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer. From the temperature dependence of the unimolecular dissociation rate constants, Arrhenius activation parameters in the zero-pressure limit are obtained. Activation energies range from 1.2 to 1.7 eV, and preexponential factors range from 10(13) to 10(19) s(-1). Dissociation of the duplexes results in cleavage of the noncovalent bonds and/or cleavage of covalent bonds leading to loss of a neutral nucleobase followed by backbone cleavage producing sequence-specific (a - base) and w ions. Four pieces of evidence are presented which indicate that Watson-Crick (WC) base pairing is preserved in complementary DNA duplexes in the gas phase: i. the activation energy for dissociation of the complementary dimer, A(7).T(7) (3-), to the single strands is significantly higher than that for the related noncomplementary A(7).A(7) (3-) and T(7).T(7) (3-) dimers, indicating a stronger interaction between strands with a specific base sequence, ii. extensive loss of neutral adenine occurs for A(7).A(7) (3-) and A(7).C(7) (3-) but not for A(7).T(7) (3-) consistent with this process being shut down by WC hydrogen bonding, iii. a correlation is observed between the measured activation energy for dissociation to single strands and the dimerization enthalpy (-DeltaH(d)) in solution, and iv. molecular dynamics carried out at 300 and 400 K indicate that WC base pairing is preserved for A(7).T(7) (3-) duplex, although the helical structure is essentially lost. In combination, these results provide strong evidence that WC base pairing can exist in the complete absence of solvent.     

Application of equation-of-motion coupled-cluster methods to low-lying singlet and triplet electronic states of HBO and BOH

The equilibrium structures and physical properties of the X (1)sigma(+) linear electronic states, linear excited singlet and triplet electronic states of hydroboron monoxide (HBO) (A (1)sigma(-), B (1)delta, a (3)sigma(+), and b (3)delta) and boron hydroxide (BOH) (A (1)sigma(+), B (1)Pi, and b (3)Pi), and their bent counterparts (HBO a (3)A('), b (3)A("), A (1)A("), B (1)A(') and BOH X (1)A('), b (3)A('), c (3)A("), A (1)A('), B (1)A('), C (1)A(")) are investigated using excited electronic state ab initio equation-of-motion coupled-cluster (EOM-CC) methods. A new implementation of open-shell EOM-CC including iterative partial triple excitations (EOM-CC3) was tested. Coupled-cluster wave functions with single and double excitations (CCSD), single, double, and iterative partial triple excitations (CC3), and single, double, and full triple excitations (CCSDT) are employed with the correlation-consistent quadruple and quintuple zeta basis sets. The linear HBO X (1)sigma(+) state is predicted to lie 48.3 kcal mol(-1) (2.09 eV) lower in energy than the BOH X (1)sigma(+) linear stationary point at the CCSDT level of theory. The CCSDT BOH barrier to linearity is predicted to lie 3.7 kcal mol(-1) (0.16 eV). With a harmonic zero-point vibrational energy correction, the HBO X (1)sigma(+)-BOH X (1)A(') energy difference is 45.2 kcal mol(-1) (1.96 eV). The lowest triplet excited electronic state of HBO, a (3)A('), has a predicted excitation energy (T(e)) of 115 kcal mol(-1) (4.97 eV) from the HBO ground state minimum, while the lowest-bound BOH excited electronic state, b (3)A('), has a T(e) of 70.2 kcal mol(-1) (3.04 eV) with respect to BOH X (1)A('). The T(e) values predicted for the lowest singlet excited states are A (1)A(")<--X (1)sigma(+)=139 kcal mol(-1) (6.01 eV) for HBO and A (1)A(')<--X (1)A(')=102 kcal mol(-1) (4.42 eV) for BOH. Also for BOH, the triplet vertical transition energies are b (3)A(')<--X (1)A(')=71.4 kcal mol(-1) (3.10 eV) and c (3)A(")<--X (1)A(')=87.2 kcal mol(-1) (3.78 eV).     

Chemistry of metal-bound anion radicals. A family of mono- and bis(azopyridine) chelates of bivalent ruthenium

The reaction of the dihydride [RuII(H)2(CO)(PPh3)3], 3, with excess azo-2,2'-bipyridine (abp) in boiling dry benzene has afforded the diradical bischelate [RuII(abp.-)2(CO)(PPh3)], 4, and the hydridic monochelate monoradical [RuII(abp.-)(H)(CO)(PPh3)2], 5. A similar reaction between 3 and 2-(p-chlorophenylazo)pyridine (Clpap) did not yield a bischelate, but the hydridic monoradical [RuII(Clpap.-)(H)(CO)(PPh3)2], 6, has been isolated. Upon treatment of 4-6 with NH4PF6 in a wet dichloromethane-acetonitrile medium, the one-electron-oxidized salts 4+PF6-, 5+PF6-, and 6+PF6- are isolated, H+ being the oxidizing agent. The X-ray structures of 4+PF6-.CH2Cl2, 5+PF6-.H2O, and 6+PF6- have been determined. In the monoradical 4+ the azo N-N bond lengths in the two chelate rings are 1.284(6) and 1.336(6) A, showing that the radical electron is localized in the latter ring. The half-filled extended Hückel HOMO is indeed found to be so localized, and it has a large azo character. Complexes 4-6 display radical redox couples with E1/2 in the range -0.5 to +0.10 V vs SCE. The E1/2 values qualitatively correlate with corresponding vco values (1900-2000 cm-1). The monoradicals (S = 1/2) 4+, 5, and 6 uniformly display a strong EPR signal near g = 2.00. Metal-mediated magnetic interaction makes the EPR-silent diradical 4 strongly antiferromagnetic with J = -299 cm-1. Crystal data are as follows: (4+PF6-.CH2Cl2, C40H33Cl2F6N8-OP2Ru) monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (no. 14), a = 14.174(6) A, b = 16.451(4) A, c = 18.381(4) A, beta = 98.00(3) degrees, Z = 4; (5+PF6-.H2O, C47H41F6N4O2P3Ru) monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n (no. 14), a = 9.433(2) A, b = 38.914(17) A, c = 13.084(3) A, beta = 103.47(2) degrees, Z = 4; (6+PF6-, C48H39ClF6N3OP3Ru) monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n (no. 14), a = 10.496(5) A, b = 22.389(8) A, c = 19.720(6) A, beta = 90.53(3) degrees, Z = 4.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the tellurite minerals: rajite and denningite

Tellurites may be subdivided according to formula and structure. There are five groups based upon the formulae (a) A(XO3), (b) A(XO3).xH2O, (c) A2(XO3)3.xH2O, (d) A2(X2O5) and (e) A(X3O8). Raman spectroscopy has been used to study rajite and denningite, examples of group (d). Minerals of the tellurite group are porous zeolite-like materials. Raman bands for rajite observed at 740, and 676 and 667 cm(-1) are attributed to the nu1 (Te2O5)(2-) symmetric stretching mode and the nu3 (TeO3)(2-) antisymmetric stretching modes, respectively. A second rajite mineral sample provided a more complex Raman spectrum with Raman bands at 754 and 731 cm(-1) assigned to the nu1 (Te2O5)(2-) symmetric stretching modes and two bands at 652 and 603 cm(-1) are accounted for by the nu3 (Te2O5)(2-) antisymmetric stretching mode. The Raman spectrum of dennigite displays an intense band at 734 cm(-1) attributed to the nu1 (Te2O5)(2-) symmetric stretching mode with a second Raman band at 674 cm(-1) assigned to the nu3 (Te2O5)(2-) antisymmetric stretching mode. Raman bands for rajite, observed at (346, 370) and 438 cm(-1) are assigned to the (Te2O5)(2-)nu2 (A1) bending mode and nu4 (E) bending modes.     

Cyclodextrin complexation of a stilbene and the self-assembly of a simple molecular device

(E)-4-tert-Butyl-4'-oxystilbene, 1(-), is thermally stable as the (E)-1(-) isomer but may be photoisomerized to the (Z)-1(-) isomer as shown by UV-vis and (1)H NMR studies in aqueous solution. When (E)-1(-) is complexed by alphaCD two inclusion isomers (includomers) form in which alphaCD assumes either of the two possible orientations about the axis of (E)-1(-) in alphaCD.(E)-1(-) for which (1)H NMR studies yield the parameters: k(1)(298 K)= 12.3 +/- 0.6 s(-1), DeltaH(1)(++)= 94.3 +/- 4.7 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS1(++)= 92.0 +/- 5.0 J K(-1) mol(-1), and k(2)(298 K)= 10.7 +/- 0.5 s(-1), DeltaH(2)(++)= 93.1 +/- 4.7 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS2(++)= 87.3 +/- 5.0 J K(-1) mol(-1) for the minor and major includomers, respectively. The betaCD.(E)-1(-) complex either forms a single includomer or its includomers interchange at the fast exchange limit of the (1)H NMR timescale. Complexation of 1(-) by N-(6(A)-deoxy- alpha-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)-N'-(6(A)-deoxy- beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea, results in the binary complexes 2.(E)-1(-) in which both CD component annuli are occupied by (E)-1(-) and which exists exclusively in darkness and 2.(Z)-1(-) in which only one CD component is occupied by (Z)-1(-) and exists exclusively in daylight at lambda > or = 300 nm. Irradiation of solutions of the binary complexes at 300 and 355 nm results in photostationary states dominated by 2.(E)-1(-) and 2.(Z)-1(-), respectively. In the presence of 4-methylbenzoate, 4(-), 2.(Z)-1(-) forms the ternary complex 2.(Z)-1(-).4(-) where 4(-) occupies the second CD annulus. Interconversion occurs between 2.(Z)-1(-).4(-) and 2.(E)-1(-)+4(-) under the same conditions as for the binary complexes alone. Similar interactions occur in the presence of 4-methylphenolate and 4-methylphenylsulfonate. The two isomers of each of these systems represent different states of a molecular device, as do the analogous binary complexes of N,N-bis(6(A)-deoxy- beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea, 3, [3.(E)-1(-) and 3.(Z)-1(-), where the latter also forms a ternary complex with 4(-).     

Photochromic chiral liquid crystalline systems containing spiro-oxazine with a chiral substituent I. Synthesis and characterization of compounds

Photochromic acrylates containing both biphenylene and spiro-oxazine moieties with a chiral substituent and the related polymers were prepared and yielded photochromic chiral liquid crystalline systems. The photochromic acrylates containing both an undecamethylene group and a (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy group (A11SOP) or a (-)-menthoxyacetoxy group (A11SOM) gave a supercooled mesophase; the latter reflected right-handed visible light (blue colour) at room temperature. On the other hand, the photochromic acrylate containing both the (R)-(-)-2-methylpropylene and (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy groups (A3SOP) showed no mesophase. The related homopolymers, PA11SOP and PA11SOM, did not exhibit mesophases because of steric hindrance between the side groups of the polymers. However, only PA11SOM exhibited shear-induced birefringence under 100-104°C. Several copolymers consisting of the nematogenic monomer, 4-[4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoyloxy]benzonitrile (A6CN), and A11SOP or A11SOM possessed a smectic phase due to reduction of the steric hindrance between the potentially smectogenic A11SOP or A11SOM moieties.     

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXXIV. Structures of new prenylchalcones and prenylflavanones with TNF-alpha and aminopeptidase N inhibitory activities from Boesenbergia rotunda

The methanolic extract from the rhizomes of Boesenbergia rotunda (Zingiberaceae) was found to show inhibitory effect on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells (IC(50)=6.1 microg/ml). By bioassay-guided separation, four new prenylcalcones, (+)-krachaizin A (1a), (-)-krachaizin A (1b), (+)-krachaizin B (2a), and (-)-krachaizin B (2b), and four new prenylflavanones, rotundaflavones Ia (3a), Ib (3b), IIa (4a), and IIb (4b), were isolated together with 18 known constituents (5a-7b and 8-19). The structures of eight new compounds were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence. Among them, (+)-krachaizin B (2a), (-)-krachaizin B (2b), (+)-4-hydroxypanduratin A (6a), (-)-4-hydroxypanduratin A (6b), (+)-isopanduratin A (7a), (-)-isopanduratin A (7b), alpinetin (10), cardamonin (14), and 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone (15) significantly inhibited TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells at 10 microM. In addition, 2a, 2b, (+)-panduratins A (5a), (-)-panduratin A (5b), 6a, 7b, and geranyl-2,4-dihydroxy-6-phenylbenzoate (17) were found to show strong inhibitory effects on aminopeptidase N activity.     

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Pyrazoline Derivants

SNNHNH2 OSSNNHNH2 OS1 INTRODUCTION Pyrazoline derivatives, used as carrier transporting as well as emitting materials[1], have been widely investigated in many areas due to their blue light emission with high quantum yield[2～5], ready acces- sibility and easy processability. 1,3,5-Triaryl-2-pyrazo- lines are reported as the hole transporting or emitting Scheme 1N NN SEtOHmaterials in organic EL devices[6～8]. However, ben- zothiazoyl pyrazolinederivatives containing aro…     

Laboratory kinetic and mechanistic studies on the OH-initiated oxidation of acetone in aqueous solution

The OH-initiated oxidation of acetone in aqueous solution is investigated because of its potential implications in atmospheric chemistry. The UV-spectrum of the transient acetonylperoxy radical was measured. Two characteristic absorption bands of the acetonylperoxy radical spectrum are found in the 220-400 nm wavelength region. The rate constant for the recombination reaction of the acetonylperoxy radical was determined as a function of temperature for the first time in aqueous solution with k(rec,298?K) = (7.3 ± 1.3) × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1), E(A) = 4.5 ± 3.3 kJ mol(-1), and A = (4.7 ± 2.7) × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). Furthermore, kinetic investigations of the OH-initiated oxidation of methylglyoxal and pyruvic acid were performed with the following results: for methylglyoxal, k(second) = (6.2 ± 0.2) × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1), E(A) = 12 ± 2 kJ mol(-1), and A = (7.8 ± 0.2) × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1); for pyruvic acid (pH = 0), k(second) = (3.2 ± 0.6) × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1), E(A) = 15 ± 5 kJ mol(-1), and A?= (1.1 ± 0.1) × 10(11) M(-1) s(-1); for pyruvate (pH = 6), k(second) = (7.1 ± 2.4) × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1), E(A) = 25 ± 19 kJ mol(-1), and A = (1.5 ± 0.4) × 10(13) M(-1) s(-1). Quantitative product studies were done as a function of the number of laser photolysis pulses for acetone and its oxidation products methylglyoxal, hydroxyacetone, pyruvic acid, acetic acid, and oxalic acid. After the recombination reaction of acetonylperoxy radicals, there are two possible decomposition reactions where the primary products methylglyoxal and hydroxyacetone are formed. From product analysis after a single photolysis laser shot, the ratio of the main product-forming reactions was determined as (A) 30% and (B) 56% for the methylglyoxal formation via channel A to yield two molecules of methylglyoxal and channel B to yield one molecule of methylglyoxal and one molecule of hydroxyacetone. The remaining product can be ascribed to channel C, the radical-retaining channel forming alkoxy radicals with a yield of 14%. Pyruvic acid and acetic acid were found to be the major intermediates estimated with concentrations in the same order of magnitude and a similar time profile, indicating that acetic acid is also a possible oxidation product of methylglyoxal.     

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of potent, orally active adenosine A1 receptor antagonists with high blood-brain barrier permeability

A novel series of 3-(2-substituted-3-oxo-2,3-dihydropyridazin-6-yl)-2-phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines (5-38) were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro adenosine A1 and A(2A) receptor binding activities, and in vitro metabolism by rat liver in order to search for orally active compounds. Most of the test compounds were potent adenosine A1 receptor antagonists with high A1 selectivity and the A1 affinity and A1 selectivity of carbonyl derivatives (5-11) was particularly high. In particular, compound 7 was an extremely potent and selective adenosine A1 antagonist with high A1 selectivity (Ki=0.026 nM, A(2A)/A1=5400). In terms of metabolic stability, 2-oxopropyl (5), 2-hydroxypropyl (12), N-methylacetamide (16), 2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethyl (28) and 1-methylpiperidin-4-yl (32, FR194921) were the most stable compounds in this series of analogues. Further in vivo evaluation indicated that compounds 5, 13, 17, 28 and 32 were detected in both plasma and brain after oral administration in rats. In particular, 32 displayed good plasma and brain concentrations (dose: 32 mg/kg (n=3); after 30 min, plasma conc.=3390+/-651nM, brain conc.=3670+/-496nM; after 60min, plasma conc.=1580+/-348nM, brain conc.=2143+/-434nM), and a good brain/plasma ratio (1.11+/-0.060 (30min), 1.39+/-0.172 (60min)). As a result, we could show that 32 is a good candidate for an orally active adenosine A1 receptor antagonist with high blood-brain barrier permeability and good bioavailability (Ki=6.6nM, A(2A)/A1=820, BA=60.6+/-4.9% (32 mg/kg)).     

Quantification of the binding constant of copper(II) to the amyloid-beta peptide

The amyloid beta (A beta) peptide of Alzheimer's disease binds copper(II), and the peptide-bound metal may be a source of reactive oxygen species and neurotoxicity. To circumvent peptide aggregation and reduce redox activity, there is growing interest in using metal chelates as drug therapeutics for AD, whose design requires accurate data on the affinity of A beta peptides for copper(II). Reports on Cu2+ binding to A beta range from approximately 10(5) to approximately 10(9); these values' being obtained for different peptide lengths (1-16, 1-28, 1-40, 1-42) at varying pH. Herein, we report that Cu2+'s binding to A beta(1-40) at 37 degrees C occurs in a 1:1 stoichiometry with a pH-dependent binding constant: 1.1 (+/-0.2) x 10 (9) M (-1) and 2.4 (+/-0.2) x 10 (9) M(-1) at pH 7.2 and 7.4, respectively. Under identical conditions, A beta(1-16) reveals a comparable binding constant, confirming that this portion of the peptide is the binding region. Several previously reported values can be reconciled with the current measurement by careful consideration of thermodynamics associated with the presence of competing ligands used to solubilize copper.     

The visible spectrum of zirconium dioxide, ZrO2

The electronic spectrum of a cold molecular beam of zirconium dioxide, ZrO(2), has been investigated using laser induced fluorescence (LIF) in the region from 17,000 cm(-1) to 18,800 cm(-1) and by mass-resolved resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy from 17,000 cm(-1)-21,000 cm(-1). The LIF and REMPI spectra are assigned to progressions in the A?(1)B(2)(ν(1), ν(2), ν(3)) ← X?(1)A(1)(0, 0, 0) transitions. Dispersed fluorescence from 13 bands was recorded and analyzed to produce harmonic vibrational parameters for the X?(1)A(1) state of ω(1) = 898(1) cm(-1), ω(2) = 287(2) cm(-1), and ω(3) = 808(3) cm(-1). The observed transition frequencies of 45 bands in the LIF and REMPI spectra produce origin and harmonic vibrational parameters for the A?(1)B(2) state of T(e) = 16,307(8) cm(-1), ω(1) = 819(3) cm(-1), ω(2) = 149(3) cm(-1), and ω(3) = 518(4) cm(-1). The spectra were modeled using a normal coordinate analysis and Franck-Condon factor predictions. The structures, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and the potential energies as a function of bending angle for the A?(1)B(2) and X?(1)A(1) states are predicted using time-dependent density functional theory, complete active space self-consistent field, and related first-principle calculations. A comparison with isovalent TiO(2) is made.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of cocaine binding with human butyrylcholinesterase and its mutants

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to study cocaine binding with wild-type human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and its mutants based on a recently reported X-ray crystal structure of human BChE. For each BChE-cocaine system, we simulated both the nonprereactive and prereactive complexes in water. Despite the significant difference found at the acyl binding pocket, the simulated structures confirm the fundamental structural and mechanistic insights obtained from earlier computational studies of wild-type BChE with cocaine based on a homology model, e.g. the rate-determining step for BChE-catalyzed hydrolysis of biologically active (-)-cocaine is the (-)-cocaine rotation in the active site from the nonprereactive BChE-(-)-cocaine complex to the prereactive complex. It has been demonstrated that the MD simulations on both the nonprereactive and prereactive BChE-cocaine complexes can clearly reveal whether specific mutations produce the desired BChE-(-)-cocaine binding structures in which the (-)-cocaine rotation is less hindered while the required prereactive BChE-(-)-cocaine binding is maintained. Based on the MD simulations, both A328W/Y332A and A328W/Y332G BChE's are expected to have catalytic activity for (-)-cocaine hydrolysis higher than that of wild-type BChE and the activity of A328W/Y332G BChE should be slightly higher than that of A328W/Y332A BChE due to the less-hindered (-)-cocaine rotation in the mutant BChE's. However, the less-hindered (-)-cocaine rotation is only a necessary condition for a higher activity mutant BChE. The (-)-cocaine rotation is also less hindered in A328W/Y332A/Y419S BChE, but (-)-cocaine binds with A328W/Y332A/Y419S BChE in a way that is not suitable for the catalysis. Thus, A328W/Y332A/Y419S BChE is expected to lose the catalytic activity. The computational predictions were confirmed by our experimental kinetic data, demonstrating that the MD simulation-based computational protocol used in this study is reliable in prediction of the catalytic activity of BChE mutants for (-)-cocaine hydrolysis.     

Measurement of sulfite at oxide-coated copper electrodes

The amperometric determination of sulfite was performed using copper electrodes in alkaline media. A mechanism for the oxidation of sulfite at these electrodes is suggested, based on the formation of superficial CuO(.OH), which acted as an electron transfer mediator to the analyte. At 0.5 V versus SCE in 1 M NaOH, sulfite could be calibrated at a sensitivity of 0.2 A l mol-1 cm-2, with a response time for the steady state of 30 s. The limit of detection (three times the signal-to-noise ratio) was 2.5 x 10(-6) M and the response was linear up to 5 x 10(-4) M (r2 = 0.9996, n = 15). The standard deviation (n = 10) at 1 x 10(-5) and 1 x 10(-4) M was 3.27 x 10(-7) A cm-2 (mean = 3.62 x 10(-6) A cm-2) and 1.07 x 10(-13) A cm-2 (mean = 2.25 x 10(-5) A cm-2), respectively.     

含喹唑啉硫醚的杨梅素衍生物的设计、合成及生物活性研究

以杨梅苷为原料,通过活性拼接,设计并合成一系列含喹唑啉硫醚的杨梅素衍生物,其结构通过1H NMR、13C NMR、19F NMR和HRMS进行确证.生物活性测试结果表明,该类化合物对水稻白叶枯病菌(X.Oryzae)、柑橘溃疡病菌(X. Citri)和烟草青枯病菌(R. Solanacearum)表现出一定的抑制活性.其中, 5,7-二甲氧基-3-(3-((6-溴喹唑啉-4-基)硫基)丙氧基)-2-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-4H-色烯-4-酮(A15)对水稻白叶枯病菌的EC50值为13.9μg/mL,优于对照药叶枯唑(88.9μg/mL)和噻菌铜(68.1μg/mL);5,7-二甲氧基-3-(4-((6-氯喹唑啉-4-基)硫基)丁氧基)-2-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-4H-色烯-4-酮(A3)、5,7-二甲氧基-3-(3-((6-氯喹唑啉-4-基)硫基)丙氧基)-2-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-4H-色烯-4-酮(A14)、5,7-二甲氧基-3-(3-((6-溴喹唑啉-4-基)硫基)丙氧基)-2-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-4H-色烯-4-酮(A15)和5,7-二甲氧基-3-(3-((6-氟喹唑啉-4-基)硫基)丙氧基)-2-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-4H-色烯-4-酮(A16)对烟草青枯病菌的EC50值分别为1.1,14.0,11.9和7.5μg/mL,优于对照药叶枯唑(38.5μg/mL)和噻菌铜(184.8μg/mL).活体实验结果表明,化合物A15对水稻白叶枯病菌的具有良好治疗活性和保护活性.通过扫描电镜成像初步探讨了目标化合物A3对烟草青枯病菌和A15对水稻白叶枯病菌的抑菌作用机制.     

Photochromic chiral liquid crystalline systems containing spiro-oxazine with a chiral substituent I. Synthesis and characterization of compounds

Photochromic acrylates containing both biphenylene and spiro-oxazine moieties with a chiral substituent and the related polymers were prepared and yielded photochromic chiral liquid crystalline systems. The photochromic acrylates containing both an undecamethylene group and a (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy group (A11SOP) or a (-)-menthoxyacetoxy group (A11SOM) gave a supercooled mesophase; the latter reflected right-handed visible light (blue colour) at room temperature. On the other hand, the photochromic acrylate containing both the (R)-(-)-2-methylpropylene and (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy groups (A3SOP) showed no mesophase. The related homopolymers, PA11SOP and PA11SOM, did not exhibit mesophases because of steric hindrance between the side groups of the polymers. However, only PA11SOM exhibited shear-induced birefringence under 100-104°C. Several copolymers consisting of the nematogenic monomer, 4-[4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoyloxy]benzonitrile (A6CN), and A11SOP or A11SOM possessed a smectic phase due to reduction of the steric hindrance between the potentially smectogenic A11SOP or A11SOM moieties.     

Reactions of substituted (methylthio)benzylidene Meldrum's acids with secondary alicyclic amines in aqueous DMSO. Evidence for rate-limiting proton transfer

The replacement of the methylthio group of substituted methylthiobenzylidene Meldrum's acids (2-SMe-Z) by secondary alicyclic amines occurs by a three-step mechanism. The first step is a nucleophilic attachment of the amine to 2-SMe-Z to form a zwitterionic intermediate T(+/-)(A); the second step involves deprotonation of T(+/-)(A) to form T(-)(A); while the third step represents general acid-catalyzed conversion of T(-)(A) to products. At high amine and/or high KOH concentration nucleophilic attachment is rate limiting. At low amine and low KOH concentration the reaction follows a rate law that is characteristic for general base catalysis which, in principle, is consistent with either rate-limiting deprotonation of T(+/-)(A) or rate-limiting conversion of T(-)(A) to products. A detailed structure-reactivity analysis indicates that for the reactions with piperazine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine, and morpholine it is deprotonation of T(+/-)(A) that is rate limiting, while for the reaction with piperidine, conversion of T(-)(A) to products is rate limiting.