Design criteria for molecular mimics of fragments of the β-turn. 2. Cα–Cβ bond vector analysis

In a previous paper, we have shown the utility of cluster analysis for identifying patterns in the way the C atoms of fragments of the -turn are distributed in three dimensions. This work has been extended to the C–C bond vectors of 2- and 3-side-chain fragments. Again, distinct patterns emerge and 10 and 12 classes of vector orientation have been identified for the 2- and 3-vector problem, respectively. These clusters of vector distribution provide an optimal reduced set of design criteria for the de novo generation of novel peptidomimetics for fragments of the -turn.     

Design criteria for molecular mimics of fragments of the β-turn. 1. Cα atom analysis

Peptides represent an extensive class of biologically active molecules. They may be used as leads in the development of novel therapeutic agents provided the pharmacophoric information present within them can be translated into non-peptide analogs that lack the peptide backbone and are stable to proteolysis. This is the rationale for peptidomimetic drug design. Frequently, the -turn has been implicated as a conformation important for biological recognition of peptides. Empirical evidence from known peptidomimetics, coupled with a theoretical model of peptide binding and the observation that glycine and proline residues are common within the -turn, has suggested the design of molecules to mimic placement of between two and four of the side-chains. The moderate number of different -turn conformations, combined with the combinatoric nature of side-chain selection complicates the procedure. In this paper, cluster analysis has been used to classify the arrangement of C_{_} atoms about the various fragments of the -turn. Recombination of the observed patterns provides a general model for the -turn which may be used as an effective screen for potential peptidomimetic scaffolds in chemical databases.     

Simulation of the random scission of C–C bonds in the initial stage of the thermal degradation of polyethylene

We performed molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the initial stage of the thermal degradation of polyethylene, which is dominated by the random scission reaction. The simulations were initiated from structures that were taken from previously equilibrated snapshots of the amorphous polymer and of a free-standing thin film. Isolated chains were also used for comparison. Our systems were coupled to a thermal heat bath, and the effect of different coupling constants was studied. Rate of random scission increases as the strength of the temperature coupling increases. Rates of reaction are almost similar in thin films and the bulk, whereas the rates are much faster in isolated chains. Expansion of the free-standing thin film accompanies degradation, producing fragments of various sizes. Chains of higher molecular weights than the initial chains can be produced due to recombination of fragments during the expansion of thin films. The polydispersity index of the resulting fragments is higher in thin films compared to the bulk. The bonds at the low density portion of the thin films have a higher probability of being broken.     

NR transfer reactivity of azo-compound I of P450. How does the nitrogen substituent tune the reactivity of the species toward C-H and C=C activation?

We studied electronic structures and reactivity patterns of azo-compound I species (RN-Cpd I) by comparison to O-Cpd I of, e.g., cytochrome P450. The study shows that the RN-Cpd I species are capable of C=C aziridination and C-H amidation, in a two-state mechanism similar to that of O-Cpd I. However, unlike O-Cpd I, here the nitrogen substituent (R) exerts a major impact on structure and reactivity. Thus, it is demonstrated that Fe=NR bonds of RN-Cpd I will generally be substantially longer than Fe=O bonds; electron-withdrawing R groups will generate a very long Fe=N bond, whereas electron-releasing R groups should have the opposite effect and hence a shorter Fe=N bond. The R substituent controls also the reactivity of RN-Cpd I toward C=C and C-H bonds by exerting steric and electronic effects. Our analysis shows that an electron-releasing substituent will lower the barriers for both bond activation reactions, since the electronic factor makes the reactions highly exothermic, while an electron-withdrawing one should raise both barriers. The steric bulk of the substituent is predicted to inhibit more strongly the aziridination reactions. It is predicted that electron-releasing substituents with small bulk will create powerful aziridination reagents, whereas electron-withdrawing substituents like MeSO(2) will prefer C-H bond activation with preference that increases with steric bulk. Finally, the study predicts (i) that the reactions of RN-Cpd I will be less stereospecific than those of O-Cpd I and (ii) that aziridination will be more stereoselective than amidation.     

Preparation of the C1∼C10 fragment of carbonolide B. A relay approach to carbomycin B

Reaction of methyl 2,3-anhydro-5,6-O-cyclohexylidene-β-D-allofuranoside with 2-methyl-2-propenylmagnesium chloride selectively gave methyl 5,6-O-cyclohexylidene-3-deoxy-3-C-(2-methyl-2-propenyl)-β-D-glucofuranoside, which was converted into the C1∼C10 fragment of carbonolide B by a sequence of reactions involving hydroboration of the prochiral double bond, oxidative cleavage between C5C6, and subsequent stereoselective three-carbon elongation at the C5 position.     

Studies towards the synthesis of superstolide A. Synthesis and stereochemical assignment of the C(21)C(26) fragment of superstolide A

An asymmetric synthesis of the C(21)C(26) fragment of superstolide A is described. A fragment, corresponding to a reductive ozonolysis product of superstolide, was also prepared. Comparison of spectroscopic and optical properties of the corresponding fragment obtained by degradation of natural superstolide A allowed the confirmation of the stereochemistry of the natural product.     

A new compound with cytotoxic activities from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

A new compound, 3,6,20（S）-trihydroxy- 12,23-epoxydammar-24-ene,6,20-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside （1）, was isolated from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, whose structural elucidation was carried out by means of spectral analysis （including IR, HR- FAB-MS and NMR）. This compound showed the moderate cytotoxic activities against U937 and HeLa cells by using the MTT method.     

Breaking CS bonds with transition metal complexes. A review of molecular approaches to the study of the mechanisms of the hydrodesulfurization reaction

In spite of the large scale industrial applications of the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process, and of the considerable number of studies of this reaction on heterogeneous catalysts, the mechanisms involved are not yet clearly understood. In this article we first summarize the main mechanistic pathways that have been proposed to occur on surfaces for HDS of thiophenes, and then review those aspects of coordination and organometallic chemistry that are most pertinent to the activation, desulfurization and hydrogenation of thiophenes on metal complexes. The examples described constitute excellent molecular analogues of the species and reactions that are thought to intervene in heterogeneous catalysis, and thus complement surface studies and contribute to the understanding of this important reaction.     

Alkaloids of Nitraria komarovii. XI. Structure of komavicine and the products of the dehydrogenation of the nitrarine method of dehydrogenation in the quinolinyl-β-carboline series

The new alkaloid komavicine has been isolated from the epigeal part ofNitraria komarovii, and its structure has been established on the basis of spectral characteristics and chemical transformations. The products of the dehydrogenation of nitrarine with selenium and sulfur have been studied. A method has been developed for the dehydrogenation of dihydro and tetrahydro derivatives in the quinolinyl--carboline series.Institute of Chemistry of Plant Substances, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 33–39, January–February, 1993.     

Synthesis of the C29–C37 segment of spongistatin 1

Starting from racemic 2α-methyl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-one the spongistatin E segment has been prepared in nine steps (2.3 steps per stereogenic center) with umpolung of anomeric reactivity at C37. This 3,5-syn-diol sequence completes our methodology to all stereoisomers of 3,5,7-trihydroxy heptanoic ester building blocks functionalized for α-oxyanion chemistry.     

Synthesis of the C1–C13 fragment of eribulin mesylate

Synthesis of the C1–C13 fragment of eribulin mesylate has been accomplished. It features a highly stereoselective construction of a trans-dihydropyran framework using three key reactions: (1) Sharpless epoxidation, (2) regioselective ring opening, and (3) olefin metathesis.     

Synthesis of the C8–C16 fragment of amphidinolide R

An asymmetric synthesis of the C8–C16 fragment with several stereogenic centers of amphidinolide R, is described. The key reaction, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation has provided the basis for generation of the required stereocenters. The target fragment was accomplished in a convergent manner in nine steps (longest linear synthesis of the sequence) and 32% overall yield was obtained starting from 2-butene-1,4-diol.     

An improved synthesis of the C42–C52 segment of ciguatoxin 3C

In our previously reported method for the construction of the IJKLM-ring of ciguatoxin 3C (CTX3C), the lengthy synthetic process for the intermediate C42–C52 (L-ring) segment was problematic. Therefore, a new and improved procedure for the C42–C52 segment, having modified protecting groups, was developed. The new route includes a chirality transferring Ireland-Claisen rearrangement for the construction of the vicinal dimethyl branching at C47–48, a one-pot cyclization process for the establishment of the stereocenters at C45 and C46 as well as the γ-hydroxy δ-lactone framework corresponding to the L-ring, and Brown’s asymmetric crotylboration for the installation of the stereocenters at C43 and C44. The new C42–C52 segment was successfully coupled with the previously reported C32–C41 (I-ring) segment to produce the IJKLM-ring.     

Assessing the activity concentration of β-emitters by means of the end-window g.m. tube

The activity concentrations of β-emitters including ³⁵S (0.15 MeV) and presumably also ¹⁴C (0.14 MeV) may be determined with satisfactory accuracy using an end-window G.M. counter. For single preparations (if weighed), the described procedure warrants that the standard error will not exceed 0.8%, if the amount of substrate is kept below 0.2 mg/cm², and if carrier-free solutions are avoided. With a minimum of 4 preparations per sample solution, the error of the mean should not exceed 0.4%,     

Anionic Polymerization of α-Methylstyrene. IX. Nature of the Propagating Species

Abstract

The nature of the initiating and propagating species involved in the anionic polymerization of α-methylstyrene has been explored. The earlier hypothesis that multimodal GPC molecular weight distributions in polymers arise solely out of different reaction steps or different ion-pair mechanisms being involved has been modified for poly-α-methylstyrene. Multimodal GPC molecular weight distributions in poly-α-methylstyrene initiated with potassium at 25°C and polymerized at 25°C or higher in THF, p-dioxane, or cyclohexane as solvents have been ascribed to the presence of two different types of tetramers which grow simultaneously but at different rates, each responding to its own well-defined thermodynamic equilibrium and yielding dormant and living polymers. Reaction schemes describing the initiation (at 25°C) and propagation reactions (between -25 and 60°C) in the polymerization (in solution of THF as well as in bulk) of α-methylstyrene initiated with potassium-naphthalene, butyl-lithium, and butyllithium-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) have been presented. The role of coordinating agents naphthalene and TMEDA in changing irreversible propagations into reversible ones has been emphasized.     

A New Dammarane Glycoside, Ginsenoside Ⅲ from the Flower-buds of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

PanaxginsengC.AMeyer(Araliaceae)isafamousChinesetraditionalmedicine,andginsenosidesaregenerallyconsideredtobeitsmainbioactiveconstituents.OurstudyshowedthattheIlower-budsofPanaxginsengalsocontainkindsofginsenosides'.InthispaPer,wereportthestfuctureelucidationofanewdanunarane-typetYiterPenesaponin,namedginsenosidelII.GinsenosideIII,colorlesscrystals,mp2o3~2o5"C,waspositivetobothLiebermann-BurchardandMolishreactions.TheIRspectrumofginsenosideIIIshowedabsorPtionbandsduetohydroxylandenon…     

Recent strategic advances for the activation of benzylic C–H bonds for the formation of C–C bonds

Alkylarenes, obtained from abundant hydrocarbon feedstock sources, are an attractive starting material for the formation of complex molecular architectures. Conventional activation strategies of the relatively inert sp³-hybridized benzylic C–H bonds usually require relatively harsh conditions and are difficult to apply to the synthesis of fine chemicals. The present review describes recent strategic advances for the activation of benzylic C–H bonds for the catalytic formation of C–C bonds. In particular, two activation methods, i.e., strategies that generate benzylic radicals or benzyl anions, are discussed.     

A note to the article “polarographic reduction of germanium” by A.K. Dasgupta and C.K.N. Nair

The nature of the two reduction waves of tetravalent germanium in ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer is described. Contrary to the statement of dasgup'ta and NAIR1 only the height of the first diffusion current should be used for analytical purposes. The second wave corresponds to a catalytic hydrogen evolution. The use of cthylenediaminetetra-acetic acid of pH 6–8 for the analysis of germanium is preferable².     

Early introduction of the amino group to the C27–C35 building block of Eribulin

A new synthetic strategy towards the C27–C35 subunit of Eribulin (1) has been devised to include a protected 1,2-amino alcohol at C34–C35. Early introduction of the C35 amino group in the synthesis of 1 increases the efficiency of the route. This new approach can be accomplished on a multi-gram scale and allows for the successful synthesis of Eribulin.