Physical and Structural Characterization of Ce(IV) β-Diketonate Complexes: Evidence for Geometrical Isomers in the Solid-State

The Ce(IV) β-diketonate complexes CeL ₄ [where L is txhd (2,2,6-trimethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) 1; tmod (2,2,7-trimethyl-3,5-octanedionate) 2; tmhd (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) 3] were prepared by the interaction of the sodium salt of the diketonate with cerium(III) nitrate hexahydrate in aqueous ethanol solution. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis showed that 1 has a significantly lower sublimation temperature, but higher decomposition temperature than 3. The solid-state structures of the three complexes were determined via single crystal x-ray diffraction methods. Complex 2, which does not sublime, had significantly closer intermolecular contacts than those found for 1 and 3.     

Dissociation of Multisubunit Protein–Ligand Complexes in the Gas Phase. Evidence for Ligand Migration

The results of collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments performed on gaseous protonated and deprotonated ions of complexes of cholera toxin B subunit homopentamer (CTB₅) with the pentasaccharide (β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-GalpNAc-(1→4)[α-D-Neu5Ac-(2→3)]-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Glcp (GM1)) and corresponding glycosphingolipid (β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-GalpNAc-(1→4)[α-D-Neu5Ac-(2→3)]-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Glcp-Cer (GM1-Cer)) ligands, and the homotetramer streptavidin (S₄) with biotin (B) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(biotinyl) (Btl), are reported. The protonated (CTB₅ + 5GM1)ⁿ⁺ ions dissociated predominantly by the loss of a single subunit, with the concomitant migration of ligand to another subunit. The simultaneous loss of ligand and subunit was observed as a minor pathway. In contrast, the deprotonated (CTB₅ + 5GM1)^n- ions dissociated preferentially by the loss of deprotonated ligand; the loss of ligand-bound and ligand-free subunit were minor pathways. The presence of ceramide (Cer) promoted ligand migration and the loss of subunit. The main dissociation pathway for the protonated and deprotonated (S₄ + 4B)^n+/– ions, as well as for deprotonated (S₄ + 4Btl)^n– ions, was loss of the ligand. However, subunit loss from the (S₄ + 4B)ⁿ⁺ ions was observed as a minor pathway. The (S₄ + 4Btl)ⁿ⁺ ions dissociated predominantly by the loss of free and ligand-bound subunit. The charge state of the complex and the collision energy were found to have little effect on the relative contribution of the different dissociation channels. Thermally-driven ligand migration between subunits was captured in the results of molecular dynamics simulations performed on protonated (CTB₅ + 5GM1)¹⁵⁺ ions (with a range of charge configurations) at 800 K. Notably, the migration pathway was found to be highly dependent on the charge configuration of the ion. The main conclusion of this study is that the dissociation pathways of multisubunit protein–ligand complexes in the gas phase depend, not only on the native topology of the complex, but also on structural changes that occur upon collisional activation.

Enantioresolution of Some β-Blockers and a β2-Agonist Using Ligand Exchange TLC

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Cu(II) complexes of l-threonine, l-serine, and l-tartaric acid were prepared and used as ligand exchange reagents for enantiomeric...     

Synthesis and Fluorescence Properties of Thiazole-Boron Complexes Bearing a β-Ketoiminate Ligand

Novel fluorescent dyes, thiazole-boron complexes bearing β-ketoiminate ligands, have been synthesized, and their fluorescence properties were investigated. The BF(2) complexes showed a pronounced aggregation-induced emission enhancement effect because of the restriction of C-Ph intramolecular rotation. The BPh(2) complexes showed higher fluorescence quantum yields than the corresponding BF(2) complexes, both in solution and in the solid state.     

X-Ray Emission Spectra and Electronic Structure of Palladium β-Diketonate Complexes

A series of palladium -diketonate complexes have been studied by X-ray spectroscopy. For interpreting the X-ray emission spectra, electronic structure calculations have been performed by the INDO method for the Pd(acac)₂ and Pd(hfac)₂ complexes in the ground state. The results of these calculations indicate that if one HOMO is excited, the electronic structure of the whole complex undergoes considerable rearrangements changing the sequence of HOMOs.     

Formation of an Inclusion Complex of a New Transition Metal Ligand in β-Cyclodextrin

The inclusion complex of a new transition metal ligand, 2,4,9-trithia-tricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane-7-carboxylic acid (2,4,9-trithia-adamantane-7-carboxylic acid, TPCOOH) in β-cyclodextrin was studied by ¹H NMR, 2D NOESY NMR spectroscopy, host-induced CD spectroscopy, and tandem mass spectrometry. ¹H NMR, MS–MS and NOESY data show that the TPCOOH guest forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with the host β-cyclodextrin. The NOESY experiments also show that TPCOOH is oriented in the complex with the thioketal end preferentially located at the larger opening of β-cyclodextrin. The orientation of the guest in the host molecule is also confirmed by the induced CD of the ligand, which shows a positive Cotton effect. An association constant of 660±20?M^?1 was determined by ¹H NMR titration for the complex at room temperature in D₂O.     

A Phosphine Functionalized β-Diketimine Ligand for the Synthesis of Manifold Metal Complexes

A bis(diphenyl)-phosphine functionalized β-diketimine (PNac-H) was synthesized as a flexible ligand for transition metal complexes. The newly designed ligand features symmetrically placed phosphine moieties around a β-diketimine unit, forming a PNNP-type pocket. Due to the hard and soft donor atoms (N vs. P) the ligand can stabilize various coordination polyhedra. A complete series ranging from coordination numbers 2 to 6 was realized. Linear, trigonal planar, square planar, tetrahedral, square pyramidal, and octahedral coordination arrangements containing the PNac-ligand around the metal center were observed by using suitable metal sources. Hereby, PNac-H or its anion PNac⁻ acts as mono-, bi- and tetradendate ligand. Such a broad flexibility is unusual for a rigid tetradentate system. The structural motifs were realized by treatment of PNac-H with a series of late transition metal precursors, for example, silver, gold, nickel, copper, platinum, and rhodium. The new complexes have been fully characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR, IR, UV/Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry as well as elemental analysis. Additionally, selected complexes were investigated regarding their photophysical properties. Thus, PNac-H proved to be an ideal ligand platform for the selective coordination and stabilization of various metal ions in diverse polyhedra and oxidation states.     

Amine-promoted β-elimination of a β-aryloxy aldehyde for fluorogenic chemodosimeters

We previously reported a fluorescent chemodosimeter for ozone. The β-elimination step after the ozonolysis of the chemodosimeter was too slow to be practical for real-time monitoring of ozone. We examined primary, secondary, and tertiary amines at various pHs. It was found that pyrrolidine in pH 9 buffer could accelerate the elimination to generate a fluorescence signal. The elimination step is now sufficiently rapid to monitor ozone exposure in real time. We also discovered that azetidine was distinctly effective for the same elimination reaction in a pH 6 buffer.     

Study of the Inclusion Compound Formed between a Luminescent Europium(III) β-Diketonate Complex and γ-Cyclodextrin

A 1 : 1 inclusion compound between -CD and the tris chelate complex Eu(NTA)₃·2H₂O [NTA = 1-(2-naphthoyl)-3,3,3-trifluoroacetone)] was prepared and characterized in the solid-state by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, ¹³C CP MAS NMR and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Possible host-guest interaction geometries were generated from ab initio calculations. The photoluminescence results reveal the presence of a metal-to-ligand energy transfer that is much more efficient than that previously reported for the analogous -CD adduct.     

Functionalized Trifluoromethyl-Containing Lithium β-Diketonate in the Synthesis of Homo- and Heteronuclear Complexes of Rare-Earth Metals

Russian Journal of Coordination Chemistry - The reactions of functionalized lithium CF3-β-diketonate (LiL) with trivalent rare-earth metal salts in methanol afford homobinuclear and...     

Calorimetric investigations of the hydrolytic degradation for a series of β-sultams

The hydrolytic degradation of four β-sultams was investigated using isothermal microcalorimetry to determine kinetic and enthalpic data. Firstly, all four compounds were analysed in the solid-state at 310 K, with a significant substituent-based stabilising/destabilising effect being observed. Secondly, the four compounds were analysed in the presence of pH 4 acetate buffer, at three temperatures (298, 310 and 323 K). Under these conditions, the substituent choice affected the rate of hydrolysis and the associated change in enthalpy for each compound. Based on the calorimetric data presented in this work, no change in reaction mechanism for the hydrolytic degradation was observed over the temperature range considered.     

Directed Evolution of a Thermophilic β-glucosidase for Cellulosic Bioethanol Production

Characteristics that would make enzymes more desirable for industrial applications can be improved using directed evolution. We developed a directed evolution technique called random drift mutagenesis (RNDM). Mutant populations are screened and all functional mutants are collected and put forward into the next round of mutagenesis and screening. The goal of this technique is to evolve enzymes by rapidly accumulating mutations and exploring a greater sequence space by providing minimal selection pressure and high-throughput screening. The target enzyme was a β-glucosidase isolated from the thermophilic bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus that cleaves cellobiose resulting from endoglucanase hydrolysis of cellulose. Our screening method was fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), an attractive method for assaying mutant enzyme libraries because individual cells can be screened, sorted into distinct populations and collected very rapidly. However, FACS screening poses several challenges, in particular, maintaining the link between genotype and phenotype because most enzyme substrates do not remain associated with the cells. We employed a technique where whole cells were encapsulated in cell-like structures along with the enzyme substrate. We used RNDM, in combination with whole cell encapsulation, to create and screen mutant β-glucosidase libraries. A mutant was isolated that, compared to the wild type, had higher specific and catalytic efficiencies (k _cat/K _M) with p-nitrophenol-glucopyranoside and -galactopyranoside, an increased catalytic turnover rate (k _cat) with cellobiose, an improvement in catalytic efficiency with lactose and reduced inhibition (K _i) with galactose and lactose. This mutant had three amino acid substitutions and one was located near the active site.     

The search for a new model structure of β-Factor XIIa

We present the search for a new model of -factor XIIa, a blood coagulation enzyme, with an unknown experimental 3D-structure. We decided to build not one but three different models using different homologous proteins as well as different techniques and different modellers. Additional studies, including extensive molecular dynamics simulations on the solvated state, allowed us to draw several conclusions concerning homology modelling, in general, and -factor XIIa, in particular.     

Throughput and efficiency of a mass spectrometry-based screening assay for protein—Ligand binding detection

An H/D exchange- and MALDI mass spectrometry-based screening assay was applied to search for novel ligands that bind to cyclophilin A, a potential therapeutic and diagnostic target in lung cancer. The assay is based on stability of unpurified proteins from rates of H/D exchange (SUPREX), which exploits the H/D exchange properties of amide protons to measure the increase in a protein's thermodynamic stability upon ligand binding in solution. The current study evaluates the throughput and efficiency with which 880 potential ligands from the Prestwick Chemical Library (Illkirch, France) could be screened for binding to cyclophilin A. Screening was performed at a rate of 3 min/ligand using a conventional MALDI mass spectrometer. False positive and false negative rates, based on a set of control data, were as low as 0% and 9%, respectively. Based on the 880-member library screening, a false positive rate of 0% was observed when a two-tier selection strategy was implemented. Although novel ligands for cyclophilin A were not discovered, cyclosporin A, a known ligand to CypA and a blind control in the library, was identified as a hit. We also describe a new strategy to eliminate some of the complications related to back exchange that can arise in screening applications of SUPREX.     

A Pyridine-copper Inclusion Complex of a New Tripodal Ligand

1 INTRODUCTION Numerous recent reports have been focused on the construction of supramolecular architectures by using some special tripodal ligands with aromatic ring platforms[1～5]. Mixing this kind of ligands with metal ions in a suitable solution generally yields typical 1D, 2D and 3D coordination polymers or large nanometer-sized cavities supposed to be use- ful for catalysis, molecular selection, ion exchange, specific chemical transformations et al.[6～11]. Now our group is inte…     

Evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the isolation/enrichment of β-estradiol

The selective preconcentration of estradiol was explored using the recognition ability of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) in the solid phase extraction (SPE) format. Polymeric particles were imprinted with 17β-estradiol using methacrylic acid as functional monomer and divinylbenzene as crosslinker. Binding studies of these polymeric particles towards 17β-estradiol showed selectivity over non-imprinted polymers, using acetonitrile as solvent. The imprinted polymer showed a recovery of 88% for β-estradiol in deionized water and 81% in surface water. The selectivity of the MIP over the non-imprinted polymer was relatively low, only 10% higher recovery. The results indicate that the MIP imprinted with 17β-estradiol does not appear to provide a viable approach to be used in a sample clean-up or enrichment step for the determination of estradiol in aqueous systems.     

Mass Transport of β-Diketonate Precursors for MOCVD of YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-δ) High T_c Superconducting Thin Films

IntroductionSoonafterthediscoveryofhighT.supercoducting(HTSC)oxides,metalor-ganicchemicalvapourdeposition(MOCVD)wasproposedforpreparingtheirthinfilms[1j.Asgenerallyacceptedtoday['J,thistechniquehasdemonstrateditssuperioradvantagesinmakinglargeareahighqualityHTSCthinfilmsandwillplayamajorroleintheadvanceofdeviceapplicationofHTSCthinfilmsoverthenextfewyears.TheprecursorsusedinMOCVDforpreparinghighT.superconductingthinfilmsaremostlymetalbeta-diketonates.Theyaresolidsatroomtemperatureand…     

Modification of a Cellulosic Fabric with β-Cyclodextrin for Textile Finishing Applications

Grafting of cyclodextrin (CD) molecules on suitablefabrics provides hosting cavitiesthat can include a large variety of chemicals forspecific textile finishing. In this studywe permanently grafted -CD onto the surfaceof a cellulosic fabric, namelyTencel^® according todifferent procedures. After the treatment, benzoicacid, vanillin, iodine, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide,and dimethyl-phthalate wereloaded, by either spraying their solutionson the CD-grafted fabric, or by grafting thepreviously prepared inclusion compound onTencel^®. The untreated andtreated fabrics were evaluated through scanningelectron microscopy, differential scanningcalorimetry, UV-vis spectra, X-ray diffractometry,water absorbency, breaking load loss,aroma and antimicrobial finishing tests. Our resultsindicate that the included compoundsare efficiently hosted in the CD cavities, and thefabric's surface properties are notsignificantly modified by the chemical treatments.     

Retro-Claisen Cleavage of the β-Dicarbonyl Ligand in Alcoholysis of Group IVB Metal Chelates

Chelates of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium with -dicarbonyl compounds react with butyl, amyl, and octyl alcohols to give metal alkoxides. The reaction is accompanied by retro-Claisen cleavage of the ligand. The reactivity of the chelates was studied in relation to the ligand structure, nature of the metal, and reaction temperature. The reaction mechanism is discussed.     

DMF-dimethyl sulfate as a new reagent for the synthesis of β-lactams

A number of 2-azetidinones were synthesized in good to excellent yields by a novel reaction between Schiff bases, substituted acetic acids and alkoxymethylene-N,N-dimethyliminium salts, the adduct formed from DMF and O-alkylating agents. The advantages of this new method are mild reaction conditions, low cost, avoiding the use of chlorinating agents and easy purification of the products. The best results were obtained when DMF and dimethyl sulfate were used at room temperature.