Direct Observation of Ca2+‐Induced Calmodulin Conformational Transitions in Intact Xenopus laevis Oocytes by 19F NMR Spectroscopy

The Ca²⁺‐mediated conformational transition of the protein calmodulin (CaM) is essential to a variety of signal transduction pathways. Whether the transition in living cells is similar to that observed in buffer is not known. Here, we report the direct observation by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy of the transition of the Ca²⁺‐free and ‐bound forms in Xenopus laevis oocytes at different Ca²⁺ levels. We find that the Ca²⁺‐bound CaM population increased greatly upon binding the target protein myosin light‐chain kinase (MLCK) at the same Ca²⁺ level. Paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy was also exploited for the first time to obtain long‐range structural constraints in cells. Our study shows that ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy can be used to obtain long‐range structural constraints in living eukaryotic cells and paves the way for quantification of protein binding constants.     

Combined 1H, 13C and 11B NMR and mass spectral assignments of boronate complexes of D‐(+)‐glucose,D‐(+)‐mannose,methyl‐α‐D‐glucopyranoside,methyl‐β‐D‐galactopyranoside and methyl‐α‐D‐mannopyranoside

Complex formation between N‐butylboronic acid and D ‐(+)‐glucose, D ‐(+)‐mannose, methyl‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside, methyl‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside and methyl α‐D ‐mannopyranoside under neutral conditions was investigated by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) D ‐(+)‐Glucose and D ‐(+)‐mannose formed complexes where the boronates are attached to the 1,2:4,6‐ and 2,3:5,6‐positions of the furanose forms, respectively. On the other hand, the boronic acid binds to the 4,6‐positions of the two methyl derivatives of glucose and galactose. Methyl α‐D ‐mannopyranoside binds two boronates at the 2,3:4,6‐positions. ¹¹B NMR was used to show the ring size of the complexed sugars and the boronate. GC–MS confirmed the assignments. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrophilic S‐Trifluoromethylation of Cysteine Side Chains in α‐ and β‐Peptides: Isolation of Trifluoro‐methylated Sandostatin® (Octreotide) Derivatives

The new electrophilic trifluoromethylating 1‐(trifluoromethyl)‐benziodoxole reagents A and B (Scheme 1) have been used to selectively attach CF₃ groups to the S‐atom of cysteine side chains of α‐ and β‐peptides (up to 13‐residues‐long; products 7 – 14 ). Other functional groups in the substrates (amino, amido, carbamate, carboxylate, hydroxy, phenyl) are not attacked by these soft reagents. Depending on the conditions, the indole ring of a Trp residue may also be trifluoromethylated (in the 2‐position). The products are purified by chromatography, and identified by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and ¹⁹F‐NMR spectroscopy, by CD spectroscopy, and by high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The CF₃ groups, thus introduced, may be replaced by H (Na/NH₃), an overall Cys/Ala conversion. The importance of trifluoromethylations in medicinal chemistry and possible applications of the method (spin‐labelling, imaging, PET) are discussed.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of 5‐arylidene‐3‐substituted tetramic acids as possible substrates for catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation

A new series of 5‐arylidene‐3‐substituted tetramic acids 6–19 have been synthesized by a condensation reaction of 3‐butanoyl tetramic acid 3 , 3‐ethoxycarbonyl tetramic acid 4 and 3 ‐acetyl tetramic acid 5 with a variety of substituted benzaldehydes. The structures of the isolated compounds 6–19 have been elucidated using FT‐IR, ¹H and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, FAB‐MS spectroscopy as well as elemental analyses.     

Synthesis of poly(D,L‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid) from D,L‐3‐methylglycolide

D ,L ‐3‐Methylglycolide (MG) was synthesized via two step reactions with a good yield (42%). It was successfully polymerized in bulk with stannous octoate as a catalyst at 110 °C. The effects of the polymerization time and catalyst concentration on the molecular weight and monomer conversion were studied. Poly(D ,L ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) (D ,L ‐PLGA50; 50/50 mol/mol) copolymers were successfully synthesized from the homopolymerization of MG with high polymerization rates and high monomer conversions under moderate polymerization conditions. ¹H NMR spectroscopy indicated that the bulk ring‐opening polymerization of MG conformed to the coordination–insertion mechanism. ¹³C NMR spectra of D ,L ‐PLGA50 copolymers obtained under different experimental conditions revealed that the copolymers had alternating structures of lactyl and glycolyl. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4179–4184, 2000     

Living polymerization of D,L‐3‐methylglycolide initiated with bimetallic (Al/Zn) μ‐oxo alkoxide and copolymers thereof

D,L ‐3‐Methylglycolide (MG) was successfully polymerized with bimetallic (Al/Zn) μ‐oxo alkoxide as an initiator in toluene at 90 °C. The effect of the initiator concentration and monomer conversion on the molecular weight was studied. It is shown that the polymerization of MG follows a living process. A kinetic study indicated that the polymerization approximates the first order in the monomer, and no induction period was observed. ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed that the ring‐opening polymerization proceeds through a coordination–insertion mechanism with selective cleavage of the acyl–oxygen bond of the monomer. On the basis of ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses, the selective cleavage of the acyl–oxygen bond of the monomer mainly occurs at the least hindered carbonyl groups (P₁ = 0.84, P₂ = 0.16). Therefore, the main chain of poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) (50/50 molar ratio) obtained from the homopolymerization of MG was primarily composed of alternating lactyl and glycolyl units. The diblock copolymers poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)‐b‐poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid) and poly(L ‐lactide)‐b‐poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid) were successfully synthesized by the sequential living polymerization of related lactones (ϵ‐caprolactone or L ‐lactide). ¹³C NMR spectra of diblock copolymers clearly show their pure diblock structures. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 357–367, 2001     

NMR analysis of mono‐ and difructosyllactosucrose synthesized by 1F‐fructosyltransferase purified from roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Two novel oligosaccharides, mono‐ and difructosyllactosucrose {[O‐β‐D ‐fructofuranosyl‐(2 → 1)]_n‐β‐D ‐fructofuranosyl‐O‐[β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)]‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside, n = 1 and 2} were synthesized using 1^F‐fructosyltransferase purified form roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). Their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were assigned using several NMR techniques. The spectral analysis was started from two anomeric methines of aldose units, galactose and glucose, since they showed separate characteristic signals in their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. After assignments of all the ¹H and ¹³C signals of two units of aldose, they were discriminated as galactose and glucose using proton–proton coupling constants. The HMBC spectrum revealed the galactose residue attached to C‐4 of glucose, fructose residue attached to the C‐1 of glucose, and further fructosyl fructose linkage extended from the glucosyl fructose residues. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Simple and Efficient Procedure for Synthesis of Optically Active 1,2,4‐Triazolo‐[3,4‐b]‐1,3,4‐Thiadiazole Derivatives Containing l‐Amino Acid Moieties

Some new and optically active 1,2,4‐triazolo thiadiazoles bearing N‐phthaloyl‐l ‐amino acids were synthesized by reaction of 4‐amino‐5‐(3‐ or 4‐)pyridyl‐3‐mercapto‐(4H)‐1,2,4‐triazoles with N‐phthaloyl‐l ‐amino acids in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride. All the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis.     

Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of neurosteroid compounds and magnesium interactions

The neurosteroid trans‐dehydroandrosterone (DHEA) and its analogs with slightly different modifications in the side chain attached to C17, that is, (3S)‐acetoxypregn‐5‐en‐20‐one ( 1 ) and (3S,20R)‐acetoxypregn‐5‐en‐20‐ol ( 2 ), have been synthesized to investigate DHEA–cation interactions. In this study, we applied solid‐state ¹H/¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning (CP/MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to a series of DHEA analog/Mg²⁺ mixtures at different Mg²⁺ concentrations. The high‐resolution ¹³C NMR spectra of 1 /Mg²⁺ mixtures exhibit two distinct ¹³C spectral patterns, one attributable to 1 free from Mg²⁺, and the other attributable to 1 with bound Mg²⁺. For 2 , the ¹³C NMR spectra exhibit three distinct spectral patterns; besides that of the free form, the other two can be assigned to Mg²⁺‐bound forms. Based on the analysis of the chemical shift deviations (CSDs), we conclude that both 1 and 2 might be subject to a cation–π interaction via the C5–C6 double bond, in contrast to that observed previously for DHEA. As demonstrated, DHEA possesses two Mg²⁺ binding sites, that is, C17–O and C5–C6 double bond, in which the binding affinity of the former is at least three times stronger than that of the latter. The solid‐state ¹³C NMR investigation allows better understanding of the underlying cation binding effects of neurosteroid molecules in vitro.     

Investigation of the Reactions of Indole‐2,3‐diones with Biuret: A Novel Approach for the Synthesis of Spiro[indole‐triazines]

Reactions of indole‐2,3‐diones with biuret afforded 1,3‐dihydro‐3‐ureidoformimido‐2H‐indol‐2‐ones and spiro[3H‐indole‐3,2′(1′H )‐(1,3,5)triazine]‐2,4′,6′(1H ,3′H ,5′H )‐triones indicated these to be solvent dependent. The chemical structures of the products were elucidated by their comprehensive spectroscopic (IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, ¹⁹F‐NMR, and Mass) as well as analytical analysis.     

Hypervalent radical formation probed by electron transfer dissociation of zwitterionic tryptophan and tryptophan‐containing dipeptides complexed with Ca2+ and 18‐crown‐6 in the gas phase

The relationship between peptide structure and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) is important for structural analysis by mass spectrometry. In the present study, the formation, structure and reactivity of the reaction intermediate in the ETD process were examined using a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source. ETD product ions of zwitterionic tryptophan (Trp) and Trp‐containing dipeptides (Trp‐Gly and Gly‐Trp) were detected without reionization using non‐covalent analyte complexes with Ca²⁺ and 18‐crown‐6 (18C6). In the collision‐induced dissociation, NH₃ loss was the main dissociation pathway, and loss related to the dissociation of the carboxyl group was not observed. This indicated that Trp and its dipeptides on Ca²⁺(18C6) adopted a zwitterionic structure with an NH₃⁺ group and bonded to Ca²⁺(18C6) through the COO^? group. Hydrogen atom loss observed in the ETD spectra indicated that intermolecular electron transfer from a molecular anion to the NH₃⁺ group formed a hypervalent ammonium radical, R‐NH₃, as a reaction intermediate, which was unstable and dissociated rapidly through N–H bond cleavage. In addition, N–C_α bond cleavage forming the z₁ ion was observed in the ETD spectra of Trp‐GlyCa²⁺(18C6) and Gly‐TrpCa²⁺(18C6). This dissociation was induced by transfer of a hydrogen atom in the cluster formed via an N–H bond cleavage of the hypervalent ammonium radical and was in competition with the hydrogen atom loss. The results showed that a hypervalent radical intermediate, forming a delocalized hydrogen atom, contributes to the backbone cleavages of peptides in ETD. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Z and E rotamers of N‐formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one and their interconversion as studied by 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

N‐Formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one (compound 2 ), an important intermediate in the NIH Opiate Total Synthesis, presumably exists as a mixture of two rotamers (Z and E) in both CHCl₃ and DMSO at room temperature due to the hindered rotation of its N‐C18 bond in the amide moiety. By comparing the experimental ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of a single rotamer and the mixture of compound 2 in CDCl₃ with the calculated chemical shifts of the geometry optimized Z and E rotamers utilizing density functional theory, the crystalline rotamer of compound 2 was characterized as having the E configuration. The energy barrier between the two rotamers was also determined with the temperature dependence of ¹H and ¹³C NMR coalescence experiments, and then compared with that from the reaction path for the interconversion of the two rotamers calculated at the level of B3LYP/6‐31G*. Detailed geometry of the ground state and the transition states of both rotamers are given and discussed. Copyright © 2012 This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Gold(I) ‐Nickel(II)‐4,4′‐bpy‐Phosphine Complexes: Synthesis and Multinuclear NMR Study

Silver triflate [AgOTf] assisted de‐bromination gives [Ni(dppm/dppe/(PPh₃)₂) (OTf)₂], which on reaction with 4,4′‐bpy and gold(I) phosphines in dichloromethane medium by the self assemble technique leads to [{(L)Ni}{(4,4‐bpy)Au(PPh₃)}₂](OTf)₄, ( 1,2,3 ) [{(L)Ni(4,4‐bpy)}₄](OTf)₈, ( 4,5,6 ) [L = dppm/dppe/(PPh₃)₂ = diphenyl phosphino‐methane, ‐ethane, bis‐triphenylphosphine, OSO₂CF₃ is the triflate anion]. The maximum molecular peak of the corresponding molecule is observed in the ESI mass spectrum. Ir spectra of the complexes show ‐C=C‐, ‐C=N‐, as well as phosphine stretching. The ¹H NMR spectra as well as ³¹P (¹H)NMR suggest solution stereochemistry, proton movement, and phosphorus proton interaction. Considering all the moieties, there are a lot of carbon atoms in the molecule reflected by the ¹³C NMR spectrum. In the ¹H‐¹H COSY spectrum of the present complexes and contour peaks in the ¹H^?13C HMQC spectrum, we assign the solution structure and stereoretentive transformation in each step.     

NMR study of the coordinating behavior of 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine

The coordination sites of 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine ( 1 ) toward protons and the diamagnetic metal ions Li⁺, Na⁺, and Co³⁺ were investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Variable temperature ¹H and ¹³C NMR experiments were performed on 1 in order to evaluate the tautomeric equilibrium and hydrogen bonding. Imidazole dicoordinated aromatic nitrogen atoms were protonated by trichloroacetic acid and the three N‐dicoordinated atoms by fuming H₂SO₄. Reactions of the ligand 1 and benzimidazole 2 with metallic sodium or LiH afforded anionic species; the alkali metal ions appeared solvated by THF, but not by the ligands 1 or 2 . In contrast, reaction of 1 with Co(III) produces the stable cation [Co( 1 ‐H)₂]⁺ with cobalt ion coordinated by two molecules of the monodeprotonated ligand. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:392–398, 2000     

Flavonol Glycosides with α‐Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities and New Flavone C‐Diosides from the Leaves of Machilus konishii

Seventeen flavonoids, five of which are flavone C‐diosides, 1 – 5 , were isolated from the BuOH‐ and AcOEt‐soluble fractions of the leaf extract of Machilus konishii. Among 1 – 5 , apigenin 6‐C‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), apigenin 8‐C‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and apigenin 8‐C‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ) are new. Both 4 and 5 are present as rotamer pairs. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR‐spectroscopic analyses and MS data. In addition, the ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR data of apigenin 6‐C‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ) were assigned for the first time. The isolated compounds were assayed against α‐glucosidase (type IV from Bacillus stearothermophilus). Kaempferol 3‐O‐(2‐β‐D ‐apiofuranosyl)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 12 ) was found to possess the best inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 29.3 μM .     

Microwave‐assisted synthesis and characterization of heterocyclic,and optically active poly(amide‐imide)s incorporating L‐amino acids

N,N′‐Pyromelliticdiimido‐di‐L ‐alanine ( 1 ), N,N′‐pyromelliticdiimido‐di‐L ‐phenylalanine ( 2 ), and N,N′‐pyromelliticdiimido‐di‐L ‐leucine ( 3 ) were prepared from the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride with corresponding L ‐amino acids in a mixture of glacial acetic acid and pyridine solution (3/2 ratio) under refluxing conditions. The microwave‐assisted polycondensation of the corresponding diimide‐diacyl chloride monomers ( 5–7 ) with 4‐phenyl‐2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenyl) pyridine ( 10 ) or 4‐(p‐methylthiophenyl)‐2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenyl) pyridine ( 12 ) were carried out in a laboratory microwave oven. The resulting poly(amide‐imide)s were obtained in quantitative yields, and they showed admirable inherent viscosities (0.12–0.55 dlg^?1), were soluble in polar aprotic solvents, showed good thermal stability and high optical purity. The synthetic compounds were characterized by IR, MS, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and specific rotation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

NMR studies on 1,2‐dihydro‐2‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐4‐[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)‐4‐phenyl]‐(2H)phthalazin‐1‐one

An unsymmetrical heterocyclic diamine, 1,2‐dihydro‐2‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐4‐[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)‐4‐phenyl]‐(2H)phthalazin‐1‐one, was synthesized. Its ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were completely assigned by utilizing the two‐dimensional heteronuclear ¹³C–¹H multiple‐bond coherence (HMBC) spectroscopy, and heteronuclear ¹³C–¹H one‐bond correlation spectroscopy, homonuclear shift correlation spectroscopy (H,H‐COSY) and rotating frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (ROESY). The structure of the compound was shown to be the phthalazinone rather than the phthalazine ether from cross peaks and chemical shifts of the protons. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

1H and 13C NMR assignments of bioactive indeno[1,2‐b]indole‐10‐one derivatives

The complete ¹H and ¹³C assignments of eight bioactive indeno[1,2‐b]indole‐10‐one derivatives were accomplished by the combined use of one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional NMR experiments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics of the substitution reactions of some Pt(II) complexes with 5′‐GMP and L‐histidine

The reactions of platinum(II) complexes, [PtCl₂(dach)] (dach = (1R,2R)‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane) and [PtCl₂(en)] (en = ethylenediamine) with biologically relevant ligands such as 5′‐GMP (guanosine‐5′‐monophosphate) and l ‐His (l ‐histidine) were studied by UV–vis spectrophotometry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Spectrophotometrically, these reactions were investigated under pseudo‐first‐order conditions at 310 K in 25 mM Hepes buffer (pH 7.2) and 10 mM NaCl to prevent the hydrolysis of the complexes. The [PtCl₂(en)] complex reacts faster than [PtCl₂(dach)] in the reaction with studied nucleophiles. This confirms the fact that the reactivity of studied Pt(II) complexes depends on the structure of the inert bidentate ligand. Also, the substitution reactions with l ‐His are always faster than the reactions with nucleotide 5′‐GMP. The reactions of [PtCl₂(dach)] and [PtCl₂(en)] complexes with l ‐histidine are studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The obtained rate constants are in agreement with those obtained by UV–vis. The same reactions were studied by HPLC comparing the obtained chromatograms during the reaction. The changes in intensity of signals of the free and coordinated ligand show that after a few days there is only one dominant product in the system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 99–106, 2011     

Simultaneous detection of stable isotope‐labeled and unlabeled l‐tryptophan and of its main metabolites,l‐kynurenine,serotonin and quinolinic acid,by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A method for the detection of unlabeled and ¹⁵N₂‐labeled l ‐tryptophan (l ‐Trp), l ‐kynurenine (l ‐Kyn), serotonin (5‐HT) and quinolinic acid (QA) in human and rat plasma by GC/MS is described. Labeled and unlabeled versions of these four products were analyzed as their acyl substitution derivatives using pentafluoropropionic anhydride and 2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluoro‐1‐propanol. Products were then separated by GC and analyzed by selected ion monitoring using negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. l ‐[¹³C₁₁, ¹⁵N₂]‐Trp, methyl‐serotonin and 3,5‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid were used as internal standards for this method. The coefficients of variation for inter‐assay repeatability were found to be approximately 5.2% for l ‐Trp and ¹⁵N₂‐Trp, 17.1% for l ‐Kyn, 16.9% for 5‐HT and 5.8% for QA (n = 2). We used this method to determine isotope enrichments in plasma l ‐Trp over the course of a continuous, intravenous infusion of l ‐[¹⁵N₂]Trp in pregnant rat in the fasting state. Plasma ¹⁵N₂‐Trp enrichment reached a plateau at 120 min. The free Trp appearance rate (Ra) into plasma was 49.5 ± 3.35 µmol/kg/h. The GC/MS method was applied to determine the enrichment of ¹⁵N‐labeled l ‐Trp, l ‐Kyn, 5‐HT and QA concurrently with the concentration of non‐labeled l ‐Trp, l ‐Kyn, 5‐HT and QA in plasma. This method may help improve our understanding on l ‐Trp metabolism in vivo in animals and humans and potentially reveal the relative contribution of the four pathways of l ‐Trp metabolism. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.