The synthesis of (4S,5S)-(−)-isocytoxazone

(4S,5S)-(?)-Isocytoxazone, which is needed for a configurational study, was synthesized from the commercially available (1S,2S)-(+)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol in which the p-nitro substituent was replaced by a p-methoxyl group; the thus prepared p-methoxyphenyl amino diol was cyclized via an N-Boc derivative.     

Quantification of benzene,toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene in internal combustion engine exhaust with time-weighted average solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry

A new and simple method for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene (BTEX) quantification in vehicle exhaust was developed based on diffusion-controlled extraction onto a retracted solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber coating. The rationale was to develop a method based on existing and proven SPME technology that is feasible for field adaptation in developing countries. Passive sampling with SPME fiber retracted into the needle extracted nearly two orders of magnitude less mass (n) compared with exposed fiber (outside of needle) and sampling was in a time weighted-averaging (TWA) mode. Both the sampling time (t) and fiber retraction depth (Z) were adjusted to quantify a wider range of C_gas. Extraction and quantification is conducted in a non-equilibrium mode. Effects of C_gas, t, Z and T were tested. In addition, contribution of n extracted by metallic surfaces of needle assembly without SPME coating was studied. Effects of sample storage time on n loss was studied. Retracted TWA–SPME extractions followed the theoretical model. Extracted n of BTEX was proportional to C_gas, t, D_g, T and inversely proportional to Z. Method detection limits were 1.8, 2.7, 2.1 and 5.2 mg m⁻³ (0.51, 0.83, 0.66 and 1.62 ppm) for BTEX, respectively. The contribution of extraction onto metallic surfaces was reproducible and influenced by C_gas and t and less so by T and by the Z. The new method was applied to measure BTEX in the exhaust gas of a Ford Crown Victoria 1995 and compared with a whole gas and direct injection method.     

A Mitsunobu reaction to functionalized cyclic and bicyclic N-arylamines

The scope of an unexpected Mitsunobu cyclisation to prepare N-arylated Fsp³-enriched azacycles was investigated. In the current study, we have identified whether a pKa-dependent Mitsunobu cyclodehydration or a pKa-independent Mitsunobu intramolecular reaction was in operation. A Mitsunobu reaction, creating a leaving group, followed by intramolecular nucleophilic displacement was determined to be the dominant pathway.     

Efficient synthesis of cis-thiazolidinethiones derived from ephedrines

The reaction of chlorodeoxypseudoephedrine or chlorodeoxynorpseudoephedrine hydrochlorides with sodium dithiocarbonate in stirring ethanol at 0 °C to stereoselectively afford the corresponding cis-thiazolidinethiones in good yields (81% and 95%) is reported. The in situ formation of a cis-aziridine to explain the presence of trans-thiazolidinethione as a side product is proposed when the same reaction was carried out at room temperature. In addition, a 70:30 mixture of trans-isomers of a thiazolidinethione/isothiazolidinethione was formed when a cis-aziridine NH was reacted with carbon disulfide in refluxing ethanol. The analogous reaction with cis-aziridine N-Me stereoselectively affords the corresponding cis-thiazolidinethione. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR data of the thiazolidinethiones were assigned. cis-3,4-Dimethyl-5-phenylthiazolidine-2-thione was crystallized from ethanol and its X-ray diffraction structure was analyzed.     

Yeasts and Lactic Acid Bacteria Mixed-Specie Biofilm Formation is a Promising Cell Immobilization Technology for Ethanol Fermentation

We previously found that some Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus plantarum remarkably formed mixed-specie biofilm in a static co-culture and deduced that this biofilm had potential as immobilized cells. We investigated the application of mixed-specie biofilm formed by S. cerevisiae BY4741 and L. plantarum HM23 for ethanol fermentation in repeated batch cultures. This mixed-specie biofilm was far abundantly formed and far resistant to washing compared with S. cerevisiae single biofilm. Adopting mixed-specie biofilm formed on cellulose beads as immobilized cells, we could produce enough ethanol from 10 or 20 % glucose during ten times repeated batch cultures for a duration of 10 days. Cell numbers of S. cerevisiae and L. plantarum during this period were stable. In mixed-specie biofilm system, though ethanol production was slightly lower compared to S. cerevisiae single-culture system due to by-production of lactate, pH was stably maintained under pH 4 without artificial control suggesting high resistance to contamination. Inoculated model contaminants, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, were excluded from the system in a short time. From the above results, it was indicated that the mixed-specie biofilm of S. cerevisiae and L. plantarum was a promising immobilized cell for ethanol fermentation for its ethanol productivity and robustness due to high resistance to contamination.     

High-pressure-promoted Fmoc-aminoacylation of N-ethylcysteine: preparation of key devices for the solid-phase synthesis of peptide thioesters

In this study synthesis of Fmoc-aminoacyl-N-ethyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteine, a new N→S acyl migratory device for the preparation of peptide thioesters by Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) is described. Condensation of Fmoc-aminoacyl fluoride and N-ethyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteine allyl ester, readily prepared from known S-triphenylmethylcysteine allyl ester, was efficiently promoted in CH₂Cl₂ under high-pressure (800 MPa). When the reaction was performed with the additive DIEA, considerable epimerization at the chiral centers occurred, affording a mixture of diastereomers. When the preparation procedure for N-ethyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteine allyl ester was changed and the additive DIEA in the high-pressure reaction was excluded, Fmoc-aminoacyl-N-ethyl-S-triphenylmethylcysteines was obtained as a single stereoisomer without epimerization. The Fmoc-l-leucine adduct thus prepared was deallylated and used for the SPPS of a known decapeptide. A remarkable increase (44%) in the overall yield of the decapeptidethioester was achieved, compared to the 7% obtained by the stepwise on-resin Leu-Cys condensation method.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of JBIR-81, a peptide enamide derived from aspergilli

The absolute stereochemistry of an aspergilli-derived peptide enamide, JBIR-81, was determined to be 12S, 15S by the first synthesis of (12S,15S)-JBIR-81 and its epimer. The overall yield was 56% over six steps from N-methyl-l-leucine. The (Z)-enamide structure was effectively constructed with use of a copper (I) catalyzed coupling reaction between a vinyl halide and a carboxamide.     

Acylative kinetic resolution of racemic aromatic β-hydroxy esters catalyzed by chiral nucleophilic N-(1-arylethyl)benzoguanidines

An efficient acylative kinetic resolution of racemic aromatic β-hydroxy esters with cyclohexanecarboxylic anhydride was achieved using newly designed (R)-N-methylbenzoguanidine ((R)-NMBG) derivatives. A series of (R)-NMBG derivatives was synthesized by modifying the original (R)-NMBG catalyst with the introduction of branched N-substituents containing a stereogenic center, and their catalytic performance was evaluated. (R,R)-N-(1-(β-1-Naphthyl)ethyl)benzoguanidine [(R,R)-NβNpEtBG] was found to function as an efficient acyl transfer catalyst for the reaction of a broad variety of substrates, regardless of the substituent type and substitution pattern.     

Trihydroxy-2-thiaquinolizidine derivatives as a new class of bicyclic glycosidase inhibitors

Trihydroxy-2-thiaquinolizidines, a new class of bicyclic dideoxy-iminohexitol glycosidase inhibitor derivatives with nominally the d-gluco, l-ido, d-manno and l-gulo configurations were synthesized. X-ray analyses indicated that the preferred conformation for d-gluco and d-manno derivatives was a flat trans-fused system. Unlike deoxynojirimycin, the compound with d-gluco configuration was selective for α-glucosidases (yeast and rice) and showed no inhibitory activity towards β-glucosidase (almond), α-galactosidase (green coffee beans), α-galactosidase (E. coli) and α-mannosidase (jack bean), while the l-ido derivative was specific for β-glucosidase (almond).     

The Chemical Profiling,Docking Study,and Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities of the Endophytic fungi Aspergillus sp. AP5

Growing data suggest that Aspergillus niger, an endophytic fungus, is a rich source of natural compounds with a wide range of biological properties. This study aimed to examine the antimicrobial and antibiofilm capabilities of the Phragmites australis-derived endophyte against a set of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. AP5 was isolated from the leaves of P. australis. The chemical profile of the fungal crude extract was identified by spectroscopic analysis using LC-HRESIMS. The fungal-derived extract was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity towards a set of pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella sp., Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. Moreover, antibiofilm activity toward four resistant biofilm-forming bacteria was also evaluated. Additionally, a neural-networking pharmacophore-based visual screening predicted the most probable bioactive compounds in the obtained extract. The AP5-EtOAc extract was found to have potent antibacterial activities against S. aureus, E. coli, and Klebsiella sp., while it exhibited low antibacterial activity toward P. Vulgaris and P. aeruginosa and displayed anticandidal activity. The AP5-EtOAc extract had significant antibiofilm activity in S. aureus, followed by P. aeruginosa. The active metabolites’ antifungal and/or antibacterial activities may be due to targeting the fungal CYP 51 and/or the bacterial Gyr-B.     

Isolation and structure determination of a new thiopeptide globimycin from Streptomyces globisporus subsp. globisporus based on genome mining

Based on genome-mining, a new thiopeptide globimycin was discovered from the extract of Streptomyces globisporus subsp. globisporus, along with known one radamycin. The structure of globimycin was established by a combination of 2D NMR and ESI-MS experiments, and globimycin was identified to be a structural isomer of a known thiopeptide methylsulfomycin. The proposed biosynthetic gene cluster for globimycin and radamycin was found in the genome of S. globisporus subsp. globisporus.     

Enzymatic resolution of sec-butylamine

Resolution of (±)-sec-butylamine by Candida antarctica lipase provided a very low enantiomeric excess of the residual amine when either ethyl or vinyl butyrate was used as the acylating agent. The enantiomeric excess was increased by using ethyl esters of long chain fatty acids. The rate of the reaction was increased by using methyl t-butyl ether as a solvent. (S)-sec-Butylamine of very high enantiomeric excess was obtained by C. antarctica lipase catalyzed acylation with ethyl decanoate in methyl t-butyl ether.     

Synthesis of 1,5-naphthylethynyl nanostructure networks with extended π-conjugation. Effective heterocoupling catalyzed by palladium under a compatible CO2 atmosphere

The synthesis of a new extended π-conjugated 5-N,N-dimethylaminonaphthyl family was undertaken by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between a protected 5-iodonaphthylethynyl and 1-ethynyl-5-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthalene. Under an argon atmosphere, only the homocoupling product 1,4-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthyl-1,3-butadiyne was isolated, in excellent yield. However, under a compatible and pure carbon dioxide atmosphere, the cross-coupling product was obtained in excellent yield.     

Synthesis of 2E,4E,6E,11Z-octadecatetraenoic acid of the Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae Nod factor

2E,4E,6E,11Z-Octadecatetraenoic acid was synthesized in a good yield and in a stereospecific manner by coupling a vinylborane compound and ethyl trans-3-iodoacrylate. The trienic system (E,E,E) was obtained by successive use of metal-catalyzed coupling and hydro-metallation reactions.     

Solvent effect in the chromatographic enantioseparation of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol on a polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phase

Enantioseparation of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) was performed on a polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phase, Chiralcel OD-H, under normal-phase mode. The effects of polar modifier in the mobile phase on the retention, enantioseparation and elution order were investigated in detail. Solvent-induced reversal of elution order for BINOL was observed. When linear alcohols were adopted, R-BINOL was always eluted first. S-BINOL was eluted first when 2-propanol was used as a polar modifier. Enantioseparation could not be obtained when sec-butyl alcohol or tert-butyl alcohol was used as a polar modifier. When isoamyl alcohol or cyclohexanol was used as a polar modifier, favorable enantioseparation was obtained as with 1-pentanol or 1-hexanol; also, R-BINOL was the first-eluted enantiomer. It is worth emphasizing that significantly better enantioseparation was obtained when higher alcohols were used as polar modifier of the mobile phase. A nonlinear characteristic for the ln α against 1/T plots was universally observed in this study though the ln k against 1/T plots exhibited a linear feature. Associated with the obtained thermodynamic parameters, some interesting inferences about chiral recognition mechanism were proposed.     

Structure and absolute configuration of an unsaturated anteiso fatty acid from Bacillus megaterium

Gas chromatography in combination with electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS) was used to determine the fatty acids of a membrane lipid from Bacillus megaterium. Special attention was put on the structure and absolute configuration of a monoenoic fatty acid previously described in this sample. GC/EI-MS operated in the selected ion monitoring mode was used to determine twelve fatty acids in the bacterium. Methyl esters were prepared to verify the presence of a 14-methylhexadecenoic acid (a17:1) isomer. The position of the double bond of the a17:1 isomer and four further monoenoic fatty acids was elucidated by means of their picolinyl esters produced by the transesterification of the phospholipid. For the a17:1 isomer, the double bond was located between C-5 and C-6. Silver ion liquid chromatography was used to verify that the double bond was in cis-configuration. The bacterial 14-methylhexadec-5-enoic acid (a17:1Δ5) is chiral due to the stereogenic C-14 carbon. Initial enantioselective measurements were carried out with isomers of a17:1Δ5 which were available in form of racemic and (S)-enantiopure cis- and trans-isomers of a17:1Δ12 previously synthesized. The cis-a17:1Δ12 enantiomers were partly resolved on a chiral stationary phase coated with 50% heptakis(6-O-tert.-butyldimethylsilyl-2,3-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin in OV-1701 (β-TBDM). However, resolution of the enantiomers of the trans-isomer of a17:1Δ12 failed. Only one peak was also observed for the a17:1Δ5 isomer from B. megaterium. Thus, it remained unclear whether the compound a17:1Δ5 was racemic or enantiopure in the sample. To clarify this point, we separated the cis-monoenoic fraction from the saturated fatty acids. Then, the monoenoic fraction was hydrogenated in order to transform a17:1Δ5 into 14-methylhexadecanoic acid (a17:0). This chiral fatty acid was known to be sufficiently enantioseparated on the β-TBDM column and was found to be (S)-enantiopure in the sample. Hence, these measurements verified that the B. megaterium sample contained enantiopure (S)-a17:1Δ5.     

Preparation of (R)- and (S)-4-chloro-3-acetoxybutyronitrile using microbial resolution

A new preparation of optically active 4-chloro-3-acetoxybutyronitrile (AcBN) was developed using the resting cells of bacteria. The resolution was based on enantioselective hydrolysis of the ester function of the substrate. (R)-AcBN was prepared using Pseudomonas sp. DS-K-717, and the resulting (R)-AcBN was obtained with high enantiomeric excess of >98% with a yield of 36% during the microbial resolution step. (S)-AcBN was prepared in the same manner using the resting cells of Pseudomonas sp. DS-K-19 and showed a high enantiomeric excess of >98% with a yield of 32%. The enzyme activity was enhanced and induced by the addition of AcBN, particularly the (R)-ester hydrolysis, which was enhanced 20-fold.     

Synthesis of an O-acyl isopeptide by using native chemical ligation to efficiently construct a hydrophobic polypeptide

By using dimethylformamide to suppress the O-to-N acyl migration, we efficiently synthesized an O-acyl isopeptide by native chemical ligation of a peptide-thioester and a Cys-O-acyl isopeptide. The reaction mixture was then loaded onto an octadecylsilane reverse-phase HPLC column, and the isopeptide was purified by using a linear gradient of CH₃CN in 0.1% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid. The recovery rate of the O-acyl isopeptide was considerably higher than that of the corresponding native polypeptide. Synthesis of O-acyl isopeptides via native chemical ligation, with O-to-N acyl migration as the final step to give the native form, has potential as an efficient method of constructing hydrophobic polypeptides.     

Thermostable amperometric lactate biosensor with Clostridium thermocelluml-LDH for the measurement of blood lactate

The gene for Clostridium thermocelluml-lactate dehydrogenase enzyme was cloned into pGEX-4T-2 purification vector to supply a source for a thermostable enzyme in order to produce a stable lactate biosensor working at relatively high temperatures. The purified thermostable enzyme (t-LDH) was then immobilized on a gold electrode via polymerization of polygluteraldehyde and pyrrol resulting in a conductive co-polymer. t-LDH working electrode (t-LDHE) was used for determination of lactate in CHES buffer. Amperometric response of the produced electrodes was measured as a function of lactate concentration, at a fixed bias voltage of 200 mV in a three-electrode system. The linear range and sensitivity of the biosensor was investigated at various temperatures in the range of 25-60 °C. The sensitivity t-LDHE increased with increasing the temperature and reached its highest value at 60 °C. The calculated value was nearly 70 times higher as compared to the sensitivity value of the same electrode tested at 25 °C. The sensing parameters of t-LDHE were compared with the electrodes produced by commercially available rabbit muscle LDH (m-LDH). The sensitivity of t-LDHE was nearly 8 times higher than that of m-LDHE. t-LDHE was found to retain its activity for a week incubation at refrigerator (+5 °C), while m-LDHE lost its activity in this period. t-LDHE was also tested in the presence of human blood serum. The results showed that the current increased with increasing concentrations of lactate in the human blood serum and the biosensor is more sensitive to serum lactate as well as the commercial lactate dissolved in serum as compared to the commercial lactate dissolved in CHES buffer.