Here, we report the use of fluorescently labelled proteins to study protein adsorption to microarrayed synthetic polymers for the first time, indicating that this method is appropriate for the study of protein adsorption on these arrays. To investigate protein adhesion directly we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure the force of adhesion between a protein‐coated probe and the arrayed polymers. Both approaches show promise as methods for screening protein interactions with polymers in a microarray format. Comparison of these very different measures of protein–surface interactions indicate a good correlation.
(?)‐Dysibetaine has been synthesized in 11 steps from readily available L ‐malic acid (see scheme). The key step is a unique Ugi 4‐center‐3‐component cyclization reaction, where an ester group acts as the carboxylic acid component. The use of 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexamethyldisilazane as an ammonia equivalent and a specially designed isocyanide leads to an expeditious synthesis.
Long‐distance service : Finding a selective small‐molecule modulator for every domain of every human protein is a Herculean task. Wouldn't it be much easier to control the activity of any protein of choice by simply fusing it with a generally adaptable switch protein and controlling protein activity indirectly?
Ring leader : PtCl2 catalyzes intramolecular cyclization of o‐isopropyl or o‐benzyl aryl alkynes to give substituted indene derivatives with good yields and high selectivity. This reaction appears to proceed through an sp3 C? H activation and 1,4‐hydrogen migration pathway (see scheme).
A breakthrough in the asymmetric hydroboration of notoriously difficult 1,1‐disubstituted alkenes using a new family of highly effective hydroboration reagents is described (see scheme). The intermediate boranes can be oxidized to alcohols or used in Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions.
Bi? O chemistry : A direct regioselective route to bismuth bis(amino)naphthalene compounds, incorporating Bi? O and Bi? C bonds is described, in which an amide precursor is treated with aldehydes, ketones, alkenes, and alkynes, leading to insertion into the Bi? NMe2 bond.
Perfluoroaryl boranes are an important class of organometallic Lewis acids. The synthesis of perfluorinated compounds brings special challenges to tried‐and‐true synthetic methodologies. In their Communication on page 2955 ff., W. E. Piers and co‐workers present the synthesis of a new, fully fluorinated heterocyclic borane that is also a member of the rare antiaromatic borole class of compounds. The route relies on normally facile transmetallation reactions made more difficult by the electron‐withdrawing C6F5 groups of the target product.
Simple addition : Copper(II) aqua complex 1 can be prepared in a one‐pot synthesis and is self‐assembled by H‐bond interactions. Complex 1 is shown to accelerate the nitroaldol reaction on water, which is a heterogeneous process, requiring no additive or base, and 1 can be recycled without loss of activity.
Fully loaded : Noncovalent anchoring of liposomes into polymer multilayered films with cholesterol‐modified polymers allows the preparation of capsosomes—liposome‐compartmentalized polymer capsules (see picture). A quantitative enzymatic reaction confirmed the presence of active cargo within the capsosomes and was used to determine the number of subcompartments within this novel biomedical carrier system.
Always on the move : Molecular dynamics of perylene cores in columnar structures influences the processability and self‐healing of these materials. A combination of X‐ray scattering and advanced solid‐state NMR methods show that these systems have restricted angular mobility of the cores even in the frozen phase, and a cooperative spiral type of motion in the liquid crystalline phase (see picture).
Eines der Haupttoxine bei Fischvergiftungen, das Ciguatoxin (siehe Struktur), war Ziel einer Totalsynthese. Der Syntheseweg beruht auf der Kupplung dreier Segmente, und die Schlüsselumwandlungen umfassen eine Komplexbildung zwischen Acetylen und Dicobalthexacarbonyl.
Are you in? Bimetallic PtRu nanoparticles have been selectively confined inside or deposited outside carbon nanotubes (see picture). The confined nanoparticles display significantly higher selectivity and catalytic activity in hydrogenation reactions.
Fluorinated building blocks by C? F bond cleavage : Catalytic C? F activation reactions that give novel dioxaborolanes have been developed (see scheme). The reactions proceed at room temperature, and catalytic intermediates are presumably rhodium hydride and boryl species.
Mind how you go : The current strategies for the development of therapies for Alzheimer's disease are very diverse. Particular attention is given to the search for inhibitors (see picture for two examples) of the proteolytic enzyme β‐ and γ‐secretase, which inhibits the cleavage of the amyloid precursor proteins into amyloid β peptides, from which the disease‐defining deposits of plaque in the brains of Alzheimer's patients originates.
