Efficient Access to Enantiopure γ4‐Amino Acids with Proteinogenic Side‐Chains and Structural Investigation of γ4‐Asn and γ4‐Ser in Hybrid Peptide Helices

Hybrid peptides composed of α‐ and β‐amino acids have recently emerged as new class of peptide foldamers. Comparatively, γ‐ and hybrid γ‐peptides composed of γ⁴‐amino acids are less studied than their β‐counterparts. However, recent investigations reveal that γ⁴‐amino acids have a higher propensity to fold into ordered helical structures. As amino acid side‐chain functional groups play a crucial role in the biological context, the objective of this study was to investigate efficient synthesis of γ⁴‐residues with functional proteinogenic side‐chains and their structural analysis in hybrid‐peptide sequences. Here, the efficient and enantiopure synthesis of various N‐ and C‐terminal free‐γ⁴‐residues, starting from the benzyl esters (COOBzl) of N‐Cbz‐protected (E)‐α,β‐unsaturated γ‐amino acids through multiple hydrogenolysis and double‐bond reduction in a single‐pot catalytic hydrogenation is reported. The crystal conformations of eight unprotected γ⁴‐amino acids (γ⁴‐Val, γ⁴‐Leu, γ⁴‐Ile, γ⁴‐Thr(OtBu), γ⁴‐Tyr, γ⁴‐Asp(OtBu), γ⁴‐Glu(OtBu), and γ‐Aib) reveals that these amino acids adopted a helix favoring gauche conformations along the central C^γ? C^β bond. To study the behavior of γ⁴‐residues with functional side chains in peptide sequences, two short hybrid γ‐peptides P1 (Ac‐Aib‐γ⁴‐Asn‐Aib‐γ⁴‐Leu‐Aib‐γ⁴‐Leu‐CONH₂) and P2 (Ac‐Aib‐γ⁴‐Ser‐Aib‐γ⁴‐Val‐Aib‐γ⁴‐Val‐CONH₂) were designed, synthesized on solid phase, and their 12‐helical conformation in single crystals were studied. Remarkably, the γ⁴‐Asn residue in P1 facilitates the tetrameric helical aggregations through interhelical H bonding between the side‐chain amide groups. Furthermore, the hydroxyl side‐chain of γ⁴‐Ser in P2 is involved in the interhelical H bonding with the backbone amide group. In addition, the analysis of 87 γ⁴‐residues in peptide single‐crystals reveal that the γ⁴‐residues in 12‐helices are more ordered as compared with the 10/12‐ and 12/14‐helices.     

Detection of Protein S‐Sulfhydration by a Tag‐Switch Technique

Protein S‐sulfhydration (forming ‐S‐SH adducts from cysteine residues) is a newly defined oxidative posttranslational modification and plays an important role in H₂S‐mediated signaling pathways. In this study we report the first selective, “tag‐switch” method which can directly label protein S‐sulfhydrated residues by forming stable thioether conjugates. Furthermore we demonstrate that H₂S alone cannot lead to S‐sulfhydration and that the two possible physiological mechanisms include reaction with protein sulfenic acids (P‐SOH) or the involvement of metal centers which would facilitate the oxidation of H₂S to HS^..     

L‐Leucylglycine 0.67‐hydrate and [(4S)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐5‐oxoimidazolidin‐3‐ium‐1‐yl]acetate

Crystals of L‐leucylglycine (L‐Leu–Gly) 0.67‐hydrate, C₈H₁₆N₂O₃·0.67H₂O, (I), were obtained from an aqueous solution. There are three symmetrically independent dipeptide zwitterionic molecules in (I) and they are parallel to one another. The hydrogen‐bond network composed of carboxylate and amino groups and water molecules extends parallel to the ab plane. Hydrophilic regions composed of main chains and hydrophobic regions composed of the isobutyl groups of the leucyl residues are aligned alternately along the c axis. An imidazolidinone derivative was obtained from L‐Leu–Gly and acetone, viz. [(4S)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐4‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐5‐oxoimidazolidin‐3‐ium‐1‐yl]acetate, C₁₁H₂₀N₂O₃, (II), and was crystallized from a methanol–acetone solution of L‐Leu–Gly. The unit‐cell parameters coincide with those reported previously for L‐Leu–Gly dihydrate revealing that the previously reported values should be assigned to the structure of (II). One of the imidazolidine N atoms is protonated and the ring is nearly planar, except for the protonated N atom. Protonated N atoms and deprotonated carboxy groups of neighbouring molecules form hydrogen‐bonded chains. The ring carbonyl group is not involved in hydrogen bonding.     

Standard Enthalpies of Formation for Solid Complexes of Chromium Chloride with L—α—Amino Acids

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β‐Hairpins Generated from Hybrid Peptide Sequences Containing both α‐ and β‐Amino Acids

The incorporation of the β‐amino acid residues into specific positions in the strands and β‐turn segments of peptide hairpins is being systematically explored. The presence of an additional torsion variable about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ) enhances the conformational repertoire in β‐residues. The conformational analysis of three designed peptide hairpins composed of α/β‐hybrid segments is described: Boc‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐^DPro‐β Phe ‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 1 ), Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Val ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Leu ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 2 ), and Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Phe ‐Val‐^DPro‐Gly‐Leu‐β Phe ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 3 ). 500‐MHz ¹H‐NMR Analysis supports a preponderance of β‐hairpin conformation in solution for all three peptides, with critical cross‐strand NOEs providing evidence for the proposed structures. The crystal structure of peptide 2 reveals a β‐hairpin conformation with two β‐residues occupying facing, non‐H‐bonded positions in antiparallel β‐strands. Notably, βVal(3) adopts a gauche conformation about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ=+65°) without disturbing cross‐strand H‐bonding. The crystal structure of 2 , together with previously published crystal structures of peptides 3 and Boc‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐OMe, provide an opportunity to visualize the packing of peptide sheets with local ‘polar segments' formed as a consequence of reversal peptide‐bond orientation. The available structural evidence for hairpins suggests that β‐residues can be accommodated into nucleating turn segments and into both the H‐bonding and non‐H‐bonding positions on the strands.     

POSS end‐linked peptide‐functionalized poly(ɛ‐caprolactone)s and their inclusion complexes with α‐cyclodextrin

In this report, we have synthesized organic/inorganic hybrid peptide–poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) conjugates via ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ?‐caprolactone (CL) in the presence of two sequence defined peptide initiators, namely POSS‐Leu‐Aib‐Leu‐NH₂ (POSS: polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane; Leu: Leucine; Aib: α‐aminoisobutyric acid) and OMe‐Leu‐Aib‐Leu‐NH₂. Covalent attachment of peptide segments with the PCLs were examined by ¹H and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) and FTIR spectroscopy. Supramolecular inclusion complexations of synthesized peptide‐PCL conjugates with α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CyD) were studied to understand the effect of POSS/OMe‐peptide moieties at the PCL chain ends. Inclusion complexation of peptide‐PCL conjugates with α‐CyD produced linear polypseudorotaxane, confirmed by ¹H NMR, FTIR, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Extent of α‐CyD threading onto the hybrid peptide‐PCL conjugated polymers is less than that of α‐CyD threaded onto the linear PCL. Thus, PCL chains were not fully covered by the host α‐CyD molecules due to the bulky POSS/OMe‐peptide moieties connected with the one edge of the PCL chains. PXRD experiment reveals channel like structures by the synthesized inclusion complexes (ICs). Spherulitic morphologies of POSS/OMe‐peptide‐PCL conjugates were fully destroyed after inclusion complexation with α‐CyD and tiny nanoobjects were produced. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3643–3651.     

Essential of Proline and Valine Residues in the Peptide Derived from Lactoferrin for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibition

We synthesized Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu, the peptide contained in lactoferrin (Lf), to identify the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. In an attempt to know the structure‐activity relationship of this peptide, we replaced Pro (the third amino acid residues from N‐terminal) or Val (the fourth amino acid residues from N‐terminal) with Ala (neutral amino acid), Glu (acidic amino acid) or Lys (basic amino acid) to produce six peptides. From the in vitro ACE inhibition (IC₅₀) of these synthesized peptides, the original peptide (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu) showed higher ACE inhibition than the replaced six peptides. Thus, replacement of Pro at the third amino acid residues or Val at the fourth position with Ala, Glu or Lys revealed the ACE inhibition to be lower than the original form of Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu. Otherwise, we added one peptide at the C‐terminal of Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu and found both products with an addition of Val (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu‐Val) or Ile (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu‐Ile) showing a lower ACE inhibition than the original one. The ACE inhibitions produced by both replaced peptides were without significance. Also, deletion of the last peptide at the C‐terminal (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala) failed to produce a marked change of ACE inhibition as compared to the original one. These results suggest that Pro and Val are essential in the peptide for inhibition of ACE activity.     

Structural Characterization of the Complex between Hen Egg‐White Lysozyme and ZrIV‐Substituted Keggin Polyoxometalate as Artificial Protease

Successful co‐crystallization of a noncovalent complex between hen egg‐white lysozyme (HEWL) and the monomeric Zr^IV‐substituted Keggin polyoxometalate (POM) (Zr1 K1), (Et₂NH₂)₃[Zr(PW₁₁O₃₉)] ( 1 ), has been achieved, and its single‐crystal X‐ray structure has been determined. The dimeric Zr^IV‐substituted Keggin‐type polyoxometalate (Zr1 K2), (Et₂NH₂)₁₀[Zr(PW₁₁O₃₉)₂] ( 2 ), has been previously shown to exhibit remarkable selectivity towards HEWL hydrolysis. The reported X‐ray structure shows that the hydrolytically active Zr^IV‐substituted Keggin POM exists as a monomeric species. Prior to hydrolysis, this monomer interacts with HEWL in the vicinity of the previously identified cleavage sites found at Trp28‐Val29 and Asn44‐Arg45, through water‐mediated H‐bonding and electrostatic interactions. Three binding sites are observed at the interface of the negatively charged Keggin POM and the positively charged regions of HEWL at: 1) Gly16, Tyr20, and Arg21; 2) Asn44, Arg45, and Asn46; and 3) Arg128.     

Characterization of ice‐nucleating bacteria using on‐line electron impact ionization aerosol mass spectrometry

The mass spectral signatures of airborne bacteria were measured and analyzed in cloud simulation experiments at the AIDA (Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere) facility. Suspensions of cultured cells in pure water were sprayed into the aerosol and cloud chambers forming an aerosol which consisted of intact cells, cell fragments and residual particles from the agar medium in which the bacteria were cultured. The aerosol particles were analyzed with a high‐resolution time‐of‐flight aerosol mass spectrometer equipped with a newly developed PM_2.5 aerodynamic lens. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) using the multilinear engine (ME‐2) source apportionment was applied to deconvolve the bacteria and agar mass spectral signatures. The bacteria mass fraction contributed between 75 and 95% depending on the aerosol generation, with the remaining mass attributed to agar. We present mass spectra of Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria typical for ice‐nucleation active bacteria in the atmosphere to facilitate the distinction of airborne bacteria from other constituents in ambient aerosol, e.g. by PMF/ME‐2 source apportionment analyses. Nitrogen‐containing ions were the most salient feature of the bacteria mass spectra, and a combination of C₄H₈N⁺ (m/z 70) and C₅H₁₂N⁺ (m/z 86) may be used as marker ions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Membrane‐Anchoring Photosensitizer with Aggregation‐Induced Emission Characteristics for Combating Multidrug‐Resistant Bacteria

Traditional photosensitizers (PSs) show reduced singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production and quenched fluorescence upon aggregation in aqueous media, which greatly affect their efficiency in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Meanwhile, non‐targeting PSs generally yield low efficiency in antibacterial performance due to their short lifetimes and small effective working radii. Herein, a water‐dispersible membrane anchor (TBD‐anchor) PS with aggregation‐induced emission is designed and synthesized to generate ¹O₂ on the bacterial membrane. TBD‐anchor showed efficient antibacterial performance towards both Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram‐positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). Over 99.8 % killing efficiency was obtained for methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) when they were exposed to 0.8 μm of TBD‐anchor at a low white light dose (25 mW cm^?2) for 10 minutes. TBD‐anchor thus shows great promise as an effective antimicrobial agent to combat the menace of multidrug‐resistant bacteria.     

Second‐Generation Inhibitors for the Metalloprotease Neprilysin Based on Bicyclic Heteroaromatic Scaffolds: Synthesis,Biological Activity,and X‐Ray Crystal‐Structure Analysis

A new class of nonpeptidic inhibitors of the Zn^II‐dependent metalloprotease neprilysin with IC₅₀ values in the nanomolar activity range (0.034–0.30 μM ) were developed based on structure‐based de novo design (Figs. 1 and 2). The inhibitors feature benzimidazole and imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine moieties as central scaffolds to undergo H‐bonding to Asn542 and Arg717 and to engage in favorable π‐π stacking interactions with the imidazole ring of His711. The platform is decorated with a thiol vector to coordinate to the Zn^II ion and an aryl residue to occupy the hydrophobic S1′ pocket, but lack a substituent for binding in the S2′ pocket, which remains closed by the side chains of Phe106 and Arg110 when not occupied. The enantioselective syntheses of the active compounds (+)‐ 1 , (+)‐ 2 , (+)‐ 25 , and (+)‐ 26 were accomplished using Evans auxiliaries (Schemes 2, 4, and 5). The inhibitors (+)‐ 2 and (+)‐ 26 with an imidazo[4,5‐c]pyridine core are ca. 8 times more active than those with a benzimidazole core ((+)‐ 1 and (+)‐ 25 ) (Table 1). The predicted binding mode was established by X‐ray analysis of the complex of neprilysin with (+)‐ 2 at 2.25‐Å resolution (Fig. 4 and Table 2). The ligand coordinates with its sulfanyl residue to the Zn^II ion, and the benzyl residue occupies the S1′ pocket. The 1H‐imidazole moiety of the central scaffold forms the required H‐bonds to the side chains of Asn542 and Arg717. The heterobicyclic platform additionally undergoes π‐π stacking with the side chain of His711 as well as edge‐to‐face‐type interactions with the side chain of Trp693. According to the X‐ray analysis, the substantial advantage in biological activity of the imidazo‐pyridine inhibitors over the benzimidazole ligands arises from favorable interactions of the pyridine N‐atom in the former with the side chain of Arg102. Unexpectedly, replacement of the phenyl group pointing into the deep S1′ pocket by a biphenyl group does not enhance the binding affinity for this class of inhibitors.     

Molecular Origin of the Hydrolytic Activity and Fixed Regioselectivity of a ZrIV‐Substituted Polyoxotungstate as Artificial Protease

A multitechnique approach has been applied in order to identify the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters related to the regioselective hydrolysis of human serum albumin (HSA) promoted by the Wells–Dawson polyoxometalate (POM), K₁₅H[Zr(α₂‐P₂W₁₇O₆₁)₂]. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies indicate that up to four POM molecules interact with HSA. While the first interaction site is characterized by a 1:1 binding and an affinity constant of 2×10⁸ M ^?1, the three remaining sites are characterized by a lower global affinity constant of 7×10⁵ M ^?1. The higher affinity constant at the first site is in accordance with a high quenching constant of 2.2×10⁸ M ^?1 obtained for fluorescence quenching of the Trp214 residue located in the only positively charged cleft of HSA, in the presence of K₁₅H[Zr(α₂‐P₂W₁₇O₆₁)₂]. In addition, Eu^III luminescence experiments with an Eu^III‐substituted POM analogue have shown the replacement of water molecules in the first coordination sphere of Eu^III due to binding of the metal ion to amino acid side chain residues of HSA. All three interaction studies are in accordance with a stronger POM dominated binding at the positive cleft on the one hand, and interaction mainly governed by metal anchoring at the three remaining positions, on the other hand. Hydrolysis experiments in the presence of K₁₅H[Zr(α₂‐P₂W₁₇O₆₁)₂] have demonstrated regioselective cleavage of HSA at the Arg114?Leu115, Ala257?Asp258, Lys313?Asp314 or Cys392?Glu393 peptide bonds. This is in agreement with the interaction studies as the Arg114?Leu115 peptide bond is located in the positive cleft of HSA and the three remaining peptide bonds are each located near an upstream acidic residue, which can be expected to coordinate to the metal ion. A detailed kinetic study has evidenced the formation of additional fragments upon prolonged reaction times. Edman degradation of the additional reaction products has shown that these fragments result from further hydrolysis at the initially observed cleavage positions, indicating a fixed selectivity for K₁₅H[Zr(α₂‐P₂W₁₇O₆₁)₂].     

Probing Polyoxometalate–Protein Interactions Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The molecular interactions between the Ce^IV‐substituted Keggin anion [PW₁₁O₃₉Ce(OH₂)₄]^3? ( CeK ) and hen egg‐white lysozyme (HEWL) were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The analysis of CeK was compared with the Ce^IV‐substituted Keggin dimer [(PW₁₁O₃₉)₂Ce]^10? ( CeK₂ ) and the Zr^IV‐substituted Lindqvist anion [W₅O₁₈Zr(OH₂)(OH)]^3? ( ZrL ) to understand how POM features such as shape, size, charge, or type of incorporated metal ion influence the POM???protein interactions. Simulations revealed two regions of the protein in which the CeK anion interacts strongly: cationic sites formed by Arg21 and by Arg45 and Arg68. The POMs chiefly interact with the side chains of the positively charged (arginines, lysines) and the polar uncharged residues (tyrosines, serines, aspargines) via electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding with the oxygen atoms of the POM framework. The CeK anion shows higher protein affinity than the CeK₂ and ZrL anions, because it is less hydrophilic and it has the right size and shape for establishing interactions with several residues simultaneously. The larger, more negatively charged CeK₂ anion has a high solvent‐accessible surface, which is sub‐optimal for the interaction, while the smaller ZrL anion is highly hydrophilic and cannot efficiently interact with several residues simultaneously.     

Mechanistic Investigations of Oxidation of Some Dipeptides by Sodium N‐chloro‐p‐toluenesulfonamide in Alkaline Medium:A Kinetic Study

The kinetics of oxidation of five dipeptides (DPP) viz., glycylglycine (Gly-Gly), L-alanyl-L-alanine (Ala-Ala), L-valyl-L-valine (Val-Val), L-leucyl-L-leucine (Leu-Leu) and phenylglycyl-phenylglycine (Phg-Phg) by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide or chloramine-T (CAT) in NaOH medium was studied at 308 K. The reactions follow identical kinetics for all the dipeptides, being first-order dependence each on [CAT]_o, [DPP]_o and fractional-order on [OH^－]. Addition of p-toluenesulfonamide or halide ions (Cl^－ or Br^－) has no significant effect on the rate of reaction. The reaction rate was found to increase with increase in ionic strength of the medium. The solvent isotope effect was studied using D₂O. The activation parameters for the reaction were computed from Arrhenius plots. Equilibrium and decomposition constants were evaluated. The oxidation products of the dipeptides were identified as their corresponding aldehydes. An isokinetic relationship was observed with β＝352 K, indicating that enthalpy factors control the reaction rate. CH₃C₆H₄SO₂NCl^－ of the oxidant has been postulated as the reactive oxidizing species. Under comparable experimental conditions, the rate of oxidation of the dipeptides increases in the order: Phg-Phg＞Ala-Ala＞Val-Val＞Leu-Leu＞Gly-Gly. The kinetics of oxidation of the dipeptides have also been compared with those of their corresponding monomer amino acids. The observed results have been explained by a plausible mechanism and the related rate law has been deduced.     

β‐Turn Analogues in Model αβ‐Hybrid Peptides: Structural Characterization of Peptides Containing β2,2Ac6c and β3,3Ac6c Residues

The effect of gem‐dialkyl substituents on the backbone conformations of β‐amino acid residues in peptides has been investigated by using four model peptides: Boc‐Xxx‐β^2,2Ac₆c(1‐aminomethylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid)‐NHMe (Xxx=Leu ( 1 ), Phe ( 2 ); Boc=tert‐butyloxycarbonyl) and Boc‐Xxx‐β^3,3Ac₆c(1‐aminocyclohexaneacetic acid)‐NHMe (Xxx=Leu ( 3 ), Phe ( 4 )). Tetrasubstituted carbon atoms restrict the ranges of stereochemically allowed conformations about flanking single bonds. The crystal structure of Boc‐Leu‐β^2,2Ac₆c‐NHMe ( 1 ) established a C₁₁ hydrogen‐bonded turn in the αβ‐hybrid sequence. The observed torsion angles (α(?≈?60°, ψ≈?30°), β(?≈?90°, θ≈60°, ψ≈?90°)) corresponded to a C₁₁ helical turn, which was a backbone‐expanded analogue of the type III β turn in αα sequences. The crystal structure of the peptide Boc‐Phe‐β^3,3Ac₆c‐NHMe ( 4 ) established a C₁₁ hydrogen‐bonded turn with distinctly different backbone torsion angles (α(?≈?60°, ψ≈120°), β(?≈60°, θ≈60°, ψ≈?60°)), which corresponded to a backbone‐expanded analogue of the type II β turn observed in αα sequences. In peptide 4 , the two molecules in the asymmetric unit adopted backbone torsion angles of opposite signs. In one of the molecules, the Phe residue adopted an unfavorable backbone conformation, with the energetic penalty being offset by a favorable aromatic interaction between proximal molecules in the crystal. NMR spectroscopy studies provided evidence for the maintenance of folded structures in solution in these αβ‐hybrid sequences.     

Decomposition of model alkoxyamines in simple and polymerizing systems. II. Diastereomeric N‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐N‐(1‐diethyl‐phosphono‐2,2‐dimethyl‐propyl)‐aminoxyl‐based compounds

Thermal reactions of the alkoxyamine diastereomers DEPN‐R′ [DEPN: N‐(2‐methylpropyl)‐N‐(1‐diethylphosphophono‐2,2‐dimethyl‐propyl)‐aminoxyl; R′: methoxy‐carbonylethyl and phenylethyl] with (R,R) + (S,S) and (R,S) + (S,R) configurations have been investigated by ¹H NMR at 100 °C. During the overall decay the diastereomers interconvert, and an analytical treatment of the combined processes is presented. Rate constants are obtained for the cleavage and reformation of DEPN‐R′ from NMR, electron spin resonance, and chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization experiments also using 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) as a radical scavenger. The rate constants depend on the diastereomer configuration and the residues R′. Simulations of the kinetics observed with styrene and methyl methacrylate containing solutions yielded rate constants for unimeric and polymeric alkoxyamines DEPN‐(M)_n‐R′. The results were compatible with the known DEPN mediation of living styrene and acrylate polymerizations. For methyl methacrylate the equilibrium constant of the reversible cleavage of the dormant chains DEPN‐(M)_n‐R′ is very large and renders successful living polymerizations unlikely. Mechanistic and kinetic differences of DEPN‐ and TEMPO‐mediated polymerizations are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3264–3283, 2002     

Unifying the Aminohexopyranose‐ and Peptidyl‐Nucleoside Antibiotics: Implications for Antibiotic Design

In search of new anti‐tuberculars compatible with anti‐retroviral therapy we re‐identified amicetin as a lead compound. Amicetin's binding to the 70S ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus (Tth) has been unambiguously determined by crystallography and reveals it to occupy the peptidyl transferase center P‐site of the ribosome. The amicetin binding site overlaps significantly with that of the well‐known protein synthesis inhibitor balsticidin S. Amicetin, however, is the first compound structurally characterized to bind to the P‐site with demonstrated selectivity for the inhibition of prokaryotic translation. The natural product‐ribosome structure enabled the synthesis of simplified analogues that retained both potency and selectivity for the inhibition of prokaryotic translation.     

p‐Cresyl 2,3‐an­hydro‐5‐deoxy‐5‐phthal­imido‐1‐thio‐α‐d‐lyxo­furan­oside

The crystal structure of the title compound, C₂₀H₁₇NO₄S, (I), was determined in order to compare the solution and solid‐state conformations. The mol­ecule was synthesized as a building block for incorporation into oligosaccharides comprised of conformationally restricted furan­ose residues. The furan­ose ring adopts an envelope conformation with the ring O atom displaced above the plane (an ^OE conformation). The pseudorotational phase angle (P) is 88.6° and the puckering amplitude (τ_m) is 31.5°. The C₂—C₁—S—C(Ph) torsion angle is ?163.2 (2)°, which places the aglycone in the exo‐anomeric effect preferred position. The C1—S—C14 bond angle is 99.02 (13)° and the plane of the cresyl moiety is oriented nearly parallel to the four in‐plane atoms of the furan­ose ring envelope. The orientation about the C4—C5 bond is gauche–gauche [Bock & Duus (1994). J. Carbohydr. Chem. 13 , 513–543].     

The Structure of Bis[N‐6‐aminopyridyl‐N‐(1S)‐(+)‐10‐camphorsulfonylamino]palladium in the Solid State and in Solution

The complex, bis[N‐6‐aminopyridyl‐N‐(1S)‐(+)‐10‐camphorsulfonylamino]palladium, Pd[(S)‐APCS]₂, 1 , was prepared by reaction of 2‐[(1S)‐(+)‐10‐camphorsulfonamino]‐6‐aminopyridine with PdCl₂ in THF. Complex 1 has been characterized by spectroscopic methods and its structure has been determined by X‐ray crystallography. Crystal data: space group C2, a= 16.082 (2), b = 17.104 (2), c = 13.051 (2)Å, β = 99.95 (1)°, V = 3535.9 (8) ų, Z = 2 with final residuals R1 = 0.0491 and wR2 = 0.0944. Two independent molecules, (S,S)‐Pd[(S)‐APCS]2, 1a , and (R,R)‐Pd[(S)‐APCS]2, 1b , were found in each asymmetric unit, which exchange to each other via a series of nitrogen inversion and C‐C bond rotation. The inversion energy (ΔGc₁^≠) and the energy barrier (δGc₂^≠) were 11.5 ± 0.1 Kcal mol^?1 at 246 K and 9.8 ± 0.1 Kcal mol^?1 at 199 K, respectively, calculated by dynamic NMR data.