Selective and Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor for L‐Methionine at Physiological pH Using Functionalized Triazole Polymer Film Modified Electrode

This communication describes the determination of an essential amino acid, L ‐methionine (L ‐Met) in the presence of important interferents, ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) at physiological pH using a glassy carbon electrode modified with an electropolymerized film of 3‐amino‐5‐mercapto‐1,2,4‐triazole (p‐AMTa). The bare glassy carbon electrode fails to show a voltammetric signal for L ‐Met in the presence of AA and UA at pH 7.2. However, the p‐AMTa electrode separates the voltammetric signals of AA, UA and L ‐Met with pronounced oxidation currents. The amperometric current of L ‐Met was increased linearly from 1.0×10^?7 to 1×10^?4 M and the detection limit was found to be 4.12×10^?10 M (S/N=3).     

The effect of amino acid backbone length on molecular packing: crystalline tartrates of glycine, β‐alanine, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dl‐α‐aminobutyric acid (AABA)

We report a novel 1:1 cocrystal of β‐alanine with dl ‐tartaric acid, C₃H₇NO₂·C₄H₆O₆, (II), and three new molecular salts of dl ‐tartaric acid with β‐alanine {3‐azaniumylpropanoic acid–3‐azaniumylpropanoate dl ‐tartaric acid–dl ‐tartrate, [H(C₃H₇NO₂)₂]⁺·[H(C₄H₅O₆)₂]⁻, (III)}, γ‐aminobutyric acid [3‐carboxypropanaminium dl ‐tartrate, C₄H₁₀NO₂⁺·C₄H₅O₆⁻, (IV)] and dl ‐α‐aminobutyric acid {dl ‐2‐azaniumylbutanoic acid–dl ‐2‐azaniumylbutanoate dl ‐tartaric acid–dl ‐tartrate, [H(C₄H₉NO₂)₂]⁺·[H(C₄H₅O₆)₂]⁻, (V)}. The crystal structures of binary crystals of dl ‐tartaric acid with glycine, (I), β‐alanine, (II) and (III), GABA, (IV), and dl ‐AABA, (V), have similar molecular packing and crystallographic motifs. The shortest amino acid (i.e. glycine) forms a cocrystal, (I), with dl ‐tartaric acid, whereas the larger amino acids form molecular salts, viz. (IV) and (V). β‐Alanine is the only amino acid capable of forming both a cocrystal [i.e. (II)] and a molecular salt [i.e. (III)] with dl ‐tartaric acid. The cocrystals of glycine and β‐alanine with dl ‐tartaric acid, i.e. (I) and (II), respectively, contain chains of amino acid zwitterions, similar to the structure of pure glycine. In the structures of the molecular salts of amino acids, the amino acid cations form isolated dimers [of β‐alanine in (III), GABA in (IV) and dl ‐AABA in (V)], which are linked by strong O—H…O hydrogen bonds. Moreover, the three crystal structures comprise different types of dimeric cations, i.e. (A…A)⁺ in (III) and (V), and A⁺…A⁺ in (IV). Molecular salts (IV) and (V) are the first examples of molecular salts of GABA and dl ‐AABA that contain dimers of amino acid cations. The geometry of each investigated amino acid (except dl ‐AABA) correlates with the melting point of its mixed crystal.     

Synthesis of Thieno[2,3‐b]quinolinone Derivatives

The Knoevenagel reactions of malononitrile with acetophenone or 4‐substituted acetophenons were carried to give the corresponding 2‐(1‐aryle thylidene)malononitriles, which was further cyclized with sulfur using NaHCO₃ as catalysts to generate 2‐amino‐5‐arylthiophene‐3‐carbonitrile 2 . The intermediate enamines 3 were prepared by refluxing of 2 with 5‐substituted‐1,3‐cyclohexanedione using p‐toluenesulfonic acid as catalyst. The title compounds 4‐amino‐3‐aryl ‐7‐substituted‐7,8‐dihydrothieno[2,3‐b]quinolin‐5(6H)‐one were synthesized by cyclization of 3 in the presence of K₂CO₃ and Cu₂Cl₂. The structures of all compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, MS, and ¹H‐NMR spectra.     

l‐Methioninium chloride and l‐seleno­methioninium chloride at 103 K

The crystal structures of the title compounds, (S)‐1‐carboxy‐3‐(methyl­sulfanyl)­propanaminium chloride, C₅H₁₂NO₂S⁺·Cl⁻, and (S)‐1‐carboxy‐3‐(methyl­selanyl)­propanaminium chloride, C₅H₁₂NO₂Se⁺·Cl⁻, are isomorphous. The proton­ated l ‐methionine and l ‐seleno­methionine mol­ecules have almost identical conformations and create very similar contacts with the Cl⁻ anions in the crystal structures of both compounds. The amino acid cations and the Cl⁻ anions are linked viaN—H⋯Cl⁻ and O—H⋯Cl⁻ hydrogen bonds.     

Simple Synthesis of Ruthenium π Complexes of Aromatic Amino Acids and Small Peptides

The interaction of [Ru(η⁶‐C₁₀H₈)(Cp)]⁺ (Cp=C₅H₅) with aromatic amino acids (L ‐phenylalanine, L ‐tyrosine, L ‐tryptophane, D ‐phenylglycine, and L ‐threo‐3‐phenylserine) under visible‐light irradiation gives the corresponding [Ru(η⁶‐amino acid)(Cp)]⁺ complexes in near‐quantitative yield. The reaction proceeds in air at room temperature in water and tolerates the presence of non‐aromatic amino acids (except those which are sulfur containing), monosaccharides, and nucleotides. The complex [Ru(η⁶‐C₁₀H₈)(Cp)]⁺ was also used for selective labeling of Tyr and Phe residues of small peptides, namely, angiotensin I and II derivatives.     

Ionic complexes of 1,1′‐dimethyltitanocene(IV) dichloride with simple α‐amino acids: synthesis,structural characterisation and investigation on hydrolytic stability in aqueous solution

Five cationic complexes of the general formula [Cp′₂Ti(A)₂]²⁺ [Cl^?]₂ [Cp′ = η⁵‐(CH₃)C₅H₄ and A = glycine, 1 ; 2‐methylalanine, 2 ; N‐methylglycine, 3 ; L ‐alanine, 4 ; and D ‐alanine 5 ] were prepared by the reaction of Cp′₂TiCl₂ and the appropriate α‐amino acid in 1:2 molar ratio from methanol–water solution in high yield. Air‐stable crystalline solids, highly soluble in water, were characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR, Raman, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁴N NMR spectroscopy. The structure of compound 3 was determined by single crystal X‐ray crystallography: orthorhombic Pbca No. 61, a = 9.5310(3), b = 18.2980(5), c = 26.6350(5) Å, V = 4654 ų, Z = 8. Hydrolytic stability of all compounds in D₂O was investigated using ¹H NMR spectroscopy within the pD interval of 2.9–6.5. All compounds slowly decomposed during 24 h at pD = 2.94, forming a mixture of hydrolytic products [Cp′₂Ti(A)(D₂O)]²⁺, [Cp′₂Ti(D₂O)₂]²⁺ and respective α‐amino acids. By elevating pD to 4.0 and up to 6.5, a yellowish precipitate was formed, which indicates decomposition of the complexes. These compounds were characterized using elemental analyses, IR and Raman spectroscopy and attributed to oligomeric and/or polymeric structures described empirically by the formula Ti(Cp′)_xO_y(OH)_z (x = 0.65; y = 0.3, z = 1.9). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New saponins from Sechium mexicanum

The chemical study of Sechium mexicanum roots led to the isolation of the two new saponins {3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl (1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐2β,3β,16α,23‐tetrahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside} (1) and {3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl (1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐2β,3β,16α,23‐tetrahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐[β‐D ‐apiosyl‐(1 → 3)]‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside} (2), together with the known compounds {3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐2β,3β,6β,16α,23‐pentahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside} (3), tacacosides A₁ (4) and B₃ (5). The structures of saponins 1 and 2 were elucidated using a combination of ¹H and ¹³C 1D‐NMR, COSY, TOCSY, gHMBC and gHSQC 2D‐NMR, and FABMS of the natural compounds and their peracetylated derivates, as well as by chemical degradation. Compounds 1–3 are the first examples of saponins containing polygalacic and 16‐hydroxyprotobasic acids found in the genus Sechium, while 4 and 5, which had been characterized partially by NMR, are now characterized in detail. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The first 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotide–amino acid complex: l‐His–cIMP

In the crystal structure of the l ‐His–cIMP complex, i.e.l ‐histidinium inosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate [systematic name: 5‐(2‐amino‐2‐carboxyethyl)‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium 7‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐6‐(6‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro‐1H‐purin‐9‐yl)‐4a,6,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4H‐1,3,5,2λ⁵‐furo[3,2‐d][1,3,2λ⁵]dioxaphosphinin‐2‐olate], C₆H₁₀N₃O₂⁺·C₁₀H₁₀N₄O₇P⁻, the Hoogsteen edge of the hypoxanthine (Hyp) base of cIMP and the Hyp face are engaged in specific amino acid–nucleotide (His...cIMP) recognition, i.e. by abutting edge‐to‐edge and by π–π stacking, respectively. The Watson–Crick edge of Hyp and the cIMP phosphate group play a role in nonspecific His...cIMP contacts. The interactions between the cIMP anions (anti/C3′–endo/trans–gauche/chair conformers) are realized mainly between riboses and phosphate groups. The results for this l ‐His–cIMP complex, compared with those for the previously reported solvated l ‐His–IMP crystal structure, indicate a different nature of amino acid–nucleotide recognition and interactions upon the 3′:5′‐cyclization of the nucleotide phosphate group.     

Elaboration of 1,8‐naphthyridine‐2,7‐dicarboxaldehyde into novel 2,7‐dimethylimine derivatives

The known 1,8‐naphthyridine‐2,7‐dicarboxaldehyde was prepared by SeO₂ oxidation of 2,7‐dimethyl‐1,8‐naphthyridine. The dimethylated naphthyridine molecule was assembled from an adaptation of the Skraup synthesis using 2‐amino‐6‐methylpyridine and crotonaldehyde to afford a reproducible 37% yield, and constitute a significant advance over the literature of this reaction. The condensation of 1,8‐naph‐thyridine‐2,7‐dicarboxaldehyde with various primary amines (R = ‐C₆H₁₁, ‐CH₂C₆H₅, ‐C(CH₃)₃, ‐C₁₀H₁₅, and CH₂CH₂SCH₂CH₃) in alcohol affords diimines 1(a‐e) . The inherent crystallinity of 1(a‐e) affords pure compounds in reasonable to excellent yields (ca. 70%) after evaporation of solvent and recrystallization. The anticipated spectroscopic features of (N=C‐H) ¹H nmr shift and v(C=N) in the ir spectrum appear around 8.50 δ and 1640 cm^?1, respectively, for the series 1(a‐e) . These novel naph‐thyridines typically display the signature ¹H nmr doublets at ca. 8.15‐8.30 δ ascribed to the 3 and 4 naphthyridine protons, consistent with a mirror plane (through the quaternary carbons) perpendicular to the naphthyridine plane, and syn, syn relationships of the naphthyridine moiety with each imine nitrogen lone pair. Complexation studies of 1(a‐e) with transition metals of biological relevance such as copper(I) and copper(II) will be reported elsewhere.     

Pendant structure governed anion sensing property for sulfonamide‐functionalized poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing various α‐amino acids

The colorimetric detection of anionic species has been studied for α‐amino acid‐conjugated poly(phenylacetylene)s, which were prepared by the polymerization of the ethyl esters of N‐(4‐ethynylphenylsulfonyl)‐L ‐alanine, L ‐isoleucine, L ‐valine, L ‐phenylalanine, L ‐aspartic acid, and L ‐glutamic acid using Rh⁺(2,5‐norbornadiene)[(η⁶‐C₆H₅)B^?(C₆H₅)₃] as the catalyst in CHCl₃. The one‐handed helical conformations of all the sulfonamide‐functionalized polymers were characterized by Cotton effects in the circular dichroism spectra. The addition of anions with a relatively high basicity, such as tetra‐n‐butylammonium acetate and fluoride, induced drastic changes in both the optical and chiroptical properties. On the other hand, anions with a relatively low basicity, such as tetra‐n‐butylammonium nitrate, azide, and bromide, had essentially no effects on the helical conformation of all the sulfonamide‐functionalized polymers. The anion signaling property of the sulfonamide‐functionalized polymers possessing α‐amino acid moieties was significantly affected by the installed residual amino acid structures. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1683–1689, 2010     

Oleanane Saponins from Rhizome of Anemone raddeana

Two new oleanolic acid‐type triterpenoid saponins, raddeanosides R₂₂ and R₂₃ ( 1 and 2 , resp.), together with four known saponins were isolated from the rhizome of Anemone raddeana Regel. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as oleanolic acid 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl(1→2)[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl(1→4)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside ( 1 ) and oleanolic acid 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl(1→3)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl(1→4)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside ( 2 ). The four known compounds were identified as oleanolic acid 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside ( 3 ), oleanolic acid 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl(1→4)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside ( 4 ), hederasaponin B ( 5 ), and hederacholchiside E ( 6 ) on the basis of chemical and spectral evidences. Compound 4 is reported for the first time from the Anemone genus, while the other three known compounds have been already found in this plant.     

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.     

Hydroxyl‐tolerated polymerization of N‐phenoxycarbonyl α‐amino acids: A simple way to polypeptides bearing hydroxyl groups

Differing from the moisture‐sensitive α‐amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides (AA‐NCAs) monomers, N‐phenoxycarbonyl α‐amino acids (AA‐NPCs) can be prepared and stored in open air. In this contribution, we report that the controlled polymerizations of AA‐NPC monomers of O‐tert‐butyl‐dl ‐serine (BRS‐NPC), N^ε‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐l ‐lysine (ZLL‐NPC) and N^ε‐trifluoroacetyl‐l ‐lysine (FLL‐NPC) initiated by amines are surprisingly able to tolerate common nucleophilic impurities such as water and alcohols at a level of monomer concentration. The structures of polypeptides synthesized in the presence of water or alcohols agree well with the designed ones in the case of repeated chain extensions. Detailed mechanism study and density functional theory calculation reveal that the low concentration of AA‐NCA and the high activity of amines are the key factors to the controllability of AA‐NPC polymerizations. The water‐ and alcohol‐tolerant property in polymerizations of AA‐NPCs encourages the following studies on unprotected (phenolic) hydroxyl groups containing AA‐NPCs. The controllable polymerizations of N‐phenoxycarbonyl l ‐tyrosine (LT‐NPC) and N‐phenoxycarbonyl S‐(3‐hydroxypropyl)‐l ‐cysteine (HLC‐NPC) initiated by amines are confirmed and reported for the first time, which extends the library of AA‐NPCs and polypeptides as well. All the universality of library, the convenience of monomer preparation, and the controllability and water‐ and alcohol‐tolerant property of polymerization of AA‐NPCs significantly enhance the feasibility of polypeptide synthesis, making AA‐NPC approach a promising synthetic method of polypeptides. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 907–916     

Synthesis of star‐shaped poly(D,L‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid)‐b‐poly(L‐lactic acid) with the poly(D,L‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid) macroinitiator and stannous octoate catalyst

Two types of three‐arm and four‐arm, star‐shaped poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid)‐b‐poly(L ‐lactic acid) (D,L ‐PLGA50‐b‐PLLA) were successfully synthesized via the sequential ring‐opening polymerization of D,L ‐3‐methylglycolide (MG) and L ‐lactide (L ‐LA) with a multifunctional initiator, such as trimethylolpropane and pentaerythritol, and stannous octoate (SnOct₂) as a catalyst. Star‐shaped, hydroxy‐terminated poly(D,L ‐lactic acid‐alt‐glycolic acid) (D,L ‐PLGA50) obtained from the polymerization of MG was used as a macroinitiator to initiate the block polymerization of L ‐LA with the SnOct₂ catalyst in bulk at 130 °C. For the polymerization of L ‐LA with the three‐arm, star‐shaped D,L ‐PLGA50 macroinitiator (number‐average molecular weight = 6800) and the SnOct₂ catalyst, the molecular weight of the resulting D,L ‐PLGA50‐b‐PLLA polymer linearly increased from 12,600 to 27,400 with the increasing molar ratio (1:1 to 3:1) of L ‐LA to MG, and the molecular weight distribution was rather narrow (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight = 1.09–1.15). The ¹H NMR spectrum of the D,L ‐PLGA50‐b‐PLLA block copolymer showed that the molecular weight and unit composition of the block copolymer were controlled by the molar ratio of L ‐LA to the macroinitiator. The ¹³C NMR spectrum of the block copolymer clearly showed its diblock structures, that is, D,L ‐PLGA50 as the first block and poly(L ‐lactic acid) as the second block. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 409–415, 2002     

2D l‐Di‐toluoyl‐tartaric acid Lanthanide Coordination Polymers: Toward Single‐component White‐Light and NIR Luminescent Materials

A series of five l ‐di‐p‐toluoyl‐tartaric acid (l ‐DTTA) lanthanide coordination polymers, namely {[Ln₄K⁴ L₆(H₂O)_x]?yH₂O}_n, [Ln=Dy ( 1 ), x=24, y=12; Ln=Ho ( 2 ), x=23, y=12; Ln=Er ( 3 ), x=24, y=12; Ln=Yb ( 4 ), x=24, y=11; Ln=Lu ( 5 ), x=24, y=12] have been isolated by simple reactions of H₂L (H₂L= L ‐DTTA) with LnCl₃?6 H₂O at ambient temperature. X‐ray crystallographic analysis reveals that complexes 1 – 5 feature two‐dimensional (2D) network structures in which the Ln³⁺ ions are bridged by carboxylate groups of ligands in two unique coordinated modes. Luminescent spectra demonstrate that complex 1 realizes single‐component white‐light emission, while complexes 2 – 4 exhibit a characteristic near‐infrared (NIR) luminescence in the solid state at room temperature.     

Syntheses,Molecular Structure and Thermodynamic Properties of 3‐Nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one Europium Complex [Eu(NTO)3(H2O)5]·5H2O

3‐Nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one (NTO) europium complex of [Eu(NTO)₃(H₂O)₅]·5H₂O was synthesized by mixing the aqueous solution of lithium 3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐onate and the dilute nitric acid solution of europium oxide. The title complex was characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectra. The single crystal structure was determined by a four‐circle x‐ray diffractometer. The title complex is monoclinic with space group P2₁/n and unit cell parameters of a = 1.8720(2) nm, b = 0.6548(3) nm, c = 1.9323(3) nm and β = 95.33(1)°. The coordination geometry around the europium ion is a distorted dodecahedron and there are five crystalline water molecules to form the stable structure of the crystal. From measurements of the enthalpy of solution in water at 298.15 K, the standard enthalpy of formation, lattice enthalpy and lattice energy have been determined as ‐(3798.6 ± 3.7), ?4488.4 and ?4452.4 kJ·mol^?;1, respectively.     

7‐Iodo‐8‐aza‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxy­adenosine and 7‐bromo‐8‐aza‐7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyadenosine

The isomorphous structures of the title molecules, 4‐amino‐1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐erythro‐pento­furan­osyl)‐3‐iodo‐1H‐pyrazolo‐[3,4‐d]pyrimidine, (I), C₁₀H₁₂IN₅O₃, and 4‐amino‐3‐bromo‐1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐erythro‐pento­furan­osyl)‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d]­pyrimidine, (II), C₁₀H₁₂BrN₅O₃, have been determined. The sugar puckering of both compounds is C1′‐endo (^1′E). The N‐­glycosidic bond torsion angle χ¹ is in the high‐anti range [?73.2 (4)° for (I) and ?74.1 (4)° for (II)] and the crystal structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds.     

1,1′‐Dimethylvanadocene α‐amino acid complexes: synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial behavior toward Escherichia coli B

Eight water‐soluble 1,1′‐dimethylvanadocene amino acid complexes have been prepared via the reaction of (MeCp)₂VCl₂ ( 2 ) with one equivalent of amino acid (aa) in water affording [(MeCp)₂V( aa )]Cl, where aa is glycine ( 3 ), L ‐alanine ( 4 ), L ‐valine ( 5 ), L ‐leucine ( 6 ), L ‐isoleucine ( 7 ), L ‐phenylalanine ( 8 ), L ‐histidine ( 9 ) and L ‐tryptophane ( 10 ). All prepared complexes have been characterized by EPR, IR and Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. Molecular structures of [(MeCp)₂V(ala)]BPh₄·CH₃OH ( 11 ), [(MeCp)₂V(leu)]PF₆ ( 12 ) and [(MeCp)₂V(ile)]PF₆ ( 13 ) were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Cytotoxic properties of complexes 2–10 were investigated toward Escherichia coli B and compared with analogical unsubstituted vanadocene compounds ( 1, 14–21 ). The results showed that 1,1′‐dimethylvanadocene amino acid complexes have identical or slightly higher antiproliferative activity then their unsubstituted analogs. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Further Insight into the Mechanism of the Irreversible Inhibition of Histidine Ammonia‐Lyase by L‐Cysteine and Dioxygen

Histidine ammonia‐lyase (HAL) was irreversibly inhibited by L ‐cysteine at pH 10.5 under aerobic conditions. The inhibited enzyme, still in its intact conformation, showed an absorption maximum at 338 nm. Upon denaturation, followed by pronase digestion, two main chromophoric products 1 and 2 (Figs. 4 and 5, resp.) could be isolated with absorption maxima at 335 and 332 nm, respectively. As determined by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, in product 1 one of the methylidene H‐atoms of the 3,5‐dihydro‐5‐methylidene‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐one (formerly called 4‐methylideneimidazol‐5‐one; MIO) prosthetic group was substituted by one of the amino groups of L ‐ cystine, while in product 2 the ε‐amino group of L ‐lysine was the analogous substituent. Acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis of product 1 gave compound 3 whose chromophore (λ_max 310 nm) was that of 3,5‐dihydro‐5‐(4‐hydroxymethylidene)‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐one, i.e., of a vinylogous acid. These results support our previous proposal that, in the first step, the L ‐cysteine S‐atom attacks the prosthetic electrophile (Scheme 2). The resulting nucleophilic enolate captures O₂ to form a peroxide. On the basis of the present results, we postulate that the observed products 1 – 3 arise from a vinylogous thioester 4 , which is formed in the conformationally intact inhibited enzyme by an electrocyclic reaction eliminating H₂O₂.     

Two Keggin Templated Supramolecular Compounds by Exerting the Chelate and Linking Dual Roles of the Ligand 2, 2′‐Biimidazole

Two new Keggin templated supramolecular compounds, [Zn₂(H₂biim)₅(SiM₁₂O₄₀)] · 4H₂O [M = W ( 1 ), Mo ( 2 )] (H₂biim = 2, 2′‐biimidazole), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions by using the ligand 2, 2′‐biimidazole. They were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR and photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry. The two isostructural compounds are constructed by two discrete supramolecular moieties: the inorganic chains consist of Keggin anions and metal‐organic chains constructed by [Zn₂(H₂biim)₅]⁴⁺ subunits. In the dinuclear [Zn₂(H₂biim)₅]⁴⁺ subunit, the H₂biim ligands exhibit a dual role, chelating and linking. The metal‐organic chains further construct a 3D supramolecular framework with channels, in which the Keggin‐based inorganic chains are accommodated. The electrochemical behaviors of compounds 1 and 2 bulk‐modified carbon paste electrodes ( 1 ‐CPE, 2 ‐CPE) were studied.