Strategies for the Controlled Covalent Double Functionalization of Graphene Oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) is a versatile platform with unique properties that have found broad applications in the biomedical field. Double functionalization is a key aspect in the design of multifunctional GO with combined imaging, targeting, and therapeutic properties. Compared to noncovalent functionalization, covalent strategies lead to GO conjugates with a higher stability in biological fluids. However, only a few double covalent functionalization approaches have been developed so far. The complexity of GO makes the derivatization of the oxygenated groups difficult to control. The combination of a nucleophilic epoxide ring opening with the derivatization of the hydroxyl groups through esterification or Williamson reaction was investigated. The conditions were selective and mild, thus preserving the structure of GO. Our strategy of double functionalization holds great potential for different applications in which the derivatization of GO with different molecules is needed, especially in the biomedical field.     

氨基酸与离子交换树脂相互作用的研究(Ⅱ)——高浓度下离子交换树脂超当量吸附氨基酸的机理

近年来,对氨基酸离子交换平衡虽有不少研究^[1～4],但涉及超当量吸附的研究并不多见,且解释亦各有不同^[6～7].本文拟对超当量吸附机理作深入研究.     

Nonoxidative crosslinking reactions in natural rubber. II. Radiotracer study of the reactions of amino acids in rubber latex

The reaction of amino acids with functional groups in natural rubber has been studied by use of tritium labeled glycine as a tracer. The rate of reaction, in the latex phase, is found to be pH-dependent with optimum rate at about pH 8. Reaction is considered to occur with rubber epoxide groups, since the level of incorporation of glycine correlates closely with the epoxide groups concentration. Competitive reactions with other amino acids and the effect of dimedone on glycine incorporation are also reported.     

Carbon nanotube sidewall functionalization with carbonyl compounds--modified Birch conditions vs the organometallic reduction approach

Covalent addition reactions turned out to be one of the most important functionalization techniques for a structural alteration of single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) scaffolds. During the last years, several reaction sequences based on an electrophilic interception of intermediately generated SWCNT(n-) carbanions, obtained via Birch reduction or by a nucleophilic addition of organometallic species, have been developed. Nevertheless, the scope and the variety of potential electrophiles is limited due to the harsh reaction conditions requested for a covalent attachment of the functional entities onto the SWCNT framework. Herein, we present a significant modification of the reductive alkylation/arylation sequence, the so-called Billups reaction, which extends the portfolio of electrophiles for covalent sidewall functionalization to carbonyl compounds--ketones, esters, and even carboxylic acid chlorides. Moreover, these carbonyl-based electrophiles can also be used as secondary functionalization reagents for anionic SWCNT intermediates, derived from a primary nucleophilic addition step. This directly leads to the generation of mixed functional SWCNT architectures, equipped with hydroxyl or carbonyl anchor groups, suitable for ongoing derivatization reactions. A correlated absorption and emission spectroscopic study elucidates the influence of the covalent sidewall functionalization degree onto the excitonic transition features of carbon nanotubes. The characterization of the different SWCNT adducts has been carried out by means of Raman, UV-vis/nIR, and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as by thermogravimetric analysis combined with mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis.     

Versatile Functionalization of Carbohydrate Hydroxyl Groups through Their O-Cyanomethyl Ethers

O-Cyanomethyl ethers of carbohydrates are shown to be versatile intermediates for the preparation of sugar amines, carboxylic acids, amides, and amidine salts. This methodology for the functionalization of carbohydrates can thus provide a new array of analogs for the study of carbohydrate binding proteins. In addition, the resulting O-aminoethyl and O-carboxymethyl carbohydrates can be coupled to amino acids under standard conditions used in solid-phase peptide synthesis, providing a method for the construction of glycopeptides in which the carbohydrate moiety can be linked through any of its hydroxyl groups to the C- or the N-terminus of a given peptide.     

Transforming natural amino acids into alpha-alkyl-substituted amino acids with the help of the HOF.CH3CN complex

Alpha-alkyl amino acids can be efficiently prepared in high yields from the respective amino acids themselves. The key step is the oxidation of the amine function to create the corresponding alpha-nitro acid in a fast and very high yield reaction followed by phase-transfer alkylation and finally reduction to the desired alpha-alkyl amino acid. Several such acids containing aromatic rings or additional carboxylic groups and acids with steric hindrance at the alpha-position are suitable substrates. Several alkyl halides were examined as alkylating agents.     

Directly Bridging Indoles to 3,3′‐Bisindolylmethanes by Using Carboxylic Acids and Hydrosilanes under Mild Conditions

A straightforward Lewis acid‐promoted protocol for 3,3′‐bisindolylmethanes (BIMs) synthesis by reductive alkylation of indoles at the C3 position with carboxylic acids in the presence of hydrosilane was developed for the first time. Instead of aldehydes, more readily available, stable, and easy‐to‐handle carboxylic acids have been employed as alternative alkylating agents. As an efficient organocatalyst, B(C₆F₅)₃ enables the reductive alkylation of various substituted indole derivatives with carboxylic acids with up to 98 % yield at room temperature and under neat conditions. This metal‐free strategy offers an alternative approach for the direct functionalization of indoles to BIMs with carboxylic acids and such protocol allows selective reduction of carboxylic acid to aldehyde in combination with C−C bond formation.     

A Flexible Method for Covalent Double Functionalization of Graphene Oxide

A method for the double functionalization of graphene oxide (GO) under mild alkaline conditions has been developed. Two functional groups were covalently linked to GO in two steps: the first group was attached by an epoxide ring‐opening reaction and the second, bearing an amine function, was covalently conjugated to benzoquinone attached to the GO. The doubly functionalized GO was characterized by several techniques, confirming the sequential covalent modification of the GO surface with two different functional groups. This method is straightforward and the reaction conditions are mild, allowing preservation of the structure and properties of GO. This strategy could be exploited to prepare multifunctional GO conjugates with potential applications in many fields ranging from materials science to biomedicine.     

Amino acids functionalized graphene oxide for enhanced hydrophilicity and antifouling property of poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes

Herein, functionalized graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the covalent functionalization with amino acids (lysine, glycine, glutamic acid and tyrosine) in this study. Zeta potential results demonstrated that covalent functionalization of GO with amino acids was favourable for their homogeneous dispersion in water and organic solvents. Based on the higher absolute value of zeta potential and the better dipersion stability of GO-lysine, the PVDF/GO-lysine hybrid membranes were then prepared via the phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation technique. SEM images showed a better pore diameter and porosity distribution on the PVDF/GO-lysine membrane surface. The zeta potential absolute value of the PVDF/GO-lysine membrane surface was higher than that of the virgin PVDF membrane. Furthermore, the PVDF/GO-lysine membranes surface exhibited good hydrophilicity. The water flux of PVDF/GO-lysine membranes can reach to two times of that of the virgin PVDF membrane. And the BSA adsorbed amount on PVDF/GO-lysine surface was decreased to 0.82 mg/cm² for PVDF/GO-lysine-8% membrane. Filtration experiment results indicated that the fouling resistance was significantly improved for the PVDF/GO-lysine membranes. As a result, lysine functionalized GO will provide a promising method to fabricate graphene oxide based hybrid membranes with effective antifouling property and hydrophilicity.     

The Formation of Large‐Area Conducting Graphene‐Like Platelets

The treatment of a suspension of graphite oxide (GO) with sodium azide leads to a material that, after reduction, features amino groups at the top and bottom of the sheets. These groups react through microcontact printing with an isothiocyanate monolayer on a silicon oxide substrate to form covalent bonds that strongly attach to the particles on the surface. With ultrasonication it is possible to obtain exfoliation of the sheets that are not covalently bound to the surface leaving single‐layer platelets attached to the substrate. The azido derivative can be also used to functionalize the graphene oxide with long alkylic chains through a click chemistry approach. This functionalization results in the exfoliation of this material in dimethylformamide. The novel materials were fully characterized by different techniques including IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and solid state NMR spectroscopy. The material with amino groups, after the reduction step, is conductive with a resistivity only approximately seven times larger than that of unprocessed graphite. This implies that after reduction of the GO, the conjugated sp² network is largely restored. We consider this to be an important step towards a chemical approach for forming conducting large‐area platelet films of single‐layer graphene.     

Adsorption Behavior of Amino Acids on a Stainless Steel Surface

The adsorption behavior of various amino acids on a stainless steel surface was investigated at 30 degrees C and over a pH range of 3-10. Acidic and basic amino acids except histidine adsorbed remarkably at pH 3-4 and 7-10, respectively, and showed Langmuir-type adsorption isotherms. The effects of pH and ionic strength on the adsorption isotherms were investigated to analyze the interactions between amino acids and adsorption sites on the stainless steel. Hydrophobic amino acids and glycine showed only small adsorbed amounts at all pHs tested. For the acidic and basic amino acids, reversibility of the absorption and the influence of the ionic strength on the adsorption behavior were examined. The adsorption isotherms of the derivatives of aspartic acid were also measured in order to examine the contribution of the carboxylic groups of acidic amino acids to the adsorption. Furthermore, a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis and semiempirical molecular orbital calculation were carried out to analyze the ionization states and the configuration of the amino acids adsorbed on a stainless steel surface. These investigations suggest that the acidic and basic amino acids adsorb through two electrostatic interactions of two ionized groups in the amino acid with a stainless steel surface. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Catalytic Reduction of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets by Glutathione Peroxidase Mimetics Reveals a New Structural Motif in Graphene Oxide

A catalytic reduction of graphene oxide (GO) by glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mimics is reported. This study reveals that GO contains peroxide functionalities, in addition to the epoxy, hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups that have been identified earlier. It also is shown that GO acts as a peroxide substrate in the GPx‐like catalytic activity of organoselenium/tellurium compounds. The reaction of tellurol, generated from the corresponding ditelluride, reduces GO through the glutathione (GSH)‐mediated cleavage of the peroxide linkage. The mechanism of GO reduction by the tellurol in the presence of GSH involves the formation of a tellurenic acid and tellurenyl sulfide intermediates. Interestingly, the GPx mimics also catalyze the decarboxylation of the carboxylic acid functionality in GO at ambient conditions. Whereas the selenium/tellurium‐mediated catalytic reduction/decarboxylation of GO may find applications in bioremediation processes, this study suggests that the modification of GO by biologically relevant compounds such as redox proteins must be taken into account when using GO for biomedical applications because such modifications can alter the fundamental properties of GO.     

Efficient Fmoc-Protected Amino Ester Hydrolysis Using Green Calcium(II) Iodide as a Protective Agent

In order to modify amino acids, the C-terminus carboxylic acid usually needs to be protected, typically as a methyl ester. However, standard cleavage of methyl esters requires either highly basic or acidic conditions, which are not compatible with Fmoc or acid-labile protecting groups. This highlights the need for orthogonal conditions that permit selective deprotection of esters to create SPPS-ready amino acids. Herein, mild orthogonal ester hydrolysis conditions are systematically explored using calcium(II) iodide as a protective agent for the Fmoc protecting group and optimized for a broad scope of amino esters. Our optimized reaction improved on the already known trimethyltin hydroxide, as it produced better yields with greener, inexpensive chemicals and a less extensive energy expenditure.     

α,α-Dialkylglycines obtained by solid phase Ugi reaction performed over isocyanide functionalized resins

The multicomponent Ugi reaction is a straightforward method that can be used for the synthesis of highly hindered C-tetrasubstituted amino acids by reacting an amine, a ketone or aldehyde, a carboxylic acid and an isocyanide. In the present work, the synthesis of several α,α-dialkylglycines (α,α-diethylglycine, Deg; α,α-dipropylglycine, Dpg; 1-amino-1-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, Ac₆c) was achieved by solid phase Ugi reaction using resins functionalized with the isocyanide group. Since no resins with these features were available commercially, the functionalization of an aminomethylated resin started by the use of glycine (Gly), β-alanine (β-Ala) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as spacers. After spacer N-formylation, followed by dehydration, isocyanide functionalised resins were obtained. The resins were then used in solid phase Ugi reaction, using phenylacetic acid as the acid component, 4-methoxybenzylamine as the amine component and different ketones, to afford the desired N-acylated α,α-dialkylglycines in good overall yields (60–80%), after acidolytic cleavage from the resin, thus proving the feasibility of this approach.     

Site specificity in the H–D exchange reactions of gas-phase protonated amino acids with CH3OD

H–D exchange reactions of methanol-d₁ with protonated amino acids were performed in an external-source Fourier transform mass spectrometer. Absolute rate constants were determined for the group which included glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine and proline. By comparing reactivities with selected methyl esters, it was found that exchange on the carboxylic acid occurs 3–10 times faster than exchange on the amino group. No simple correlation is observed between the rates of H–D exchange on the acid group and the size of the alkyl group. However, the rates of exchange on the amine decrease with increasing gas-phase basicity. Glycine, the least basic amino acid, exchanges its amine hydrogens the fastest. These results are useful for determining the interaction of methanol with protonated amino acids and can provide insight into the H–D exchange reactions observed with polyprotonated proteins produced by electrospray ionization.     

Stereoselective Oxidative Bioconjugation of Amino Acids and Oligopeptides to Aldehydes

The first stereoselective, near-equimolar, and metal-free oxidative bioconjugation of amino acids and oligopeptides to aldehydes is presented. Based on a newly developed organocatalytic oxidative concept, the C-terminal and side-chain carboxylic acid functionalities of amino acids and oligopeptides are shown to couple in a stereoselective manner to α-branched aldehydes catalyzed by a chiral primary amine and a quinone as oxidizing agent. The oxidative coupling generally proceeds in high yield. For aspartic acid, selective coupling of the side-chain, or the C-terminal carboxylic acid, is demonstrated depending on the protection strategy. The stereoselective, oxidative bioconjugation concept is extended to a series of oligopeptides where coupling to carboxylic acid functionalities is presented. Bioorthogonal linker molecules for further functionalization are obtained by merging the oxidative coupling strategy with the click concept. It is demonstrated that the configuration of the new stereocenter is determined exclusively by the organocatalyst.     

Unusual Orthogonality in the Cleavage Process of Closely Related Chelating Protecting Groups for Carboxylic Acids by Using Different Metal Ions

Three structurally related relay protecting groups for carboxylic acids that are based on chelating amines have been developed. These protecting groups can easily be introduced by coupling the carboxylic acid and the corresponding amine in the presence of 2‐(1H‐benzotriazole‐1‐yl)‐1,1,3,3‐tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU). In addition to being stable to a whole array of reaction conditions, these protecting groups are also stable under acidic and basic conditions, allowing them to be used in combination with the ester protection of carboxylic acids. The cleavage of these protecting groups is activated by the chelation of metal ions, involving an unusual coordination of the amide nitrogen. Despite their similarity, cleavage of these protecting groups is possible in both a stepwise and an orthogonal fashion by applying different metal salts.     

Boronic Acid Catalysis for Mild and Selective [3+2] Dipolar Cycloadditions to Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

Herein, the concept of boronic acid catalysis (BAC) for the activation of unsaturated carboxylic acids is applied in several classic dipolar [3+2] cycloadditions involving azides, nitrile oxides, and nitrones as partners. These cycloadditions can be used to produce pharmaceutically interesting, small heterocyclic products, such as triazoles, isoxazoles, and isoxazolidines. These cycloadducts are formed directly and include a free carboxylic acid functionality that can be employed for further transformations, thereby avoiding prior masking or functionalization. In all cases, BAC provides faster reactions, under milder conditions, with much improved product yields and regioselectivities. In some instances, such as triazole formation from the reaction of azides with 2‐alkynoic acids, catalysis with ortho‐nitrophenylboronic acid circumvents the undesirable product decarboxylation observed when using thermal activation. By using NMR spectroscopic studies, the boronic acid catalyst was shown to provide activation by a LUMO‐lowering effect in the unsaturated carboxylic acid, likely via a monoacylated hemiboronic ester intermediate.     

Photoredox-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Bromination,Chlorination and Thiocyanation Using Inorganic Salts

Decarboxylative halogenation reactions of alkyl carboxylic acids are highly valuable reactions for the synthesis of structurally diverse alkyl halides. However, many reported protocols rely on stoichiometric strong oxidants or highly electrophilic halogenating agents. Herein, we describe visible-light photoredox-catalyzed decarboxylative halogenation reactions of N-hydroxyphthalimide-activated carboxylic acids that avoid stoichiometric oxidants and use inexpensive inorganic halide salts as the halogenating agents. Bromination with lithium bromide proceeds under simple, transition-metal-free conditions using an organic photoredox catalyst and no other additives, whereas dual photoredox-copper catalysis is required for chlorination with lithium chloride. The mild conditions display excellent functional-group tolerance, which is demonstrated through the transformation of a diverse range of structurally complex carboxylic acid containing natural products into the corresponding alkyl bromides and chlorides. In addition, we show the generality of the dual photoredox-copper-catalyzed decarboxylative functionalization with inorganic salts by extension to thiocyanation with potassium thiocyanide, which was applied to the synthesis of complex alkyl thiocyanates.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Unsaturated and Functionalized l-NHBoc Amino Acids, Using Wittig Reaction under Mild Phase-Transfer Conditions

The stereoselective synthesis of a new amino acid phosphonium salt was described by quaternization of melting triphenylphosphine with the γ-iodo NHBoc-amino ester, derived from l-aspartic acid. The deprotection of the carboxylic acid function to afford the phosphonium salt with a free carboxylic acid group was achieved by a palladium-catalyzed desallylation reaction. This phosphonium salt was used in the Wittig reaction with aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes and trifluoroacetophenone, under solid-liquid phase-transfer conditions in chlorobenzene and in the presence of K(3)PO(4) as weak base, to afford the corresponding unsaturated amino acids without racemization. Thus, the reaction with substituted aldehydes allows to graft various functionalized groups on the lateral chain of the amino acid, such as trifluoromethyl, cyano, nitro, ferrocenyl, boronato, or azido. In addition, the reaction of the amino acid Wittig reagent with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes leads to amino acids bearing a diene on the lateral chain. Finally, this amino acid phosphonium salt appears to be a new powerful tool for the preparation of unsaturated and non-proteinogenic α-amino acids, directly usable for the synthesis of customized peptides.