Controlled and highly effective ring-opening polymerization of α-chloro-ε-caprolactone using Zn- and Al-based catalysts

The present study details the highly effective and controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of α-chloro-ε-caprolactone ( 1 , αClεCL), a cyclic ester that has been little explored thus far in ROP catalysis, using Zn- and Al-based catalysts [Zn(C₆F₅)₂(toluene)] ( 4 ), [N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)1,3-diaminopropanato]aluminium(III)benzyloxide ( 5 ) and [N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)1,3-diamino-2,2′-dimethylpropanato]aluminium(III)benzyloxide] ( 6 ). Chain-length-controlled PαClεCL material is produced under solution ROP conditions, as deduced from GPC, NMR, MALDI-TOF, and kinetic data. In contrast, the ROP of 1 is ill-defined under bulk ROP conditions due to partial thermal degradation of the polymer chain (presumably through C–Cl cleavage), reflecting the limited stability of PαClεCL. The Al Catalysts 5 and 6 are highly active ROP catalysts of αClεCL at room temperature (TOF up to 2,400 hr⁻¹) to afford well-defined P(αClεCL). In the case of Catalyst 6 , carrying out the ROP of αClεCL under immortal conditions (with BnOH as chain transfer agent) is clearly beneficial to ROP activity and control, with no apparent side-reaction of chloro-functionalized PCL chains as the ROP proceeds. The controlled character of these ROPs was further exploited for the production of chain-length-controlled PLLA-b-PαClεCL diblocks through sequential ROP of l -lactide and αClεCL, affording copolymers with improved thermal and biodegradable properties.     

Synthesis of poly(Nε-phenoxycarbonyl-l-lysine) by polycondensation of activated urethane derivative and its application for selective modification of side chain with amines

We report a methodology for the synthesis of Nε-phenoxycarbonyl-protected poly(l -lysine) on the side chain by chain growth polycondensation of Nα,Nε-bis(phenoxycarbonyl)-l -lysine proceeded through the selective elimination of phenol and CO₂ from the Nα phenoxycarbonyl moiety at 50 °C in N,N-dimethylacetamide in the presence of a primary amine used as an initiator. After optimization of reaction condition, the addition of acetic acid during polycondensation proved effective for the realization of the predicted molecular weight and narrow dispersity of the corresponding polypeptide by adjusting the feed ratio of monomer to the amine initiator because of the suppression of interchain coupling that occurs between the amino terminus of poly(l -lysine) and the Nε-phenoxycarbonyl group on the polymer side chains. Furthermore, taking advantage of the potentially reactive Nε-phenoxycarbonyl moiety on the side chain, post-polymerization modification was effectively achieved by the nucleophilic reaction of amine compounds including primary, secondary, and aromatic amines through the formation of urea linkage, providing a useful platform for synthesis of selective side chain functionalization of poly(l -lysine) samples. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2522–2530     

Isotopologue enrichment factors of N2O reduction in soils

Isotopic signatures can be used to study sink and source processes of N₂O, but the success of this approach is limited by insufficient knowledge on the isotope fractionation factors of the various reaction pathways. We investigated isotope enrichment factors of the N₂O‐to‐N₂ step of denitrification (ε) in two arable soils, a silt‐loam Haplic Luvisol and a sandy Gleyic Podzol. In addition to the ε of ¹⁸O (ε_18O) and of average ¹⁵N (ε_bulk), the ε of the ¹⁵N site preference within the linear N₂O molecule (ε_SP) was also determined. Soils were anaerobically incubated in gas‐tight bottles with N₂O added to the headspace to induce N₂O reduction. Pre‐treatment included the removal of NO to prevent N₂O production. Gas samples were collected regularly to determine the dynamics of N₂O reduction, the time course of the isotopic signatures of residual N₂O, and the associated isotope enrichment factors. To vary reduction rates and associated fractionation factors, several treatments were established including two levels of initial N₂O concentration and anaerobic pre‐incubation with or without addition of N₂O. N₂O reduction rates were affected by the soil type and initial N₂O concentration. The ε_18O and ε_bulk ranged between ?13 and ?20‰, and between ?5 and ?9‰, respectively. Both quantities were more negative in the Gleyic Podzol. The ε of the central N position (ε_α) was always larger than that of the peripheral N‐position (ε_β), giving ε_SP of ?4 to ?8‰. The ranges and variation patterns of ε were comparable with those from previous static incubation studies with soils. Moreover, we found a relatively constant ratio between ε_18O and ε_bulk which is close to the default ratio of 2.5 that had been previously suggested. The fact that different soils exhibited comparable ε under certain conditions suggests that these values could serve to identify N₂O reduction from the isotopic fingerprints of N₂O emitted from any soil. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aminated PCL‐based copolymers by chemical modification of poly(α‐iodo‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone)

A novel method is proposed to access to new poly(α‐amino‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) using poly(α‐iodo‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) as polymeric substrate. First, ring‐opening (co)polymerizations of α‐iodo‐ε‐caprolactone (αIεCL) with ε‐caprolactone (εCL) are performed using tin 2‐ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)₂) as catalyst. (Co)polymers are fully characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, SEC, DSC, and TGA. Then, these iodinated polyesters are used as polymeric substrates to access to poly(α‐amino‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) by two different strategies. The first one is the reaction of poly(αIεCL‐co‐εCL) with ammonia, the second one is the reduction of poly(αN₃εCL‐co‐εCL) by hydrogenolysis. This poly(α‐amino‐ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) (F_αNH2εCL < 0.1) opens the way to new cationic and water‐soluble PCL‐based degradable polyesters. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6104–6115, 2009     

Linear dependence ofXα eigenvalues on occupation number application to the determination of the ligand field integrals

A linear relation between theXα eigenvalues and the occupation number of the ligand field states in CrCl₄ is established and used to calculate mono- and bimolecular integrals of ligand field interest. A formula for calculating 10 Dq and Koide-Pryce's parameter (ε) from theXα eigenvalues is given. The method is generalized for anyd ^N system.     

N-Acylureas in Peptide Synthesis: An X-Ray Diffraction and IR-Absorption Study

An X-ray diffraction analysts of two N-acyl derivatives of symmetrical dialkylureas, N-[N^α-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L -valyl] -N, N′-diisopropylurea ( 1 ) and N-{Nα(tert-butyloxy)carbonyl -L -valyl}-N-N′-dicyclohexylurea ( 2 ), and one N-acyl derivative of an unsymmetrical N-N′-dialkylurea, N-[N^α-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L -valyl] -N′-(tert-butyl)-N-ethylurea ( 3 ), has been performed. It was established that it is the least hindered O-acylisourca N-atom that attacks intramolecularly the carbonyl group of the N^α-protected amino acid activated by the unsymmetrical carbodiimide to form the major rearrangement product. The occurrence and nature of intra- and intermolecularly H? bonded forms of the N-acylureas in the crystal state were also assessed. It was also shown that soluble N-acylureas may compete with intermolecular (peptide)N? H…O?C(peptide) H-bonds in CH₂Cl₂.     

Formation and dissociation mechanism of amide complexes III. Water substitution as the rate limiting factor for the interconversion of Cu2+ complexes with neutral and deprotonated amide groups

The protonation and deprotonation rates of the coordinated amide group in the Cu₂₊ complexes with N^α-(2-pyridyl-methyl)-glycinamide (I) and N^α-(2-pyridyl-methyl)-glycineethylamide (II) have been studied by stopped flow techniques. It is shown that the rate determining step of the formation of the complex with the deprotonated amide group is given by the rate of water dissociation from Cu₂₊. Weaker bases than OH^? or stronger acids than water can react by a different path, in which the proton transfer and/or the rotation from the O-co-ordinated into the N-co-ordinated form and vice versa is rate determining.     

Synthese von radioaktiv markierten Bromacetyl- und Diazoacetyl-α-melanotropin-Derivaten zum Studium von kovalenten Hormon-Makromolekül-Komplexen

Synthesis of radioactive α-melanotropin derivatives containing a bromoacetyl or diazoacetyl group for studies of covalent hormone-macromolecule complexes α-Melanotropin derivatives and fragments covalently bound to human serum albumin through their N-terminal end exhibit almost the same biological activity as the corresponding free N^α-acetylated peptides [6]. The preparation of such complexes requires derivatives with a ‘reactive’ N-terminal acetyl group. We describe here the synthesis of three α-melanotropin fragments and of two specifically tritiated α-melanotropin derivatives containing N^α-bromoacetyl or N^α-diazoacetyl groups: BrCH₂CO · Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val · NH₂, BrCH₂CO · Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly · OH, BrCH₂CO · Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val middot; NH₂, BrCH₂CO · D -Ala-Tyr(³H₂)-Gly-Nva-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val · NH₂, and N₂ = CHCO · Gly-Tyr(³H₂)-Ser-Nva-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly- Lys-Pro-Val · NH₂. The latter two analogues displayed a specific radioactivity of about 20 and 36 Ci/mmol, and a biological activity of 2 · 10⁹ and 6 · 10⁹ U/mmol respectively. They are also being used for affinity and photoaffinity labelling of receptor molecules and antibody combining sites.     

Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers. II. Polymers with amino acid fragments in the side chains

The comblike polymers, poly(N^ε-methacryloyl-N^α-acyl) derivatives of L -lysine, which contain amino acid fragments and long sequences of methylene groups in the side chain, were synthesized. This article, which is based on x-ray data, differential thermal analysis, and optical microscopy, describes the structure of these polymers and their properties. It also shows that the combination of anisodiametric side groups with a “rigid” matrix of main chains leads to a liquid crystalline structure of examined polymers.     

Semi-synthetic Heparins with 2-Deoxy-2-sulfamino-α-l-iduronic Acid Residues: Chemical Reactivity and Biological Activity1

Abstract

Ammonolysis of the epoxide rings of 2,3-anhydro-α-L-guluronic acid residues, generated in alkaline medium from 2-O-sulfated α-L-iduronic acid residues of heparin, quantitatively afforded 2-amino-2-deoxy-α-L-iduronic acid residues. N-sulfation of these residues by TMA·SO₃ complex led to a formal replacement of the original 2-O-sulfate groups of heparin with N-sulfates, without configurational changes. These modified uronic acid residues (no longer amenable to alkaline epoxidation) can be easily N-desulfated. The presence of negative or positive charges at position 2 of the newly generated 2-amino-2-deoxy-α-L-iduronic acid residues influences the in vivo antithrombotic activity and haemorrhagic effects in different ways. A free amino group mainly decreases the haemorrhagic properties of heparin, while a negatively charged N-sulfate group decreases the coagulation parameters.     

Synthesis of N-α-Fmoc-N-ε-Tetrabutyl Ester-EDTA-L-lysine: An Amino Acid Analog to Prepare Affinity Cleaving Peptides

Synthesis of an amino acid analog. N-α-Fmoc-N-ε-tetrabutyl ester EDTA-L-Lysine, suitable for incorporating a strong metal binding site at any internal sequence position in a peptide is described. To overcome the solubility and purification problems during the synthesis, we prepared esters of N-α-Fmoc-N-ε-Boc-L-Lysine. Since the t- butyl group on the amino acid is acid labile and Fmoc group at α-amino group is base sensitive, protection of N-α-Fmoc-N-ε-Boc-L-Lysine requires an ester that can be prepared and removed under neutral conditions. A scheme for selective protection and deprotection of lysine is reported.     

Synthesis and reactivity of N-[α-acetoxy)-4-pyridylmethyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzamide

The synthesis of N-[(α-acetoxy)-4-pyridylmethyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzamide (4) and its reactivity are described. Since the acetoxy is a good leaving group, 4 gives S_N processes easily.     

Dielectric relaxation study of aniline,N-methylaniline and N,N-dimethylaniline and alcohol in 1, 4-dioxane using picosecond time-domain reflectometry

A time-domain reflectometry technique has been used to measure complex dielectric permittivity ε*(ω) = ε?(ω) ? jε″(ω) of 1-propanol–dioxane, 2-propanol–dioxane, aniline–dioxane, N-methylaniline–dioxane and N,N-dimethylaniline–dioxane mixtures in the frequency range of 10 MHz to 30 GHz. The complex permittivity spectrum has been fitted with a single relaxation time with a small amount of Davidson–Cole behaviour. The least squares fit method has been used to obtain the static dielectric constant (ε₀), relaxation time (τ), Bruggeman factor and Kirkwood correlation factor. The Luzar theoretical model is used to compute the binding energies and average number of hydrogen bond between co-solvent–co-solvent and co-solvent–dioxane molecules.     

Selektive Amidspaltung bei Peptiden mit α,α-disubstituierten α-Aminosäuren

Selective Amide Cleavage in Peptides Containing α,α-Disubstituted α-Amino Acids A new synthesis of dipeptides with terminal α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids, using 2,2-disubtituted 3-amino-2H-azirines 1 as amino-acid equivalents, is demonstrated. The reaction of 1 with N-protected amino acids leads to the corresponding dipeptide amides in excellent yield. It is shown that the previously described selective hydrolysis (HCl, toluene, 80°, or HCl, MeCN/H₂O, 80°) of the terminal amide group results in an extensive epimerization of the second last amino acid. An acid-catalyzed enolization in the intermediate oxazole-5(4H)-ones is responsible for this loss of configurational integrity. In the present paper, a selective hydrolysis of the terminal amide group under very mild conditions is described: In 3_N HCl (THF/H₂O 1:1), the dipeptide N,N-dimethylamides or N-methytlanilides are hydrolized at 25–35° to the optically pure dipeptides in very good yield.     

Functionalization of Piperidine Derivatives for the Site-Selective and Stereoselective Synthesis of Positional Analogues of Methylphenidate

Rhodium-catalyzed C−H insertions and cyclopropanations of donor/acceptor carbenes have been used for the synthesis of positional analogues of methylphenidate. The site selectivity is controlled by the catalyst and the amine protecting group. C−H functionalization of N-Boc-piperidine using Rh₂(R-TCPTAD)₄, or N-brosyl-piperidine using Rh₂(R-TPPTTL)₄ generated 2-substitited analogues. In contrast, when N-α-oxoarylacetyl-piperidines were used in combination with Rh₂(S-2-Cl-5-BrTPCP)₄, the C−H functionalization produced 4-susbstiuted analogues. Finally, the 3-substituted analogues were prepared indirectly by cyclopropanation of N-Boc-tetrahydropyridine followed by reductive regio- and stereoselective ring-opening of the cyclopropanes.     

Tetracyanoresorcin[4]arene selectively recognises trimethyllysine and inhibits its enzyme-catalysed demethylation

Abstract

Nε-methylation of lysine within proteins is a critical biological process that, among other roles, is involved in the control of gene expression. Compounds that recognise Nε-methylated lysine may therefore be useful probes for the study of the associated biological mechanisms and have therapeutic potential. Here, we show that tetracyanoresorcin[4]arene (1) selectively recognises Nε-trimethyllysine and binds to Nε-trimethyllysine within the context of a short peptide. Its binding properties compare favourably to a previously characterised Nε-trimethyllysine binder, p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (2). We also show that both 1 and 2 inhibit the demethylation of Nε-trimethyllysine within a histone-derived peptide by the histone demethylase KDM4A.     

Heterograft copolymers of poly(ε‐caprolactone) prepared by combination of ATRA “grafting onto” and ATRP “grafting from” processes

This paper aims at reporting on the synthesis of a heterograft copolymer by combining the “grafting onto” process based on atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) and the “grafting from” process by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The statistical copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone (εCL) and α‐chloro‐ε‐caprolactone (αClεCL) was initiated by 2,2‐dibutyl‐2‐stanna‐1,3‐dioxepane (DSDOP), followed by ATRA of parts of the chlorinated units of poly(αClεCL‐co‐εCL) on the terminal double bond of α‐MeO,ω‐CH₂?CH? CH₂? CO₂‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The amphiphilic poly(εCL‐g‐EO) graft copolymer collected at this stage forms micelles as supported by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The unreacted pendant chloro groups of poly(εCL‐g‐EO) were used to initiate the ATRP of styrene with formation of copolymer with two populations of randomly distributed grafts, that is PEO and polystyrene. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6015–6024, 2006     

Design,Synthesis and Characterization of A Novel Cationic Polymer Poly(lactic acid-b-L-lysine)

A novel biodegradable block copolymer poly(lactic acid-b-lysine) (PLA-b-PLL) has been synthesized and characterized in this study. This product was synthesized via a five-step reaction: Synthesis of hydroxyl-tailed poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of D,L-lactide in the presence of stannous octoate (Sn(OCt)₂) as initiator; coupling N-t-butoxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine to hydroxyl-tailed PLA using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP); the amino-tailed PLA was obtained through de-protection of the Boc-protective group in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution; and then ring-opening polymerization of N ^ε -(Z)-lysine-N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) using the amino-tailed PLA as macro-initiator; finally removal of the Cbz-protective group of PLA-b-poly(N ^ε -(Z)-L-lysine) (PLA-b-PLL(Z) in a mixed hydrobromic acid/acetic acid solution to give the target copolymer. The characterization of this copolymer and its precursors were performed by ¹H-NMR, FTIR and GPC. The block copolymer PLA-b-PLL, combining the characteristics of an aliphatic polyester and poly(amino acids), could be of potential interest in a variety of medical applications, such as the fields of targeted drug delivery and gene delivery systems.