Light-directed radial combinatorial chemistry: orthogonal safety-catch protecting groups for the synthesis of small molecule microarrays

We describe the development of photolabile protecting groups based on the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenacyl group (TMP). Orthogonal safety-catches were created by introducing an acid-activatible dimethyl ketal (AA-TMP) and an oxidatively activatible 1,3-dithiane (OA-TMP) into the photolabile TMP group. We demonstrate the application of these protecting groups in light-directed synthesis of small molecule microarrays with diversity elements radially attached to a hydroxyproline scaffold.     

Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization of Iron(III) Dioxoporphodimethene Complexes and Their Autoreduction to an Iron(II) Complex in Pyridine

Three iron complexes of the meso-dioxo derivative of octaethylporphryin (trans-H(2)OEPO(2)) were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Green ClFe(III)(trans-OEPO(2)).1.5C(6)H(6) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 13.766(3) ?, b = 19.075(3) ?, c = 15.217(3) ?, beta = 99.87(2) degrees at 123 K with Z = 4. Refinement of 2712 reflections with F > 6.0sigma(F) and 223 parameters yielded R = 0.0624, R(w) = 0.0596. The iron complex contains a domed dioxoporphodimethene macrocyclic ligand. The observation of a five-coordinate iron(III) ion with an axial Fe-Cl distance of 2.232(2) ? and in-plane Fe-N distances averaging 2.082 ? is consistent with its high-spin (S = (5)/(2)) character. This monomer is readily converted to the green {Fe(III)(trans-OEPO(2))}(2)O using aqueous hydroxide. {Fe(III)(trans-OEPO(2))}(2)O crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 23.541(8) ?, b = 15.392(5) ?, c = 18.686(8) ?, and beta = 90.09(3) degrees at 294 K with Z = 8. Refinement of 3472 reflections with F > 6.0sigma(F) and 393 parameters yielded R = 0.0484, R(w) = 0.0527. The complex possesses a crystallographically imposed 2-fold symmetry axis that passes through the oxo ligand. The dioxoporphodimethene ligands within the molecule are roof-shaped and fold away from each other. The axial Fe-O distance is 1.749(1) ? with longer in-plane Fe-N distances (average 2.077 ?). The Fe-O-Fe angle of 165.4(2) degrees deviates significantly from linearity and is more acute than related porphyrin complexes. Pyridine solutions of either the iron(III) monomer or &mgr;-oxo dimer autoreduce over a period of days to give (py)(2)Fe(II)(trans-OEPO(2)). This red compound crystallizes in the space group P2(1) with a = 19.177(4) ?, b = 20.039(4) ?, c = 10.547(2) ?, and beta = 100.36(3) degrees at 130 K with Z = 2. Refinement of 5090 reflections with one restraint and 984 parameters yielded R1 = 0.0684, wR2 = 0.1763. The complex crystallizes with two distinct molecules in the asymmetric unit; each molecule contains a different degree of disorder with respect to the trans meso oxygen atoms (50/50, 71/29). Each independent molecule exhibits severe ruffling of the macrocycle. The six coordinate iron(II) center is diamagnetic. The axial Fe-N(pyridine) distances average 1.98 ?, and the in-plane Fe-N(pyrrole) distances average 1.95 ?. A common trend observed for the dioxoporphodimethene macrocycle in all of these structures is an elongation toward the trans oxidized meso carbons. These complexes were originally prepared as cis and trans isomeric mixtures that can be enriched in the trans isomer by fractional crystallization. This is evident in their distinctive (1)H NMR spectra. In addition, these compounds are characterized by electron impact mass spectrometry and UV-visible, ESR, and infrared spectroscopies.     

Cs+ -selective membrane electrodes based on ethylene glycol-functionalized polymeric microspheres

A new strategy for improving the robustness of membrane-based ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) is introduced based on the incorporation of microsphere-immobilized ionophores into plasticized polymer membranes. As a model system, a Cs⁺-selective electrode was developed by doping ethylene glycol-functionalized cross-linked polystyrene microspheres (P-EG) into a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix containing sodium tetrakis-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] borate (TFPB) as the ion exchanger. Electrodes were evaluated with respect to Cs⁺ in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and dynamic response. ISEs containing P-EG and TFPB that were plasticized with 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) yielded a linear range from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁵ M Cs⁺, a slope of 55.4 mV/decade, and a lower detection limit (log a_Cs) of −5.3. In addition, these membranes also demonstrated superior selectivity over Li⁺, Na⁺, and alkaline earth metal ion interferents when compared to analogous membranes plasticized with bis(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (DOS) or membranes containing a lipophilic, mobile ethylene glycol derivative (ethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether (U-EG)) as ionophore.     

Sampling unfolding intermediates in calmodulin by single-molecule spectroscopy

We used single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET) measurements to characterize denatured and partially denatured states of the multidomain calcium signaling protein calmodulin (CaM) in both its apo and Ca(2+)-bound forms. The results demonstrate the existence of an unfolding intermediate. A CaM mutant (CaM-T34C-T110C) was doubly labeled with fluorescent probes AlexaFlour 488 and Texas Red at opposing globular domains. Single-molecule distributions of the distance between fluorophores were obtained by spFRET at varying levels of the denaturant urea. Multiple conformational states of CaM were observed, and the amplitude of each conformation was dependent on urea concentration, with the amplitude of an extended conformation increasing upon denaturation. The distributions at intermediate urea concentrations could not be adequately described as a combination of native and denatured conformations, showing that CaM does not denature via a two-state process and demonstrating that at least one intermediate is present. The intermediate conformations formed upon addition of urea were different for Ca(2+)-CaM and apoCaM. An increase in the amplitude of a compact conformation in CaM was observed for apoCaM but not for Ca(2+)-CAM upon the addition of urea. The changes in the single-molecule distributions of CaM upon denaturation can be described by either a range of intermediate structures or by the presence of a single unfolding intermediate that grows in amplitude upon denaturation. A model for stepwise unfolding of CaM is suggested in which the domains of CaM unfold sequentially.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Physical Properties of Two Trinuclear, Mixed-Valence Species of Type [μ3-OMnIIMnIII 2(O2CCF3)6(R)3] (R=H2O, CH3COOH)

The preparation and characterization of two new mixed-valence, trinuclear species, [Mn₃O(O₂CCF₃)₆(H₂O)₃]CF₃COOH4/3H₂O (1) and [Mn₃O(O₂CCF₃)₆(CH₃COOH)₃] (2), is reported. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group, P¯1 (No. 2), with the parameters, a=12.3131(9) Å, b=12.4427(9) Å, c=12.965(1) Å, =72.593(4)°, =73.453(5)°, =68.345(4)°, V=1727.2(2) ų, and Z=2. A total of 14060 reflections were collected in the range 1.6827.52°. The final weighted and non-weighted agreement indices, R1=0.0589 and wR2=0.1445 were based on a total of 6953 unique reflections with an R _int value of 0.0542. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group, P2₁/n (No. 14), with the parameters, a=12.876(3) Å, b=12.212(4) Å, c=17.732(4) Å, =100.40(3)°, V=3640.4(1) ų, and Z=4. A total of 32197 reflections were collected in the range 1.7227.13°. The final weighted and non-weighted agreement factors, R1=0.0647 and wR2=0.1609 were based on a total of 8018 unique reflections with an R _int value of 0.0462. An investigation of the physical properties revealed that both compounds display an intermediate ground state of S=3/2 as a consequence of intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling. The magnetic data for compound 1 was best fit to the parameters g=2.09, J=–5.5 cm^–1, J=–3.4 cm^–1, and D _Mn(III)=–4.5 cm^–1; the data for compound 2 was best fit to the parameters g=2.10, J=–2.9 cm^–1, J=–5.5 cm^–1, and D _Mn(III)=–4.5 cm^–1.     

Ternary silicides M2Cr4Si5 (M=Ti, Zr, Hf): filled variants of the Ta4SiTe4 structure type

The isostructural ternary silicides M₂Cr₄Si₅ (M=Ti, Zr, Hf) were prepared by arc-melting of the elemental components. The single-crystal structure of Zr₂Cr₄Si₅ was determined by X-ray diffraction (Pearson symbol oI44, orthorhombic, space group Ibam, Z=4, a=7.6354(12) Å, b=16.125(3) Å, c=5.0008(8) Å). Zr₂Cr₄Si₅ adopts the Nb₂Cr₄Si₅-type structure, an ordered variant of the V₆Si₅-type structure. It consists of square antiprisms that have Zr and Cr atoms at the corners and Si atoms at the centers; they share opposite faces to form one-dimensional chains _∞¹[Zr_4/2Cr_4/2Si] surrounded by additional Si atoms and extending along the c direction. In a new interpretation of the structure, additional Cr atoms occupy interstitial octahedral sites between these chains, clarifying the relation between this structure and that of Ta₄SiTe₄. The formation of short Si-Si bonds in Zr₂Cr₄Si₅ is contrasted with the absence of Te-Te bonds in Ta₄SiTe₄. The compounds M₂Cr₄Si₅ (M=Ti, Zr, Hf) exhibit metallic behavior and essentially temperature-independent paramagnetism. Bonding interactions were analyzed by band structure calculations, which confirm the importance of Si-Si bonding in these metal-rich compounds.     

Ion‐Transfer Electrochemistry of Rat Amylin at the Water–Organogel Microinterface Array and Its Selective Detection in a Protein Mixture

The behavior of proteins and polypeptides at electrified aqueous–organic interfaces is of benefit in label‐free detection strategies. In this work, rat amylin (or islet amyloid polypeptide) was studied at the interface formed between aqueous liquid and gelled organic phases. Amylin is a polypeptide that is co‐secreted with insulin from islet beta‐cells and is implicated in fibril formation. In this study, rat amylin was used, which does not undergo aggregation. The polypeptide underwent an interfacial transfer process, from water to the gelled organic phase, under applied potential stimulation. Cyclic voltammetry revealed steady‐state forward and peak‐shaped reverse voltammograms, which were consistent with diffusion‐controlled water‐to‐organic transfer and thin‐film stripping or desorptive back‐transfer. The diffusion‐controlled forward current was greater when amylin was present in an acidic aqueous phase than when it was present in an aqueous phase at physiological pH; this reflects the greater charge on the polypeptide under acidic conditions. The amylin transfer current was concentration dependent over the range 2–10 μM , at both acidic and physiological pH. At physiological pH, amylin was selectively detected in the presence of a protein mixture, which illustrated the bioanalytical possibilities for this electrochemical behavior.     

Assessing calves as carriers of Cryptosporidium and Giardia with zoonotic potential on dairy and beef farms within a water catchment area by mutation scanning

In the present study, we undertook a molecular epidemiological survey of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in calves on three dairy and two beef farms within an open drinking water catchment area (Melbourne, Australia). Faecal samples (n = 474) were collected from calves at two time points (5 months apart) and tested using a PCR‐based mutation scanning‐targeted sequencing phylogenetic approach, employing regions within the genes of small subunit (SSU) of ribosomal RNA (designated partial SSU), 60 kDa glycoprotein (pgp60) and triose phosphate isomerase (ptpi) as genetic markers. Using partial SSU, the C. bovis, C. parvum, C. ryanae and a new genotype of Cryptosporidium were characterised from totals of 74 (15.6%), 35 (7.3%), 37 (7.8%) and 9 (1.9%) samples, respectively. Using pgp60, C. parvum genotype IIa subgenotype A18G3R1 was detected in 29 samples. Using ptpi, G. duodenalis assemblages A and E were detected in totals of 10 (2.1%) and 130 (27.4%) samples, respectively. The present study showed that a considerable proportion of dairy and beef calves in this open water catchment region excreted Cryptosporidium (i.e. subgenotype IIaA18G3R1) and Giardia (e.g. assemblage A) that are consistent with those infecting humans, inferring that they are of zoonotic importance. Future work should focus on exploring, in a temporal and spatial way, whether these parasites occur in the environment and water of the catchment reservoir.     

Combined Crossed Molecular Beams and Ab Initio Study of the Bimolecular Reaction of Ground State Atomic Silicon (Si; 3P) with Germane (GeH4; X1A1)

The chemical dynamics of the elementary reaction of ground state atomic silicon (Si; ³P) with germane (GeH₄; X¹A₁) were unraveled in the gas phase under single collision condition at a collision energy of 11.8±0.3 kJ mol⁻¹ exploiting the crossed molecular beams technique contemplated with electronic structure calculations. The reaction follows indirect scattering dynamics and is initiated through an initial barrierless insertion of the silicon atom into one of the four chemically equivalent germanium-hydrogen bonds forming a triplet collision complex (HSiGeH₃; ³ i1 ). This intermediate underwent facile intersystem crossing (ISC) to the singlet surface (HSiGeH₃; ¹ i1 ). The latter isomerized via at least three hydrogen atom migrations involving exotic, hydrogen bridged reaction intermediates eventually leading to the H₃SiGeH isomer i5 . This intermediate could undergo unimolecular decomposition yielding the dibridged butterfly-structured isomer ¹ p1 (Si(μ-H₂)Ge) plus molecular hydrogen through a tight exit transition state. Alternatively, up to two subsequent hydrogen shifts to i6 and i7 , followed by fragmentation of each of these intermediates, could also form ¹ p1 (Si(μ-H₂)Ge) along with molecular hydrogen. The overall non-adiabatic reaction dynamics provide evidence on the existence of exotic dinuclear hydrides of main group XIV elements, whose carbon analog structures do not exist.