Synthesis of Enantiopure syn-beta-Amino Alcohols. A Simple Case of Chelation-Controlled Additions of Diethylzinc to alpha-(Dibenzylamino) Aldehydes

Enantiomerically pure syn-2-amino alcohols 6 are prepared by addition of diethylzinc to chiral alpha-(dibenzylamino) aldehydes 4. The addition is highly stereoselective, leading to syn-2-(dibenzylamino) alcohols 5 with excellent diastereomeric excesses (76-98%). Debenzylation of 5 by hydrogenolysis on Pearlman's catalyst yields quantitatively the amino alcohols 6.     

An improved radiometric assay of plant peroxidases based in the decarboxylation of indole-3-[1-14C]acetic acid

A radiometric microassay has been developed to measure the indole-3-acetic acid oxidizing activity of plant peroxidases. This was based in a reappraisal of the pre-existing assay of the indole-3-acetic acid oxidase activity based in the decarboxylation of indole-3-[1-¹⁴C]acetic acid. The improvement consists in the measurement of the indole-3-acetic acid decarboxylation by the determination of the decrease of radioactivity due to the decarboxylation of indole-3-[1-¹⁴C]acetic acid carried out in open vessels, during the steady-state (peroxidative) phase of the oxidation rate. In contrast to the previously reported radiometric methods, the reliability (kinetic stoichiometry of the decarboxylation) of our microassay was studied, and it was supported by the fact that, for steady-state conditions, a kinetic correlation between the disappearance of labelled substrate and the appearance of the first decarboxylate product takes place. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the improved assay was tested with crude protein samples taken from cellular homogenates of lupin hypocotyls.     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelate stabilisers in polypropylene—Part VI: Importance of singlet (1Δg) oxygen quenching and UV screening,and flash photolysis studies

The importance of singlet (¹Δ_g) oxygen quenching in the stabilisation mechanism of polypropylene by metal chelates has been investigated. Methylene blue was used as the sensitiser and 9,10-dimethyl anthracene was used as a singlet oxygen chemical trap. The results show that singlet oxygen quenching has no important rôle in the stabilising mechanism of metal chelates, in a polypropylene matrix.The importance of ultraviolet screening by the chelates as a stabilising mechanism is also considered. Various concentration levels, ranging from 0·001% to 1·0% w/w, were used. The results show that, as in the case of singlet oxygen quenching, ultraviolet screening is unimportant as an effective photo-stabilising mechanism.The photo-stability of four nickel chelates in both polar and non-polar solvents has been examined using conventional flash photolysis. It is found that their activity correlates with their ability to protect the polymer at concentrations below 0·2% w/w. The radicals formed during flash photolysis are tentatively assigned to be phenoxy radicals.     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelates in polypropylene—Part II: Photolysis versus photo-sensitised oxidation under monochromatic irradiation

The photo-stabilising action of three metal chelates in unprocessed and processed polypropylene is examined using normal and second order derivative ultraviolet and infra-red spectroscopic techniques and hydroperoxide analysis. The effects of photolysis with 254 nm light versus photo-sensitised oxidation with 365 nm light are compared. For each exposure condition the rate of carbonyl formation in the polymer is compared with the rate of decomposition of the metal complex. On photolysis, carbonyl growth commences well before the complete destruction of the complexes and none offers protection to the polymer. In fact, all three chelates behave as photo-sensitisers, indicating that stabiliser photolysis products are photo-active. On photo-sensitised oxidation, while the initial hydroperoxide concentration appears to control the onset of carbonyl growth in the polymer, the rate of decomposition of the complexes shows no dependence on hydroperoxide concentration. Solution experiments indicate that there are no dark reactions with hydroperoxides apart from one of the nickel chelates (Cyasorb UV 1084) at high concentrations (～ 10^?2m) only. Essentially, the metal chelates operate by scavenging macroalkyl radical species (P·) and not alkoxy (PO·) and hydroxy radicals (·OH) during photo-oxidation. They also inhibit hydroperoxide formation during processing and one of the nickel chelates (UV 1084) gives products during the early stages of photo-oxidation which appear to operate as effective stabilisers.     

Highly efficient biocatalytic resolution of cis- and trans-3-aminoindan-1-ol: syntheses of enantiopure orthogonally protected cis- and trans-indane-1,3-diamine

The efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiopure 1,3-difunctionalized indane derivatives has been achieved. The corresponding cis and trans N-protected amino alcohols were successfully resolved by acetylation using lipase B, which is a biocatalyst isolated from Candida antarctica. All the possible isomers were obtained in very good chemical yields and ee values (>99 %). The utility of these compounds was subsequently shown by the preparation of orthogonally protected cis- and trans-indane-1,3-diamine using a Mitsunobu reaction. Both enantiomers of the trans isomer and a desymmetrized cis diastereomer were prepared in enantiopure form. Complete inversion of configuration during the Mitsunobu reaction was demonstrated by a combination of NMR techniques and molecular modeling. The utility and versatility of the strategy was also demonstrated by the selective deprotection of each nitrogen atom under mild reaction conditions.     

Optically active dioxatetraazamacrocycles: chemoenzymatic syntheses and applications in chiral anion recognition

Two new C2 and D2 symmetrical dioxatetraaza 18-membered macrocycles [(R,R)-1 and (S,S,S,S)-2] are efficiently synthesized in enantiomerically pure forms by a chemoenzymatic method starting from (+/-)-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine. The protonation constants and the binding constants with different chiral dicarboxylates are determined in aqueous solution by means of pH-metric titrations. The triprotonated form of (S,S,S,S)-2 shows moderate enantioselectivity with malate and tartrate anions (deltadeltaG=0.62 and 0.66 kcal mol(-1), respectively), being the strongest binding observed in both cases with the L enantiomer. Good enantiomeric discrimination is obtained with tetraprotonated (R,R)-1 and N-acetyl aspartate, the complex with the D-enantiomer being 0.92 kcalmol(-1) more stable than its diastereomeric counterpart. Despite the lack of enantioselectivity of tri- and tetraprotonated (R,R)-1 for the tartrate anion, a very good diastereopreference for meso-tartrate is found. All these experimental results allow us to propose a model for the host-guest structure based on coulombic interactions and hydrogen bonds.     

Design and synthesis of a new binucleating ligand via cobalt-promoted C-N bond fusion reaction. Ligand isolation and its coordination to nickel,palladium, and platinum

A new polydentate bridging ligand, NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(4)N(H)C(5)H(4)N (HL(2)), is synthesized by the cobalt-mediated phenyl ring amination of coordinated NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(5). The green cobalt complex intermediate [Co(L(2))(2)](ClO(4)), [1](ClO(4)), and the free ligand HL(2) were isolated and characterized. The X-ray structure of [H(2)L(2)](ClO(4)) is reported. The ligand, upon deprotonation, behaves as a bridging ligand. It reacts with NiCl(2).6H(2)O and Na(2)[PdCl(4)] to produce dimetallic complexes, [Ni(2)Cl(2)(L(2))(2)], 2, and [Pd(2)(L(2))(2)](ClO(4))(2), [3](ClO(4))(2), respectively. X-ray structures of these two dimetallic complexes are reported. The structure of the dinickel complex, in particular, is unique. In this complex, the two deprotonated secondary amine nitrogens of the two [L(2)](-) ligands bind to two nickel centers simultaneously forming a planar Ni(2)N(2) arrangement. The complex [3](ClO(4))(2) is diamagnetic while the complex 2 is paramagnetic. The results of magnetic measurements on the dinickel complex in the temperature range 1.8-300 K are reported. The system can be described as a single spin S = 2 in the low-temperature range T < J/k whereas at high temperatures, T > J/k, it behaves as two independent spins S = 1.The reaction of [L(2)](-) with K(2)[PtCl(4)], however, yielded a monometallic platinum complex, [PtCl(3)(L(2))], 5, where the pyridyl nitrogen of the aminopyridyl function remained unused. The X-ray structure of the complex 4a is reported. The bond lengths along the ligand backbones in all the complexes indicate extensive pi-delocalization. Spectral data of the complexes are reported and compared.     

LSD1: more than demethylation of histone lysine residues

Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) represents the first example of an identified nuclear protein with histone demethylase activity. In particular, it plays a special role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, as it removes methyl groups from mono- and dimethylated lysine 4 and/or lysine 9 on histone H3 (H3K4me1/2 and H3K9me1/2), behaving as a repressor or activator of gene expression, respectively. Moreover, it has been recently found to demethylate monomethylated and dimethylated lysine 20 in histone H4 and to contribute to the balance of several other methylated lysine residues in histone H3 (i.e., H3K27, H3K36, and H3K79). Furthermore, in recent years, a plethora of nonhistone proteins have been detected as targets of LSD1 activity, suggesting that this demethylase is a fundamental player in the regulation of multiple pathways triggered in several cellular processes, including cancer progression. In this review, we analyze the molecular mechanism by which LSD1 displays its dual effect on gene expression (related to the specific lysine target), placing final emphasis on the use of pharmacological inhibitors of its activity in future clinical studies to fight cancer.Subject terms: Epigenetics, Histone post-translational modifications     

Conformations, protonation sites, and metal complexation of benzohydroxamic Acid. A theoretical and experimental study

A theoretical and experimental study on the structure and deprotonation of benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) has been performed. Calculations at the RHF/cc-pVDZ level, refined by the B3LYP/AUG-cc-pVDZ method, indicate that, in the gas phase, Z amide is the most stable structure of both neutral and deprotonated BHA. (1)H-(1)H nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy and (1)H-(1)H correlation spectroscopy spectra in acetone, interpreted with ab initio interatomic distances, reveal that BHA is split into the Z and E forms, the [E]/[Z] ratio being 75:25 at -80 degrees C. The formation of E-E, Z-Z, and E-Z dimers has been detected; in the presence of water, the dimers dissociate to the corresponding monomers. The rates of proton exchange within the Z and E forms and between E and Z were measured by dynamic (1)H NMR in the -60 to 40 degrees C temperature range; an increase in water content lowers the rate of exchange of the E isomer. The effect of D(2)O on the NMR signals indicates a fast hydrogen exchange between D(2)O and the E and Z amide forms. The sequence of the acid strength at low temperatures is (N)H(E)) approximately (O)H(E) < (O)H(Z) approximately (N)H(Z). The kinetics of complex formation between BHA and Ni(2+), investigated by the stopped-flow method, show that both neutral BHA and its anion can bind Ni(2+). Whereas the anion reacts at a "normal" speed, the rate of water replacement from Ni(H(2)O)(6)(2+) by neutral BHA is about 1 order of magnitude less than expected. This behavior was interpreted assuming that, in aqueous solution, BHA mainly adopts a closed (hydrogen-bonded) Z configuration, which should open (with an energy penalty) for the metal binding process to occur.     

Complexes of 1,8-bis(2-pyridyl)-3,6-dithiaoctane with cobalt(II) halides

Summary Several cobalt(II) halide complexes derived from 1,8-bis(2-pyridyl)-3,6-dithiaoctane (bpdto) are described. Chemical analysis suggests their formulae to be: Co(bpdto)X₂ (X=Cl^–, Br^–, or I^–). Electrolytic conductivities in acetonitrile, magnetic moments at different temperatures, solid state i.r. and u.v.-visible spectra support a tetrahedral stereochemistry around the cobalt(II). The ligand is bidentate andN-bonded in all cases.This work was presented in the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Portuguese Chemical Society, Porto (Portugal), March 1982.