Structural Characterization of O‐ and C‐Glycosylating Variants of the Landomycin Glycosyltransferase LanGT2

The structures of the O‐glycosyltransferase LanGT2 and the engineered, C? C bond‐forming variant LanGT2S8Ac show how the replacement of a single loop can change the functionality of the enzyme. Crystal structures of the enzymes in complex with a nonhydrolyzable nucleotide‐sugar analogue revealed that there is a conformational transition to create the binding sites for the aglycon substrate. This induced‐fit transition was explored by molecular docking experiments with various aglycon substrates.     

Asymmetric Rhodium‐Catalyzed Addition of Thiols to Allenes: Synthesis of Branched Allylic Thioethers and Sulfones

A highly regio‐ and enantioselective hydrothiolation of terminal allenes, a reaction which fulfills the criteria of atom economy, is reported. Applying two chiral rhodium catalyst systems, a wide variety of thiols and allenes could be coupled. Oxidation gave access to the corresponding allylic sulfones in essentially enantiomerically pure form. The reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups and labeling experiments gave first insights into the reaction mechanism of this new methodology.     

Condensed‐Phase,Halogen‐Bonded CF3I and C2F5I Adducts for Perfluoroalkylation Reactions

A family of practical, liquid trifluoromethylation and pentafluoroethylation reagents is described. We show how halogen bonding can be used to obtain easily handled liquid reagents from gaseous CF₃I and CF₃CF₂I. The synthetic utility of the new reagents is exemplified by a novel direct arene trifluoromethylation reaction as well as adaptations of other perfluoroalkylation reactions.     

Direct Catalytic Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Ketone Aldol Reactions of Isocyanoacetates

A catalytic asymmetric aldol addition/cyclization reaction of unactivated ketones with isocyanoacetate pronucleophiles has been developed. A quinine‐derived aminophosphine precatalyst and silver oxide were found to be an effective binary catalyst system and promoted the reaction to afford chiral oxazolines possessing a fully substituted stereocenter with good diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities.     

Synthesis of potential inhibitors of glycosyltransferases representing UDP-GlcNAc

Based on rational design of the transition state analog inhibitors of glycosyltransferases, four model glycomimetics of this type, viz. benzyl 2-thio-α-dfructofuranoside 1-diethylphosphate (XIa), its β-anomer (XIb), and their ethyl 2-thio analogs — α-anomer (XIIa) and β-anomer (XIIb), were synthesized. In addition, fourteen precursors arising during the synthesis of the desired final model compounds (XI and XII), partially or fully acetylated benzyl and/or ethyl 2-thiofructofuranoside 1-diethyl phosphates, were isolated and characterized with the aim to prepare complete series of glycomimetics, representing donor UDP-GlcNAc designated for biological assays on human GnT’s, viz. GnT-I, Core2GnT, and GnT-V.     

Antioxidative properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sambucus nigra</Emphasis> extracts

Potential protective effects of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) extracts against oxidative degradation of hyaluronan (HA) were detected in vitro. To induce free-radical-mediated HA degradation, Weissberger’s biogenic oxidative system, which mimics the situation of acute inflammation, was applied. Time- and dose-dependent changes of dynamic viscosity of the HA solutions in the presence and absence of two elderberry extracts produced in 2006 and 2012 were recorded by rotational viscometry (RV). Radical scavenging capacity of both extracts was investigated by the spectrocolorimetric ABTS [2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt] assay and the “inverted” ABTS assay. Oxygen consumption of the system oxidizing HA either in the absence or presence of the elderberry extracts was determined. The results of RV revealed that an addition of the newer extract (2012) promoted the inhibition of HA degradation more markedly compared to the older extract (2006). The same effect of both extracts on ABTS^·+ scavenging was observed. Inverted ABTS assay demonstrated that colorful substances were not responsible for the radical-scavenging activity. Results of oximetry demonstrated that the effect of the extract from 2006 was more significant than that of the extract from 2012.     

Synthesis and characterization of nano Ag end capped L-cysteine bridged diblock copolymer

The target of the present investigation is synthesis and characterization of an amphiphilic diblock copolymer with antibacterial property. Ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) was carried out under inert atmosphere by using L-cysteine as a bridging agent in the presence of stannous octoate (SO) as a catalyst. The nano silver end capped diblock copolymer was synthesized by in situ method. Thus obtained nano silver end capped L-cysteine bridged diblock copolymer was characterized by various analytical methods like Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and zeta potential. The antimicrobial property of the nano silver end capped diblock copolymer against e-coli was tested.     

Exact solutions to magnetogasdynamic equations in Lagrangian coordinates

The Lie group of point transformations, which leave the equations for a simplified model of one dimensional ideal gas in magnetogasdynamics invariant, are used to obtain some exact solutions for the governing system of hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs). Similarity variables which reduces the governing system of PDEs into system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are determined through the transformations. The resulting ODEs are solved analytically to obtain some exact solutions that exhibits space-time dependence. Further, we study the propagation of weak discontinuity through a state characterized by one of the solutions.     

MgI2‐Mediated Chemoselective Cleavage of Protecting Groups: An Alternative to Conventional Deprotection Methodologies

The scope of MgI₂ as a valuable tool for quantitative and mild chemoselective cleavage of protecting groups is described here. This novel synthetic approach expands the use of protecting groups, widens the concept of orthogonality in synthetic processes, and offers a facile opportunity to release compounds from solid supports.