Sequence-specific binding of DNA to liposomes containing di-alkyl peptide nucleic acid (PNA) amphiphiles

We present a method to covalently attach peptide nucleic acid (PNA) to liposomes by conjugation of PNA peptide to charged amino acids and synthetic di-alkyl lipids ("PNA amphiphile," PNAA) followed by co-extrusion with disteroylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) and cholesterol. Attachment of four Glu residues and two ethylene oxide spacers to the PNAA was required to confer proper hydration for extrusion and presentation for DNA hybridization. The extent of DNA oligomer binding to 10-mer PNAA liposomes was assessed using capillary zone electrophoresis. Nearly all PNAs on the liposome surface are complexed with a stoichiometric amount of complementary DNA 10-mers after 3-h incubation in pH 8.0 Tris buffer. No binding to PNAA liposomes was observed using DNA 10-mers with a single mismatch. Longer DNA showed a greatly attenuated binding efficiency, likely because of electrostatic repulsion between the PNAA liposome double layer and the DNA backbone. Langmuir isotherms of PNAA:DSPC:chol monolayers indicate miscibility of these components at the compositions used for liposome preparation. PNAA liposomes preserve the high sequence-selectivity of PNAs and emerge as a useful sequence tag for highly sensitive bioanalytical devices.     

Preparation and chemistry of phosphoranyl-derived iodanes

The preparation and chemistry of novel phosphoranyl-derived lambda(3)-iodanes is reported. The phosphoranyl-derived phenyliodonium sulfonates were prepared in good yields by the reaction of stabilized phosphonium ylides [1-triphenylphosphoranylidene-2-propanone, methyl(triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate, (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetaldehyde, and (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetonitrile] with the pyridinium complex of iodobenzene ditriflate or with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene under mild conditions. These compounds represent a potentially useful class of reagents that combine in one molecule synthetic advantages of a phosphonium ylide and an iodonium salt. Specifically, phosphorane-derived phenyliodonium tosylates can react with soft nucleophiles, such as iodide, bromide, benzenesulfinate, and thiophenolate anions, with a selective formation of the respective alpha-functionalized phosphonium ylides, which can be further converted to alkenes by the Wittig reaction with benzaldehyde. The phosphoranyl-derived benziodoxoles can be prepared by the reaction of 1-acetoxybenziodoxole with stabilized phosphonium ylides. An unusual ligand exchange on the iodine(III) center resulting in the substitution of a carbon ligand with an oxygen ligand was observed in the reaction of these compounds with strong acids.     

The thioketone–enethiol tautomerism of aliphatic thiocarbonyls: An ab initio study

Approximate minimum energy reaction paths have been calculated for two thioketone–enethiol tautomeric systems using an ab initio SCF–MO method. The calculations indicate nearly equal stabil ties of the isolated tautomers in both systems and an energy barrier of ca. 85 kcal/mol for their interconversion. This barrier is expected to be significantly lower in solution as a result of solvent–solute interactions.     

Excess enthalpies of some aromatic aldehydes in n-hexane, n-heptane and benzene

Calorimetric measurements of molar excess enthalpies, H^E, at 298.15 K, of mixtures containing aromatic aldehydes of general formula C₆H₅(CH₂)_mCHO (with m = 0, 1 and 2) + n-hexane, n-heptane or benzene are reported, together with the values of H^E at equimolar composition compared with the corresponding values of H^E for the aromatic ketones in the same solvents. The experimental results clearly indicate that the intermolecular interactions between the carbonyl groups (CHO) are influenced by the intramolecular interactions between the carbonyl and phenyl groups, particularly for the mixtures containing benzaldehyde.     

Photochemical reactions. 152nd Communication. Photochemistry of acylsilanes; photolysis and thermolysis of cyclopropyl silyl ketones

The photolysis and thermolysis of the Cyclopropyl silyl ketones 3, 4 , and 5 are described. On n,π* excitation, the silyl ketones 3 and 4 undergo a Norrish-type-II reaction involving γ-H abstraction, cyclopropyl ring cleavage followed by retro-enolization to the acylsilanes 6 and (E/Z)- 12 , respectively. As a common product of 3 and 4 , the dihydrofuran 7 is formed via the alternative C(α)-C(β) cleavage of the cyclopropyl moiety. Compounds 6 , 7 , and (E/Z)- 12 are new types of acylsilane photoproducts. The irradiation of acylsilane 5 gave the analogous dihydrofuran 15 as the only product. On photolysis of 3 and 4 , products 8A + B and 13A + B , derived from a siloxy carbene intermediate, were found as well. On thermolysis of 3 and 4 , the acylsilanes 6 (80%), and (E)- 12 (33%) and (Z)- 12 (34%), respectively, are formed as the only products. Their formation may occur via a [1, 5] sigmatropic H-shift. The thermolysis of 5 gave the diene 16 whose formation can be explained by insertion of a siloxycarbene into the neighboring cyclopropane leading to the cyclobutene 28 as thermally unstable intermediate.     

The convergence of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method in quantum chemistry

Two sufficient criteria for the convergence of the Rayleigh-Ritz Method (RRM) with respect to the eigenvalues (E-convergence) of non-relativistic electronic Hamiltonians of molecules are discussed and compared. Moreover, a necessary and sufficient criterion is given. By example (Sect. 9) it is shown that the L ²-completeness of the basis is not sufficient to guarantee E-convergence. The convergence of the wave functions in different norms (-convergence) is also investigated. In particular, sufficient conditions for the one-particle basis functions (orbitals) are given, such that a CI calculation in this basis is both E- and -convergent.     

Supramolecular cluster catalysis: facts and problems

By checking the chemistry underlying the concept of “supramolecular cluster catalysis” we identified two major errors in our publications related to this topic, which are essentially due to contamination problems. (1) The conversion of the “closed” cluster cation [H₃Ru₃(C₆H₆)(C₆Me₆)₂(O)]⁺ (1) into the “open” cluster cation [H₂Ru₃(C₆H₆)(C₆Me₆)₂(O)(OH)]⁺ (2), which we had ascribed to a reaction with water in the presence of ethylbenzene is simply an oxidation reaction which occurs in the presence of air. (2) The higher catalytic activity observed with ethylbenzene, which we had erroneously attributed to the “open” cluster cation [H₂Ru₃(C₆H₆)(C₆Me₆)₂(O)(OH)]⁺ (2), was due to the formation of RuO₂ · nH₂O, caused by a hydroperoxide contamination present in ethylbenzene.     

Glycosylidene Carbenes. Part 23. Regioselective glycosidation of deoxy- and fluorodeoxy-myo-inositol derivatives

To demonstrate the relevance of the kinetic acidity of individual OH groups for the regioselectivity of glycosylation by glycosylidene carbenes, we compared the glycosylation by 1 of the known triol 2 with the glycosylation of the diol D - 3 and the fluorodiol L - 4 . Deoxygenation with Bu₃SnH of the phenoxythiocarbonyl derivative of 5 (Scheme 1) or the carbonothioate 6 gave the racemic alcohol (±)- 7 . The enantiomers were separated via the allophanates 9a and 9b , and desilylated to the deoxydiols D - and L - 3 , respectively. The assignment of their absolute configuration is based upon the CD spectra of the bis(4-bromobenzoates) D - and L - 10 . The (+)-(R)-1-phenylethylcarbamates 13a and 13b (Scheme 2) were prepared from the fluoroinositol (±)- 11 via (±)- 4 and the silyl ether (±)- 12 and separated by chromatography. The absolute configuration of 13a was established by X-ray analysis. Decarbamoylation of 13a ( → L - 12 ) and desilylation afforded the fluorodiol L - 4 . The H-bonds of D - 3 and L - 4 in chlorinated solvents and in dioxane were studied by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy (Fig. 2). In both diols, HO? C(2) forms an intramolecular, bifurcated H-bond. There is an intramolecular H-bond between HO? C(6) and F in solutions of L - 4 in CH₂Cl₂, but not in 1,4-dioxane; the solubility of L - 4 in CH₂Cl₂ is too low to permit a meaningful glycosidation in this solvent. Glycosidation of D - 3 in dioxane by the carbene derived from 1 (Scheme 3) followed by acetylation gave predominantly the pseudodisaccharides 18/19 (38%), derived from glycosidation of the axial OH group besides the pseudodisaccharides 16 / 17 (13%) and the epoxides 20 / 21 (7%), derived from protonation of the carbene by the equatorial OH group. Similarly, the reaction of L - 4 with 1 (Scheme 4) led to the pseudodisaccharides 28 / 29 (46%) and 26 / 27 (14%), derived from deprotonation of the axial and equatorial OH groups, respectively. Formation of the epoxides involved deprotonation of the intramolecularly H-bonded tautomer, followed by intramolecular alkylation, elimination, and substitution (Scheme 4). The regio- and diastereoselectivities of the glycosidation correlate with the H-bonds in the starting diols.     

From calcium interaction to calcium electrochemical detection by [(C5H5)Fe(C5H4COCH=CHC6H4NEt2)] and its two novel structurally characterized derivatives

[(C(5)H(5))Fe(C(5)H(4)COCH=CHC(6)H(4)NEt(2))] (1) has been electrochemically evaluated toward different cations in solution. Calcium sensing by this compound and its two new derivatives [(C(5)H(5))Fe(C(5)H(4)CO(CH=CH)(2)C(6)H(4)NMe(2))] (2) and [(C(5)H(5))Fe(C(5)H(4)CH=CHCOCH=CHC(6)H(4)NEt(2))] (3) that exhibit a conjugated link between the ferrocene unit and the nitrogen atom has been thoroughly examined. Compounds 2 and 3 have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The three related protonated species [1H][BF(4)] (4), [2H][BF(4)] (5), and [3H][BF(4)] (6) have been isolated in a good yield. NMR experiments clearly established that calcium interaction occurs in the vicinity of the carbonyl group, and mass spectrometry studies confirmed that this interaction, which involves several ligand-Ca(2+) adducts, is complex. A combination of electrochemical and NMR experiments highlighted an original salt influence on the electrochemical calcium sensing result.