Tunable Gold-catalyzed Reactions of Propargyl Alcohols and Aryl Nucleophiles

Gold-catalyzed transformations of 1,3-diarylpropargyl alcohols and various aryl nucleophiles were studied. Selective tunable synthetic methods were developed for 1,1,3-triarylallenes, diaryl-indenes and tetraaryl-allyl target products by C3 nucleophilic substitution and subsequent intra- or intermolecular hydroarylation, respectively. The reactions were scoped with regards to gold(I)/(III) catalysts, solvent, temperature, and electronic and steric effects of both the diarylpropargyl alcohol and the aryl nucleophiles. High yields of triaryl-allenes and diaryl-indenes by gold(III) catalysis were observed. Depending on the choice of aryl nucleophile and control of reaction temperature, different product ratios have been obtained. Alternatively, tetraaryl-allyl target products were formed by a sequential one-pot tandem process from appropriate propargyl substrates and two different aryl nucleophiles. Corresponding halo-arylation products (I and Br; up to 95 % 2-halo-diaryl-indenes) were obtained in a one-pot manner in the presence of the respective N-halosuccinimides (NIS, NBS).     

Control of electronic and magnetic coupling via bridging ligand geometry in a bimetallic ytterbocene complex

The ligand 1-methyl-3,5-bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene has been employed in the synthesis of a new bimetallic ytterbocene complex [(Cp*)2Yb](1-methyl-3,5-bis(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene)[Yb(Cp*)2] (1) and the doubly oxidized congener [1]2+ in an attempt to determine the impact of the bridging ligand geometry on the magnetic/electronic properties as compared to the previously reported 1,4-analog [(Cp*)2Yb](1,4-di(terpyridyl)benzene)[Yb(Cp*)2] (2). Electrochemical, electronic, and magnetic data provide compelling evidence that the 1,3-geometry associated with the bridging ligand of 1 has done an effective job of inhibiting electronic communication between metal centers and magnetic coupling of spin carriers at room temperature as compared to 2. In fact, the physical data associated with 1 are quite similar to those reported for the monometallic analog (Cp*)2Yb(tpy) (3). In particular, the f-f profile of [1]2+ is nearly identical to that of [3]+ in its spectral features but with an almost exact doubling of the intensities. Further, the electronic coupling between metal centers as manifested in the potential separation between metal-based reduction waves has for the first time in these bimetallic ytterbocene complexes been found to go to zero for 1. Thus, the linkage isomerism at the phenyl coupling unit has induced a change in the ground-state electronic configuration from the singlet dianion-bridged (4f)13(pi*)2(4f)13 state found in 2 to the diradical-bridged (4f)13(piA*)1(piB*)1(4f)13 state in 1. This diradical formulation on the bridging ligand in 1 is supported by DFT calculations for the uncomplexed doubly reduced ligand that indicate the ground-state configuration is a singlet diradical state with the triplet-diradical state lying to slightly higher energy. Magnetic characterization of 1 is most consistent with the behavior previously observed for monometallic analogs such as 3, and there is no evidence of long-range magnetic ordering such as that observed for 2. In addition, X-ray crystallographic characterization of 1 represents the first case of a structurally characterized 2:1 metal-to-ligand adduct of the 1,3-bis(tpy) framework.     

Direct comparison of the magnetic and electronic properties of samarocene and ytterbocene terpyridine complexes

A new complex, Cp* 2Sm(tpy) ( 1, where Cp* = C 5Me 5, tpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) and its one-electron oxidized congener [Cp* 2Sm(tpy)]PF 6 ([ 1] (+)) have been synthesized and characterized with the aim of comparing their electronic and magnetic behavior to the known ytterbium analogues: Cp* 2Yb(tpy) ( 2) and [Cp* 2Yb(tpy)]OTf ([ 2] ( + )). These new samarium complexes have been characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, optical spectroscopy, and bulk magnetic susceptibility measurements. All data for 1 indicate a Sm(III)-tpy* (-)[(4f) (5)-(pi*) (1)] ground-state electronic configuration similar to that found previously for 2 [(4f) (13)-(pi*) (1)]. Structural comparisons reveal that there are no significant changes in the overall geometries associated with the neutral and cationic samarium and ytterbium congeners aside from those anticipated based upon the lanthanide contraction. The redox potentials for the divalent Cp* 2Ln(THF) n precursors ( E 1/2(Sm (2+)) = -2.12 V, E 1/2(Yb (2+)) = -1.48 V) are consistent with established trends, the redox potentials (metal-based reduction and ligand-based oxidation) for 1 are nearly identical to those for 2. The correlation in the optical spectra of 1 and 2 is excellent, as expected for this ligand-radical based electronic structural assignment, but there does appear to be a red-shift ( approximately 400 cm (-1)) in all of the bands of 1 relative to those of 2 that suggests a slightly greater stabilization of the pi* level(s) in the samarium(III) complex compared to that in the ytterbium(III) complex. Similar spectroscopic overlap is observed for the monocationic complexes [ 1] (+) and [ 2] (+). Bulk magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1 reveal significantly different behavior than that of 2 due to differences in the electronic-state structure of the two metal ions. The implications of these differences in magnetic behavior are discussed.     

Irreversible Antagonists for the Adenosine A2B Receptor

Blockade of the adenosine A_2B receptor (A_2BAR) represents a potential novel strategy for the immunotherapy of cancer. In the present study, we designed, synthesized, and characterized irreversible A_2BAR antagonists based on an 8-p-sulfophenylxanthine scaffold. Irreversible binding was confirmed in radioligand binding and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer(BRET)-based Gα₁₅ protein activation assays by performing ligand wash-out and kinetic experiments. p-(1-Propylxanthin-8-yl)benzene sulfonyl fluoride (6a, PSB-21500) was the most potent and selective irreversible A_2BAR antagonist of the present series with an apparent K_i value of 10.6 nM at the human A_2BAR and >38-fold selectivity versus the other AR subtypes. The corresponding 3-cyclopropyl-substituted xanthine derivative 6c (PSB-21502) was similarly potent, but was non-selective versus A₁- and A_2AARs. Attachment of a reactive sulfonyl fluoride group to an elongated xanthine 8-substituent (12, K_i 7.37 nM) resulted in a potent, selective, reversibly binding antagonist. Based on previous docking studies, the lysine residue K269^7.32 was proposed to react with the covalent antagonists. However, the mutant K269L behaved similarly to the wildtype A_2BAR, indicating that 6a and related irreversible A_2BAR antagonists do not interact with K269^7.32. The new irreversible A_2BAR antagonists will be useful tools and have the potential to be further developed as therapeutic drugs.     

Synthesis, characterization, and multielectron reduction chemistry of uranium supported by redox-active α-diimine ligands

Uranium compounds supported by redox-active α-diimine ligands, which have methyl groups on the ligand backbone and bulky mesityl substituents on the nitrogen atoms {(Mes)DAB(Me) = [ArN═C(Me)C(Me)═NAr], where Ar = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (Mes)}, are reported. The addition of 2 equiv of (Mes)DAB(Me), 3 equiv of KC(8), and 1 equiv of UI(3)(THF)(4) produced the bis(ligand) species ((Mes)DAB(Me))(2)U(THF) (1). The metallocene derivative, Cp(2)U((Mes)DAB(Me)) (2), was generated by the addition of an equimolar ratio of (Mes)DAB(Me) and KC(8) to Cp(3)U. The bond lengths in the molecular structure of both species confirm that the α-diimine ligands have been doubly reduced to form ene-diamide ligands. Characterization by electronic absorption spectroscopy shows weak, sharp transitions in the near-IR region of the spectrum and, in combination with the crystallographic data, is consistent with the formulation that tetravalent uranium ions are present and supported by ene-diamide ligands. This interpretation was verified by U L(III)-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and by variable-temperature magnetic measurements. The magnetic data are consistent with singlet ground states at low temperature and variable-temperature dependencies that would be expected for uranium(IV) species. However, both complexes exhibit low magnetic moments at room temperature, with values of 1.91 and 1.79 μ(B) for 1 and 2, respectively. Iodomethane was used to test the reactivity of 1 and 2 for multielectron transfer. While 2 showed no reactivity with CH(3)I, the addition of 2 equiv of iodomethane to 1 resulted in the formation of a uranium(IV) monoiodide species, ((Mes)DAB(Me))((Mes)DAB(Me2))UI {3; (Mes)DAB(Me2) = [ArN═C(Me)C(Me(2))NAr]}, which was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and U M(4)- and M(5)-edge XANES. Confirmation of the structure was also attained by deuterium labeling studies, which showed that a methyl group was added to the ene-diamide ligand carbon backbone.     

Covalent immobilization of a fluorescent pH-sensitive naphthalimide dye in sol–gel films

A pH indicator dye was covalently linked to inorganic?Corganic hybrid sol?Cgel layers via its carboxyl function by the formation of an amide bond. For this, the dye was activated by 2-succinimido-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate and linked to N-(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)-ethylendiamine. Different ratios of tetraethoxy-silane, diisobutyldimethoxysilane and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane were evaluated to tailor the performance of the sensing material. Fluorescence spectroscopy of the optimised sensor layers with a molar ratio of organically modified siloxane to tetraethoxysilane of 25.9 and of dye/amino groups of 1.16, showed a reversible fluorescence signal increase of 117?% upon protonation, and a pk _a 6.5. The signal changes were caused by photoinduced electron transfer between the methylpiperazine moiety and the naphthalimide fluorophore, its efficiency being modulated by protonation of the methylpiperazine nitrogen. The influence of parameters such as synthesis, dip-coating process and heat-treatment on the performance of the sensor layers was investigated. Optimum signal changes were obtained when heating the sol?Cgel structure up to 170?°C.     

Use of cumulative distribution functions to characterize mass spectra of intact proteins

The MH+ ions of matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) spectra for a series of closely related but otherwise indistinguishable proteins were analyzed for singularity using a distribution free statistic, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov non-parametric statistic, K-S. The approach allows spectra which might otherwise be taken as identical, to be distinguished. Such analysis of the spectra may lead to a greater understanding of the chemistry of the proteins under investigation. The analysis requires only standard instrumentation. A standard data analysis protocol was developed and applied to generate a normalized cumulative distribution function (NCDF) for each spectrum. Differences in the NCDF for two different spectra were calculated and the maximum difference, deltamax compared to critical values of K-S. Values of deltamax exceeding the critical value of K-S are taken as the basis for rejecting the statistical null-hypothesis and assigning statistical significance to the differences in the two spectra. We have shown that this approach allows spectra of 1:1 mixtures of closely related recombinant proteins to be distinguished from either protein alone, and that mixtures of a 45 kDa protein and a labeled version of that protein can be distinguished from the pure material and from one another at the level of about 25%. In addition, we are able to use this approach to characterize the extent to which a synthetic glyococonjugation reaction has proceeded under circumstances of differing reaction times.