A stereochemical anomaly: the cyclised (R)-AMPA analogue (R)-3-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid [(R)-5-HPCA] resembles (S)-AMPA at glutamate receptors

(RS)-3-Hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid (5-HPCA)(), which is a conformationally constrained cyclised analogue of AMPA has previously been described as causing glutamate receptor mediated excitations of spontaneously firing cat spinal interneurons in a similar fashion to AMPA. We have now prepared the enantiomers of through chiral chromatographic resolution of (RS)-3-(carboxymethoxy)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid () followed by a stereoconservative hydrolysis resulting in the enantiomers of with high enantiomeric excess (% ee [greater-than-or-equal] 99). The absolute configurations indicated by an X-ray analysis of (-)- monohydrate were confirmed by comparing observed and ab initio calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra and by stereoconservative synthesis of (S)- from (S)-AMPA, the pharmacologically active form of AMPA. The pharmacological effects at native and cloned (GluR1-4) AMPA receptors were shown to reside exclusively with (R)-(+)-, in striking contrast to the usual stereoselectivity trend among AMPA receptor agonists. The reasons for this anomalous behaviour became clear upon docking both enantiomers of to the agonist binding site of GluR2.     

Extraction of Co-Products from Biomass: Example of Thermal Degradation of Silymarin Compounds in Subcritical Water

In an effort to increase revenues from a given feedstock, valuable co-products could be extracted prior to biochemical or thermochemical conversion with subcritical water. Although subcritical water shows significant promise in replacing organic solvents as an extraction solvent, compound degradation has been observed at elevated extraction temperatures. First order thermal degradation kinetics from a model system, silymarin extracted from Silybum marianum, in water at pH 5.1 and 100, 120, 140, and 160 °C were investigated. Water pressure was maintained slightly above its vapor pressure. Silymarin is a mixture of taxifolin, silichristin, silidianin, silibinin, and isosilibinin. The degradation rate constants ranged from 0.0104 min⁻¹ at 100 °C for silichristin to a maximum of 0.0840 min⁻¹ at 160 °C for silybin B. Half-lives, calculated from the rate constants, ranged from a low of 6.2 min at 160 °C to a high of 58.3 min at 100 °C, both for silichristin. The respective activation energies for the compounds ranged from 37.2 kJ/gmole for silidianin to 45.2 kJ/gmole for silichristin. In extracting the silymarin with pure ethanol at 140 °C, no degradation was observed. However, when extracting with ethanol/water mixtures at and 140 °C, degradation increased exponentially as the concentration of water increased. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Solvothermal synthesis of new metal organic framework structures in the zinc-terephthalic acid-dimethyl formamide system

Two new metal organic framework (MOF) structures have been obtained from the Zn-terephthalic acid (H₂BDC)-dimethyl formamide (DMF) system and examined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction: Zn(C₈H₄O₄)(C₃H₇NO), 1, monoclinic C2/m, a=11.1369(5), b=14.0217(7), , β=106.316(1)°, , , Z=4, R₁=0.060, wR₂=0.169, S=1.27; Zn(HCO₂)₃(C₂H₈N), 2, trigonal , a=8.1818(1), , , , Z=6, R₁=0.014, wR₂=0.039, S=1.11. Contrary to previously published structures in the same system, the crystals were obtained by solvothermal synthesis at 381 K. Structure 1 consists of 2-D layers stacked in an offset manner to accommodate DMF moieties coordinated to Zn²⁺ within voids in adjacent layers. Structure 2 consists of a 3-D network constructed from Zn²⁺ ions bridged by deprotonated formic acid moieties. Over time, the structure of 1 rearranges to Zn(C₈H₄O₄)(C₃H₇NO)(H₂O) [monoclinic P2₁/n, a=6.6456(2), b=15.2232(5), , β=104.110(2)°, , , Z=4, R₁=0.048, wR₂=0.100, S=1.07], which is identical to the known MOF-2 structure, obtained by crystallization at ambient conditions. The three structures were determined from crystals with similar crystal habits picked from a single solvothermal synthesis batch. The study demonstrates that MOF syntheses can give not only multiple crystal structures under different conditions, but also that numerous different structures, including some that are metastable, can be formed under identical conditions.     

Purification of monoclonal antibodies from cell culture supernatants using a modified zirconia based cation-exchange support

A method suitable for the isolation of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) is described. The protocol utilizes a zirconia based column modified with ethylenediamine-N,N'-tetra(methylenephosphonic) acid to create a novel cation-exchange chromatographic support. Initial experiments using a linear salt gradient demonstrate the ability of this support to efficiently separate Mab from transferrin and bovine serum albumin in a model matrix. Results of the purification of Mab from an actual cell culture supernatant over a range in protein concentrations are also shown. Analyses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and gel electrophoresis demonstrate that Mabs can be recovered from a cell culture supernatant at high yield (92-98%) and high purity (> 95%) in a single chromatographic step.     

All-trans-1-acyloxy-1,3-pentadiene-5 ols as reactive dienes in new intramolecular diels-alder reactions

The high reactivity of the $\text{all-trans}$-1-acyloxy-1,3-pentadiene-5-ols as dienes in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions with maleic anhydride and fumaric acid ethylester monochloride is discussed.     

A Concise Total Synthesis of the Fungal Isoquinoline Alkaloid TMC-120B

Recent reports of antiepileptic activity of the fungal alkaloid TMC-120B have renewed the interest in this natural product. Previous total syntheses of TMC-120B comprise many steps and have low overall yields (11–17 steps, 1.5–2.9% yield). Thus, to access this compound more efficiently, we herein present a concise and significantly improved total synthesis of the natural product. Our short synthesis relies on two key cyclization steps to assemble the central scaffold: isoquinoline formation via an ethynyl-imino cyclization and an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction to form the furanone.     

Cos degradation by selected co-utilizing bacteria

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The results of this study support the hypothesis that several organisms that are capable of utilizing CO are also capable of degrading CO-like compounds,...