Remarkable incorporation of the first sulfur containing indole derivative: another piece in the biosynthetic puzzle of crucifer phytoalexins

The first sulfur labelled compound, [(2)H(4),(34)S]indolyl-3-acetothiohydroxamic acid, is incorporated into the phytoalexins cyclobrassinin and spirobrassinin and the indole glucosinolate glucobrassicin, indicating that both biosynthetic pathways are closely related.     

A new colorimetric test for solid-phase amines and thiols

A new, efficient, sensitive, and reliable color test for the visual detection of resin-bound primary and secondary amines is described. The reaction between amines and 1-methyl-2-(4'-nitrophenyl)-imidazo[1,2- a]pyrimidinium perchlorate (DESC) provides the "on-bead generated" colored stable intermediate azadiene. The developed protocols allow detection of resin-bound primary amines in the presence of secondary amines. The test can also be used for the detection of resin bound thiols.     

Modeling the microhydration of protonated alanine

The microsolvation of protonated l-alanine with one, two, or three water molecules has been investigated using a MP2/6-311++G(d,p) approach fully accounting for the basis set superposition errors. A conformational analysis for unhydrated AlaH(+) reveals only three minima which have been characterized and compared to the neutral case. We have built a logical tree for the successive hydration stages. This tree shows that the most stable complexes in each step are related and that a systematic approach can be used to grasp the stepwise hydration process. The addition of extra water molecules to the first or second solvation shells leads to the opposite evolution of the hydrogen-bond stretching mode. Comparisons with experimental enthalpies, entropies, and Gibbs free energies clearly demonstrate the adequacy of the approach. Our results also strongly suggest that several di- and trihydrated complexes should coexist under the experimental conditions.     

Synthetic studies toward pectenotoxin 2. Part II. Synthesis of the CDE and CDEF ring systems

A convergent synthesis of the CDE and CDEF ring systems of pectenotoxin-2 from C and F ring precursors is described.     

Approved drug mimics of short peptide ligands from protein interaction motifs

Most biological functions are regulated through complex networks of transient protein interactions, and, thus, finding effective ways to modulate them would represent an important step towards defining the next generation of drugs. In this study, we set out to determine if existing approved drugs may represent a good source of compounds from which initial lead inhibitors of protein-protein interactions mediated by short peptide regions may be drawn. Peptide structures were defined in terms of pharmacophores and searched against U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs to identify similar compounds. The top ranking matches (using a score that corrects root-mean-square deviation (rmsd) for the number of matched pharmacophores and for the number of drug rotatable bonds) included a number of nuclear receptor ligands that matched allosterically to the corepressor binding site of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). The top ranking drug matches were docked to the peptide-binding site using AUTODOCK. The majority of the top-ranking matches showed a negative estimated free energy change upon binding that is comparable to, or greater than, that of the original peptide. We conclude that the usage of certain approved drugs may represent a useful strategy in inhibiting specific protein-protein interactions. Such a strategy may benefit from the increased likelihood that developed compounds might have favorable bioactivity and safety profiles in clinical use.     

A Triply [5]Helicene-Bridged (1,3,5)Cyclophane

A rigid propeller-shaped conjugated triple macrocycle consisting of two nearly perfectly stacked benzene rings and three linking [5]helicene moieties has been synthesized using a glyoxylic Perkin approach. Analysis of the electron delocalization in this atypical aromatic molecule revealed global aromaticity and a 78 π-electron circuit along the edge of its triple loop, to the detriment of the two 6 π-electron circuits in the two stacked benzene rings.     

Ionic liquid-based miniature electrochemical sensors for the voltammetric determination of catecholamines

Screen-printed electrodes modified with carbon paste that consisted of graphite powder dispersed in ionic liquids (IL) were used for the electrochemical determination of dopamine, adrenaline and dobutamine in aqueous solutions by means of cyclic voltammetry. The IL plays a dual role in modifying compositions, acting both as a binder and chemical modifier (ion-exchanger); ion-exchange analyte pre-concentration increases analytical signal and improves the sensitivity. Calibration graphs are linear in concentration range 3.9 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M (dopamine), 2.9 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M (adrenaline) and 1.7 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M (dobutamine); detection limits are (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁶, (1.3 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁷ and (5.3 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁸ M, respectively. Using an additive of Co (III) tetrakis-(tert-butyl)-phthalocyanine leads to the increase of signal and lowering detection limit. Some practical advises concerning both the sensor design and selectivity of catecholamine determination are provided.     

Theoretical characterization of thioepoxidated single wall carbon nanotubes

We have studied the external addition of sulfur to the walls of the (5,5) and (10,0) SWCNTs forming a cyclic thioepoxide. The binding energies are close to 32 kcal/mol, but they can be increased to 41 kcal/mol if the sulfur atoms are added forming a line along the axis of the (10,0) SWCNT. The addition of sulfur atoms to the (5,5) SWCNT alters the DOS but the tubes remains metallic. However, for the (10,0) SWCNT the exothermic addition of sulfur atoms can induce strong changes in the DOS, depending on the amount of sulfur atoms added. When we included one sulfur per 120 carbons, the (10,0) SWCNT showed metallic properties.     

Understanding the role of clay silicate nanoparticles with organic modifiers in thermal curing of cyanate ester resin

The catalytic effect of montmorillonite clay nanoparticles containing organic modifiers such as quaternary phosphonium salts on cure mechanism of cyanate ester resin (RS-9D) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy as well as mass-spectrometry. The results show that the net catalytic effect arises from the presence of moisture associated with nanoclay particles where organic modifiers act as moisture transport agents. Possible mechanisms for cure pathways are discussed.     

Isostructural potassium and thallium salts of sterically crowded triazenes: a structural and computational study

Because of their similar cationic radii, potassium and thallium(I) compounds are usually regarded as closely related. Homologous molecular species containing either K(+) or Tl(+) are very rare, however. We have synthesized potassium and thallium salts MN3RR' derived from the biphenyl- or terphenyl-substituted triazenes Tph2N3H (1a), Dmp(Mph)N3H (1b), Dmp(Tph)N3H (1c), and (Me4Ter)2N3H (1d) (Dmp=2,6-Mes 2C6H3 with Mes=2,4,6-Me3C6H2; Me4Ter=2,6-(3,5-Me2C6H3)2C6H3; Mph=2-MesC6H4; Tph=2-TripC6H4 with Trip=2,4,6-(i)Pr3C6H2). The potassium complexes 2a- d were obtained in almost quantitative yield from the reaction of 1a- d with potassium metal in n-heptane. Metalation of 1a- d with TlOEt afforded the thallium triazenides 3a- d in high yields. All new compounds have been characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography and for selected species by melting point (not 3b), IR spectroscopy (2a, 2d, 3a, 3c, 3d), and mass spectrometry (2a, 3c). In the solid-state structures of monomeric 2a and 3a, quasi-monomeric 2b, 3b, 2c, and 3c, and dimeric 2d and 3d additional metal-eta (n)-pi-arene-interactions to the flanking arms of the biphenyl- and terphenyl groups in the triazenide ligands of decreasing hapticity n are observed. Remarkably, all homologous potassium and thallium complexes crystallize in isomorphous cells. For 2a and 3a, the nature of the M-N and M...C(arene) bonding was studied by density functional theory calculations.