Toward Expanded Diversity of Host–Guest Interactions via Synthesis and Characterization of Cyclodextrin Derivatives

Researchers developing software to predict the binding constants of small molecules for proteins have, in recent years, turned to host–guest systems as simple, computationally tractable model systems to test and improve these computational methods. However, taking full advantage of this strategy requires aqueous host–guest systems that probe a greater diversity of chemical interactions. Here, we advance the development of an experimental platform to generate such systems by building on the cyclodextrin (CD) class of hosts. The secondary face derivative mono-3-carboxypropionamido-β-cyclodextrin (CP-β-CD) was synthesized in a one-pot strategy with 87% yield, and proved to have much greater aqueous solubility than native β-CD. The complexation of anionic CP-β-CD with the cationic drug rimantadine hydrochloride was explored using one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance; NOESY analysis showed secondary face binding of the ammonium moiety of the guest, based on cross-correlations between the amic acid functionality and the side-chain of rimantadine. Isothermal titration calorimetry was furthermore used to determine the standard Gibbs energy and enthalpy for this binding reaction, and the results were compared with those of rimantadine with native β-CD.     

Enantioselective synthesis of α-fluoro-β(3)-amino esters: synthesis of enantiopure, orthogonally protected α-fluoro-β(3)-lysine

The scope of a tandem conjugate addition-fluorination sequence performed on α,β-unsaturated esters using the enantiopure lithium amide derived from (S)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amine, and the electrophilic fluorinating agent N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide has been investigated. Using this method, α-fluoro-β(3)-amino esters can be obtained in up to quantitative yield and 80:20 to >99:1 dr. This simple methodology does not rely on the use of α-amino acids from the chiral pool and thus provides the potential for the preparation of enantiopure α-fluoro-β(3)-amino acids with a wide variety of side chains. Its utility was demonstrated through the synthesis of orthogonally protected (2S,3S)-α-fluoro-β(3)-lysine.     

Liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric assay for the simultaneous quantification of Camptosar and its metabolite SN-38 in mouse plasma and tissues

A simple, rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method has been developed to simultaneously quantify Camptosar (CPT-11) and its active metabolite, SN-38, in mouse plasma and tissues. A single step protein precipitation with acetonitrile in 96-well plates was used for sample preparation. Camptothecin (CPT) was used as the internal standard. Fast separation of SN-38, CPT-11 and CPT was carried out isocratically on a C18, 2 mm x 50 mm, 5 microm HPLC column with a mobile phase containing acetonitrile and 20 mM ammonium acetate (pH 3.5) and a 2.5 min chromatographic run time. The API 4000 MS/MS system was operated in positive ionization multiple reaction monitoring mode, and the transitions for SN-38, CPT-11 and CPT were 393.4 --> 349.3, 587.6 --> 167.2 and 349.3 --> 305.3, respectively. The SN-38 and CPT-11 concentrations in samples were calculated from a standard curve of peak area ratios of the analyte to that of the internal standard using a 1/chi2 weighted linear regression. The quantitation limit of 0.5 ng/mL was achieved by using a low sample volume (100 microL) of plasma or tissue homogenates. The assay was linear over the concentration range of 0.5-500 ng/mL with acceptable precision and accuracy. The method was used for the quantification of CPT-11 and SN-38 in plasma and tissues to support a preclinical pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study of CPT-11 in mice.     

Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactions of a New Kind of Chiral Dienophiles: Cyclic Vinyl-p-tolylsulfilimines

A new kind of chiral dienophiles, cyclic vinyl-p-tolylsulfilimines (2a and 2b), were obtained from the corresponding (Z)-sulfinylacrylonitriles with HBF(4) and methanol. The asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of optically pure 2a with cyclopentadiene under mild thermal or catalyzed conditions afforded only the endo-4a adduct with complete endo and pi-facial selectivities. The ability of the sulfilimine moiety to enhance the dienophilic reactivity of the double bond is similar to that of the sulfinyl group.     

Ion beam analyses of carbon nanotubes

The utility of ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques to quantitatively determine impurities in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) over a wide range of atomic numbers is demonstrated. Such techniques have not previously been used to monitor impurities and their effects in this unique material. Despite the difficulty in mounting the samples (which generally are formed into a powdery aggregate rather in a thin film), it is shown that reliable and accurate measurements of impurity concentrations can be achieved. Particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and elastic recoil detection (ERD) analyses were used to characterize both metallic and very light (e.g., hydrogen) impurities in CNTs. This paper reports the first direct measurement of hydrogen in CNTs using an IBA technique. This is significant because CNTs are being actively investigated for hydrogen storage technology for energy applications.     

Synthesis of protected gamma-carboxyglutamates and gamma-acylglutamates by rearrangement of N,N-diacylglutamates

A new method for gamma-acylation of protected glutamic acids, involving intramolecular rearrangement of an acyl urethane, has been devised to prepare the protected gamma-carboxyglutamates 7, 9 and 11 and the protected 4-acylglutamates 15 and 22 from N,N-bisurethanes or N-acyl-N-urethanes of general structure 1. When the formyl-urethane 17 was used in the reaction, then the intermediate 18 in the intramolecular rearrangement was obtained.     

Zeros of the Whittaker function associated to Coulomb waves

The zeros in the complex z plane of the Whittaker function W_c/z,µ(z),closely related to spherical waves in the quantum-mechanicalCoulomb problem, are investigated for varying real values ofthe parameters c and µ