Enantioselective palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloadditions of trimethylenemethane with nitroalkenes

Nitroalkenes readily undergo palladium-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition with trimethylenemethane to generate nitrocyclopentanes in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. Furthermore, the products thus formed are highly versatile synthetic intermediates and provide convenient access to both cyclopentylamines and cyclopentenones.     

Lithium trihydroxy/triisopropoxy-2-pyridylborate salts (LTBS): synthesis, isolation, and use in modified Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions

We describe herein shelf-stable, isolable, and characterizable pyridyl lithium trihydroxy and triisopropoxy 2-borate salts (LTBS) for use in modified Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions that can be produced in quantities greater than one hundred grams. Pyridyl LTBS provide a viable cross-coupling alternative to unstable 2-pyridylboronic acids, boronates, and trifluoroborate salt derivatives. We also demonstrate the synthesis and cross-coupling of shelf-stable LTBS reagents of other sp²-hybridized nitrogen-containing heterocycles including thiazole, pyrazine, quinoline, and isoquinoline heterocycles.     

Accurate enthalpies of formation of alkali and alkaline earth metal oxides and hydroxides: assessment of the correlation consistent composite approach (ccCA)

Computing the enthalpies of formation for alkali metal and alkaline earth metal oxides (M(x)O) and hydroxides [M(OH)(n)] using the Gaussian-n (Gn) and Weismann-n (Wn) ab initio model chemistries is difficult due to an improper treatment of core-valence electron correlation effects. Using a new model chemistry called the correlation consistent Composite Approach (ccCA), enthalpies of formation were determined for eight different alkali/alkaline earth metal oxides and hydroxides. Unlike the Gn and Wn model chemistries, which must be modified to properly account for core-valence electron correlation, the standard implementations of the ccCA provide acceptable results, and all enthalpies of formation obtained with the ccCA are within the accepted range of recommended values.     

Computational studies of ethynyl- and diethynyl-expanded tetrahedranes, prismanes, cubanes, and adamantanes

B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and MP2/6-31+G(d) computations were performed on a series of ethynyl- and diethynyl-expanded tetrahedranes, prismanes, cubanes and adamantanes. Every ethynyl expansion reduces the ring strain energy of the cage. The deprotonation energies of the cage poly-ynes are exceptionally low; we estimate that the gas-phase deprotonation energy of the diethynyl-expanded cubane is about 309 kcal mol(-1). The ring and cage poly-ynes can serve as effective hosts of either lithium or sodium cation, where the best host maximizes the number of interactions of alkynyl groups with the cation at an ideal distance. Last, the vertical excitation energies of the poly-ynes and their conjugate bases suggest that the alkynyl groups are interacting through space. The poly-ynes express a broad range of absorption energies, indicating that these molecules are potential targets in expressly designed optical applications.     

A novel polyacrylamide gel system for proteomic use offering controllable pore expansion by crosslinker cleavage

SDS‐PAGE is still one of the most widespread separation techniques in proteomic research and usually coupled to subsequent MS measurement for protein identification. The proteins are digested while embedded in the gel matrix. The resultant peptides are eluted out of the gel and finally analyzed. The in‐gel digestion process suffers from several drawbacks which influence the experimental outcome with respect to protein sequence coverage and detection sensitivity. Limited accessibility of the protease to the substrate protein and insufficient peptide extraction represent the two major problems. To specifically target these issues, we established a novel partly reversible gel system, in which the gel matrix can be conditionally cleaved to increase the pore diameters. By using a crosslinker mixture consisting of Bis and ethylene‐glycol‐diacrylate the acrylamide filament interconnections can be partly hydrolyzed in alkaline solution. The new hybrid gels have been tested to be compatible with a variety of acidic staining techniques. They exhibit similar electrophoretic performance compared with regular solely Bis‐based gels, but yield significantly better MS results. Thus, the Bis/ethylene‐glycol‐diacrylate SDS‐PAGE gel system is a promising alternative for MS‐based in‐gel workflows and might be transferred to other gel‐electrophoretic applications.     

A rapid solid-phase fluorescence-based protein assay for quantitation of protein electrophoresis samples containing detergents, chaotropes, dyes, and reducing agents

A new solid-phase, fluorescence-based protein assay was developed that quantifies proteins in the presence of detergents, urea and reducing agents (one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate (1-D SDS) lysis buffers and urea isoelectric focusing (IEF) buffers). A specially designed 96-well microplate facilitates application of protein samples to the assay paper and allows easy quantitation of samples using fluorescence microplate readers (top or bottom reading format). Alternatively, stained membranes may be directly scanned using a variety of different laser or charge-coupled device (CCD)-based imaging devices with UV or visible imaging capabilities. Since protein is specifically bound to the membrane, contaminants are readily washed away, avoiding interference with the protein measurement. The protein assay has a dynamic range extending from 10 ng to 5 microg of protein per microliter and requires only 1 microL of sample, which is ideal for samples destined for electrophoresis. The protein-to-protein variability of staining of ten different proteins was determined to be comparable with that of the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) and Lowry assays (16%). Additionally, the quality of the assay according to Z-factor analyses is excellent.     

Synthesis and study of iodonium borate salts as photoinitiators

Iodonium butyltriphenylborate salts (A I⁺ Ar′Ph₃B⁻ R), (Bu) were found to be more efficient than iodonium tetraphenylborate salts (RPh) when used as photoinitiators for the polymerization of acrylates. Relative photodecomposition rates were also different. It was found from a study of the photoreaction of iodonium borate salts with a model monomer, methyl methacrylate, that iodonium butyltriphenylborate salts simultaneously produce a butyl radical from the borate anion and an aryl radical from the iodonium cation upon irradiation. Both radicals initiate polymerization. Iodonium tetraphenylborate salts were found to release an aryl radical, but only from the iodonium cation. Iodonium borate salts exhibit strong absorption below 300 nm with a tail absorption above 400 nm. Thus, iodonium butyltriphenyl borate salts are efficient photoinitiators even when used with visible light. When a photosensitizer such as 5,7-diiodo-3-butoxy-6-fluorone is employed, iodonium butyltriphenylborate salts are rendered much more efficient for visible light photopolymerization. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1667–1677, 1998     

New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase: structural insights into β-lactam recognition and inhibition

The β-lactam antibiotics have long been a cornerstone for the treatment of bacterial disease. Recently, a readily transferable antibiotic resistance factor called the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) has been found to confer enteric bacteria resistance to nearly all β-lactams, including the heralded carbapenems, posing a serious threat to human health. The crystal structure of NDM-1 bound to meropenem shows for the first time the molecular details of how carbapenem antibiotics are recognized by dizinc-containing metallo-β-lactamases. Additionally, product complex structures of hydrolyzed benzylpenicillin-, methicillin-, and oxacillin-bound NDM-1 have been solved to 1.8, 1.2, and 1.2 ?, respectively, and represent the highest-resolution structural data for any metallo-β-lactamase reported to date. Finally, we present the crystal structure of NDM-1 bound to the potent competitive inhibitor l-captopril, which reveals a unique binding mechanism. An analysis of the NDM-1 active site in these structures reveals key features important for the informed design of novel inhibitors of NDM-1 and other metallo-β-lactamases.     

Characterization of carbon monoxide photodissociation from Fe(II)LPO with photoacoustic calorimetry

Lactoperoxidase belongs to a family of mammalian peroxidases that catalyze the oxidation of halides and small organic molecules in the presence of H2O2. We have used photoacoustic calorimetry to characterize thermodynamic parameters associated with ligand dissociation from bovine milk lactoperoxidase. Upon CO photorelease, a prompt (tau < 50 ns) exothermic volume contraction (DeltaH = -20 +/- 7 kcal mol-1 and DeltaH = -2 +/- 1 mL mol-1) was measured at pH 7.0 and 4.0, whereas an endothermic expansion (DeltaH = 30 +/- 13 kcal mol-1 and DeltaV = 9 +/- 2 mL mol(-1)) was observed at pH 10.0 and 7.0 in the presence of 500 mM NaCl. We attribute the observed volume and enthalpy changes to electrostriction arising from changes in the charge distribution associated with a reorganization of the heme binding pocket upon ligand dissociation. It is likely that cleavage of the Fe-CO bond is accompanied by distortion of a salt bridge between Arg557 and the heme propionate group, resulting in the observed electrostriction due to changes in charge distribution.