Supramolecular helical stacking of metallomesogens derived from enantiopure and racemic polycatenar oxazolines

The present report undertakes a challenge of general interest in supramolecular chemistry: the achievement of helical organizations with controlled structure. To achieve this target we considered the possibility of inducing supramolecular chirality using molecules that were designed to organize into columnar mesophases. The use of oxazoline-derived ligands and metal coordination served as tools to prepare molecules with a phasmidic-like structure, which show columnar organization in the liquid crystalline state. To ensure the formation of chiral mesophases, these complexes bear stereogenic centers in the rigid coordination environment of the metal. X-ray and circular dichroism experiments have revealed that chirality transfer does indeed take place from the chiral molecule to the columnar liquid crystal organization. This chiral columnar organization appears as a helix consisting of stacks of molecules that rotate with respect to one another along the column while maintaining their mean planes parallel to each other. In fact, it has been concluded that packing of these polycatenar molecules must be more efficient upon rotation of a molecule with respect to the adjacent one along the column. Furthermore, the same type of helical supraorganization has been found to be present in the mesophase of the racemic mixture and the mixture of diastereomers prepared from the racemic ligand. In this case, segregation of the optical isomers is proposed to occur to give rise to both types of helix (right-handed and left-handed).     

A novel structural class of photoswitchable oligonucleotide

Directed Michaelis-Arbuzov reactions of support-bound internucleotide O-benzyl- or O-methyl-phosphite triesters with meta-phenylazobenzylamine or alkane-/glycol-linked α,ω-diamines were effected in the presence of iodine. The corresponding tritylated phosphoramidate-linked 11-mers were fully deprotected and released from the support under standard conditions and the fast- and slow-diastereoisomers of both the E- and the Z-meta-phenylazobenzyl-appended oligomers were readily resolved by RP-HPLC. The primary amine-functionalised oligonucleotides were either purified, detritylated and then finally treated with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carboxylic acid ester derivatives of photoswitchable moieties (Route A) or first derivatised and then subsequently purified and detritylated (Route B). This latter route enabled resolution of fast- and slow-isomers of the trityl-on oligomers bearing novel photoswitchable azopyridine or 9-alkoxyanthracene moieties using RP-HPLC, following which the pure diastereoisomers were detritylated and characterised by MALDI-MS.     

Synthesis of annulated dioxins as electron-rich donors for cation radical salts

The synthesis of a series of new alkoxylated linearly annulated dioxins is described together with their cyclic voltammetric behavior and some preliminary result on their ability to form cation radical salts. Of these dioxins, seven (8, 12, 19, 21, 27, 33, 34) are the first representatives of entirely new heterocyclic systems. Dioxins 8, 21, 22 and 27 gave good quality cation radical salts upon electrocrystallization.     

Drug transport in responding lipid membranes can be regulated by an external osmotic gradient

In this paper, we demonstrate, for the first time, how an external osmotic gradient can be used to regulate diffusion of solutes across a lipid membrane. We present experimental and theoretical studies of the transport of different solutes across a monoolein membrane in the presence of an external osmotic gradient. The osmotic gradient introduces phase transformations in the membrane, and it causes nonlinear transport behavior. The external gradient can thus act as a kind of switch for diffusive transport in the skin and in controlled release drug formulations.     

A new protocol for the in situ generation of aromatic,heteroaromatic, and unsaturated diazo compounds and its application in catalytic and asymmetric epoxidation of carbonyl compounds. Extensive studies to map out scope and limitations,and rationalization of diastereo- and enantioselectivities

A variety of metalated tosylhydrazone salts derived from benzaldehyde have been prepared and were reacted with benzaldehyde in the presence of tetrahydrothiophene (THT) (20 mol %) and Rh(2)(OAc)(4) (1 mol %) to give stilbene oxide. Of the lithium, sodium, and potassium salts tested, the sodium salt was found to give the highest yield and selectivity. This study was extended to a wide variety of aromatic, heteroaromatic, aliphatic, alpha,beta-unsaturated, and acetylenic aldehydes and to ketones. On the whole, high yields of epoxides with moderate to very high diastereoselectivities were observed. A broad range of tosylhydrazone salts derived from aromatic, heteroaromatic, and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes was also examined using the same protocol in reactions with benzaldehyde, and again, good yields and high diastereoselectivities were observed in most cases. Thus, a general process for the in situ generation of diazo compounds from tosylhydrazone sodium salts has been established and applied in sulfur-ylide mediated epoxidation reactions. The chiral, camphor-derived, [2.2.1] bicyclic sulfide 7 was employed (at 5-20 mol % loading) to render the above processes asymmetric with a range of carbonyl compounds and tosylhydrazone sodium salts. Benzaldehyde tosylhydrazone sodium salt gave enantioselectivities of 91 +/- 3% ee and high levels of diastereoselectivity with a range of aldehydes. However, tosylhydrazone salts derived from a range of carbonyl compounds gave more variable selectivities. Although those salts derived from electron-rich or neutral aldehydes gave high enantioselectivities, those derived from electron-deficient or hindered aromatic aldehydes gave somewhat reduced enantioselectivities. Using alpha,beta-unsaturated hydrazones, chiral sulfide 7 gave epoxides with high diastereoselectivities, but only moderate yields were achieved (12-56%) with varying degrees of enantioselectivity. A study of solvent effects showed that, while the impact on enantioselectivity was small, the efficiency of diazo compound generation was influenced, and CH(3)CN and 1,4-dioxane emerged as the optimum solvents. A general rationalization of the factors that influence both relative and absolute stereochemistry for all of the different substrates is provided. Reversibility in formation of the betaine intermediate is an important issue in the control of diastereoselectivity. Hence, where low diastereocontrol was observed, the results have been rationalized in terms of the factors that contribute to the reduced reversion of the syn betaine back to the original starting materials. The enantioselectivity is governed by ylide conformation, facial selectivity in the ylide reaction, and, again, the degree of reversibility in betaine formation. From experimental evidence and calculations, it has been shown that sulfide 7 gives almost complete control of facial selectivity, and, hence, it is the ylide conformation and degree of reversibility that are responsible for the enantioselectivity observed. A simple test has been developed to ascertain whether the reduced enantioselectivity observed in particular cases is due to poor control in ylide conformation or due to partial reversibility in the formation of the betaine.     

Perfluoropolyether alkyl diesters: Structure effects of the alkyl group on the kinetics of the hydrolysis reactions

A series of perfluoropolyether bis‐carboxylic esters was synthesized and their hydrolytic stability investigated. Their formula is ROOCCF₂O(CF₂CF₂O)_p(CF₂O)_qCF₂COOR, where p/q = 1.07 and p + q = 2.94. The alkyl group, R, varied both in terms of steric hindrance and electron‐withdrawing ability. Kinetic and thermodynamic data were obtained under homogeneous conditions and compared to a fully hydrogenated ester having a closely related structure CH₃(CH₂)₃OOCCH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_nCH₂COO(CH₂)₃CH₃, where n? = 10.6. Neutral ester hydrolysis (NEH) conditions were selected with methyl ethyl ketone as a solvent and a 3–4:1 water/ester ratio. The course of the reaction was monitored by ¹⁹F NMR or ¹H NMR (when R = CH₃CH₂? ). Results indicated that the hydrolysis of fluorinated esters, with alkyl aliphatic substituents, is governed by steric hindrance of the substituents. Two distinctive kinetic regimes were observed. The first one, at low conversion, was characterized by lower kinetic constants and related to true NEH conditions. The second regime appeared at higher conversion when acidic autocatalysis dictated the reaction behavior. This is the only observed mechanism when esters more sensitive to the hydrolysis are considered. In these cases, polar factors prevail over steric considerations. Finally, all fluorinated esters of the class (I) showed a much higher reactivity than the hydrogenated ester whose hydrolysis took place only in the presence of a strong acidic catalyst. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4266–4280, 2002     

Coarse-grained model for phospholipid/cholesterol bilayer

We construct a coarse-grained (CG) model for dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/cholesterol bilayers and apply it to large-scale simulation studies of lipid membranes. Our CG model is a two-dimensional representation of the membrane, where the individual lipid and sterol molecules are described by pointlike particles. The effective intermolecular interactions used in the model are systematically derived from detailed atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations using the Inverse Monte Carlo technique, which guarantees that the radial distribution properties of the CG model are consistent with those given by the corresponding atomistic system. We find that the coarse-grained model for the DPPC/cholesterol bilayer is substantially more efficient than atomistic models, providing a speedup of approximately eight orders of magnitude. The results are in favor of formation of cholesterol-rich and cholesterol-poor domains at intermediate cholesterol concentrations, in agreement with the experimental phase diagram of the system. We also explore the limits of the coarse-grained model, and discuss the general validity and applicability of the present approach.     

Amyloid binding and beyond: a new approach for Alzheimer's disease drug discovery targeting Aβo–PrPC binding and downstream pathways

Amyloid β oligomers (Aβo) are the main toxic species in Alzheimer''s disease, which have been targeted for single drug treatment with very little success. In this work we report a new approach for identifying functional Aβo binding compounds. A tailored library of 971 fluorine containing compounds was selected by a computational method, developed to generate molecular diversity. These compounds were screened for Aβo binding by a combined ¹⁹F and STD NMR technique. Six hits were evaluated in three parallel biochemical and functional assays. Two compounds disrupted Aβo binding to its receptor PrP^C in HEK293 cells. They reduced the pFyn levels triggered by Aβo treatment in neuroprogenitor cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). Inhibitory effects on pTau production in cortical neurons derived from hiPSC were also observed. These drug-like compounds connect three of the pillars in Alzheimer''s disease pathology, i.e. prion, Aβ and Tau, affecting three different pathways through specific binding to Aβo and are, indeed, promising candidates for further development.

A new approach combining virtual screening, ¹⁹F and STD NMR, and biochemical assays using hiPSC and targetting multiple pathways involving Aβ, PrP^C and Tau provides a more effective strategy for Alzheimer''s disease drug discovery than Aβ only approach.     

Synthetic, X-ray Structure, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, and Magnetic Studies of the Manganese(II) Complex of 1-Thia-4,7-diazacyclononane ([9]aneN(2)S)

Reaction of manganese(II) perchlorate hexahydrate with a methanol solution of 1-thia-4,7-diazacyclononane ([9]aneN(2)S) resulted in the isolation of the manganese(II) complex [Mn([9]aneN(2)S)(2)](ClO(4))(2). The X-ray structure of this complex is reported: crystal system orthorhombic, space group Pbam, No. 55, a = 7.937(2) ?,b = 8.811(2) ?, c = 15.531(3) ?, Z = 2, R = 0.0579. The complex is high spin (S = (5)/(2)) with an effective magnetic moment (&mgr;(eff)) 5.82 &mgr;(B) at 298 K and 5.65 &mgr;(B) at 4.2 K. Computer simulation of the Q-band EPR spectrum of [Mn([9]aneN(2)S)(2)](ClO(4))(2) yields g = 1.99 +/- 0.01, |D| = 0.19 +/- 0.005 cm(-)(1), and E/D = 0.04 +/- 0.02. For the analogous hexaamine complex [Mn([9]aneN(3))(2)](ClO(4))(2) ([9]aneN(3) = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane) analysis of the EPR spectra produced the following values: g = 1.98 +/- 0.01, |D| = 0.09 +/- 0.003 cm(-)(1), and E/D = 0.1 +/- 0.01. The spin Hamiltonian parameters for [Mn([9]aneN(2)S)(2)](ClO(4))(2) derived from the EPR spectra produced a good fit to the magnetic susceptibility data.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the thiophene-3-acetonitrile complex fac-[Mo(CO)3{NCCH2(C4 H 3S-3)}3]

Reaction of fac-[Mo(CO)₃(NCMe)₃] with three equivalents of NCCH₂(C₄ H ₃S-3) in acetonitrile gives the tris(thiophene-3-acetonitrile) complex, fac-[Mo(CO)₃{NCCH₂(C₄H₃S-3)}₃] (1) in 7% yield. Complex 1 crystallizes out in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with a = 12.714(17), b = 16.41(2), c = 11.304(16) Å, Z = 4. The structure has crystallographic m symmetry and the metal is in an almost perfect octahedral environment, with a facial arrangement of carbonyl and thiophene-3-acetonitrile groups. The thiophene rings are disordered.