Alpha selective epoxide opening with F: synthesis of 4-(3-[F]fluoro-2-hydroxypropoxy)benzaldehyde ([F]FPB) for peptide labeling

Strained tricyclic ring systems such as epoxides are rarely used as precursors for the introduction of anionic fluorine-18 into organic compounds intended for positron emission tomography (PET). Here we report the alpha selective ring opening of epoxides for the introduction of fluorine-18 into small as well as larger biomolecules via 1- and 2-step protocols. [¹⁸F]fluoromisonidazole ([¹⁸F]MISO), a tracer for hypoxia imaging, and the tumor targeting peptide Tyr³-octreotate (TATE) were radiolabeled using epoxide opening reactions. In the latter case, the new prosthetic labeling synthon 4-(3-[¹⁸F]fluoro-2-hydroxypropoxy)benzaldehyde ([¹⁸F]FPB) has been used for ¹⁸F-introduction.     

Aromatic and aliphatic CH hydrogen bonds fight for chloride while competing alongside ion pairing within triazolophanes

Triazolophanes are used as the venue to compete an aliphatic propylene CH hydrogen‐bond donor against an aromatic phenylene one. Longer aliphatic C? H ??? Cl^? hydrogen bonds were calculated from the location of the chloride within the propylene‐based triazolophane. The gas‐phase energetics of chloride binding (ΔG_bind, ΔH_bind, ΔS_bind) and the configurational entropy (ΔS_config) were computed by taking all low‐energy conformations into account. Comparison between the phenylene‐ and propylene‐based triazolophanes shows the computed gas‐phase free energy of binding decreased from ΔG_bind=?194 to ?182 kJ mol^?1, respectively, with a modest enthalpy–entropy compensation. These differences were investigated experimentally. An ¹H NMR spectroscopy study on the structure of the propylene triazolophane’s 1:1 chloride complex is consistent with a weaker propylene CH hydrogen bond. To quantify the affinity differences between the two triazolophanes in dichloromethane, it was critical to obtain an accurate binding model. Four equilibria were identified. In addition to 1:1 complexation and 2:1 sandwich formation, ion pairing of the tetrabutylammonium chloride salt (TBA⁺ ? Cl^?) and cation pairing of TBA⁺ with the 1:1 triazolophane–chloride complex were observed and quantified. Each complex was independently verified by ESI‐MS or diffusion NMR spectroscopy. With ion pairing deconvoluted from the chloride–receptor binding, equilibrium constants were determined by using ¹H NMR (500 μM ) and UV/Vis (50 μM ) spectroscopy titrations. The stabilities of the 1:1 complexes for the phenylene and propylene triazolophanes did not differ within experimental error, ΔG=(?38±2) and (?39±1) kJ mol^?1, respectively, as verified by an NMR spectroscopy competition experiment. Thus, the aliphatic CH donor only revealed its weaker character when competing with aromatic CH donors within the propylene‐based triazolophane.     

Wnt/β-catenin signaling stimulates the self-renewal of conjunctival stem cells and promotes corneal conjunctivalization

Limbal stem cell deficiency causes conjunctivalization characterized by the covering of the corneal surface with conjunctival epithelium. However, the driving force for the encroachment of these conjunctival cells is unclear. Conjunctival stem cells are bipotent stem cells that can proliferate and differentiate into conjunctival epithelial cells and goblet cells to maintain regeneration of the conjunctival epithelium. Here, we show a robust proliferative response of conjunctival stem cells and upregulation of Wnt2b and Wnt3a gene expression in the conjunctivae of mice with induced limbal stem cell deficiency. Topical application of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling activator CHIR resulted in increased proliferation of ΔNp63α-positive stem cells in the basal layers of the bulbar and forniceal conjunctivae and enhanced invasion of conjunctival epithelial and goblet cells into the corneal surface. We also found that in cultures of stem cells isolated from the human conjunctiva, Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation improved the expansion of the ΔNp63α/ABCG2 double-positive cell population by promoting the proliferation and preventing the differentiation of these cells. These expanded stem cells formed a stratified epithelium containing goblet cells under airlift culture conditions. Our data reveal that Wnt/β-catenin signaling contributes to the pathological process of limbal stem cell deficiency by promoting the self-renewal of conjunctival stem cells and suggest that these cells are a driving force in corneal conjunctivalization.Subject terms: Self-renewal, Stem-cell research, Experimental models of disease     

Enantioselective Hydrophosphination of Terminal Alkenyl Aza-Heteroarenes

This paper presents a Mn(I)-catalysed methodology for the enantioselective hydrophosphination of terminal alkenyl aza-heteroarenes. The catalyst operates through H−P bond activation, enabling successful hydrophosphination of a diverse range of alkenyl-heteroarenes with high enantioselectivity. The presented protocol addresses the inherently low reactivity and the commonly encountered suboptimal enantioselectivities of these challenging substrates. As an important application we show that this method facilitates the synthesis of a non-symmetric tridentate P,N,P-containing ligand like structure in just two synthetic steps using a single catalytic system.     

Regio- and stereocontrol in the alternating copolymerization of olefins with carbon monoxide

Strictly alternating copolymers between olefins and carbon monoxide are synthesized using cationic palladium catalysts modified by phosphorus or nitrogen ligands. Basic chelate diphosphines as the ligand allow the regioregular copolymerization of aliphatic olefins thus affording, e.g. in the case of propene, poly(1-oxo-2-methyltrimethylene). Steric control of the copolymerization process towards the production of overwhelmingly isotactic copolymers is possible particularly when using atropisomeric ligands. In the case of styrene as the substrate and for all ligands employed the copolymerization process is regioregular. Prevailing syndiotactic structure is obtained with 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2′-bipyridine as the ligand. Chelate thioether ligands allow the preparation of a completely atactic material. For 4-tert-butylstyrene an isotactic structure became accessible by using chiral bisoxazolidines. The prevailing structure of the copolymers of cyclopentene corresponds to a 1,3-enchainment of the olefin units most probably associated with a prevailing diisotactic structure     

Electrochemical Sulphenylation/Cyclization of Quinones: A Rapid,Green, and Efficient Access to Cytotoxic Compounds

Undivided electrochemical cells enable economical preparation of sulphur-containing naphthoquinones through electrochemical sulphenylation of quinoidal compounds. The environmentally friendly and efficient protocol eliminates the use of chemical oxidants and facilitates the synthesis of the desired molecules. This approach offers an efficient and versatile method to synthesize quinones that exhibit cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.     

Rapid Phase Transitions of Thermotropic Glycolipid Quasicrystal and Frank-Kasper Mesophases: A Mechanistic Rosetta Stone

Experimental results are presented that serve to lower the barrier for developing the science and technology of non-classical thermotropic glycolipid mesophases, which now include dodecagonal quasicrystal (DDQC) and Frank–Kasper (FK) A15 and σ mesophases that can be produced under mild conditions from a versatile class of sugar-polyolefin conjugates. By employing “alloys” comprised of mono- and disaccharide-polyolefin conjugates, and optionally with vitamin E as a small molecule phase modulator, we report the spontaneous formation of stable A15 mesophases at ambient temperature. We further document a rich thermotropic phase map that includes DDQC, A15, and σ mesophases of tunable periodicity that are connected through rapid thermotropic phase transitions as a function of increasing temperature in the order: liquid-like packing (LLP)→DDQC → A15→σ→ disorder. This first direct observation of a rapid thermotropic A15→σ phase transition provides support for a diffusionless martensitic process proceeding through strain-induced introduction of planar defects into the A15 lattice.