A unified and quantitative receptor model for the microtubule binding of paclitaxel and epothilone

[formula: see text] Paclitaxel and epothilone represent the two major classes of antimicrotubule agents that promote tubulin polymerization and, presumably, mitotic arrest during cell division. A common minireceptor binding site model at beta-tubulin has been constructed for these structurally divergent compounds. Utilizing 20 amino acids identified in photoaffinity labeling experiments, the 3-D model correlates measured and predicted Ki's with r = 0.99 and rms(delta Gcalc-delta Gexp) = 0.2 kcal/mol. In addition, the model predicts the affinity of compounds not used in the training set and explains much of the SAR for the paclitaxel and epothilone families.     

Gadolinium(III) Complexes of dota‐Derived N‐Sulfonylacetamides (H4(dota‐NHSO2R)=10‐{2‐[(R)sulfonylamino]‐2‐oxoethyl}‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7‐triacetic Acid): A New Class of Relaxation Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Applications

Four new ligands for lanthanide ions based on the H₃do3a (=1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7‐triacetic acid) structure and bearing one N‐sulfonylacetamide arm were synthesized, i.e., H₄dota‐NHSO₂R=10‐{2‐[(R)sulfonylamino]‐2‐oxoethyl}‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7‐triacetic acids 1a – e . A ¹⁵N‐NMR study of the ¹⁵N‐labelled Eu³⁺ complex of one such ligands, 1d , showed that the coordination of the N‐sulfonylacetamide arm involves the carbonyl O‐atom rather than the N‐atom. The relaxometric properties of the corresponding Gd³⁺ complexes were investigated as a function of pH and temperature. These complexes have relaxivities in the range 4.5–5.3 mM ^?1 s^?1, at 20 MHz and 25°, and are characterized by a single H₂O molecule in their inner coordination sphere. The mean residence lifetime of this molecule is relatively long (500–700 ns) compared to other anionic complexes. The slow rate of H₂O exchange can be justified by the extensive delocalization of the negative charge on the N‐sulfonylacetamide arm. The long residence time of the coordinated H₂O allowed the observation of the effect of the prototropic exchange on the relaxivity. The study of the interaction between the complex [Gd( 1e )]‐ and HSA revealed a weak affinity constant highlighting the importance of a localized negative charge on the complex to promote a strong interaction with the protein.     

Covalent-ionic nature of the potential energy surface of the Li-CO2 complex

Unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations with large basis sets, including d-functions, and the estimation of the correlation energy, show that the potential energy surface for the Li-CO₂ complex is built from the crossing of two states, each of them corresponding to a different electron arrangement. One has a strong ionic character and the other is of van der Waals type. Each portion of the energy surface presents a minimum, which is stable in respect to the dissociation limit.     

(+)- and (-)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids and their incorporation into highly rigid beta-peptides: stereoselective synthesis and a structural study

[Chemical reaction: See text] Several derivatives of (+)- and (-)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid, 1, have been prepared through enantiodivergent synthetic sequences. The stereoselective synthesis of free amino acid (+)-1 has been achieved, and this product has been fully characterized for the first time. Stereocontrolled alternative synthetic methodologies have been developed for the preparation of bis(cyclobutane) beta-dipeptides in high yields. Among them, enantio and diastereomers have been synthesized. beta,beta- and beta,delta-Dimers resulting from the coupling of a cyclobutane residue and a linear amino acid have also been prepared. The ability of the cyclobutane ring as a structure-promoting unit both in the monomers and in the dimers has been manifested. The NMR structural study and DFT theoretical calculations evidence the formation of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds giving rise to cis-fused [4.2.0]octane structural units that confer high rigidity on these molecules both in solution and in the gas phase. The contribution of a cis-trans conformational equilibrium derived from the rotation around the carbamate N-C(O) bond has also been observed, the trans form being the major conformer. In the solid state, this equilibrium does not exist, and moreover, intermolecular hydrogen bonds are present.     

DFT description of the magnetic properties and electron localization in dinuclear di-mu-oxo-bridged manganese complexes

Density functional theory (DFT) was applied to describe the magnetic and electron-transfer properties of dinuclear systems containing the [MnO2Mn]n+ core, with n=0,1,2,3,4. The calculation of the potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the mixed-valence species (n=1,3) allowed the classification of these systems according to the extent of valence localization as Class II compounds, in the Robin-Day classification scheme. The fundamental frequencies corresponding to the asymmetric breathing vibration were also computed.     

A novel deacylation during the amination of trifluoromethyl β-dicarbonyl compounds

Starting from trifluoromethyl β-dicarbonyl compounds, a rare loss of CF₃CO was observed in the amination reactions performed under heterogeneous conditions using NsONHCO₂Et as the aminating agent and CaO or NaH as the base, while corresponding nonfluorinated β-dicarbonyl compounds under analogous conditions give non deacylated aminated compounds. This reaction can facilitate a direct synthesis of N-substituted α-amino esters or α-amino ketones.     

Unusual nitration of substituted 7-amino-1,8-naphthyridine in the synthesis of compounds with antiplatelet activity

Several 1,8-naphthyridine derivatives have been diazotizated to obtain the corresponding hydroxy derivatives or mixture of hydroxy and hydroxy nitro derivatives. The respective amounts of hydroxy and hydroxy nitro derivatives depends on the nature of the substituents, on their position on the naphthyridine nucleus, on the amount of sodium nitrite and on the reaction temperature. A study of the electronic density of some molecules suggests a possible explanation of the effects induced by the nature of the substituents and of their position. Some of the compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit human platelet aggregation in vitro induced by arachidonic acid. Only compound 26 showed interesting antiplatelet activity.     

Structural changes in the monomeric despentapeptide (B30-B26) insulin crystal

Insulin modified by the removal of its 5 B chain C terminal residues is monomeric but remains substantially potent. The crystal structures of the beef and insulin (dpi) with two molecules in the asymmetric unit has been determined by x-ray analysis. The 3-dimensional structure ofdpi proves to be generally similar to that of native molecule in 2Zn insulin. More detailed comparison reveals that the slight differences in the two independent molecules of beefdpi are distributed uniformly throughout the structure in contrast to insulin in 2Zn insulin, where the structural changes are concentrated in specific regions. The loss of symmetry in thedpi crystal appears to be the inability of the A9 serine to pack effectively in the C2 cell. The efficient packing of the sheepdpi molecule whose crystal structure has also been determined and where A9 is glycine supports this conclusion.     

Synthesis of novel 1,4‐dihydropyrido[3′,2′:5,6]thiopyrano[4,3‐c]‐pyrazoles and 5H‐pyrido[3′,2′:5,6]thiopyrano[4,3‐d]pyrimidines as potential antiproliferative agents

The synthesis of new planar derivatives characterized by the presence of a pyridothiopyranopyrazole or pyridothiopyranopyrimidine nucleus, carrying a substituted aryl group, is reported. The novel 1,4‐dihydropyrido[3′,2′:5,6]thiopyrano[4,3‐c]pyrazole derivatives were obtained by condensation of 2,3‐dihydro‐3‐hydroxymethylenethiopyrano[2,3‐b]pyridin‐4(4H)‐ones with appropriate hydrazines. The preparation of 2‐substituted pyrido[3′,2′:5,6]thiopyrano[4,3‐d]pyrimidines was accomplished from the intermediate 2,3‐dihy‐dro‐3‐dimethylaminomethylenethiopyrano[2,3‐b]pyridin‐4(4H)‐ones by reaction with the appropriate binucleophile amidines. The antiproliferative activity of some new products was tested by an in vitro assay on human tumour cell lines (HL‐60 and HeLa), but none of them showed any significant effects in the tests performed. Accordingly, linear flow dichroism measurements indicated their inability to form a molecular complex with DNA.