Diisophorone and related compounds—II: 1-Alkoxy- and 1-carboxy-diisophorane derivatives

The acid catalysed interaction in dioxan of trialkyl orthoformates with diisophor-2(7)-en-ol-3-one, diisophor-2(7)-en-ol, and their bisnor-homologues, provides the corresponding 1-alkoxy-compounds. Their structure is established by the identity of -methoxydiisophor-2(7)-en-3-one obtained by this method, and by the action of sodium methoxide on 1-chlorodiisophor-2(17)-en-3-one. The latter is regenerated from 1-methoxy(or ethoxy) diisophor-2(7)-en-3-one by the action of stannic chloride-acetyl chloride. Catalytic hydrogenation reduces the 3-keto-function in 1-alkoxydiisophor-2(7)-en-3-ones to a methylene unit; simultaneous removal of the 1-alkoxy-group in the case of the 1-isopropoxy-homologue yields the penultimate parent hydrocarbon of this series, diisophor-2(7)-ene.The combined action of silver sulphate and formic acid in concentrated sulphuric acid on 1-chlorodiisophor-2(7)-en-3-one (and its bisnor-homologue) produces the corresponding 1-carboxylic acids. These are also obtainable by the hydrolysis of the 1-cyano-compound, and are esterifiable by the standard methods.     

Synthesis, structure, and theoretical study of the nonclassical [CuTe(7)](3-) anion

The compound [PPh(4)](2)[NEt(4)][CuTe(7)] has been synthesized from the reaction of CuCl with a polytelluride solution in dimethylformamide at room temperature. The compound crystallizes with two formula units in the triclinic space group P(-)1 in a cell with dimensions a = 8.9507(18) A, b = 14.714(3) A, and c = 23.277(5) A and alpha= 86.32(3) degrees, beta= 80.17(3) degrees, and gamma= 75.63(3) degrees (T = -120 degrees C). Ab initio calculations indicate that the nonclassical [CuTe(7)](3)(-) anion is the result of joining Te(3)(2-) and [CuTe(4)](1-) fragments through donor-acceptor interactions.     

Changes in calmodulin main-chain dynamics upon ligand binding revealed by cross-correlated NMR relaxation measurements

The fast dynamics of protein backbones are often investigated by nuclear magnetic relaxation experiments that report on the degree of spatial restriction of the amide bond vector. By comparing calmodulin in the peptide-bound and peptide-free states with these classical methods, we observe little difference in the dynamics of the polypeptide main chain (average order parameter decrease of 0.01 unit upon binding). However, when using NMR methods that monitor the mobility of the CO-Calpha bond vector, we reveal a significant reduction of dynamics of the protein main chain (average order parameter decrease of 0.048 units). Previous investigations have suggested that the side-chain dynamics is reduced by an average of 0.07 order parameter units upon ligand binding (Lee, A. L.; Kinnear, S. A.; Wand, A. J. Nat. Struct. Biol. 2000, 7, 72-77). The current findings suggest that the change of the CO-Calpha bond vector dynamics is intermediate between the changes in NH and side-chain dynamics and report a previously undetected loss of main-chain entropy. Weak site-to-site correlations between the different motional indicators are also observed.     

Insights into the phosphoryl-transfer mechanism of cAMP-dependent protein kinase from quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations

To investigate the molecular details of the phosphoryl-transfer mechanism catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, we performed quantum mechanical (QM) calculations on a cluster model of the active site and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a ternary complex of the protein with Mg(2)ATP and a 20-residue peptide substrate. Overall, our theoretical results confirm the participation of the conserved aspartic acid, Asp(166), as an acid/base catalyst in the reaction mechanism catalyzed by protein kinases. The MD simulation shows that the contact between the nucleophilic serine side chain and the carboxylate group of Asp(166) is short and dynamically stable, whereas the QM study indicates that an Asp(166)-assisted pathway is structurally and energetically feasible and is in agreement with previous experimental results.     

Synthesis of a homotrifunctional conjugation reagent based on maleimide chemistry

A novel homotrifunctional conjugation reagent, 1,3,5-tris-(N-maleimidomethyl)benzene has been synthesized in high yield with minimum purification. The reactivity of this compound was examined by using l-cysteine as a nucleophile.     

Error bounds for continued fractionsK(1/b n)

Summary A priori truncation error bounds are obtained for continued fractions of the formK(1/b _n),b _n complex. The error bounds are easily applied to the case whenb _n0 asn. A numerical example involving the complex error function is given.     

Multidentate carborane-containing Lewis acids and their chemistry: mercuracarborands

Macrocyclic Lewis acidic hosts with structures incorporating electron-withdrawing icosahedral carboranes and electrophilic mercury centers bind a variety of electron-rich guests. These compounds, the so-called mercuracarborands, are synthesized by a kinetic halide ion template effect that affords tetrameric cycles or in the absence of halide ion templates, cyclic trimers. Both types of mercuracarborands form stable host–guest complexes with anionic and neutral electron-rich molecules. The multidentate structure of mercuracarborand hosts has made these unique molecules ideal for catalytic and ion-sensing applications as well as for the assembly of supramolecular architectures.     

Diamond paste-based electrodes for determination of Cr(III) in pharmaceutical compounds

A new class of monocrystalline diamond paste-based electrodes is proposed for the determination of chromium(III) at trace levels in vitamins. Three types of monocrystalline diamond—natural diamond 1 (natural diamond), synthetic diamond 50 (synthetic-1), and synthetic diamond 1 (synthetic-2)—were used for electrode construction. The linear concentration ranges are between 10^–10 and 10^–8; 10^–9 and 10^–7, and 10^–10 to 10^–8 mol L^–1, with limits of detection of 10^–12, 10^–12, and 10^–11 mol L^–1, when natural diamond, synthetic-1, and synthetic-2, respectively, are used as electrode materials. For electrodes based on natural diamond and synthetic-1 it was found that Cr(III) yields a peak at about +0.275±0.015 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) within a predetermined positive potential range situated between +0.4 and +0.2 V, while for the electrode based on synthetic-2 the peaks are found at +0.300±0.015 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The proposed method is reliable for the determination of chromium(III) at trace levels in two vitamin tablets (RSD<0.2%).     

Quinazolines and 1,4-benzodiazepines. XLVI. Photochemistry of nitrones and oxaziridines

The cyclic nitrones 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one 4-oxide ( 5a ) and 1,3-dihydro-7-methylthio-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one 4-oxide ( 5b ) are photoisomerized to readily isolable oxaziridines, 7-chloro-4,5-epoxy-5-phenyl-1,3,4–5-tetrahydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one ( 6a ) and 4,5-epoxy-5-phenyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7-methylthio-2H-1,4-benzo-diazepin-2-one ( 6b ). Oxaziridine 6b upon further irradiation gave ring expansion and ring contraction products, 4,6-dihydro-2-phenyl-9-methylthio-5H-1,3,6-benzoxadiazocin-5-one ( 7b ) and 4-benzoyl-3,4-dihydro-6-methylthioquinoxalin-2(1H)-one ( 8b ) respectively. The ring contraction product, 4-benzoyl-6-chloro-3,4-dihydroquinoxalin-2(1H)-one ( 8a ), was obtained from irradiation of oxaziridine 6a .     

Rh(II) and Rh(I) two-legged piano-stool complexes: structure,reactivity, and electronic properties

The ligand 1,4-bis[4-(diphenylphosphino)butyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene, 3, was used to synthesize a mononuclear Rh(II) complex [(eta(1):eta(6):eta(1)-1,4-bis[4-(diphenylphosphino)butyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene)Rh][PF(6)](2), 6+, in a two-legged piano-stool geometry. The structural and electronic properties of this novel complex including a single-crystal EPR analysis are reported. The complex can be cleanly interconverted with its Rh(I) form, allowing for a comparison of the structural properties and reactivity of both oxidation states. The Rh(I) form 6 reacts with CO, tert-butyl isocyanide, and acetonitrile to form a series of 15-membered mononuclear cyclophanes [(eta(1):eta(1)-1,4-bis[4-(diphenylphosphino)butyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene)Rh(CO)(3)][PF(6)] (8), [(eta(1):eta(1)-1,4-bis[4-(diphenylphosphino)butyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene)Rh(CNC(CH(3))(3))(2)][PF(6)] (10), and [(eta(1):eta(1)-1,4-bis[4-(diphenylphosphino)butyl]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene)Rh(CO)(CH(3)CN)][PF(6)] (11). The Rh(II) complex 6+ reacts with the same small molecules, but over shorter periods of time, to form the same Rh(I) products. In addition, a model two-legged piano-stool complex [(eta(1):eta(6):eta(1)-1,4-bis[3-(diphenylphosphino)propoxy]-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene)Rh][B(C(6)F(5))(4)], 5, has been synthesized and characterized for comparison purposes. The solid-state structures of complexes 5, 6, 6+, and 11 are reported. Structure data for 5: triclinic; P(-)1; a = 10.1587(7) A; b = 11.5228(8) A; c = 17.2381(12) A; alpha = 96.4379(13) degrees; beta = 91.1870(12) degrees; gamma = 106.1470(13) degrees; Z = 2. 6: triclinic; P(-)1; a = 11.1934(5) A; b = 12.4807(6) A; c = 16.1771(7) A; alpha = 81.935(7) degrees; beta = 89.943(1) degrees; gamma = 78.292(1) degrees; Z = 2. 6+: monoclinic; P2(1)/n; a = 11.9371(18) A; b = 32.401(5) A; c = 12.782(2) A; beta = 102.890(3) degrees; Z = 4. 11: triclinic; P(-)1; a = 13.5476(7) A; b = 13.8306(7) A; c = 14.9948(8) A; alpha = 74.551(1) degrees; beta = 73.895(1) degrees; gamma = 66.046(1) degrees; Z = 2.