Enzyme-purification and catalytic transformations in a microstructured PASSflow reactor using a new tyrosine-based Ni-NTA linker system attached to a polyvinylpyrrolidinone-based matrix

The synthesis of a Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) attached via a new tyrosine-based linker matrix on monolithic crosslinked poly(vinyl benzyl chloride)/poly(vinylpyrrolidinone) is described. This matrix is incorporated inside a microstructured PASSflow reactor which was used for automatic purification and immobilisation of His(6)-tagged proteins. These could be used as stable and highly active biocatalysts for the synthesis of (R)-benzoin (6), (R)-2-hydroxy-1-phenylpropan-1-one (7) and 6-O-acetyl-D-glucal (17) in a flow-through mode.     

Incoherent scattering of 59.54 keV gamma rays for some rare earth elements at low photon momentum transfers

Incoherent scattering functions S(x, Z) for six rare earth elements were evaluated from accurately measured whole atom differential incoherent scattering cross sections for 59.54 keV γ-rays scattered at 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° scattering angles corresponding to 1.24, 1.84, 2.40 and 3.39 Å⁻¹ photon momentum transfers. Our results for S(x, Z) are the first for these rare earth elements.     

Substituted 1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones are superior to thymine in the recognition of adenine in duplex as well as triplex structures

The synthesis and evaluation of a series of novel nucleobases based on substituted 1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-ones are reported. The nucleobases were designed to meet the requirements for incorporation into peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) and were evaluated as part of PNA duplex and triplex nucleic acid recognition systems. Of the various nucleobases tested, only the 7-chloro-1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one (7-Cl-bT) nucleobase led to consistently increased affinity in all recognition systems, duplex (Watson-Crick) as well as triplex (Hoogsteen). For multiply modified systems, the increase in thermal stability per modification was dependent on the sequence context, ranging from 2.0 degrees C (in separate positions) to 3.5 degrees C (in adjacent positions) in PNA-DNA duplexes and from 1.2 degrees C (in separate positions) to 3.2 degrees C (in adjacent positions) in PNA-RNA duplexes. Singly mismatched oligonucleotide targets were employed to demonstrate uncompromised sequence discrimination. When part of multiply modified triplex (Hoogsteen) recognition systems, the 7-Cl-bT unit gave rise to increases in the thermal stability ranging from 2.7 to 3.5 degrees C when incorporated into separated and adjacent positions, respectively. Our results furthermore indicate that the duplex stabilization is predominantly enthalpic and therefore most likely not a consequence of single-strand preorganization. Finally, and most surprisingly, we find no direct correlation between the end-stacking efficiency of this type of nucleobase and its helix stabilization when involved in Watson-Crick base pairing within a helix.     

Studies of amine-induced ring opening of some mesoionic xanthines

The ring-opening reactions of seven mesoionic thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine-5,7-diones by a series of primary and secondary amines have been investigated. The rates of the ring fission of five N(8)-substituted mesoionic xanthines with benzylamine were measured and found to follow second order kinetics. The Hammett relationship is followed with ? value of + 0.48 in p-dioxane as solvent. The dependence of rates on temperatures has been studied for the N(8)-ethyl derivative; the energy of activation (Δ E* ) is 25.3 kcals mol^?1, the enthalpy of activation (Δ H* ) is 24.7 kcals mol^?1 and the entropy of activation (Δ S* ) is — 4.9 e.u. A slight increase in rate of reaction was observed when the solvent was changed from p-dioxane to dimethyl sulfoxide. In p-dioxane at constant mesoionic xanthine concentration, the rate constant for ring opening decreased with increasing benzylamine concentration. These results are consistent with a bimolecular nucleophilic mechanism proceeding by the rate-determining formation of a charged tetrahedral transition state.     

Common Trends and Differences in Antioxidant Activity Analysis of Phenolic Substances Using Single Electron Transfer Based Assays

Numerous assays were developed to measure the antioxidant activity, but each has limitations and the results obtained by different methods are not always comparable. Popular examples are the DPPH and ABTS assay. Our aim was to study similarities and differences of these two assay regarding the measured antioxidant potentials of 24 phenolic compounds using the same measurement and evaluation methods. This should allow conclusions to be drawn as to whether one of the assays is more suitable for measuring specific subgroups like phenolic acids, flavonols, flavanones, dihydrochalcones or flavanols. The assays showed common trends for the mean values of most of the subgroups. Some dihydrochalcones and flavanones did not react with the DPPH radical in contrast to the ABTS radical, leading to significant differences. Therefore, to determine the antioxidant potential of dihydrochalcone or flavanone-rich extracts, the ABTS assay should be preferred. We found that the results of the flavonoids in the DPPH assay were dependent on the Bors criteria, whereas the structure–activity relationship in the ABTS assay was not clear. For the phenolic acids, the results in the ABTS assay were only high for pyrogallol structures, while the DPPH assay was mainly determined by the number of OH groups.     

Strong Electronic Communication in Linearly Elongated Rylenes Featuring Tunable Bridges

A modified synthetic pathway towards perylene-perylene dimers and a facile purification method to obtain the regioisomerically pure syn- and anti-isomers are reported. In addition, a novel perylene-naphthalene heterodimer with 30 conjugated π-electron pairs was designed and synthesized on the basis of a previously described precursor and the resulting regioisomers were separated from each other. Thereby, the opto-electronic properties of the linearly elongated chromophores could be investigated regarding the differences in length of their aromatic system and the configuration of the isomers. Further tuning of their energy gaps was realized via protonation and methylation of the dibenzimidazole-bridging unit. Extraordinary red-shifts of the absorption maxima of 62 nm for the methylated and 92 nm for the protonated perylene-perylene anti-isomer could be achieved. Moreover, the maxima for the syn-isomer could be shifted bathochromically by 87 and 113 nm, respectively.     

On the relocation of the amino functionality to the ethyl side chain in aminoglutethimide: Synthesis and aromatase-inhibitory activity of 3-(2′-N,N-diethyl-amino)ethyl-3-phenylpiperidine-2,6-dione

Aminoglutethimide [3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-ethylpiperidine-2,6-dione] has been used clinically in the treatment of metastatic breast carcinoma. Inhibition of tumor growth is due to interference with estrogen biosynthesis. However, its action is not specific and its metabolism gives rise to toxic and non-inhibitory metabolites. We sought to explore the impact of relocating the amino group in aminoglutethimide to the ethyl side chain. To that end, we now report the synthesis and aromatase-inhibitory activity of 3-(2′-N,N-diethylamino)ethyl-3-phenylpiperidine-2,6-dione 5. The introduction of the amino functionality on the ethyl group is accomplished via reductive animation of aldehyde 8, prepared in three steps from benzyl cyanide. The synthetic route presented can be used for the preparation of related derivatives of aminoglutethimide.