Application of an ephedrine chiral linker in a solid-phase, 'asymmetric catch-release' approach to gamma-butyrolactones

A Sm(II)-mediated, asymmetric, intermolecular ketyl-olefin addition employing alpha,beta-unsaturated esters linked to resin through an ephedrine 'chiral link' has been applied in a direct 'asymmetric catch-release' approach to gamma-butyrolactones.     

Application of a recyclable pseudoephedrine resin in asymmetric alkylations on solid phase

A pseudoephedrine resin has been successfully employed in asymmetric alkylations on solid phase. Immobilized pseudoephedrine amides are conveniently prepared by the one-step attachment of pseudoephedrine to Merrifield resin through the hydroxyl group and subsequent acylation on nitrogen. Deprotonation and alkylation of the resin-bound amides proceeds smoothly. Ketones and alcohols are cleaved from the resin in high enantiomeric excess and moderate to good overall yield. The parallel, asymmetric solid-phase synthesis of a small library of chiral ketones and alcohols has been carried out to illustrate the utility of the approach. Finally, the pseudoephedrine resin can be conveniently recycled and utilized with no significant loss in the yield or enantiomeric excess of the products.     

Development of a solid-phase 'asymmetric resin-capture-release' process: application of an ephedrine chiral resin in an approach to gamma-butyrolactones

The potential of a solid-phase asymmetric resin-capture-release strategy for high-throughput synthesis has been evaluated. Fukuzawa's Sm(ii)-mediated, asymmetric approach to gamma-butyrolactones was selected to illustrate the feasibility of such a process. Alpha,beta-unsaturated esters immobilised on an ephedrine chiral resin have been applied in an asymmetric approach to gamma-butyrolactones. Lactone products are obtained in moderate isolated yields with selectivities up to 96% ee. In addition, we have shown that the ephedrine resin can be conveniently recovered and recycled although in some cases lower yields were obtained on reuse of the chiral resin. A short synthesis of a moderate DNA-binding microbial metabolite using asymmetric resin-capture-release is also described.     

Recent Insights into Inhibition,Structure, and Mechanism of Configuration-Retaining Glycosidases

Not “from above”, but “from the side” : Configuration-retaining β-glycosidases protonate their substrate either anti or syn to the endocyclic C1−O bond as the first step in the enzymic cleavage of the glycosidic bond (see schematic drawing). Insights into the mechanism of action of glycosidases have been gained by a combination of the synthesis of inhibitors, the study of the kinetics of their inhibition, and the analysis of the crystal structures of glycosidases and glycosidase–ligand complexes.     

The photocurrent response of human cones is fast and monophasic

Background  

The precise form of the light response of human cone photoreceptors in vivo has not been established with certainty. To investigate the response shape we compare the predictions of a recent model of transduction in primate cone photoreceptors with measurements extracted from human cones using the paired-flash electroretinogram method. As a check, we also compare the predictions with previous single-cell measurements of ground squirrel cone responses.     

Inhibition of Glycosidases by Lactam Oximes: Influence of the Aglycon in Disaccharide Analogues

The influence of a substituent at the hydroximo function of the lactam analogue 1 on the inhibition of β- and α-glucosidases is evaluated. In contrast to 1 , the O-alkyl oximes 5 , 6 , 9 , and 10 are selective inhibitors of β-glucosidases. Alkylation of the D -gluconohydroximo-1,5-lactam 19 with the triflate 12 , or condensation of the thiogluconolactam 20 with the hydroxylamines 14 or 18 afforded the benzylated cellobioside analogues 21 and 23 , respectively. The O-alkyl oximes 33 and 39 were prepared similarly (Scheme 3). Deprotection afforded the cellobioside analogues 5 and 6 , and the O-alkyl oximes 9 and 10 . The lactam O-alkyl oximes 5 , 6 , 9 , and 10 are strong inhibitors of the β-glucosidase from C. saccharolyticum (IC₅₀=0.3 – 8 μM ) and, with exception of the dodecyl analogue 9 (IC₅₀=2 μM ), moderate-to-weak inhibitors of β-glucosidases from sweet almond (IC₅₀=60 – 1000 μM ; see Table). In contrast to the strong inhibition of α-glucosidase from brewer's yeast by 1 (K_i=2.9 μM ), the ethers 5 , 6 , and 10 are weak inhibitors of this enzyme (IC₅₀ between 2500 and >5000 μM ). Similarly, the D -galactohydroximo-1,5-lactam 7 is a potent inhibitor of the α-galactosidase from coffee beans and of the β-galactosidases from bovine liver and E. coli (K_i=5, 10, and 0.1 μM , resp.), while the lactoside analogue 8 is a strong inhibitor of the E. coli β-galactosidase (K_i=0.1 μM ), but a moderate-to-weak inhibitor of coffee-bean α-galactosidase and bovine-liver β-galactosidase (K_i=250 μM and IC₅₀=2500 μM , resp.). The galacto-configured lactam oximes 7 and 8 are good inhibitors of the β-glucosidase isolated from C. saccharolyticum (K_i=2.5 and 3.3 μM , resp.).     

Terminal aziridines by alpha-deprotonation/electrophile trapping of N-protected aziridine

N-tert-Butylsulfonyl and N-tert-butylsulfinyl aziridine undergo alpha-lithiation/electrophile trapping providing a new entry to terminal aziridines. With N-tert-butylsulfinyl aziridine complete asymmetric induction is observed alpha to nitrogen.