An efficient synthesis of novel carbocyclic nucleosides with use of ring-closing metathesis from D-lactose

This paper describes an efficient synthetic route for various types of novel carbocyclic nucleosides. The required stereochemistry of the targeted nucleosides was successfully obtained with use of Grubbs cyclization and Trost allylic alkylation from the carbohydrate chiral template "D-lactose".     

13C-NMR und konformation eines membran-modifizierenden synthetischen nonadekapeptid-analogons von alamethicin und seiner zwischenstufen

The ¹³C-NMR spectra of the synthetic membrane modifying nonadecapeptide Boc-(Aib-l-Ala)₅-Gly-Ala-Aib-Pro-Ala- Aib-Aib-Glu(OBz)-Gln-OMe (Aib = α-aminoisobutyric acid), and of synthetic intermediates were used for conformational analysis in solution. The assignments of the ¹³C-NMR signals of Aib are based on the magnetic nonequivalence (MNE) of the geminal C_β-signals in asymmetric environment resulting in a shift difference of 0.2–0.5 ppm due to neighbouring chiral residues. More than 4 ppm MNE are observed due to α-helical conformation and about 2.5 ppm for Aib situated in the corners of a rigid β-turn. The Ala-C_α signal is also sensitive to different secondary structures. The C_α signal for C-terminal alanine is found at 49–50 ppm, and for alanine within unordered oligopeptides it absorbs at 50–51 ppm. α-Helical environment shifts the Ala-C_α signal to lower field down to 54 ppm. In methanolic solution the nonadecapeptide shows a α-helical N-terminal region. For the C-terminus beginning with proline-14 no periodically ordered conformation is observed, and we suggest a sequence of β-turns. Furthermore the typical E/Z isomerism of the prolyl-peptide bond can be observed on proline itself and on its neighbour alanine.     

Immobilized cobalt/rhodium heterobimetallic nanoparticle-catalyzed silylcarbocylization and carbonylative silylcarbocyclization of 1,6-enynes

Reaction of 1,6-enynes with a hydrosilane in the presence of immobilized cobalt/rhodium bimetallic nanoparticles gives 2-methyl-1-silylmethylidene-2-cyclopentanes in the absence of carbon monoxide and 2-formylmethyl-1-silylmethylidene-2-cyclopentanes under 1 atm of carbon monoxide, respectively. [reaction: see text]     

Influence of column length and pore size on high-performance ion-exchange chromatography of estrogen and progestin receptors

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure has been evaluated to establish a routine test in the clinical laboratory for measuring the profiles of estrogen and progestin receptor isoforms in human breast and endometrial tumors. This procedure will be used to determine if there is a relationship between particular isoform profiles and response to various endocrine therapies. Evaluation of various HPLC modes has shown that high-performance ion-exchange chromatography (HPIEC) with silica-based anion exchangers offers a promising approach. In this paper, we have compared HPIEC columns of different lengths (10 and 25 cm) and pore sizes (300, 500 and 1,000 A) in order to obtain an optimal separation procedure. Because of receptor lability, all investigations were performed at 4 degrees C. The mobile phase consisted of 10-500 mM phosphate buffer, supplemented with the stabilizing agent, sodium molybdate at pH 7.4. Recoveries from each of the columns were between 70-100%. The length of the column did not influence significantly the retention time and salt concentration required for elution of receptor proteins. However, pore sizes appeared to alter these parameters. With a larger pore size (1,000 A), the retention of proteins was lower (elution with 50 mM phosphate) than that observed with the 500-A pore size column (elution with 100 mM phosphate) or of the 300-A pore size column (elution with 150 mM phosphate). Based solely on recovery patterns and peak shape, we conclude that separation of receptor isoforms on a 1,000-A, 25-cm column is best suited for clinical analysis.     

Baylis-Hillman mechanism: a new interpretation in aprotic solvents

Using reaction rate data collected in aprotic solvents, we have determined that the Baylis-Hillman rate-determining step is second order in aldehyde and first order in DABCO and acrylate. On the basis of these data, we have proposed a new mechanism involving a hemiacetal intermediate. The proposed mechanism was then supported using two different kinetic isotope experiments.     

Role of copper chloride on the surface of activated carbon in adsorption of methyl mercaptan

In this paper, adsorption characteristics of methyl mercaptan on virgin activated carbon and copper chloride impregnated activated carbons were studied by using a dynamic adsorption method in a fixed bed. The activated carbons were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, XRD, TGA and solubility tests. The impregnation of copper chloride on the activated carbon significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of methyl mercaptan, despite a notable decrease in microporosity. It is likely that copper chloride may act as adsorption site for methyl mercaptan. Copper chloride on the activated carbon in a range of 3-20 wt% Cu content was present mostly in the amorphous form of CuCl(2), according to the results of the solubility, XRD and TGA tests. Starting at 10 wt% in Cu loading, the adsorption capacity for methyl mercaptan decreases gradually. It is likely that a decrease in the degree of copper chloride dispersion and an accessibility of small pores may lead to the decrease in the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon for methyl mercaptan.     

Synthesis, characterization, and stability of Fe-MCM-41 for production of carbon nanotubes by acetylene pyrolysis

Fe-substituted MCM-41 molecular sieves with ca. 1, 2, and 3 wt % Fe were synthesized hydrothermally using different sources of colloidal silica (HiSil and Cab-O-Sil) and characterized by ICP, XRD, N2 physisorption, UV-vis, EPR, TPR, and X-ray absorption. Catalysts synthesized from Cab-O-Sil showed higher structural order and stability than those from HiSil. The local environment of Fe in the mesoporous material as studied by UV-vis reveals the dominance of framework Fe in all the as-synthesized Fe-MCM-41 samples. Dislodgement of some Fe species to extraframework location occurs upon calcination, and this effect is more severe for Fe-MCM-41 (2 wt %) and Fe-MCM-41 (3 wt %), as confirmed by EPR and X-ray absorption. These materials have been used as catalytic templates for the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by acetylene pyrolysis at atmospheric pressure. A relationship between the Fe loading in MCM-41 and the carbon species produced during this reaction has been established. Using our optimized conditions for this system, Fe-MCM-41 with ca. 2 wt % Fe showed the best results with particularly high selectivity for single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) production. This catalyst was selective for carbon nanotubes with a low amount of amorphous carbon for a narrow range of temperatures from 1073 to 1123 K. To account for the different selectivity of these catalysts for CNTs production, the local environment and chemical state of Fe in the used catalyst was further probed by X-band EPR.     

Heat shock protein 27 interacts with vimentin and prevents insolubilization of vimentin subunits induced by cadmium

Vimentin is an intermediate filament that regulates cell attachment and subcellular organization. In this study, vimentin filaments were morphologically altered, and its soluble subunits were rapidly reduced via cadmium chloride treatment. Cadmium chloride stimulated three major mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38, and led apoptotic pathway via caspase-9 and caspase-3 activations. In order to determine whether MAPKs were involved in this cadmium-induced soluble vimentin disappearance, we applied MAPK-specific inhibitors (PD98059, SP600125, SB203580). These inhibitors did not abolish the cadmium-induced soluble vimentin disappearance. Caspase and proteosome degradation pathway were also not involved in soluble vimentin disappearance. When we observed vimentin levels in soluble and insoluble fractions, soluble vimentin subunits shifted to an insoluble fraction. As we discovered that heat-shock protein 27 (HSP27) was colocalized and physically associated with vimentin in unstressed cells, the roles of HSP27 with regard to vimentin were assessed. HSP27-overexpressing cells prevented morphological alterations of the vimentin filaments, as well as reductions of soluble vimentin, in the cadmium-treated cells. Moreover, HSP27 antisense oligonucleotide augmented these cadmium-induced changes in vimentin. These findings indicate that HSP27 prevents disruption of the vimentin intermediate filament networks and soluble vimentin disappearance, by virtue of its physical interaction with vimentin in cadmium-treated SK-N-SH cells.     

Cavitands bearing four fluorophores

The synthesis of novel cavitands containing four fluorophores [tert-butoxycarbonyl protected 2,2′-bis(furyl)benzidine (t-BOC FurylBz) or 5,5′-bis(4-aminophenyl)-2,2′-bifuryl (t-BOC PFDA)] and ionophoric functional groups on the upper rim is reported. The cavitands bearing the four fluorophores emit blue light photoluminescence. In particular, the cavitand containing PFDA moieties exhibits a high photoluminescence quantum yield.     

Cyclometallated Pd(II) azido complexes containing 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl or 2-phenylpyridyl derivatives: synthesis and reactivity toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates

Cyclometallated palladium(II) azido complexes containing C,N,N- or C,N-donor ligands, [Pd(N(3))L](HL = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine or 2-phenylpyridyl derivatives), showed different reactivities toward organic isocyanides and isothiocyanates. In particular, aryl isocyanides (CN-Ar) underwent insertion into the orthometallated Pd-C bond on the phenyl moiety of the supporting ligand (L) in [Pd(N(3))L] or [Pd(N(3))(PR(3))L] to selectively give carbodiimido [[Pd(N=C=N-Ar)L]], imidoyl [[Pd(N(3))(-C=N-Ar)(PR(3))L]], or imidoyl carbodiimido complexes [[Pd(N=C=N-Ar)(-C=N-Ar)L] or [Pd(N=C=N-Ar)(-C=N-Ar)(PR(3))L]], depending on reaction conditions. Interestingly, reactions of [Pd(N(3))(PR(3))L] with organic isothiocyanates gave unusual dinuclear complexes [(micro-SCN(4)-R)PdL](2), exhibiting the concurrent S- and N-coordinating thio-tetrazole bridge.