Three-dimensional solution structure of bottromycin A2: a potent antibiotic active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci

The three-dimensional (3D) structure of bottromycin A(2), a natural anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and anti-vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) agent consisting of seven amino acids, has been investigated through NMR spectroscopy. On the basis of 57 experimental constraints, a total of 34 converged structures were obtained. The average pairwise atomic root mean square difference is 0.74±0.59 ? for all heavy atoms. The resulting structure indicates an interesting feature in that the three C-terminal residues of bottromycin A(2) fold back on the 12-membered cyclic skeleton made by the four N-terminal residues. Thus, MePro(2) and Thia-β-Ala-OMe(7), modification of which significantly affects the antibacterial activities of bottromycin A(2), are located on one side of its 3D structure. These distinct structural features might be important for the binding of bottromycin A(2) with the bacterial ribosome.     

First Cellulose Langmuir‐Blodgett Films towards Photocurrent Generation Systems

Langmuir‐Blodgett films of a cellulose derivative containing porphyrins, porphyrin‐cellulose, were fabricated in order to construct a cellulose‐based molecular photocurrent generation system. On visible light illumination of the LB monolayer film deposited on an ITO electrode, anodic photocurrents were observed with a quantum yield of 1.6% at an applied potential of 0 V versus SCE, and 3.8–4.6% at 0.2–0.3 V versus SCE. These values indicate that the self‐quenching of the photoexcited porphyrins in the cellulose LB film was suppressed, while porphyrin moieties in the LB film had a densely packed structure. This is because the porphyrins are located at a distance of approximately 1.0 nm along the cellulose backbone.

     

Supramolecular Hybrids from Cyanometallate Complexes and Diblock Copolypeptide Amphiphiles in Water

The self-assembly of discrete cyanometallates has attracted significant interest due to the potential of these materials to undergo soft metallophilic interactions as well as their optical properties. Diblock copolypeptide amphiphiles have also been investigated concerning their capacity for self-assembly into morphologies such as nanostructures. The present work combined these two concepts by examining supramolecular hybrids comprising cyanometallates with diblock copolypeptide amphiphiles in aqueous solutions. Discrete cyanometallates such as [Au(CN)₂]⁻, [Ag(CN)₂]⁻, and [Pt(CN)₄]²⁻ dispersed at the molecular level in water cannot interact with each other at low concentrations. However, the results of this work demonstrate that the addition of diblock copolypeptide amphiphiles such as poly-(L-lysine)-block-(L-cysteine) (Lys_m-b-Cys_n) to solutions of these complexes induces the supramolecular assembly of the discrete cyanometallates, resulting in photoluminescence originating from multinuclear complexes with metal-metal interactions. Electron microscopy images confirmed the formation of nanostructures of several hundred nanometers in size that grew to form advanced nanoarchitectures, including those resembling the original nanostructures. This concept of combining diblock copolypeptide amphiphiles with discrete cyanometallates allows the design of flexible and functional supramolecular hybrid systems in water.     

Non‐standard analysis in ACA0 and Riemann mapping theorem

This research is motivated by the program of reverse mathematics and non‐standard arguments in second‐order arithmetic. Within a weak subsystem of second‐order arithmetic ACA₀, we investigate some aspects of non‐standard analysis related to sequential compactness. Then, using arguments of non‐standard analysis, we show the equivalence of the Riemann mapping theorem and ACA₀ over WKL₀. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Strain‐Induced Double Carbon–Carbon Bond Activations of Cycloparaphenylenes by a Platinum Complex: Application to the Synthesis of Cyclic Diketones

The carbon–carbon (C?C) bond activation of [n]cycloparaphenylenes ([n]CPPs) by a transition‐metal complex is herein reported. The Pt⁰ complex Pt(PPh₃)₄ regioselectively cleaves two C?C σ bonds of [5] CPP and [6]CPP to give cyclic dinuclear platinum complexes in high yields. Theoretical calculations reveal that the relief of ring strain drives the reaction. The cyclic complex was further transformed into a cyclic diketone by using a CO insertion reaction.     

Total Synthesis and Stereochemical Revision of Iriomoteolide‐2a

Total syntheses of the proposed and correct structures of iriomoteolide‐2a, a cytotoxic marine macrolide natural product with an unusual 23‐membered macrolactone skeleton, have been accomplished for the first time. The synthesis of the correct structure involves an asymmetric epoxidation/diepoxide cyclization cascade for the construction of the bis(tetrahydrofuran) moiety, a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling for the fragment assembly, and a ring‐closing metathesis for the closure of the macrocyclic backbone. In addition, the original stereochemical assignment of iriomoteolide‐2a was revised.     

Palladium(II)-substituted tungstosilicate [Cs2K(H2O)7Pd2WO(H2O)(A--SiW9O34)2]9-

The palladium(II)-substituted tungstosilicate [Cs(2)K(H(2)O)(7)Pd(2)WO(H(2)O)(A-alpha-SiW(9)O(34))(2)](9)(-) (1) has been synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, and electrochemistry. Single-crystal X-ray analysis was carried out on Cs(3)K(2)Na(4)[Cs(2)K(H(2)O)(7)Pd(2)WO(H(2)O)(A-alpha-SiW(9)O(34))(2)].5H(2)O (1a), which crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 16.655(3) A, b = 19.729(4) A, c = 25.995(5) A, beta = 95.46(3) degrees , and Z = 4. Polyanion 1represents the first structurally characterized palladium(II)-substituted tungstosilicate. The title polyanion consists of two (A-alpha-SiW(9)O(34)) Keggin moieties linked via a [WO(H(2)O)](4+) group and two equivalent, square-planar Pd(2+) ions leading to a sandwich-type structure with C(2)(v) symmetry. The central belt of 1 contains also one potassium and two cesium ions. Polyanion 1 was synthesized by reaction of Pd(CH(3)COO)(2) with K(10)[A-alpha-SiW(9)O(34)] in aqueous acidic medium (pH 4.8). A cyclic voltammetry study of polyanion 1 in a pH 5 medium shows a Pd(0) deposition process on the glassy carbon electrode surface. The corresponding wave and that of tungsten redox processes could be separated clearly during the first few runs before their merging into a broad composite wave. The film thickness increases with the number of potential cycles or the duration of potentiostatic electrolysis. As judged from hydrogen sorption/desorption pattern, the quality of the film deposited from polyanion 1 is better than that of a film deposited directly from Pd(2+) solutions.     

The first total synthesis of (+/-)-arisugacin A, a potent, orally bioavailable inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase

The first convergent total synthesis of (+/-)-arisugacin A was accomplished by stereoselective construction of the arisugacin skeleton via a Knoevenagel-type reaction of an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde with a 4-hydroxy 2-pyrone and stereoselective dihydroxylation followed by deoxygenation.     

Two-dimensional correlation gel permeation chromatography (2D GPC) study of the CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>SO<Subscript>3</Subscript>H-catalyzed polymerization of triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene. Molecular weight effect on the aggregate–aggregate interactions

The two-step polymerization process of two well-defined polymeric silane coupling agents, triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene with molecular weights equal to 2400 [TESi-PS (2400)] and 8000 [TESi-PS (8000)], catalyzed by 0.1 mol/kg CH₃SO₃H, was traced as a function of reaction time using gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). Two sets of GPC traces, collected during the condensation, were then converted to two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectra by using generalized 2D correlation theory. The 2D correlation spectra elucidated details of the aggregate–aggregate correlations [in particular, the difference between the correlations of TESi-PS (2400) and TESi-PS (8000)], thus demonstrating the effect of aggregation on the polymerization.