Solid-phase synthesis of azidomethylene inhibitors targeting cysteine proteases

An efficient strategy for the solid-phase synthesis of azidomethylene inhibitors targeting cysteine proteases is described. The method is highlighted by its compatibility with readily available building blocks, as well as its ability to accommodate different functional groups. A 249-member library has thus far been successfully synthesized, characterized, and screened against Caspase-1, -3 and -7.     

A simple and efficient colorimetric anion receptor for H(2)PO(4)(-)

A novel and neutral anion sensor bearing a urea group as binding sites and 2,4-di nitrophenylhydrazine unit as a molecular architecture and a chromophore was synthesized and the visible color changes, the UV-vis and (1)H NMR spectral responses toward anions were assessed.     

Spatial arrangement of alpha-cyclodextrins in a rotaxane. Insights from free-energy calculations

The rotaxane formed by alpha-cyclodextrins (alpha-CDs) threaded onto a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain was investigated in the gas phase and in an aqueous solution by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The free-energy difference between the three possible spatial arrangements of consecutive alpha-CD--viz.. head-to-head (HH), head-to-tail (HT), and tail-to-tail, was determined using free-energy perturbation calculations. These simulations reveal that the interaction of alpha-CD with the PEG chain is very similar in the two surroundings, whereas the mutual interaction of the macrocycles is stronger in the gas phase than in the aqueous solution. Moreover, difference in the overall interaction appears to stem primarily from changes in the electrostatic contribution. Analysis of intermolecular hydrogen bonds indicates that hydrogen bonds created between alpha-CD and water molecules weaken the hydrogen-bonding interaction of adjacent alpha-CDs. Comparison of the free-energy differences characteristic of the three possible spatial arrangements of contiguous alpha-CDs reveals that the HH motif of the rotaxane is the most stable in the gas phase due to the hydrogen-bond formation between the secondary hydroxyl groups of the two alpha-CDs, and the slight preference for the HT motif in aqueous solution, which can be related to the directionality of the dipole moment borne by the macrocycles in these two motifs.     

A simple and efficient colorimetric anion sensor based on a thiourea group in DMSO and DMSO-water and its real-life application

An efficient colorimetric sensor with a thiourea moiety as binding sites and p-nitrophenylhydrazine as a signaling unit has been synthesized by only one single-step procedure. Selectivity for anions with the distinct geometry (tetrahedral, trigonal planar and spherical) has been investigated in dry DMSO and even in DMSO/H(2)O (95:5, v/v) solutions through the naked-eye experiment, UV-vis titration and (1)H NMR titration techniques. In particular, the fluoride of toothpaste can be detected qualitatively by the sensor 1.     

Lewis acid-catalyzed Prins-type reactions of methylenecyclopropylcarbinols with aldehydes and aldimines

Lewis acid-catalyzed Prins-type reactions of methylenecyclopropylcarbinols with aldehydes and aldimines proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding 3-oxa-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane units via 5-exo cyclization in good to high total yields.     

Simultaneous determination of cations, zwitterions and neutral compounds using mixed-mode reversed-phase and cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography

A novel mixed-mode reversed-phase and cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is described to simultaneously determine four related impurities of cations, zwitterions and neutral compounds in developmental Drug A. The commercial column is Primesep 200 containing hydrophobic alkyl chains with embedded acidic groups in H(+) form on a silica support. The mobile phase variables of acid additives, contents of acetonitrile and concentrations of potassium chloride have been thoroughly investigated to optimize the separation. The retention factors as a function of the concentrations of potassium chloride and the percentages of acetonitrile in the mobile phases are investigated to get an insight into the retention and separation mechanisms of each related impurity and Drug A. Furthermore, the elution orders of the related impurities and Drug A in an ion-pair chromatography (IPC) are compared to those in the mixed-mode HPLC to further understand the chromatographic retention behaviors of each related impurity and Drug A. The study found that the positively charged Degradant 1, Degradant 2 and Drug A were retained by both ion-exchange and reversed-phase partitioning mechanisms. RI2, a small ionic compound, was primarily retained by ion-exchange. RI4, a neutral compound, was retained through reversed-phase partitioning without ion-exchange. Moreover, the method performance characteristics of selectivity, sensitivity and accuracy have been demonstrated to be suitable to determine the related impurities in the capsules of Drug A.     

An efficient and facile microwave‐assisted synthesis of benzo[b][4,7]phenanthroline derivatives in water

A series of benzo[b][4,7]phenanthroline derivatives were synthesized via a three‐component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 6‐aminoquinoline and either 1,3‐cyclohexanedione or dimedone in water under microwave irradiation without use of any catalyst. This method has the advantages of short reaction time, high yields, low cost and environmental friendliness as well as easy operation.     

Nickel-Catalyzed Markovnikov-Selective Hydrodifluoromethylation of Alkynes Using BrCF2H

A Markovnikov-selective hydrodifluoromethylation of alkynes with BrCF₂H via nickel catalysis is described. This protocol proceeds via a migratory insertion of nickel hydride to alkyne followed by a CF₂H-coupling, enabling straightforward access to diverse branched CF₂H-alkenes with high efficiency and exclusive regioselectivity. The mild condition applies to a wide array of aliphatic and aryl alkynes with good functional group compatibility. Mechanistic studies are presented to support the proposed pathway.     

Direct electron transfer of Mb on chitosan/single-wall carbon nanotubes film modified Au electrode and its interaction with cimetidine

Three methods were used to immobilize myoglobin (Mb) on chitosan/single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) film, and direct electrochemistry of the immobilized Mb was extensively investigated. Immobilized Mb displayed a couple of stable and well-defined redox peaks with the formal potential (E’) is at about −0.27 V (vs. SCE) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0). The E′ was shifted linearly with pH in the range of 3.0 to 9.0 with a slope of −54.1 mV pH⁻¹, denoting that one-electron accompanies with one-proton transfer in electrode reaction process. The FT-IR spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy showed that Mb on the film retained its secondary structure similar to its native state. The experimental results demonstrated that the immobilized Mb exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity to reduction of cimetidine with a significant lowering of overpotential. The electrocatalytic current was proportional to the concentration of cimetidine over the range from 9.80 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.1 × 10⁻⁴ M; the detection limit is 8.40 × 10⁻⁶ M (signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The proposed method exhibits good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 235–243. The text was submitted by the authors in English     

Protective role of exogenous nitric oxide against oxidative-stress induced by salt stress in barley (Hordeum vulgare)

To probe into the potential of relieving the oxidative damage of salt stress, we investigated the protective role of nitric oxide on barley under salt stress. Salt stress resulted in increased ion leakage, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in barley leaves. Simultaneous treatments of barley leaves with 50 microM sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, alleviated the damage of salt stress, reflected by decreased ion leakage, and malendialdehyde (MDA), carbonyl, and hydrogen peroxide content in barley leaves. The presence of the nitric oxide donor increased the activities of superoxide dismutases (SOD), ascorbate peroxidases (APX), and catalases (CAT). Meantime, sodium nitroprusside addition increased accumulation of ferritin at the protein level, indicating that nitric oxide directly regulated ferritin accumulation. These results suggested that nitric oxide can effectively protect seedlings from salt stress damage by enhancing activities of antioxidant enzymes to quench the excessive reactive oxygen species caused by salt stress and inducing the increase of ferritin accumulation to chelate larger number of ferrous ion. Information from this study can be used to improve soil management practices for sustainable use of salt-affected soils in the future.