Biogenetically inspired enantioselective approach to Indolo[2,3-a]- and benzo[a]quinolizidine alkaloids from a synthetic equivalent of secologanin

[reaction: see text] Racemic oxodiester 1 undergoes stereoselective cyclocondensation with (S)-tryptophanol, (S)-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)alaninol, or the corresponding amino acids, in a process involving a tandem dynamic kinetic resolution/desymmetrization of diastereotopic groups, to give bicyclic lactams, which are cyclized to substituted indolo[2,3-a]- and benzo[a]quinolizidines.     

Synthetic routes for a new family of chiral tetradentate ligands containing pyridine rings

A series of new tetradentate ligands containing two bipyridine groups or two pyridine moieties carrying amine substituents has been synthesised either from 5'- and 6'-substituted chiral bipyridines, or from chiral pyridine derivatives. These precursors have been prepared from (-)-alpha-pinene or (-)-myrtenal, respectively. The structures of three tetradentate-, and of five chiral bipyridine ligands have been determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Self-assembly of [2]rotaxane exploiting reversible Pt(II)- pyridine coordinate bonds

A dinuclear self-assembled cationic macrocycle based on Pt(II)-N(pyridine) coordinative bonds and having competitive triflate anions, as metal counterions, is used in the construction of [2]rotaxane and [2]pseudorotaxane architectures assisted by hydrogen bonding. The kinetic lability of the Pt(II)-N(pyridine) coordinative bond controls the dynamics of the [2]rotaxane.     

A new approach to the synthesis of oligomers. Application to the synthesis of p-phenylene thioether wires

Oligothioethers 4-RC₆H₄(SC₆H₄-4)_nX (n = 1-3; X = Br, I; R = NO₂; X = Br; R = MeO. n = 1 and 2; X = I; R = MeO. n = 4; X = Br; R = NO₂) have been prepared through a process involving (i) palladium-catalyzed C-S coupling between 4-RC₆H₄(SC₆H₄-4)_n−1I and 4-BrC₆H₄SH to give 4-RC₆H₄(SC₆H₄-4)_nBr and (ii) copper-catalyzed replacement of Br by I.     

Environmental effects on a prion's helix II domain: copper(II) and membrane interactions with PrP180-193 and its analogues

An abnormal interaction between copper and the prion protein is believed to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Copper binding has been mainly attributed to the N-terminal domain of the prion protein, but this hypothesis has recently been challenged in some papers which suggest that the C-terminal domain might also compete for metal anchoring. In particular, the segment corresponding to the helix II region of the prion protein, namely PrP180-193, has been shown both to bind copper and to exhibit a copper-enhanced cytotoxicity, as well as to interact with artificial membranes. The present work is aimed at extending these results by choosing the most representative model of this domain and by determining its copper affinity. With this aim, the different role played by the electrostatic properties of the C- and N-termini of PrP180-193 (VNITIKQHTVTTTT) in determining its conformational behaviour, copper coordination and ability to perturb model membranes was investigated. Owing to the low solubility of PrP180-193, its copper affinity was evaluated by using the shorter PrPAc184-188NH2 (IKQHT) analogue as a model. ESI-MS, ESR, UV/Vis, and CD measurements were carried out on the copper(II)/PrPAc184-188NH2 and copper(II)/PrP180-193NH2 systems, and showed that PrPAc184-188NH2 is a reliable model for the metal interaction with the helix II domain. The affinity of copper(II) for the helix II fragment is higher than that for the octarepeat and PrP106-126 peptides. Finally, the different ability of PrP180-193 analogues to perturb the DPPC model membrane was assessed by DSC measurements. The possible biological consequences of these findings are also discussed briefly.     

Incorporation conditions guiding the aggregation of a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored protein in Langmuir monolayers

This work investigates the process of incorporation of a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored alkaline phosphatase into Langmuir monolayers of dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid (DMPA). Three different methods of protein incorporation were assayed. When the protein solution was injected below the air–water interface after formation of the lipid monolayer a micro-heterogeneous distribution of alkaline phosphatase throughout the interface was observed. Adsorption kinetics studied by fluorescence microscopy, associated with surface pressure measurements, led to the proposition of a model in which the protein penetration is modulated by the surface packing of the monolayer and intermolecular interactions occurring between the phospholipid and the protein. At initial surface pressures higher than 20 mN m⁻¹, the protein is quickly adsorbed on the interface and the lateral diffusion drives the alkyl chains to turn towards the air phase while the polypeptide moiety faces the aqueous subphase.     

Reactions of 2-pyridylphenylacetonitrile and 1,2-dicyano-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-di(2-pyridyl)ethane with cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) chlorides and copper(II) bromide

Summary 2-Pyridylphenylacetonitrile (ppa) is oxidized by copper(II) halides in 1,2-dichloroethane to 1,2-dicyano-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-di(2-pyridyl)ethane (dcppe), yielding 41 complexes of dcppe with copper(II) dihalide, [CuX₂(dcppe)₄] (green). Nickel(II) and zinc(II) chlorides react with ppa giving complexes of a general formula [MCl₂(ppa)₂].Dcppe reacts with copper(II), zinc(II) chlorides and copper(II) bromide yielding complexes of formulae [CuCl₂(dcppe)₄] (yellow), [ZnCl₂(dcppe)₂] and [CuBr₂(dcppe)]. No reaction is observed with cobalt(II) and nickel(II) chlorides.     

Solar energy conversion from water photolysis by biological and chemical systems

The production of chemicals and fuels, or energy-rich compounds, from water by sunlight is described as a particularly attractive means for the conversion of solar energy to a valuable renewable resource. The redox properties of photoexcited molecules and the operating mechanism of light-driven systems are first considered. The mechanism of water oxidation carried out by higher plants and green algae-which is actually one of the most important biochemical reactions—as well as that of artificial photosystems, up-to-now designed trying to simulate the natural process with higher efficiency and simplicity, are likewise discussed. A number of biological and chemical light-driven systems are presented as practical ways to solar energy conversion.     

Ternary complexes of cimetidine and phenobarbital with Cu(II) in methanolic solution

The formation constants of the binary complexes Cu(CM)²⁺ and Cu(CM) ₂ ²⁺ as well as those of the ternary complexes Cu(CM)L ⁺ and Cu(CM)₂ L ⁺ (CM=Cimetidine=N-Cyano-N-methyl-N[(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyltioethyl]-guanidine; HL=Phenobarbital=5-ethyl-5-phenyl-barbituric acid) have been determined in 0.1 and 1.0 mol dm^–3 NaClO₄ methanol solutions at 25±0.2°C. The values of logX, log _stat.., and logK confirm the stability of the ternary complexes.

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Ternäre Komplexe von Cimetidin und Phenobarbital mit Cu(II) in methanolischer Lösung

Zusammenfassung Die Stabilitätskonstanten der binären Komplexe Cu(CM)²⁺ und Cu(CM) ₂ ²⁺ sowie die der ternären Komplexe Cu(CM)L ⁺ und Cu(CM)₂ L ⁺ (CM=Cimetidin=N-Cyan-N-methyl-N-[(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methylthioethyl]-guanidin; HL=Phenobarbitalum=5-Ethyl-5-phenyl-barbitursäure) wurden in 0.1 und 1.0M Lösungen von NaClO₄ in Methanol bei 25±0.2°C bestimmt. Die Werte von logX, log _stat. und logK bestätigen die Stabilität der ternären Komplexe.