Synthesis of polyimides by photoaddition of bismaleimides to benzene

Polyimides have been synthesized by the sensitized photoaddition of aliphatic and aromatic bismaleimides to benzene. The reaction involves 2+2 cycloaddition to give homoannular diene intermediate followed by Diels-Alder addition to give polymer. Proof of structure is based mainly on a comparison of infrared spectra with those of the corresponding polyimides prepared from maleic anhydride-benzene photoadduct and diamines. The very low solubility of the polymers indicates that crosslinking probably occurred during photolysis. All the polyimides appear to decompose by decyclization at about 420–485°C. Polymer yield was dependent on bismaleimide structure.     

Gas Hydrate Formation in Reversed Micelles

We describe a technique to modify protein solubility and optimize enzyme activity in reversed micellar solutions. The technique is based on the ability of hydrates of natural gas to form in the micro-aqueous phase. Clathrate hydrates are crystalline inclusions of water and gas, and their formation in bulk water has traditionally been studied with relevance to natural gas recovery. We have found that hydrates can form in the environment of the microaqueous pools of reversed micelles, and that their extent of formation can be well controlled through the thermodynamic variables of temperature and pressure. Additionally, formation of hydrates affects the size and aggregation number of the micelles, and thus influences the solubility and conformation of encapsulated proteins. We demonstrate how the concept can be used in two applications: (i) protein extraction into reversed micelles and subsequent recovery, and (ii) optimization of enzyme activity in reversed micelles.     

Solid state radioluminescent lighting

We have demonstrated novel types of tritium-powered, solid-phase radioluminescent (RL) light sources. These lights include: (1) all-organic formulations comprised of polystyrene and fluorescent organic dyes; (2) polydimethylsiloxane-based systems incorporating inorganic phosphors; and (3) inorganic aerogel-based systems doped with phosphors. Three principal design consideration for these new RL lights are described. These include: (1) incorporation of tritium into the solid matrix; (2) molecular engineering to maximize light-output efficiency; and (3) strategies for increasing longevity. The advanced RL lights, which are of interest due to potential advantages in efficiency, brightness and safety, are being developed for emergency lighting uses and for battery and lighting applications in remote locations.     

Characterization of biopolymers by pyrolysis gas chromatography and multidimensional analysis. Application to synthetic melanins

A method for characterization of the melanin biopolymer has been developed and validated by the use of synthetic melanins derived from tyrosine, dopamine or hydroquinone. The technique involved pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography with capillary columns. A back-flushing technique is described which improves pyrogram reproducibility such that closely related melanins can be distinguished with the aid of principal components analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling.     

Functionalized di- and tetrathia-crowns and their use to quantitatively separate and recover gold(III), palladium(II), silver(I) and mercury(II) Ions

Two new dithia-crowns containing a hydroxy group and 1,4,7,10-tetrathia-18-crown-6 containing an allyl-oxymethyl substituent were prepared in good yields. Two of these crowns were covalently attached to silica gel. The silica gel-bound thia-crowns were used to separate gold( III ), palladium( II ), silver( I ) and mercury( II ) ions from an aqueous 0.1 M nitric acid solution which also contained 1.0 M ferric chloride.     

Synthesis and testing of new end-functionalized oligomers for molecular electronics

Several new classes of oligomers have been synthesized with functionalities designed to aid in the understanding of molecular device behavior, specifically when molecules are interfaced between proximal electronic probes. The compounds synthesized are series of azobenzenes, bipyridines and oligo(phenylene vinylene)s that bear acetyl-protected thiols for ultimate attachment to metallic surfaces. Some initial electrochemical and solid-state test results are also reported.     

Synthesis of tricyclic analogues of methyllycaconitine using ring closing metathesis to append a B ring to an AE azabicyclic fragment

The synthesis of several ABE tricyclic analogues of the alkaloid methyllycaconitine 1 is reported. The analogues contain two key pharmacophores: a homocholine motif formed from a tertiary N-ethyl amine in a 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system and a 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-ly)benzoate ester 4. The synthesis of the ABE tricyclic analogues of MLA 1 began with selective allylation at C-3 of 3 to produce allyl beta-keto ester 4. Double Mannich reaction of 4 with ethylamine and formaldehyde produced bicyclic amine 5 The C-9 ketone of bicyclic amine 5 was selectively reduced to form bicyclic alcohols 6 and 7 which were subsequently allylated to form dienes 8 and 9. Ring closing metathesis of dienes 8 and 9 afforded tricyclic ethers 11 and 12, respectively, the C-8 ester of which was reduced to a hydroxymethyl group to form ABE tricyclic analogues 13 and 14. Addition of allylmagnesium bromide to the C-9 ketone of 20 afforded dienes 21 and 22, which underwent ring closing metathesis to form tricyclic esters 23 and 24, respectively. Reduction of the C-8 ethyl ester of 23 and 24 to a hydroxymethyl group afforded diols 25 and 26 respectively. The 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolin-1-ly)benzoate ester was introduced by conversion of alcohols 13, 14, 25 and 26, to the anthranilate esters 16, 17, 27 and 28 using N-(trifluoroacetyl)anthranilic acid 15 followed by fusion with methylsuccinic anhydride to afford the substituted anthranilates 18, 19, 29 and 30 containing the key 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-ly)benzoate ester pharmacophore.     

The migrastatin family: discovery of potent cell migration inhibitors by chemical synthesis

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-migrastatin (1), a macrolide natural product with anti-metastatic properties, has been accomplished. Our concise and flexible approach utilized a Lewis acid-catalyzed diene aldehyde condensation (LACDAC) to install the three contiguous stereocenters and the trisubstituted (Z)-alkene of migrastatin (2 + 3 --> 21). Construction of the two remaining stereocenters and incorporation of the glutarimide-containing side chain was achieved by an anti-selective aldol addition of propionyl oxazolidinone 28 to angelic aldehyde 27, followed by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) coupling of 32 with glutarimide aldehyde 5. Finally, the assembly of the macrocycle was realized by a highly (E)-selective ring-closing metathesis (35 --> 37). Utilizing the power of diverted total synthesis (DTS), a series of otherwise inaccessible analogues was prepared and evaluated for their potential as tumor cell migration inhibitors in several in vitro assays. These studies revealed a dramatic increase in activity when the natural motif was considerably simplified, presenting macrolactones 45 and 48, as well as macrolactam 55, macroketone 60, and CF(3)-alcohol 71 as promising anti-metastatic agents.     

NEW PHTHALOCYANINE PHOTOSENSITIZERS FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Six new aluminum and silicon phthalocyanines have been synthesized and their photocytotoxicity toward V79 cells has been studied. The compounds that have been prepared are: AIPcOSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂),N(CH₃)₂, I; AIPcOSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃N(CH₃)₃⁺I^?, II; CH₃SiPcOSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃N(CH₃)₂, III; HOSiPcOSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃N(CH₃)₂, IV; HOSiPcOSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃)₃(CH₃)₃⁺I^?, V; and SiPc[OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃N(CH₃)₃⁺I^?]₂, VI. Relative growth delay values for compounds I-VI and relative cytotoxicity values for compounds I, II, IV, V and VI have been determined. Compounds I and II have been shown to be comparable in photocytotoxicity to what is presumed to be AIPcOH.xH₂O, and compound IV has been shown to have greater activity. The classes of compounds to which these six compounds belong appear to have potential for photodynamic therapy.     

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in photodynamic therapy with the phthalocyanine photosensitizer Pc 4

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) is an 18 kDa protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane that interacts with the voltage-dependent anion channel and may participate in formation of the permeability transition pore. The physiological role of PBR is reflected in the high-affinity binding of endogenous ligands that are metabolites of both cholesterol and heme. Certain porphyrin precursors of heme can be photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), which depends on visible light activation of porphyrin-related macrocycles. Because the apparent binding affinity of a series of porphyrin analogs for PBR paralleled their ability to photoinactivate cells, PBR has been proposed as the molecular target for porphyrin-derived photocytotoxicity. The phthalocyanine (Pc) photosensitizer Pc 4 accumulates in mitochondria and structurally resembles porphyrins. Therefore, we tested the relevance of PBR binding on Pc 4-PDT. Binding affinity was measured by competition with 3H-PK11195, a high-affinity ligand of PBR, for binding to rat kidney mitochondria (RKM) or intact Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. To assess the binding of the Pc directly, we synthesized 14C-labeled Pc 4 and found that whereas Pc 4 was a competitive inhibitor of 3H-PK11195 binding to the PBR, PK11195 did not inhibit the binding of 14C-Pc 4 to RKM. Further, 14C-Pc 4 binding to RKM showed no evidence of saturation up to 10 microM. Finally, when Pc 4-loaded CHO cells were exposed to activating red light, apoptosis was induced; Pc 4-PDT was less effective in causing apoptosis in a companion cell line overexpressing the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. For both cell lines, PK11195 inhibited PDT-induced apoptosis; however, the inhibition was transient and did not extend to overall cell death, as determined by clonogenic assay. The results demonstrate (1) the presence of low-affinity binding sites for Pc 4 on PBR; (2) the presence of multiple binding sites for Pc 4 in RKM and CHO cells other than those that influence PK11195 binding; and (3) the ability of high supersaturating levels of PK11195 to transiently inhibit apoptosis initiated by Pc 4-PDT, with less influence on overall cell killing. We conclude that the binding of Pc 4 to PBR is less relevant to the photocytotoxicity of Pc 4-PDT than are other mitochondrial events, such as photodamage to Bcl-2 and that the observed inhibition of Pc 4-PDT-induced apoptosis by PK11195 likely occurs through a mechanism independent of PBR.