Practical formal total syntheses of the homocamptothecin derivative and anticancer agent diflomotecan via asymmetric acetate aldol additions to pyridine ketone substrates

Two practical, efficient, and scalable asymmetric routes to DE ring fragment 7, a key building block in the synthesis of the homocamptothecin derivative diflomotecan 4, are described. The "acetal route" starts from 2-chloro-4-cyanopyridine 8 and represents an enantioselective and optimized modification of the original racemic discovery chemistry synthesis. The inefficient optical resolution procedure was replaced by an efficient asymmetric acetate aldol addition (dr 87:13) to a ketone substrate as the key step generating the (R)-configured quaternary stereocenter with high stereoselectivity. 7 was finally obtained in 8.9% overall yield (er 99.95:0.05) over nine steps, avoiding chromatographic purifications and comparing favorably with the initial procedure. In the related "amide route" starting from 2-chloroisonicotinic acid 41, a secondary amide directing group was used to facilitate the ortho lithiation of the pyridine 3-position. The key step of this protocol again consists of a practical asymmetric acetate aldol addition (dr = 87:13). The DE ring building block 7 was thus obtained in 11.1% overall yield (er > 99.95:0.05) over nine steps requiring only one chromatographic purification.     

Pressure-induced internal redox reaction of Cs2[PdI4].I2, Cs2[PdBr4].I2, and Cs2[PdCl4].I2

The pressure-induced redox reaction within the system Cs2[Pd2+I4].I2/Cs2[Pd4+I6] was investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction. Analogous high-pressure X-ray diffraction experiments were performed on the isostructural compounds Cs2[PdX4].I2 (X = Cl, Br). Additionally, the phase transition of Cs2[PdBr4].I2 to Cs2[PdBr4I2] was characterized by means of Raman scattering experiments as well as theoretical calculations based on density functional theory. On the basis of experimentally determined crystal structure data, a pathway for the topology of the redox reactions was developed and outlined.     

Biochemical suppression of small-molecule inhibitors: a strategy to identify inhibitor targets and signaling pathway components

Identification of small-molecule targets remains an important challenge for chemical genetics. We report an approach for target identification and protein discovery based on functional suppression of chemical inhibition in vitro. We discovered pirl1, an inhibitor of actin assembly, in a screen conducted with cytoplasmic extracts. Pirl1 was used to partially inhibit actin assembly in the same assay, and concentrated biochemical fractions of cytoplasmic extracts were added to find activities that suppressed pirl1 inhibition. Two activities were detected, separately purified, and identified as Arp2/3 complex and Cdc42/RhoGDI complex, both known regulators of actin assembly. We show that pirl1 directly inhibits activation of Cdc42/RhoGDI, but that Arp2/3 complex represents a downstream suppressor. This work introduces a general method for using low-micromolar chemical inhibitors to identify both inhibitor targets and other components of a signaling pathway.     

Efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of 1-(1H-indol-1-yl)-2-phenyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ols as antifungal agents

New conazole antifungals, in the series of triazole alcohols 23a-d and 24a-e incorporating an indole moiety substituted at 5-position by halogens, a cyano or 4-methoxyphenyl group, have been synthesized by ring opening of corresponding oxiranes 15 and 16. These dihalogeno intermediates and their congeneers could be prepared in high yields by Corey-Chaykovsky reaction under microwave irradiation.     

A complexomic study of Escherichia coli using two-dimensional blue native/SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Study of the complexome - all the protein complexes of the cell - is essential for a better understanding and more global vision of cell function. Using two-dimensional blue native/SDS-PAGE (2-D BN/SDS-PAGE) technology, the cytosolic and membrane protein complexes of Escherichia coli were separated. Then, the different partners of each protein complex were identified by LC-MS/MS. In this report, 306 protein complexes were separated and identified. Among these protein complexes, 50 heteromultimeric and 256 homomultimeric protein complexes were found. Among the 50 heteromultimeric protein complexes, 18 previously described protein complexes validate the technology. In this study, 109 new protein complexes were found, providing insight into the function of previously uncharacterized bacterial proteins.     

A chiral Ag-based catalyst for practical, efficient, and highly enantioselective additions of enolsilanes to alpha-ketoesters

A Ag-based chiral catalyst promotes efficient and highly enantioselective aldol additions of ketone-derived enolsilanes to alpha-ketoesters in the presence of a readily available amino acid-based ligand and commercially available AgF2. alpha-Ketoester substrates may bear alkyl, alkenyl, and aryl substituents; reactions proceed to >98% conversion to afford the desired tertiary alcohols in 61->98% isolated yield and 60-96% ee. In contrast to previously reported approaches, highest enantioselectivities are observed with sterically demanding substrates, and reactions can be carried out in undistilled solvent, in air with as little as 1 mol % catalyst.     

Synthesis and characterization of octa- and hexanuclear polyoxomolybdate wheels: role of the inorganic template and of the counterion

Eight new compounds based on [O3PCH2PO3]4- ligands and {MoV2O4} dimeric units have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Octanuclear wheels encapsulating various guests have been isolated with different counterions. With NH4+, a single wheel was obtained, as expected, with the planar CO32- guest, (NH4)12[(MoV2O4)4(O3PCH2PO3)4(CO3)2].24H2O (1a), while with the pyramidal SO32- guest, only the syn isomer (NH4)12[(MoV2O4)4(O3PCH2PO3)4(SO3)2].26H2O (2a) was characterized. The corresponding anti isomer was obtained with Na+ as counterions, Na12[(MoV2O4)4(O3PCH2PO3)4(SO3)2]39H2O (2b), and with mixed Na+ and NH4(+) counterions, Na+(NH4)11[(MoV2O4)4(O3PCH2PO3)4(SO3)2].13H2O (2d). With [O3PCH2PO3]4- extra ligands, the octanuclear wheel Li12(NH4)2[(MoV2O4)4(O3PCH2PO3)4(HO3PCH2PO3)2].31H2O (4a) was isolated with Li+ and NH4+ counterions and Li14[(MoV2O4)4(O3PCH2PO3)4(HO3PCH2PO3)2].34H2O (4c) as a pure Li+ salt. A new rectangular anion, formed by connecting two MoV dimers and two MoVI octahedra via methylenediphosphonato ligands with NH4+ as counterions, (NH4)10[(MoV2O4)2(MoVIO3)2(O3PCH2PO3)2(HO3PCH2PO3)2].15H2)O (3a), and Li9(NH4)2Cl[(MoV2O4)2(MoVIO3)2(O3PCH2PO3)2]. 22H2O (3d) as a mixed NH4+ and Li+ salt have also been synthesized. The structural characterization of the compounds, combined with a study of their behavior in solution, investigated by 31P NMR, has allowed a discussion on the influence of the counterions on the structure of the anions and their stability. Density functional theory calculations carried out on both isomers of the [(MoV2O4)4(O3PCH2PO3)4(SO3)2]12- anion (2), either assumed isolated or embedded in a continuum solvent model, suggest that the anti form is favored by approximately 2 kcal mol(-1). Explicit insertion of two solvated counterions in the molecular cavity reverses this energy difference and reduces it to less than 1 kcal mol(-1), therefore accounting for the observed structural versatility.     

High-power laser with Nd:YAG single-crystal fiber grown by the micro-pulling-down technique

We present optical characterization and laser results achieved with single-crystal fibers directly grown by the micro-pulling-down technique. We investigate the spectroscopic and optical quality of the fiber, and we present the first laser results. We achieved a cw laser power of 10 W at 1064 nm for an incident pump power of 60 W at 808 nm and 360 kW peak power for 12 ns pulses at 1 kHz in the Q-switched regime. It is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest laser power ever achieved with directly grown single-crystal fibers.     

Light‐Responsive Block Copolymers

Stimuli‐responsive polymers are the subject of intense research because they are able to show responses to various environmental changes. Among those stimuli, light has attracted much attention since it can be localized in time and space and it can also be triggered from outside of the system. In this paper, we review light‐responsive block copolymers (LRBCs) that combine characteristic features of block copolymers, e.g., self‐assembly behavior, and light‐responsive systems. The different photo‐responsive moieties that have been incorporated so far in block copolymers as well as the proposed applications are discussed.

     

On a Lagrangian formulation of gravitoelectromagnetism

We examine a Lagrangian formulation of gravity based on an approach analogous to electromagnetism, called Gravitoelectromagnetism (GEM). The gravitational analogue of the electromagnetic field tensor is a three-index tensor, \({\mathcal {F}_{\mu\nu\lambda}}\), defined in terms of a two-index gravitoelectromagnetic potential, \({\mathcal {A}_{\mu\nu}}\). The energy-momentum tensor is derived and is symmetric. We construct a Lagrangian which allows us to describe interactions between fermions, photons and gravitons. We calculate transition amplitudes of various processes involving gravitons: gravitational Møller scattering, gravitational Compton scattering, and the graviton photoproduction.