A new strategy for the improvement of photophysical properties in ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes. Synthesis and photophysical and electrochemical characterization of six mononuclear ruthenium(II) bisterpyridine-type complexes

The synthesis and characterization of six ruthenium(II) bistridentate polypyridyl complexes is described. These were designed on the basis of a new approach to increase the excited-state lifetime of ruthenium(II) bisterpyridine-type complexes. By the use of a bipyridylpyridyl methane ligand in place of terpyridine, the coordination environment of the metal ion becomes nearly octahedral and the rate of deactivation via ligand-field (i.e., metal-centered) states was reduced as shown by temperature-dependent emission lifetime studies. Still, the possibility to make quasi-linear donor-ruthenium-acceptor triads is maintained in the complexes. The most promising complex shows an excited-state lifetime of tau = 15 ns in alcohol solutions at room temperature, which should be compared to a lifetime of tau = 0.25 ns for [Ru(tpy)2]2+. The X-ray structure of the new complex indeed shows a more octahedral geometry than that of [Ru(tpy)2]2+. Most importantly, the high excited-state energy was retained, and thus, so was the potential high reactivity of the excited complex, which has not been the case with previously published strategies based on bistridentate complexes.     

A novel solid-phase synthesis of di- and trisubstituted N-acyl ureas

A novel, mild method for the synthesis of di- and trisubstituted N-acyl ureas on solid support is described. Addition of carboxylic acids to a resin-bound carbimidoyl chloride gave, initially, an O-acyl isourea which subsequently rearranged to the corresponding N-acyl urea. Trisubstituted N-acyl ureas were assembled on a Wang resin from a wide range of Fmoc amino acids, secondary amines and carboxylic acids. Acid mediated cleavage yielded the products in good yields and excellent purities. In addition, the regioselective synthesis of disubstituted N-acyl ureas is demonstrated with four examples.     

The direct catalytic asymmetric alpha-aminooxylation reaction: development of stereoselective routes to 1,2-diols and 1,2-amino alcohols and density functional calculations

Proline-catalyzed direct asymmetric alpha-aminooxylation of ketones and aldehydes is described. The proline-catalyzed reactions between unmodified ketones or aldehydes and nitrosobenzene proceeded with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. In all cases tested, the corresponding products were isolated with >95 % ees. Methyl alkyl ketones were regiospecifically oxidized at the methylene carbon atom to afford enantiomerically pure alpha-aminooxylated ketones. In addition, cyclic ketones could be alpha,alpha'-dioxidized with remarkably high selectivity, furnishing the corresponding diaminooxylated ketones with >99 % ees. The reaction mechanism of the proline-catalyzed direct asymmetric alpha-aminooxylation was investigated, and we performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations in order to investigate the nature of the plausible transition states further. We also screened other organocatalysts for the asymmetric alpha-oxidation reaction and found that several proline derivatives were also able to catalyze the transformation with excellent enantioselectivities. Moreover, stereoselective routes for the synthesis of monoprotected vicinal diols and hydroxyketones were found. In addition, short routes for the direct preparation of enantiomerically pure epoxides and 1,2-amino alcohols are presented. The direct catalytic alpha-oxidation is also a novel route for the stereoselective preparation of beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists.     

Employing the simple monosilylcopper reagent,Li[PhMe2SiCuI], in 1,4-addition reactions

Conjugate addition reactions using the simple Li[PhMe2SiCuI] reagent to a variety of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is described; dimethyl sulfide from the purification of CuI plays a key role for very high yields as well as high stereoselectivities in the formation of beta-silyl carbonyl compounds.     

Head-to-backbone cyclization of peptides on solid support by nucleophilic aromatic substitution

A new versatile synthetic route is presented for the cyclization of tripeptides on solid support using nucleophilic aromatic substitution in the cyclization step. Identification of all conformers within a limit of 3 kcal/mol from the identified global minimum conformations by Monte Carlo conformational searching reveals that five out of six synthesized compounds have well-defined peptide backbone conformational properties. This was determined by clustering the identified conformers against a filter of seven to nine torsion angles in the peptide backbone. Thus, the results meet our goal to find synthetic routes to peptides that are conformationally sufficiently locked to serve as convenient leads for further development of pharmacophoric models. The strategy is based on Fmoc-peptide chemistry on a N-aminoethyl-substituted glycine bound to the commercially available Rink amide PS-resin. After deprotection of the N-terminus of the tripeptide, it is acylated with a fluoronitrobenzoic acid. Subsequently, a Boc group on the N-bound aminoethyl substituent is selectively deprotected allowing cyclization from the head (N-terminus) to the backbone substituent, thereby leading to the desired cyclized tripeptides. A number of representative examples of peptides cyclized by this method have been synthesized and characterized by NMR. Protecting groups that allow the incorporation of side chain functionalized amino acids have been found. Thus, the route provides access to generic libraries of conformationally restricted peptide sequences expressing a range of proteinogenic pharmacophores.     

Chemical characterisation of different separation media based on agarose by static time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

In this paper, the novel application of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) for qualitative and semi-quantitative investigation of the surface chemistry of separation media based on beaded agarose is reported. Five different media were studied: DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow, Q Sepharose Fast Flow, SP Sepharose Fast Flow, Phenyl Sepharose Fast Flow at ligand densities between 7 and 33% (w/w) and the base matrix Sepharose 6 Fast Flow. The obtained TOF-SIMS spectra reveal significant chemical information regarding the ligands (DEAE, Q, SP and Phenyl) which are covalently attached to the agarose-based matrix Sepharose 6 Fast Flow. For the anion-exchange media (DEAE and Q Sepharose Fast Flow), the positive TOF-SIMS spectra yielded several strong characteristic fragment peaks from the amine ligands. Structural information was obtained, e.g. from the peak at m/z 173.20, originating from the ion structure [(C2H5)2NCH2CH2NH(C2H5)2l+, which shows that the ligand in DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow is composed of both tertiary and quaternary amines. The positive spectrum of Phenyl Sepharose Fast Flow contained major fragments both from the base matrix and the ligand. The cation-exchanger (SP Sepharose Fast Flow) gave rise to a positive spectrum resembling that of the base matrix (Sepharose 6 Fast Flow) but with a different intensity pattern of the matrix fragments. In addition, peaks with low intensity at m/z 109.94, 125.94 and 139.95 corresponding to Na2SO2+, Na2SO3+ and Na2SO3CH2+, respectively, were observed. The positive TOF-SIMS spectrum of Sepharose 6 Fast Flow contains a large number of fragments in the mass range up to m/z 200 identified as CxHyOz and CxHy structures. The results clearly show that positive TOF-SIMS spectra of different media based on Sepharose 6 Fast Flow are strongly influenced by the ligand coupled to the matrix. The negative TOF-SIMS spectra contained several ligand-specific, characteristic peaks for the cation-exchanger, having sulphonate as the ion-exchange group. Negative fragments such as S-, SO-, SO2-, SO3-, C2H3SO3-, C3H5SO3- and OC3H5SO3- were observed. Phenyl Sepharose Fast Flow, which has an uncharged group (Phenyl) coupled to the agarose matrix yielded one ligand-related peak corresponding to the C6H5O- fragment. DEAE and Q ligands could only be identified by the appearance of the fragments CN- and CNO- in the negative spectrum. However, a strong peak corresponding to the counter ion (Cl-) was observed. TOF-SIMS analysis can also be used for the investigation of residues from the coupling procedure that bonds the ligands to the matrix. One example is the observation of bromine peaks in the negative spectrum of Q Sepharose Fast Flow. Furthermore, it has also been shown that different ligand concentrations of Phenyl Sepharose Fast Flow can easily be detected by TOF-SIMS analysis. Information regarding the difference between the ligand density on the surface of the beads and in the bulk can also be obtained. However, spectra registered on the outermost surface and on the pore surface (crushed beads) of DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow clearly show that the agarose and the DEAE groups are homogeneously distributed in the beads.     

Two- and three dimensional combinatorial chemistry from multicomponent Grignard reagents

The conjugate addition of five component Grignard reagents to methyl ecgonidine was used to create libraries of 3-substituted tropanes. By variation in the reagent combination in 10 such 5-membered sublibraries, a library of 25 compounds was made in a two-dimensional format. Screening of this library led to identification of two new potent monoamine transporter ligands that were subsequently synthesized. The most potent compound in this library was (1R,2S,3S,5S)-3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester, which inhibited dopamine transporter (hDAT) binding and reuptake with a K(i) of 26 and 20 nM, respectively. The conjugate addition to a 5-membered library of methyl ecgonidine analogues with variation of nitrogen substituent was also carried out and used to create 15 sublibraries of 25 compounds, which displayed 125 compounds in a three-dimensional format. From this 3D library, several potent dopamine transport inhibitors were likewise identified and synthesized. The most potent hDAT inhibitor discovered was (1R,2S,3S,5S)-3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-8-pentyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester. The study also showed that 3-alkyltropanes were poor inhibitors of monoamine transporters.     

The use of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for quantitative analysis of oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone in Ringer solution, rat plasma and rat brain tissue

Sensitive and reproducible methods for the determination of oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone in Ringer solution, rat plasma and rat brain tissue by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry are described. Deuterated analogs of the substances were used as internal standards. Samples in Ringer solution were analyzed by direct injection of 10 microL Ringer solution diluted by an equal volume of water. The limit of quantification was 0.5 ng/mL and the method was linear in the range of 0.5-150 ng/mL for all substances. To analyze oxycodone and oxymorphone in rat plasma, 50 microL of plasma were precipitated with acetonitrile, and the supernatant was directly injected onto the column. To analyze oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone in rat plasma, 100 microL of rat plasma were subjected to a C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure, before reconstituting in mobile phase and injection onto the column. For both methods the limit of quantification in rat plasma was 0.5 ng/mL and the methods were linear in the range of 0.5-250 ng/mL for all substances. To analyze the content of oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone in rat brain tissue, 100 microL of the brain homogenate supernatant were subjected to a C18 SPE procedure. The limit of quantification of oxycodone was 20 ng/g brain, and for oxymorphone and noroxycodone 4 ng/g brain, and the method was linear in the range of 20-1000 ng/g brain for oxycodone and 4-1000 ng/g brain for oxymorphone and noroxycodone. All methods utilized a mobile phase of 5 mM ammonium acetate in 45% acetonitrile, and a SB-CN column was used for separation. The total run time of all methods was 9 min. The intra-day precision and accuracy were <11.3% and <+/-14.9%, respectively, and the inter-day precision and accuracy were <14.9% and <+/-6.5%, respectively, for all the concentrations and matrices described.     

Cyclodextrins containing an acetone bridge. Synthesis and study as epoxidation catalysts

Three cyclodextrine derivatives (6A,6D-di-O-(prop-2-one-1,3-dienyl)-alpha-cyclodextrin (1), 6-O-(prop-2-one-1-yl)-alpha-cyclodextrin (2) and 6A,6D-di-O-(prop-2-one-1,3-dienyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (3)) were synthesised and investigated as epoxidation catalysts. The three compounds were synthesised from the corresponding perbenzylated cyclodextrins which were mono- or didebenzylated in the 6-position using Sina?'s method. Reaction with NaH and methallyl chloride in the case of 2, or methallyl dichloride in the case of 1 and 3, followed by dihydroxylation, periodate cleavage and protection group removal gave the target compounds. All three compounds catalysed, in the presence of oxone, the epoxidation of a series of alkenes. Epoxidation was compared to the reaction catalysed by simple ketones and inhibition was studied.