Platinum-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation: Spectroscopic Evidence for an O-H-O Hydrogen-Bond Interaction between Substrate and Modifier

The mighty cinchonidine: A diastereomeric surface complex in the asymmetric hydrogenation of ketopantolactone on chirally modified Pt is monitored by in?situ ATR-IR spectroscopy, in combination with modulation excitation spectroscopy and phase-sensitive detection. Cinchonidine bound to the surface with its quinoline ring is shown to induce the chiral environment through a C9?O???H???O?C interaction.     

Peptide and peptidomimetic ligands for CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)

The development of novel peptide and peptidomimetic ligands for the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) as therapeutic agents for HIV-1 infection, cancer, and immune system diseases has grown over the last decade. In this perspective article, the design of CXCR4 agonists and antagonists from endogenous stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/CXCL12 and horseshoe crab-derived antimicrobial peptides and their therapeutic and diagnostic applications are described.     

Efficient synthesis of aminomethylated azaindoles and corresponding pyrrole-fused derivatives by copper-catalyzed domino multicomponent coupling and cyclization

Efficient methods for the synthesis of aminomethylated azaindole derivatives via domino copper-catalyzed multicomponent coupling and cyclization have been developed. Using various secondary amines and aldehydes, N-substituted 3-ethynyl-4-aminopyridine was converted to substituted azaindoles in moderate to excellent yields. By use of a 3,4-diaminopyridine derivative bearing two alkynyl groups, the corresponding pyrrole-fused azaindoles were synthesized by controlled stepwise cyclization.     

Concise synthesis and anti-HIV activity of pyrimido[1,2-c][1,3]benzothiazin-6-imines and related tricyclic heterocycles

3,4-Dihydro-2H,6H-pyrimido[1,2-c][1,3]benzothiazin-6-imine (PD 404182) is a virucidal heterocyclic compound active against various viruses, including HCV, HIV, and simian immunodeficiency virus. Using facile synthetic approaches that we developed for the synthesis of pyrimido[1,2-c][1,3]benzothiazin-6-imines and related tricyclic derivatives, the parallel structural optimizations of the central 1,3-thiazin-2-imine core, the benzene part, and the cyclic amidine part of PD 404182 were investigated. Replacement of the 6-6-6 pyrimido[1,2-c][1,3]benzothiazin-6-imine framework with 5-6-6 or 6-6-5 derivatives led to a significant loss of anti-HIV activity, and introduction of a hydrophobic group at the 9- or 10-positions improved the potency. In addition, we demonstrated that the PD 404182 derivative exerts anti-HIV effects at an early stage of viral infection.     

MNBA-mediated β-lactone formation: mechanistic studies and application for the asymmetric total synthesis of tetrahydrolipstatin

Various β-lactones were prepared from β-hydroxycarboxylic acids by intramolecular dehydration condensation using MNBA, an effective coupling reagent, along with a nucleophilic catalyst. The transition state that provides the desired 4-membered ring model system is disclosed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the structural features of the transition form are discussed. This method was successfully applied to the asymmetric total synthesis of tetrahydrolipstatin (THL), an antiobestic drug used in clinical treatment to inhibit the activity of pancreatic lipase.     

Palladium-catalyzed phosphinylthiolation of terminal alkynes

Phosphinylthiolation of terminal alkynes with Ph₂P(O)SBu or a related compound proceeds in the presence of a palladium–PEt₃ catalyst system. Activity and stereoselectivity are highly dependent on the nature of solvent, ethylbenzene, and n-hexanol (or t-amyl alcohol) being E- and Z-selective, respectively.     

CXCR4 Stimulates Macropinocytosis: Implications for Cellular Uptake of Arginine-Rich Cell-Penetrating Peptides and HIV

1. Download : Download high-res image (261KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Highlights? CXCR4 was identified as a receptor to stimulate cellular uptake of R12 peptide ? Interaction with R12 stimulates internalization of CXCR4 via macropinocytosis ? SDF-1α and HIV-1 gp120 protein also induce macropinocytosis ? Macropinocytic uptake of HIV-1 diminished the infection of host cells     

Active Site Models for the Cu(A) Site of Peptidylglycine α-Hydroxylating Monooxygenase and Dopamine β-Monooxygenase

A mononuclear copper(II) superoxo species has been invoked as the key reactive intermediate in aliphatic substrate hydroxylation by copper monooxygenases such as peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM), dopamine β-monooxygenase (DβM), and tyramine β-monooxygenase (TβM). We have recently developed a mononuclear copper(II) end-on superoxo complex using a N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]-1,5-diazacyclooctane tridentate ligand, the structure of which is similar to the four-coordinate distorted tetrahedral geometry of the copper-dioxygen adduct found in the oxy-form of PHM (Prigge, S. T.; Eipper, B. A.; Mains, R. E.; Amzel, L. M. Science2004, 304, 864-867). In this study, structures and physicochemical properties as well as reactivity of the copper(I) and copper(II) complexes supported by a series of tridentate ligands having the same N-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]-1,5-diazacyclooctane framework have been examined in detail to shed light on the chemistry dictated in the active sites of mononuclear copper monooxygenases. The ligand exhibits unique feature to stabilize the copper(I) complexes in a T-shape geometry and the copper(II) complexes in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. Low temperature oxygenation of the copper(I) complexes generated the mononuclear copper(II) end-on superoxo complexes, the structure and spin state of which have been further characterized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Detailed kinetic analysis on the O(2)-adduct formation reaction gave the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters providing mechanistic insights into the association and dissociation processes of O(2) to the copper complexes. The copper(II) end-on superoxo complex thus generated gradually decomposed to induce aliphatic ligand hydroxylation. Kinetic and DFT studies on the decomposition reaction have suggested that C-H bond abstraction occurs unimolecularly from the superoxo complex with subsequent rebound of the copper hydroperoxo species to generate the oxygenated product. The present results have indicated that a superoxo species having a four-coordinate distorted tetrahedral geometry could be reactive enough to induce the direct C-H bond activation of aliphatic substrates in the enzymatic systems.     

Molecular‐Complex Formation of Syndiotactic Polystyrene with Stable Radical Molecules

Summary: The formation of a molecular‐complex crystalline phase of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) that contains a stable nitroxide radical compound, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐N‐oxyl (TEMPO), is confirmed by IR and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Through a guest exchange procedure assisted by a plasticizing agent, the original guest (chloroform) contained in the starting clathrate phase is completely replaced by TEMPO. Although the conformational regularity of the sPS helices in the resultant crystalline phase that contains TEMPO is similar to that in the starting clathrate phase, the host lattice expands in the 010 direction. The guest TEMPO molecules exhibit a significantly broadened ESR signal because of their highly concentrated state in the complex crystalline phase.

Thermogravimetric measurement of a powder sample of the sPS/TEMPO complex.     

Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Tetrathiafulvalene Derivatives via Me(3)Al-Promoted Reactions of Organotin Compounds with Esters

Efficient synthetic methods for the construction of a wide variety of unsymmetrical tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs) via the Me(3)Al-promoted reactions of organotin thiolates or selenolates with esters are described. Reaction of tin thiolates (3a-c and 10) and selenolates (3d, 5, and 7) with esters (11a,b) in the presence of Me(3)Al as a Lewis acid gave dihydrotetrathiafulvalene derivatives (12, 14, 15, and 17-20) and 1,3-dithiane derivatives (13 and 16). In addition, the synthesis of diselenadithiafulvalene derivatives (25-28) could be accomplished by Me(3)Al-mediated reaction of tin thiolate (2a) or selenolates (3d and 5) with esters (22a, 22d, and 24). Furthermore, the application of the Me(3)Al-promoted reaction of tin thiolate (34) with esters (11a-b, 22a-d, and 35a-b) for the synthesis of unsymmetrical TTFs-fused donors enabled us to obtain various TTFs-fused systems (29-33) in short steps.