A facile one-pot highly chemo- and regioselective synthesis of the novel heterocyclic system indolo[1,2-c]azolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-8,10-dione

A series of novel indolo[1,2-c]azolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-8,10-diones was obtained by a multi-component reaction between cyclic 1,3-diketones, α-aminoazoles, and glyoxal. The unexpected cyclization process was established by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements.     

Site-specific N-glycosylation analysis: matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectral signatures for recognition and identification of glycopeptides

The identification of glycosylation sites in proteins is often possible through a combination of proteolytic digestion, separation, mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem MS (MS/MS). Liquid chromatography (LC) in combination with MS/MS has been a reliable method for detecting glycopeptides in digestion mixtures, and for assigning glycosylation sites and glycopeptide sequences. Direct interfacing of LC with MS relies on electrospray ionization, which produces ions with two, three or four charges for most proteolytic peptides and glycopeptides. MS/MS spectra of such glycopeptide ions often lead to ambiguous interpretation if deconvolution to the singly charged level is not used. In contrast, the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) technique usually produces singly charged peptide and glycopeptide ions. These ions require an extended m/z range, as provided by the quadrupole-quadrupole time-of-flight (QqTOF) instrument used in these experiments, but the main advantages of studying singly charged ions are the simplicity and consistency of the MS/MS spectra. A first aim of the present study is to develop methods to recognize and use glycopeptide [M+H]+ ions as precursors for MS/MS, and thus for glycopeptide/glycoprotein identification as part of wider proteomics studies. Secondly, this article aims at demonstrating the usefulness of MALDI-MS/MS spectra of N-glycopeptides. Mixtures of diverse types of proteins, obtained commercially, were prepared and subjected to reduction, alkylation and tryptic digestion. Micro-column reversed-phase separation allowed deposition of several fractions on MALDI plates, followed by MS and MS/MS analysis of all peptides. Glycopeptide fractions were identified after MS by their specific m/z spacing patterns (162, 203, 291 u) between glycoforms, and then analyzed by MS/MS. In most cases, MS/MS spectra of [M+H]+ ions of glycopeptides featured peaks useful for determining sugar composition, peptide sequence, and thus probable glycosylation site. Peptide-related product ions could be used in database search procedures and allowed the identification of the glycoproteins.     

Macroscopic order and electro-optic response of dipolar chromophore-polymer materials.

This Minireview considers the key factors that govern the organization of macroscopic polarization in nonlinear optical systems obtained by electric poling of organic dipolar chromophores dissolved in polymer matrices. The macroscopic electric polarization depends on the thermodynamic state of the dipole system. The dependence of the paraelectric and antiferroelectric states of dipolar chromophores on the chromophore concentration and the strength of the poling field is discussed. Phase transitions between the para- and antiferroelectric states are investigated within the limits of the Ising and isotropic models for the chromophore dipoles and are considered for varying chromophore concentration, poling field strength, and macroscopic shape of the sample used for poling. The macroscopic polarization and electro-optic coefficient of the material change drastically upon phase transition. The theories are compared with the experimental data on the electro-optic coefficient dependence on the chromophore concentration. The isotropic dipole model shows excellent agreement with experiment for the chromophore systems most commonly used in nonlinear optics.     

Efficient water-soluble catalytic system RhI-CAP for biphasic hydroformylation of olefins

Rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of styrene and aliphatic olefins under biphasic conditions in the presence of watersoluble 1,4,7-triaza-9-phosphatricyclo[5.3.2.1^4,9]tridecane (CAP) chemoselectively affords aldehydes. Multiple catalyst reuse without loss in performance is demonstrated.     

CF3-substituted 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the Biginelli reaction promoted by chlorotrimethylsilane

Trifluoromethyl-1,3-diones were investigated as reactants in the Biginelli reaction promoted by Me₃SiCl. The dependence of the reaction pathway on the nature of substituent at the α-position to the carbonyl group was established. A set of new CF₃-containing dihydropyrimidine(thi)one derivatives was obtained. A number of novel 5-CF₃CO dihydropyrimidine(thi)ones were synthesized.     

Conjugation and hyperconjugation in conformational analysis of cyclohexene derivatives containing an exocyclic double bond

The equilibrium geometry, ring-inversion pathway barriers for analogues of cyclohexene with an exocyclic double bond have been studied using the MP2/6-311 G(d,p) level of theory. The equilibrium conformation of the ring depends on conjugation between the endocyclic and exocyclic double bonds. Interactions between conjugated double bonds include the pi-pi conjugation and interactions between the lone pair of the heteroatom of the exocyclic double bond and the sigma-antibonding orbital of the endocyclic single bond. In the case of the tetrahydrocycles with double bonds separated by a methylene group the balance between the pi --> sigma* hyperconjugation interactions between the exocyclic double bond and the neighboring methylene group and the n --> sigma* interaction between the lone pair of the heteroatom and the sigma-antibonding orbitals of the C(sp(2))-C(sp(3)) bond determine the geometrical parameters of the ring. The character of the potential-energy surface around the saddle point depends on the position of the exocyclic double bond and the orientation of the hydrogen atom attached to the heteroatom of the V group of the periodic table in the tetrahydrocycles with double bonds separated by a methylene group.     

Regioselective synthesis of 4-aryl-3,4-dihydro-1,3,5-triazino[2,1-<Emphasis Type=Italic>a</Emphasis>]isoindol-2-ones

The condensation of binucleophilic 3-amino-1-arylimino-1H-isoindoles with bifunctional 1-chloro-benzylisocyanates occurs regioselectively resulting in 3,4-dihydro-1,3,5-triazino[2,1-a]isoindol-2-one derivatives. The structures of the synthesized compounds were unambiguously established by NOE experiments. Correspondence: Olha V. Hordiyenko, Chemistry Department, Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, 01033 Kyiv, Ukraine.     

The molecular structure, bonding, and energetics of oxovanadium phthalocyanine: an experimental and computational study

A mass spectrometric study of saturated vapor over oxovanadium phthalocyanine showed the thermal stability and monomeric vapor composition of this compound. The molecular structure of oxovanadium phthalocyanine (VOPc) was determined using a combination of gas-phase electron diffraction (GED), mass spectrometry, and quantum chemical calculations. According to GED, the VOPc molecule has C_4v symmetry. Experimental structural parameters are in good agreement with the parameters obtained by UB3LYP/cc-pVTZ calculations. The vanadium atom has a five-coordinated square-pyramidal geometry, being shifted above the plane of the four isoindole nitrogen atoms by 0.576(14) Å. The parameters of the square pyramid VN₄ are r _h1(V–N) = 2.048(7) Å, r _h1(N···N) = 2.780(12) Å. The vanadium–oxygen bond length is r _h1(V–O) = 1.584(11) Å. NBO analysis shows polar character of coordination bonds with significant covalent contribution and pronounced direct donation. X-ray crystallography and GED give different coordination bond lengths according to the different physical meaning of the parameters obtained by these methods. The enthalpy of sublimation [?H _s ^o (593–678 K)] is 53.3 ± 0.8 kcal/mol.     

Magneto-mechanical detection of nucleic acids and telomerase activity in cancer cells

The ultra-sensitive magneto-mechanical detection of DNA, single-base-mismatches in nucleic acids, and the assay of telomerase activity are accomplished by monitoring the magnetically induced deflection of a cantilever functionalized with magnetic beads associated with the biosensing interface. The analyzed M13phi DNA hybridized with the nucleic acid-functionalized magnetic beads is replicated in the presence of dNTPs that include biotin-labeled dUTP. The resulting beads are attached to an avidin-coated cantilever, and the modified cantilever is deflected by an external magnetic field. Similarly, telomerization of nucleic acid-modified magnetic beads in the presence of dNTPs, biotin-labeled dUTP, and telomerase from cancer cell extracts and the subsequent association of the magnetic beads to the cantilever surface results in the lever deflection by an external magnetic field. M13phi DNA is sensed with a sensitivity limit of 7.1 x 10(-20) M by the magneto-mechanical detection method.