Hydrogen-bonded networks through second-sphere coordination

The reaction of 4, 7-phenanthroline (1) with aqueous transitionmetal complexes [Mn(H2O)6][NO3]2, [Co(H2O)6][NO3]2, [Ni(H2O)6[NO3]2, [Mn(H2O)6][ClO4]2, and [Co(H2O)6][ClO4]2 does not produce coordination complexes between these metal cations and the N-donor ligand as expected. Instead, supramolecular hydrogenbonded networks are formed between the nitrogen donor atoms of 4, 7-phenanthroline and the OH groups of coordinated water molecules: M-O-H...N interactions. This motif of second-sphere coordination for 1 can be exploited as a tool for crystal engineering. As a demonstration of the generality of this new interaction as a supramolecular building block, five X-ray crystal structures are reported that utilise this hydrogen bonding scheme; [Co(H2O)4(NO3)2].(1)2 (2a), [Co(MeCN)2(H2O)4][ClO4]2.(1)2 (2b), [Ni(H2O)4(NO3)2].(1)2 (3a), [Mn(H2O)4(NO3)2].(1)2 (4a), and [Mn(H2O)6][ClO4]2.(1)(4).4H2O (4b). Each network involves complete saturation of the hydrogen-bond donor sets between the aqua complex and 1 using primarily M-O-H...N(1) and M-O-H...O(anion), interactions. Thermogravimteric analysis shows these materials to have stabililities similar to coordination polymers involving metal-ligand bonds; this demonstrates that second-sphere hydrogen bonding has potential for the construction of polymeric metal-containing materials.     

Formamidino and carbamoyl-formamidino complexes of manganese and rhenium carbonyls

Lithio-1,3-diarylformamidines undergo reaction with the monomeric and dimeric carbonyl chlorides of manganese and rhenium, [M(CO)₅Cl] and [M(CO)₄Cl₂] to yield respectively the carbamoyl-formamidino [M(CO)₄-CON(R)CHNR] and the formamidino [M(CO)₄RNCHNR] types of complex. The carbamoyl complexes undergo decarbonylation to produce the formamidino complexes in low yield.     

A novel anthracenyl tagged protecting group for "phase-switching" applications in parallel synthesis

A new "phase-switching" protecting group 1 that facilitates the parallel synthesis of carboxylic acids, esters, and carboxamides is described. Its use permits chemistries to be performed in solution, which may be conveniently monitored with conventional analytical techniques, followed by subsequent immobilization onto a solid-phase support to aid compound purification. Carboxylic acids, esters, and carboxamides are then cleaved from the solid support following activation of the "safety-catch" and treatment with the desired nucleophile.     

Structure and dynamics of metallomacrocycles: recognition of zinc xylyl-bicyclam by an HIV coreceptor

As platforms for the design of metal-based therapeutic and diagnostic agents, macrocycles are rigid enough to provide strong metal binding sites and orient functional groups stereoselectively, yet flexible enough to accommodate structural changes required for induced-fit recognition of biological targets. We consider the recognition of the Zn(II) complex of the bis-tetraazamacrocycle xylyl-bicyclam, a potent anti-HIV agent, by the coreceptor CXCR4, a G-protein-coupled receptor used by HIV for membrane fusion and cell entry. NMR studies show that the macrocycles of Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam perchlorate exist in aqueous solution as two major configurations, trans-I (nitrogen chirality R,S,R,S), and trans-III (S,S,R,R). Acetate addition induced a major structural change. X-ray crystallography shows that the acetate complex contains the unusual cis-V cyclam configuration (R,R,R,R and folded) with bidentate coordination of acetate to Zn(II) plus second-coordination-sphere double H-bond formation between diagonal NH protons on the opposite cyclam face and acetate carboxylate oxygens. Detailed 1D and 2D NMR studies show that the major configuration of Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam acetate in aqueous solution is cis-V/trans-I. Molecular modeling shows that an analogous cis-V site can be formed when Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam binds to CXCR4, involving the carboxylate groups of Asp262 (Zn(II) coordination) and Glu288 (double H-bonding). The second cyclam can adopt the trans-I (or trans-III) configuration with Zn(II) binding to Asp171. These interactions are consistent with the known structure-activity relationships for bicyclam anti-HIV activity and receptor mutation. Consideration of the anti-HIV activity of xylyl-bicyclam complexes of other metal ions suggests that affinity for carboxylates, configurational flexibility, and kinetic factors may all play roles in receptor recognition. For example, Pd(II) cyclam complexes interact only weakly with axial ligands and are inflexible and inactive, whereas Co(III) cyclams bind carboxylates strongly, are configurationally flexible, and yet have low activity. Our findings should aid the design of new generations of active macrocycles including highly specific chemokine receptor antagonists.     

Treatment of zinc-contaminated water using a multistage ferrihydrite sorption system

Previous studies demonstrated the environmental and economic benefits of treating lead(II)-contaminated water streams with ferrihydrite in multiple equilibrium sorption stages. In this work, multistage ferrihydrite sorption systems were evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing single-solute zinc(II) (Zn(II)) concentrations in contaminated water streams to very low levels. As for lead(II) (Pb(II)), experimental data and modeling results indicate that a multistage sorption system can significantly reduce Zn(II) effluent concentrations for the same total amount of sorbent or, alternatively, dramatically lower total sorbent consumption for the same effluent Zn(II) concentration. Compared to Pb(II), however, Zn(II) removal requires on the order of 10 times more sorbent to achieve the same target effluent concentration for the same pH and number of stages. Model predictions were made using a steady-state, multistage, equilibrium adsorber model that was previously developed for and integrated into OLI Systems' Environmental Simulation Program (ESP). The modified triple-layer model was used to simulate Zn(II) surface-liquid equilibria within the adsorber model. Engineering screening evaluations again indicate that a 2- to 3-stage sorption process can provide significant economic savings when compared to a 1-stage process operating with the same target effluent Zn(II) concentration. Additional equilibrium stages beyond 2 or 3 provide diminishing economic returns. The major economic driver for multiple contacting stages is reduced capital investment and operating costs for sludge handling, dewatering, and disposal.     

One-carbon chain extension of esters to alpha-chloroketones: a safer route without diazomethane

The reaction of a variety of methyl esters with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide at 0-25 degrees C affords the chain-extended beta-keto dimethylsulfoxonium ylides. Subsequent treatment with hydrogen chloride in THF proceeds with loss of DMSO to afford the corresponding alpha-chloroketones. This sequence has been utilized to convert the methyl esters of CBZ-protected alanine and valine to the anti N-protected alpha-amino epoxides, which are important pharmaceutical intermediates. When the same protocol is applied to BOC-protected phenylalanine methyl ester, epimerization occurs so that the use of a more reactive aryl ester is required. This chemistry provides a practical route to alpha-chloroketones that avoids the use of toxic and explosive diazomethane.     

Femtosecond study of Cu(H(2)O) dynamics

The short-time nuclear dynamics of Cu(H(2)O) is investigated using femtosecond photodetachment-photoionization spectroscopy and time-dependent quantum wave packet calculations. The Cu(H(2)O) dynamics is initiated in the electronic ground state of the complex by electron photodetachment from the Cu(-)(H(2)O) complex, where hydrogen atoms are oriented toward Cu. Several time-resolved resonant multiphoton ionization schemes are used to probe the ensuing reorientation and dissociation. Immediately following photodetachment, the neutral complex is far from its minimum energy geometry and possesses an internal energy comparable to the Cu-H(2)O dissociation energy and undergoes both large-amplitude H(2)O motion and dissociation. Dissociation is observed to occur on three distinct time scales: 0.6, 8, and 100 ps. These results are compared to the results of time-dependent J=0 wave packet calculations, propagating the initial anion vibrational wave functions on the ground-state potential of the neutral complex. An excellent agreement is obtained between the experimental results and the ionization signals derived from the calculated probability amplitudes. Related experiments and calculations are carried out on the Cu(D(2)O) complex, with results very similar to those of Cu(H(2)O).     

Stereoselective total syntheses and reassignment of stereochemistry of the freshwater cyanobacterial hepatotoxins cylindrospermopsin and 7-epicylindrospermopsin

A stereoselective total synthesis of the structure 1 proposed for the freshwater cyanobacterial heptatotoxin cylindrospermopsin has been accomplished in approximately 30 operations starting from commercially available 4-methoxypyridine. Utilizing methodology developed by Comins, the tetrasubstituted piperidine A-ring unit of the hepatotoxin was efficiently constructed. The two remaining stereocenters in the natural product were then set by a stereospecific intramolecular N-sulfinylurea Diels-Alder cyclization/Grignard ring opening/allylic sulfoxide [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement sequence previously developed in these laboratories, leading to key intermediate 29. The stereochemical assignment of alcohol 29, which contains all six of the stereogenic centers of the natural product, was confirmed by an X-ray crystal structure determination of a derivative. Installation of the D-ring uracil moiety was effected by using our new methodology developed for this purpose, and construction of the C-ring guanidine completed the total synthesis of racemic structure 1. However, the (1)H NMR data for this compound do not match that of cylindrospermopsin, but instead agree with the data reported for 7-epicylindrospermopsin, a minor toxic metabolite that co-occurs with cylindrospermopsin. Therefore, we propose a revision of the stereochemical assignments of these natural products such that cylindrospermopsin is now represented as structure 2 and 7-epicylindrospermopsin is 1. This reassignment was further confirmed by Mitsunobu inversion of the C-7 alcohol 51 to epimer 52, and conversion of this compound to tetracyclic diol 57, which has previously been transformed to cylindrospermopsin (2).     

Selective cleavage of P-N bonds and the conversion of rhodium N-pyrrolyl phosphine complexes into diphosphoxane-bridged dimers

Rhodium(I) complexes trans-[RhCl(CO)(PR(2)[NC(4)H(3)C(O)Me-2])(2)] (R = Ph, NC(4)H(4)) react with water to give the diphosphoxane-bridged dimers [Rh(2)Cl(2)(CO)(2)(mu-PR(2)OPR(2))(2)] following cleavage of the P-N bonds to the 2-acetyl-N-pyrrolyl groups. The two dimers have been crystallographically characterized and show a number of structural differences, with the PPh(2)OPPh(2) compound possessing semibridging chloride and carbonyl ligands whereas the P(NC(4)H(4))(2)OP(NC(4)H(4))(2) compound contains only terminal chlorides and carbonyls. No evidence for cleavage of the P-N bonds involving the unfunctionalized N-pyrrolyl groups in trans-[RhCl(CO)(P[NC(4)H(4)](2)[NC(4)H(3)C(O)Me-2])(2)] was observed.     

Synthesis of a simplified bryostatin C-ring analogue that binds to the CRD2 of human PKC-alpha and construction of a novel BC-analogue by an unusual Julia olefination process

[structure: see text] The synthesis of two truncated bryostatin analogues 2 and 3 is described. High-field NMR measurements on the C-ring analogue 3 in C(2)H(3)CN containing 25% (2)H(2)O have shown that it binds to the CRD2 of human PKC-alpha at virtually the same position as phorbol-13-acetate (PA) and bryostatin 1 (1). NMR titration studies have also revealed that 3 binds to the CRD2 with a potency similar in magnitude to PA but much less potently than 1.