Asymmetric Synthesis of Unnatural Amino Acids and Tamsulosin Chiral Intermediate

An efficient and enantioselective hydrogenation of N-acetylamino phenyl acrylic acids was successfully developed by using ruthenium catalyst. This methodology is important in the field of pharmaceuticals and provides a new process for the preparation of unnatural amino acids and tamsulosin chiral intermediate.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource: Full experimental and spectral details.]     

Ligand release mechanisms and channels in histone deacetylases

Exploring the molecular channels of class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) with buried active sites are important to understand their structures and functionalities. In this work, we perform hybrid classical molecular dynamics and random acceleration molecular dynamics simulations to explore the B3N [i.e., (4‐(dimethylamino)N‐[7(hydroxyamino)‐7‐oxoheptyle] benzamide)] exit channels in the x‐ray crystal structures of HDAC3 and HDAC8 enzymes. Our simulations identify B3N release through four different channels in HDAC3 (denoted as A1, A2, B1, and B2) and HDAC8 (referred as A1, B1, B2, and B3) enzymes, among which egression through channel A1 is more predominant in both the enzymes. This mechanism is similar to ligand release in HDAC1 and HDAC2 described in our previous study and can be the fingerprint ligand release mechanisms in class I HDACs. Ligand release events through B channels, on the other hand, are different among HDAC3 and HDAC8, highlighting the significances of substituted residues in controlling the access to these channels This study reveals a novel aromatic gating mechanism elicited by TYR154‐TRP141‐TYR111 that controls the B3N access to all the B channels in HDAC8. The TRP141 in HDAC8 is substituted by LEU133 in HDAC3, which do not hinder the access to B channels in HDAC3. However, two hydrogen bonded barricades formed as ARG28‐GLY297‐GLY295‐GLY131 and TRP129‐ARG28‐ALA130‐LEU29‐TRP129 obstruct the B3N from exploring the B channels in HDAC3. The structural and dynamical characterizations of molecular channels and ligand unbinding mechanisms reported in this study provide novel structural insights and atomic level perspectives on HDAC3 and HDAC8 enzymes, thereby potentially aiding in the design of more specific HDAC inhibitors.Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Novel Copolymers of Styrene and Some Ring-substituted 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes

Novel copolymers of trisubstituted ethylene monomers, ring-substituted 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes, RC₆H₄CH = C(CN)2 (where R is 2-F, 2-CN, 3-CN, 4-CN, 3-C₆H₅O, 4-C₆H₅O, 2-C₆H₅CH₂O, 3-C₆H₅CH₂O, 4-C₆H₅CH₂O, 4-CH₃CO₂, 4-CH₃CONH, 4-(CH₃)₂N) and styrene were prepared by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r ₁) for the monomers is 4-(CH₃)₂N (3.35) > 4-C₆H₅CH₂O (3.1) > 2-C₆H₅CH₂O (1.77) > 3-C₆H₅CH₂O (1.72) > 4-C₆H₅O (1.70) > 4-CH₃CO₂ (1.58) > 2-F (1.11) > 3-C₆H₅O (0.90) > 3-CN (0.88) > 2-CN (0.86) > 4-CH₃CONH (0.84) > 4-CN (0.76). Relatively high T_g of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates a decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200–500°C range with residue (1–10% wt), which then decomposed in the 500–800°C range.     

Use of a Phosphonate Methyltransferase in the Identification of the Fosfazinomycin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster

Natural product discovery has been boosted by genome mining approaches, but compound purification is often still challenging. We report an enzymatic strategy for “stable isotope labeling of phosphonates in extract” (SILPE) that facilitates their purification. We used the phosphonate methyltransferase DhpI involved in dehydrophos biosynthesis to methylate a variety of phosphonate natural products in crude spent medium with a mixture of labeled and unlabeled S‐adenosyl methionine. Mass‐guided fractionation then allowed straightforward purification. We illustrate its utility by purifying a phosphonate that led to the identification of the fosfazinomycin biosynthetic gene cluster. This unusual natural product contains a hydrazide linker between a carboxylic acid and a phosphonic acid. Bioinformatic analysis of the gene cluster provides insights into how such a structure might be assembled.     

Solid‐Phase Incorporation of an ATRP Initiator for Polymer–DNA Biohybrids

The combination of polymers with nucleic acids leads to materials with significantly advanced properties. To obviate the necessity and complexity of conjugating two macromolecules, a polymer initiator is described that can be directly covalently linked to DNA during solid‐phase synthesis. Polymer can then be grown from the DNA bound initiator, both in solution after the DNA‐initiator is released from the solid support as well as directly on the solid support, simplifying purification. The resulting polymer‐DNA hybrids were examined by chromatography and fluorescence methods that attested to the integrity of hybrids and the DNA. The ability to use DNA‐based supports expands the range of readily available molecules that can be used with the initiator, as exemplified by direct synthesis of a biotin polymer hybrid on solid‐support. This method expands the accessibility and range of advanced polymer biohybrid materials.     

Europium(III) DOTA-derivatives having ketone donor pendant arms display dramatically slower water exchange

A series of new 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-derivatives having a combination of amide and ketone donor groups as side-arms were prepared, and their complexes with europium(III) studied in detail by high resolution NMR spectroscopy. The chemical shift of the Eu(3+)-bound water resonance, the chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) characteristics of the complexes, and the bound water residence lifetimes (τ(m)) were found to vary dramatically with the chemical structure of the side-arms. Substitution of ketone oxygen donor atoms for amide oxygen donor atoms resulted in an increase in residence water lifetimes (τ(m)) and a decrease in chemical shift of the Eu(3+)-bound water molecule (Δω). These experimental results along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that introduction of weakly donating oxygen atoms in these complexes results in a much weaker ligand field, more positive charge on the Eu(3+) ion, and an increased water residence lifetime as expected for a dissociative mechanism. These results provide new insights into the design of paramagnetic CEST agents with even slower water exchange kinetics that will make them more efficient for in vivo imaging applications.     

Effects of added dotab on thecmc and enthalpy of micelle formation at 298.2 K for CTAB(aq)

In a titration calorimetric study an aqueous solution held in a syringe and containing hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB; 15.4×10^–3 mol dm^–3) is injected in aliquots (5×l0^–3 dm³) into a sample cell containing initially water. Analysis of the data shows that thecmc equals 0.97×l0^–3 dm^–3 and the enthalpy of micelle formation equals –10.3 kJ mol^–1. When the solution in the syringe is replaced by a mixed surfactant solution, CTAB+dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, at the same total concentration of surfactant, thecmc of CTAB decreases gradually with increasing mole fraction of DOTAB but the enthalpy of CTAB micelle formation is hardly affected. We conclude, therefore, that incorporation of DOTAB monomers into the CTAB micelles stabilizes entropically the CTAB micelles.We thank EPSRC for their support; the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for an award to MCSS and the Royal Society for a grant awarded to PMC for the purchase of the Titration Microcalorimeter.     

Multi-element substituted hydroxyapatites: synthesis,structural characteristics and evaluation of their bioactivity,cell viability,and antibacterial activity

Synthesis of unsubstituted and multi-element (magnesium, zinc and cobalt) substituted hydroxyapatites (HAP) with varying stoichiometric compositions and evaluation of their morphological and structural characteristics, degree of crystallinity, bioactivity, cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity are addressed. The morphological features are not altered much following the substitution of Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Co²⁺ in the HAP lattice. Nevertheless, their substitution exerts a strong influence on the structural characteristics HAP. Rietveld refinement analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns indicates a decrease in crystallinity and mineralogical composition of HAP phase, which is accompanied with an increase of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) phase along with Co₃O₄ phase. Broadening of the PO₄^3? peaks and a decrease in intensity of the OH^? peak are observed by Fourier-transform infrared spectra. A decrease in intensity, broadening and a slight shift in Raman band (at 961?cm^?1 for HAP) towards the lower side suggest the incorporation of Mg, Zn, and Co, disordering of the crystal structure of HAP and formation of β-TCP as additional phase besides HAP. The MgZnCo-HAP’s exhibits a better bioactivity, cell viability and anti-bacterial activity than the unsubstituted HAP. However, a decrease in cell viability and anti-bacterial activity are observed when the stoichiometric ratio of the substituent elements is relatively higher.

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Europium(III) DOTA-tetraamide complexes as redox-active MRI sensors

PARACEST redox sensors containing the NAD(+)/NADH mimic N-methylquinolinium moiety as a redox-active functional group have been designed and synthesized. The Eu(3+) complex with two quinolinium moieties was nearly completely CEST-silent in the oxidized form but was "turned on" upon reduction with β-NADH. The CEST effect of the Eu(3+) complex containing only one quinolinium group was much less redox-responsive but showed an unexpected sensitivity to pH in the physiologically relevant pH range.