A novel one-pot reaction involving organocopper-mediated reduction/transmetalation/asymmetric alkylation, leading to the diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres

By a novel one-pot reaction sequence involving consecutive organocopper-mediated reduction, transmetalation and asymmetric alkylation, a highly diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres was achieved in good to excellent yields.     

Low-temperature ferromagnetism in a new diluted magnetic semiconductor Bi2−x FexTe3

Single crystals of a new diluted magnetic semiconductor Bi_2?x Fe_xTe₃ (0≤x≤0.08) were grown. For all crystals, the transition into a ferromagnetic state with easy axis parallel to the C ₃ axis was observed at temperature T _c increasing with iron concentration and reaching 12 K at x=0.08. An increase in the Seebeck coefficient, anomalous Hall effect, and resistivity jump at T=T _c were also observed. The frequency of the de Haas-van Alphen oscillations decreases with increasing x, indicating the donor properties of Fe.     

Cyclic alkoxyamine‐initiator tethered by azide/alkyne‐“click”‐chemistry enabling ring‐expansion vinyl polymerization providing macrocyclic polymers

A cyclic initiator for the nitroxide‐mediated controlled radical polymerization (NMP) is a powerful tool for the preparation of macrocyclic polymers via a ring‐expansion vinyl polymerization mechanism. For this purpose, we prepared a Hawker‐type NMP‐initiator that includes an azide and a terminal alkyne as an acyclic precursor, which is subsequently tethered via an intramolecular azide/alkyne‐“click”‐reaction, producing the final cyclic NMP‐initiator. The polymerization reactions of styrene with cyclic initiator were demonstrated and the resultant polymers were characterized by the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and the matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS). These results prove that the ring‐expansion polymerization of styrene occurred together with the radical ring‐crossover reactions originating from the exchange of the inherent nitroxides generating macrocyclic polystyrenes with higher expanded rings. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3402–3416, 2010     

Preparation of fluoroalkyl end-capped cooligomers/silica nanoparticles: A new approach to fluorinated nanoparticle inhibitors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIVmac)

Fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid and sulfonic acid cooligomers reacted with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and silica/nanoparticles under alkaline conditions to afford the corresponding cooligomers/silica nanoparticles (mean diameters: 32-173 nm) with a good dispersibility and stability in aqueous and organic media. Interestingly, fluorinated nanoparticles containing carboxy groups were found to exhibit a potent and selective anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro. In contrast, fluorinated cooligomers containing sulfo groups were shown to have a potent and selective anti-SIV_mac activity in vitro.     

Novel bifunctional probe for radioisotope-free photoaffinity labeling: compact structure comprised of photospecific ligand ligation and detectable tag anchoring units

A novel method for radioisotope-free photoaffinity labeling was developed, in which a bifunctional ligand is connected to a target protein by activation of a photoreactive group, such as an aromatic azido or 3-trifluoromethyl-3H-diazirin-3-yl group, and identification of the ligated product is achieved by anchoring of a detectable tag through the Staudinger-Bertozzi reaction with an alkyl azido moiety that survives photolysis. The chemical ground of this method was confirmed using model compounds with the bifunctional group under photoirradiation in the presence of trapping agents for reactive intermediates. The utility of the method has been demonstrated by specific labeling of the catalytic portion of human HMG-CoA reductase.     

Preparation of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/silica hybrid nanoparticles-encapsulation of a variety of guest molecules into fluorinated nanoparticles

Fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers reacted with tetraethoxysilane and silica/nanoparticles under alkaline conditions to afford fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/silica nanoparticles (mean diameters: 31–54 nm) with a good dispersibility and stability in organic media. Interestingly, the isolated fluorinated particle powders were found to afford nanometer size-controlled colloidal particles with a good redispersibility and stability in these media. In addition, fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/silica nanoparticles-encapsulated guest molecules such as stable organic radicals and ionic liquids were prepared under similar conditions. These fluorinated nanoparticles-encapsulated guest molecules were applied to a new type of surface-modification agent, and these particles were able to disperse well above the poly (methyl methacrylate) films.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the base hydrolysis of cis-eq-[Cr(NCS)(S-pdtra)]−, trans-eq-[Cr(NCS)(edtrp)]− and trans-eq-[Cr(NCS)(R-pdtrp)]− complexes. Strong rate enhancement for NCS− ligand release with an increase of [OH−] only for the trans-equatorial isomers

The [Cr(NCS)(edtrp)]⁻, [Cr(NCS)(R-pdtrp)]⁻ and [Cr(NCS)(S-pdtra)]⁻ complexes, that are derivatives of the trans-equatorial isomers of [Cr(edtrp)(H₂O)]° and [Cr(R-pdtrp)(H₂O)]° and the cis-equatorial isomer of [Cr(S-pdtra)-(H₂O)]° (edtrp = ethylenediamine-N,N,N′-tripropionate, R-pdtrp = R-propane-1,2-diamine-N,N,N′-tripropionate, S-pdtra = S-propane-1,2-diamine-N,N,N′-triacetate) undergo aquation in alkaline media with a strong dependence of the rate on [OH⁻] for the trans-equatorial isomers and a very weak dependence for the cis-equatorial isomer. The thiocyanate ligand release follows a stereoretentive course for all reactants. Based on kinetic data the reaction mechanism has been discussed. Rate differences between the isomers are interpreted in terms of an interchange via a conjugate base (I c.b.) mechanism, assuming an equilibrium between the cis-equatorial-Cr^III-S-pdtra complexes with penta- and tetradentate coordination of the edta-like ligand. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Folding Dynamics of 10‐Residue β‐Hairpin Peptide Chignolin

Short peptides that fold into β‐hairpins are ideal model systems for investigating the mechanism of protein folding because their folding process shows dynamics typical of proteins. We performed folding, unfolding, and refolding molecular dynamics simulations (total of 2.7 μs) of the 10‐residue β‐hairpin peptide chignolin, which is the smallest β‐hairpin structure known to be stable in solution. Our results revealed the folding mechanism of chignolin, which comprises three steps. First, the folding begins with hydrophobic assembly. It brings the main chain together; subsequently, a nascent turn structure is formed. The second step is the conversion of the nascent turn into a tight turn structure along with interconversion of the hydrophobic packing and interstrand hydrogen bonds. Finally, the formation of the hydrogen‐bond network and the complete hydrophobic core as well as the arrangement of side‐chain–side‐chain interactions occur at approximately the same time. This three‐step mechanism appropriately interprets the folding process as involving a combination of previous inconsistent explanations of the folding mechanism of the β‐hairpin, that the first event of the folding is formation of hydrogen bonds and the second is that of the hydrophobic core, or vice versa.     

A convenient preparation of 4,8-dimethoxy-3-substituted-2(1H)-quinolones by an electrophilic reaction through base-induced deprotonation and its synthetic application for the synthesis of new alkaloids, 3,4,8-trimethoxy-2(1H)-quinolone and 3-formyl-4,7,8-trimethoxy-2(1H)-quinolone(glycocitridine)

Some 4,8-dimethoxy-3-substituted-2(1H)-quinolones were prepared by electrophilic reaction of 4,8-dimethoxy-2(1H)-quinolone with electrophiles in the presence of n-butyllithium-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethyl-enediamine in fairly good yields. This present method was successfully applied for the synthesis of two new alkaloids bearing the 4,8-dimethoxy-2(1H)-quinolone skeleton.     

The critical molecular weight for resisting slow crack growth in a polyethylene

An ethylene-hexene copolymer was fractionated into five fractions and the density of short-chain branches was measured for each fraction. The slow crack growth behavior was measured on each fraction by sandwiching the small amount of fractionated resin of about 0.2 g between polyethylene grips. The resistance to slow crack growth was negligible for the three fractions whose M_w was less than 1.5 × 10⁵. For the fourth fraction with M_w greater than 1.5 × 10⁵, the resistance to slow crack growth was very high, being greater than that for the whole resin even though its density of short-chain branches was less than that of the whole resin. It is concluded that a molecular weight greater than 1.5 × 10⁵ is required to create the number of tie molecules that is necessary to produce a high resistance to slow crack growth in this particular copolymer. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.