Phosphonium-borate zwitterions, anionic phosphines, and dianionic phosphonium-dialkoxides via tetrahydrofuran ring-opening reactions

Sterically demanding secondary phosphines and phosphides react with (THF)B(C(6)F(5))(3) (THF = tetrahydrofuran) to give the THF ring-opened compounds [R(2)PHC(4)H(8)OB(C(6)F(5))(3)] and [Mes(2)PC(4)H(8)OB(C(6)F(5))(3)Li(THF)(2)] (Mes = C(6)H(2)Me-2,4,6). These reactions also occur consecutively to give the double THF ring-opened compounds [Mes(2)P(C(4)H(8)OB(C(6)F(5))(3))(2)][Li(THF)(4)] and [t-Bu(2)P(C(4)H(8)OB(C(6)F(5))(3))(2)Li].     

H-atom abstraction reaction for organic substrates via mononuclear copper(II)-superoxo species as a model for DbetaM and PHM

Hydrogen atom abstraction reactions have been implicated in oxygenation reactions catalyzed by copper monooxygenases such as peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) and dopamine beta-monooxygenase (DbetaM). We have investigated mononuclear copper(I) and copper(II) complexes with bis[(6-neopentylamino-2-pyridyl)methyl][(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine (BNPA) as functional models for these enzymes. The reaction of [Cu(II)(bnpa)]2+ with H2O2, affords a quasi-stable mononuclear copper(II)-hydroperoxo complex, [Cu(II)(bnpa)(OOH)]+ (4) which is stabilized by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds in the vicinity of the copper(II) ion. On the other hand, the reaction of [Cu(I)(bnpa)]+ (1) with O2 generates a trans-mu-1,2-peroxo dicopper(II) complex [Cu(II)2(bnpa)2(O2(2-]2+ (2). Interestingly, the same reactions carried out in the presence of exogenous substrates such as TEMPO-H, produce a mononuclear copper(II)-hydroperoxo complex 4. Under these conditions, the H-atom abstraction reaction proceeds via the mononuclear copper(II)-superoxo intermediate [Cu(II)(bnpa)(O2-)]+ (3), as confirmed from indirect observations using a spin trap reagent. Reactions with several substrates having different bond dissociation energies (BDE) indicate that, under our experimental conditions the H-atom abstraction reaction proceeds for substrates with a weak X-H bond (BDE < 72.6 kcal mol(-1)). These investigations indicate that the copper(II)-hydroperoxo complex is a useful tool for elucidation of H-atom abstraction reaction mechanisms for exogenous substrates. The useful functionality of the complex has been achieved via careful control of experimental conditions and the choice of appropriate ligands for the complex.     

Iron-catalysed green synthesis of carboxylic esters by the intermolecular addition of carboxylic acids to alkenes

Iron triflate, in situ-formed from FeCl3 and triflic acid, or FeCl3 and silver triflate efficiently catalyse the intermolecular addition of carboxylic acids to various alkenes to yield carboxylic esters; the reaction is applicable to the synthesis of unstable esters, such as acrylates.     

Matrix-free high-resolution imaging mass spectrometry with high-energy ion projectiles

The importance of imaging mass spectrometry (MS) for visualizing the spatial distribution of molecular species in biological tissues and cells is growing. We have developed a new system for imaging MS using MeV ion beams, termed MeV-secondary ion mass spectrometry (MeV-SIMS) here, and demonstrated more than 1000-fold increase in molecular ion yield from a peptide sample (1154 Da), compared to keV ion irradiation. This significant enhancement of the molecular ion yield is attributed to electronic excitation induced in the near-surface region by the impact of high energy ions. In addition, the secondary ion efficiency for biologically important compounds (>1 kDa) increased to more than 10(10) cm(-2), demonstrating that the current technique could, in principle, achieve micrometer lateral resolution. In addition to MeV-SIMS, peptide compounds were also analyzed with cluster-SIMS and the results indicated that in the former method the molecular ion yields increased substantially compared to the latter. To assess the capability of MeV-SIMS to acquire heavy-ion images, we have prepared a micropatterned peptide surface and successfully obtained mass spectrometric imaging of the deprotonated peptides (m/z 1153) without any matrix enhancement. The results obtained in this study indicate that the MeV-SIMS technique can be a powerful tool for high-resolution imaging in the mass range from 100 to over 1000 Da.     

Accurate measurement of uranium isotope ratios in soil samples using thermal ionization mass spectrometry equipped with a warp energy filter

A chemical and mass-spectrometric procedure for uranium isotopic analysis using a thermal ionisation mass spectrometer equipped with a Wide Aperture Retardation Potential energy filter has been developed and applied to uranium isotopic measurements for various soil samples. Soil samples were digested using a microwave digestor. Uranium was isolated from soil samples by the chemical separation procedure based on the use of anion-exchange resin and UTEVA extraction chromatography column. The isotope ratios were measured for two certified reference materials by using a VG Sector 54-30 thermal ionisation mass spectrometer in dynamic mode with Faraday cup and Daly ion counting system. Replicates of standard reference materials showed excellent analytical agreement with established values supporting the reliability and accuracy of the method. Precision of the ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratio was achieved by a correction factor of 0.22% amu as a function of ion-beam intensity with sample loads of around 250?ng of U. The resulting reproducibility for standards and soil samples was better than 0.2% at two standard deviations (SD). Uranium isotopic compositions have been determined in several reference soil samples such as Buffalo river sediment, NIST 2704, river sediment SRM 4350b and ocean sediment NIST-4357 and a Chernobyl soil sample. There was a significant deviation from the natural uranium in comparison with Chernobyl soil samples.     

Examination of an absolute quantity of less than a hundred nanograms of proteins by amino acid analysis

We developed an ultra-sensitive method of amino acid analysis (AAA) for the absolute quantification of less than 100 ng of proteins, in solution or on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes using an oxygen-free chamber for protein hydrolysis. We used a pre-label method with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate for fluorescence detection, ion-pair chromatography with a reversed-phase column, and an ultra-high-pressure high-performance liquid chromatography. We optimized both handling- and instrument-dependent factors for accurate quantification and showed that the least amount of proteins to quantify was determined by handling accuracy rather than instrumental limit for quantification which was 0.6 fmol/amino acid. As a new evaluation method for the handling accuracy, we adopted the protein identification by the obtained amino acid compositions by AAA and the Swiss-Prot database search without the restriction of species. As a result, the least amount of starting material for AAA was 16 ng (0.24 pmol) for a solution of bovine serum albumin (BSA), 33 ng (0.50 pmol) for BSA on a PVDF membrane, and 44 ng (0.15 pmol) for thyroglobulin on a PVDF membrane. These results demonstrate that the ultra-sensitive AAA developed in this study is feasible for absolute quantification of biological significant protein.

Thermal analysis graphite intercalation compounds with dichlorides of some d-elements: A.S. Skoropanov,G.S. Petrov,A.A. Vecher,Yu.N. Novikov and M.E. Vol'pin,Thermochim. Acta, 90 (1985) 339-342

Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of the axial base dissociation of solid Co(salen) (X-py) complexes, X = H (1), 3-Me (2), 4-Me (3), 3,4-Me₂ (4), 3,5-Me₂ (5), 3-NH₂ (6), 3-Cl (7), 3-CN (8), 4-CN (9), have been investigated by means of TG-DSC and isothermal weight-loss measurements. These adducts endothermically dissociate the axial base giving rise to the oxygen-active Co(salen) complex. The axial base dissociation reactions fit the contracting disc equation and the kinetic compensation effect is observed for all the adducts excepting Adducts 4–6. For the remaining adducts the kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities of the Co-(X-py) bond are found to increase linearly with increasing Hammett's substitution constants of X except for Adducts 3 and 9. These results are discussed in terms of the σ and π interactions between cobalt(II) and substituted pyridine. Factors dominating the kinetic bond stability are briefly discussed.     

Structure of cypridina biluciferyl,a dimer of cypridina luciferyl radical having bioluminescent activity

Structure of $\text{Cypridina}$ biluciferyl (luciferyl radical dimer), which is produced by chemical oxidation of $\text{C}$. luciferin with such as ferricyanide, was determined to be the symmetric 5,5′-dimer of $\text{C}$. luciferin. It gives light in the presence of $\text{C}$. luciferase, although the bioluminescent rate is very low. We suggest that the biluciferyl is an intermediate in the oxidation of the luciferin to $\text{C}$. luciferinol.     

Copper‐Free Huisgen Cycloaddition for the 14‐3‐3‐Templated Synthesis of Fusicoccin‐Peptide Conjugates

Mid‐sized molecules have emerged as an attractive chemical space and potentially provide a robust basis for the development of synthetic agents to control intracellular protein interactions. However, the limited cell permeability and chemical tractability of such agents remain to be addressed. We envisioned that target‐templated synthesis of such mid‐sized molecules might provide a solution. Here, we exploited a copper‐free Huisgen cycloaddition for template synthesis using a peptide fragment containing a 4,8‐diazacyclononyne (DACN) moiety and an azide‐containing fusicoccin derivative in the presence or absence of recombinant 14‐3‐3ζ protein in vitro. Time‐course changes in the yield of products demonstrated that the reaction was accelerated in the presence of 14‐3‐3 and one of the regioisomers was generated predominantly, supporting the template effect.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as novel antihypertensive agents

A series of 1-isopropyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized and their bradycardic activities were evaluated in isolated guinea pig right atria. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the introduction of an appropriate substituent and its position on the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline ring are essential for potent in vitro activity. Furthermore, the tether between the piperidyl moiety and the terminal aromatic ring is important for potent antihypertensive activity. Oral administration of 6-fluoro-1-isopropyl-2-{[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl]carbonyl}-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (3b) to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) elicited antihypertensive effects without inducing reflex tachycardia, which is often caused by traditional L-type Ca2? channel blockers.