Stereospecific uncatalyzed alpha-O-glycosylation and alpha-C-glycosidation by means of a new D-Gulal-derived alpha vinyl oxirane

The reaction of alpha vinyl oxirane 5, prepared through a new route to the d-gulal system, with O-nucleophiles (alcohols and di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-d-monosaccharides) and C-nucleophiles (lithium alkyls) affords, in a completely stereoselective way, the corresponding 2-unsaturated alpha O- and C-glycosides having the same configuration as the starting epoxide.     

13C hyperfine coupling constants in o-benzosemiquinones

The ¹³C hyperfine splitting constants of the tetrachloro-o-benzosemiquinone radical anion are measured for naturally occurring ¹³C nuclei in all the possible positions in the molecule. Their assignment is based on the linewidth analysis of the single hyperfine components and this is discussed with reference to the reported spin density distribution in o-semiquinones.     

Benzocoumarins from the rhizomes of Juncus acutus

Investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Juncus acutus rhizomes revealed seven benzocoumarins, probably derived from oxidation of phenanthrenes already isolated from the plant. The structures were determined by means of spectroscopic methods. The anti-algal activity of the isolated compounds tested on the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata are reported here.     

Photoaffinity labeling of bovine rhodopsin

Photoaffinity labeled (3-diazoacetoxy)-9-cis-retinal (1) and (9-methylenediazoacetoxy)-9-cis-retinal (20) were synthesized and bound to absorption maxima at 465 and 460 nm respectively. Binding studies established that synthetic retinals 1 and 2 bind to the natural binding site and that the integrity of the diazoacetoxy photoaffinity label is preserved in the process. Incorporation of 3-(O¹⁴COCHN₂)-labeled 9-cis retinal could be conveniently carried out in high yield using apomembrane solubilized in CHAPS as detergent to afford the pigment analog in a pure form. Photolysis of the diazoacetoxy group within the binding site led to 15–20%, crosslinking of rhodopsin as estimated by using radiocarbon containing labeled retinal 1 thus showing that this synthetic retinal is suitable for photoaffinity labeling of the active site in rhodopsin. Subsequent experiments to establish the site(s) of crosslinking by sequencing studies will then contribute to our knowledge of the structure of rhodopsin.     

Catalysis of the beta-elimination of HF from isomeric 2-fluoroethylpyridines and 1-methyl-2-fluoroethylpyridinium salts. Proton-activating factors and methyl-activating factors as a mechanistic test to distinguish between concerted E2 and E1cb irreversible mechanisms

Second-order rate constants, k(OH)(N), M(-)(1) s(-)(1), for the beta-elimination reactions of HF with 2-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridine (2), 3-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridine (3), and 4-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridine (4) in OH(-)/H(2)O, at 50 degrees C and mu = 1 M KCl, are = 0.646 x 10(-)(4) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), = 2.97 x 10(-)(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), and = 5.28 x 10(-)(4) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), respectively. When compared with the second-order rate constants for the same processes with the nitrogen-methylated substrates 1-methyl-2-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridinium iodide (5), 1-methyl-3-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridinium iodide (6), and 1-methyl-4-(2-fluoroethyl)pyridinium iodide (7), the methyl-activating factor (MethylAF) can be calculated from the ratio k(OH)(NCH)3/, and a value of 8.7 x 10(5) is obtained with substrates 5/2, a value of 1.6 x 10(3) with 6/3, and a value of 2.1 x 10(4) with 7/4. The high values of MethylAF are in agreement with an irreversible E1cb mechanism (A(N)D(E) + D(N)) for substrates 5 and 7 and with the high stability of the intermediate carbanion related to its enamine-type structure. In acetohydroxamate/acetohydroxamic acid buffers (pH 8.45-9.42) and acetate/acetic acid buffers (pH 4.13-5.13), the beta-elimination reactions of HF, with substrates 2 and 4, occur at NH(+), the substrates protonated at the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring, even when the [NH(+)] is much lower than the [N], the unprotonated substrate, due to the high proton-activating factor (PAF) value observed: 3.6 x 10(5) for 2 and 6.5 x 10(4) for 4 with acetohydroxamate base. These high PAF values are indicative of an irreversible E1cb mechanism rather than a concerted E2 (A(N)D(E)D(N)) mechanism. Finally, the rate constant for carbanion formation from NH(+) with 2 is k(B)(NH)+ = 0.35 M(-)(1) s(-)(1), which is lower than when chlorine is the leaving group ( = 1.05 M(-)(1) s(-)(1); Alunni, S.; Busti, A. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 2001, 778). This is direct experimental evidence that some lengthening of the carbon-leaving group bond can occur in the intermediate carbanion. This is a point of interest for interpreting a heavy-atom isotope effect.     

Biophysical characterization of complexation of DNA with block copolymers of poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate, poly(ethylene oxide), and poly(propylene oxide)

The interactions of DNA (salmon testes) with two new cationic block copolymers made of poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate and poly(ethylene oxide), PEO-pDMAEMA, or poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide), L92-pDMAEMA, were studied with the aim to understand their different in vitro transfection efficiencies when used as nonviral delivery vectors. PEO-pDMAEMA does not show surface activity while L92-pDMAEMA is as surface active as its parent Pluronic L92. Surface tension, titration microcalorimetry, ethidium bromide displacement, and zeta-potential measurements were carried out in phosphate buffers at pH 5 and 7. The association of L92-pDMAEMA with DNA was strongly exothermic at both pHs; the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) corresponded to a N/P ratio of 0.3, the maximum energy evolved was reached for N/P ratios of 0.82 and 1.27 at pH 5 and pH 7, respectively, and the saturation occurred for N/P ratios close to 2. The presence of L92 in the structure of this new block copolymer apparently did not modify the thermodynamic parameters of the interaction with DNA. In contrast, the interaction with PEO-pDMAEMA was significantly less exothermic, and CAC and saturation occurred for N/Ps equal to 0.43 and 1.37, respectively. The strong affinity of L92-pDMAEMA for DNA was reflected in its capacity to displace ethidium bromide and in the jump in the values of the zeta potential when N/P is near 1. Above the N/P ratio at which electroneutral polyplexes are formed, only at pH 5 an excess of L92-pDMAEMA is incorporated in the complexes, resulting in positively charged complexes. The profile of the zeta-potential values obtained for mixtures of L92-pDMAEMA with Pluronic P123 showed a shift to a lower N/P ratio, owing to an easier interaction of L92-pDMAEMA molecules with DNA in the presence of P123. Additionally, a visual inspection of the systems indicates that P123 contributes to stabilize/solubilize the DNA/cationic polymer aggregates, by avoiding the typical phase separation near the charge neutralization point. The information obtained can be particularly useful to optimize the conditions to form efficient polyplexes for gene delivery systems.     

The ortho effect in the mass spectra of ortho/para isomers of bisphenol a derivatives and related compounds

New examples of the ortho effect in bisphenol A derivatives including interaction of the hydrogen of the ortho-hydroxy group with the neighbouring aromatic ring have been observed. The characteristic ions [M ? PhOH]^+middot; (m/z = 134) and [M ? CH₃ ? PhOH]⁺ (m/z = 119) were shown to form through the hydrogen transfer from hydroxy and isopropyl groups, respectively. The spectra of cyclic derivatives having ortho-hydroxy functions show [M ? 43]⁺, [M ? C₈H₉O]⁺, m/z = 147, m/z = 135 and [M ? C₉H₁₀O]⁺ ions. The proposed mechanims of the corresponding transformations were supported by mass spectra of deuterated analogues, methyl and trimethyl silyl ethers.     

NMR determination of enantiomeric composition of 1-substituted 3-amino-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes using Eu(hfc)3

Experimental conditions for determination of enantiomeric composition of 1-substituted 3-aminocarboranes by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy using chiral shift reagent Eu(hfc)₃ have been found.