Application of NMR SHAPES screening to an RNA target

Several NMR screening techniques have been developed in recent years to aid in the identification of lead drug compounds. These NMR methods have traditionally been used for protein targets, and here we examine their applicability for an RNA target. We used the SHAPES compound library to test three different NMR screening methodologies: the saturation transfer difference (STD), the 2D trNOESY, and the WaterLOGSY experiments. We found that the WaterLOGSY experiment was the most sensitive method for our RNA target, the P4P6 domain of the Tetrahymena thermophila Group I intron. Using the WaterLOGSY experiment, we found that 23 of the 112 SHAPES compounds interact with P4P6. To identify which of these 23 hits bind through nonspecific interactions, we counterscreened with a linear duplex RNA control and identified one of the SHAPES compounds as interacting with P4P6 specifically. We thus demonstrated that the WaterLOGSY experiment in combination with the SHAPES compound library can be used to efficiently find RNA binding lead compounds.     

Adsorption of bovine serum albumin on nanosized magnetic particles

A new model was proposed to predict the adsorption equilibrium of mixtures composed of supercritical gases. The adsorbed phase was visualized as a two-dimensional nonideal compressed gas. Pore size distribution was used to describe the energetic heterogeneity of the surface, and the two-dimensional virial equation was used as the local adsorption isotherm. The new model obtained is thermodynamically rigorous because it reduces to Henry's law as pressure approaches zero. The prediction performance of the new model was verified and compared with other models using the experimental data of a ternary mixture of CH4/N2/H2 and two binary mixtures of CH4/C2H4 and CH4/N2. Better performance was shown for all systems tested.     

Recent advances in single atom catalysts for the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels. Single atom catalysts (SACs) are encouraging to catalyze the electrochemical CO₂RR due to the tunable electronic structure of the central metal atoms, which can regulate the adsorption energy of reactants and reaction intermediates. Moreover, SACs form a bridge between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, providing an ideal platform to explore the reaction mechanism of electrochemical reactions. In this review, we first discuss the strategies for promoting the CO₂RR performance, including suppression of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), generation of C₁ products and formation of C₂₊ products. Then, we summarize the recent developments in regulating the structure of SACs toward the CO₂RR based on the above aspects. Finally, several issues regarding the development of SACs for the CO₂RR are raised and possible solutions are provided.

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels.     

Remote substituent effects on bond dissociation energies of para-substituted aromatic silanes

UB3LYP/6-31G(d) and ROMP2/6-311++G(d,2p) methods were used to calculate the Si-X bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of a number of para-substituted aromatic silanes (4-Y-C(6)H(4)-SiH(2)X, where X = H, F, Cl, or Li). It was found that the substituent effect on the Si-H BDE of 4-Y-C(6)H(4)-SiH(3) was small, as the slope (rho(+)()) of the BDE- regression was only 0.09 kJ/mol. In comparison, the substituent effect on the Si-F BDE of 4-Y-C(6)H(4)-SiH(2)F was much stronger, whose rho(+ )()value was -2.34 kJ/mol. The substituent effect on the Si-Cl BDE of 4-Y-C(6)H(4)-SiH(2)Cl was also found to be strong with a rho(+)() value of -1.70 kJ/mol. However, the substituent effect on the Si-Li BDE of 4-Y-C(6)H(4)-SiH(2)Li was found to have a large and positive slope (+9.12 kJ/mol) against. The origin of the above remarkably different substituent effects on the Si-X BDEs was found to be associated with the ability of the substituent to stabilize or destabilize the starting material (4-Y-C(6)H(4)-SiH(2)X) as well as the product (4-Y-C(6)H(4)-SiH(2)* radical) of the homolysis. Therefore, the direction and magnitude of the effects of Y-substituents on the Z-X BDEs in compounds such as 4-YC(6)H(4)Z-X should have some important dependence on the polarity of the Z-X bond undergoing homolysis. This conclusion was in agreement with that from earlier studies (for example, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113, 9363). However, it indicated that the proposal from a recent work (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 5518) was unfortunately not justified.     

Polyoxometalate Derivatives with Multiple Organic Groups. 2. Synthesis and Structures of Tris(organotin) alpha, beta-Keggin Tungstosilicates

Eight tris(organotin)-substituted Keggin tungstosilicate heteropolyanions have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and M?ssbauer spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR, and X-ray crystallography. The new anions contain alpha- or beta-SiW(9)O(34)(10)(-) moieties and are of two structural types, [(RSn)(3)(SiW(9)O(37))](7)(-) (R, isomer: Ph, alpha-, 1; n-Bu, alpha-, 2; Ph, beta-, 3; n-Bu, beta-, 4) and [(RSnOH)(3)(SiW(9)O(34))(2)](14)(-) (Ph, alpha-, 5; n-Bu, alpha-, 6; Ph, beta-, 7; n-Bu, beta-, 8). Crystals of Cs(4)H(3)[(PhSn)(3)(SiW(9)O(37))].8H(2)O (anion 3) are monoclinic, space group C2/c, with lattice constants a = 48.91(2) ?, b = 12.111(3) ?, c = 20.334(9) ?, beta = 102.30 degrees, and Z = 8. The anion has nominal C(3)(v)() symmetry and has a structure with three corner-shared WO(6) octahedra of the beta-Keggin anion replaced by three PhSnO(5) groups. Crystals of Cs(9)H(5)[(BuSnOH)(3)(SiW(9)O(34))(2)].36H(2)O (anion 6) are tetragonal, space group P&fourmacr;2(1)m, with lattice constants a = b = 29.005(4) ?, c = 13.412(4) ?, and Z = 4. The anion has the anticipated D(3)(h)() symmetry and contains three BuSnOH groups sandwiched between A,alpha-SiW(9)O(34)(10)(-) anions.     

A Novel, Simple and Efficient Synthesis of Ferrocenyl Enones and Alkynols

Propargylic alcohols are versatile precursors to many organic molecules including natural products and pharmaceutical compounds.[1] In our continuing interest in the development of practical methods for synthesis of ferrocene derivatives, we decided to investigate the efficiencies of ferrocenylacetylene addition to aromatic aldehydes under t-BuOKcatalyzed condition.[2] Interestingly, we found that the usually reliable coupling reaction between terminal alkyne of type 1 and aromatic aldehydes of type 2 does not furnish the expected propargylic alcohols, but that the isomeric aryl enones 3are found in high yield and very short reaction time (10～20 min). This provided a promising protocol for preparation of ferrocenyl chalcones in a practical, economical and mild sense compared with the traditional method. To the best of our knowledge, this unusual reaction was first observed for the addition of ferrocenylacetylene to aldehyde in a base-catalyzed manner (Eq. 1).     

Potent and selective structure-based dibenzofuran inhibitors of transthyretin amyloidogenesis: kinetic stabilization of the native state

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidogenesis requires rate-limiting tetramer dissociation and partial monomer denaturation to produce a misassembly competent species. This process has been followed by turbidity to identify transthyretin amyloidogenesis inhibitors including dibenzofuran-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (1). An X-ray cocrystal structure of TTR.1(2) reveals that it only utilizes the outer portion of the two thyroxine binding pockets to bind to and inhibit TTR amyloidogenesis. Herein, structure-based design was employed to append aryl substituents at C1 of the dibenzofuran ring to complement the unused inner portion of the thyroxine binding pockets. Twenty-eight amyloidogenesis inhibitors of increased potency and dramatically increased plasma TTR binding selectivity resulted. These function by imposing kinetic stabilization on the native tetrameric structure of TTR, creating a barrier that is insurmountable under physiological conditions. Since kinetic stabilization of the TTR native state by interallelic trans suppression is known to ameliorate disease, there is reason to be optimistic that the dibenzofuran-based inhibitors will do the same. Preventing the onset of amyloidogenesis is the most conservative strategy to intervene clinically, as it remains unclear which of the TTR misassembly intermediates results in toxicity. The exceptional binding selectivity enables these inhibitors to occupy the thyroxine binding site(s) in a complex biological fluid such as blood plasma, required for inhibition of amyloidogenesis in humans. It is now established that the dibenzofuran-based amyloidogenesis inhibitors have high selectivity, affinity, and efficacy and are thus excellent candidates for further pharmacologic evaluation.     

Organic functionalization of the sidewalls of carbon nanotubes by diels-alder reactions: a theoretical prediction

[structure: see text] The viability of the Diels-Alder (DA) cycloaddition of conjugated dienes onto the sidewalls of single-wall carbon nanotubes is assessed by means of a two-layered ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31G:AM1) approach. Whereas the DA reaction of 1,3-butadiene on the sidewall of an armchair (5,5) nanotube is found to be unfavorable, the cycloaddition of quinodimethane is predicted to be viable due to the aromaticity stabilization at the corresponding transition states and products.