Affinity purification and affinity characterization of carbohydrate-binding proteins in bovine kidney.

Ca(2+)-dependent carbohydrate-binding proteins were purified from bovine kidney by two-step affinity chromatography on fetuin and heparin columns and subsequent anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. On sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purified fraction gave two protein bands corresponding to proteins of relative molecular mass 33,000 (p33) and 41,000 (p41), respectively. Although the proteins had no haemogglutinating activities towards human and rabbit erythrocytes, their carbohydrate-binding activity was examined by a newly developed method using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and/or biotin-labelled glycoconjugates as affinity probes. They could bind in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner to labelled fetuin and heparin in a specific and dose-dependent manner by solid-phase assay after immobilization on plastic plate surface. Inhibition assay of the binding revealed that N-acetylneuraminic acid is the most potent inhibitor of the proteins among the monosaccharides tested. Fucoidin and heparan sulphate most strongly inhibited the binding of the proteins to labelled heparin. Direct binding assay to acidic glycolipids prepared from bovine kidney showed that the proteins react with the ganglioside fraction but not with sulphatide [Gal(3-SO4) beta 1-1Cer]. These results indicated that the purified proteins have a significant affinity to charged oligosaccharides linking to glycoproteins, glycolipids and charged polysaccharides in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner.     

Validation of intermolecular pair potential model of SiH4: molecular-dynamics simulation for saturated liquid density and thermal transport properties

We demonstrate a validation of the intermolecular pair potential model of SiH(4), which is constructed from ab initio molecular-orbital calculations and expressed as the sum of the exponential and the London dispersion terms. The saturated liquid densities of SiH(4) are calculated for temperatures from 100 to 225 K by molecular-dynamics (MD) simulation. The average deviation between the experiment and the MD simulation using the present potential model is 3.9%, while the deviations exceed 10% for other well-known potential models such as the five-center Lennard-Jones (LJ) model. Subsequently, the shear viscosity, the thermal conductivity, and the self-diffusion coefficient of liquid SiH(4) are calculated by an equilibrium MD simulation with the Green-Kubo formula from 100 to 225 K. The average deviations from experiment are 11.8% and 13.7% for the shear viscosity and the thermal conductivity, respectively. Comparing the present model with an empirical one-center LJ model, it turns out that the rotational energy transfer through the intermolecular potential energy, which comes from the anisotropic potential energy, plays an important role in the thermal conductivity of liquid SiH(4). These results indicate that the present intermolecular potential model has an ability to give realistic pictures for liquid SiH(4) through molecular simulations.     

Synthesis of 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives and their effects as piracetam-like nootropics

A useful pharmaceutical intermediate, 5-nitromethyl-1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (1), was prepared in one step from 1,7-dichloro-4-heptanone (4) under mild conditions. Catalytic hydrogenation of 1 over Raney Ni in the presence of sodium hydroxide afforded 5-aminomethyl-1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (2) in high yield. Piracetam analogues 20-23, which were pyrrolidine derivatives involving a 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring, were synthesized. Pharmacological tests showed that N-[(1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-5-yl)methyl]-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetamid e (20) improves cerebral function.     

Synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties of tri- and dinuclear copper(II)-gadolinium(III) complexes of linear oligooxime ligands

We have designed and synthesized a new Cu2Gd heterotrinuclear complex, [LCu2Gd(OAc)3] (1), where H4L is a bis(salen)-type tetraoxime ligand useful in the synthesis of discrete (3d)2(4f) complexes. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with unit cell parameters a = 12.442(4) A, b = 13.397(3) A, c = 13.966(4) A, alpha = 77.052(8) degrees, beta = 88.656(10) degrees, gamma = 77.761(8) degrees, and Z = 2. In the crystal structure of 1, Cu-Gd distances are 3.3-3.5 A, whereas the two Cu atoms are separated by 6.08 A. The corresponding dinuclear CuGd complexes, 2 and 3, with mono(salen)-type chelate 3-MeOsalamo were also synthesized. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with unit cell parameters a = 13.869(8) A, b = 13.688(7) A, c = 18.728(10) A, beta = 92.861(8) degrees, and Z = 4, and complex 3 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with unit cell parameters a = 12.319(4) A, b = 13.989(4) A, c = 16.774(5) A, alpha = 64.699(14) degrees, beta = 66.672(13) degrees, gamma = 76.891(17) degrees, and Z = 4. Interaction between Cu(II) and Gd(III) in the dinuclear complexes 2 and 3 is ferromagnetic (J = 4.5 and 7.6 cm(-1), respectively, using spin Hamiltonian H = -JS(Cu) x S(Gd)) as observed in the previously prepared [LCuGdX3] complexes, where L is a salen-type chelate. Magnetic data for the Cu2Gd trinuclear complex can be reasonably interpreted with the use of a spin Hamiltonian H = -J(CuGd)S(Cu1) x S(Gd) - J(CuGd)S(Cu2) x S(Gd) - J(CuCu)S(Cu1) x S(Cu2) with J(CuGd) = 5.0 cm(-1) and J(CuCu) = 0 cm(-1). The S = 9/2 ground state resulted from the ferromagnetic interaction among the Cu(II)-Gd(III)-Cu(II) triad was also supported by the saturation magnetization at 1.8 K.     

Regio- and chemoselective direct generation of functionalized aromatic aluminum compounds using aluminum ate base

A regio- and chemoselective direct method for generation of functionalized aromatic aluminum compounds through deprotonative directed ortho-alumination using triisobutyl(tetramethylpiperidino)aluminate (iBu3Al(TMP)Li), prepared by mixing of triisobutylaluminum (iBu3Al) and lithium tetramethylpiperidide (LTMP) in THF, has been developed. Deprotonative alumination of various functionalized benzenes with the use of iBu3Al(TMP)Li proved effective for the direct generation of various ortho-functionalized aluminum aromatic and heteroaromatic derivatives, particularly those with electrophilic functional groups such as cyano, amide, and halogen. Direct alumination, followed by electrophilic trapping (with I2), provided a convenient preparative method for 1,2- or 1,2,3-multisubstituted aromatic compounds. The functionalized aromatic aluminate intermediate also was found to undergo copper- and palladium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions very efficiently and highly regio- and chemoselectively.     

Studies in the pinacol rearrangement—V The rearrangements of cis- and trans-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ditolylethylene oxides

The intermediate formation of the two epoxides was observed in the perchloric acid-catalysed rearrangement of meso-2,2′-dimethylbenzpinacol (P_meso) to 2-methylbenzoyl tolyl diphenyl methane (K) Two kinds of epoxides were separated with preparative TLC and the configuration (cis and trans) of these epoxides was inferred in the light of UV, NMR and IR spectra, dipole moment and kinetic data. The rearrangement rates of these epoxides were measured in HClO₄-anhydrous acetic acid. Linear correlations of logarithm of the rate constants (log k) with the Hammett acidity function of the medium (H₀) were obtained, which supports the A-1 mechanism, together with the large positive values of the entropy of activation. It is shown that the perchloric acid-catalysed rearrangement of meso-2,2′-dimethylbenzpinacol (P_meso) occurs via such many kinetically distinguishable routes as the following where C and T are cis- and trans-epoxide respectively. The mechanisms of the rearrangements were discussed from the data of kinetics.     

Visible light photoelectrochemical activity of K4Nb6O17 intercalated with photoactive complexes by electrostatic self-assembly deposition

Electrostatic self-assembly deposition (ESD) results in the intercalation of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ or methylene blue (MB) into the niobate layered oxide right after the cations come into contact with [Nb₆O₁₇]⁴⁻ nanosheets. Monolayers can be obtained by the exfoliation of proton exchanged K₄Nb₆O₁₇ (KNbO) in an aqueous tetrabutylammonium (TBA) solution as revealed by the atomic force microscopy micrographs. UV-vis spectra show that intercalated films are able to absorb in the visible light range. Heat-treatment of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ resulted in the red-shift in the absorption spectra, which was assigned to the enhancement in the interaction between the complex molecules and [Nb₆O₁₇]⁴⁻ host layer. Intercalated niobate layered oxides are able to produce photocurrent as a result of the electron transfer from the excited guest molecule to the host layer under visible light illumination. Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ intercalated niobate layered oxide shows photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination to produce H₂ from water-methanol solution.     

Amino acids and peptides. XXVII. Synthesis of phytochelatin-related peptides and examination of their heavy metal-binding properties

Phytochelatin (PC)-related peptides were prepared by a conventional solution method and their heavy metal-binding properties were examined. Different from the Cu2+ and Cu+ -binding properties of metallothionein (MT)-related peptides, the Cu2+ and Cu+ -binding properties of PC-related peptides were fairly dependent on structure. It is of interest that gamma-Glu-Cys-Gly (glutathione) exhibited quite different Cu2+ and Cu+ -binding properties from those of other PC-related peptides and its binding abilities were comparable to those of MT-related peptides. The Cd2+ -binding properties of glutathione were similar to those of Cys, and the Cd2+ -binding abilities of PC-related peptides increased in proportion to the increase of gamma-Glu-Cys peptide unit.     

Redox-associated eta(1) to eta(2) conversion of disulfide ligands in dinuclear ruthenium complexes

Disulfide-bridged dinuclear ruthenium complexes [[Ru(MeCN)(P(OMe)(3))(2)](2)(mu-X)(mu,eta(2)-S(2))][ZnX(3)(MeCN)] (X = Cl (2), Br (4)), [[Ru(MeCN)(P(OMe)(3))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)(2)(mu,eta(1)-S(2))](CF(3)SO(3)) (5), [[Ru(MeCN)(P(OMe)(3))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)(mu,eta(2)-S(2))](BF(4)) (6), and [[Ru(MeCN)(2)(P(OMe)(3))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)(mu,eta(1)-S(2))](CF(3)SO(3))(3) (7) were synthesized, and the crystal structures of 2 and 4 were determined. Crystal data: 2, triclinic, P1, a = 15.921(4) A, b = 17.484(4) A, c = 8.774(2) A, alpha = 103.14(2) degrees, beta = 102.30(2) degrees, gamma = 109.68(2) degrees, V = 2124(1) A(3), Z = 2, R (R(w)) = 0.055 (0.074); 4, triclinic, P1 a = 15.943(4) A, b = 17.703(4) A, c = 8.883(1) A, alpha = 102.96(2) degrees, beta = 102.02(2) degrees, gamma = 109.10(2) degrees, V = 2198.4(9) A(3), Z = 2, R (R(w)) = 0.048 (0.067). Complexes 2 and 4 were obtained by reduction of the disulfide-bridged ruthenium complexes [[RuX(P(OMe)(3))(2)](2)(mu-X)(2)(mu,eta(1)-S(2))] (X = Cl (1), Br (3)) with zinc, respectively. Complex 5 was synthesized by oxidation of 2 with AgCF(3)SO(3). Through these redox steps, the coordination mode of the disulfide ligand was converted from mu,eta(1) in 1 and 3 to mu,eta(2) in 2 and 4 and further reverted to mu,eta(1) in 5. Electrochemical studies of 6 indicated that similar conversion of the coordination mode occurs also in electrochemical redox reactions.     

Sensitized photooxygenation of β-methoxystyrene and 1-(β-methoxyvinyl)naphthalene

Single oxygen can easily add to 1-(β-methoxyvinyl) naphthalene ($\text{1}$) with retention of sterochemistry to afford a stable 1,4-endoperoxide $\text{3}$. Sensitized photooxygenation of β-methoxystyrene ($\text{2}$) gives mainly Diels-Alder adducts of $\text{o}$-formylmethide quinone ($\text{12}$) which might be derived from initially formed 1,4-endoperoxide $\text{10}$.