Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of 2′-Deoxy-2′-(3-methoxybenzamido)adenosine,a rational-designed inhibitor of trypanosomal glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH)

A series of 2′-benzamido-2′-deoxyadenosine analogues were synthesized in an effort to find new lead structures for the treatment of sleeping sickness. The 2′-deoxy-2′-(3-methoxybenzamido)adenosine ( 1h ) was proved to be a selective inhibitor of the parasite glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase which confirms the modeling studies. The solution-state conformation of 2′-(thiophene-2-carboxamido) analogue 1d demonstrates a 2′-endo conformation, an orientation of the thiophene ring under the ribose moiety, and the base part occupying a ‘syn’/‘anti’ equilibrium.     

New directions in supramolecular transition metal catalysis

Supramolecular chemistry has grown into a major scientific field over the last thirty years and has fueled numerous developments at the interfaces with biology and physics, clearly demonstrating its potential at a multidisciplinary level. Simultaneously, organometallic chemistry and transition metal catalysis have matured in an incredible manner, broadening the pallet of tools available for chemical conversions. The interface between supramolecular chemistry and transition metal catalysis has received surprisingly little attention. It provides, however, novel and elegant strategies that could lead to new tools in the search for effective catalysts, as well as the possibility of novel conversions induced by metal centres that are in unusual environments. This perspective describes new approaches to transition metal catalyst development that evolve from a combination of supramolecular strategies and rational ligand design, which may offer transition metal catalysts for future applications.     

Determination of organochlorine compounds in fatty matrices: Application of normal-phase LC clean-up coupled on-line to GC/ECD

Off-line normal-phase LC has been used for the clean-up of compounds in our laboratory for several years. On-line coupling of this LC system, which typically yields 12 ml fractions, is not possible due to its large fraction volume. The maximum transfer volume in on-line LC-GC/ECD is approx. 300 μl. Therefore down-scaling of the LC system was attempted in order to reach these low fraction volumes. Miniaturization resulted in a 240 μ1 LC fraction containing the analytes of interest, which is transferred to GC/ECD via an on-column interface. Sensitivity requires that a minimum amount equivalent to 1–2 mg of sample should reach the GC detector; the selectivity is determined by the separation between the matrix and the last eluting target analyte. For the analysis of fatty samples, limitations were observed in the separation of dieldrin from triglycerides. Other organochlorine compounds, e.g. polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), the DDT group, HCB and the HCHs can be analyzed with RSDs of 2–4 % (n = 10) at concentration levels of sub-μ/kg in milk fat using a 3 μm Hypersil silica 50 × 1.0 mm i.d. LC column.     

Oligodeoxynucleotides Containing 2′‐Deoxy‐1‐methyladenosine and Dimroth Rearrangement

2′‐Deoxy‐1‐methyladenosine was incorporated into synthetic oligonucleotides by phosphoramidite chemistry. Chloroacetyl protecting group and controlled anhydrous deprotection conditions were used to avoid Dimroth rearrangement. Hybridization studies of intramolecular duplexes showed that introduction of a modified residue into the loop region of the oligonucleotide hairpin increases the melting temperature. It was shown that modified oligonucleotides may be easily transformed into oligonucleotides containing 2′‐deoxy‐N⁶‐methyladenosine.     

Highly uniform AlGaAs/GaAs and InGaAs(P)/InP structures grown in a multiwafer vertical rotating susceptor MOVPE reactor

Highly uniform AlGaAs/GaAs and InGaAs(P)/InP epitaxial layers have been grown in a vertical rotating susceptor MOVPE reactor capable of accommodating three 2′ wafers. The unique water-cooled “showerhead”-type injection distributor which is located 1.5 cm above the substrates ensures a uniform reactant distribution, resulting in uniform growth over a wide range of growth conditions. Periodic multilayer and single layer structures have been used to investigate the thickness and compositional uniformities. The thickness variations over a radial distance of 48 mm for three wafers grown in the same run are within ± 2% for both AlGaAs and InGaAs layers, resulting in a standard deviation of only 0.9%. The gallium concentration of an InGaAs layer varies from 46.88% to 47.01% over the same radial distance with the standard deviation of 0.043%. Measurements of InGaAsP layers grown onto 2′ InP wafers with different alloy compositions show good compositional uniformity yielding standard deviations within 4.4 nm in PL wavelength and 135 ppm in lattice mismatch over a 46 mm radial distance.     

Molecular‐Dynamics Studies of Single‐Stranded Hexitol,Altritol, Mannitol,and Ribose Nucleic Acids (HNA,MNA, ANA,and RNA,Resp.) and of the Stability of HNA⋅RNA,ANA⋅RNA,and MNA⋅RNA Duplexes

The influence of the orientation of a 3′‐OH group on the conformation and stability of hexitol oligonucleotides in complexes with RNA and as single strands in aqueous solution was investigated by molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulations with AMBER 4.1. The particle mesh Ewald (PME) method was used for the treatment of long‐range electrostatic interactions. An equatorial orientation of the 3′‐OH group in the single‐stranded D ‐mannitol nucleic acid (MNA) m(GCGTAGCG) and in the complex with the RNA r(CGCAUCGC) has an unfavorable influence on the helical stability. Frequent H‐bonds between the 3′‐OH group and the O−C(6′) of the phosphate backbone of the following nucleotide explain the distorted conformation of the MNA⋅RNA complex as well as that of the single MNA strand. This is consistent with experimental results that show lowered hybridization potentials for MNA⋅RNA complexes. An axial orientation of the 3′‐OH group in the D ‐altritol nucleic acid (ANA) a(GCGTAGCG) leads to a stable complex with the complementary RNA r(CGCAUCGC), as well as to a more highly preorganized single‐stranded ANA chain. The averaged conformation of the ANA⋅RNA complex is similar to that of A‐RNA, with only minor changes in groove width, helical curvature, and H‐bonding pattern. The relative stabilities of ANA⋅RNA vs. HNA⋅RNA (HNA=D ‐hexitol nucleic acid without 3′‐OH group) can be explained by differences in restricted movements, H‐bonds, and solvation effects.     

Compound formation and solvent (dis)ordering in syndiotactic polystyrene/benzylmethacrylate systems

In-situ small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) experiments combined with Raman spectroscopy have been performed to study the phase behaviour of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) and benzylmethacrylate (BzMA). In the quenched gels, sPS adopts a helical conformation which is stabilised by the solvent molecules, in fact compound formation occurs. From the combined experimental data it was concluded that two different structural modifications exist within the solvent-included helical δ-phase, respectively the δ' phase in which the solvent molecules are intercalated and ordered between the phenyl rings of sPS and a δ” phase where this solvent ordering is lost.     

Versatile Ligands for Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

Palladium complexes of the chiral diphosphanes 1 and 2 which possess a rigid backbone and a large bite angle catalyze the alkylation of allyl compounds with both high enantioselectivities and reaction rates, particularly with less sterically demanding substrates. 1 : R=Me, X=S; 2 : R=H, X=C(CH₃)₂.     

Hydroformylation of Internal Olefins to Linear Aldehydes with Novel Rhodium Catalysts

Unprecedented high activities and selectivities were observed in the hydroformylation of internal octenes to linear products using rhodium catalysts with rigid diphosphane ligands. Dibenzophosphole 1 and a phenoxaphosphane analogue with bite angles of 120 and 119°, respectively, are suited for this.