Lithium amide conjugate addition for the asymmetric synthesis of 3-aminopyrrolidines

Conjugate addition of homochiral lithium amides to methyl 4-(N-benzyl-N-allylamino)but-2-enoate, chemoselective N-deprotection and concomitant cyclisation, followed by enolate functionalisation and deprotection allows access to syn- and anti-3,4-disubstituted aminopyrrolidines in > 98% d.e. and > 98% e.e.     

VideoAFM--a new tool for high speed surface analysis

The VideoAFM provides a 1000 fold increase in image rate compared to conventional atomic force microscopes, giving nanometre resolution images of surfaces at a rate of 15 frames s(-1), which is approximately 1 million pixels s(-1). Images of high stiffness surfaces such as calibration grids are provided for the first time, and allow for a more rigorous examination of the meaning of the data obtained with the VideoAFM. Instrumental changes that could provide true topographic images are discussed. The advantages of a high speed scanning technique that is integrated within a conventional AFM are outlined. Particular emphasis is given to the capability to 'tile' images, and hence rapidly map large areas with nanometre resolution. It is found that the inherent increase in stability that comes from a high frame rate leads to the possibility of manually manipulating the sample while maintaining a sharp image, allowing real-time user interaction with the AFM. The possible application of the VideoAFM approach for the very rapid analysis of surface properties and, ultimately, surface chemistry is discussed and some possible routes are given.     

Cooperative AND receptor for ion-pairs

A novel heteroditopic calix[4]diquinone receptor capable of binding an anion and cation simultaneously in a cooperative fashion is shown only to recognise halide anions in the presence of a suitable cobound cationic guest species, and displays affinity for certain ion-pairs where no affinity for either of the free ions is observed.     

Electroanalytical applications of boron-doped diamond microelectrode arrays

The electrochemical characteristics of a novel all diamond fabricated boron-doped diamond microelectrode array (BDD-MEA) are critically appraised. The voltammetric response of simple electron transfer processes has been investigated and found to generate sigmoidal voltammetric curves. Furthermore, the device has been utilized for various analytical applications including, the direct detection of 4-nitrophenol over the concentration range 1.8-9.2 μM, manganese over the range 0.1-4.8 μM and the indirect determination of sulfide producing a limit of detection of 23 μM.     

Reactions of 1,4-bis(tetrazole)benzenes: formation of long chain alkyl halides

The reactions of 1,4-bis[2-(tributylstannyl)tetrazol-5-yl]benzene with α,ω-dibromoalkanes were carried out in order to synthesise pendant alkyl halide derivatives of the parent bis-tetrazole. This led to the formation of several alkyl halide derivatives, substituted variously at N1 or N2 on the tetrazole ring. The crystal structures of 1,4-bis[(2-(4-bromobutyl)tetrazol-5-yl)]benzene (2-N,2-N′), 1,4-bis[(2-(4-bromobutyl)tetrazol-5-yl)]benzene (1-N,2-N′) and 1,4-bis[(2-(8-bromooctyl)tetrazol-5-yl)]benzene (2-N,2-N′) are reported. Further discussion involves the structure of 1,4-bis[2-(6-bromohexyl)-2H-tetrazol-5-yl]benzene (2-N,2-N′) previously reported.     

Labelling Studies to Determine Product Formation from Reactions of CO and Hydrogen Catalysed by Ru Clusters and Rh Complexes

Reaction of CO with hydrogen in the presence of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂], KI and N-methylpyrrolidone produces small amounts of methanol under mild conditions. Using D₂ the methanol is CD₃OD confirming that it is a product of CO hydrogenation. In the presence of added H₂O, CH _x D_1-y OH/D (y=0–3) are produced. Carrying out the same reaction in the presence of MeI water and RhCl₃·xH₂O (x=3–4) produces ethanoic acid in a slow reaction which continues for at least 64 h. The effects of different reaction parameters are discussed and labelling using ¹³CH₃I shows that some of the ethanoic acid originates from sources other than MeI whilst labelling with D₂, CD₃I, and/or D₂O suggest that some originates from CO and H₂. Electrospray mass spectrometry and high pressure infra-red spectroscopic studies show that the main species present in catalytic solutions are [HRu₃(CO)₁₁]⁻, [HRu₄(CO)₁₃]⁻ and [Ru(CO)₃I₃]⁻ for methanol carbonylation, [Ru(CO)₃I₃]⁻ and [RhI₂(CO)₂]⁻ for ethanoic acid production. A reaction carried out in the absence of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] gave similar results to a reaction in which it was added, suggesting that the entire process may be catalysed by rhodium complexes alone. Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material for this article is available at and is accessible for authorized users.

Natural sialoside analogues for the determination of enzymatic rate constants

Two isomeric 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-N-acetylneuraminylgalactopyranosides (1 and 2) were synthesised. These compounds contain either the natural alpha-2,3 or alpha-2,6 sialyl-galactosyl linkages, as well as an attached 4-methylumbelliferone for convenient detection of their hydrolyses. These compounds were designed as natural sialoside analogues to be used in a continuous assay of sialidase activity, where the sialidase-catalysed reaction is coupled with an exo-beta-galactosidase-catalysed hydrolysis of the released galactoside to give free 4-methylumbelliferone. The kinetic parameters for 1 and 2 were measured using the wild-type and nucleophilic mutant Y370G recombinant sialidase from Micromonospora viridifaciens. Kinetic parameters for these analogues measured using the new continuous assay were in good agreement with the parameters for the natural substrate, 3'-sialyl lactose. Given the selection of commercially available exo-beta-galactosidases that possess a variety of pH optima, this new method was used to characterise the full pH profile of the wild-type sialidase with the natural sialoside analogue 1. Thus, use of these new substrates 1 and 2 in a continuous assay mode, which can be detected by UV/Vis or fluorescence spectroscopy, makes characterisation of sialidase activity with natural sialoside linkages much more facile.     

Host–Guest Chemistry of a Bis‐Calix[4]pyrrole Derivative Containing a trans/cis‐Switchable Azobenzene Unit with Several Aliphatic Bis‐Carboxylates

The azobenzene unit used as a photochemically and thermally switchable linker in the assembly of a bis‐calix[4]pyrrole receptor provides a means to modulate the binding of bis‐carboxylates of significant biological importance in cancer research. Conversely, the complexation of different bis‐anionic guests has significant kinetic effects on both the photochemical and thermal trans/cis isomerization of the azobenzene unit.     

Dehydroalanine-based inhibition of a peptide epimerase from spider venom

Ribosomally produced peptides that contain D-amino acids have been isolated from a number of vertebrate and invertebrate sources. In each case, the D-amino acids are introduced by a posttranslational modification of a parent peptide containing only amino acids of the L-configuration. The only known enzyme to catalyze such a reaction is the peptide epimerase (also known as peptide isomerase) from the venom of the funnel web spider, Agelenopsis aperta. This enzyme interconverts two 48-amino-acid-long peptide toxins that differ only by the stereochemistry at a single serine residue. In this paper we report the synthesis and testing of two pentapeptide analogues that contain modified amino acids at the site normally occupied by the substrate serine residue. When the L-chloroalanine-containing peptide 3 was incubated with the epimerase it was converted into the dehydroalanine-containing peptide 4 via an elimination of HCl. The dehydroalanine peptide 4 was independently synthesized and found to act as a potent inhibitor of the epimerase (IC50 = 0.5 microM). These results support a direct deprotonation/reprotonation mechanism in which a carbanionic intermediate is formed. The observed inhibition by 4 can be attributed to the sp(2)-hybridization of the alpha-carbon in the dehydroalanine unit that mimics the planar geometry of the anionic intermediate.