The synthesis of novel polycyclic heterocyclic ring systems via photocyclization. 10. Synthesis and structure determination of naphtho[1′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-a]-4,7-phenanthroline

Naphtho[1′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-a]-4,7-phenanthroline, a novel hexacyclic ring system has been synthesized in four steps. The ¹H and ¹³C nmr assignments have been made using two-dimensional nmr techniques. The tertiary helical structure was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Complexes of lanthanide nitrates with bis(diphenylphosphino)methane dioxide

The reactions of lanthanide nitrates, Ln(NO(3))(3), with bis(diphenylphosphino)methane dioxide, Ph(2)P(O)CH(2)P(O)Ph(2) (L), lead to complexes with three distinct classes of structure. At low ratios of Ln:L (<1:1.5) in acetonitrile the ionic complexes [Ln(NO(3))(2)L(2)](+)[Ln(NO(3))(4)L](-) (Ln = Pr, Eu) have been isolated. When carried out with a 1:2 or higher ratio in ethanol the reaction yields Ln(NO(3))(3)L(2) (Ln = La,Ce) and [Ln(NO(3))(2)L(2)H(2)O](+)[NO(3)](-) (Ln = Nd, Gd, Ho). Geometrical isomerism is found for the cations [Ln(NO(3))(2)L(2)H(2)O](+) and is attributed to the extent of hydrogen bonding to the coordinated water. Ligand redistribution occurs on heating in the solid state giving yellow solids in all cases. Crystallization of these materials from ethanol or acetonitrile gives [Ln(NO(3))L(3)](2+).2[NO(3)](-), which have been structurally characterized for Ln = Gd and Yb. Electrospray mass spectra indicate that extensive ligand exchange reactions occur in solution.     

Terephthalamide derivatives as mimetics of helical peptides: disruption of the Bcl-x(L)/Bak interaction

A series of Bcl-x(L)/Bak antagonists, based on a terephthalamide scaffold, was designed to mimic the alpha-helical region of the Bak peptide. These molecules showed favorable in vitro activities in disrupting the Bcl-x(L)/Bak BH3 domain complex (terephthalamides 9 and 26, K(i) = 0.78 +/- 0.07 and 1.85 +/- 0.32 microM, respectively). Extensive structure-affinity studies demonstrated a correlation between the ability of terephthalamide derivatives to disrupt Bcl-x(L)/Bak complex formation and the size of variable side chains on these molecules. Treatment of human HEK293 cells with the terephthalamide derivative 26 resulted in disruption of the Bcl-x(L)/Bax interaction in whole cells with an IC(50) of 35.0 microM. Computational docking simulations and NMR experiments suggested that the binding cleft for the BH3 domain of the Bak peptide on the surface of Bcl-x(L) is the target area for these synthetic inhibitors.     

Insight into the reactivity of olefins in the Pauson-Khand reaction

The reactivity of different Co(2)(CO)(6)-acetylene complexes in the Pauson-Khand reaction is strongly dependent on the nature of the olefin. Theoretical calculations at both the DFT and ONIOM levels are concordant with experimental observations and suggest how the olefin-cobalt interactions in the complex could have a major effect on the relative reactivity of the olefins. This study rationalizes for the first time the experimentally observed reactivity differences of cyclohexene, cyclopentene, and norbornene.     

Microanalysis of nitro compounds. II

Summary A colorimetric method for the determination of phenolic compounds containing the nitro function is described. It is based on the production of a yellow color when nitrophenols are treated with iminobispropylamine in monochlorobenzene solution. There is no interference due to the presence of carbonyl and carboxyl groups in the molecule. Relationship between absorbance and concentration is linear in the range of 1 to 20g/ml for most nitrophenols. Isomeric compounds can be distinguished by the absorption spectra of their respective colored complexes.

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Zusammenfassung Ein kolorimetrisches Verfahren zur Bestimmung phenolischer Nitroverbindungen wurde beschrieben. Es beruht auf der gelben Farbreaktion der Nitrophenole mit Imino-bis-propylamin in monochlorbenzolischer Lösung. Carbonyl-und Carboxylgruppen stören nicht. Absorption und Konzentration verhalten sieh bei den meisten Nitrophenolen zwischen 1 und 20g/ml linear. Isomere Verbindungen können an dem Absorptionsspektrum ihrer gefärbten Komplexverbindungen unterschieden werden.

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Résumé On décrit une méthode colorimétrique pour le dosage des composés phénoliques contenant la fonction nitro. Elle est fondée sur la formation d'une coloration jaune quand les nitrophénols sont traités par l'imino-bispropylamine en solution dans le monochlorobenzene. Il n'y a pas d'interférence due à la présence de groupes carbonyles et carboxyles dans la molécule. La relation entre la densité optique et la concentration est linéaire dans le domaine de 1 à 20g/ml pour la plupart des nitrophénols. On peut distinguer les composés isomères par les spectres d'absorption de leurs complexes colorés respectifs.

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For Part I of this series, see ref. 7.     

Characterization of the monovalent ion position and hydrogen-bond network in guanine quartets by DFT calculations of NMR parameters

Conformational stability of G-quartets found in telomeric DNA quadruplex structures requires the coordination of monovalent ions. Here, an extensive Hartree-Fock and density functional theory analysis of the energetically favored position of Li+, Na+, and K+ ions is presented. The calculations show that at quartet-quartet distances observed in DNA quadruplex structures (3.3 A), the Li+ and Na+ ions favor positions of 0.55 and 0.95 A outside the plane of the G-quartet, respectively. The larger K+ ion prefers a central position between successive G-quartets. The energy barrier separating the minima in the quartet-ion-quartet model are much smaller for the Li+ and Na+ ions compared with the K+ ion; this suggests that K+ ions will not move as freely through the central channel of the DNA quadruplex. Spin-spin coupling constants and isotropic chemical shifts in G-quartets extracted from crystal structures of K+- and Na+-coordinated DNA quadruplexes were calculated with B3LYP/6-311G(d). The results show that the sizes of the trans-hydrogen-bond couplings are influenced primarily by the hydrogen bond geometry and only slightly by the presence of the ion. The calculations show that the R(N2N7) distance of the N2-H2...N7 hydrogen bond is characterized by strong correlations to both the chemical shifts of the donor group atoms and the (h2)J(N2N7) couplings. In contrast, weaker correlations between the (h3)J(N1C6') couplings and single geometric factors related to the N1-H1...O6=C6 hydrogen bond are observed. As such, deriving geometric information on the hydrogen bond through the use of trans-hydrogen-bond couplings and chemical shifts is more complex for the N1-H1...O6=C6 hydrogen bond than for the N2-H2...N7 moiety. The computed trans-hydrogen-bond couplings are shown to correlate with the experimentally determined couplings. However, the experimental values do not show such strong geometric dependencies.     

Chemical analysis and cellular imaging with quantum dots

Quantum dots are tiny light-emitting particles on the nanometer scale. They are emerging as a new class of biological labels with properties and applications that are not available with traditional organic dyes and fluorescent proteins. Their novel properties such as improved brightness, resistance against photobleaching, and multicolor light emission, have opened new possibilities for ultrasensitive chemical analysis and cellular imaging. In this Research Highlight article , we discuss the unique optical properties of semiconductor quantum dots, surface chemistry and bioconjugation, current applications in bioanalytical chemistry and cell biology, and future research directions.     

Two-component dendritic gel: effect of stereochemistry on the supramolecular chiral assembly

The self-assembly of diaminododecane solubilised by four different stereoisomeric dendritic peptides to form gel-phase materials in toluene was investigated. The second generation dendritic peptides were based on D- and L-lysine building blocks, and each contained three chiral centres. By designing dendritic peptides in which the configurations of the chiral centres were modified, and applying them as gelator units, the assembly of stereoisomers could be investigated. In all cases, the self-assembly of gelator units resulted in macroscopic gelation. However, the degree of structuring was modulated by the stereoisomers employed, an effect which changed the morphology and macroscopic behavior of the self-assembled state. Enantiomeric (L,L,L or D,D,D) gelator units formed fibrous molecular assemblies, whilst the racemic gel (50 % L,L,L : 50 % D,D,D) formed a flat structure with a "woven" appearance. Gelator units based on L,D,D or D,L,L dendritic peptides also formed fibrous assemblies, but small-angle X-ray scattering indicated significant morphological differences were caused by the switch in chirality. Furthermore, the macroscopic stability of the gel was diminished when these peptides were compared with their L,L,L or D,D,D analogues. In this paper it is clearly shown that individual stereocentres, on the molecular level, are directly related to the helicity within the fibre. It is argued that the chirality controls the pattern of hydrogen bonding within the assembly, and hence determines the extent of fibre formation and the macroscopic gel strength.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S,3R)-gamma-methyl-cis-pentacin by a kinetic resolution protocol

The asymmetric synthesis of (1R,2S,3R)-3-methyl-2-amino-cyclopentane carboxylic acid has been achieved via kinetic resolution of racemic tert-butyl 3-methyl-cyclopentene-1-carboxylate with homochiral lithium (S)-N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamide.     

Novel fragmentation reaction of correolide

[reaction: see text] Pentacyclic triterpenoid natural product correolide (1) was converted to ketone 2 via ozonolysis. An unusual fragmentation reaction of ketone 2 with LiCl was discovered. This reaction is general among several similar substrates examined and appears to be specific for the correolide-type E-ring structure (ketone). A mechanism involving a retroaldol reaction, a nucleophilic opening of the epoxide, and a subsequent acetoxy elimination reaction was proposed.