Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticulate MnS within the pores of mesoporous silica

Mesoporous silica was loaded with nanoparticulate MnS via a simple post-synthesis treatment. The mesoporous material that still contained surfactant was passivated to prevent MnS formation at the surface. The surfactant was extracted and a novel manganese ethylxanthate was used to impregnate the pore network. This precursor thermally decomposes to yield MnS particles that are smaller or equal to the pore size. The particles exhibit all three common polymorphs. The passivation treatment is most effective at lower loadings because at the highest loadings (SiO₂:MnS molar ratio of 6:1) large particles (>50 nm) form at the exterior of the mesoporous particles. The integrity of the mesoporous network is maintained through the preparation and high order is maintained. The MnS particles exhibit unexpected ferromagnetism at low temperatures. Strong luminescence of these samples is observed and this suggests that they may have a range of important application areas.     

Selective syntheses of novel polyether fullerene multiple adducts

We have applied a modified macrocyclic tether approach to control multiple additions to C60. The technique of 3He NMR was used to confirm the selective formation of specific C60 multiple adducts by the macrocyclic tether approach. An oligoglycol was used as a flexible linker to produce macrocyclic polyether-linked malonates 5, 6, 8, and 9 under solid-liquid PTC (phase-transfer-catalysis) conditions. The formation of a single C60 tris-adduct, 3, from macrocyclic malonate 1 and 3He@C60 was proven by 3He NMR. Similarly, multiple additions to C60 of macrocyclic polyether malonate 5 gave C60 bis-adduct 10 selectively, while the reaction of C60 with macrocyclic malonate 8 gave bis-adducts 11 and 12. A similar process with macrocyclic malonate 6 gave tris-adduct 13 with high selectivity as well. Saponification of these C60 multiple adducts gives the corresponding polyacids that are potentially useful in biological applications. Macrocyclic polyether fullerenes are a new class of ionophores, which could be interesting for molecular recognition and for the development of biosensors.     

Synthesis and NMR studies of (13)C-labeled vitamin D metabolites

Isotope-labeled drug molecules may be useful for probing by NMR spectroscopy the conformation of ligand associated with biological hosts such as membranes and proteins. Triple-labeled [7,9,19-(13)C(3)]-vitamin D(3) (56), its 25-hydroxylated and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxylated metabolites (58 and 68, respectively), and other labeled materials have been synthesized via coupling of [9-(13)C]-Grundmann's ketone 39 or its protected 25-hydroxy derivative 43 with labeled A ring enyne fragments 25 or 26. The labeled CD-ring fragment 39 was prepared by a sequence involving Grignard addition of [(13)C]-methylmagnesium iodide to Grundmann's enone 28, oxidative cleavage, functional group modifications leading to seco-iodide 38, and finally a kinetic enolate S(N)2 cycloalkylation. The C-7,19 double labeling of the A-ring enyne was achieved by the Corey-Fuchs/Wittig processes on keto aldehyde 11. By employing these labeled fragments in the Wilson-Mazur route, the C-7,9,19 triple-(13)C-labeled metabolites 56, 58, and 68 as well as other (13)C-labeled metabolites have been prepared. In an initial NMR investigation of one of the labeled metabolites prepared in this study, namely [7,9,19-(13)C(3)]-25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (58), the three (13)C-labeled carbons of the otherwise water insoluble steroid could be clearly detected by (13)C NMR analysis at 0.1 mM in a mixture of CD(3)OD/D(2)O (60/40) or in aqueous dimethylcyclodextrin solution and at 2 mM in 20 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) aqueous micellar solution. In the SDS micellar solution, a double half-filter NOESY experiment revealed that the distance between the H(19Z) and H(7) protons is significantly shorter than that of the corresponding distance calculated from the solid state (X-ray) structure of the free ligand. The NMR data in micelles reveals that 58 exists essentially completely in the alpha-conformer with the 3 beta-hydroxyl equatorially oriented, just as in the solid state. The shortened distance (H(19Z))-H(7)) in micellar solutions as compared to that in the solid state is most easily rationalized on the basis that the 5(10)-torsion angle in 58 is decreased in micellar solutions as compared to that in the solid state.     

MENTHOR,a database system for the storage and retrieval of three-dimensional molecular structures and associated data searchable by substructural,biologic, physical,or geometric properties

Summary MENTHOR is a database system for the storage and retrieval of three-dimensional coordinate and charge information on molecules as well as of traditional biological and physical properties. Our molecular graphics system retrieves from MENTHOR structural information in individual molecules and receptor map/macromolecular binding site hypotheses. Substructural searches of MENTHOR are used to find starting coordinates for molecular modeling and traditional database searches of MENTHOR identify compounds for which modeling is needed. It also forms the data to be searched with ALLADDIN, our substructure/geometric search program. MENTHOR expedites molecular modeling by organizing previous work and facilitating transmission of information between individuals. Examples from modeling of D-2 receptor agonists are shown.     

A fluorescent molecular imaging probe with selectivity for soluble tau aggregated protein

Soluble forms of aggregated tau misfolded protein, generally termed oligomers, are considered to be the most toxic species of the different assembly states that are the pathological components of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, a critical biomedical need exists for imaging probes that can identify and quantify them. We have designed and synthesized a novel fluorescent probe, pTP-TFE for which binding and selectivity profiles towards aggregated tau and Aβ proteins were assessed. Our results have shown pTP-TFE to be selective for early forms of soluble tau aggregates, with high affinity of dissociation constants (K_d) = 66 nM, and tenfold selectivity over mature tau fibrils. Furthermore, we found that pTP-TFE is selective for tau over Aβ aggregates and had good cell permeability. This selectivity of pTP-TFE towards early forms of aggregated tau protein ex vivo was also supported with studies on human brain tissue containing tau and Aβ pathology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fluorescent molecule to be reported to have this form of selectivity profile, which suggests that pTP-TFE is a unique probe candidate for imaging-based detection of early stages of Alzheimer''s disease and other tauopathies.

pTP-TFE imaging probe can distinguish soluble tau aggregated proteins from other aggregated proteins enabling earlier detection of neurodegenerative diseases.     

A direct method for the substitution of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines at position 5

3-Ethylthioimidazo[1,5-a]pyridine lithiates at carbon 5. Quenching of the anion with an electrophile followed by desulphurisation gives 5-substituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines.     

Synthesis of novel 1-phenyl-1H-indole-2-carboxylic Acids. I. Utilization of ullmann and dieckmann reactions for the preparation of 3-hydroxy, 3-alkoxy,and 3-alkyl derivatives

Methods for the synthesis of novel 3-hydroxy, 3-alkoxy, and 3-alkyl indole-2-carboxylic acids and esters are described. Dieckmann cyclization of various 2-[(carboxymethyl)amino]benzoic acid diesters yielded 1-unsubstituted-, 1-methyl-, and 1-phenyl-3-hydroxy-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid esters. An Ullmann reaction with bromobenzene converted 1H-indoles to 1-phenylindoles.     

Release and formation of surface-localized ionic clusters (SLICs) into phospholipid rafts from colloidal solutions during coalescence

Stimuli-responsive behavior of phospholipids in the presence of ionic surfactants utilized in synthesis of MMA/nBA colloidal particles was investigated. Utilizing 1-myristoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (MHPC) phospholipid, and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (SDOSS) surfactant as dispersing media in H(2)O, narrow unimodal particle size distributions of methyl methacrylate (MMA)/n-butyl acrylate (nBA) copolymers were synthesized. The particle diameters were 154 nm when a SDOSS/MHPC mixture was used and 161 nm using MHPC as the only surface-stabilizing species. When such colloidal dispersions are exposed to 1.7, 3.3, and 6.7 mM aqueous CaCl(2) and KCl electrolyte solutions, surface-localized ionic clusters are generated at the film-air interface that may serve as lipid rafts composed of crystalline phases of MHPC deposited on poly(MMA)/nBA films. These studies illustrate that it is possible to control release and morphology developments of surface phospholipid rafts on artificial surfaces.     

Tricalixarenes and pentacalixarenes: synthesis and complexation studies

Tricalix[4]arene 4, tricalix[5]arene 14, and pentacalix[4]arene 10 have been synthesized from O-alkylcalixarene mono- and dialdehydes by a two-step conversion to the corresponding monoethynyl ketones or diethynyl ketones followed by aryne trimerization in refluxing DMF containing a dialkylamine. The tricalixarenes 4 and 14 were converted, in turn, to calixarenes 6 and 16, which carry OH groups on the lower rim and methylenes as the bridging moieties to the benzene ring. Complexation studies with the tricalix[5]arene 16 show that it forms (a) a 1:3 complex with N,N-dimethylethylenediamine in which each calixarene unit contains a molecule of the amine, (b) a 1:1 complex with tris(aminomethyl)amine in which each calixarene unit contains one of the three arms of the guest, and (c) a 1:1 complex with C60 in which the guest presumably resides in the cavity provided by the three calixarene units acting cooperatively.     

Interfacial micellar structures from novel amphiphilic star polymers

An amphiphilic heteroarm star polymer containing 12 alternating hydrophobic/hydrophilic arms of polystyrene (PS) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) connected to a well-defined rigid aromatic core was studied at the air-water and the air-solid interfaces. At the air-water interface, the molecules spontaneously form pancakelike micellar aggregates which measure up to several microns in diameter and 5 nm in thickness. Upon reduction of the surface area per molecule to 7 nm2, the two-dimensional micelles merged into a dense monolayer. We suggest that confined phase separation of dissimilar polymer arms occurred upon their segregation on the opposite sides of the rigid disklike aromatic core, forcing the rigid cores to adopt a face-on orientation with respect to the interface. Upon transfer onto solid supports the PS chains face the air-film interface making it completely hydrophobic, and the PAA chains were found to collapse and form a thin flattened underlayer. This study points toward new strategies to create large 2D microstructures with facial amphiphilicity and suggests a profound influence of star molecular architecture on the self-assembly of amphiphiles at the air-water interface.