Atomistic Simulation Study of Calcium,Phosphate and Fluoride Ion Association to the Teleopeptide‐Tails of Collagen – Initial Steps to Biomineral Formation

The attachment of single ions to putative adsorption sites in the tails of collagen fibers is investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations and discussed with respect to the very early steps of apatite/collagen biomineral formation. Our studies clearly demonstrate an increased flexibility of the tails of the triple‐helical collagen protein. Apart from the termini of the backbone, several side chains were also observed to be freely accessible to ion attachment from aqueous solution. The teleopeptide was systematically scanned for suitable adsorption sites for calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions. Association of these ions was then explored from potential of mean force calculations. The resulting energy profiles reveal a variety of favorable protein‐ion bonds and hint at the suitability of the collagen tails to promote apatite aggregation.     

Magnetic and Electrical Properties, Eu Mössbauer Spectroscopy, and Chemical Bonding of REAgMg (RE=La, Ce, Eu, Yb) and EuAuMg

Single-phase samples of REAgMg (RE=La, Ce, Eu, Yb) and EuAuMg were prepared by reacting the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in a high-frequency furnace. LaAgMg and CeAgMg adopt the hexagonal ZrNiAl-type structure, while EuAgMg, YbAgMg, and EuAuMg crystallize with the orthorhombic TiNiSi type. Chemical bonding was exemplarily investigatedfor EuAgMg and EuAuMg on the basis of TB-LMTO-ASAcalculations. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicatePauli paramagnetism for LaAgMg and YbAgMg with room-temperature susceptibilities of 2.4(1)×10⁻⁹ and 1.5(1)×10⁻⁹ m³/mol, respectively. CeAgMg remains paramagnetic down to 2 K. The experimental magnetic moment of 2.52(2) μ_B/Ce above 50 K is compatible with trivalent cerium. EuAgMg and EuAuMg are paramagnetic above 50 K with experimentalmagnetic moments of 7.99(5) μ_B/Eu for the silver and 7.80(5) μ_B/Eu for the gold compound, indicating divalent europium. Ferromagnetic ordering is detected at T_C=22.0(3) K (EuAgMg) and T_C=36.5(5) K (EuAuMg). At 4.2 K and 5 T the saturation magnetizations are 7.1(1) and 7.3(1) μ_B/Eu for EuAgMg and EuAuMg, respectively. According to the very small hysteresis, EuAgMg and EuAuMg may be classified as soft ferromagnets. All compounds are metallic conductors. For EuAgMg and EuAuMg freezing of spin-disorder scattering is observed below T_C. At 78 K ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectra show isomer shifts of −9.00(4) and −8.72(8) mm/s for EuAgMg and EuAuMg, respectively. Full magnetic hyperfine field splitting is detected at 4.2 K with hyperfine fields of 17.4(1) and 18.3(2) T at the europium nuclei of EuAgMg and EuAuMg.     

Versatile organic (fullerene)-inorganic (CdTe nanoparticle) nanoensembles

Novel organic (positively charged fullerene)-inorganic (negatively charged CdTe nanoparticle) nanoensembles were devised through electrostatic interactions and probed as versatile donor-acceptor hybrids. Photoirradiation of their homogeneous solutions, containing the electrostatically packed components, let to very long-lived (1.3 ms) charge separated states.     

Biologically active compounds through catalysis: efficient synthesis of N-(heteroarylcarbonyl)-N'-(arylalkyl)piperazines

A practical route for the synthesis of new biologically active 5-HT(2 A) receptor antagonists has been developed. In only three catalytic steps, this class of central nervous system (CNS) active compounds can be synthesized efficiently with high diversity. As the initial step, an anti-Markovnikov addition of amines to styrenes provides an easy route to N-(arylalkyl)piperazines, which constitute the core structure of the active molecules. Here, base-catalyzed hydroamination reactions of styrenes with benzylated piperazine proceeded in high yield even at room temperature. After catalytic debenzylation, the free amines were successfully carbonylated with different aromatic and heteroaromatic halides and carbon monoxide to yield the desired compounds in good to excellent yields. The two key reactions, base-catalyzed hydroamination of styrenes and palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of haloarenes/heterocycles, showed tolerance towards various functional groups, thereby demonstrating the potential to synthesize a wide variety of new derivatives of this promising class of pharmaceuticals.     

Crystal structures, electronic properties, and pressure-induced superconductivity of the tetrahedral cluster compounds GaNb(4)S(8), GaNb(4)Se(8), and GaTa(4)Se(8)

The crystal structures of the tetrahedral cluster compounds GaNb(4)S(8) and GaTa(4)Se(8) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They crystallize in the cubic GaMo(4)S(8) structure type (F3m), which can be derived from the spinel type by shifting the metal atoms off the centers of the chalcogen octahedra along [111]. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the electronic conduction originates from hopping of localized unpaired electrons (S = (1)/(2)) among widely separated Nb(4) or Ta(4) clusters, and thus these materials represent a new class of Mott insulators. Under high pressure we find that GaNb(4)S(8) undergoes a transition from the Mott insulating to a superconducting state with T(C) up to 4 K at 23 GPa, similar to GaNb(4)Se(8) and GaTa(4)Se(8). High-pressure single-crystal X-ray studies of GaTa(4)Se(8) reveal that the superconducting transition is connected with a gradual decrease of the octahedral distortion with increasing pressure. DFT band structure calculations show that weakly coupled cluster orbitals are responsible for a high density of states at the Fermi level. The correct insulating magnetic ground state for GaNb(4)S(8) with mu(eff) = 1.73 mu(B) is for the first time achieved by the LDA+U method using U = 6 eV and rhombohedral symmetry.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products via lithium amide conjugate addition

A three-step protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of a range of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products has been developed. This procedure involves the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-methyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester to generate an N-protected β-amino ester in high de. Subsequent asymmetric aldol reaction via deprotonation with LDA, transmetallation with B(OMe)₃ and addition of an aldehyde gives a range of syn-aldol products in moderate to high de. Purification of the syn-aldol products to homogeneity followed by tandem N-oxidation and Cope elimination gives the desired β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products in good yield and high de and ee.     

Comparison of tridentate ligands in competition experiments for their ability to form a [Tc(CO)3] complex

In this study we have compared different ligands containing three or more hetero-atoms (N, O and/or S) with respect to their ability to form tridentate complexes with a Tc-tricarbonyl moiety. Comparison of each ligand in a competition reaction with histidine first and then with each other compound allowed to rank the ligands according to their ability of complex formation with the [^99mTc(CO)₃]⁺ precursor from diethylenetriamine (most efficient of the studied ligands) to nitrilotriacetic acid (weakest complexing properties). The results provide insight in the structural requirements for the formation of stable Tc-tricarbonyl complexes and suggest preferred combinations and arrangements of the hetero-atoms involved in the complex formation. They also give a good indication which type of ligand is most appropriate to modify biomolecules for an efficient and stable labelling with a Tc-tricarbonyl moiety.     

A concise synthesis of β-lactam-sulfonamide hybrids

Using ring closing metathesis (RCM) as the key operation, a rapid access to β-lactams fused to a sultam moiety of variable ring size was developed from low cost, commercially available starting materials. An efficient RCM of 4-vinyl-azetidin-2-ones to give 1-aza-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-4-en-8-ones is also reported.     

Three‐Component Reactions with (S)‐Methyl Pyroglutamate: An Efficient Way to Diversely Substituted Asymmetric Amidocyclohexenes

Chiral N‐dienyl lactams are crucial building blocks for the synthesis of complex organic compounds. However, their generation is rather challenging. This paper reports the novel one‐pot reaction of (S)‐methyl pyroglutamate as the a mide component with different a ldehydes and d ienophiles (AAD reaction) to give novel chiral 1‐amido‐2‐cyclohexenes. The corresponding N‐dienyl lactams generated in situ undergo subsequent Diels–Alder reactions in good yield and diastereoselectivity. The scope and limitations of the three‐component protocol were investigated. X‐ray and NMR spectroscopic analysis of the products as well as DFT calculations of the intermediates were also performed to explain the observed stereoselectivity and structural features.     

Syntheses and X-Ray Crystal Structures of 2-Aminoindenes and Aminocymantrenes

Substituted 2-aminoindenes have been synthesized in almost quantitative yields by reactions of amines such as methylpiperazine, trimethylethylenediamine, 1,4-diaza-cycloheptane and N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine with 2-indanone. The 2-aminoindenes can be deprotonated and reacted with BrMn(CO)₃(Py)₂ to produce the respective aminoindenyl-cymantrenes in yields between 55–70%. The X-ray crystal structures of 2-(methylpiperazine)indenyl-cymantrene 5 (P1 , a = 12.667(3) Å, b = 16.630(3) Å, c = 17.382(3) Å, α = 72.70(3)°, β = 74.59(3)°, γ = 88.66(3)°, V = 3364.1(12) Å ³, Z = 8, R1(2σ(I)) = 4.02%, wR2(2σ(I)) = 10.30%) and the HClO₄ adduct of 2-(trimethylethylenediamine)-indenyl-cymantrene 6 (Cc, a = 23.722(5) Å, b = 6.9080 Å, c = 13.264 Å, β = 111.77(3)°, V = 2018.6(7) Å 3, Z = 4, R1(2σ(I)) = 2.94%, wR2(2σ(I)) = 7.90%) were determined. In both complexes the indenyl-carbon bonded to nitrogen displays significantly longer bonds to manganese [223.5(3)–225.8(3) pm] than the other four carbon atoms [213.3(3)–219.1(3) pm]. The short indenyl-nitrogen bonds of 136.2(4) and 137.8(4) pm are indicative of a substantial multiple bond character. The complexation of Zn²⁺ by the nitrogen atoms of 6 results in significant shifts of the CO stretching frequencies.