Iboga Inspired N-Indolylethyl-Substituted Isoquinuclidines as a Bioactive Scaffold: Chemoenzymatic Synthesis and Characterization as GDNF Releasers and Antitrypanosoma Agents

The first stage of the drug discovery process involves the identification of small compounds with biological activity. Iboga alkaloids are monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) containing a fused isoquinuclidine-tetrahydroazepine ring. Both the natural products and the iboga-inspired synthetic analogs have shown a wide variety of biological activities. Herein, we describe the chemoenzymatic preparation of a small library of novel N-indolylethyl-substituted isoquinuclidines as iboga-inspired compounds, using toluene as a starting material and an imine Diels–Alder reaction as the key step in the synthesis. The new iboga series was investigated for its potential to promote the release of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) by C6 glioma cells, and to inhibit the growth of infective trypanosomes. GDNF is a neurotrophic factor widely recognized by its crucial role in development, survival, maintenance, and protection of dopaminergic neuronal circuitries affected in several neurological and psychiatric pathologies. Four compounds of the series showed promising activity as GDNF releasers, and a leading structure (compound 11) was identified for further studies. The same four compounds impaired the growth of bloodstream Trypanosoma brucei brucei (EC₅₀ 1–8 μM) and two of them (compounds 6 and 14) showed a good selectivity index.     

Entropies and IPR as Markers for a Phase Transition in a Two-Level Model for Atom–Diatomic Molecule Coexistence

A quantum phase transition (QPT) in a simple model that describes the coexistence of atoms and diatomic molecules is studied. The model, which is briefly discussed, presents a second-order ground state phase transition in the thermodynamic (or large particle number) limit, changing from a molecular condensate in one phase to an equilibrium of diatomic molecules–atoms in coexistence in the other one. The usual markers for this phase transition are the ground state energy and the expected value of the number of atoms (alternatively, the number of molecules) in the ground state. In this work, other markers for the QPT, such as the inverse participation ratio (IPR), and particularly, the Rényi entropy, are analyzed and proposed as QPT markers. Both magnitudes present abrupt changes at the critical point of the QPT.     

Instrumental modification intended to save time,and volumes of sample and reagent solutions,in the atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of mercury

Use of small membrane pumps, instead of peristaltic pumps, to introduce sample and reagent solutions into the spectrometer has several advantages in atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of mercury. This simple modification results in a substantial saving in the time required for the measurements and so 90% of reagent solution volumes and 95% of sample solution volumes are saved, with a consequent decrease in the volume of waste generated. The sampling frequency is almost tripled, with no deterioration in sensitivity, which is similar to that obtained by use of peristaltic pumps. The relative standard deviation for ten consecutive measurements of a 1 μg L⁻¹ mercury solution was approximately 2%. Figure Small membrane pumps for the atomic fluorescene spectro metric determination of mercury     

Theoretical study of the role of solvent Stark effect in electron transitions

The possible influence of the solvent Stark effect (SSE) on the solvatochromic shift in electron transitions has been analyzed by using the ASEP/MD (averaged solvent electrostatic potential from molecular dynamics) method. With this purpose, four molecules, two polar (acrolein and formaldehyde) and two non-polar (p-difluorobenzene and trans-difluoroethene) have been studied in solvents of diverse polarity. Independently of the nature of the system we found that the contribution of SSE on the average value of the solvent shift or on the multipole moment values is negligible. In the case of centro-symmetric molecules, our results permit to discard the SSE as cause of the solvent shift found, which must be assigned to the electrostatic interaction of the solute quadrupole and higher multipoles with the solvent. As the SSE values provide also a measure of the errors introduced by the mean field approximation (MFA), these results indicate that MFA permits a very accurate determination of the solvent shift at the same time that it reduces drastically the computational cost. Finally, a new procedure suited to the ASEP/MD method has been presented that permits to estimate the inhomogeneous broadening of spectral bands, complementing the information provided by mean field theories. This procedure does not need additional quantum calculations and its computational cost is minimal.     

Essential collections for equilibrium concepts

The aim of this study is to identify and characterize the parts of an extensive form game that are ??relevant?? to determining whether the outcome of a certain strategy profile is an equilibrium outcome. We formally define what we mean by ??relevant?? and refer to the associated collection of information sets as essential. We apply this idea to a number of classic equilibrium concepts and discuss some implications of our approach.     

Multiscale Approach to the Study of the Electronic Properties of Two Thiophene Curcuminoid Molecules

We studied the electronic and conductance properties of two thiophene–curcuminoid molecules, 2‐thphCCM ( 1 ) and 3‐thphCCM ( 2 ), in which the only structural difference is the position of the sulfur atoms in the thiophene terminal groups. We used electrochemical techniques as well as UV/Vis absorption studies to obtain the values of the HOMO–LUMO band gap energies, showing that molecule 1 has lower values than 2 . Theoretical calculations show the same trend. Self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these molecules were studied by using electrochemistry, showing that the interaction with gold reduces drastically the HOMO–LUMO gap in both molecules to almost the same value. Single‐molecule conductance measurements show that molecule 2 has two different conductance values, whereas molecule 1 exhibits only one. Based on theoretical calculations, we conclude that the lowest conductance value, similar in both molecules, corresponds to a van der Waals interaction between the thiophene ring and the electrodes. The one order of magnitude higher conductance value for molecule 2 corresponds to a coordinate (dative covalent) interaction between the sulfur atoms and the gold electrodes.     

Calcium Carbonate Polyamorphism and Its Role in Biomineralization: How Many Amorphous Calcium Carbonates Are There?

Although the polymorphism of calcium carbonate is well known, and its polymorphs—calcite, aragonite, and vaterite—have been highly studied in the context of biomineralization, polyamorphism is a much more recently discovered phenomenon, and the existence of more than one amorphous phase of calcium carbonate in biominerals has only very recently been understood. Here we summarize what is known about polyamorphism in calcium carbonate as well as what is understood about the role of amorphous calcium carbonate in biominerals. We show that consideration of the amorphous forms of calcium carbonate within the physical notion of polyamorphism leads to new insights when it comes to the mechanisms by which polymorphic structures can evolve in the first place. This not only has implications for our understanding of biomineralization, but also of the means by which crystallization may be controlled in medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial contexts.     

On a parabolic–elliptic chemotactic model with coupled boundary conditions

This paper deals with a nonlinear system of parabolic–elliptic type with a logistic source term and coupled boundary conditions related to pattern formation. We prove the existence of a unique positive global in time classical solution. We also analyze the associated stationary problem. Moreover it is proved, under the assumption of sufficiently strong logistic damping, that there is only one nonzero homogeneous equilibrium, and all the solutions to the nonstationary problem tend to this steady state for large times.     

Flavonoid glycosides from Persea caerulea. Unraveling their interactions with SDS‐micelles through matrix‐assisted DOSY,PGSE, mass spectrometry,and NOESY

Two flavonoid glycosides derived from rhamnopyranoside ( 1 ) and arabinofuranoside ( 2 ) have been isolated from leaves of Persea caerulea for the first time. The structures of 1 and 2 have been established by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy, together with LC–ESI–TOF and LC–ESI–IT MS spectrometry. From the MS and MS/MS data, the molecular weights of the intact molecules as well as those of quercetin and kaempferol together with their sugar moieties were deduced. The NMR data provided information on the identity of the compounds, as well as the α and β configurations and the position of the glycosides on quercetin and kaempferol. We have also explored the application of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) normal micelles in binary aqueous solution, at a range of concentrations, to the diffusion resolution of these two glycosides, by the application of matrix‐assisted diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) and pulse field gradient spin echo (PGSE) methodologies, showing that SDS micelles offer a significant resolution which can, in part, be rationalized in terms of differing degrees of hydrophobicity, amphiphilicity, and steric effects. In addition, intra‐residue and inter‐residue proton–proton distances using nuclear Overhauser effect build‐up curves were used to elucidate the conformational preferences of these two flavonoid glycosides when interacting with the micelles. By the combination of both diffusion and nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy techniques, the average location site of kaempferol and quercetin glycosides has been postulated, with the former exhibiting a clear insertion into the interior of the SDS‐micelle, whereas the latter is placed closer to the surface. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

First intermolecular cyclopropanation of Fischer dialkylaminocarbene complexes. Synthesis of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivatives

[reaction: see text] The first cyclopropanation reaction of olefins with Fischer dialkylaminocarbene complexes is presented. The reaction yields 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivatives in a single step, usually with high diastereoselectivity. An approach to the asymmetric version of this reaction is also presented. The synthetic utility of the procedure is exemplified by the synthesis of both cycles of metanoproline in a single step. In addition, the synthesis of the first Fischer carbene containing a halocarbonyl group is reported.