Resolution of seven-coordinate complexes

The crystal structures of [Pr(dbm)3H2O] (1), [Sm(dbm)3H2O] (2), and [Er(dbm)3H2O] (3) have been determined (dbm=dibenzoylmethane). They display seven-coordinate propeller-shaped molecules, which are chiral and crystallize as conglomerates in space group R3. Analysis of the crystal structures reveals supramolecular interactions, including formation of a quadruple helix, which explain how stereochemical information can be transferred between stacks of molecules. A method to quantify the ee in bulk samples of stereochemically labile compounds by using solid-state CD spectroscopy is described. Using this method, it has been shown that compounds 1-3 undergo total spontaneous resolution directly after synthesis, forming a microcrystalline reaction product that is essentially enantiopure. The resolution of bulk quantities of seven-coordinate complexes (without chiral or polydentate ligands) is thus reported for the first time. Because the crystallization starts without seeding, the overall preparation may be regarded as absolute asymmetric synthesis.     

Mechanisms of reduced human vascular cell migration after photodynamic therapy

Restenosis results from intimal hyperplasia and constrictive remodeling following cardiovascular interventions. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to inhibit intimal hyperplasia in vivo by preventing neointimal repopulation of the treated vessel. This study was undertaken in an attempt to further dissect the mechanisms by which PDT acts on secreted and extracellular matrix proteins to inhibit migration of cultured human vascular cells. PDT of three-dimensional collagen gels inhibited invasive human smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration, whereas cell-derived matrix metalloproteinase production remained unaltered. Additionally, PDT generated cross-links in the collagen gels, a result substantiated in an ex vivo model whereby PDT rendered the treated vessels resistant to pepsin digestion and inhibited invasive migration of SMC and fibroblasts. These data support the premise that by inducing matrix protein cross-links, rendering the vessel resistant to degradation, in vivo PDT inhibits repopulation of the vessel and therefore intimal hyperplasia.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of cis-dibenzoquinolizine chlorofumarates: curare-like agents of ultrashort duration

The quaternizations of dibenzoquinolizines 9 and 14 with 3-halo-1-propanols are highly cis-selective (94-100% cis), results consistent with the N-methylation of O-methylcapaurine (7b), but in contrast to the proposed trans-stereochemistry of dibenzo[a,h]quinolizine methiodide 10 and the analogous quaternizations of 1-benzyl- and 1-phenylisoquinoline congeners 5b and 5c. In this report, we describe stereoselective preparation of the unique cis-dibenzoquinolizinium propanols 15 and 16and their transformation into bis- and mixed-onium chlorofumarates 19, 20ab, and 26. Dibenzo[a,g]quinolizinium propanol 15 was prepared enantioselectively in three steps from dihydroisoquinoline 11. Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 11 in the presence of triethylamine/formic acid and Noyori's chiral ruthenium catalyst 12 produced R-(-)-5',8-dimethoxynorlaudanosine (13) in 98% yield and 87% ee. Pictet-Spengler cyclization of 13 in formalin/formic acid afforded the dibenzo[a,g]quinolizine 14 in 65% yield. Quaternization of 14 with 3-chloro-1-propanol under Finkelstein conditions generated cis-dibenzoquinolizinium propanol 15 in 85% yield with >94% cis-selectivity. The cis-dibenzo[a,h]quinolizinium propanol 16 was obtained as a single stereoisomer by reaction of the known tetramethoxyquinolizine 9 with neat 3-iodo-1-propanol. Bis-onium chlorofumarates 18 and 19 and the mixed-onium derivative 20ab were prepared by a pool synthesis procedure from (1R)-trans-6a, 16, and chlorofumaryl chloride (17). Mixed-onium alpha-chlorofumarate 26 was synthesized from (1S)-trans-6d, 15 and (+/-)-trans-2,3-dichlorosuccinic anhydride (22), employing a recently disclosed chlorofumarate mixed-diester synthesis. The title compounds (19, 20ab, and 26) displayed curare-like effects of ultrashort duration in rhesus monkeys.     

A semi-quantitative method for the determination of microgram amounts of manganese on millipore filters

A method is described in which the intensity of coloration of brown manganese dioxide on white Millipore filters is taken as the measure of the manganese content. A solution of manganese(II) is made strongly basic, whereupon manganese dioxide precipitates via its auto-oxidation. Optimum conditions for the precipitation are studied. Less than 0.5 μg of manganese can be determined.     

ViscosityB-coefficients,structural entropies and heat capacities,and the effects of ions on the structure of water

The water-structural contributions to the entropies and heat capacities of hydration of over 120 ions and the viscosity B-coefficients of nearly 80 aqueous ions are tabulated and correlated. B-coefficients for many more ions are predicted from this relationship and from their dependence on ionic size and charge. The structural entropies determine a unique scale of water structure making and breaking by the ions.     

Validation of the density-functional based tight-binding approximation method for the calculation of reaction energies and other data

We investigated the performance of the approximative density functional method DFTB versus BLYP and G2 with respect to zero-point corrected reaction energies, vibrational frequencies, and geometry parameters for a set of 28 reactions and 22 representative molecules containing C, H, N, and O (DFTB--density-functional based tight-binding approximation). The DFTB reaction energies show a mean absolute deviation versus the G2 reference of 4.3 kcalmol only. The corresponding value for the vibrational frequencies amounts to 75 cm(-1) versus BLYP/cc-pVTZ. With very few exceptions bond lengths and angles are in excellent agreement with the results of higher-level methods.     

Neue neutrale und kationische Mono‐Aziridin‐Komplexe des Typs [CpMn(CO)2Az], [CpCr(NO)2Az]+ und [(Ph3P)(CO)4ReAz]+ über CO‐, Hydrid‐ und Chlorid‐Abspaltungsreaktionen

Novel Neutral and Cationic Mono‐Aziridine Complexes of the Type [CpMn(CO)₂Az], [CpCr(NO)₂Az]⁺, and [(Ph₃P)(CO)₄ReAz]⁺ via CO‐, Hydride‐, and Chloride‐Elimination Reactions The monoaziridine complexes 1 — 5 are obtained by three differently induced substitution reactions. The photolytically induced CO substitution reaction of [CpMn(CO)₃] with 2, 2‐dimethylaziridine leads to the neutral N‐coordinate aziridine complex [Cp(CO)₂Mn{$\overline{N(H)CMe₂C}$ H₂}] ( 1 ). The protonation of [(Ph₃P)(CO)₄ReH] with CF₃SO₃H and consecutive treatment with 2, 2‐dimethylaziridine or 2‐ethylaziridine gives the salt‐like aziridine complexes [(Ph₃P)(CO)₄Re{$\overline{N(H)CMe₂C}$ H₂}](CF₃SO₃) ( 2 ) or [(Ph₃P)(CO)₄Re{ H₂}](CF₃SO₃) ( 3 ) by hydride elimination reactions. The like‐wise salt‐like complexes [Cp(NO)₂Cr{$\overline{N(H)CMe₂C}$ H₂}](BF₄) ( 4 ) and [Cp(NO)₂Cr{ H₂}](CF₃SO₃) ( 5 ) are synthesized from [CpCr(NO)₂Cl] by chloride elimination with AgX (X = BF₄, CF₃SO₃) in the presence of 2, 2‐dimethylaziridine or 2‐ethylaziridine, respectively. As a result of X‐ray structure analyses, the metal atoms are trigonal pyramidally ( 1, 4, 5 ) or octahedrally ( 2, 3 , cis‐position) configurated; the intact three‐membered rings coordinate through the distorted tetrahedrally configurated N atoms. All compounds 1‐5 are stable with respect to the directed thermal alkene elimination to give the corresponding nitrene complexes; the IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR, and MS spectra are reported and discussed.     

A proposal for the mechanism-of-action of diazoparaquinone natural products

Treatment of the representative diazoparaquinone prekinamycin dimethyl ether with Bu3SnH/AIBN in aromatic solvents furnishes moderate-to-good yields of formal aryl adducts wherein a molecule of solvent is attached to the carbon (C(11)) previously bearing the diazo function. Substituent studies provide evidence in support of a radical aromatic substitution mechanism, in which radical addition to the diazoparaquinone function generates an intermediate C(11) vinylic radical.     

Exploring the local conformational space of a membrane protein by site-directed spin labeling

Molecular modeling based on a hybrid evolutionary optimization and an information condensation algorithm, called GHOST, of spin label ESR spectra was applied to study the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins. The new method is capable of providing detailed molecular information about the conformational space of the spin-labeled segment of the protein in a membrane system. The method is applied to spin-labeled bacteriophage M13 major coat protein, which is used as a model membrane protein. Single cysteine mutants of the coat protein were labeled with nitroxide spin labels and incorporated in 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) bilayers. The new computational method allows us to monitor distributions of local spatial constraints and molecular mobility, in addition to information about the location of the protein in a membrane. Furthermore, the results suggest that different local conformations may coexist in the membrane protein. The knowledge of different local conformations may help us to better understand the function-structure relationship of membrane proteins.     

Preferred dimerization of tetra-tolyl- and tetra-tosylurea derivatives of flexible and rigidified calix[4]arenes

The dimerization of tetratolyl- and tetratosyl-urea derivatives 1 and 2, derived from a tetrapentoxy calix[4]arene in the cone conformation and of the corresponding tetra-urea derivatives 3 and 4, in which the cone conformation is rigidified by the two crown-3 tethers, have been studied. All six possible equimolar mixtures were examined by 1H NMR using CDCl3 and CD2Cl2 as solvents. While no heterodimers are found for the combinations 1/3 and 2/4 in either solvent, all remaining combinations lead to the (exclusive) formation of heterodimers in CD2Cl2. In CDCl3 heterodimers are only observed for the combinations of 3 with 2 or 4. These results are discussed in terms of entropic and enthalpic contributions and compared with MD-simulations in a box of chloroform solvent molecules.