Single electron transfer events and dynamical heterogeneity in the small protein azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Monitoring the fluorescence of single-dye-labeled azurin molecules, we observed the reaction of azurin with hexacyanoferrate under controlled redox potential yielding data on the timing of individual (forward and backward) electron transfer (ET) events. Change-point analysis of the time traces demonstrates significant fluctuations of ET rates and of mid-point potential E₀. These fluctuations are a signature of dynamical heterogeneity, here observed on a 14 kDa protein, the smallest to date. By correlating changes in forward and backward reaction rates we found that 6% of the observed change events could be explained by a change in midpoint potential, while for 25% a change of the donor–acceptor coupling could explain the data. The remaining 69% are driven by variations in complex association constants or structural changes that cause forward and back ET rates to vary independently. Thus, the observed spread in individual ET rates could be related in a unique way to variations in molecular parameters. The relevance for the understanding of metabolic processes is briefly discussed.

Observing electron transfer events in individual azurin molecules, we relate the spread in transfer rates in a unique way to variations in molecular parameters.     

Chromatographic determination of sulfasalazine and its active metabolites: greenness assessment and application to spiked human plasma

Green TLC-densitometric and RP-HPLC methods were developed and validated for the determination of the active prodrug sulfasalazine (SZ), its active metabolite mesalazine (MZ) and the major active metabolite of mesalazine, N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid (AS). In the developed TLC-densitometric method, chromatographic separation was carried out on TLC silica gel plates 60 F₂₅₄ using a developing system consisting of ethyl acetate–methanol–ammonia solution 33% (8:2.5:0.3, by volume) and then scanning the separated bands at 215 nm using hydrochlorothiazide as an internal standard with linearity ranges of 0.4–3, 0.4–2.4 and 0.3–2 for SZ, MZ and AS, respectively. The developed RP-HPLC method depended on chromatographic separation using a C₁₈ column with a solvent mixture of methanol–aqueous acetic acid solution (pH 5) as a mobile phase with gradient elution mode and UV scanning at 243 nm using pyrazinamide as internal standard with linearity ranges of 5–50, 5–40, and 3–20 for SZ, MZ and AS, respectively. US Food and Drug Administration guidelines were followed during validation of the methods. The greenness of the developed methods was estimated using the greenness profile and the Eco-Scale approach. Both methods passed the four quadrants of the greenness profile and had Eco-Scale score ˃75, thus they were considered to be green according to these approaches.     

Synthesis of 3-methoxyazetidines via an aziridine to azetidine rearrangement and theoretical rationalization of the reaction mechanism

The synthetic utility of N-alkylidene-(2,3-dibromo-2-methylpropyl)amines and N-(2,3-dibromo-2-methylpropylidene)benzylamines was demonstrated by the unexpected synthesis of 3-methoxy-3-methylazetidines upon treatment with sodium borohydride in methanol under reflux through a rare aziridine to azetidine rearrangement. These findings stand in contrast to the known reactivity of the closely related N-alkylidene-(2,3-dibromopropyl)amines, which are easily converted into 2-(bromomethyl)aziridines under the same reaction conditions. A thorough insight into the reaction mechanism was provided by both experimental study and theoretical rationalization.     

A new DMAP-catalyzed and microwave-assisted approach for introducing heteroarylamino substituents at position-4 of the quinazoline ring

We report herein a new methodology for synthesizing quinazoline derivatives bearing a heteroarylamino moiety at position-4 of the quinazoline ring. As an alternative to the Buchwald–Hartwig cross-coupling reaction, which appears, until now, as the only efficient way to react 4-chloroquinazolines with numerous amino nitrogen-containing heterocycles displaying poor nucleophilicity, we developed a DMAP-catalyzed reaction involving microwave irradiation. Optimization of the reaction conditions led to the use of 30 mol % of DMAP in toluene, using a monomode microwave reactor and sealed vials. Moreover, the S_NAr reaction intermediate salt was isolated and fully characterized. Finally, the procedure was extended to two different 2-substituted-quinazoline series and also to various anilines, demonstrating that this approach was a general efficient way to access to such 4-substituted quinazoline scaffolds of high pharmaceutical interest.     

[1] Benzofuro[2,3-d] pyridazines. VI. Etude des reactions de scission des acyltetrahydrobenzofuropyridazones

The cleavage of the pyridazine ring of the acyltetrahydro [1] benzofuro [2,3-d] pyridazones was carried out by hydrolysis, alcoholysis or aminolysis reactions and they affect the lactam 3,4-bond. They lead chiefly to benzofuran derivatives with acid, ester, amide or hydrazide groups in the 2-position and eventually an acylated methylhydrazine group in the 3-position. The cyclization reactions of 3-hydrazinomethylbenzofuran-2-carboxylic acid and its derivatives or ethyl 3-bromome thylbenzofuran-2-carboxylate affords tetrahydrobenzofuropyridazones. The nmr spectra were studied.     

Isolement de l'acide 3-amino 12-methyl tetradecanoique et de l'acide 3-amino 12-methyl tridecanoique a partir de l'iturine,antibiotique de Bacillus subtilis

lturin, a peptide antibiotic from Bacillus subtilis, was separated into three iturins: A, B, C by thin-layer chromatography. Iturin A, which has an antifungal activity, contains Asp, Glu, Tyr, Ser, Pro in a molar ratio 3:1:1:1:1 and a lipid moiety AL. The latter was shown to be a mixture of C₁₄ (40%) and C₁₅, (60%) amino-acids. The structure of these was determined by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the N-acetylmethyl esters. Strong peaks at m/e = 144 and m/e = 102 indicate a β-amino group. Identification of acetone and methylethylketone after chromic acid oxidation indicates an iso and anteiso structure. After comparison of the natural amino-acids with synthetic 3-amino pentadecanoic acid it is concluded that the lipid AL is a mixture of 3-amino 12- methyltetradecanoic acid and 3-amino 12-methyltridecanoic acid.     

Parallel Breakup of Polymer Drops under Simple Shear

The deformation and breakup of a single polycarbonate drop in a polyethylene matrix is studied at high temperatures under simple shear flow using a transparent Couette device. We observed “parallel breakup” where the drop breaks after being stretched into a thin sheet parallel to the flow. The breakup occurs at a viscosity ratio greater than 3.5. Deborah number and a stress ratio incorporating elastic moduli can characterize the “parallel breakup”.

Deformation and breakup of a polycarbonate drop in a polyethylene matrix.     

Conformations of 2-phenylethanol and its singly hydrated complexes: UV–UV and IR–UV ion-dip spectroscopy

The structures of 2-phenylethanol and its 1:1 water complexes have been investigated by UV–UV holeburning and IR–UV ion-dip spectroscopy, coupled with ab initio computation. The most populated molecular conformer is stabilized by an intramolecular π-type H-bond and its rotational band contours suggest the incidence of vibronic coupling involving motion of the side chain. Its 1:1 water complexes are associated with two distinct structures – water binds either as a proton donor or an acceptor. In the latter, the intramolecular H-bond is disrupted and the water molecule inserts between the OH and the aromatic ring. A second, extended anti conformer can also be detected.     

Synthesis of some isomeric 4,11-dihydro-5H-[1]benzoxocino[4,3-d] or [3,4-c]isoxazol-5-ones and isomeric 4,5,10,11-tetrahydrobenzo[5,6]-cycloocta[2,1-d] or [1,2-c]isoxazol-5-ones

The title compounds were prepared by acid-catalyzed cyclization of aryloxymethyl- or (2-arylethyl)-4-carboxymethylisoxazoles which in turn were synthesized from aryloxymethyl- or (2-arylethyl)isoxazole-4-carboxylic acids by Arndt-Eistert homologation.