A potent and highly selective sulfotransferase inhibitor

In the present work, we have used a newly developed, fluorescence-based assay to screen a library of >30 000 compounds as potential beta-arylsulfotransferase-IV inhibitors. A total of 11 inhibitors were discovered. Most of the compounds discovered showed low micromolar inhibition, but one of the compounds showed potent inhibition (Ki = 96 nM). The most potent of these inhibitors was tested against a variety of other purine binding enzymes and showed remarkable specificity.     

Synthesis and use of alpha-silyl-substituted alpha-hydroxyacetic acids

[reaction: see text] Rhodium-catalyzed oxygen transfer was used to generate benzyl 2-silyl-2-oxoacetates in good yields. The hydrogenation of these compounds led to chiral alpha-silyl-substituted alpha-hydroxyacetic acids. Resolution by means of HPLC using a chiral stationary phase afforded an enantiomerically pure representative of this class of compounds, which was successfully applied as a chiral ligand in an asymmetric aldol-type reaction.     

The unrestricted natural orbital-restricted active space method: methodology and implementation

The full configuration interaction method in the space of fractionally occupied unrestricted natural orbitals (UNO-CAS method) is extended to excited states as well as to strongly correlated and reactive systems with large active spaces. This is accomplished by␣using restricted active space (RAS) wave functions introduced by Olsen et al. [(1988) J Chem Phys 89: 2185] and using the UNOs without the expensive orbital optimization step. In RAS, the space of active orbitals is subdivided into three groups: a group with essentially doubly occupied orbitals (RAS1), the usual CAS space (RAS2), and a space with weakly occupied active orbitals (RAS3). We select these spaces on the basis of the occupation numbers of the UNOs. All possible electron distributions are allowed in the usual CAS space, but the number of vacancies is limited in RAS1 and the number of electrons is limited in RAS3. We discuss an efficient algorithm for generating a RAS wave function. This is based on the Handy-Knowles determinantal expansion with an addressing scheme adopted for the restricted expansion. Results for both ground and excited states of azulene and free base porphyrin are presented. Received: 16 July 1998 / Accepted: 7 August 1998 / Published online: 19 October 1998     

Push-pull effects and emission from ternary complexes of platinum(II), substituted terpyridines, and the strong-field cyanide ion

As part of an effort to develop new lumaphors involving late transition metal ions, this report describes the synthesis and characterization of the first platinum(II) derivatives containing 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (trpy) and cyanide as co-ligands. According to existing models, including cyanide in the coordination sphere should raise the energies and minimize the influence of short-lived d-d excited states that otherwise compromise the excited-state lifetime. Both [Pt(trpy)(CN)]+ and the 4'-cyano-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine analogue [Pt(CN-T)(CN)]+ are emissive in dichloromethane solution, but the signals are weak. Part of the problem is that the d-pi* charge-transfer excited states also rise in energy, so that the emission actually originates from a (3)pi-pi* state with a relatively low radiative rate constant. However, another member of the series, the 4'-dimethylamino-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (dma-T) derivative [Pt(dma-T)(CN)]+, proves to be a very promising platform with an emission quantum yield of phi= 0.26 and an excited-state lifetime of tau = 22 micros in room-temperature, deoxygenated dichloromethane solution. In the dma-T complex the electron-rich dimethylamino substituent provides the basis for an emissive, but largely ligand-based, charge-transfer excited state. The orbital parentage is such that the photoluminescence persists in donating solvents like dimethylformamide, which ordinarily quenches d-pi* excited states in complexes of this type.     

Stress driven shear bands and the effect of confinement on their structures--a rheological, flow visualization, and Rheo-SALS study

An equimolar mixture of a cationic surfactant, cetylperidinium chloride (CPyCl), and salt sodium salicylate (NaSal) forms wormlike micelles in aqueous solutions. Under shear, the solution shows a pronounced shear-thickening behavior, which is coupled with oscillations in shear rate and the apparent viscosity. In this shear-thickening regime shear bands form, which also oscillate in position and intensity. These shear bands are visualized by direct imaging and Rheo-small angle light scattering methods. Temporal intensity fluctuations of the shear bands were evaluated using image analysis. Fourier transformations (FT) of the oscillating shear rate and intensity of the shear bands showed a single dominating frequency in the power spectrum analysis. This characteristic frequency as well as the amplitude of shear rate fluctuation was found to increase with stress. From the rheological and optical measurements, we propose that a stress driven mechanism is responsible for the formation of shear bands. Experiments performed in transparent parallel-plate geometry show dampening of the shear rate oscillations and increase in the characteristic frequency with decrease in the gap. Power spectrum analysis and the SALS measurements confirm the formation of different structures as a function of gap size in the parallel-plate geometry.     

Calculated structures and relative stabilities of furoxan,some 1,2-dinitrosoethylenes and other isomers

The structures and relative stabilities of furoxan and some of its isomers, e.g., the 1,2-dinitrosoethylenes, have been determined by means of ab initio Hartee–Fock and Møller–Plesset calculations. Geometries were optimized at the HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G* and MP2/6-31G* levels, and subsequently used for computing MP2/6-31G*, MP3/6-31G*, and MP4/6-31G* energies. The results are markedly affected by the inclusion of electronic correlation, which renders three of the isomers unstable. It also emphasizes the importance of a zwitterionic contribution to the structure of furoxan, which promotes ring-opening through a cis 1,2-dinitrosoethylene intermediate/transition state that has an MP4/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* energy that is 31.6 kcal/mol above furoxan.     

Expert systems for method development and validation in HPLC

ESCA, Expert Systems Applied to Chemical Analysis, started its research in March 1987, with the aim of building prototype expert systems for HPLC method development. Results of this research have been published as the work has progressed. The project is now completed and this paper summarises some of the overall project conclusions. Seven different expert systems have been built which tackle problems throughout the process of method development, four stand-alone systems and three integrated systems. The object of ESCA was to evaluate the applicability of expert system technology to analytical chemistry and not all the systems were built for commercial uses. Many of the systems tackle problems specific to one or more of the partners and thus may not be useful outside this environment. However, the results of the work are still pertinent to analysts wishing to build their own systems. These results are described, however, the emphasis of the paper is on those systems developed for method validation.Method validation for HPLC is a complex task which requires many characteristics of the method to be tested, e.g. accuracy, precision, etc. The expert systems built within ESCA concern the validation of precision. Two systems were developed for repeatability testing and ruggedness testing. The method validation process can be divided into several discrete stages, these include: (1) The selection of the method feature to test, for instance which factors can influence the ruggedness of a method. (2) The definition of a test procedure, for instance an efficient statistical design. (3) The execution of experiments and the interpretation of results. (4) A diagnosis of any observed problem. This paper describes these two systems in some detail and summarises some of the results obtained from their evaluation. It concludes that expert systems can be useful in solving analytical problems and the integration of several expert systems can provide extremely powerful tools for the analyst.     

Abbau von Palustrin zu (−)-Dihydropalustraminsäure ((2R, 6S, 1′S)-[6-(1′-Hydroxypropyl)-2-piperidyl]essigsäure) und Struktur von Palustrin und Palustridin. Mitteilung über Schachtelhalmalkaloide

Degradation of palustrin to (?)-dihydropalustramic acid ((2R,6S,1′S)-[6-(1′-hydroxypropyl)-2-piperidyl]acetic acid), and the structure of palustrin and palustridin The structure of the macrocyclic alkaloid palustrin is shown to be 1a . Its piperidine unit can be obtained as (?)-dihydropalustramic acid ( 6a ) by the following sequence of degradation reactions (Scheme 1): catalytic hydrogenation of 1a followed by methylation and Hofmann degradation provides the allyl base 4 . the regioselectivity of the Hofmann elimination is explained by intramolecular proton abstraction at C(3) by C(18)-O^?. Catalytic reduction of 4 and subsequent acidic hydrolysis yielded 6a and N, N-dimethylputrescine (?N,N-dimethyl-1,4-butanediamine; 7 ). Loss of the N-alkyl group in the formation of 6a occurs during the catalytic hydrogenation step. This interpretation is supported by the results of model experiments. The position of the double bond in 1a is deduced from the IR. spectrum of the bromo-δ-lactone 19 prepared by treatment of 1a with N-bromosuccinimide at pH 4 (Scheme 3). Some of our previously published results on the degradation of dihydropalustrin ( 2a ) are obviously at variance with the newly proposed structure for palustrin ( 1a ). They can easily be explained by assuming a partial hydrogenolysis of the C(17)-N(1) bond during the preparation of dihydropalustrin from palustrin. Periodate cleavage of dihydropalustramic acid methyl ester ( 6b ) liberates propionaldehyde, which can be trapped by working at pH 7.5 (Scheme 2); at lower pH values it condenses rapidly with the simultaneously generated 3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine derivative 15 . The structure of the condensation product is proposed to be 16 on the basis of the isolation of its hydrogenation product, an isomeric dihydropalustramic acid ( 17 ).     

Interpretation of CALUX results in view of the EU maximal TEQ level in milk

Analyses of dioxins in food have become increasingly important since the European Commission has enforced maximal toxic equivalent concentration (TEQ) levels in various food and feed products. Screening methodologies are usually used to exempt those samples that are below the maximum permitted limit and that can, therefore, be released to the market. In addition, one needs to select those samples that require confirmation of their dioxin TEQ level. When bioassays are used as screening tools, the interpretation of the obtained results should consider the higher variability and uncertainty associated with them. This paper explores the use of CALUX data as quantitative screening results. The validation of the method for the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD)/F TEQ determination in milk samples is described with emphasis on the decision limit (CC) and the precision of the method. The decision limit amounts to 4.53 pg TEQ/g fat. Repeatability and within-lab reproducibility coefficients of variation are below 30%. The newly introduced parameter CC^* of 1.47 pg TEQ/g fat delimits with CC a range of suspicious results. These data are not significantly different from the maximum limit of 3 pg TEQ/g fat and should be confirmed by a confirmatory analytical method such as HRGC–HRMS.