Templating Irreversible Covalent Macrocyclization by Using Anions

Inorganic anions were used as templates in the reaction between a diamine and an activated diacid to form macrocyclic amides. The reaction conditions were found to perform the macrocyclization sufficiently slow to observe a template effect. A number of analytical methods were used to clarify the reaction mechanisms and to show that the structure of the intermediate plays a decisive role in determining the product distribution. For the macrocyclization under kinetic control, it was shown that the amount of a template, the conformational rigidity of building blocks, and the anion affinities of reaction components and intermediates are important parameters that one should take into consideration to achieve high yields.     

[6,6]‐Open and [6,6]‐Closed Isomers of C70(CF2): Synthesis,Electrochemical and Quantum Chemical Investigation

Novel difluoromethylenated [70]fullerene derivatives, C₇₀(CF₂)_n (n=1–3), were obtained by the reaction of C₇₀ with sodium difluorochloroacetate. Two major products, isomeric C₇₀(CF₂) mono‐adducts with [6,6]‐open and [6,6]‐closed configurations, were isolated and their homofullerene and methanofullerene structures were reliably determined by a variety of methods that included X‐ray analysis and high‐level spectroscopic techniques. The [6,6]‐open isomer of C₇₀(CF₂) constitutes the first homofullerene example of a non‐hetero [70]fullerene derivative in which functionalisation involves the most reactive bond in the polar region of the cage. Voltammetric estimation of the electron affinity of the C₇₀(CF₂) isomers showed that it is substantially higher for the [6,6]‐open isomer (the 70‐electron π‐conjugated system is retained) than the [6,6]‐closed form, the latter being similar to the electron affinity of pristine C₇₀. In situ ESR spectroelectrochemical investigation of the C₇₀(CF₂) radical anions and DFT calculations of the hyperfine coupling constants provide evidence for the first example of an inter‐conversion between the [6,6]‐closed and [6,6]‐open forms of a cage‐modified fullerene driven by an electrochemical one‐electron transfer. Thus, [6,6]‐closed C₇₀(CF₂) constitutes an interesting example of a redox‐switchable fullerene derivative.     

High dynamic range proteome imaging with the structured illumination gel imager

A current challenge for proteomics is detecting proteins over the large concentration ranges found in complex biological samples such as whole‐cell extracts. Currently, no unbiased, whole‐proteome analysis scheme is capable of detecting the full range of cellular proteins. This is due in part to the limited dynamic range of the detectors used to sense proteins or peptides. We present a new technology, structured illumination (SI) gel imager, which detects fluorescently labeled proteins in electrophoretic gels over a 1 000 000‐fold concentration range. SI uses computer‐generated masks to attenuate the illumination of highly abundant proteins, allowing for long exposures of low‐abundance proteins, thus avoiding detector saturation. A series of progressively masked gel images are assembled into a single, very high dynamic range image. We demonstrate that the SI imager can detect proteins over a concentration range of approximately 1 000 000‐fold, making it a useful tool for comprehensive, unbiased proteome‐wide surveys.     

2DE‐based approach for estimation of number of protein species in a cell

Insufficient sensitivity of methods for detection of proteins at a single molecule level does not yet allow obtaining the whole image of human proteome. But to go further, we need at least to know the proteome size, or how many different protein species compose this proteome. This is the task that could be at least partially realized by the method described in this article. The approach used in our study is based on detection of protein spots in 2DE after staining by protein dyes with various sensitivities. As the different protein spots contain different protein species, counting the spots opens a way for estimation of number of protein species. The function representing the dependence of the number of protein spots on sensitivity or LOD of protein dyes was generated. And extrapolation of this function curve to theoretical point of the maximum sensitivity (detection of a single smallest polypeptide) allowed to counting the number of different molecules (polypeptide species) at the concentration level of a single polypeptide per proteome. Using this approach, it was estimated that the minimal numbers of protein species for model objects, Escherichia coli and Pirococcus furiosus, are 6200 and 3400, respectively. We expect a single human cell (HepG2) to contain minimum 70 000 protein species.     

A concise approach to CF3-containing furan-3-ones, (bis)pyrazoles from novel fluorinated building blocks based on 2,3-butanedione

1,1,1-Trifluoro-4,5,5-trimethoxyhex-3-en-2-one and lithium (2Z)-1,1,1-trifluoro-5,5-dialkoxy-4-oxohex-2-en-2-olate were synthesized for the first time via direct trifluoroacetylation of 2,3-butanedione acetal derivatives. A simple and effective approach to acetal or acyl substituted CF₃-pyrazoles, 5,5′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3,3′-bipyrazole, and, to 5-trifluoromethylfuran-3-ones is presented.     

Application of positron spectroscopy for investigation of threshold space of oil-gas rocks

This article considers the possibility of applying the positron annihilation spectroscopy method for investigating the pore space of rocks from oil-gas and methane-coal deposits. The diagnostics of the structure was performed using the method of spectrometry of angular correlation of annihilation rays (ACAR). Using the samples of porous silicon, the authors have shown the applicability of the ACAR method for determination of the average dimensions of spherical and cylindrical nanosized objects and their concentration      

Dynamic and molecular association in premicellar aqueous solutions of dicarboxylate amino acid-based surfactant as studied by 1H NMR

We examined a series of amino acid-based surfactants with two carboxylic groups separated by a spacer of one, two, or three carbon atoms with sodium and calcium counterions in the premicellar concentration region near the CMC. ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and NMR diffusometry techniques were used to study the local environment, association, and translational dynamics of the surfactant's molecules. We measured the self-diffusion coefficients of the micelles, calculated the effective hydrodynamic radii, and determined the temperature region in which the premicelles exist. With an increase in temperature from 295 to 335 K, the premicellar state of the surfactant is replaced by the monomeric state.     

New Luminescent Lanthanide Tetrakis-Complexes NEt4[LnL4] Based on Dimethyl-N-Benzoylamidophosphate

New lanthanide dimethyl-N-benzoylamidophosphate (HL) based tetrakis-complexes NEt₄[LnL₄] (Ln³⁺=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy) are reported. The complexes are characterized by means of NMR, IR, absorption, and luminescent spectroscopy as well as by elemental, X-Ray, and thermal gravimetric analyses. The phenyl groups of the four ligands of the complex anion are directed towards one side, while the methoxy groups are directed in the opposite side, which makes the complexes under consideration structurally similar to calixarenes. The effect of changing the alkali metal counterion to the organic cation NEt₄⁺ on the structure and properties of the tetrakis-complex [LnL4]^- is analyzed. The complexes exhibit bright characteristic for respective lanthanides luminescence. Rather high intensity of the band of ⁵D₀→⁷F₄ transition, observed in the luminescence spectrum of NEt₄[EuL₄], is discussed based on theoretical calculations.     

Antiprotozoal and Antibacterial Activity of Ravenelin,a Xanthone Isolated from the Endophytic Fungus Exserohilum rostratum

The natural compound ravenelin was isolated from the biomass extracts of Exserohilum rostratum fungus, and its antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, and trypanocidal activities were evaluated. Ravenelin was isolated by column chromatography and HPLC and identified by NMR and MS. The susceptibility of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains to ravenelin was determined by microbroth dilution assay. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) and BALB/c peritoneal macrophages by using MTT. SYBR Green I-based assay was used in the asexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Trypanocidal activity was tested against the epimastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Ravenelin was active against Gram-positive bacteria strains, with emphasis on Bacillus subtilis (MIC value of 7.5 µM). Ravenelin’s antiparasitic activities were assessed against both the epimastigote (IC₅₀ value of 5 ± 1 µM) and the intracellular amastigote forms of T. cruzi (IC₅₀ value of 9 ± 2 µM), as well as against P. falciparum (IC₅₀ value of 3.4 ± 0.4 µM). Ravenelin showed low cytotoxic effects on both HepG2 (CC₅₀ > 50 µM) and peritoneal macrophage (CC₅₀ = 185 ± 1 µM) cells with attractive selectivity for the parasites (SI values > 15). These findings indicate that ravenelin is a natural compound with both antibacterial and antiparasitic activities, and considerable selectivity indexes. Therefore, ravenelin is an attractive candidate for hit-to-lead development.