Role of secondary structure in the asymmetric acylation reaction catalyzed by peptides based on chiral C alpha-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acids

In a recent series of papers, Miller and co-workers were able to show that His(pi-Me)-based, terminally protected peptides are potent catalysts of the asymmetric acyl transfer reaction, useful for the kinetic resolution of alcohols. In a structure-supporting solvent, one of the most active compounds, an Aib-containing tetrapeptide, is folded in a doubly intramolecularly H-bonded beta-hairpin motif incorporating a type-II' beta-turn conformation. In this work, we have expanded the study of the Miller tetrapeptide by examining a set of analogues and shorter sequences (dipeptide amides), characterized by chiral C(alpha)-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acids of diverging bulkiness and optical configuration. Peptide synthesis in solution, conformational analysis by FT-IR absorption and (1)H NMR techniques, and screening of catalytic activity as well have been performed. Our results confirm the close relationship between the beta-hairpin 3D-structure and the catalytic activity of the peptides. A tetrapeptide analogue slightly more selective than the Miller compound has been found. However, the terminally protected, industrially more appealing, dipeptide amides are poorly effective.     

Pressurized liquid extracts from Spirulina platensis microalga. Determination of their antioxidant activity and preliminary analysis by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

In this work, different extracts from the microalga Spirulina platensis are obtained using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and four different solvents (hexane, light petroleum, ethanol and water). Different extraction temperatures (115 and 170 degrees C) were tested using extraction times ranging from 9 to 15 min. The antioxidant activity of the different extracts is determined by means of an in vitro assay using a free radical method. Moreover, a new and fast method is developed using micellar electrokinetic chromatography with diode array detection (MEKC-DAD) to provide a preliminary analysis on the composition of the extracts. This combined application (i.e., in vitro assays plus MEKC-DAD) allowed the fast characterization of the extracts based on their antioxidant activity and the UV-vis spectra of the different compounds found in the extracts. To our knowledge, this work shows for the first time the great possibilities of the combined use of PLE-in vitro assay-MEKC-DAD to investigate natural sources of antioxidants.     

Formation of a cyclobutylidene ring: intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of allyl and vinylidene C=C bonds under mild conditions

Intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of two C=C bonds in vinylidene complexes [Ru(eta5-C9H7){=C=C(R)H}(PPh3){kappa1-(P)-PPh2(C3H5)][BF4] affords cyclobutylidene complexes [Ru(eta5-C9H7){kappa2-(P,C)-(=CC(R)HCH2CHCH2PPh2)}(PPh3)][BF4], which can be also obtained by reaction of terminal alkynes with [Ru(eta5-C9H7)(PPh3){kappa3-(P,C,C)-PPh2(C3H5)}][PF6]. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions via vinylidene complexes, and the activation parameters were determined by kinetic studies.     

Critical Points in a Crystal and Procrystal

The critical points in the model electron density distributions of LiF, NaF, NaCl, and MgO crystals, constructed from accurate X-ray diffraction data, are determined. For LiF and MgO they are compared with those obtained from a Hartree–Fock electron density calculation. Both experiment and theory show the same type of critical points on the bond lines. The topological features in areas between structural units, where the electron density is low and near-uniform, turn out to be model dependent and cannot be established well with the data available. Topological analysis of procrystals (hypothetical systems consisting of spherical atoms or ions placed on the same sites as atoms in real crystal) show that (3, –1) critical points, usually connected with bonding interaction, are observed on interatomic lines in these nonbonded systems as well.     

The effect of the trifluoropropyl group in polysiloxane stationary phases used for capillary gas chromatography

Four poly(methyl 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl siloxanes) with trifluoro-propyl group content (group substitution) between 8 and 35 percent have been synthesized and characterized as stationary phases for gas chromatography in borosilicate glass capillary columns. Results are compared with those from two commercial stationary phases–a polydimethylsiloxane and a poly(methyl 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl siloxane) with a fifty percent trifluoropropyl group content (group substitution). Retention index values, McReynolds constants, polarity (as defined by McReynolds) and retention polarity (as defined by Takács) increase regularly with the trifluoropropyl group content of the stationary phase. The temperature coefficient of the retention indices of the McReynolds probes, and that of the polarities, have been determined at temperatures between 60 and 180 °C. Specific retention volumes do not follow the linear dependence on trifluoropropyl group content observed for retention indices or polarities. Substances with electron-donor groups show maximum retention for a trifluoropropyl group content of ca 30%, whereas the retention of hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds, and alcohols decreases as the degree of trifluoropropyl group substitution increases from 0 to 50%. It is felt that a polysiloxane with a trifluoropropyl group content of ca 30 to 35% would be the best choice for the separation of ketones, nitro compounds or amines.     

Effect of pH on the Encapsulation of the Salicylic Acid / Salicylate System by Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin at 25 °c. A Fluorescence Enhancement Study in Aqueous Solutions

The encapsulation of the acid/base conjugated system salicylic acid(HSA)/salicylate (SA^-) by hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HPBCD) has beenstudied through fluorescence emission enhancement measurements in aqueoussolutions at 25 °C. With the aim of analyzing the crucial importance ofa proper and cautious choice of the pH of the medium (i.e. choice of thebuffer), the study has been carried out at pH = 1, 2, 4 and 7. Since the pK_a of the HSA/SA^- system is 2.95 at 25 °C, the presence of the protonated(HSA) and non-protonated (SA^-) forms suitable for inclusion by cyclodextrinvary appreciably within the different pH conditions: 99% HSA,1% SA^- at pH = 1, 90% HSA, 10% SA^- at pH = 2,10% HSA, 90% SA^- at pH = 4, and 0% HSA,100% SA- at pH =7. The association constants K CD : HSA and K _{CD: SA-} have been determined in all cases by using a nonlinear regressionanalysis of the experimental data at three different ^em. The effectof the pH of the medium on all the equilibria involved as well as in the Kvalues is fully discussed. The 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) +-cyclodextrin (-CD) system, widely reported in literature, hasinitially been studied to check the experimental protocol and the numericalmethod.     

Reactivity of molybdenum and rhenium hydroxo-carbonyl complexes toward organic electrophiles

The hydroxo compounds [Re(OH)(CO)(3)(N-N)] (N-N=bipy, 2 a; Me(2)-bipy, 2 b) were prepared in a biphasic H(2)O/CH(2)Cl(2) medium by reaction of [Re(OTf)(CO)(3)(N-N)] with KOH. In contrast, when anhydrous CH(2)Cl(2) was used, the binuclear hydroxo-bridged compound [[Re(CO)(3)(bipy)](2)(mu-OH)]OTf (3-OTf) was obtained. Compound [Re(OH)(CO)(3)(Me(2)-bipy)] (2 b) reacted with phenyl acetate or vinyl acetate to afford [Re(OAc)(CO)(3)(Me(2)-bipy)] (4) and phenol or acetaldehyde, respectively. The reactions of [Mo(OH)(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)] (1), 2 a, and 2 b toward several unsaturated organic electrophiles were studied. The reaction of 1 with (p-tolyl)isocyanate afforded an adduct of N,N'-di(p-tolyl)urea and the carbonato-bridged compound [[Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)](2)(mu-eta(1)(O),eta(1)(O)-CO(3))] (5). In contrast, the reaction of 2 a with phenylisocyanate afforded [Re(OC(O)NHPh)(CO)(3)(bipy)] (6); this results from formal PhNCO insertion into the O-H bond. On the other hand, compounds [Mo[SC(O)NH(p-tolyl)](eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)] (7), [Re[SC(O)NH(p-tolyl)](CO)(3)(Me(2)-bipy)] (8 a), and [Re[SC(O)NHEt](CO)(3)(Me(2)-bipy)] (8 b) were obtained by reaction of 1 or 2 b with the corresponding alkyl or aryl isothiocyanates. In those cases, RNCS was inserted into the M-O bond. The reactions of 1, 2 a, and 2 b with dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) gave the complexes [Mo[C(OH)-C(CO(2)Me)C(CO(2)Me)-O](eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(phen)] (9) and [Re[C(OH)C(CO(2)Me)C(CO(2)Me)O](CO)(2)(N-N)] (N-N=bipy, 10 a; Me(2)-bipy, 10 b). The molecules of these compounds contain five-membered metallacycles that are the result of coupling between the hydroxo ligand, DMAD, and one of the CO ligands. The new compounds were characterized by a combination of IR and NMR spectroscopy, and for [[Re(CO)(3)(bipy)(2)(mu-OH)]BF(4) (3-BF(4)), 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 b, 9, and 10 b, also by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Alkynyldiphenylphosphine d8 (Pt, Rh, Ir) complexes: contrasting behavior toward cis-[Pt(C6F5)2(THF)2

The synthesis and characterization of a series of mononuclear d(8) complexes with at least two P-coordinated alkynylphosphine ligands and their reactivity toward cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)] are reported. The cationic [Pt(C(6)F(5))(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(3)](CF(3)SO(3)), 1, [M(COD)(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(2)](ClO(4)) (M = Rh, 2, and Ir, 3), and neutral [Pt(o-C(6)H(4)E(2))(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(2)] (E = O, 6, and S, 7) complexes have been prepared, and the crystal structures of 1, 2, and 7.CH(3)COCH(3) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The course of the reactions of the mononuclear complexes 1-3, 6, and 7 with cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)] is strongly influenced by the metal and the ligands. Thus, treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)] gives the double inserted cationic product [Pt(C(6)F(5))(S)mu-(C(Ph)=C(PPh(2))C(PPh(2))=C(Ph)(C(6)F(5)))Pt(C(6)F(5))(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)](CF(3)SO(3)) (S = THF, H(2)O), 8 (S = H(2)O, X-ray), which evolves in solution to the mononuclear complex [(C(6)F(5))(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)Pt(C(10)H(4)-1-C(6)F(5)-4-Ph-2,3-kappaPP'(PPh(2))(2))](CF(3) SO(3)), 9 (X-ray), containing a 1-pentafluorophenyl-2,3-bis(diphenylphosphine)-4-phenylnaphthalene ligand, formed by annulation of a phenyl group and loss of the Pt(C(6)F(5)) unit. However, analogous reactions using 2 or 3 as precursors afford mixtures of complexes, from which we have characterized by X-ray crystallography the alkynylphosphine oxide compound [(C(6)F(5))(2)Pt(mu-kappaO:eta(2)-PPh(2)(O)C triple-bond CPh)](2), 10, in the reaction with the iridium complex (3). Complexes 6 and 7, which contain additional potential bridging donor atoms (O, S), react with cis-[Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)(THF)(2)] in the appropriate molar ratio (1:1 or 1:2) to give homo- bi- or trinuclear [Pt(PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(mu-kappaE-o-C(6)H(4)E(2))(mu-kappaP:eta(2)-PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)Pt(C(6)F(5))(2)] (E = O, 11, and S, 12) and [(Pt(mu(3)-kappa(2)EE'-o-C(6)H(4)E(2))(mu-kappaP:eta(2)-PPh(2)C triple-bond CPh)(2))(Pt(C(6)F(5))(2))(2)] (E = O, 13, and S, 14) complexes. The molecular structure of 14 has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction, and the cyclic voltammetric behavior of precursor complexes 6 and 7 and polymetallic derivatives 11-14 has been examined.     

On the Fourier Transform of Causal Distributions

We extend the distributional Bochner formula [1, p. 72, Theorem 26] to certain kinds of distributions. Theorem I.1 gives a formula [Eq. (I.1.14)] which makes it possible to obtain easily the Fourier transform of distributions of the form As applications of the formula (I.1.14) we evaluate the Fourier transforms of the distributions G_α(P±i0, m, n) [Eq. (I.4.1)] and H_α(P±i0,n) [Eq. (II.1.1)]. It follows from Theorem II.3 that H_zk(P±i0,n) is, for 2K≠n+2r, r=0,1..., an elementary solution of the n-dimensional ultrahyperbolic operator iterated k times.