Circular logic: nonribosomal peptide-like macrocyclization with a ribosomal peptide catalyst

A protease from ribosomal peptide biosynthesis macrocyclizes diverse substrates, including those resembling nonribosomal peptide and hybrid polyketide-peptide products. The proposed mechanism is analogous to thioesterase-catalyzed chemistry, but the substrates are amide bonds rather than thioesters.     

Mononuclear and dinuclear chiral vanadium(V) complexes with tridentate Schiff bases derived from R(−)-1,2-diaminopropane: Synthesis,structure, characterization and catalytic properties

A series of vanadium(V) complexes with unsymmetrical tridentate Schiff base ligands, obtained by the single condensation of R(−)-1,2-diaminopropane with salicylaldehyde and its derivatives, 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, 2-hydroxyacetophenone, 1-hydroxy-2-acetonaphthone and 2-hydroxybenzophenone, were prepared. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and by their IR, CD, UV–Vis, 1D (¹H, ⁵¹V) and 2D (COSY, NOESY, gHSQC) NMR spectra. Crystal structures of the mononuclear complex {R(−)-2-amino-1-N-[(2′-oxido-κO-4′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)methylene]aminopropane-κ²N}dioxidovanadium(V), VO₂(C₁₂H₁₇N₂O₃), 4, and of the dinuclear complex, di-μ-oxido-bis({R(−)-2-[1-(2-aminopropylimino)ethyl]-4-methylphenolato-κ³N,N′,O}oxidovanadium(V)), V₂O₄(C₁₁H₁₅N₂O)₂, 5, have been obtained by X-ray diffraction studies. The structure of 4 was revealed to be a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal coordination geometry, rarely encountered in VO₂(tridentate Schiff base) complexes. Complexes 2 and 3 have the ability to catalyze the oxidation of prochiral sulfide substrates PhSR (R = Me, Bz) utilizing hydrogen peroxide or cumene hydroperoxide (CHPO) as the oxidant.     

Determination of selenomethionine, selenocysteine, and inorganic selenium in eggs by HPLC–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A method for the simultaneous determination of selenomethionine (SeMet), selenocysteine (SeCys), and selenite [Se(IV)] in chicken eggs was developed. A sample preparation protocol including defatting, protein denaturation, and carbamidomethylation was optimized in order to achieve complete protein digestion and to avoid SeCys losses. Quantification was carried out by reversed-phase HPLC–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) after quantitative isolation of the selenium-containing fraction by size-exclusion liquid chromatography. The detection limits were 0.06, 0.003, and 0.01 μg g⁻¹ (dry weight) for SeCys, Se(IV) and SeMet, respectively, and the precision was 5–10%. The end products of carbamidomethylation of the different selenium species were identified for the first time by electrospray QTOF MS after custom-designed 2D HPLC purification. Differences in selenium speciation in egg yolk and white were highlighted, the yolk containing more SeCys and the white more SeMet. An insight into selenium bioaccessibility in eggs was obtained by digestion with simulated gastric and gastrointestinal juices and size-exclusion HPLC-ICP MS.     

Solid state NMR spectroscopy as a precise tool for assigning the tautomeric form and proton position in the intramolecular bridges of o-hydroxy Schiff bases

Two analogous Schiff bases, (S,E)-2-((1-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,1-diphenylbutan-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol (1) and (S,Z)-2-hydroxy-6-((1-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,1-diphenylbutan-2-ylamino)methylene)cyclohexa-2,4-dienone (2), exist in the solid state as phenol-imine and keto-amine tautomers, respectively. Their crystal structures were solved using the X-ray diffraction method. Sample 1 forms orthorhombic crystals of space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), while 2 forms monoclinic crystals of space group P2(1). In each sample, one molecule is in the asymmetric unit of the crystal structure. One-dimensional and two-dimensional solid state NMR techniques were used for structure assignment and for inspection of the (13)C and (15)N δ(ii) of the chemical shift tensor (CST) values. NMR study indicates that the span (Ω = δ(11)-δ(33)) and the skew (κ = 3(δ(22)-δ(iso)/Ω) are extremely sensitive to change in the tautomeric form of the Schiff bases. Theoretical calculations of NMR shielding parameters for 1 and 2 and a model compound with reduced aliphatic residue were performed using the GIAO method with B3LYP functional and 6-311++g(d,p) basis sets. From comparative analysis of the experimental and theoretical parameters, it was concluded that the position of hydrogen in the intramolecular bridge has tremendous influence on (13)C and (15)N CST parameters. Inspection of Ω and κ parameters allowed for the establishment of the nature of the hydrogen bonding and the assignment of the equilibrium proton position in the intramolecular bridges in the solid state.     

Characterization of 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene-silica bonded stationary phases and their comparison to selected commercial columns by using principal component analysis

Twelve calix[4]arene stationary phases in 1,3-alternate conformation, synthesized in the authors’ laboratory, were characterized in terms of their surface coverage, hydrophobic selectivity, aromatic selectivity, shape selectivity, hydrogen bonding capacity and ion-exchange capacity. The set of tests commonly used for evaluation of commercially available stationary phases was applied to assess fundamental chromatographic properties of the calixarene phases. The new calixarene phases were compared to each other, to Caltrex and LiChrosorb C-18 columns. Principal component analysis has been used to provide comparison between 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene phases and commercially available phenyl, fluorophenyl and fluoroalkyl columns.     

The Crystal Structure of Fluphenazinium Dipicrate Dimethylsulphoxide Solvate

Abstract  

The title compound, C₂₂H₂₈F₃N₃OS²⁺ × 2(C₆H₂N₃O₇ ⁻) × (CH₃)₂SO—the picrate salt of the potent antipsychotic drug, fluphenazine—crystallizes in the triclinic P-1 space group with unit cell parameters a = 10.6333(12) ?, b = 11.9696(12) ?, c = 17.7036(15) ?, α = 103.265(9)°, β = 98.414(9)°, γ = 102.702(10)°. The ionic fragments: the fluphenazinium dictation, and two picrate anions, are joined by means of strong N–H···O and weak C–H···O hydrogen bonds into the chains of alternating cations and anions, expanding along [010] direction. Within the chain, the picrates interact by means of short π···π interactions: the mean distance between the planes is 3.366 ?; additional interaction of the same type between one of the picrates and the phenyl ring of the phenothiazine ring system additionally strengthen the pattern. The phenothiazine ring exists in a typical, “butterfly-like” conformation, with two terminal rings planar and the central ring in a slightly flattened boat form. This conformation results in the dihedral angle between the terminal rings of 41.76(5)°. The aliphatic chain which substitutes phenothiazine at N-position is not in an extended conformation, the torsion angles along this chain are 75.95(14)° and −163.96(10)°. The structure contains also the solvent—dimethylsulphoxide molecules, which are connected with the cation–anion structure by means of strong O–H···O hydrogen bonds.     

Epitaxial graphene perfection vs. SiC substrate quality

Polytype instability of SiC epitaxial films was the main focus of attention in the experiment performed since this factor has a decisive influence on graphene growth, which was the second stage of the experiment. Layers deposited in various initial C/Si ratios were analyzed.     

Unified encoding for hyper-heuristics with application to bioinformatics

This paper introduces a new approach to applying hyper-heuristic algorithms to solve combinatorial problems with less effort, taking into account the modelling and algorithm construction process. We propose a unified encoding of a solution and a set of low level heuristics which are domain-independent and which change the solution itself. This approach enables us to address NP-hard problems and generate good approximate solutions in a reasonable time without a large amount of additional work required to tailor search methodologies for the problem in hand. In particular, we focused on solving DNA sequencing by hybrydization with errors, which is known to be strongly NP-hard. The approach was extensively tested by solving multiple instances of well-known combinatorial problems and compared with results generated by meta heuristics that have been tailored for specific problem domains.     

Synthesis of β-amino-α-trifluoromethyl alcohols and their applications in organic synthesis

A comprehensive overview on methods applied for syntheses of β-amino-α-trifluoromethyl alcohols, including stereocontrolled variants, is presented. In addition, reported cases of the exploration of β-amino-α-trifluoromethyl alcohols for the preparation of trifluoromethylated peptidomimetics and other biologically active, fluorinated compounds are discussed. Attractive opportunities for their applications as organocatalysts are also presented.