The Isocyanide–Cyanide Rearrangement; Mechanism and Preparative Applications

Until recently the isocyanide–cyanide rearrangement was of interest almost solely as an example of a unimolecular gas-phase reaction, and kinetic studies had been carried out in only a few simple cases. Kinetic measurements in solution were made possible only by the discovery and suppression of a parallel free-radical chain process which leads to the same products. The rate of the isomerization is almost independent of the structure of the starting material and of the substituents present. An exception is provided by extreme steric hindrance in three dimensions which, as in tris-α-substituted triptycyl isocyanides, leads to a considerable increase in the activation energy. The results can be interpreted in terms of a purely sigmatropic mechanism, as predicted by ab initio calculations. The preparative application of this rearrangement reaction requires the suppression of side reactions and can best be carried out by flash pyrolysis; yields are then almost quantitative. Allyl isocyanides react without allyl isomerization, optically active isocyanides with complete retention of configuration. New, economically interesting syntheses for the known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen and (S)-naproxene are described. The application of the useful synthetic building blocks, the optically active β-acyloxy cyanides, which are formed from optically active α-amino acids, will be demonstrated.     

Topologisch und elektronisch bemerkenswerte „reduzierte”︁ Cluster des Typs [V18O42(X)]n− (X = SO4, VO4) mit Td-Symmetrie und davon abgeleitete Cluster [V(18–p)As2pO42(X)]m− (X = SO3, SO4, H2O; p = 3, 4)

Reduced Clusters with Remarkable Topological and Electronic Properties of the Type of [V₁₈O₄₂(X)]^n? (X = SO₄, VO₄) with T_d-Symmetry and Related Clusters [V_(18—p)As_2pO₄₂(X)]^m? (X = SO₃, SO₄, H₂O; p = 3, 4) The novel cluster-compounds Na₆[V₁₈O₄₂H₉(VO₄)] · 21 H₂O, (NH₄)₈[V₁₈O₄₂(SO₄)] · 25 H₂O, K₆[V₁₅As₆O₄₂(H₂O)] · 8 H₂O, (NH₄)₆[V₁₄As₈O₄₂(SO₃)], (NH₄)₆[V₁₄As₈O₄₂(SO₄)] and [N(CH3)₃]₄[₄V₁₄As₈0₄₂(H₂0)] were prepared and characterized by IR- and UV/Vis/NIR-spectroscopy, magnetic measurements and complete crystal structure analysis. For structural data see Inhaltsübersicht. Topological relations to the rhombicuboctahedron spanned by 24 0-atoms of the genuine hypothetical a-Keggin ion, at which the square planes are capped by V?O or As₂O groups, are discussed. Of particular interest are the ?extended”? Keggin ions [V₁₈O₄₂(X)]ⁿ- (X = SO₄ VO₄), (formaly derived from the hypothetical genuine a-Keggin ion by addition of six V?O groups) which have quite different electron populations in spite of the same structure of their cluster shells.     

Multidimensional nano-HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry for analyzing biotinylated proteins

Multidimensional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a key method in shotgun proteomics approaches for analyzing highly complex protein mixtures by complementary chromatographic separation principles. Here, we describe an integrated 3D-nano-HPLC/nano-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry system that allows an enzymatic digestion of proteins followed by an enrichment and subsequent separation of the created peptide mixtures. The online 3D-nano-HPLC system is composed of a monolithic trypsin reactor in the first dimension, a monolithic affinity column with immobilized monomeric avidin in the second dimension, and a reversed phase C18 HPLC-Chip in the third dimension that is coupled to a nano-ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometer. The 3D-LC/MS setup is exemplified for the identification of biotinylated proteins from a simple protein mixture. Additionally, we describe an online 2D-nano-HPLC/nano-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS setup for the enrichment, separation, and identification of cross-linked, biotinylated species from chemical cross-linking of cytochrome c and a calmodulin/peptide complex using a novel trifunctional cross-linker with two amine-reactive groups and a biotin label.

Synthesis of benzaldehyde-functionalized LewisX trisaccharide analogs for glyco-SAM formation

LewisX (Le^x) antigen based carbohydrate–carbohydrate interactions are mediated by complexation of metal ions. Although theoretical studies about the influence of participating hydroxyl groups in the Le^x trisaccharide head group (Galβ(1-4)[Fucα(1-3)]GlcNAc) could gave same rudimental information about the basic mechanism behind this interaction, a little is known about orientation and configuration of the hydroxyl groups required for the specific interaction mediated by Ca²⁺ complexation. Therefore, there is a need of non-natural derivatives to provide detailed information about the requirements for hydroxyl group arrangement in Le^x head group surface plasmon resonance and gold nanoparticle techniques have shown to be powerful tools to investigate carbohydrate–carbohydrate interactions. Benzaldehyde-functionalized glycans can be used for attachment to both gold nanoparticles and surface plasmon resonance sensor surfaces. Therefore, seven benzaldehyde equipped Le^x analogs including the natural trisaccharide were synthesized utilizing convergent approach. The derivatives were applied in ongoing carbohydrate–carbohydrate interaction studies by surface plasmon resonance experiments to prove theoretical postulate about the structural requirements of hydroxyl group arrangements in Le^x trisaccharides.