A new convenient method for the synthesis of 2H‐1,4‐benzoxazine derivatives from nitroketones via intramolecular reductive cyclization

Dedicated to Professor Herbert C. Brown on the occasion of his 90^th birthday. Potentially bioactive 2H‐1,4‐benzoxazine derivatives could be conveniently prepared in one step from the corresponding nitroketones using 10% palladium on carbon with triethylamine in the presence of hydrogen (Pd/C‐TEA‐H₂) system. Several other tertiary amines such as nicotine, pyridine, and quinoline also could be used, but TEA gave the best results.     

A Cyclized Helix‐Loop‐Helix Peptide as a Molecular Scaffold for the Design of Inhibitors of Intracellular Protein–Protein Interactions by Epitope and Arginine Grafting

The design of inhibitors of intracellular protein–protein interactions (PPIs) remains a challenge in chemical biology and drug discovery. We propose a cyclized helix‐loop‐helix (cHLH) peptide as a scaffold for generating cell‐permeable PPI inhibitors through bifunctional grafting: epitope grafting to provide binding activity, and arginine grafting to endow cell‐permeability. To inhibit p53–HDM2 interactions, the p53 epitope was grafted onto the C‐terminal helix and six Arg residues were grafted onto another helix. The designed peptide cHLHp53‐R showed high inhibitory activity for this interaction, and computational analysis suggested a binding mode for HDM2. Confocal microscopy of cells treated with fluorescently labeled cHLHp53‐R revealed cell membrane penetration and cytosolic localization. The peptide inhibited the growth of HCT116 and LnCap cancer cells. This strategy of bifunctional grafting onto a well‐structured peptide scaffold could facilitate the generation of inhibitors for intracellular PPIs.     

Determination of trace and toxic elements in Korean rice CRM by INAA, ICP and AAS

Trace and toxic elements in Certified Reference Material (CRM) made of Korean rice at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science have been analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Data intercomparison from the measurement with those of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) and Induced Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICPS) has been studied. The powdered samples were sterilized at 1.5·10⁶ rad in the bottles using a⁶⁰Co source after sieving and spiking to specific elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu and Hg and then the homogeneity of samples was assessed. Rice flour (SRM 1568a) and standard solutions made by the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST) were used to construct the calibration curves for the INAA and the chemical methods, respectively. The uncertainties and concentration of constituent elements were determined and the possibility of their use for analytical quality control was considered.     

Molecular Modeling of Steroid–Nucleoside Conjugates: A Preliminary Structural Study

In recent years, molecular modeling has been used to predict structure and chemical behavior of molecules in order to design drugs and enhance the performance of pharmaceuticals. The size and complexity of molecules studied computationally has grown as the computational power available has increased, along with the creation and formulation of new theories and methods. We will apply these methods to a unique set of steroid-nucleoside conjugates in order to interpret their differences in activity. In the set of four studied in this work (three acids bonded to AZT through an ester bond and an additional isomer of the second in the series), only the cholenic acid-conjugated species (Conjugate 1) has exhibited antitumor behavior, while the other two, P-16-acid and P-21-oic acid (prednisolone with an ester linkage to zidovudine, AZT), do not. In this study, we use molecular mechanics and semiempirical techniques to compare structures and to examine rotational barriers and solvation effects on many of the low-lying conformations of these four conjugates, as well as to use electrostatic potential isosurfaces in order to gain insight into the contributions to the activity or inactivity of these potential antitumor drugs.     

Cu2+-induced intermolecular static excimer formation of pyrenealkylamine

Synthesis of monopyrenylalkylamine derivative 1 and its fluorescence behavior for Cu2+ in H2O/CH3CN (1:1, v/v) were investigated. Upon Cu2+ binding, 1, bearing a sulfonamide group, exhibited a marked excimer emission at 455 nm along with a weak monomer emission at 375 nm. The excimer emission, driven by formation of an intermolecular pyrenyl static excimer upon Cu2+ binding to the sulfonamide group, is rationalized by experimental and theoretical DFT calculation results.     

Anion-induced ring-opening of fluorescein spirolactam: fluorescent OFF-ON

N-(2,7-Dichlorofluorescein)lactam-N′-phenylthiourea (L) was developed as a colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for anions such as AcO⁻, F⁻ and . The addition of AcO⁻ anion to the solution of L in CH₃CN results in a distinct fluorescence “ON” observation as well as color change (from colorless to pink). The H-bonding interaction between AcO⁻ anion and thiourea moiety of L induced the ring-opening of the spirolactam of fluorescein moiety, which gave rise to the dual chromo- and fluorogenic changes.     

Ground, sieved, and C18 modified monolithic silica particles for packing material of microcolumn high-performance liquid chromatography

We here report a new type of stationary phase for microcolumns. C18 modified silica monolith particles were prepared by grinding and sieving the silica monolith followed by C18 modification and end-capping, and were used as packing material. Ground silica monolith particles were not spherical but irregular with some residual monolithic network structure. The separation efficiency of the stationary phase made of sieved monolith particles (5-10 microm) was better than that of the stationary phase made of unsieved particles. The microcolumn packed with the sieved C18 ground monolith particles (5-10 microm) showed quite good separation efficiency (height equivalent to theoretical plate, HETP, as low as 15 microm) and it was even superior to the microcolumn packed with a commercial spherical 5 microm C18 stationary phase. The column pressure drop of C18 monolith particles was about two-third of that of the commercial spherical C18 phase. The preparation method of C18 stationary phase with ground and sieved silica monolith particles presumably suggests advantages of simplicity and convenience in modification and washing procedures compared to bulk silica monolith. It also showed both improved separation efficiency and low back pressure.     

Optical band gap modification of single-walled carbon nanotubes by encapsulated fullerenes

We report optical band gap modifications of single-walled carbon nanotubes upon C60 insertions by using photoluminescence and the corresponding excitation spectroscopy. The shifts in optical transition energies strongly depend on the tube diameter (dt) and the "2n + m" family type, which can be explained by the local strain and the hybridization between the nanotube states and the C60 molecular orbitals. The present results provide possible design rules for nanotube-based heterostructures having a specific type of electronic functionality.     

PTP1B Inhibitory Secondary Metabolites from an Antarctic Fungal Strain Acremonium sp. SF-7394

Chemical investigation of the Antarctic lichen-derived fungal strain Acremonium sp. SF-7394 yielded a new amphilectane-type diterpene, acrepseudoterin (1), and a new acorane-type sesquiterpene glycoside, isocordycepoloside A (2). In addition, three known fungal metabolites, (−)-ternatin (3), [D-Leu]-ternatin (4), and pseurotin A (5), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the fungal strain. Their structures were mainly elucidated by analyzing their NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of 1 was proposed by electronic circular dichroism calculations, and the absolute configuration of the sugar unit in 2 was determined by a chemical method. The inhibitory effects of the isolated compounds on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) were evaluated by enzymatic assays; results indicated that acrepseudoterin (1) and [D-Leu]-ternatin (4) dose-dependently inhibited the enzyme activity with IC₅₀ values of 22.8 ± 1.1 μM and 14.8 ± 0.3 μM, respectively. Moreover, compound 1 was identified as a competitive inhibitor of PTP1B.