Small molecule control of bacterial biofilms

Bacterial biofilms are defined as a surface attached community of bacteria embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances that they have produced. When in the biofilm state, bacteria are more resistant to antibiotics and the host immune response than are their planktonic counterparts. Biofilms are increasingly recognized as being significant in human disease, accounting for 80% of bacterial infections in the body and diseases associated with bacterial biofilms include: lung infections of cystic fibrosis patients, colitis, urethritis, conjunctivitis, otitis, endocarditis and periodontitis. Additionally, biofilm infections of indwelling medical devices are of particular concern, as once the device is colonized infection is virtually impossible to eradicate. Given the prominence of biofilms in infectious diseases, there has been an increased effort toward the development of small molecules that will modulate bacterial biofilm development and maintenance. In this review, we highlight the development of small molecules that inhibit and/or disperse bacterial biofilms through non-microbicidal mechanisms. The review discuses the numerous approaches that have been applied to the discovery of lead small molecules that mediate biofilm development. These approaches are grouped into: (1) the identification and development of small molecules that target one of the bacterial signaling pathways involved in biofilm regulation, (2) chemical library screening for compounds with anti-biofilm activity, and (3) the identification of natural products that possess anti-biofilm activity, and the chemical manipulation of these natural products to obtain analogues with increased activity.     

Multinuclear copper(I) guanidinate complexes

A series of multinuclear Copper(I) guanidinate complexes have been synthesized in a succession of reactions between CuCl and the lithium guanidinate systems Li{L} (L = Me(2)NC((i)PrN)(2) (1a), Me(2)NC(CyN)(2) (1b), Me(2)NC((t)BuN)(2)(1c), and Me(2)NC(DipN)(2) (2d) ((i)Pr = iso-propyl, Cy = cyclohexyl, (t)Bu = tert-butyl, and Dip = 2,6-disopropylphenyl) made in situ, and structurally characterized. The di-copper guanidinates systems with the general formula [Cu(2){L}(2)] (L = {Me(2)NC((i)PrN)(2)} (2a), {Me(2)NC(CyN)(2)} (2b), and {Me(2)NC(DipN)(2)} (2d) differed significantly from related amidinate complexes because of a large torsion of the dimer ring, which in turn is a result of transannular repulsion between adjacent guanidinate substituents. Attempts to synthesis the tert-butyl derivative [Cu(2){Me(2)NC((t)BuN)(2)}(2)] result in the separate formation and isolation of the tri-copper complexes [Cu(3){Me(2)NC((t)BuN)(2)}(2)(μ-NMe(2))] (3c) and [Cu(3){Me(2)NC((t)BuN)(2)}(2)(μ-Cl)] (4c), both of which have been unambiguously characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Closer inspection of the solution state behavior of the lithium salt 1c reveals a previously unobserved equilibrium between 1c and its starting materials, LiNMe(2) and N,N'-di-tert-butyl-carbodiimide, for which activation enthalpy and entropy values of ΔH(?) = 48.2 ± 18 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(?) = 70.6 ± 6 J/K mol have been calculated using 1D-EXSY NMR spectroscopy to establish temperature dependent rates of exchange between the species in solution. The molecular structures of the lithium complexes 1c and 1d have also been determined and shown to form tetrameric and dimeric complexes respectively held together by Li-N and agostic Li···H-C interactions. The thermal chemistry of the copper complexes have also been assessed by thermogravimetric analysis.     

Antioxidant-substituted tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine as a fluorescent sensor for basic anions

Tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine substituted at its periphery with eight antioxidant 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl groups behaves as a turn-on fluorescent sensor for fluoride anions. Conversely, the precursor antioxidant-substituted 1,2-phthalonitrile was found to act in turn-off mode suggesting that the origin of the phenomenon lies at the phenolate-substituted 1,4-pyrazinyl moiety.     

The preparation and molecular structure oftrans-[MoCl2(PMe2Ph)4]

Summary The compoundtrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] has been prepared by the reduction of MoCl₅ (by Mg) or of [MoCl₃(PMe₂Ph)₃] (by LiBuⁿ) in the presence of PMe₂Ph in tetrahydrofuran (THF). It has _eff=2.84 B.M. and crystallises in space group P1 witha=11.591(3),b=12.931(3),c=12.703(3) Å, = 95.28(2), =105.97(2), =103.54(2)°. Refinement of the structure gave R=0.036. The Mo-Cl and Mo-P distances average 2.443(6) and 2.534(8) Å, respectively.Low-valent phosphine complexes of the Group VI metals continue to attract much attention because of their involvement in studies of the catalytic activation of dinitrogen⁽¹⁾, dihydrogen(^{2, 3}), alkenes and alkynes(⁴). As a by-product during our studies of dinitrogen(¹) and hydride(²) complexes of molybdenum and tungsten, we obtainedtrans-[MoCl_2- (PMe₂Ph)₄] as yellow, paramagnetic crystals (_eff= 2.84 B.M.). We first obtained the compound during the attempted synthesis ofcis-[Mo(N₂)₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] by reduction of MoCl₅ with Mg in the presence of PMe₂Ph (see Experimental). Upon identification of the compound we found that it could be readily synthesised by treatment of [MoCl₃(PMe₂Ph)₃]⁽⁵⁾ with LiBuⁿ in THF in the presence of PMe₂Ph (experimental).The complex was shown to have thetrans structure by x-ray analysis (Figure). Analogues oftrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] have been prepared, namely [CrCl₂(Me₂PCH₂CH₂PMe₂)₂]⁽⁶⁾,trans- [MoCl₂(PMe₃)₄]⁽⁷⁾, [WCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄]⁽⁸⁾ and [WCl₂(PMe₃)₄]⁽⁴⁾, of which onlytrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₃)₄] has been examined by X-rays⁽⁷⁾. Its principal structural parametersi.e. d(Mo-Cl)= 2.420(6), d(Mo-P)_av=2.496(3) Å⁽⁶⁾ are close to those found here fortrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄].     

Preparation of bisdiazoalkane and related complexes from the reactions of diazo compounds with the dinitrogen complexestrans-[M(N2)2(Ph 2PCH2CH2PPh 2)2] (M=Mo or W)

Summary Reactions oftrans-[M(N₂)₂(dppe)₂] (A;M=Mo, W;dppe=Ph ₂PCH₂CH₂PPh ₂) with ethyldiazoacetate, N₂CHCOOEt, yield the bisdiazoalkane speciestrans-[M(N₂CHCOOEt)₂(dppe)₂], upon simple replacement of the dinitrogen ligand by ethyldiazoacetate. However, diazomethane, N₂CH₂, reacts withA with loss of N₂ to give products which we tentatively formulate as containing methylene ligands,trans-[M(CH₂)₂(dppe)₂].

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Herstellung von Bisdiazoalkan- und ähnlichen Komplexen aus den Reaktionen von Diazoverbindungen mit Distickstoffkomplexen des Typstrans-[M(N₂)₂(Ph ₂PCH₂CH₂PPh ₂)₂] mitM=Mo oder W

Zusammenfassung Die Reaktion vontrans-[M(N₂)₂(dppe)₂] (A:dppe=Ph ₂PCH₂CH₂PPh ₂ undM=Mo oder W) mit Ethyldiazoacetat, N₂CHCOOEt, ergab nach einfachem Austausch des Distickstoffliganden mit Ethyldiazoacetat die Bisdiazoalkanetrans-[M(N₂CHCOOEt)₂(dppe)₂]. Diazomethan (N₂CH₂) hingegen reagierte mitA unter Verlust von N₂ zu Produkten, die tentativ alstrans-[M(CH₂)₂(dppe)₂] mit Methylenliganden formuliert wurden.

     

A spirocyclic system comprising both phosphazane and phosphazene rings

The reaction of hexakis(cyclohexylamino) cyclotriphosphazene [NP(CyNH)(2)](3), 1, with phosphorus trichloride yields [NP(CyN)(2)PCl](3), 2, which contains three four-membered phosphazane rings fused in spirocyclic fashion to a central six-membered phosphazene ring and constitutes the first structurally characterized compound that comprises both phosphazene and phosphazane rings. The peripheral P atoms feature stereoactive lone pairs, and, thus, 2 exists in isomeric C(3h) and C(s) forms. The spirocyclic phosphazene-phosphazane derivative 2 carries three reactive PCl functions in peripheral positions, promising an interesting precursor molecule for the synthesis of extended phosphorus nitrogen structures of high rigidity. Extension of the PN moiety can be achieved by reaction of 2 with a primary amine yielding [NP(CyN)(2)PN(H)(t)Bu](3), 3, which features a central scaffold of 6 phosphorus and 12 nitrogen centers and aggregates via N-H...P hydrogen bonds in the solid state. On the contrary, the reaction of 1 with SbCl(3) undergoes incomplete proton abstraction, resulting in the formation of the tricyclic compound N(3)P(3)(CyNH)(4)(CyNSbCl(2))(2), 4, which contains two four-coordinate Sb centers chelated by N(exo)-N(ring) sites of the phosphazene.     

Second Dissociation Constants of 4-[N-morpholino]butanesulfonic Acid and N-[2-hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N′-4-butanesulfonic Acid from 5 to 55°C

The values of the second dissociation constant, pK ₂, for the dissociation of the NH⁺ charge center of the zwitterionic buffer compounds 4-(N-morpholino)butanesulfonic acid (MOBS), and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N-4-butanesulfonic acid (HEPBS) have been determined from 5 to 55°C, including, 37°C at intervals of 5°C. The electromotive-force (emf) measurements have been made utilizing hydrogen electrodes and silver–silver chloride electrodes. The value of pK ₂ for MOBS was found to be 7.702 ± 0.0005, and 8.284 ± 0.0004 for HEPBS, at 25°C, respectively. The related thermodynamic quantities, G ^o, H ^o, S ^o, and C _p ^o for the dissociation processes of MOBS and HEPBS have been derived from the temperature coefficients of pK ₂. Both the MOBS and HEPBS buffer materials are useful as primary pH standards for the control of pH 7.3 to 8.6 in the region close to that of physiological fluids.     

Multiple nitrene insertions into metal-sulfur bonds of dithiocarbamate complexes: synthesis of sulfido-amido and zwitterionic tetraamido complexes

The iodine(III) reagent, PhI[double bond, length as m-dash]NTs, acts as a source of the nitrene fragment NTs, which undergoes facile insertion into the metal-sulfur bonds of a range of dithiocarbamate complexes. Addition of two equivalents of PhI=NTs to [M(S(2)CNR2)2] affords sulfido-amido complexes [M{SC(NR2)SNTs}2](M=Ni, Cu), which insert two further nitrene fragments to afford zwitterionic tetraamido complexes [M{TsNSC(NR2)SNTs}2](M=Co, Ni, Cu). Crystallographic studies have been carried out on both types of complex allowing possible resonance hydrids of the new ligand types to be assessed.     

A Computational and Experimental Approach Linking Disorder,High‐Pressure Behavior,and Mechanical Properties in UiO Frameworks

Whilst many metal–organic frameworks possess the chemical stability needed to be used as functional materials, they often lack the physical strength required for industrial applications. Herein, we have investigated the mechanical properties of two UiO‐topology Zr‐MOFs, the planar UiO‐67 ([Zr₆O₄(OH)₄(bpdc)₆], bpdc: 4,4′‐biphenyl dicarboxylate) and UiO‐abdc ([Zr₆O₄(OH)₄(abdc)₆], abdc: 4,4′‐azobenzene dicarboxylate) by single‐crystal nanoindentation, high‐pressure X‐ray diffraction, density functional theory calculations, and first‐principles molecular dynamics. On increasing pressure, both UiO‐67 and UiO‐abdc were found to be incompressible when filled with methanol molecules within a diamond anvil cell. Stabilization in both cases is attributed to dynamical linker disorder. The diazo‐linker of UiO‐abdc possesses local site disorder, which, in conjunction with its longer nature, also decreases the capacity of the framework to compress and stabilizes it against direct compression, compared to UiO‐67, characterized by a large elastic modulus. The use of non‐linear linkers in the synthesis of UiO‐MOFs therefore creates MOFs that have more rigid mechanical properties over a larger pressure range.     

Influence of Sulfolane on ESI-MS Measurements of Protein–Ligand Affinities

The results of an investigation into the influence of sulfolane, a commonly used supercharging agent, on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) measurements of protein–ligand affinities are described. Binding measurements carried out on four protein–carbohydrate complexes, lysozyme with β-d-GlcNAc-(1→4)-β-d-GlcNAc-(1→4)-β-d-GlcNAc-(1→4)-d-GlcNAc, a single chain variable fragment and α-d-Gal-(1→2)-[α-d-Abe-(1→3)]-α-d-Man-OCH₃, cholera toxin B subunit homopentamer with β-d-Gal-(1→3)-β-d-GalNAc-(1→4)[α-d-Neu5Ac-(2→3)]-β-d-Gal-(1→4)-β-d-Glc, and a fragment of galectin 3 and α-l-Fuc-(1→2)-β-d-Gal-(1→3)-β-d-GlcNAc-(1→3)-β-d-Gal-(1→4)-β-d-Glc, revealed that sulfolane generally reduces the apparent (as measured by ESI-MS) protein–ligand affinities. To establish the origin of this effect, a detailed study was undertaken using the lysozyme–tetrasaccharide interaction as a model system. Measurements carried out using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies reveal that sulfolane reduces the binding affinity in solution but does not cause any significant change in the higher order structure of lysozyme or to the intermolecular interactions. These observations confirm that changes to the structure of lysozyme in bulk solution are not responsible for the supercharging effect induced by sulfolane. Moreover, the agreement between the ESI-MS and ITC-derived affinities indicates that there is no dissociation of the complex during ESI or in the gas phase (i.e., in-source dissociation). This finding suggests that supercharging of lysozyme by sulfolane is not related to protein unfolding during the ESI process. Binding measurements performed using liquid sample desorption ESI-MS revealed that protein supercharging with sulfolane can be achieved without a reduction in affinity.

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