Dihydropyranone formation by ipso C-H activation in a glucal 3-carbamate-derived rhodium acyl nitrenoid

By using (N-tosyloxy)-3-O-carbamoyl-D-glucal 10, which removes the need for a hypervalent iodine(III) oxidant, we provide evidence for rhodium nitrenoid-mediated ipso C-H activation as the origin of a C3-oxidized dihydropyranone product 3. This system may be especially susceptible to such a pathway because of the ease of forming a cation upon hydride transfer to the rhodium-complexed acyl nitrene.     

Synthesis and Biological Study of Some 4-oxo-Thiazolidine Derivatives of 2-Aminothiazole

Conventional and microwave assisted synthesis of new series of N‐[2‐{2‐(substituted phenyl)‐4‐oxo‐5‐(substituted benzylidene)‐1,3‐thiazolidine}‐iminoethyl]‐2‐aminothiazole 5a–5m have been developed. The cycloaddition reaction of thioglycolic acid with N‐{2‐(substituted benzylidenehydrazino)‐ethyl}‐2‐aminothiazole 3a–3m in the presence of anhydrous ZnCl₂ afforded new heterocyclic compounds N‐[2‐{2‐(substituted phenyl)‐4‐oxo‐1,3‐thiazolidine}‐iminoethyl]‐2‐aminothiazole 4a–4m . The later product on treatment with several selected substituted aromatic aldehydes in the presence of C₂H₅ONa undergoes Knoevenagel reaction to yield 5a–5m . The structures of compounds 1 , 2 , 3a–3m , 4a–4m and 5a–5m were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FAB‐Mass and chemical analysis. All above compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities against some selected bacteria and fungi and antituberculosis study against M. tuberculosis.     

In silico inspired design and synthesis of a novel tubulin-binding anti-cancer drug: folate conjugated noscapine (Targetin)

Our screen for tubulin-binding small molecules that do not depolymerize bulk cellular microtubules, but based upon structural features of well known microtubule-depolymerizing colchicine and podophyllotoxin, revealed tubulin binding anti-cancer property of noscapine (Ye et al. in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95:2280–2286, 1998). Guided by molecular modelling calculations and structure–activity relationships we conjugated at C9 of noscapine, a folate group—a ligand for cellular folate receptor alpha (FRα). FRα is over-expressed on some solid tumours such as ovarian epithelial cancers. Molecular docking experiments predicted that a folate conjugated noscapine (Targetin) accommodated well inside the binding cavity (docking score −11.295 kcal/mol) at the interface between α- and β-tubulin. The bulky folate moiety of Targetin is extended toward lumen of microtubules. The binding free energy (ΔG _bind) computed based on molecular mechanics energy minimization was −221.01 kcal/mol that revealed favourable interaction of Targetin with the receptor. Chemical synthesis, tubulin-binding experiments, and anti-cancer activity in vitro corroborate fully well with the molecular modelling experiments. Targetin binds tubulin with a dissociation constant (K _d value) of 149 ± 3.0 μM and decreases the transition frequencies between growth and shortening phases of microtubule assembly dynamics at concentrations that do not alter the total polymer mass. Cancer cells in general were more sensitive to Targetin compared with the founding compound noscapine (IC₅₀ in the range of 15–40 μM). Quite strikingly, ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3 and A2780), known to overexpress FRα, were much more sensitive to targetin (IC₅₀ in the range of 0.3–1.5 μM).     

Second‐sphere coordination in anion binding: cis‐diazido­bis(ethyl­ene­diamine‐κ2N,N′)cobalt(III) picrate

In the title compound, [Co(N₃)₂(C₂H₈N₂)₂](C₆H₂N₃O₇), the cations share NH₂⋯NH₂ edges with picrate anions via second‐sphere N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.     

Silica‐Supported P2O5 as an Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for the One Pot Synthesis of 3‐Amino‐imidazo[2,1‐b](1,3)benzothiazole under Green Conditions

The new approach involving the solid supported catalyst for the formation of C–N bond followed by cyclization has been reported. In this work we have reported a facile, efficient, and environment‐friendly protocol for the synthesis of some new 3‐amino‐imidazo[2,1‐b](1,3)benzothiazole derivatives by one‐pot condensation of 2‐aminobenzothiazole, indole‐3‐carbaldehyde, and aryl isocyanide in the presence of silica‐supported P₂O₅ as a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst. The reaction was performed using conventional method under green conditions. The present approach offers the advantages of simple methodology, inexpensive acid catalyst, short reaction time, easy work up with excellent yield, simple purification and use of green solvent. All the newly synthesized compounds were characterized in details using physical and chemical techniques such as melting point, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and FTIR spectroscopy.     

The first X‐ray structure of a hexa­ammine­cobalt(III) salt with two different complex chloro­cadmium anions: synthesis,characterization and crystal structure of [Co(NH3)6]4[CdCl6][CdCl4(SCN)(H2O)]2Cl2·2H2O

In the title complex salt, tetra­kis[hexa­ammine­cobalt(III)] hexa­chloro­cadmate(II) bis­[aqua­tetra­chloro­thio­cyanato­cad­mate(II)] dichloride dihydrate, the discrete ions, i.e. [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺, Cl⁻, [CdCl₆]⁴⁻ (located on an inversion centre) and [CdCl₄(SCN)(H₂O)]³⁻, together with cocrystallized water mol­ecules, are assembled by means of a network of hydrogen‐bonding inter­actions. This is the first X‐ray structure determination of a hexa­amminecobalt(III) salt with two different complex chloro­cadmium anions.     

Optimal Synthetic Glycosylation of a Therapeutic Antibody

Glycosylation patterns in antibodies critically determine biological and physical properties but their precise control is a significant challenge in biology and biotechnology. We describe herein the optimization of an endoglycosidase‐catalyzed glycosylation of the best‐selling biotherapeutic Herceptin, an anti‐HER2 antibody. Precise MS analysis of the intact four‐chain Ab heteromultimer reveals nonspecific, non‐enzymatic reactions (glycation), which are not detected under standard denaturing conditions. This competing reaction, which has hitherto been underestimated as a source of side products, can now be minimized. Optimization allowed access to the purest natural form of Herceptin to date (≥90 %). Moreover, through the use of a small library of sugars containing non‐natural functional groups, Ab variants containing defined numbers of selectively addressable chemical tags (reaction handles at Sia C1) in specific positions (for attachment of cargo molecules or “glycorandomization”) were readily generated.     

Emulsification at the Liquid/Liquid Interface: Effects of Potential,Electrolytes and Surfactants

Emulsification of oils at liquid/liquid interfaces is of fundamental importance across a range of applications, including detergency. Adsorption and partitioning of the anionic surface active ions at the interface between two immiscible solutions is known to cause predictable chaos at the transfer potential region of the surfactant. In this work, the phenomenon that leads to the chaotic behaviour shown by sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) at the water/1,2‐dichloroethane interface is applied to commercial surfactants and aqueous/glyceryl trioleate interface. Electrochemical methods, electrocapillary curves, optical microscopy and conductivity measurements demonstrated that at 1.5 mm of SDBS, surfactants are adsorbed at the interface and assemble into micelles, leading to interfacial instability. As the concentration of the anionic surfactant was enhanced to 8 and 13.4 mm , the Marangoni effect and the interfacial emulsification became more prominent. The chaotic behaviour was found to be dependent on the surfactant concentration and the electrolytes present.     

Monitoring the Reversibility of GPCR Signaling by Combining Photochromic Ligands with Label-free Impedance Analysis

G protein-coupled cell surface receptors (GPCR) trigger complex intracellular signaling cascades upon agonist binding. Classic pharmacological assays provide information about binding affinities, activation or blockade at different stages of the signaling cascade, but real time dynamics and reversibility of these processes remain often disguised. We show that combining photochromic NPY receptor ligands, which can be toggled in their receptor activation ability by irradiation with light of different wavelengths, with whole cell label-free impedance assays allows observing the cell response to receptor activation and its reversibility over time. The concept demonstrated on NPY receptors may be well applicable to many other GPCRs providing a deeper insight into the time course of intracellular signaling processes.