13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of cellulose acetate

¹³C-NMR spectra of ring carbons and O-acetyl carbonyl carbons of cellulose acetate (CA) in dimethyl sulfoxide-d₆ were analyzed. The CA samples with the degree of substitution (DS) ranging from 0.84 and 1.91 were prepared by homogeneous acetylation of cellulose with acetic anhydride in a 10% LiCl/dimethyl acetamide solvent. It was found that the use of these low DS samples permitted easier assignments not only of the ring carbon but also of the O-acetyl carbonyl carbon signals. The assignments were confirmed by comparing with the ¹H-NMR spectra of the samples obtained by complete acetylation of the corresponding CA samples with acetyl-d₃ chloride. Two methods for determining the distribution of O-acetyl groups of CA, i.e., the relative DS at the three different types of hydroxyl groups, were developed. One is based on the measurements of the relative intensities of the signals for the ring carbons and the other is based on the measurements of the relative intensities of the signals for the O-acetyl carbonyl carbons.     

Conformationally controlled (entropy effects), stereoselective vibrational quenching of singlet oxygen in the oxidative cleavage of oxazolidinone-functionalized enecarbamates through solvent and temperature variations

On photooxygenation (methylene blue as sensitizer) of E/Z enecarbamates, equipped with the oxazolidinone chiral auxiliary, the oxidative cleavage of the alkenyl functionality releases the enantiomerically enriched methyldesoxybenzoin (MDB) product. The extent (% ee) as well as the sense (R vs S) of the stereoselectivity in the MDB formation depends on the choice of the alkene configuration; the efficacy of stereocontrol may be tuned by appropriate solvent and temperature conditions. Highlighted is the finding that the formation of the preferred MDB enantiomer (R or S) depends for the E isomer on the chosen solvent and temperature, but not for the corresponding Z isomer. The activation parameters for the various solvents disclose that differential entropy effects (ΔΔS^‡) dominate the conformationally more flexible E diastereomers. As mechanistic rationale for this unprecedented conformationally imposed stereochemical behavior, we propose the competitive action of stereoselective vibrational quenching of the attacking singlet oxygen by the enecarbamate versus sterically controlled stereoselective oxidative cleavage of its double bond.     

Extraction behaviour of copper(II) and silver(I) with a thiacrown ether carboxylic acid, 2-(3,6,10,13-tetrathiacyclotetradec-1-oxy)hexanoic acid

The extraction behaviour of copper(II) and silver(I) with 2-(3,6,10,13-tetrathiacyclotetradec-1-oxy)hexanoic acid (TTCTOHA) was investigated at 25+/-0.1 degrees C and ionic strength of 0.1. The value of the logarithmic distribution coefficient, logK(DR) of TTCTOHA between octan-1-ol and aqueous phases was determined to be 4.13. Copper(II) was extracted with TTCTOHA into octan-1-ol as CuL(2), where L represents the anionic species of TTCTOHA. The logarithmic extraction constant, logK(ex(10)), was determined at -7.42. Silver(I) was extracted with TTCTOHA into octan-1-ol as AgL and Ag(2)L(2). The logarithmic distribution constant, logK(DC), of AgL was estimated to be 0.49. On the other hand, silver(I) was extracted into 1,2-dichloroethane as AgL and the logarithmic extraction constant, logK(ex(10)), was determined to be -2.24.     

Facile chemoselective synthesis of dehydroalanine-containing peptides

Useful methodology is described for the synthesis of dehydroalanine residues (II) within peptides. The unnatural amino acid (Se)-phenylselenocysteine (I) can be incorporated into growing peptide chains via standard peptide synthesis procedures. Subsequent oxidative elimination affords a dehydroalanine at the desired position. The oxidation conditions are mild and tolerate functionalities commonly found in peptides, including variously protected cysteine residues. To illustrate its utility, cyclic lanthionines have been synthesized by this method.     

Bactericidal effects of photoactivated porphyrins--an alternative approach to antimicrobial drugs

Photoactivated porphyrins display a potent cytotoxic activity towards a variety of Gram positive bacteria, mycoplasma and yeasts, but not Gram negative cells. The prerequisite for photosensitization of a microbial cell is the binding of porphyrin to the cytoplasmic membrane in a pH-dependent manner. On illumination, the membrane bound, and possibly, cytoplasmic porphyrin molecules generate singlet oxygen and radicals which sensitize biomolecules and lead to cell death. The immediate inhibition of cell growth on photodynamic treatment is accompanied by alterations in cell wall and membrane synthesis, leading to the formation of large mesosomes adjacent to the unaccomplished septa. Hemin bound to microbial cells exerts cytotoxic activity by peroxidative and oxidative reactions independent of light. Future research in the field may enhance the possibility of using porphyrin photosensitization for treatment of microbial infections. Such clinical use will be unrelated to the antibiotic resistance of the pathogen. Resistance of Gram negative bacteria to porphyrin photosensitization is the main impediment to its use as a broad spectrum antibacterial method.     

Structure of an anti-plasmin inhibitor, eckol, isolated from the brown alga Ecklonia kurome Okamura and inhibitory activities of its derivatives on plasma plasmin inhibitors

Eckol (1), a novel phlorotannin with a dibenzo-1,4-dioxin skeleton, has been isolated from the brown alga Ecklonia kurome Okamura as a potent and specific anti-plasmin inhibitor. Its structure has been elucidated based on the spectral data, in particular, by means of negative nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE), and finally established as 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenoxy)-2,4,7,9-tetrahydroxydibenzo-1,4-dio xin by X-ray analysis. Some partially methoxylated derivatives of eckol were prepared by methylation with diazomethane and also by selective dimethylation of eckol permethylate (1b) to establish the structural requirements for inhibitory activities on alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor, the main plasmin inhibitors in plasma.     

Singlet-triplet interconversion of diphenylmethylene. Energetics,dynamics and reactivities of different spin states

A combination of picosecond and nanosecond laser spectroscopy measurements, chemical quenching experiments and triplet sensitization experiments has allowed the determination of the rapid singlet to triplet and slower triplet to singlet intersystem crossing rates for diphenylmethylene in fluid solution at room temperature. It is shown that under the conditions of the kinetic measurements, singlet and triplet diphenylmethylene (¹DPM and ³DPM, respectively) are in rapid equilibrium relative to reactions, so that knowledge of the values of k_ST and k_TS allows determination of the equilibrium constant and change in free energy for the ¹DPM 〈 ³DPM process. The absolute reactivity of ¹DPM toward a series of alcohols has been determined and is discussed in terms of other current investigations of carbene reactivity.     

Effect of methotrexate treatment on the onset of autoimmune kidney disease in lupus mice.

In the present study, we examined the effects of methotrexate (MTX) on the development of autoimmune kidney disease in three kinds of autoimmune prone mice, NZB/NZW F1 (BWF1) mice, MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice and NZW/BXSB F1 (WBF1) mice. The results showed that MTX delayed the appearance of proteinuria and prolonged survival of both BWF1 and MRL/lpr mice and inhibited the elevation of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels which accompanies the development of lupus nephritis. However, MTX treatment did not affect these in WBF1 mice. Furthermore, MTX could not suppress immunoglobulin G (IgG) class anti-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and anti-trinitrophenol (TNP) antibody production in any variety of mice. These suggest that the therapeutic effect of MTX on BWF1 and MRL/lpr mice does not result in the suppression of IgG autoantibody production.     

New pyranosyl cembranoid diterpenes from Sarcophyton trocheliophorum

During our continual searching programme for novel bioactive metabolites from Sarcophyton trocheliophorum, collected from Red Sea, we describe herein the isolation and structural elucidation of further two new pyrane-based cembranoid diterpenes: 9-hydroxy-7,8-dehydro-sarcotrocheliol (1) and 8,9-expoy-sarcotrocheliol acetate (2), along with the well-known sarcotrocheliol acetate (3), (+)-sarcophine (4), (+)-sarcophytoxide (5) and (-)-sarcophytoxide (6). The chemical structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H–¹H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOE), mass spectra (ESI and HR-ESIMS) and by comparison with related structures. The antimicrobial activities of the reported compounds 1–6 were investigated. According to the molecular docking study of compounds 1–6 using 3D structure of α,β tubulin in complex with taxol (PDB code 1JFF) and epothilone A (PDB code 1TVK), sarcophine (4) displayed the highest affinity towards both crystal structures, followed by 5 and 6, meanwhile pyrane-based cembranoid diterpenes (1–3) showed less affinity.     

Characterization of amiodarone metabolites and impurities using liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Using the high performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS/MS) technique, together with established trends from the literature, the structures of metabolites and impurities of amiodarone, an anti-arrhythmic drug, have been assigned. By comparing analyses of products of incubation with rat liver microsomes with controls in which glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was omitted, metabolites could be distinguished from impurities. Structures for the two proposed metabolites and four impurities are proposed.