Chlorinated briarane-type diterpenoids from the gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta (Ellisellidae)

Four chlorinated metabolites featuring briarane carbon skeletons have been isolated from the gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta, which was collected off the coast of southern Taiwan: two new natural products, robustolides D (1) and E (2), and two known metabolites, robustolides F (3) and G (4). The structures of metabolites 1–4 were determined by spectroscopic methods, using 1D and 2D NMR in particular. The structures and absolute stereochemistry of robustolides D (1), F (3), and G (4) were directly established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Robustolide D (1) is the first metabolite of briarane-related natural products found to possess two halogen atoms.     

Intercalation of trioxatriangulenium ion in DNA: binding,electron transfer,x-ray crystallography,and electronic structure

Trioxatriangulenium ion (TOTA(+)) is a flat, somewhat hydrophobic compound that has a low-energy unoccupied molecular orbital. It binds to duplex DNA by intercalation with a preference for G-C base pairs. Irradiation of intercalated TOTA(+) causes charge (radical cation) injection that results in strand cleavage (after piperidine treatment) primarily at GG steps. The X-ray crystal structure of TOTA(+) intercalated in the hexameric duplex d[CGATCG](2) described here reveals that intercalation of TOTA(+) results in an unusually large extension of the helical rise of the DNA and that the orientation of TOTA(+) is sensitive to hydrogen-bonding interactions with backbone atoms of the DNA. Electronic structure calculations reveal no meaningful charge transfer from DNA to TOTA(+) because the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of TOTA(+), (LUMO)(T), falls in the gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital, (HOMO)(D), and the (LUMO)(D) of the DNA bases. These calculations reveal the importance of backbone, water, and counterion interactions, which shift the energy levels of the bases and the intercalated TOTA(+) orbitals significantly. The calculations also show that the inserted TOTA(+) strongly polarizes the intercalation cavity where a sheet of excess electron density surrounds the TOTA(+).     

A self-assembling protein template for constrained synthesis and patterning of nanoparticle arrays

Self-assembling biomolecules that form highly ordered structures have attracted interest as potential alternatives to conventional lithographic processes for patterning materials. Here, we introduce a general technique for patterning nanoparticle arrays using two-dimensional crystals of genetically modified hollow protein structures called chaperonins. Constrained chemical synthesis of transition metal nanoparticles is initiated using templates functionalized with polyhistidine sequences. These nanoparticles are ordered into arrays because the template-driven synthesis is constrained by the nanoscale structure of the crystallized protein. We anticipate that this system may be used to pattern different classes of nanoparticles based on the growing library of sequences shown to specifically bind or direct the growth of materials.     

Measurement of unbound cocaine in blood, brain and bile of anesthetized rats using microdialysis coupled with liquid chromatography and verified by tandem mass spectrometry

To investigate the disposition of unbound cocaine in the rat blood, brain and bile, we demonstrate an in vivo multiple sampling microdialysis system coupled with liquid chromatography for cocaine assay and verified by tandem mass spectrometry. Three microdialysis probes were concurrently inserted into the jugular vein, bile duct and brain striatum of each anesthetized rat. After a period of 2 h post-surgical stabilization, cocaine (10 mg kg(-1)) was administered through the femoral vein. Separation of unbound cocaine from various biological fluids was applied to a reversed-phase C(18) column (250 x 4.6 mm I.D., 5 microm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile--10 mm potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (25:75, v/v, pH 4.0) and 0.8% diethylamine at a flow rate of 1 mL min(-1). The UV detector wavelength was set at 235 nm. The results indicate that cocaine penetrates the blood--brain barrier with a rapid distribution. However, unbound cocaine in the bile dialysate was not detectable in the UV detection. We therefore use LC--tandem mass spectrometry to detect the bile fluid after cocaine administration (3 mg kg(-1), i.v.). The results indicate that cocaine goes through hepatobiliary excretion.     

Chemical Constituents from the Root of Antidesma Pentandrum var. Barbatum

Investigation of the root extract of Antidesma pentandrum var. barbatum led to the isolation of seven new compounds, antidesmol ( 1 ), antidesmanins E ( 2 ) and F ( 3 ), antidesnone ( 4 ), antidesnol ( 5 ), barbatumols A ( 6 ) and B ( 7 ), together with 14 known compounds including sodium aristolochate‐I ( 10 ) and aristolochic acid‐I methyl ester ( 11 ).     

High yielding synthesis of 3a-hydroxypyrrolo[2,3-b]indoline dipeptide methyl esters: synthons for expedient introduction of the hydroxypyrroloindoline moiety into larger peptide-based natural products and for the creation of tryptathionine bridges

This work describes a rapid and high yielding oxidation of 14 tryptophanylated amino acid methyl esters to the corresponding 3a-hydroxypyrrolo[2,3-b]indoline (Hpi) amino acids with generally facile separation of syn-cis and anti-cis diastereomers. Structural X-ray diffraction data are presented for both diastereomers of Tr-Hpi-Gly-OMe, which allow for a putative assignment of the other 13 pairs of diastereomers reported herein, based on correlations with 1H NMR chemical shifts. Selective and high yielding deprotection at either the N or C terminus is described, allowing the Hpi motif to be introduced efficiently into potential targets with minimal protecting group manipulation. Two tripeptides containing Hpi and cysteine were prepared and treated with acid in the Savige-Fontana reaction to produce a cyclic tryptathionine linkage, characteristic of both amatoxins and phallotoxins.     

Analysis of serotonin release from single neuron soma using capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence with a pulsed deep-UV NeCu laser

The use of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence excited by ultraviolet (UV) lasers in the range 200–300 nm has been restricted by the available wavelengths and expense of UV lasers. The integration of a NeCu deep UV laser operating at 248.6 nm with a single channel CE system with post-column sheath flow detection allows detection limits for serotonin and tryptophan of 3.9×10^-8 M and 4.5×10^-8 M respectively. Single cell analysis of serotonergic metacerebral cells from the sea slug Aplysia californica yields a value of 800±85 fmol of serotonin in each cell soma. For the first time, serotonin is directly detected in electrically stimulated release from single metacerebral cell soma, with approximately 4% of the serotonin contained in the soma released from a semi-intact preparation with a 2 min electrical stimulation.     

Difference in Conversions Between Dimethyl Sulfide and Methanethiol in a Cold Plasma Environment

This study compared the conversion of two malodorous substances, dimethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₃, DMS) and methanethiol (CH₃SH) in a cold plasma reactor. The DMS and CH₃SH were successfully destroyed at room temperature. DMS decomposed less than CH₃SH at the same conditions. In oxygen-free condition, CS₂ and hydrocarbons were the major products, while SO₂ and CO_x were main compounds in oxygen-rich environments. The DMS/Ar plasma yielded more hydrocarbons and less CS₂ than that of CH₃SH/Ar plasma. In the CH₃SH/O₂/Ar plasma, rapid formation of SO and CO resulted in the yields much more amounts of SO₂ and CO₂ than those in the DMS/O₂/Ar plasma; and remained only a trace of total hydrocarbons, CH₂O, CH₃OH, CS₂, and OCS. The major differences between the reaction mechanisms of DMS and CH₃SH were also proposed and discussed.     

Ni(III) vs. Ni(II)-thiyl radical: charge-delocalisation in a binuclear Ni(III)Ni(II)-dithiolate complex

Multi-frequency EPR spectroscopy on 61Ni-labelled samples of [Ni2(L)]3+ confirms extensive charge-delocalisation between the Ni(III) centre and thiolate donors in the Ni(II)Ni(III) complex.     

Intermolecular interactions in (arene)chromium carbonyl compounds: prediction of chiral crystal packing from racemate structure

Six X-ray crystal structures are reported, all containing substituted triphenylmethanol derivative 4 either alone or as its mono or bis(chromium tricarbonyl) complexes. All four chromium complexes studied crystallize with two independent molecules in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. It is demonstrated that from the X-ray crystal structure of the acentric racemic (+/-)-(1pR,1' 'R)(1pS,1' 'S)-[Cr(CO)(3)(eta(6)-t-BuC(6)H(3)(CMeOMe)CPh(2)OH)], (+/-)-3, it is possible to deduce the 4-fold helical structure of the chiral (-)-(1pR,1' 'R) isomer, (-)-3. The bimetallic derivatives demonstrate the ability to control intermolecular interactions by the positioning of relative stereochemistry.