Rearrangement reactions of the transient lewis acids (CF(3))(3)B and (CF(3))(3)BCF(2): an experimental and theoretical study

Short-lived (CF(3))(3)B and (CF(3))(3)BCF(2) are generated as intermediates by thermal dissociation of (CF(3))(3)BCO and F(-) abstraction from the weak coordinating anion [B(CF(3))(4)](-), respectively. Both Lewis acids cannot be detected because of their instability with respect to rearrangement reactions at the B-C-F moiety. A cascade of 1,2-fluorine shifts to boron followed by perfluoroalkyl group migrations and also difluorocarbene transfer reactions occur. In the gas phase, (CF(3))(3)B rearranges to a mixture of linear perfluoroalkyldifluoroboranes C(n)()F(2)(n)()(+1)BF(2) (n = 2-7), while the respective reactions of (CF(3))(3)BCF(2) result in a mixture of linear (n = 2-4) and branched monoperfluoroalkyldifluoroboranes, e.g., (C(2)F(5))(CF(3))FCBF(2). For comparison, the reactions of [CF(3)BF(3)](-) and [C(2)F(5)BF(3)](-) with AsF(5) are studied, and the products in the case of [CF(3)BF(3)](-) are BF(3) and C(2)F(5)BF(2) whereas in the case of [C(2)F(5)BF(3)](-), C(2)F(5)BF(2) is the sole product. In contrast to reports in the literature, it is found that CF(3)BF(2) is too unstable at room temperature to be detected. The decomposition of (CF(3))(3)BCO in anhydrous HF leads to a mixture of the new conjugate Br?nsted-Lewis acids [H(2)F][(CF(3))(3)BF] and [H(2)F][C(2)F(5)BF(3)]. All reactions are modeled by density functional calculations. The energy barriers of the transition states are low in agreement with the experimental results that (CF(3))(3)B and (CF(3))(3)BCF(2) are short-lived intermediates. Since CF(2) complexes are key intermediates in the rearrangement reactions of (CF(3))(3)B and (CF(3))(3)BCF(2), CF(2) affinities of some perfluoroalkylfluoroboranes are presented. CF(2) affinities are compared to CO and F(-) affinities of selected boranes showing a trend in Lewis acidity, and its influence on the stability of the complexes is discussed. Fluoride ion affinities are calculated for a variety of different fluoroboranes, including perfluorocarboranes, and compared to those of the title compounds.     

Accurate determination of low pK values by (1)H NMR titration

The NMR titration methodology to determine acid dissociation constants in aqueous solutions is extended for pK(a) values between 0 and 2, where potentiometric titrations are no longer applicable. (1)H NMR spectra are acquired for single samples of constant acid concentration (e.g. 0.02M), controlled ionic strength (I=1M with HNO(3)/NaNO(3)) and varying pH. To avoid biased pH readings due to the acid error of the glass electrode, true, concentration-based pH values are deduced by combination of the charge balance equation with information from (1)H NMR chemical shifts of the investigated acid. The method has been tested on histidine (pK(1)=1.83+/-0.02) and yielded the dissociation constant of dichloroacetic acid (pK=1.06+/-0.01) for the first time with good accuracy and precision. Dichloroacetic acid is recommended as an NMR spectroscopical "indicator molecule" for in situ monitoring the pH in strong acidic solutions of other equilibrium systems.     

Micropatterning of DNA-tagged vesicles

We present a novel concept for the creation of lipid vesicle microarrays based on a patterning approach termed Molecular Assembly Patterning by Lift-off (MAPL). A homogeneous MAPL-based single-stranded DNA microarray was converted into a vesicle array by the use of vesicles tagged with complementary DNAs, permitting sequence-specific coupling of vesicles to predefined surface regions through complementary DNA hybridization. In the multistep process utilized to fulfill this achievement, active spots consisting of PLL-g-PEGbiotin with a resistant PLL-g-PEG background, as provided by the MAPL process, was converted into a DNA array by addition of complexes of biotin-terminated DNA and NeutrAvidin. This was then followed by addition of POPC vesicles tagged with complementary cholesterol-terminated DNA, thus providing specific coupling of vesicles to the surface through complementary DNA hybridization. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy monitoring were used to optimize the multistep surface modification process. It was found that the amount of adsorbed biotinDNA-NeutrAvidin complexes decreases with increasing molar ratio of biotinDNA to NeutrAvidin and decreasing ionic strength of the buffer solution. Modeling of the QCM-D data showed that the shape of the immobilized vesicles depends on the amount of available anchoring groups between the vesicles and the surface. Fluorescent microscopy images confirmed the possibility to create well-defined patterns of DNA-tagged, fluorescently labeled vesicles in the micrometer range.     

Chemistry and Biology of Oligovalent β‐(1→2)‐Linked Oligomannosides: New Insights into Carbohydrate‐Based Adjuvants in Immunotherapy

A series of oligovalent carbohydrate assemblies (ranging from mono‐ to pentavalent), derived from three structurally different β‐linked or β‐(1→2)‐linked mannosides, has been chemically synthesized, and the respective compounds have been biologically evaluated in order to investigate their immunostimulatory properties. The Crich methodology for β‐mannosylation was successfully utilized to introduce the β‐linkages, and a click chemistry protocol was utilized to generate the oligovalent derivatives. A convenient protecting group strategy involving the simultaneous use of both p‐methoxybenzyl and benzylidene groups was employed, which allowed a simple and cost‐effective global deprotection step. The immunomodulatory properties of the synthesized multivalent mannosides were evaluated by assessing cytokine production in human white blood cell cultures. The Th2‐type cytokines interleukin‐4 and interleukin‐5 (IL‐4 and IL‐5), the Th1 cytokine interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), the Treg cytokine IL‐10, and the pro‐inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were included in the screening. A single trivalent acetylated mannobiose derivative was identified as a potent inducer of Treg and Th1 immune response, resulting in strong IL‐10 and moderate IFN‐γ productions dose‐dependently, while inducing no Th2 cytokine response. The immunomodulatory properties of this trivalent mannoside were further studied in vitro in allergen (Bet v)‐stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures of birch pollen allergic subjects. Stimulation with birch pollen induced strong IL‐4 and IL‐5 responses, which could be suppressed by the trivalent acetylated mannobiose derivative. The IL‐10 response was also suppressed, whereas the production of IFN‐γ was strongly enhanced. The results suggest that the identified lead compound has suppressive effects on the Th2‐type allergic inflammatory response and shows potential as a possible lead adjuvant for the specific immunotherapy of allergies.     

Nucleoside Analogues with a 1,3‐Diene?Fe(CO)3 Substructure: Stereoselective Synthesis,Configurational Assignment,and Apoptosis‐Inducing Activity

The synthesis and stereochemical assignment of two classes of iron‐containing nucleoside analogues, both of which contain a butadiene? Fe(CO)₃ substructure, is described. The first type of compounds are Fe(CO)₃‐complexed 3′‐alkenyl‐2′,3′‐dideoxy‐2′,3′‐dehydro nucleosides (2,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives), from which the second class of compounds is derived by formal replacement of the ring oxygen atom by a CH₂ group (carbocyclic nucleoside analogues). These compounds were prepared in a stereoselective manner through the metal‐assisted introduction of the nucleobase. Whilst the furanoid intermediates were prepared from carbohydrates (such as methyl‐glucopyranoside), the carbocyclic compounds were obtained by using an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction. Stereochemical assignments based on NMR and CD spectroscopy were confirmed by X‐ray structural analysis. Biological investigations revealed that several of the complexes exhibited pronounced apoptosis‐inducing properties (through an unusual caspase 3‐independent but ROS‐dependent pathway). Furthermore, some structure–activity relationships were identified, also as a precondition for the design and synthesis of fluorescent and biotin‐labeled conjugates.