The chemical bonding and spectral assignments of rhodium(III)‐catalyzed closo‐dodecaborate complexes: Ab initio study

The chemical bonding and spectral assignments of rhodium(III)‐catalyzed closo‐dodecaborate (RhCD) complex are systematically studied using the density functional theory calculations. It is found that the calculated main bond lengths of framework are in good agreement with experimental X‐ray observation, and the pronounced hybridization of B‐2p and Rh‐4d states is responsible for the structural stability, reflected by the large dissociation energy and HOMO–LUMO energy gap. The AdNDP chemical bonding analysis indicates that the RhCD complex can be stabilized by two H‐bridged 3c‐2e σ‐bonds (B‐H‐Rh triangles). Additionally, the theoretical calculations reproduce well the main experimental IR spectrum, and the characteristic peaks are properly assigned. These results will be helpful for further insight into the unique electronic structure of the species, and provide valuable references for potential applications in novel materials.     

Crystal Structures of Bacterial (6‐4) Photolyase Mutants with Impaired DNA Repair Activity

PhrB from Agrobacterium fabrum is the first prokaryotic photolyase which repairs (6‐4) UV DNA photoproducts. The protein harbors three cofactors: the enzymatically active FAD chromophore, a second chromophore, 6,7‐dimethyl‐8‐ribityllumazine (DMRL) and a cubane‐type Fe‐S cluster. Tyr424 of PhrB is part of the DNA‐binding site and could provide an electron link to the Fe‐S cluster. The PhrB_Y424F mutant showed reduced binding of lesion DNA and loss of DNA repair. The mutant PhrB_I51W is characterized by the loss of the DMRL chromophore, reduced photoreduction and reduced DNA repair capacity. We have determined the crystal structures of both mutants and found that both mutations only affect local protein environments, whereas the overall fold remained unchanged. The crystal structure of PhrB_Y424F revealed a water network extending to His366, which are part of the lesion‐binding site. The crystal structure of PhrB_I51W shows how the bulky Trp leads to structural rearrangements in the DMRL chromophore pocket. Spectral characterizations of PhrB_I51W suggest that DMRL serves as an antenna chromophore for photoreduction and DNA repair in the wild type. The energy transfer from DMRL to FAD could represent a phylogenetically ancient process.     

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of aryl chlorides with aryl boronic acids catalyzed by a palladium dichloride adduct of N-diphenylphosphanyl-2-aminopyridine

One palladium dichloride adduct of a phosphine-pyridine ligand N-diphenylphosphanyl-2-aminopyridine (L₁) [(L₁)PdCl₂] (1) has been prepared and structurally characterized. Compound 1 can be used as an effective catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of unreactive aryl chlorides with aryl boronic acids, and worked much better than its mono- or bidentate phosphine ligands. The reactions with a wide scope of substrates proceeded to give desired products in good to excellent yields.     

New biphenantherene and nervogenic acid derivatives from Liparis regnieri Finet and their inhibitory activities against NF-κB activation

A phytochemical investigation of the whole plant of Liparis regnieri Finet led to the isolation of one new biphenantherene (1) and ten new nervogenic acid derivatives (2–11), together with nine known compounds. Their structures were elucidated mainly by extensive analyses of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and chemical reactions. Additionally, for the first time a previously unreported biphenantherene was discovered to effectively suppress TNF-α induced expression of NF-κB-Luc in Hela cells with the IC₅₀ value of 1.80 μM and the structure-activity relationshipwas also discussed.     

Fragilolides A-Q,norditerpenoid and briarane diterpenoids from the gorgonian coral Junceella fragilis

Chemical investigation of the gorgonian coral Junceella fragilis resulted in the isolation of a new norditerpenoid fragilolide A (1), sixteen new briarane diterpenoids fragilolides B-Q (2–17), together with frajunolides H and N, and three known norcembranoids scabrolide D, sinuleptolide and 5-epi-sinuleptolide. The structures of new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including the experimental and calculated ECD data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction for the configurational assignments. The structure of fragilolide A featured an unprecedented 4,13- and 7,11-fused tetracyclic norcembranoid, while the biogenetic relationships of the briarane analogues were postulated. Frajunolide H exerted significant inhibition against a panel of tumor cell lines, and six briarane diterpenoids (3, 6, 8, 12, 16, and frajunolide N) exhibited the inhibitory effects against the HBeAg express of hepatitis B virus in HepAD38 cells. In addition, sinuleptolide and 5-epi-sinuleptolide exerted the effects to inhibit NO production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, in addition to the activation of ARE and the inhibition of NF-κB expression.     

Antiviral peptides from marine gorgonian-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO 41501

A new cyclic pentapeptide and three new linear peptides, namely, aspergillipeptides D–G (1–4), were isolated from a culture broth of marine gorgonian-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO 41501. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and their absolute configurations were confirmed by Marfey’s method. Compounds 1 and 2 showed evident antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) with IC₅₀ values of 9.5 and 19.8 µM under their non-cytotoxic concentrations against a Vero cell line, respectively, and 1 also had antiviral activity against acyclovir-resistant clinical isolates of HSV-1.     

Iodine-catalyzed C3-formylation of indoles using hexamethylenetetramine and air

An efficient iodine-catalyzed chemoselective 3-formylation of free (N–H) and N-substituted indoles was achieved by using hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) in the presence of activated carbon under air atmosphere. This new method could provide 3-formylindoles in moderate to excellent yields with fairly short reaction times. Moreover, this catalytic formylation of indoles procedure can be applied to gram-scale synthesis.     

Development of a light-up fluorescent probe for HRAS G-quadruplex DNA

The development of small-molecule G-quadruplex DNA probes has attracted significant attention in recent years. However, G-quadruplexes can display a wide variety of topologies, which process different structures and functions. Therefore, selective discrimination one G-quadruplex structure over another is promising. Herein, we reported the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a long-chain fatty amine functionalized triphenylamine-quinolinium conjugate 1b. Significant enhancement of the fluorescence intensity (over 180 fold) was observed when 1b bound with HRAS G-quadruplex DNA, while much weaker enhancements were presented in the presence of other G-quadruplexes (45–90-fold) and single/double-stranded DNAs (less than 20-fold), indicating 1b had an excellent selectivity to HRAS. The details of the interactions were investigated by UV–Vis, FID and CD analysis. The results show 1b could interact and stabilize HRAS structure mainly by π-π stacking binding mode. The introduced amine chain of the structure core was found to be better in the terms of inducing selectivity toward G-quadruplex structure. In addition, the application of 1b as a fluorescent agent for living cell imaging was also demonstrated.