Efficient syntheses of new chiral peptidomimetic macrocycles through a configurationally driven preorganization

A new family of 32-membered ring peptidomimetic macrocycles has been efficiently obtained in a simple one-pot two-step reductive amination reaction, from easily prepared precursors. The structural and stereochemical variables have been explored in order to rationalize the obtained selectivity. The formation of the [2A+2B] tetraimine intermediate has been explained in terms of a very favorable configurationally driven preorganization as detected by NMR, CD and molecular modeling.     

Unprecedented Quassinoids with Promising Biological Activity from Harrisonia perforata

Perforalactone A ( 1 ), a new 20S quassinoid with a unique cagelike 2,4‐dioxaadamantane ring system and a migrated side chain, was isolated from the plant Harrisonia perforata together with two biosynthetically related new quassinoids. The structures of these natural products were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis, computational modeling, and the CD excitation chirality method. The compounds exhibited notable biological properties, including insecticidal activity against Aphis medicaginis Koch and antagonist activity at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of Drosophila melanogaster. The structural features of these compounds may be related to their promising biological characteristics. Their biosynthesis and an alternative origin of quassinoid‐type natural products are also discussed.     

β‐cyclodextrin‐based polymeric nano‐receptor: the self‐assembly of cyclodextrin‐appended comb‐copolymer

Well‐defined β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD)‐appended biocompatible comb‐copolymer ethyl cellulose‐graft‐poly (ε‐caprolactone) (EC‐g‐PCL) was synthesized via the combination of ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) and click chemistry. The resulting products were characterized by ¹H NMR, FT‐IR spectroscopy, and GPC. The synthesized comb‐copolymer could assemble to micelles, with the surface covered by β‐CD. The inclusion with ferrocene derivation was investigated by cyclic voltammetric (CV) experiments, which indicated the potential application of the micelles as nano‐receptors for molecule recognization and controlled drug release. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simple Synthetic Receptors for Aspirin

Shallow methylene‐bridged cavitands appended with simple H‐bond donor/acceptor groups are shown to bind aspirin. The structural features needed in a synthetic receptor for aspirin binding are defined.     

Design of New Water Receptors Based on Oligomeric Complexes of Copper(II) and Nickel(II)

The interaction of mono- and oligomacromolecular complexes of copper(II) and nickel(II) with water vapor has been studied on a piezoquartz microbalance. It has been established that the effectiveness of adsorption is determined by the nature of the metal ion to a larger extent than the quantity of macrocyclic ligand in the receptor molecule. Oligomacrocyclic complexes of copper(II) are shown to have prospects for use as active coverings of moisture meters working over a wide range of relative humidity.     

Synthetic receptors based on calix[4]arene functionalized at the lower rim in molecular recognition of dicarboxylic, α-hydroxycarboxylic,and α-amino acids

New calix[4]arenes, di- and tetrasubstituted at the lower rim, with different functional groups were synthesized. They were studied as carriers of a series of dicarboxylic and -hydroxycarboxylic acids through a liquid impregnated membrane. The calix[4]arenes under study are capable of molecular recognition of oxalic acid in the series of structurally similar dicarboxylic and -hydroxycarboxylic acids. The regularities found make it possible to change purposefully the receptor ability of 1,3-disubstituted calix[4]arenes by variation of the nature of substituents.     

Molecular Ionics of Anion Receptor Molecules: A Microcalorimetric Study

The coordination of divalent and monovalent inorganic anions to synthetic polyammonium receptors is investigated in aqueous solution around neutral pH by titration calorimetry and NMR spectroscopy. High-affinity 1:1 complexes are formed by a pyrrole type cryptand (1) with sulfate and phosphate, characterized by association constants of almost 107 M^-1. Affinities close to 105 M^-1 are found for polyazacryptands (3 and 4) exhibiting F^-/Cl^- selectivity. The binding affinities and the anion selectivities are mainly caused by the charges of ligands and anions, which is discussed on the basis of simple calculations of the electrostatic contribution to the anion/receptor interactions. The binding of all investigated anions is exothermic at 298.2 K. The contribution of the large negative ΔH values to the free energy of anion binding of the pyrrole type ligand is partially compensated by marked negative ΔS values. These unfavorable entropic contributions are attributed to the additional inclusion of water molecules in the anion/receptor complexes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.