Circular Dichroism of Amino Acids: Following the Structural Formation of Phenylalanine

Circular dichroism (CD) is frequently used to assess the secondary structure of peptides and proteins, whereas less attention has been given to their building blocks, that is, single amino acids, as they do not possess a secondary structure. Here, we follow the CD signal of amino acids and reveal that several acids exhibit a unique CD pattern as a function of their concentration. Accordingly, we propose an eight‐level classification of the CD signal of the various amino acids. Special focus is given to the CD pattern of phenylalanine (Phe), for which we observe the formation of an ultra‐narrow CD peak (full width at high maximum of only 5 nm). This CD peak can be attributed to the formation of Phe‐based chiral structural features. Further support for the formation of an ordered structure is given by using NMR, and the additional self‐assembly process of Phe to tubular structures.     

Design and Synthesis of New Bile AcidSterol Conjugates Linked via 1,2,3‐Triazole Ring

A new steroid conjugates have been obtained from bile acids and sterol derivatives using ‘click chemistry’. Intermolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the propargyl ester of bile acids (lithocholic, deoxycholic, and cholic acid) and azide derivatives of sterols (ergosterol and cholesterol) gave a new bile acid? sterol conjugates linked with a 1,2,3‐triazole ring. The structures of all products were confirmed by spectroscopic (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and FT‐IR) analyses, mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS), and in silico biological activity evaluation methods (PASS), as well as PM5 semiempirical methods.     

Regioselective One‐pot Synthesis of New Unsymmetric Spiro Dihydrofurans in the Reaction of Mixed Two Different Cyclic β‐Dicarbonyl Compounds with BrCN and Aldehydes in the Presence of Et3N

Crossed one‐pot reaction of mixed cyclic β‐dicarbonyl with various aldehydes in the presence of cyano gen bromide and triethylamine leads to the selective and efficient formation of crossed new unsymmetri cal spiro dihydrofurans at room temperature. The products were obtained in good to excellent yields. Structure elucidation was carried out by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT‐IR spectroscopy, Mass analyses and X‐ray crystallography technique. A proposed mechanism was discussed for the formation of products.     

Can Helical Peptides Unwind One Turn at a Time? ‐ Controlled Conformational Transitions in α,β2,3‐Hybrid Peptides

Unfolding of helical trans‐β^2,3‐hybrid peptides with (α–β)_nα composition, when executed by increasing solvent polarity or temperature, proceeded in a systematic manner with the turns unwinding sequentially; C‐terminal region of these peptides were first to unwind and the process propagated towards N terminus with more and more β residues equilibrating from the gauche to the anti rotameric state across C_α?C_β. This is evidenced by clear change in their C_βH signal splitting, ³J_CαH–CβH values, and sequential disappearance of i,i+2 NOEs.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Several Dephosphonated Analogues of CMP‐Neu5Ac as Inhibitors of GM3‐Synthase

Previous studies demonstrated that reducing the GM3 content in myoblasts increased the cell resistance to hypoxic stress, suggesting that a pharmacological inhibition of the GM3 synthesis could be instrumental for the development of new treatments for ischemic diseases. Herein, the synthesis of several dephosphonated CMP‐Neu5Ac congeners and their anti ‐ GM3‐synthase activity is reported. Biological activity testes revealed that some inhibitors almost completely blocked the GM3‐synthase activity in vitro and reduced the GM3 content in living embryonic kidney 293A cells, eventually activating the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling cascade.     

Strong Fluorescent Smart Organogel as a Dual Sensing Material for Volatile Acid and Organic Amine Vapors

An L ‐phenylalanine derivative ( C12PhBPCP ) consisting of a strong emission fluorophore with benzoxazole and cyano groups is designed and synthesized to realize dual responses to volatile acid and organic amine vapors. The photophysical properties and self‐assembly of the said derivative in the gel phase are also studied. C12PhBPCP can gelate organic solvents and self‐assemble into 1 D nanofibers in the gels. UV/Vis absorption spectral results show H‐aggregate formation during gelation, which indicates strong exciton coupling between fluorophores. Both wet gel and xerogel emit strong green fluorescence because the cyano group suppresses fluorescence quenching in the self‐assemblies. Moreover, the xerogel film with strong green fluorescence can be used as a dual chemosensor for quantitative detection of volatile acid and organic amine vapors with fast response times and low detection limits owing to its large surface area and amplified fluorescence quenching. The detection limits are 796 ppt and 25 ppb for gaseous aniline and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), respectively.     

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Cyclopentanoids: Applications to the Construction of the ABCD Tetracyclic Core of Retigeranic Acid A

A concise and efficient approach for the construction of the tetracyclic carbon skeleton of retigeranic acid A is described. The key transformations include a novel Rh‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of enyol to afford cyclopentanoid E , bearing two contiguous quaternary stereocenters at the bridgehead positions, and an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction to construct the advanced tetracyclic core structure of retigeranic acid A.     

A Study of the Solvation Structure of l‐Leucine in Alcohol–Water Binary Solvents through Molecular Dynamics Simulations and FTIR and NMR Spectroscopy

The solvation structures of l ‐leucine (Leu) in aliphatic‐alcohol–water and fluorinated‐alcohol–water solvents are elucidated for various alcohol contents by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and IR, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The aliphatic alcohols included methanol, ethanol, and 2‐propanol, whereas the fluorinated alcohols were 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol and 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol. The MD results show that the hydrophobic alkyl moiety of Leu is surrounded by the alkyl or fluoroalkyl groups of the alcohol molecules. In particular, TFE and HFIP significantly solvate the alkyl group of Leu. IR spectra reveal that the Leu C?H stretching vibration blueshifts in fluorinated alcohol solutions with increasing alcohol content, whereas the vibration redshifts in aliphatic alcohol solutions. When the C?H stretching vibration blueshifts in the fluorinated alcohol solutions, the hydrogen and carbon atoms of the Leu alkyl group are magnetically shielded. Consequently, TFE and HFIP molecules may solvate the Leu alkyl group through the blue‐shifting hydrogen bonds.     

Novel and Stereospecific Synthesis of (2S)‐3‐(2,4,5‐Trifluorophenyl)propane‐1,2‐diol from D‐Mannitol

A stereospecific synthesis of (2S)‐3‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)propane‐1,2‐diol from D ‐mannitol has been developed. The reaction of 2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐D ‐glyceraldehyde with 2,4,5‐trifluorophenylmagnesium bromide gave [(4R)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4‐yl](2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)methanol in 65% yield as a mixture of diastereoisomers (1 : 1). The Ph₃P catalyzed reaction of the latter with C₂Cl₆ followed by reduction with Pd/C‐catalyzed hydrogenation gave (2S)‐3‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)propane‐1,2‐diol with >99% ee and 65% yield.     

Size,Charge, and Stability of Fully Serine‐Based Catanionic Vesicles: Towards Versatile Biocompatible Nanocarriers

Vesicles based on mixed cationic and anionic surfactants (catanionic vesicles) offer a number of advantageous colloidal features over conventional lipid‐based vesicles, namely spontaneity in formation, long‐term stability, and easy modulation of size and charge. If biocompatibility is added through rational design of the chemical components, the potential for biorelated applications further emerges. Here, we report for the first time on two catanionic vesicle systems in which both ionic amphiphiles are derivatized from the same amino acid—serine—with the goal of enhancing aggregate biocompatibility. Phase behavior maps for a mixture with chain length symmetry, 12Ser/12‐12Ser, and another with asymmetry, 16Ser/8‐8Ser, are presented, for which regions of vesicles, micelles, and coexisting aggregates are identified. For the asymmetric mixture, detailed phase behavior and microstructure characterization have been carried out based on surface tension, light microscopy, cryo‐SEM, cryo‐TEM, and dynamic light scattering analysis. Vesicles are found with tunable mean size, pH, and zeta potential. Changes in aggregate shape with varying composition and the effect of preparation methods and aging on vesicle features and stability have been investigated in detail. The results are discussed in the light of self‐assembly models and related catanionic systems reported before. A versatile system of robust vesicles is thus presented for potential applications.