Selective cleavage of protonated penetratin and its substitutes under low‐energy collision‐induced dissociation condition

An understanding of the dissociation of penetratin is important for improving its metabolic stability and cargo‐delivery efficiency. In this study, we describe the selective cleavage of the K15–K16 amide bond of penetratin under the low‐energy collision‐induced dissociation condition in mass spectrometry. A variety of penetratin substitutes have been studied in which key basic amino acids have been substituted within the sequence. The calculated structure indicates that an α‐helix structure prevents the fragmentation of the central peptide domain and the side chain of lysine is involved in the proton translocation process. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cleavage of polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers with a trithiocarbonate linkage in solutions

In this work, the polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PS‐b‐PEO) block copolymers with a trithiocarbonate group between the blocks were prepared by polymerization of styrene in the presence of a trithiocarbonate reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent connected with PEO. Decomposition of the trithiocarbonate group by UV irradiation was investigated in three different types of solvent: tetrahydrofuran (THF, common solvent for both blocks), cyclohexane/dioxane mixture (selective solvent for the PS block) and N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF)/ethanol mixture (selective solvent for the PEO block). It is found that cleavage of the block copolymers can take place in all these three solvents and the cleavage ratio ranges from 76 to 86%. The micellar morphologies in selective solvents before and after cleavage were examined. It is observed that the size of the micelles is reduced after cleavage and sometimes aggregation of the micelles occurs due to removal of the corona of micelles. It shows that this work provides a facile and general method for synthesis of cleavable block copolymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3834–3840, 2010     

Total Synthesis of the Biologically Active,Naturally Occurring 3,4‐Dibromo‐5‐[2‐bromo‐3,4‐dihydroxy‐6‐(methoxymethyl)benzyl]benzene‐1,2‐diol and Regioselective O‐Demethylation of Aryl Methyl Ethers

3,4‐Dibromo‐5‐[2‐bromo‐3,4‐dihydroxy‐6‐(methoxymethyl)benzyl]benzene‐1,2‐diol ( 2 ), a natural product, has been synthesized for the first time starting from (3‐bromo‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)methanol ( 5 ) in five steps and with an overall yield of 34%. The reaction of some methoxymethyl‐substituted aryl methyl ethers with BBr₃, followed by the addition of MeOH, afforded the corresponding methoxymethyl‐substituted arylphenols in high yields.     

Thermo-cleavable polymers: Materials with enhanced photochemical stability

Photochemical stability of three thermo-cleavable polymers was investigated as thin films under atmospheric conditions. A significant increase in lifetime was observed once the side-chain was cleaved emphasizing the detrimental effect of solubilizing groups on the photochemical stability of conjugated polymers. In addition to their ease of processing, thermo-cleavable polymers thus also offer a greater intrinsic stability under illumination.     

Neuronal RNA granule contains ApCPEB1, a novel cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein, in Aplysia sensory neuron

The cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE)-binding protein (CPEB) binds to CPE containing mRNAs on their 3'' untranslated regions (3''UTRs). This RNA binding protein comes out many important tasks, especially in learning and memory, by modifying the translational efficiency of target mRNAs via poly (A) tailing. Overexpressed CPEB has been reported to induce the formation of stress granules (SGs), a sort of RNA granule in mammalian cell lines. RNA granule is considered to be a potentially important factor in learning and memory. However, there is no study about RNA granule in Aplysia. To examine whether an Aplysia CPEB, ApCPEB1, forms RNA granules, we overexpressed ApCPEB1-EGFP in Aplysia sensory neurons. Consistent with the localization of mammalian CPEB, overexpressed ApCPEB1 formed granular structures, and was colocalized with RNAs and another RNA binding protein, ApCPEB, showing that ApCPEB1 positive granules are RNA-protein complexes. In addition, ApCPEB1 has a high turnover rate in RNA granules which were mobile structures. Thus, our results indicate that overexpressed ApCPEB1 is incorporated into RNA granule which is a dynamic structure in Aplysia sensory neuron. We propose that ApCPEB1 granule might modulate translation, as other RNA granules do, and furthermore, influence memory.     

Antimony-Carbon bond activation in a Pt(II) complex: The crystal structure of [Pt(9S3)(SbPh3)(Ph)](PF6)·CH3NO2

The complex [Pt(9S3)(SbPh₃)(Ph)](PF₆) forms directly from [Pt(9S3)(SbPh₃)₂](PF₆)₂ during the room temperature crystallization of the latter in nitromethane. The crystal structure shows a five-coordinate Pt(II) center containing the tridentate thiacrown ligand, a Sb donor from the triphenylstibine ligand, and a σ-coordinating phenyl group. The phenyl group forms via Sb-C bond cleavage from one of the SbPh₃ ligands in the bis complex.     

Investigation of DNA cleavage activities of new oxime-type ligand complexes and molecular modeling of complex-DNA interactions

Nucleolytic activities of some new oxime-type ligand complexes were investigated by neutral agarose gel electrophoresis. Analysis of the cleavage products in agarose gel indicated that all complexes used converted supercoiled pUC18 plasmid DNA to its nicked or linear form. It was found that nucleolytic activities of the complexes depend on the complex concentration, reaction time and the presence of a cooxidant (magnesium monoperoxyphthalate, MMPP) in the reaction mixture. However, the complexes cleaved pUC18 plasmid DNA at all investigated pH values. Nucleolytic activities of complexes were investigated for different complex concentrations (0.1–100 μmol L⁻¹), pH values (6.0–10.0) and reaction times (0–60 min). Molecular modeling studies performed by the Hyperchem Software together with DNA-binding studies showed that planar sites of the complexes intercalated into double stranded DNA. It can be concluded that all oxime-type ligand complexes used can be evaluated as nuclease mimics.     

Rhodium-catalyzed allyl transfer from homoallyl alcohols to acrylate esters via retro-allylation

Retro-allylation of homoallyl alcohols by rhodium catalysts occurs to generate allylrhodium species. Insertion of acrylate esters to the allylrhodiums proceeds to give the corresponding 2,5-hexadienoate esters in situ. Subsequent isomerization or iterative 1,4-addition takes place in the same pots to furnish the corresponding 2,4-hexadienoate esters or triesters in good yields.     

Synthesis of Multiply Substituted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Iridium‐Catalyzed Annulation of Ring‐Fused Benzocyclobutenol with Alkyne through C−C Bond Cleavage

The first iridium‐catalyzed intermolecular cyclization between alkynes and ring‐fused benzocyclobutenols (RBCB) through C?C bond cleavage is described. A variety of elusive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with multiple substituents are obtained in good yields under mild conditions. This procedure provides a unique and expeditious tool for the synthesis of PAHs.     

Transition‐Metal‐Mediated Cleavage of Fluoro‐Silanes under Mild Conditions

Si?F bond cleavage of fluoro‐silanes was achieved by transition‐metal complexes under mild and neutral conditions. The Iridium‐hydride complex [Ir(H)(CO)(PPh₃)₃] was found to readily break the Si?F bond of the diphosphine‐ difluorosilane {(o‐Ph₂P)C₆H₄}₂Si(F)₂ to afford a silyl complex [{[o‐(iPh₂P)C₆H₄]₂(F)Si}Ir(CO)(PPh₃)] and HF. Density functional theory calculations disclose a reaction mechanism in which a hypervalent silicon species with a dative Ir→Si interaction plays a crucial role. The Ir→Si interaction changes the character of the H on the Ir from hydridic to protic, and makes the F on Si more anionic, leading to the formation of H^δ+???F^δ? interaction. Then the Si?F and Ir?H bonds are readily broken to afford the silyl complex and HF through σ‐bond metathesis. Furthermore, the analogous rhodium complex [Rh(H)(CO)(PPh₃)₃] was found to promote the cleavage of the Si?F bond of the triphosphine‐monofluorosilane {(o‐Ph₂P)C₆H₄}₃Si(F) even at ambient temperature.