Rapid approximate calculation of water binding free energies in the whole hydration domain of (bio)macromolecules

The evaluation of water binding free energies around solute molecules is important for the thermodynamic characterization of hydration or association processes. Here, a rapid approximate method to estimate water binding free energies around (bio)macromolecules from a single molecular dynamics simulation is presented. The basic idea is that endpoint free‐energy calculation methods are applied and the endpoint quantities are monitored on a three‐dimensional grid around the solute. Thus, a gridded map of water binding free energies around the solute is obtained, that is, from a single short simulation, a map of favorable and unfavorable water binding sites can be constructed. Among the employed free‐energy calculation methods, approaches involving endpoint information pertaining to actual thermodynamic integration calculations or endpoint information as exploited in the linear interaction energy method were examined. The accuracy of the approximate approaches was evaluated on the hydration of a cage‐like molecule representing either a nonpolar, polar, or charged water binding site and on α‐ and β‐cyclodextrin molecules. Among the tested approaches, the linear interaction energy method is considered the most viable approach. Applying the linear interaction energy method on the grid around the solute, a semi‐quantitative thermodynamic characterization of hydration around the whole solute is obtained. Disadvantages are the approximate nature of the method and a limited flexibility of the solute. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

ZrO2催化无溶剂条件下醇的液相氧化反应

采用一种环境友好的方法,以分子氧为氧化剂,以ZrO2为催化剂,在无溶剂的条件下实现了醇的选择性氧化.苯甲醛、环己酮和辛醛等是相应醇的主要氧化产物.考察了不同反应条件(搅拌速度、反应时间和温度)、催化剂制备参数(焙烧温度和负载量)及氧分压等的影响.结果发现,对于醇氧化生成相应羰基化合物,1 223 K焙烧的ZrO2比723 K焙烧的ZrO2显示出更高的催化活性.催化剂在反应混合物中不溶解,可以通过简单的过滤使其分离并重复使用.当搅拌速度大于900 r/min时,对醇的转化速率无明显的影响.     

Wet carbon-based solid acid/NaNO_3 as a mild and efficient reagent for nitration of aromatic compound under solvent free conditions

Nitro aromatic compound can be obtained in high yields via nitration of aromatic compound with wet carbon-based solid acid and NaNO_3 under solvent free oxidation at room temperature.     

Calorimetric approach to tetronic/water interactions

Tetronic^®comprises X-shaped copolymers formed by four poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) andpoly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block chains bonded to an ethylene diamine centralgroup. Micellization behaviour of three representative Tetronics (T304, T904and T1307) was characterized to gain an insight into the interactions betweenthe copolymer unimers and the state of water in their solutions. The enthalpyof demicellization, recorded at 37°C in an isoperibol microcalorimeter,indicated that the process was in all cases exothermic and the enthalpy rankedin the order T1307≥T904>>T304. Micellization is entropy-driven owing tohydrophobic interactions between the PPO chains.DSC analysisshowed that the crystallization and melting peaks of the free water remainingin T304 and T904 solutions were progressively shifted toward lower temperaturesas the surfactant proportion increased, owing to a colligative effect. Boundwater corresponded to 3 water molecules per EO repeating unit. In the caseof T1307, which has longer PEO chains, a splitting of the melting peak wasobserved, one peak appearing around 0°C due to free water and anotherat –15°C due to interfacial water. As T1307 proportion raised, theenthalpy of the former decreased, whilst the enthalpy of the latter increased.In 40% T1307 solutions, interfacial water overcame the proportion of freewater; there being 1 interfacial and 3 bound water molecules per EO repeatingunit. Gaussian deconvolution of FTIR spectra also enabled to characterizethe evolution of free water as a function of Tetronic proportion. The dependenceof micellization and water interaction behaviour on Tetronics structure shouldbe taken into account to use these copolymers as drug solubilizers and micellarcarriers.     

Ab initio quantum mechanics-based free energy perturbation method for calculating relative solvation free energies

A free energy perturbation (FEP) method was developed that uses ab initio quantum mechanics (QM) for treating the solute molecules and molecular mechanics (MM) for treating the surroundings. Like our earlier results using AM1 semi empirical QMs, the ab initio QM/MM-based FEP method was shown to accurately calculate relative solvation free energies for a diverse set of small molecules that differ significantly in structure, aromaticity, hydrogen bonding potential, and electron density. Accuracy was similar to or better than conventional FEP methods. The QM/MM-based methods eliminate the need for time-consuming development of MM force field parameters, which are frequently required for drug-like molecules containing structural motifs not adequately described by MM. Future automation of the method and parallelization of the code for Linux 128/256/512 clusters is expected to enhance the speed and increase its use for drug design and lead optimization.     

Fe(Cp)2PF6: An efficient catalyst for cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds under solvent free condition

An efficient method for the addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) to various aldehydes and ketones has been described using Fe(Cp)₂PF₆ (2.5 mol%) as a catalyst under solvent free condition. Excellent yields of trimethylsilylether of cyanohydrin up to (94%) was achieved within 10 min.     

无金属参与的氧原子邻位C(sp~3)—S键的构筑

以二叔丁基过氧化物(DTBP)为氧化剂,苯硫酚为硫化试剂,在无金属参与的条件下,于120℃下采用一步法合成了硫代苄醚.这种构筑C(sp~3)—S键的方法具有高原子经济性和高选择性的优点,并以较高的收率获得了一系列目标化合物.     

Intermolecular hydroamination of vinyl arenes using tungstophosphoric acid as a simple and efficient catalyst

The intermolecular hydroamination of vinyl arene derivatives has been efficiently carried out using a tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) catalyst under solvent free and mild reaction conditions. The present protocol provides an environmentally benign, easy to handle and highly active solid acid catalyst for hydroamination of vinyl arenes. The catalyst yields both hydroamination and hydroarylation products and the selectivity mostly depends on the reaction conditions.     

One-pot multicomponent diastereoselective synthesis of novel dihydro-1H-furo[2,3-c]pyrazoles

An efficient method was developed for the diastereoselective synthesis of novel fused dihydro-1H-furo[2,3-c]pyrazole by a one-pot, four-component reaction of β-keto ester, hydrazine, aromatic aldehyde, and pyridinium ylide in the presence of triethylamine under microwave irradiation in solvent-free conditions in good yields. The merits of this cascade Knoevenagel condensation/Michael addition/cyclization sequence include its high atom economy, good yields, and efficiency of producing three new bonds (two C–C and one C–O) and two stereocenters in a single operation.     

Hybrid crystal NH3(CH2)4NH3SiF6 as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of benzoxazoles,benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles under solvent-free conditions

An easy synthetic protocol for the synthesis of biologically active benzimidazole, benzothiazole and benzoxazole derivatives has been demonstrated using a hybrid crystal NH₃(CH₂)₄NH₃SiF₆ as a mild and efficient heterogeneous catalyst. Short reaction times, solvent-free conditions, good to excellent yields, easy reusability and use of an eco-friendly catalyst are some of the significant attributes of the present method.