Hybrid peptides: expanding the beta turn in peptide hairpins by the insertion of beta-, gamma-, and delta-residues

The beta turn segment in designed peptide hairpins has been expanded by the insertion of beta-, gamma- and delta-amino acids at the i+2 position. The model octapeptides Boc-Leu-Phe-Val-DPro-Ac6c-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (1), Boc-Leu-Phe-Val-DPro-beta3-Ac6c-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (2), and Boc-Leu-Phe-Val-DPro-Gpn-Leu-Phe-Val-OMe (3) have been shown to adopt beta hairpin conformations in methanol by the observation of key diagnostic nuclear Overhauser effects. Boc-Leu-Val-Val-DPro-delta-Ava-Leu-Val-Val-OMe (4) adopts a beta hairpin conformation in crystals; this is stabilized by three cross-strand hydrogen bonds as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction. The canonical C10 turn in an alpha-alpha segment is expanded to C11, C12, and C13 turns in alpha-beta, alpha-gamma, and alpha-delta segments, respectively. The crystal structures of Piv-LPro-beta3-Ac6c-NHMe (5) and Boc-Ac6c-Gpn-Ac6c-OMe (6) reveal intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded C11 and C12 conformations, respectively. Computer modeling of octapeptide sequences that contain centrally positioned hybrid-turn segments, by using turn parameters derived from the structures of peptides 5 and 6, establishes the stereochemical acceptability of the beta hairpins in the cases of peptides 2 and 3. Accommodation of omega-amino acids into the turn segments is achieved by the adoption of gauche conformations around the backbone C--C bonds.     

Reaction chemistry of complexes containing Pt--H, Pt--SH, or Pt--S fragments: from their apparent simplicity to the maze of reactions underlying their interconversion

The relevance of platinum in the reaction of thiophene and derivatives with homogeneous transition-metal complexes as models for hydrodesulfurization has led us to the study of the reaction chemistry of complexes containing Pt--H, Pt--SH, and Pt--S fragments. Exploration of the reactions triggered by addition of controlled amounts of Na2S or NaSH to [Pt2(H)2(mu-H)(dppp)2]ClO4 (1) has provided evidence of the formation of complexes [Pt2(mu-H)(mu-S)(dppp)2]ClO4 (2), [Pt(H)(SH)(dppp)] (3), [Pt2(mu-S)2(dppp)2] (4), [Pt2(mu-S)(dppp)2] (5) and [Pt(SH)2(dppp)], in which dppp denotes 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane. Consequently, complexes 1, 2, and 5 as well as the already reported 3, 4, and [Pt(SH)2(dppp)] have been obtained and fully characterized spectroscopically. Also the crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been solved. Complexes 1-5 constitute the main framework of the network of reactions that account for the evolution of 1 under various experimental conditions as shown in Scheme 1. Apparently, this network has complexes 2 and 4 as dead-ends. However, their reciprocal interconversion by means of the replacement of one bridging hydride or sulfide ligand in the respective {Pt(mu-H)(mu-S)Pt} and {Pt(mu-S)2Pt} cores enables the closure of the reaction cycle involving complexes 1-5. Theoretical calculations support the existence of the undetected intermediates proposed for conversion from 1 to 2 and from 3 to 2 and also account for the fluxional behavior of 1 in solution. The intermediates proposed are consistent with the experimental results obtained in comparable reactions carried out with labeled reagents, which have provided evidence that complex 1 is the source of the hydride ligands in complexes 2 and 3. Overall, our results show the strong dependence on the experimental conditions for the formation of complexes 1-5 as well as for their further conversion in solution.     

Wuweizidilactones A-F: novel highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids with unusual skeletons isolated from Schisandra chinensis

A phytochemical study of secondary metabolites produced by Schisandra chinensis has led to the isolation of six novel highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids, wuweizidilactones A-F (1-6). Compounds 3-6 possess an unprecedented 3,4-seco-18(13-->14)-abeo-artane skeleton. Interestingly, structures 3-6 have a beta-oriented methyl group at the C-14 position. This structural feature corroborates the biogenetic pathway proposed for the formation of 18-norschiartane-type compounds 1 and 2. The structures of these novel metabolites were established on the basis of their detailed spectroscopic analysis. The structure of 1 was also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. For the first time, the absolute configuration of these nortriterpenoids was determined by using a modified Mosher method.     

Evidence for a SN2-type pathway for phosphine exchange in phosphine-phosphenium cations, [R2P--PR'3]+

Abstraction of a Cl(-) ion from the P-chlorophospholes, R4C4PCl (R=Me, Et), produced the P--P bonded cations [R4C4P--P(Cl)C4R4]+, which reacted with PPh3 to afford X-ray crystallographically characterised phosphine-phosphenium cations [R4C4P(PPh3)]+ (R=Me, Et). Examination of the 31P-{1H} NMR spectrum of a solution (CH2Cl(2)) of [Et4C4P-(PPh3)]+ and PPh3 revealed broadening of the resonances due to both free and coordinated PPh3, and importantly it proved possible to measure the rate of exchange between PPh3 and [Et4C4P-(PPh3)]+ by line shape analysis (gNMR programmes). The results established second-order kinetics with DeltaS( not equal)=(-106.3+/-6.7) J mol(-1) K(-1), DeltaH( not equal)=(14.9+/-1.6) kJ mol(-1) and DeltaG( not equal) (298.15 K)=(46.6+/-2.6) kJ mol(-1), values consistent with a SN2-type pathway for the exchange process. This result contrasts with the dominant dissociative (S(N)1-type) pathway reported for the analogous exchange reactions of the [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P(PMe3)]+ ion, and to understand in more detail the factors controlling these two different reaction pathways, we have analysed the potential energy surfaces using density functional theory (DFT). The calculations reveal that, whilst phosphine exchange in [Et4C4P(PPh3)]+ and [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P(PMe3)](+) is superficially similar, the two cations differ significantly in both their electronic and steric requirements. The high electrophilicity of the phosphorus center in [Et4C4P]+, combined with strong pi-pi interactions between the ring and the incoming and outgoing phenyl groups of PPh3, favours the SN2-type over the SN1-type pathway in [Et4C4P(PPh3)]+. Effective pi-donation from the amide groups reduces the intrinsic electrophilicity of [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P]+, which, when combined with the steric bulk of the aryl groups, shifts the mechanism in favour of a dissociative SN1-type pathway.     

Conformational control of [26]hexaphyrins(1.1.1.1.1.1) by meso-thienyl substituents

Conformational preference and chemical stability of meso-aryl-substituted [26]hexaphyrins(1.1.1.1.1.1) ([26]ArH) depend upon meso-aryl substituents. Although only a planar and rectangular conformation (type-II conformation) has been identified for [26]ArH so far, we have demonstrated here that a different conformation with all the pyrroles pointing inward (type-I conformation) is preferred for [26]ArH (7 and 11-I) bearing small 2-thienyl or 3-thienyl substituents at 15- and 30-positions. Both type-I and type-II [26]ArH exhibit diatropic ring currents, reflecting aromatic character. Type-I [26]ArH, such as 7 and 11-I, have been shown to serve as an effective ligand for Pd(II) ions to provide bis-Pd(II) complexes 12 and 13 with N(3)C(1) coordination through facile C--H bond activation.     

Assessing the mechanical properties of a molecular spring

We report on the dramatic effect of increasing helix diameter on the hybridization of oligopyridine-dicarboxamide strands into double helices. Upon replacing a single pyridine by a 1,8-diazaanthracene unit within an oligomeric strand, a 4.7 A enlargement of the helix diameter occurs parallel to the long anthracene axis. This structure change results in a spectacular stabilization of the double helical hybrids derived from these strands (factors of over 10(7)). Detailed investigations of the hybridization process using X-ray crystallography, NMR, fluorescence measurements and molecular mechanics calculations allowed us to assign the duplex stabilization to two enthalpic effects. First, the increase in diameter results in an augmented surface, involved in intermolecular pi-pi stacking. Second, the enlarged diameter leads to a lower tilt angle of the helical strand, with respect to the helix axis, which in turn results in smaller dihedral angles at the aryl-amide linkages and thus a considerably lowered enthalpic cost of the spring-like extension of the strands during the hybridization process. These results provide novel insights into how subtle tuning of molecular components may result in considerable and rationalizable changes in double helical supramolecular architectures.     

Solubilizing sodium fluoride in acetonitrile: synthesis, molecular structure, and complexation behavior of bis(organostannyl)methyl-substituted crown ethers

The synthesis of the crown-ether-substituted bis(organostannyl)methanes Ph(3)SnCH(2)Sn(Ph(2))-CH(2)-[16]crown-5 (1) and Ph(2)ISnCH(2)Sn(I)(Ph)-CH(2)-[16]crown-5 (2) is reported. Both compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, (1)H, (13)C, (19)F, and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy, and in the case of compound 2 also by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed for the aqua complex 2.H(2)O trigonal-bipyramidal-configured tin atoms with intramolecular Sn(1)-O(1) and Sn(2)-O(1W) distances of 2.555(2) and 2.440(3) A, respectively. The water molecule is trapped in a sandwich-like fashion between the crown ether oxygen atoms O(2) and O(4) and the Sn(2) atom. NMR spectroscopy unambiguously proved the ability of compound 2 in acetonitrile to overcome the high lattice energy of sodium fluoride and to complex the latter under charge separation.     

Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of Structural Isomers of Dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinate Dimers: Dichalcogenides or Spirocyclic Contact Ion Pairs?

A synthetic protocol for the tert-butyl-substituted dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinates [Na(tmeda){(EPtBu(2))(2)N}] (3 a, E=S; 3 b, E=Se; 3 c, E=Te) has been developed. The one-electron oxidation of the sodium complexes [Na(tmeda){(EPR(2))(2)N}] with iodine produces a series of neutral dimers (EPR(2)NPR(2)E--)(2) (4 b, E=Se, R=iPr; 4 c, E=Te, R=iPr; 5 a, E=S, R=tBu; 5 b, E=Se, R=tBu; 5 c, E=Te, R=tBu). Attempts to prepare 4 a (E=S, R=iPr) in a similar manner produced a mixture including HN(SPiPr(2)). Compounds 4 b, 4 c and 5 a-c were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectra and by X-ray crystallography, which revealed two alternative structures for these dimeric molecules. The derivatives 4 b, 4 c, 5 a and 5 b exhibit acyclic structures with a central chalcogen-chalcogen linkage that is elongated by approximately 2 % (E=S), 6 % (E=Se) and 8 % (E=Te) compared to typical single-bond values. By contrast, 5 c adopts an unique spirocyclic contact ion-pair structure in which a [(TePtBu(2))(2)N](-) ion is Te,Te' chelated to an incipient [(TePtBu(2))(2)N](+) cyclic ion. DFT calculations of the relative energies of the two structural isomers indicate a trend towards increasing stability for the contact ion pair relative to the corresponding dichalcogenide on going from S to Se to Te for both the isopropyl and tert-butyl series. The two-electron oxidation of [Na(tmeda){(EPtBu(2))(2)N}] (E=S, Se, Te) with iodine produced the salts [(EPtBu(2))(2)N](+)X(-) (7 a, E=S, X=I(3); 7 b, E=Se, X=I; 7 c, E=Te, X=I), which were characterised by X-ray crystallography. Compound 7 a exists as a monomeric, ion-separated complex with [d(S--S)=2.084(2) A]; 7 b and 7 c are dimeric [d(Se--Se)=2.502(1) A; d(Te--Te)=2.884(1) A].     

Syntheses, crystal and solution structures, ligand-exchange, and ligand-coupling reactions of mixed pentaarylantimony compounds

All possible combinations of mixed pentaarylantimony compounds bearing p-methylphenyl and p-trifluoromethylphenyl groups were synthesized; ArnTol5-nSb (n=0-5: Ar=p-CF3C6H4, Tol=p-CH3C6H4): Tol5Sb (1), ArTol4Sb (2), Ar2Tol3Sb (3), Ar3Tol2Sb (4), Ar4TolSb (5), and Ar5Sb (6). Compounds 2-5 are the first well-characterized examples of mixed acyclic pentaarylantimony species. The structures of 2-6 were determined by X-ray crystallography to feature trigonal-bipyramidal (TBP) geometry with the more electronegative p-trifluoromethylphenyl substituents selectively occupying the apical positions. Consideration of the chemical shifts of the ipso carbons of the aryl and tolyl groups suggested that the solution structures of 1-6 were also TBP, although their pseudorotation could not be frozen even at -80 degrees C. Ligand-exchange reactions (LERs) took place between 1 and 6 at approximately 60 degrees C in [D6]benzene and all six species 1-6 were found in the equilibrium mixture. The relative stabilities of 1-6 were determined quantitatively by comparison of the observed molar ratios of 1-6 in equilibrium with calculated statistical molar ratios, and Ar2Tol3Sb (3) was found to be the most stable. The ligand-coupling reactions (LCRs) of 2-5 in solution were greatly accelerated by adding Cu(acac)2 or Li+TFPB- (TFPB: [3,5-(CF3)2 C6H3]4 B), whereby the rate becomes comparable to the LER. The use of flash vacuum thermolysis (FVT) allowed the LCR to occur with very little ligand-exchange; the exception ArTol4Sb had very fast ligand-exchange. The selectivities of the LCRs were calculated from the yield of the biaryls synthesized by using FVT. These results were highly consistent with reactions catalyzed in solution, in which bitolyl was not obtained at all. The experimental results suggested that the LCR of pentaarylantimony compounds proceeds in the manner of apical-apical coupling.     

Structural, solid-state NMR and theoretical studies of the inverse-coordination of lithium chloride using group 13 phosphide hosts

The reaction of MeAlCl2 with 'PhPLi2' in THF gives [{MeAl(PPh)3Li(4).3 THF}4(mu4-Cl)]-Li+ (1). The GaIII and InIII analogues, [{MeE(PPh)3Li(4).3 THF}4(mu4-Cl)]-Li+(THF)3 (E=Ga (2), In (3)), are obtained by the in situ reactions of MeECl2 with PhPLi2 in THF. For all of the complexes, the cage anions have an unusual cubic arrangement that is similar to a zeolite, and contain large voids (ca. 17 A). The location of the Li+ counterions in 1-3 and their coordination environment appears to subtly reflect variations in packing and lattice energy. Whereas in 1 highly mobile, loosely coordinated Li+ counterions are present, 2 and 3 contain less mobile THF-solvated counterions within the cavities. X-ray crystallographic and solid-state NMR studies are reported on 1-3, together with model DFT calculations on the selectivity of halide coordination.