Synthesis and reactivity of sulfur and silyl substituted α-alkylidene-β-lactams

Synthetically valuable α-alkylidene-β-lactams are produced from the addition of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate to allenyl sulfides.     

Operator algebras and a theorem of Dieudonne

LetA be aC*-algebra with second dualA″. Let (φ _n)(n=1,...) be a sequence in the dual ofA such that limφ _n(a) exists for eacha εA. In general, this does not imply that limφ _n(x) exists for eachx εA″. But if limφ _n(p) exists whenever p is the range projection of a positive self-adjoint element of the unit ball ofA, then it is shown that limφ _n(x) does exist for eachx inA″. This is a non-commutative generalisation of a celebrated theorem of Dieudonné. A new proof of Dieudonné’s theorem, for positive measures, is given here. The proof of the main result makes use of Dieudonné’s original theorem.     

Rational design of a beta-lactamase inhibitor achieved via stabilization of the trans-enamine intermediate: 1.28 A crystal structure of wt SHV-1 complex with a penam sulfone

beta-Lactamases are one of the major causes of antibiotic resistance in Gram negative bacteria. The continuing evolution of beta-lactamases that are capable of hydrolyzing our most potent beta-lactams presents a vexing clinical problem, in particular since a number of them are resistant to inhibitors. The efficient inhibition of these enzymes is therefore of great clinical importance. Building upon our previous structural studies that examined tazobactam trapped as a trans-enamine intermediate in a deacylation deficient SHV variant, we designed a novel penam sulfone derivative that forms a more stable trans-enamine intermediate. We report here the 1.28 A resolution crystal structure of wt SHV-1 in complex with a rationally designed penam sulfone, SA2-13. The compound is covalently bound to the active site of wt SHV-1 similar to tazobactam yet forms an additional salt-bridge with K234 and hydrogen bonds with S130 and T235 to stabilize the trans-enamine intermediate. Kinetic measurements show that SA2-13, once reacted with SHV-1 beta-lactamase, is about 10-fold slower at being released from the enzyme compared to tazobactam. Stabilizing the trans-enamine intermediate represents a novel strategy for the rational design of mechanism-based class A beta-lactamase inhibitors.     

Generation of simple methylenecyclopropenes as reactive intermediates

The dehydrochlorination of either 1,2 - dichloro - 1 - methylcyclopropane or 1 - bromo - 2 - chloro - 2 - methylcyclopropane with potassium t-butoxide yields 2 - t - butoxy - 1 - methylenecyclopropane. These results are interpreted in terms of methylenecyclopropene as a reactive intermediate which is trapped by addition of nucleophile (t-butoxide) to the cyclopropenyl double bond. The introduction of methanethiol to the reaction medium yields 2 - thiomethyl - 1 - methylenecyclopropene 2,2 - Dichloro - 1 - methylenecyclopropane reacts with potassium t-butoxide in tetrahydrofuran to yield trans- and cis - t - butoxybut - 1 - ene - 3 - yne. The addition of thiomethide ion results in the formation of 2,2 - bis(thiomethyl) - 1 - methylenecyclopropane and 2 - t - butoxy - 2 - thiomethyl - 1 - methylenecyclopropane. Other evidence for simple methylenecyclopropenes as reactive intermediates comes from the observation that nucleophiles add nonregiospecifically to the reactive intermediate produced by the dehydrohalogenation of 2 - halo - 1 - alkylidenecyclopropanes. Novel methylenecyclopropane→ cyclopropene transformations were found in the reaction of 2 - halomethylenecyclopropanes with thiomethide ion.