Cucurbit[6]uril pseudorotaxanes: distinctive gas-phase dissociation and reactivity

Cucurbit[6]uril forms a doubly charged complex with 1,4-butanediammonium cation that is observed using electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Such 1:1 complexes are not observed for the smaller cucurbit[5]uril, which forms a 2:1 ammonium:cucurbituril complex instead. The 1:1 complex with cucurbit[6]uril is difficult to fragment via collisional activation; when it does fragment, both breakup of the cucurbituril cage and loss of the amine are observed. Further, the complex reacts with tert-butylamine via slow adduction. In contrast, nonrotaxane analogues (such as doubly charged 2:1 complexes of either protonated 1,4-butanediamine or protonated ethylenediamine with cucurbit[6]uril) fragment via easy loss of the intact amine upon collisional activation and react with tert-butylamine via rapid displacement of the original amine. On the basis of stoichiometry, fragmentation behavior, and reactivity, we conclude that the doubly charged complex of cucurbit[6]uril with 1,4-butanediammonium is a gas-phase pseudorotaxane.     

Evaluation of (+)-sparteine-like diamines for asymmetric synthesis

Three new (+)-sparteine-like diamines were prepared from (-)-cytisine and evaluated as sparteine surrogates in the alpha-lithiation rearrangement of cyclooctene oxide and the palladium(II)/diamine catalyzed oxidative kinetic resolution of 1-indanol. The new diamines exhibited opposite enantioselectivity to that observed with (-)-sparteine but increasing the steric hindrance of the N-alkyl group beyond N-Et had a detrimental effect on enantioselectivity. The optimal N-Me diamine was evaluated with much success in five other (-)-sparteine-mediated processes involving different metals (lithium, magnesium, and copper) and different types of reaction mechanisms.     

Study of local anesthetic activity of some derivatives of 3-amino-benzo-[d]-isothiazole

On the basis of computer prediction of biological activity by PASS and toxicity by DEREK, the most prospective 18 alkylaminoacyl derivatives of 3-amino-benzo-[d]-isothiazole were selected. Their local anesthetic action was assessed using an in vitro preparation of the isolated peroneal nerve of the frog. The local anesthetics action of the compounds was assessed according to the time required for each compound to reduce the amplitude of the evoked compound action potential (CAP). Lidocaine was used as the control compound. The results show that the tested compounds can be divided into three groups: (a) compounds with action similar to lidocaine, (b) compounds with action lower than lidocaine and (c) compounds which block completely the evoked CAP, but after the compound was removed and replaced with normal saline showed no recovery of the potential at all. QSAR studies showed that polarizability, polarity and presence of five-membered rings in molecules have a positive influence on local anesthetic activity, while contributions of aromatic CH and singly bonded nitrogen are negative. Since estimations from PASS probabilities to find local anesthetic activity in the most active compounds were less than 50%, these compounds may be considered as new chemical entities (NCEs).