Stereochemistry of [4 + 2] Cycloadditions of Perfluorinated Selenocarbonyls to 1, 3‐Dienes

In completely stereospecific [4+2] cycloadditions, the perfluorinated selenocarbonyls 1 and 2 react both with trans‐trans‐2, 4‐hexadiene and cis‐trans‐2, 4‐hexadiene to yield 3, 6‐dihydro‐cis‐3, 6‐dimethyl‐2H‐selenapyrans 3 , 4a and 4b . The observed stereoselectivity leads to the conclusion, that the [4+2] cycloaddition of perfluorinated selenocarbonyls follows a concerted pathway. An identical mixture of isomers was isolated when using the precursor for 2 , trimethylstannyl (pentafluoroethyl)selane, which reacts with both 1, 3‐dienes over several weeks to form a mixture of syn‐2‐fluoro‐3, 6‐dihydro‐cis‐3, 6‐dimethyl‐2‐trifluoromethyl‐2H‐selenapyran ( 4a ) and anti‐2‐fluoro‐3, 6‐dihydro‐cis‐3, 6‐dimethyl‐2‐trifluoromethyl‐2H‐selenapyran ( 4b ) in the same ratio as found for 2 , thus proving the intermediate formation of Se=C(F)CF₃ ( 2 ). Complex 2D NMR experiments were used to distinguish the isomers 4a and 4b and to assign the ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F NMR data of the selenaheterocycles.     

Combinatorial synthesis of benztropine libraries and their evaluation as monoamine transporter inhibitors

A combinatorial synthesis of benztropine analogues is presented. Radical azidonation of 3-benzyloxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester 3 to 3-(1-azidobenzyloxy)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester 4 was used as a key step in the synthesis. This step was optimized by adding 10% DMF to the reaction. Reaction of 4 with phenyl magnesium bromide followed by Boc removal and N-methylation gave benztropine 1. Reaction of five-component Grignard reagents with 4 was used to create a two-dimensional library of 25 N-normethylbenztropine analogues. Further reaction of this library with five alkyl bromides was carried out to create a three-dimensional library containing 125 compounds. Screening of the libraries towards binding and inhibition of uptake of the human dopamine (hDAT), serotonin (hSERT) and norepinephrine transporters (hNET) was carried out. None of the synthesized compounds were found to be stronger than benztropine, and none were selective for inhibition of binding over monoamine uptake.     

The performance of density functional theory for LnF (Ln=Nd,Eu, Gd,Yb) and YbH

Different density functional theory (DFT) functionals have been evaluated by studying geometries and bond strengths of YbH, YbF, EuF, GdF, and NdF and compared with accurate CCSD(T) results and, when available, experiment. The agreement between the CCSD(T) results and experiment, when available, is good. The agreement is also good between bond strengths calculated at the DFT level using relativistic effective core potentials and the CCSD(T) results. However, the all-electron ADF calculations systematically overestimate binding energies. The geometries obtained by both the all-electron and the effective-core-potential-based DFT calculations are generally in good agreement with the CCSD(T) results.Contribution to the Björn Roos Honorary Issue     

Inverse electron demand hetero-Diels–Alder reaction in preparing 1,4-benzodioxin from o-quinone and enamine

A process for synthesizing 1,4-benzodioxin, through oxidation of a phenol to an o-quinone followed by treatment with an enamine, has been developed. Adduct stereochemistry is found to be retained via this one-pot reaction. The method uses hypervalent iodine reagent under mild conditions and is compatible with a wide scope of phenols and enamines.     

Synthesis and Surface‐Spectroscopic Characterization of Photoisomerizable glyco‐SAMs on Au(111)

Photoisomerizable glyco‐SAMs (self‐assembled monolayers), utilizing synthetic azobenzene glycoside derivatives were fabricated. The ultimate goal of this project is to assay the influence of the 3D arrangement of sugar ligands on cell adhesion, and eventually make cell adhesion photoswitchable. However, it is a prerequisite for any biological study on the spatial conditions of carbohydrate recognition, that photoisomerization of the surface molecules can be verified. Here, we employed IRRAS and XPS to spectroscopically characterize glyco‐SAMs. In particular and unprecedented to date, we prove reversible E→Z→E isomerization of azobenzene glycoside‐terminated SAMs.     

In den Straßen von San Francisco

Eine der bedeutendsten Tagungen im Bereich der analytischen Trennverfahren ist sicherlich das jährlich abwechselnd in den USA und in Europa stattfindende „International Symposium on HPLC and Related Techniques”︁. 1996 fand es vom 16. bis 21. Juni unter Leitung von W. S. Hancock (Hewlett-Packard, CA/USA) in San Francisco statt.     

Combined Subcutaneous Fat Aspirate and Skin Tru-Cut Biopsy for Amyloid Screening in Patients with Suspected Systemic Amyloidosis

Screening for systemic amyloidosis is typically carried out with abdominal fat aspirates with varying reported sensitivities. Fat aspirates are preferred for use in primary screening instead of organ biopsies as they are less invasive and thereby minimize the potential risk of complications. At Odense Amyloidosis Center, we performed a prospective study on whether the combined use of fat aspirate and tru-cut skin biopsy could increase the diagnostic sensitivity. Both fat aspirates and skin biopsies were screened with Congo Red staining, and positive biopsies were subsequently subtyped using immunoelectron microscopy and mass spectrometry. Seventy-six patients were included. In total, 24 patients had systemic amyloidosis (11 AL, 12 wtATTR, 1 AA), and 6 patients had localized amyloidosis. Combined fat aspirate and skin biopsy were Congo Red-positive in 15 patients (overall sensitivity (OS) 62.5%). Fat aspirates were positive in 14 patients (OS 58.3%), and the skin biopsy was positive in 5 patients (OS 20.8%). In only one patient did the skin biopsy add extra diagnostic information. The sensitivity differed between AL and ATTR amyloidosis—81.8% and 41.7%, respectively. Using skin biopsy as the only screening method is not recommended.     

A Simpler Proof of the Excluded Minor Theorem for Higher Surfaces

We give a simple proof of the fact (which follows from the Robertson–Seymour theory) that a graph which is minimal of genusgcannot contain a subdivision of a large grid. Combining this with the tree-width theorem and the quasi-wellordering of graphs of bounded tree-width in the Robertson–Seymour theory, we obtain a simpler proof of the generalized Kuratowski theorem for each fixed surface. The proof requires no previous knowledge of graph embeddings.     

The Erdős–Pósa Property for Odd Cycles in Graphs of Large Connectivity

Dedicated to the memory of Paul Erdős A graph G is k-linked if G has at least 2k vertices, and, for any vertices , , ..., , , , ..., , G contains k pairwise disjoint paths such that joins for i = 1, 2, ..., k. We say that G is k-parity-linked if G is k-linked and, in addition, the paths can be chosen such that the parities of their lengths are prescribed. We prove the existence of a function g(k) such that every g(k)-connected graph is k-parity-linked if the deletion of any set of less than 4k-3 vertices leaves a nonbipartite graph. As a consequence, we obtain a result of Erdős–Pósa type for odd cycles in graphs of large connectivity. Also, every -connected graph contains a totally odd -subdivision, that is, a subdivision of in which each edge of corresponds to an odd path, if and only if the deletion of any vertex leaves a nonbipartite graph. Received May 13, 1999/Revised June 19, 2000