Synthesis and Inclusion Properties of the Host Compound 1,3-Dihydro-1,1,3,3-tetraphenylisobenzofuran. X-Ray Crystal Structures of the Free Host and of an Inclusion Compound with 1,4-Dioxane

A novel host molecule, 1, suitable for crystalline lattice-type inclusion, has been synthesized, and its cocrystal formation ability has been investigated. Host 1 proved to be of potential use for organic solvent separation and retrieval, and a promising auxiliary for solidification of certain odorous substances. The crystal structures of the solvent-free host 1, and its complex with 1,4-dioxane (1 : 1), have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of 1 (guest-free) is triclinic, P , with a = 9.452(2), b = 10.359(3), c = 13.116(3) Å, = 101.80(2), = 106.53(1) and = 104.32(1)°. The spacious, propeller-like molecules are held together by weak van der Waals' forces. The dioxane inclusion compound is monoclinic, P21/a, with a = 15.050(1), b = 8.641(1) and c = 20.658(1) Å, and = 94.56(1)°, and contains two crystallographically independent guest molecules, both located around symmetry centres. The molecular packing seems to be governed by C—H···O type bonds (C···O = 3.31 and 3.48 Å) from the host to the dioxane oxygens.     

TOSAR – A Topological Method for the Representation of Synthetic and Analytical Relations of Concepts

In mechanized systems used for searching in literature stores there is a steadily growing necessity not only to be able to formulate concepts as a search condition but also the characteristic connections under which these concepts appear in the inquiry. In this way the precision of the mechanized literature search is considerably increased. TOSAR has been developed in order to improve computerized literature searching in this respect.     

Solid-state binding of dimethyl sulphoxide involving carboxylic host molecules. X-ray crystal structures of four inclusion species

The crystal structures of four dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) inclusion compounds with different carboxylic acid hosts,1–4, have been studied by single crystal X-ray analysis. Crystals of thetrans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid inclusion compound (1a), [1 · DMSO (1: 1)] show monoclinic (P2₁/n) symmetry with the unit cell dimensionsa = 11.522(4),b = 18.658(2),c = 8.709(1) Å and = 98.92(2)°. The clathrate of the 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid (2a), [2 · DMSO (1: 2)] is triclinic (P) with the cell dimensionsa = 15.043(7),b =9.657(4),c = 8.118(7) Å, = 101.81(5), = 96.05(4) and = 100.04(4)°. Triclinic (P) symmetry is shown also by the inclusion compound of 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11-monocarboxylic acid (3a) [3 · DMSO (1:1)] with the cell dimensionsa=6.3132(1),b=7.9846(2),c=17.5314(4) Å, = 96.46(2), = 87.08(2) and = 106.02(2)°. The 9,9-bianthryl-2-monocarboxylic acid clathrate (4a) [4 · DMSO (1:1)] is monoclinic (P2₁/n) and the cell dimensions area = 19.625(18),b = 8.817(1),c = 14.076(8) Å and = 97.92(6)°. In all these structures, the hosts show the same basic recognition pattern for the DMSO guest, involving a strong O-H ... O bond from the COON to the S=O group, and a possible C-H ... O type interaction between the carbonyl O atom of the host and a CH₃ group of the guest. The crystals consist of discrete host-guest aggregates which are mainly held together by weak intermolecular interactions of the Van der Waals' type. The stoichiometries of the aggregates are, however, different.     

Perchlorate analysis using solid-phase extraction cartridges

Perchlorate is a compound of increasing concern as an environmental contaminant and is being regulated at increasingly stringent levels. Reliable methods are needed to consistently analyze perchlorate at low concentration levels. This research investigates the use of solid-phase extraction cartridges as an alternative to large-volume injection loops to achieve low-level (microg/L level) perchlorate quantitation. The method involves commercially available strong anion exchange (SAX) cartridges. Water samples are filtered (100 to 1000 mL) using the cartridge, which removes the perchlorate from the solution by anion exchange. Then, after the desired volume is filtered, the perchlorate is extracted using 4 mL of 1% NaOH. In addition, a cleanup method is developed to remove competing anions (chloride, sulfate, and carbonate) that are often found in environmental samples. Analyses are performed with an ion chromatograph using a 10-microL injection loop, yielding a perchlorate method detection limit (MDL) of 210 microg/L. One-liter volumes of a 2-microg/L perchlorate spiked deionized water solution are filtered with SAX SPE. Following extraction and analysis, an MDL of 0.82 microg/L is obtained, comparable to that found for 1-mL injection loop systems (reported as low as 0.53 microg/L). MDL studies are then conducted on perchlorate-amended groundwater (solution concentration of 70 microg/L) and surface water (solution concentration of 10 microg/L) using a filtration volume of 200 mL. The MDLs are 6.7 microg/L for the groundwater and 2.4 microg/L for the surface water.     

Decoding the intricate network of molecular interactions of a hyperstable engineered biocatalyst

Computational design of protein catalysts with enhanced stabilities for use in research and enzyme technologies is a challenging task. Using force-field calculations and phylogenetic analysis, we previously designed the haloalkane dehalogenase DhaA115 which contains 11 mutations that confer upon it outstanding thermostability (T_m = 73.5 °C; ΔT_m > 23 °C). An understanding of the structural basis of this hyperstabilization is required in order to develop computer algorithms and predictive tools. Here, we report X-ray structures of DhaA115 at 1.55 Å and 1.6 Å resolutions and their molecular dynamics trajectories, which unravel the intricate network of interactions that reinforce the αβα-sandwich architecture. Unexpectedly, mutations toward bulky aromatic amino acids at the protein surface triggered long-distance (∼27 Å) backbone changes due to cooperative effects. These cooperative interactions produced an unprecedented double-lock system that: (i) induced backbone changes, (ii) closed the molecular gates to the active site, (iii) reduced the volumes of the main and slot access tunnels, and (iv) occluded the active site. Despite these spatial restrictions, experimental tracing of the access tunnels using krypton derivative crystals demonstrates that transport of ligands is still effective. Our findings highlight key thermostabilization effects and provide a structural basis for designing new thermostable protein catalysts.

Illustration of cooperative thermostabilization effects of the double-lock system that: (i) induced backbone changes, (ii) closed the molecular gates, (iii) reduced the volumes of the main and slot access tunnels, and (iv) occluded the active site.     

Combining gel and capillary electrophoresis, nano-LC and mass spectrometry for the elucidation of post-translational modifications of Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I

N-Glycosylation of cellobiohydrolase I from the fungus Trichoderma reesei (strain Rut-C30) is studied using a combination of electrophoretic, chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques. As four potential N-glycosylation sites and several uncharged and phosphorylated high-mannose glycans are present, a large number of glycoforms and phospho-isoforms can be expected. Isoelectric focusing both in gel and in capillary format was successfully applied for the separation of the phospho-isoforms. They were extracted in their intact form from the gel and subsequently analysed by nanospray-Q-TOF-MS, thereby making use of a powerful two-dimensional technique. Nano-LC/MS/MS on a Q-Trap MS further allowed the determination of the glycosylation sites. As a novel approach, an oxonium ion was used in precursor ion scanning for selective detection of glycopeptides containing phosphorylated high-mannose glycans.     

Anthracene Based Bulky Diol Hosts. Crystal Structures of a Free Host and of Inclusion Compounds with Dipolar Guests

X-ray crystal structures are reported of a free host compound 1, comprising two diphenylmethanol terminal groups attached to a central 9,10-ethynyl substituted anthracene unit, and of three inclusion compounds of a fluoren-9-ol substituted analogous host 2 with acetone, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as guest, respectively. Despite the presence of two hydroxyl groups in 1, there is no O–H...O hydrogen bond between the molecules in the guest free crystal – only weaker C–H...O interactions and van der Waals' type connections. In the inclusion compounds of 2, H-bonded 1:2 host–guest associates are formed, where each of the host hydroxyl groups binds to a guest oxygen atom. The orientations of the host–guest connections in these complexes vary, being E for acetone and Z for both DMSO and DMF guests, relative to the host anthracene unit. The DMSO and DMF inclusion compounds of 2 proved to be isostructural.     

C(methyl)–H ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ π(aryl) Interaction Stabilizing Molecular Conformation. X-Ray Crystal Structure of an Inclusion Compound of a Nonprotic Host with Nitromethane Guest

In the cocrystal formation of a nonprotic polar (host) molecule (1) with nitromethane (guest) several weak, but directional, intermolecular interactions have vital importance. The endo conformation of the (N)-xylene group of the polycyclic succinimide-based host 1 is stabilized by a C_methyl $---$ H ??? π interaction [C ??? π /H ??? π distances are 3.554(7)/2.57 Å, the C $---$ H ??? π angle is 159^○], and the crystal packing is governed by dipole–dipole type interhost (C $ =$ )O ??? C( $ =$ O) connection [C ??? O $ =$ 3.000(5) Å and <C $ =$ O ??? C $ =$ 159.8(3)^○] in conjunction with possible C $---$ H ??? O interactions [with C ??? O distances ranging between 3.20 and 3.50 Å] involving the polar groups of both host and guest. Crystal data: 1 ??? nitromethane (1:1), C₂₆H₂₁O₂ N ? CH₃NO₂, M _w = 440.50, P2 ₁/n, a = 14.143(1), b = 7.973(1), c = 20.291(2) Å, β = 95.183(9)^○, Z = 4, D _c = 1.2840(2) g cm^?3, R = 0.055 for 1709 reflections.     

Studies related to cephalosporins. Part 2 . Displacement reactions on 3-bromomethylcephems with salts of carboxylic acids

The reactivity of Δ³- and Δ²-3-bromomethylcephems toward carboxylate nucleophiles has been studied. The Δ³-bromomethylcephem 1 , less reactive than the Δ²-analogue 4 , is converted in high yields into 3-acyl-oxymethyl-3-cephems 2a-d , generally with no isomerization of the double bond, only within a narrow range of conditions. In particular, the Δ³-7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) derivative 2a has been obtained as the only product in 91% yield by treatment of 1 with triethylammonium acetate in acetic acid. The Δ²-bromomethyl-cephem 4 is easily converted into the Δ²-acyloxymethyl-cepheras 5a-d without double bond isomerization, in very high yields.