Efficient solid-phase synthesis of 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-6(1H)-ones

A new and easy protocol for the formation of substituted 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-6(1H)-ones was developed on solid support. The heterocyclic compounds were formed by nucleophilic reaction of hydrazine on thioamide esters. As cyclization was concomitant with cleavage from the support, substituted 4,5-dihydrotriazinones were obtained in high purity.     

Fluorescent P-Hydroxyphosphole for Peptide Labeling through P-N Bond Formation

Synthesis of fluorescent P-hydroxybinaphtylphosphole-oxide or -sulfide was achieved by trapping a binaphtyl dianion with methyl dichlorophosphite or P-(N,N-diethylamino)dichlorophosphine, followed by oxidation or sulfuration of the P-center. After saponification or acid hydrolysis, the P-hydroxyphospholes were coupled to peptides using the coupling agent BOP, under the conditions required for the synthesis in solution or on a solid support. This new method was illustrated by the labeling of the JMV2959, a potent antagonist of the Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor type 1a (GHS−R1a). The labeled conjugates were used to characterize GHSR ligands by competition assays, based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). Such P-hydroxyphosphole-oxide or -sulfide constitute a promising new class of compact fluorophores with large Stokes shift, for labeling biomolecules by grafting through the phosphorus atom.     

Synthesis of gem-diamino derivatives on solid support

Anchoring of an α-amino-acid amide residue by its amine function to a carbamate resin followed by primary amide Hofmann rearrangement led to a gem-diamino residue linked to the resin. The generated primary amine could be acylated with various carboxylic compounds offering a large variety of molecules. Furthermore, this new solid-phase strategy allowed a reliable synthesis of a gem-diamino monomeric residue which could not be easily obtained in solution due to the limited stability of monocarbamate-protected gem-diaminoalkyl derivatives.     

Use of coated capillaries for the electrophoretic separation of stereoisomers of a growth hormone secretagogue

The diastereoisomeric separation of peptidomimetics of hexarelin, a strong growth hormone secretagogue, in CE has been studied. Highly sulfated‐γ‐CD was found to be an appropriate selector for the separation of the stereoisomers. However, non‐repeatable analyses were obtained on bare fused silica capillary due to the progressive adsorption of the analytes on the capillary wall. Two types of polyelectrolyte coating agents were tested to prevent this phenomenon. Coating with neutral polyethylene oxide was found to be efficient but resulted in a very long analysis time (about 40 min). Coating with cationic poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride was found both to prevent analyte adsorption, reduce analysis time and alter separation selectivity. EOF measurement revealed that the highly sulfated‐γ‐CDs were strongly adsorbed on the poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride coating surface yielding a stable strong cathodic EOF, which considerably reduced analysis time (about 12 min). Very good repeatability of analysis was obtained (RSD_{migration time}<1%).     

Amino acids as building blocks for the synthesis of substituted 1,2,4-triazoles

We report on the synthesis of 1,2,4-triazoles substituted with 2 or 3 amino acid side chains, using silver benzoate as a key reagent for the cyclization step. A complete study of the optical purity retention during the synthetic process leading to these compounds is described. In addition an improved work-up after the addition-cyclization step was also established leading to better yields and metal-free products.     

Preparation of Some Thiazolyl Hydrazone Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Activities

The increasing clinical importance of drug-resistant fungal and bacterial pathogens has provided additional urgency to microbiological research and to the development of new antibacterial compounds. For this purpose, new tert-butyl [1-aryl/alkyl-2[(4-aryl-2-thiazolyl)hydrazono]ethyl]carbamate derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity. The reaction of Boc-L-phenylalaninal, Boc-D-phenylalaninal, Boc-L-leucinal, and Boc-L-tryptophanal with thiosemicarbazide yielded the thiosemicarbazones, which furnished the title compounds on reaction with phenacyl bromides. The new compounds were screened for antibacterial activity. The results from the bioassay tests show that some of the compounds have notable activity against Gram-positive bacteria.     

Optochemical genetics

Transmembrane receptors allow a cell to communicate with its environment in response to a variety of input signals. These can be changes in the concentration of ligands (e.g. hormones or neurotransmitters), temperature, pressure (e.g. acoustic waves or touch), transmembrane potential, or light intensity. Many important receptors have now been characterized in atomic detail and our understanding of their functional properties has markedly increased in recent years. As a consequence, these sophisticated molecular machines can be reprogrammed to respond to unnatural input signals. In this Review, we show how voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels can be endowed with synthetic photoswitches, and how the resulting artificial photoreceptors can be used to optically control neurons with exceptional temporal and spatial precision. They work well in animals and might find applications in the restoration of vision and the optical control of other sensations. The combination of synthetic photoswitches and receptor proteins contributes to the field of optogenetics and adds a new functional dimension to chemical genetics. As such, we propose to call it "optochemical genetics".     

Magnetic and infrared study of CO chemisorption on silica supported nickel-copper alloys

CO adsorption at room temperature on Ni-Cu alloys supported on SiO₂ is studied by two complementary techniques, infra-red spectroscopy and magnetic methods (saturation magnetization). The bond number between CO and the metallic surface calculated from magnetic data decreases from 1.8 to 1 as the Cu content increases. Two bands attributed to CO bonded to Ni are observed (the A band in the 2000–2050 cm^?1 region, and the B band in the 1950–1900 cm^?1 region). A small band assigned to CO bonded to Cu is also detected. As Cu content increases, the intensity of the B band decreases, and a noticeable and continuous frequency shift of the three bands is observed. Experimental results are fully accounted for assuming that: (i) two adsorbed species of CO on Ni, a monodentate and a bridged species (with small amounts of other multicentered species) are formed, as suggested by Eischens and Pliskin; (ii) dilution of Ni by Cu decreases the relative abundance of the bridged (and multicentered) species for some geometric reasons previously invoked by Soma-Noto and Sachtler; (iii) surface complexes are formed between CO and Ni; however Ni remains in its metallic state. The surface complex is sensitive to the electronic environment of the metallic atom, with a frequency shift of the three infra-red bands upon alloying as a consequence.