Hydrolysis of the Peptide Bond in N-Acetylated L-Methionylglycine Catalyzed by Various Palladium(II) Complexes: Dependence of the Hydrolytic Reactions on the Nature of the Chelate Ligand in cis-[Pd( L)(H 2O) 2] 21 Complexes

Summary. Hydrolytic reactions between various palladium(II) complexes of the type cis-[Pd(L)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ in which L is ethylenediamine (en), 1,2-propylenediamine (1,2-pn), isobutylenediamine (ibn), 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (1,2-dach), N-methylethylenediamine (Meen), N,N,N,N-tetramethylethylenediamine (Me₄en), S-methyl L-cysteine (MeS-L-HCys), L-methionine (L-HMet), and 2,5-dithiahexane (dth) and dipeptide N-acetylated L-methionylglycine (MeCOMet-Gly) were studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The reactions were carried out in the pH range 2.0–2.5 and at 50°C. In all these reactions, palladium(II) complex bound to a methionine residue effects the regioselective cleavage of the amide bond involving the carboxylic group of methionine. We found that the rate of hydrolysis and mechanism of this reaction are strongly dependent from the nature of the chelate ligand L in palladium(II) complexes of the type cis-[Pd(L)(H₂O)₂]²⁺.     

Asymmetric synthesis of [7]helicene-like molecules

[reaction: see text] A new approach to nonracemic [7]helicene-like molecules has been developed. Stereoselective Co(I)-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloisomerization of aromatic triynes containing an asymmetric carbon atom produces [7]helicene-like scaffolds in diastereomeric ratios up to 100:0. This central-to-helical chirality transfer can be controlled by the absolute configuration at the asymmetric center and by the presence of carbon substituents.     

Organopolysiloxanes as Chemically Sensitive Coatings for Optical Fibers

Various types of UV-curable organically modified siloxanes have been synthesized by the sol-gel method with the aim of fabricating chemically sensitive coatings for silica optical fibers. The refractive index of the coating material can be tailored in the range from 1.46 to 1.56 and sensitivity towards CO2 is achieved by incorporation of amino groups. The interaction of the cured layers with CO2 or with hydrocarbons has been studied in immersion experiments. Both the reaction of CO2 with incorporated amino groups and the penetration of hydrocarbons into the layer induce changes of the light absorption coefficient and the refractive index of the coating which are detected by measuring the output light intensity from the fiber.     

Synthesis of homoharringtonine and its derivative by partial esterification of cephalotaxine.

Homoharringtonine $\text{2}$ and dehydrodesoxy homoharringtonine $\text{4}$ were synthesized by partial esterification of cephalotaxine.     

Enhanced post-source decay and cross-ring fragmentation of oligosaccharides facilitated by conversion to amino derivatives

Post-source decay (PSD) fragmentation of chemically or enzymatically produced aminoglycans has been evaluated through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Conversion of native glycans to their respective aminoglycan derivatives improved detection sensitivity of the usual fragments and promoted cross-ring fragmentation of linear oligosaccharides, facilitating linkage recognition. The cross-ring fragmentations for both dextrin and dextran oligosaccharides were not limited to the reducing-end glucose moiety, as they were extended throughout the entire molecule. When the amino group was generated for N-glycans derived from three different glycoproteins, an enhancement of PSD was observed, without a significant extent of cross-ring fragmentation.     

Dynamic mechanism of photochemical induction of turing superlattices in the chlorine dioxide-iodine-malonic acid reaction-diffusion system

We study the mechanism of development of superlattice Turing structures from photochemically generated hexagonal patterns of spots with wavelengths several times larger than the characteristic wavelength of the Turing patterns that spontaneously develop in the nonilluminated system. Comparison of the experiment with numerical simulations shows that interaction of the photochemical periodic forcing with the Turing instability results in generation of multiple resonant triplets of wave vectors, which are harmonics of the external forcing. Some of these harmonics are situated within the Turing instability band and are therefore able to maintain their amplitude as the system evolves and after illumination ceases, while photochemically generated harmonics outside the Turing band tend to decay.     

Analytical characterization of a facile porous polymer monolithic trypsin microreactor enabling peptide mass mapping using mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid single-step method is presented to fabricate an enzyme reactor using trypsin immobilized on a macroporous polymer monolith. A reactor produced in a capillary format is ready to use within 1 h of preparation. The monomers making up the monolith, including N-acryloxysuccinimide for covalent immobilization of the enzyme, are mixed with trypsin and introduced into the column by capillary force for polymerization/immobilization. The enzyme activity from column-to-column is reproducible below 5% relative standard deviation (RSD), while the reactor is durable for at least 20 weeks when stored at room temperature. The apparent kinetic constants V(max) and K(m) are of value similar to those obtained by free trypsin in solution. Enzymatic digestion of proteins was shown to be feasible on a time-scale of seconds and submicromolar concentrations enabling peptide mass mapping by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.     

The Total Synthesis of (±)-Isocomene by an Intramolecular Ene Reaction. Preliminary communication

The racemic sesquiterpene isocomene ( 1 ) has been synthesized starting from 1,7-octadien-3-one ( 2 ) in a stereoselective manner (Scheme 2). In the key step 4 → 5 the C(7), C(8)-bond was formed by an intramolecular thermal ene reaction. Further elaboration of 5 involved the ring contraction 6 → 7 , the elimination 8 → 9 and the final olefin isomerization 9 → 1 .     

Synthesis of fluorinated α-diketones and some intermediates

Reactions of perfluoroalkylcopper compounds with α-ketoacyl chlorides were used for the synthesis of fluorinated α-diketones. Heptafluoropropylcopper prepared from copper bronze and 1-iodoheptafluoropropane reacted with benzoylformyl chloride to give heptafluoro-1-phenyl-1,2-pentanedione, with trimethylpyruvyl chloride to give 2,2-dimethyl-5,5,6,6,7,7,7-heptafluoro-3,4-heptanedione, and with 3,3,4,4,5,5,5-heptafluoro-2-ketopentanoyl chloride or oxalyl chloride to give tetradecafluoro-4,5-octanedione. Syntheses of fluorinated acetylenes, cyanohydrins, α-hydroxy acids, α-keto acids, their chlorides, and other intermediates for the syntheses of α-diketones by the above route and by other methods are described. An interesting seven-membered ring containing β-hydroxy ketone was obtained by an intramolecular aldol condensation of a fluorinated bis(methyl) ketone.