Regiocontrolled synthesis of the trimeric quinone framework of conocurvone

[reaction: see text] The trimeric quinone framework of conocurvone is crucial for its potent anti-HIV activity. A new synthesis of trimeric quinones based on stepwise substitution of the halogens in 2,3-dihaloquinones by hydroxyquinone anions is described. Chlorinated biquinones are key intermediates that undergo regiospecific substitution reactions to yield trimeric quinone monomethyl ethers.     

Bioassay-directed fractionation for discovery of bioactive neutral lipids guided by relative mass defect filtering and multiplexed collision-induced dissociation

We report a synergistic method using bioassay‐directed liquid chromatography fractionation and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry to guide and accelerate bioactive compound discovery. To steer purification and assays toward anticipated neutral lipid activators of a constitutive androstane receptor splice variant, a relative mass defect filter was calculated, based on the ratio of the mass defect to the measured ion mass, and used to reduce the number of candidate ion masses. Mass measurements often lack sufficient accuracy to provide unambiguous assignments of elemental compositions, and since the relative mass defect reflects fractional hydrogen content of ions, this value is largely determined by the hydrogen content of a compound's biosynthetic precursors. A relative mass defect window ranging from 600–1000 ppm, consistent with an assortment of lipids, was chosen to assess the number of candidate ions in fractions of fetal bovine serum. This filter reduced the number of candidate ion m/z values from 1345 to 892, which was further reduced to 21 by intensity and isotope filtering. Accurate mass measurements from time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and fragment ion masses generated using nonselective collision‐induced dissociation suggested dioctyl phthalate as one of few neutral lipid constituents in the active fraction. The identity of this compound was determined to be di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate using GC/MS, and it was ranked as a promising candidate for reporter assay screening. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of methoxyl group position on the regioselectivity of ammonia substitution reactions involving 3,3'-dichloro-2,2'-binaphthoquinones

A series of methoxyl-substituted 3,3'-dichloro-2,2'-binaphthoquinones 2 were prepared and evaluated for regioselectivity in ammonia substitution reactions. Biquinone 2b underwent regiospecific amination at the unsubstituted chloronaphthoquinone unit whereas the isomeric biquinone, 2c, produced moderate regioselectivity (85:15). Biquinone 2d, however, showed no level of regioselectivity demonstrating that the position of the methoxyl group influences the regiochemistry. The intramolecular hydrogen bond in biquinone 5 altered the regioselectivity. Semiempirical calculations revealed comparatively larger LUMO coefficients at the chlorinated carbons that underwent preferential substitution.     

A new method for the synthesis of 2-hydroxy-3-nitro-1,4-naphthoquinones: application to regiospecific preparation of unsymmetrical nitrobiquinones

Novel 2-hydroxy-3-nitro-1,4-naphthoquinones were synthesized by an improved method utilizing nitronium tetrafluoroborate in high yields. A subsequent conversion to 2-chloro-3-nitro-1,4-naphthoquinones and a substitution of the chlorine by hydroxyquinone anions yielded 3-nitro-2,2'-binaphthoquinones with a complete regiocontrol.     

The onset of coulomb explosions in polyatomic molecules

With the development of high intensity femtosecond lasers, the ionisation and dissociation dynamics of molecules has become an area of considerable interest. Using the technique of femtosecond laser mass spectrometry (FLMS), the molecules carbon disulphide, pyrimidine, toluene, cyclohexanone and benzaldehyde are studied with pulse widths of 50 fs in the near infrared (IR) wavelength region (790 nm). Results are presented and contrasted for laser beam intensities around 10(15) and 10(16) W cm(-2). For the lower intensities, the mass spectra yield dominant singly charged parent ions. Additionally, the appearance of doubly charged parent ions is evident for carbon disulphide, toluene and benzaldehyde with envelopes of doubly charged satellite species existing in these local regions. Carbon disulphide also reveals a small triply charged component. Such atomic-like features are thought to be a strong fingerprint of FLMS at these intensities. However, upon increasing the laser intensity to approximately 10(16) W cm(-2), parent ion dominance decreases and the appearance of multiply charged atomic species occurs, particularly carbon. This phenomenon has been attributed to Coulomb explosions in which the fast absorption of many photons may produce transient highly ionised parent species which can subsequently blow apart. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Uniform molecular analysis using femtosecond laser mass spectrometry

The potential of femtosecond laser time-of-flight mass spectrometry (FLMS) for uniform quantitative analysis of molecules has been investigated. Various samples of molecular gases and vapours have been studied, using ultra-fast ( approximately 50 fs) laser pulses with very high intensity (up to 1.6 x 10(16) Wcm(-2)) for non-resonant multiphoton ionisation/tunnel ionisation. Some of these molecules have high ionisation potentials, requiring up to ten photons for non-resonant ionisation. The relative sensitivity factors (RSF) have been determined as a function of the laser intensity and it has been demonstrated that for molecules with very different masses and ionisation potentials, uniform ionisation has been achieved at the highest laser intensities. Quantitative laser mass spectrometry of molecules is therefore a distinct possibility. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.