Does in-source decay occur independent of the ionization process in matrix-assisted laser desorption?

The influence of the acidic and basic characters of constituent amino acid residues on the peptide fragment ions produced by in-source decay under matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) conditions has been studied using positive- and negative-ion experiments. Whereas the in-source decay spectra of peptides containing basic Arg and/or Lys residues near the N-terminus showed so-called c_n- and a_n-series ions in positive-ion mode, a peptide that has an acidic amino acid cluster near the N-terminus and a basic residue near the C-terminus characteristically formed y_n- and z_n-series ions in the positive-ion in-source decay spectrum. These results indicated that fragment ion series produced by in-source decay depend strongly upon the acidic and basic characters of the constituent amino acid residues and the near N- and C-termini. It was suggested that in-source decay processes occur intrinsically at NH–C^α and CO–NH bonds independent of the formation of molecular-related ions, and that the cleavages at the NH–C^α and CO–NH bonds occurred independently and were dependent on the matrix used.     

Synthesis of 2-amino-2,4-anhydro-3-O-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)-psicofuranose: a versatile intermediate for S-type locked nucleosides

2-Amino-2,4-anhydro-psicofuranose derivative was synthesized starting from d-fructose.     

Topochemical investigations of peptide systems

The basic principles of the topochemical approach to the investigation of the structure-function relation in peptide systems are formulated. This approach makes use of the new possibility of transforming natural peptides, consisting in the modification of the molecule as a whole and utilization of the resultant analogs to elucidate the boundaries of the stereoelectronic complementarity of the biologically active peptide to the corresponding receptor. In particular, on the example of depsipeptide antibiotics and their topochemical analogs the fruitfulness of using such compounds as tools in elucidating the physicochemical basis of functioning of biological membranes is shown. The topochemical principle has also been applied in preparing specific competitive inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes, whose study may shed light on the nature of the forces binding the substrate to the contact site of the corresponding enzyme.     

Structure and Reactivity of Lithium Enolates. From Pinacolone to Selective C-Alkylations of Peptides. Difficulties and Opportunities Afforded by Complex Structures

The chemistry of lithium enolates is used to demonstrate that complex structures held together by noncovalent bonds (“supramolecules”) may dramatically influence the result of seemingly simple standard reactions of organic synthesis. Detailed structural data have been obtained by crystallographic investigations of numerous Li enolates and analogous derivatives. The most remarkable features of these structures are aggregation to give dimers, tetramers, and higher oligomers, complexation of the metal centers by solvent molecules and chelating ligands, and hydrogen-bond formation of weak acids such as secondary amines with the anionoid part of the enolates. The presence in nonpolar solvents of the same supramolecules has been established by NMR-spectroscopic, by osmometric, and by calorimetric measurements. The structures and the order of magnitude of the interactions have also been reproduced by ab-initio calculations. Most importantly, supramolecules may be product-forming species in synthetic reactions of Li enolates. A knowledge of the complex structures of Li enolates also improves our understanding of their reactivity. Thus, simple procedures have been developed to avoid complications caused by secondary amines, formed concomitantly with Li enolates by the common methods. Mixtures of achiral Li enolates and chiral Li amides can give rise to enantioselective reactions. Solubilization by LiX is observed, especially of multiply lithiated compounds. This effect is exploited for alkylations of N-methylglycine (sarcosine) CH₂ groups in open-chain oligopeptides. Thus, the cyclic undecapeptide cyclosporine, a potent immunosuppressant, is converted into a THF-soluble hexalithio derivative (without epimerization of stereogenic centers) and alkylated by a variety of electrophiles in the presence of either excess lithiumdiisopropyl amide or of up to 30 equivalents of lithium chloride. Depending on the nature of the LiX additive, a new stereogenic center of (R) or (S) configuration is created in the peptide chain by this process. A structure-activity correlation in the series of cyclosporine derivatives thus available is discussed.     

Zur Synthese von fungizid wirksamen Isocamphanderivaten: Synthesen in der Isocamphanreihe, 34. Mitt.

Summary Some esters of isocamphenilanic acid (4) have been prepared and tested for their fungicidal and insecticidal activity. Esters of various acids with isocamphanyl ethylalcohol (5) have also been synthesized and included in the fungicidal/acaricidal/insecticidal screening programme. All esters bear a geminal dimethyl group at C-3 of the bicyclus which is important because of its shielding effect.

     

An efficient synthesis of (+)-prelactone B

An enantioselective synthesis of (+)-prelactone B 1 has been achieved on a multigram scale starting from a known bicyclic precursor 2. The key feature of the strategy is the generation of 3-stereogenic centres from a single bicyclic precursor, which has been utilized as a chiral building block for the synthesis of various natural products.     

High performance liquid chromatographic separation of dipeptide and tripeptide enantiomers using a chiral crown ether stationary phase

A chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on (-)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid was evaluated for the direct resolution of the enantiomers of dipeptides and tripeptides. The type and concentration of the acid and the methanol content were optimized with regard to retention time and resolution using Ala-Phe as model peptide. A mobile phase consisting of 10 mM sulfuric acid in 70% aqueous methanol was applied to the separation of a set of 16 structurally diverse dipeptides and tripeptides. Generally, the configuration of the amino acid at the N-terminus determined the enantiomer elution order. With a few exceptions the LL- and LD-enantiomers interacted stronger with the CSP compared to the corresponding DD- or DL-enantiomers. The experimental conditions also allowed the simultaneous separation of all four stereoisomers of Ala-Phe. Addition of ammonium sulfate generally reduced retention times and enantiomer resolution. Addition of triethylamine as modifier led to an overall increase of the retention times while the resolution did not show a general trend, increasing in the case of Ala-Ala but decreasing in the case of Ala-Phe.     

Recent liquid chromatographic-(tandem) mass spectrometric applications in proteomics

Conventional proteomics makes use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometric analysis of tryptic fragments derived from in-gel digestion of proteins. Although being a very strong technique capable of separating and visualizing hundreds of proteins, 2D-gel electrophoresis has some well-documented disadvantages as well. More recently, liquid chromatographic-(tandem) mass spectrometric techniques have been developed to overcome some of the shortcomings of 2D-gel electrophoresis. In this review we have described several recent applications of liquid chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry in the field of proteomics and especially in the field of membrane proteomics, quantitative proteomics and in the analysis of post-translational modifications.     

New pyrrole-based amino acids for the synthesis of peptidomimetic constrained scaffolds

A new family of pyrrole-based amino acids have been prepared through the microwave assisted Paal-Knorr reaction of 1-4 ketoesters derived from the corresponding β-ketoester with a functional homologation. The carboxylic group is located in position 3 of the pyrrole, whereas the amino group, protected with the Cbz moiety, is present on the side chain in positions 1 or 2. These compounds were used to prepare constrained oligopeptides.     

2,3,7‐Triazabicyclo[3.3.0]octenes Prepared by Tandem Cascade Reaction of Allyl Azides and Olefinic Dipolarophiles

Tandem cascade reactions of allylazides and olefinic dipolarophiles to give cis‐fused 2,3,7‐triazabicyclo [3.3.0]octenes ( 5, 6 or 7 ) are reported. Therein, an intermolecular dipolar cycloaddition of azide and alkene gave a triazoline which was followed by isomerization of the triazoline to a diazoester ( 4 ) and then an intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition from the diazo functional group and the double bond in 4 to give 5 . Compound 5 may further more undergo a Michael addition to give 7‐substituted‐ 2,3,7‐ triazabicyclo [3.3.0]oct‐2‐ene ( 6 ) or a tautomerization to give 2,3,7‐triazabicyclo[3.3.0]oct‐3‐ene ( 7 ). The reaction may be manipulated to stop at a particular stage by adopting a suit able solvent or an appropriate temperature.