A new strategy for synthesis of branched cyclic peptide by Asn side-chain hydrazide ligation

Here, we report a new strategy for rapid synthesis of branched peptide by side-chain hydrazide ligation at Asn. The hydrazide was converted to thioester at Asn side chain by NaNO₂ and thiol reagent, and sequential ligation with an N-terminus Cys-peptide efficiently afforded the branched peptide. A branched cyclic peptide was successfully synthesized by side-chain ligation with a two-Cys-peptide and formation of a disulfide bond. This approach provides a new way for expeditious synthesis of branched peptides and facilitates the design of neopeptides as functional bio-mimics.     

Efficient preparation of carbohydrate- and related polyol-amphiphiles by hydrazone ligation

The hydrazone ligation can be used to couple clustered-glycosides or glycomimetics functionalized with a hydrazino group with lipophilic glyoxylyl acid derivatives to give the corresponding amphiphiles in high yield and purity.     

Synthesis and axial ligation behaviour of sterically hindered Zn(II)-porphyrin liquid crystals

A new class of low melting liquid crystalline octaalkyloxyporphyrins have been synthesised. Their Zn(II)-complexes display an interesting ligation behaviour towards amines (of varying shapes and sizes), ascribed to the steric hindrance or hydrophobic pockets on both the faces of the porphryin as evidenced from the crystal structure of Zn(II)-octabutyloxyporphyrin.     

The Staudinger ligation-a gift to chemical biology

Although the reaction between an azide and a phosphane to form an aza-ylide was discovered by Hermann Staudinger more than 80 years ago and has found widespread application in organic synthesis, its potential as a highly chemoselective ligation method for the preparation of bioconjugates has been recognized only recently. As the two reaction partners are bioorthogonal to almost all functionalities that exist in biological systems and react at room temperature in an aqueous environment, the Staudinger ligation has even found application in the complex environment of living cells. Herein we describe the current state of knowledge on this reaction and its application both for the preparation of bioconjugates and as a ligation method in chemical biology.     

Automatic analysis of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification products (exemplified by a commercial kit for prenatal aneuploidy detection)

For use in routine prenatal diagnostics, we developed software and methods for automatic aneuploidy detection based on a commercial multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) kit. Software and methods ensure a reliable, objective, and fast workflow, and may be applied to other types of MLPA kits. Following CE of MLPA amplification products, the software automatically identified the peak area for each probe, normalized it in relation to the neighboring peak areas of the test sample, computed the ratio relative to a reference created from normal samples, and compensated the ratio for a side effect of the normalization procedure that scaled all chromosomally normal DNA peak areas slightly up or down depending on the kind of aneuploidy present. For the chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y, probe reliability weighted mean ratio values and corresponding SDs were calculated, and the significance for being outside a reference interval around ratio 1.0 was tested. p < or = 1% suggested aneuploidy and 1 < p < or = 5% suggested potential aneuploidy. Individual peaks, where the normalized area was situated more than 4 SD from the corresponding reference, suggested possible partial deletion or gain. Sample quality was automatically assessed. Control probes were not required. Having used the software and methods for two years, we conclude that a reliable, objective, and fast workflow is obtained.     

Synthesis of branched oxime-linked peptide mimetics of the MUC1 containing a universal T-helper epitope

Our goal was to develop mimics of MUC1, highly immunogenic to induce an efficient immune response against the tumor-associated form of MUC1, and sufficiently different from the natural antigen to bypass the tolerance barrier in humans. With the aim of obtaining a well-defined peptide construct as a means of evoking the precise immune responses required in immunotherapy, we synthesized artificial mimics of the MUC1 protein composed of two MUC1 repeat units of inverse orientation and a universal T-helper epitope. To synthesize these heteromeric peptide constructs, we followed a convergent approach using chemoselective ligation based on oxime chemistry. A stem peptide was first synthesized bearing two orthogonally masked aldehydes. After successive deprotection, two oxime bonds can be specifically generated. The proposed strategy proved to be concise and robust, and allowed the synthesis of the tri-branched protein in a very satisfactory yield. The different constructs were tested for their ability to generate antibodies able to recognize the MUC1 protein.     

Alkali Cation Ligating Chains and Sheets of the Macrocycle 1, 7‐Dithia‐18‐Crown‐6 with Bridging Iodo‐ and Thiocyanatocuprate(I) Units

Treatment of an acetonitrile solution of CuI with 1, 7‐dithia‐18‐crown‐6 (1, 7‐DT18C6) at 100°C affords the coordination polymer ¹[(CuI)₂(1, 7‐DT18C6)₂] ( 1 ) in which 1, 7‐DT18C6 ligands bridge (CuI)₂ rings into double chains. 1D polymers of the type ¹[M{(Cu₃I₄)(1, 7‐DT18C6)}] (M = K, 2 ; M = Cs, 3 ) can be isolated under similar conditions in the presence of respectively KI and CsI. Both contain bridging heptacyclic [Cu₆I₈]^2— units but crystallise in different space groups, namely P1 and C2/m. The cesium cation of 3 is markedly displaced from the best plane through the thiacrown ether donor atoms. Reaction of 1, 7‐DT18C6 with CuSCN in the presence of NaSCN yields ²[{Na(CH₃CN)₂} {(CuSCN)₂(1, 7‐DT18C6)}][Cu(SCN)₂] ( 4 ), in which ¹[(CuSCN)₂] double chains are linked through macrocycles into sheets. Infinite ¹[{Cu(SCN)₂}^—] chains compensate the charge of the Na⁺ cations. Complex 1 can imbibe 0.90 mol CsNO₃ per mol of 1, 7‐DT18C6 pairs.     

Facile stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted-4-trichloromethyl azetidin-2-ones

The highly stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted-4-trichloromethyl azetidin-2-ones by the [2+2] cycloaddition of ketenes with imines derived from chloral is described.     

Electronic structure of axially ligated rhodium carboxylates: π back-bonding revisited

Fenske-Hall molecular orbital calculations have been applied to a new, structurally isolable analog of the intermediate involved in catalytic rhodium carboxylate carbenoid transformations. Results from the structural characterization of axially ligated rhodium acetate phenylisonitrile complexes have been utilized in approximate molecular orbital calculations. The results from the calculations suggest that a significant degree of π back-bonding exists between the metal and isonitrile fragments which, by analogy, implies that π back-bonding should also exist in the rhodium carbenoid intermediate. Sensitivity of the Fenske-Hall method to the magnitude of π back-donation in these complexes was gauged through calculations involving different phenylisonitrile groups in which the π back-bonding ability was modulated through derivativization. The reliability of the Fenske-Hall method was evaluated through a comparison to a high-level calculation. Received: 13 December 1996 / Accepted: 18 March 1997     

α-Oxohydrazones as imine component in the synthesis of 4-functionalized azetidinones by the Staudinger reaction

1-(Methyl-p-tolyl-amino)-3-phenoxy-2-azetidinones 4-COX and 4-R substituted (COX: X=Me, Et, Ph, NMe₂, NEt₂, OBu^t; R=Me, Et, Ph) were smoothly prepared from the corresponding α-(methyl-p-tolyl)hydrazonylated ketones, amides and esters via [2+2] cycloaddition with phenoxyketene. The reaction was generally high-yielding and diastereoselective, leading to β-lactams with a cis relationship between the PhO and the COX moieties, except for R=Ph, where an opposite stereoselectivity was instead observed. The azetidinones represent interesting intermediates which couple protection at N(1) and functionalization at position 4 of the ring. Deprotection of N(1) can be easily attained by oxidative N-N cleavage with magnesium monoperoxyphthalate.