Discriminating octahedral transition metal ions: highly selective tripodal tris-(2,2′-bipyridine) functionalized piperazine cyclophane receptor for Cu2+ ions
New tripodal transition metal ion receptors, tris(5-ethoxycarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine) and tris(5-carboxylate-2,2'-bipyridine) substituted 27-membered trimeric piperazine cyclophanes 5 and 7 as well as tetra(5-ethoxycarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine) substituted 36-membered tetrameric piperazine cyclophane 6, have been prepared and their transition metal ion complexing properties studied in solution by UV-vis spectroscopy and in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structures of [H(3)5(3+)·Fe(2+)]·4(ClO(4)(-))·CF(3)COO(-) (V), [H(3)7(2+)·Fe(2+)]·2(SO(4)(2-)) (VII) and the reference complex [tris(5,5'-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-2,2'-bipyridine)Fe(II) perchlorate] (I) showed that the…
A modular "toolbox" approach to flexible branched multimacrocyclic hosts as precursors for multiply interlocked architectures.
Tetralactam macrocycles can be functionalized by a variety of cross-coupling reactions. A modular “toolbox” strategy is presented that allows 1) several tetralactam macrocycles to be covalently connected with each other or with a central spacer, 2) the macrocycles to be substituted with or connected to different chromophores, and 3) metal-coordination sites to be attached to the macrocycles. With this approach a series of different oligo-macrocyclic hosts was obtained with great structural diversity and enormous potential for further functionalization. Rotaxanes made on the basis of these macrocycles have been synthesized to demonstrate their utility in building more complex supramolecular …
Synthesis and thermal behavior of Janus dendrimers, part 2
Abstract The thermal properties of twelve Janus-type dendrimers up to the second generation were evaluated by termogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Compounds consist of the dendritic bisMPA based polyester moieties, and either 3,4-bis-dodecyloxybenzoic acid, 3,5-bis-dodecyloxybenzoic acid or 3,4,5-tris-dodecyloxybenzoic acid moieties, attached to opposite sides of the pentaerythritol core. The thermal stability of the compounds was evaluated by TGA, displaying onset decomposition temperatures ( T d ) at around 250 °C. DSC measurements upon heating and cooling confirmed that OH terminated Janus dendrimers featuring large polarity difference in opposite …
Self-assembly by co-ordination and strong hydrogen bonding. X-ray crystal structures of a dimeric trisodium complex of a new acidic complexing ligand and its dihydrate
Abstract The new acidic complexing ligand triethanolamine-O,O,O-triacetic acid, 3, is synthesized by reaction of triethanolamine with chloroacetic acid in the presence of sodium tert-butoxide. The resulting Na complex, 4, and its dihydrate, 5, contain two ligand molecules, both with one Na+ ion interaction and both co-ordinated to a third, central, Na+ ion. In addition the acidic ligands are hydrogen bonded to each other, like carboxylic acids, and in 4, by three crystallographically symmetric hydrogen bonds, while in 5, due to the breakdown of symmetry, two normal and one crystallographically symmetrical hydrogen bond. Inside this extraordinary dimeric assembly (a pseudo-cryptate) are the …
Structure-Activity Relationship Analysis of 3-Phenylcoumarin-Based Monoamine Oxidase B Inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) catalyzes deamination of monoamines such as neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Accordingly, small-molecule MAO-B inhibitors potentially alleviate the symptoms of dopamine-linked neuropathologies such as depression or Parkinson's disease. Coumarin with a functionalized 3-phenyl ring system is a promising scaffold for building potent MAO-B inhibitors. Here, a vast set of 3-phenylcoumarin derivatives was designed using virtual combinatorial chemistry or rationally de novo and synthesized using microwave chemistry. The derivatives inhibited the MAO-B at 100 nM−1 μM. The IC50 value of the most potent derivative 1 was 56 nM. A docking-based structure-activi…
Self-ordering of metallogrid complexes via directed hydrogen-bonding.
Reaction of imidazole aldehydes with dihydrazino derivatives of 2-phenylpyrimidine provides a family of bis(acylhydrazone) ligands which form [2 × 2] metallogrid complexes with transition metal ions including Fe(II), Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II). The free ligands show H-bonding interactions, both donor and acceptor, largely involving the imidazole units, while binding of the metal ions occupies all the acceptor sites and leaves only the pyrrolic-NH site as an H-bond donor, although its deprotonation by a strong base can regenerate an acceptor. These H-bonding interactions have been studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state by means of several crystal structure determi…
Chiral donor–π-acceptor azobenzene dyes
Abstract Four chiral donor–π-acceptor azobenzene dye conjugates were synthesized and characterized. Chiral moieties, namely (S)-(+)-2-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl)propionic acid (naproxen) and (S)-2-aminopropionic acid ( l -alanine), were attached to either the donor end or the acceptor site of the azo compound using ester or amide bonds, respectively. The structures of the molecules were verified using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and ESI TOF mass spectrometry; spectral properties were evaluated with UV–vis and CD spectrometry whilst thermal stability was determined by TGA. The compounds displayed a broad absorption maximum in the visible region between 433 and 483 nm. All compounds showed relatively high the…
Blocking oestradiol synthesis pathways with potent and selective coumarin derivatives
A comprehensive set of 3-phenylcoumarin analogues with polar substituents was synthesised for blocking oestradiol synthesis by 17-b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD1) in the latter part of the sulphatase pathway. Five analogues produced 62% HSD1 inhibition at 5 mM and, furthermore, three of them produced 68% inhibition at 1 mM. A docking-based structure-activity relationship analysis was done to determine the molecular basis of the inhibition and the cross-reactivity of the analogues was tested against oestrogen receptor, aromatase, cytochrome P450 1A2, and monoamine oxidases. Most of the analogues are only modestly active with 17-b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 – a requirement for lowe…
Molecular docking and oxidation kinetics of 3-phenyl coumarin derivatives by human CYP2A13.
CYP2A13 enzyme is expressed in human extrahepatic tissues, while CYP2A6 is a hepatic enzyme. Reactions catalysed by CYP2A13 activate tobacco-specific nitrosamines and some other toxic xenobiotics in lungs.To compare oxidation characteristics and substrate-enzyme active site interactions in CYP2A13 vs CYP2A6, we evaluated CYP2A13 mediated oxidation characteristics of 23 coumarin derivatives and modelled their interactions at the enzyme active site.CYP2A13 did not oxidise six coumarin derivatives to corresponding fluorescent 7-hydroxycoumarins. The Km-values of the other coumarins varied 0.85-97 µM, Vmax-values of the oxidation reaction varied 0.25-60 min-1, and intrinsic clearance varied 26-…
Identification of estrogen receptor α ligands with virtual screening techniques.
Utilization of computer-aided molecular discovery methods in virtual screening (VS) is a cost-effective approach to identify novel bioactive small molecules. Unfortunately, no universal VS strategy can guarantee high hit rates for all biological targets, but each target requires distinct, fine-tuned solutions. Here, we have studied in retrospective manner the effectiveness and usefulness of common pharmacophore hypothesis, molecular docking and negative image-based screening as potential VS tools for a widely applied drug discovery target, estrogen receptor α (ERα). The comparison of the methods helps to demonstrate the differences in their ability to identify active molecules. For example,…
Fluorescent Small Molecule Probe to Modulate and Explore α2β1 Integrin Function
Collagen binding integrins are an important family of cell surface receptors that mediate bidirectionally signals between the interior of the cell and the extracellular matrix. The protein-protein interactions between cells and collagen are necessary for many physiological functions, but also promote diseases. For example, the interaction of α2β1 integrin and collagen has been shown to have an important role in thrombus formation and cancer spread. The fact that the discovery of small molecules that can block such protein-protein interactions is highly challenging has significantly hindered the discovery of pharmaceutical agents to treat these diseases. Here, we present a rationally designe…
X-Ray and NMR Studies on Host-Guest Inclusion Complex Formation between Crown Ethers and Pyridinium Compounds
Aromatic–aromatic, π–π, and cation–π interactions can be exploited in the preparation of molecular complexes between benzene-substituted crown ethers and pyridium cations. These complexes have been studied in the gas phase, in solution, and in the solid state; the structure of one of the complexes is depicted on the right.
Substituent effects on axle binding in amide pseudorotaxanes: comparison of NMR titration and ITC data with DFT calculations
The binding behaviour of differently substituted diamide axle molecules to Hunter/Vögtle tetralactam macrocycles was studied with a combination of NMR titration, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments and calculations employing density functional theory (DFT), along with dispersion-corrected exchange-correlation functionals. Guests with alkyl or alkenyl chains attached to the diamide carbonyl groups have a significantly higher binding affinity to the macrocycle than guests with benzoyl amides and their substituted analogues. While the binding of the benzoyl and alkenyl substituted axles is enthalpically driven, the alkyl-substituted guest binds mainly because of a positive bindi…
Molecular docking-based design and development of a highly selective probe substrate for UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A10
Intestinal and hepatic glucuronidation by the UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) greatly affect the bioavailability of phenolic compounds. UGT1A10 catalyzes glucuronidation reactions in the intestine, but not in the liver. Here, our aim was to develop selective, fluorescent substrates to easily elucidate UGT1A10 function. To this end, homology models were constructed and used to design new substrates, and subsequently, six novel C3-substituted (4-fluorophenyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-(dimethylamino)phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, or triazole) 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives were synthesized from inexpensive starting materials. All tested compounds could be glucuronidated to nonfluorescen…
A novel MALDI-MS approach for the analysis of neutral metallosupramolecular architectures
Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) methods have been developed for the characterisation of neutral [2×2] metallogrids derived fromdiimine, dihydrazone and diacylhydrazone ligands. Such grids may be protonated in solution to give cationic species but in most cases these are labile, so that rather delicate conditions are required for observation of the intact metallogrids as monoprotonated derivatives in the gas phase. As a MALDI matrix, 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP) is sufficiently acidic to enable monoprotonation of the grids unaccompanied by dissociation, and if the grid sample is initially deposited by a layering technique to avoid any prelimina…
Synthesis and characterization of polyene chromophores with hydroxyl functionalization
Abstract Eight hydroxyl functionalized donor–acceptor polyene chromophores 3–10 were synthesized and characterized. Knoevenagel condensation reaction of aromatic polyenals with 2-cyanoacetamide derivatives was utilized to synthesize chromophores with all-E configuration. Chromophores of this kind can be attached covalently to polymers or functionalized with dendrons in order to tune the properties. The structures of the molecules were verified by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, ESI-TOF mass spectrometry and UV–vis measurements. Reduced bond-length alternation of the molecules in DMSO-d6 solution were observed by calculating the average difference of the vicinal coupling constants between adjacent CH CH an…
Acetonitrile inclusion complexes of piperazine-based macrocycles
New piperazine-based macrocycles with single small cavities were prepared by using high dilution technique. The inclusion of acetonitrile into the cavity (7, 8) or clathrate formation (3) was studied by 1H-NMR spectroscopy in solution and by X-ray diffraction in the crystalline state. The cycle 3 forms a molecular cleft, a molecular pocket, where the acetonitrile molecule is held by four weak N…H interactions reinforcing the clathrate formation. The cycles 7 and 8 contain a rigid cavity for an exact sterical fit with the methyl group of a linear compound like acetonitrile. The acetonitrile inclusion complex with 7 proved to be stable under normal conditions and was studied by means of therm…
Molecular docking and oxidation kinetics of 3-phenyl coumarin derivatives by human CYP2A13
CYP2A13 enzyme is expressed in human extrahepatic tissues, while CYP2A6 is a hepatic enzyme. Reactions catalysed by CYP2A13 activate tobacco-specific nitrosamines and some other toxic xenobiotics in lungs.To compare oxidation characteristics and substrate-enzyme active site interactions in CYP2A13 vs CYP2A6, we evaluated CYP2A13 mediated oxidation characteristics of 23 coumarin derivatives and modelled their interactions at the enzyme active site.CYP2A13 did not oxidise six coumarin derivatives to corresponding fluorescent 7-hydroxycoumarins. The Km-values of the other coumarins varied 0.85���97 ��M, Vmax-values of the oxidation reaction varied 0.25���60 min���1, and intrinsic clearance var…
Substrate Selectivity of Coumarin Derivatives by Human CYP1 Enzymes: In Vitro Enzyme Kinetics and In Silico Modeling
Of the three enzymes in the human cytochrome P450 family 1, CYP1A2 is an important enzyme mediating metabolism of xenobiotics including drugs in the liver, while CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 are expressed in extrahepatic tissues. Currently used CYP substrates, such as 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7-ethoxyresorufin, are oxidized by all individual CYP1 forms. The main aim of this study was to find profluorescent coumarin substrates that are more selective for the individual CYP1 forms. Eleven 3-phenylcoumarin derivatives were synthetized, their enzyme kinetic parameters were determined, and their interactions in the active sites of CYP1 enzymes were analyzed by docking and molecular dynamic simulations. All cou…
Molecular Pacman: Folding, Inclusion, and X-ray Structures of Tri- and Tetraamino Piperazine Cyclophanes
Reaction of piperazine and 1,3-bis(bromomethyl)-2-nitrobenzene under high-dilution conditions yields cyclic trimeric trinitro, tetrameric tetranitro, and pentameric pentanitro piperazine cyclophanes. Reduction of the nitro groups with SnCl(2) under acidic conditions produces the corresponding triamino and tetraamino piperazine cyclophanes. The solution studies of both nitro and amino piperazine cyclophanes at 30 degrees C by (1)H NMR spectroscopy shows symmetrical structures owing to the fast conformational exchange, whereas the low temperature studies of the tetraamino piperazine cyclophane reveals interesting dynamic behavior that indicates additional intramolecular interactions. Careful …
2(S)-Amino-3-[1H-imidazol-4(5)-yl]propyl cyclohexylmethyl ether dihydrochloride and 2(S)-amino-3-[1H-imidazol-4(5)-yl]propyl 4-bromobenzyl ether dihydrochloride
(Cyclohexylmethyloxymethyl)(1H-imidazol-4-iomethyl)-(S)-ammonium dichloride, C(13)H(25)N(3)O(+).2Cl(-), and (4-bromobenzyl)(1H-imidazol-4-iomethyl)-(S)-ammonium dichloride, C(13)H(18)BrN(3)O(+).2Cl(-), are model compounds with different biological activities for evaluation of the histamine H3-receptor activation mechanism. Both title compounds occur in almost similar extended conformations.
Macrocyclic (1,3)- and (1,4)-benzena-(1,4)-piperazinacyclophanes
New large, up to 45-membered macrocycles were synthesised from piperazine and m- and p-2,6-bis(bromomethyl)xylene under high dilution conditions. X-ray structures of compounds 3a, 4a, 5a, and 8b were determined. Surprisingly, none of the macrocycles prepared showed any inclusion properties towards small guest molecules. Instead, the compounds were found to self-organize during the packing process into larger structures due to the complementary of the molecular skeletons. In the crystalline state 3a forms nets, where the macrocycles are bound by HCH…N interactions to each other. 4a exits in a dimeric structure, which, in turn, further extends to a sheet structure. The positively charged phan…
Synthesis and Topological Determination of Hexakis-Substituted 1,4-Ditritylbenzene and Nonakis-Substituted 1,3,5-Tritritylbenzene Derivatives: Building Blocks for Higher Supramolecular Assemblies
Based on trityl moieties, novel organic building blocks have been prepared and structurally investigated. Substituted hexaphenyl-p-xylene (1,4-ditritylbenzene) as well as extended analogues thereof were prepared. Furthermore, a new family based on a 1,3,5-tritritylbenzene motif, connecting three trityl groups through a formal mesitylene unit, was developed. Both families were further converted through six- and nine-fold substitution reactions, respectively, to yield potent molecular building blocks for supramolecular assemblies.
Chelate Cooperativity and Spacer Length Effects on the Assembly Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Divalent Pseudorotaxanes
Homo- and heterodivalent crown-ammonium pseudorotaxanes with different spacers connecting the two axle ammonium binding sites have been synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry. The homodivalent pseudorotaxanes are investigated with respect to the thermodynamics of divalent binding and to chelate cooperativity. The shortest spacer exhibits a chelate cooperativity much stronger than that of the longer spacers. On the basis of crystal structure, this can be explained by a noninnocent spacer, which contributes to the binding strength in addition to the two binding sites. Already very subtle changes in the spacer length, i.e., the introduction of an additional…
Unveiling Electronic Transitions in Three Novel Chiral Azo-Compounds Using Linear and Nonlinear Circular Dichroism: A Theoretical−Experimental Study
Herein, we report on the experimental and theoretically study of the linear absorption, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, as well as the two-photon absorption circular-linear dichroism measurements of three different chiral azo derivatives in dimethylsulfoxide solution. Using potential energy surfaces and frontier orbital analysis, we established the most stable conformation for each molecule and elucidated their different electronic transitions. Our theoretical calculations allowed us to unambiguously identify the spectral position of such transitions and correlate them with the spectral profiles observed in the two-photon absorption spectra. To further elucidate the characteris…
In vitro sulfonation of 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives in liver cytosol of human and six animal species
Sulfonation is an important high affinity elimination pathway for phenolic compounds.In this study sulfonation of 7-hydroxycoumarin and 13 its derivatives were evaluated in liver cytosols of human and six animal species. 7-hydroxycoumarin and its derivatives are strongly fluorescent, and their sulfate conjugates are nonfluorescent at excitation 405 nm and emission 460 nm. A convenient fluorescence based kinetic assay of sulfonation was established.The sulfonation rate of most of the 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives was low in liver cytosol of human and pig, whereas it was high with most compounds in dog and intermediate in rat, mouse, rabbit, and sheep. Sulfonation of the 7-hydroxycoumarin der…
Binding Properties of HABA-Type Azo Derivatives to Avidin and Avidin-Related Protein 4
Summary The chicken genome encodes several biotin-binding proteins, including avidin and avidin-related protein 4 (AVR4). In addition to D -biotin, avidin binds an azo dye compound, 4-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA), but the HABA-binding properties of AVR4 are not yet known. Differential scanning calorimetry, UV/visible spectroscopy, and molecular modeling were used to analyze the binding of 15 azo molecules to avidin and AVR4. Significant differences are seen in azo compound preferences for the two proteins, emphasizing the importance of the loop between strands β3 and β4 for azo ligand recognition; information on these loops is provided by the high-resolution (1.5 A) X-ray stru…
Halogen bonding drives the self-assembly of piperazine cyclophanes into tubular structures.
Halogen bonding with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene leads to the self-assembly of piperazine cyclophanes into well-defined tubular structures with solvent inclusion.
Macrocyclic Ethers and Their Inclusion Complexes
Blockage of collagen binding to integrin α2β1: structure–activity relationship of protein–protein interaction inhibitors
The interaction between the α2β1 integrin and collagen plays a crucial role in the development of pathological conditions, such as thrombus formation and cancer cell metastasis. Accordingly, the α2β1 integrin is a promising target for the development of new drug molecules to treat these diseases. Here, we have designed, synthesized, and measured in vitro a set of novel drug-like compounds that block the protein–protein interactions between α2β1 integrin and collagen. The obtained structure–activity relationship reveals the key features that are required for successful inhibition of this integrin–collagen interaction.
In vitro glucuronidation of 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives in intestine and liver microsomes of Beagle dogs
Beagle dog is a standard animal model for evaluating nonclinical pharmacokinetics of new drug candidates. Glucuronidation in intestine and liver is an important first-pass drug metabolic pathway, especially for phenolic compounds. This study evaluated the glucuronidation characteristics of several 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives in beagle dog's intestine and liver in vitro. To this end, glucuronidation rates of 7-hydroxycoumarin (compound 1), 7-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (2), 6-methoxy-7-hydroxycoumarin (3), 7-hydroxy-3-(4-tolyl)coumarin (4), 3-(4-fluorophenyl)coumarin (5), 7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)coumarin (6), 7-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)coumarin (7), and 7-hydroxy-3-(1H-1,2,4-t…
Structural studies of acyl esters of entacapone
Abstract The crystal structures of entacapone [(E)-2-cyano-N,N-diethyl-3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)propenamide] and three of its acyl esters were solved. Entacapone, and its monopivaloate and diacetate derivatives, exist in the E-form while its dibenzoate derivative adopts the Z-form in the crystalline state. The ethyl substituents of the E-form are not freely rotating, as demonstrated by the broad signals in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra. The rotation barrier for the E-form was defined by the crystal structures, which show that free rotation of the ethyl substituents is blocked by the cyano-group.
(Dimethylformamide)dioxobis(pentane-2,4-dionato)uranium(VI)
The title complex, [UO2(C5H7O2)2(C3H7NO)], was obtained as an unexpected product from our attempts to prepare UIV complexes with imine-type ligands. The title complex was also prepared directly from [UO2(OAc)2]·2H2O, pentane-2,4-dione and DMF. The UVI atom has a pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry and is surrounded by seven O atoms. The bond distances and angles are similar to those found previously in similar structures.
Development of new Coumarin-based profluorescent substrates for human cytochrome P450 enzymes
Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes constitute an essential xenobiotic metabolizing system that regulates the elimination of lipophilic compounds from the body. Convenient and affordable assays for CYP enzymes are important for assessing these metabolic pathways.In this study, 10 novel profluorescent coumarin derivatives with various substitutions at carbons 3, 6 and 7 were developed. Molecular modeling indicated that 3-phenylcoumarin offers an excellent scaffold for the development of selective substrate compounds for various human CYP forms, as they could be metabolized to fluorescent 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives. Oxidation of profluorescent coumarin derivatives to fluorescent metabolites by 1…
Synthesis and thermal behavior of Janus dendrimers, part 1
Abstract Eight Janus-type dendrimers up to the second generation were synthesized, and their thermal properties were evaluated. Compounds consist of the dendritic bisMPA based polyester moieties, and either 3,4-dihexyloxybenzoic acid or 3,4-dihexadecyloxybenzoic acid moieties, attached to opposite sides of the pentaerythritol core. The structures of the molecules were verified with 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, ESI TOF mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The thermal stability was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, displaying onset decomposition temperatures ( T d ) ranging from 241 to 308 °C. Phase transitions were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Based on the performed studie…
Crystal structure and IR spectrum of 1-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-d-mannitol–ethanol (2/1)
Abstract 1- O - α - d -Glucopyranosyl- d -mannitol–ethanol (2/1), (C 12 H 24 O 11 ) 2 –C 2 H 5 OH, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 with unit cell dimensions a =11.4230(8) A, b =9.525(4) A, c =15.854(2) A, β =102.751(7)° and V =1682.4(7) A 3 , Z =2, D x =1.45 Mg m −3 , λ (Mo-K α )=0.71069 A, μ=0.128 mm −1 , F (000)=788 and T =293(2) K. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by least-squares calculations on F 2 to R 1 =0.0371[ I >2 σ ( I )], and 0.0930 (all data, 3542 independent reflections, R int =0.021). There are two molecules of glucopyranosylmannitol (GPM) and one ethanol molecule in the asymmetric unit, and the glucopyranosyl ring adopts a chair conforma…
Synthesis and characterization of chiral azobenzene dye functionalized Janus dendrimers
Abstract Eight bischromophoric bisMPA based polyester Janus dendrimers emanating from a pentaerythritol core were synthesized and their properties evaluated. 4-((4-(Ethyl(2-(2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanoyloxy)ethyl)amino)-phenyl)diazenyl)-benzoic acid and 4-((4-(ethyl(2-(2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanoyloxy)-ethyl)-amino)phenyl)diazenyl)-3-nitrobenzoic acid were attached to the dendritic polyester skeleton to make chiral dendrimers up to the second generation. The structures and the purity of the molecules were verified with 1H NMR, 13C NMR, ESI TOF mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Spectral properties were evaluated with UV–vis and CD spectrometer. The compounds displaye…
A Simple Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Pregabalin
This paper describes a new procedure for the enantioselective synthesis of the important anticonvulsant drug Pregabalin, which shows biological properties as the (S) enantiomer only. The key step of the synthetic sequence is the Michael addition reaction of Meldrum's acid to a nitroalkene mediated by a quinidine derived thiourea. A variety of novel catalysts bearing different groups at the thiourea moiety were synthesized and tested. The most successful catalyst that incorporates a trityl substituent provided up to 75 % ee of (S)-4. The conjugate addition reaction was carried out on a multigram scale with low loadings of catalyst (10 mol-%). Moreover, the catalyst can be recycled showing th…
Structure and characterization of a novel chicken biotin-binding protein A (BBP-A)
Background. The chicken genome contains a BBP-A gene showing similar characteristics to avidin family genes. In a previous study we reported that the BBP-A gene may encode a biotin-binding protein due to the high sequence similarity with chicken avidin, especially at regions encoding residues known to be located at the ligand-binding site of avidin. Results. Here, we expand the repertoire of known macromolecular biotin binders by reporting a novel biotin-binding protein A (BBP-A) from chicken. The BBP-A recombinant protein was expressed using two different expression systems and purified with affinity chromatography, biochemically characterized and two X-ray structures were solved – in comp…