Experimental and Theoretical Predictors for Redox Potentials of Bispyridinylidene Electron Donors.

Bispyridinylidenes are neutral organic molecules capable of two-electron oxidation at a range of redox potentials that are widely tunable by choice of substituent, making them attractive as homogeneous organic reductants and active materials in redox flow batteries. In an effort to readily predict the redox potentials of this important class of compounds, we have developed correlations between the experimental redox potentials and both experimental and theoretical predictors. On the experimental side, we show that multinuclear NMR chemical shifts of related pyridinium ions correlate well with the redox potentials of bispyridinylidenes, with R2 and standard errors (S) reaching 0.9810 and 0.048 V, respectively, when the 13C (N-CH3) and 1H (ortho) chemical shifts are used together. Theoretical studies of the bispyridinylidenes and their doubly oxidized bipyridinium ions gave a range of predictively valuable equations at various levels of computational cost. This ranged from a simple model using only the EHOMO of the bispyridinylidenes (R2=0.9689; S=0.060 V), to a more computationally intensive model which include solvation effects for both redox states which gave the highest predictive value for all methods (R2=0.9958; S=0.022 V). This work will guide further studies of this important class of molecules.

Evidence for Cardiac Glycosides in Foliage of Colorado Potato Beetle-Resistant Solanum okadae.

Leptinotarsa decemlineata, the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), is a herbivore that primarily feeds on Solanum foliage and is a global pest of the potato agricultural industry. Potato breeding through cross-hybridization with CPB-resistant wild relatives is used for genetic improvement. The wild species Solanum okadae was demonstrated to deter CPB feeding in choice and no choice feeding assays. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for comparative metabolite profiling between S. okadae and CPB-susceptible domesticated potato variety, Solanum tuberosum cv. Shepody. Major foliar metabolites detected were steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) with tomatine and dehydrotomatine produced in S. okadae and solanine and chaconine in S. tuberosum cv. Shepody. Cardiac glycosides were also detected in the foliar metabolite profile of S. okadae but not S. tuberosum cv. Shepody. This class of plant compounds have known insecticidal activity through inhibition of animal Na+/K+ ATPase. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) separation of foliar extracts also provided evidence for cardiac glycosides in S. okadae. Cardiac glycosides are known inhibitors of Na+/K+ ATPase, and foliar extracts from S. okadae (OKA15), but not S. tuberosum cv. Shepody, were able to inhibit the Na+/K+ ATPase of CPB. These findings suggest a novel mechanism of plant resistance against CPB involving production of cardiac glycosides in S. okadae.

A strong organic electron donor incorporating highly π-donating triphenylphosphonium ylidyl substituents.

The π-electron donor strength of a triphenylphosphonium ylidyl group (Ph3P[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-) was explored through its substitution onto a bispyridinylidene (BPY) scaffold. Electrochemical studies revealed that the new triphenylphosphonium ylidyl-substituted BPY is the most reducing di-substituted derivative reported to date (E1/2 = -1.55 V vs. SCE). By using a previously established correlation between the redox potential of the substituted BPYs and the corresponding substituent, a Hammett constant for the Ph3P[double bond, length as m-dash]CH- group was determined (σp+ = -2.33), establishing it as the most donating neutral substituent currently quantified. The BPY is readily oxidized by hexachloroethane to produce the corresponding dicationic bipyridinium salt as a mixture of isomers owing to hindered Cylidyl-Cpyridyl bond rotation. In preliminary tests of the BPY as a reductant, dichlorotricyclohexylphosphorane and chlorodiphenylphosphine were reduced to the corresponding phosphine and diphosphine, respectively.

Robust, Highly Luminescent Au13 Superatoms Protected by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes.

Gold superatom nanoclusters stabilized entirely by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and halides are reported. The reduction of well-defined NHC-Au-Cl complexes produces clusters comprised of an icosahedral Au13 core surrounded by a symmetrical arrangement of nine NHCs and three chlorides. X-ray crystallography shows that the clusters are characterized by multiple CH-π and π-π interactions, which rigidify the ligand and likely contribute to the exceptionally high photoluminescent quantum yields observed, up to 16.0%, which is significantly greater than that of the most luminescent ligand-protected Au13 superatom cluster. Density functional theory analysis suggests that clusters are 8-electron superatoms with a wide HOMO-LUMO energy gap of 2 eV. Consistent with this, the clusters have high stability relative to phosphine stabilized clusters.

Dibenz[b,f]oxepin and Antimycobacterial Chalcone Constituents of Empetrum nigrum.

Two new dibenz[b,f]oxepins, empetroxepins A and B (1 and 2), and seven known compounds (3-9) were isolated from an extract of the Canadian medicinal plant Empetrum nigrum that significantly inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra. The structures of 1 and 2 were established through analysis of NMR and MS data. The antimycobacterial activity of the plant extract was attributed primarily to the presence of two chalcone derivatives (6 and 7) that exhibited selective antimycobacterial activity (IC50 values of 23.8 and 32.8 µM, respectively) in comparison to mammalian (HEK 293) cells (IC50 values of 109 and 249 µM, respectively).

Isolation of (-)-avenaciolide as the antifungal and antimycobacterial constituent of a Seimatosporium sp. Endophyte from the medicinal plant Hypericum perforatum .

An extract of Seimatosporium sp., an endophyte from the Canadian medicinal plant Hypericum perforatum, exhibited significant antifungal and antimycobacterial activity against Candida albicans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra. Bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of (-)-avenaciolide as the only bioactive constituent of the extract. This is the first report of both the antimycobacterial activity of avenaciolide and its isolation from a Seimatosporium sp. fungus.

Comparative metabolite profiling of Solanum tuberosum against six wild Solanum species with Colorado potato beetle resistance.

The Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (CPB) is a coleopteran herbivore that feeds on the foliage on Solanum species, in particular, potato. Six resistant wild Solanum species were identified, and two of these species had low levels of glycoalkaloids. Comparative analysis of the untargeted metabolite profiles of the foliage using UPLC-qTOF-MS was done to find metabolites shared between the wild species but not with Solanum tuberosum (L.) to identify resistance-related metabolites. It was found that only S. tuberosum produced the triose glycoalkaloids solanine and chaconine. Instead, the six wild species produced glycoalkaloids that shared in common tetrose sugar side chains. Additionally, there were non-glycoalkaloid metabolites associated with resistance including hydroxycoumarin and a phenylpropanoid, which were produced in all wild species but not in S. tuberosum.

Complete (1) H and (13) C NMR spectral assignments for the glycoalkaloid dehydrocommersonine.

The normal levels and types of glycoalkaloids found in commercial varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum) appear to present no hazard to human health. However when wild Solanum species are used in breeding endeavors, new and untested glycoalkaloids may be introduced. Recent studies of domestic crosses with a wild Solanum oplocense accession indicated that the levels of a non-indigenous glycoalkaloid appeared associated with reduced defoliation by the Colorado potato beetle. The non-indigenous glycoalkaloid was isolated from foliage of the wild S. oplocense accession and unambiguously characterized by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and NM analysis as the glycoalkaloid dehydrocommersonine.

Thermal desorption of hydrogen from ammonia borane: unexpected role of homopolar B-H···H-B interactions.

The solid-state structure of ammonia borane is held together by an intricate N-H···H-B proton-hydride bonding network. These intermolecular interactions have long been considered to mediate the release of hydrogen from this material. Here we reveal the silent but important role played by B-H···H-B interactions in the thermal decomposition of this leading hydrogen storage candidate.

A feruloyltyramine trimer isolated from potato common scab lesions.

(1)H NMR analysis established that a potential suberin intermediate isolated from potato common scab lesions contained three O-methyl groups, a phenylcoumaran-type linkage and a conjugated trans double bond. Mass spectral data determined its molecular formula as indicative of a dehydrotrimer structure formed from three feruloyltyramine units. (1)H and (13)C NMR correlation studies supported the structure as that of a grossamide unit (3) linked through its double bond to the feruloyl phenolic of a third feruloyltyramine group. Identification of the feruloyltyramine trimer (4) expands the number of cross-linked intermediates potentially involved in the suberization process and highlights the presence of a second type of inter-unit linkage available for synthesis of the poly-phenolic domains.

The thaxtomin phytotoxins: sources, synthesis, biosynthesis, biotransformation and biological activity.

Thaxtomin phytotoxins, first reported in 1989, are cyclic dipeptides (2,5-diketopiperazines) formed from the condensation of 4-nitrotrytophan and phenylalanine groups. Inclusion of a 4-nitroindole moiety that is an essential requirement for their phytotoxicity makes them unique amongst microbial generated metabolites. Individual thaxtomins differ only in the presence or absence of N-methyl and hydroxyl groups and their respective substitution sites. The name "thaxtomin" was assigned to these compounds in honor of the eminent American phytopathologist Roland Thaxter who first described the nature of the microorganisms responsible for their production. The great interest in the thaxtomins derives mainly from their established roles as virulence factors in the common scab of potato disease and their apparent ability to inhibit cellulose synthesis in developing plant cells. Surveys of comparable scab-inducing organisms from potato producing regions throughout the world have confirmed the generality of the phytotoxin associated process. Descriptions of the isolation, chemical structure determination, total synthesis, biosynthesis, transformation by microorganisms and biological activity of the thaxtomins are comprehensively reviewed.

Synthesis and NMR characteristics of N-acetyl-4-nitro, N-acetyl-5-nitro, N-acetyl-6-nitro and N-acetyl-7-nitrotryptophan methyl esters.

N-acetyl-4-nitrotryptophan methyl ester (2), N-acetyl-5-nitrotryptophan methyl ester (3), N-acetyl-6-nitrotryptophan methyl ester (4) and N-acetyl-7-nitrotryptophan methyl ester (5) were synthesized through a modified malonic ester reaction of the appropriate nitrogramine analogs followed by methylation with BF(3)-methanol. Assignments of the (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts were made using a combination of (1)H-(1)H COSY, (1)H-(13)C HETCOR and (1)H-(13)C selective INEPT experiments.

Characterization of cross-linked hydroxycinnamic acid amides isolated from potato common scab lesions.

Four feruloyl amides, N-trans-feruloyloctopamine (1), N-cis-feruloyloctopamine (2), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (3), N-cis-feruloyltyramine (4), a cross-linked N-trans-feruloyltyramine dimer (5), and a cross-linked N-cis-feruloyltyramine dimer (6) were isolated from potato common scab lesions. The compounds were purified by TLC and characterized by a combination of (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic techniques. The presence of an accompanying minor complex of cross-linked dimers containing both feruloyltyramines and feruloyloctopamines was also demonstrated. This is the first characterization of cross-linked hydroxycinnamic acid amides associated with wound healing in potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers.

Biotransformation of the Streptomyces scabies phytotoxin thaxtomin A by the fungus Aspergillus niger.

Of several hundred microorganisms randomly selected from the environment, only a fungal isolate identified as Aspergillus niger van Tiegham var. niger was found to transform the phytotoxin thaxtomin A to much less toxic metabolites. The rate and extent of transformation of thaxtomin A was tested under a variety of conditions, including different growth media, biomass concentrations, incubation periods, and shaker speeds. Under optimum conditions the fungus converted thaxtomin A into two major and five minor metabolites. The two major metabolites and three of the five minor metabolites were fully characterized by a combination of mass spectral and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. When assayed on aseptically produced mini-tubers, the major metabolites proved to be much less phytotoxic than thaxtomin A.

More chemistry of the thaxtomin phytotoxins.

Chemical and biochemical studies indicated the possible involvement of N-acetyltryptophan and 4-nitrotryptophan as intermediates in biosynthesis of the thaxtomin phytotoxins. A search for other potential pathways indirectly resulted in the identification of three unusual thaxtomin analogues derived from the o-thaxtomin A isomer. Investigations to resolve the identity of a previously described thaxtomin A di-glucoside were not supportive of the proposed structure.