Thioether and Ether Furofuran Lignans: Semisynthesis, Reaction Mechanism, and Inhibitory Effect against α-Glucosidase and Free Radicals.

The transformation of sesame lignans is interesting because the derived products possess enhanced bioactivity and a wide range of potential applications. In this study, the semisynthesis of 28 furofuran lignans using samin (5) as the starting material is described. Our methodology involved the protonation of samin (5) to generate an oxocarbenium ion followed by the attack from two different nucleophiles, namely, thiols (RSH) and alcohols (ROH). The highly diastereoselective thioether and ether furofuran lignans were obtained, and their configurations were confirmed by 2D NMR and X-ray crystallography. The mechanism underlying the reaction was studied by monitoring 1H NMR and computational calculations, that is, the diastereomeric α- and ß-products were equally formed through the SN1-like mechanism, while the ß-product was gradually transformed via an SN2-like mechanism to the α-congener in the late step. Upon evaluation of the inhibitory effect of the synthesized lignans against α-glucosidases and free radicals, the lignans 7f and 7o of the phenolic hydroxyl group were the most potent inhibitors. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying the α-glucosidase inhibition of 7f and 7o were verified to be of a mixed manner and noncompetitive inhibition, respectively. The results indicated that both 7f and 7o possessed promising antidiabetic activity, while simultaneously inhibiting α-glucosidases and free radicals.

New turn-on fluorescent and colorimetric probe for cyanide detection based on BODIPY-salicylaldehyde and its application in cell imaging.

Development of cyanide sensor is important as the anion is harmful to human health and the environment. Herein, a new colorimetric and fluorescent probe GSB based on boron dipyrrole-methene (BODIPY) containing salicylaldehyde group for cyanide detection has been reported. GSB undergoes exclusive colorimetric change from orange to colorless and exhibits selective fluorescence turn-on at 504nm upon the addition of cyanide. Other 13 anions give almost no interference under physiological condition. Detection limit of the new cyanide-sensing GSB is 0.88µM, which is below World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level in drinking water. A calculation by density functional theory (DFT) shows suppression of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism along with the interruption of π-conjugation between salicylaldehyde and BODIPY core by cyanide anion. Cell imaging studies demonstrated that GSB is compatible and capable of sensing cyanide anion in living cells.

Hydration properties determining the reactivity of nitrite in aqueous solution.

The knowledge of the hydration properties of the nitrite ion is key to understanding its reaction mechanism controlled by solvent effects. Here, ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics was performed to obtain the structural and dynamical properties of the hydration shell in an aqueous solution of nitrite ions, elucidated by data analysis using a molecular approach and an extended quantitative analysis of all superimposed trajectories with three-dimensional alignment (density map). The pattern of the power spectra corresponded to the experimental data, indicating the suitability of the Hartree-Fock method coupled with double-ζ plus polarization and diffuse functional basis sets to study this system. The density maps revealed the structure of the hydration shell, that presented a higher density in the N-O bond direction than in the axis vertical to the molecular plane, whereas the atomic and molecular radial distribution functions provided vague information. The number of actual contacts indicated 4.6 water molecules interacting with a nitrite ion, and 1.5 extra water molecules located in the molecular hydration shell, forming a H-bonding network with the bulk water. The mean residence times for the water ligands designated the strength of the hydration spheres for the oxygen sites, whilst the results for the nitrogen sites over-estimated the number of water molecules from other sites and indicated a weak structure. These results show the influence of the water molecules surrounding the nitrite ion creating an anisotropic hydration shell, suggesting that the reactive sites are situated above and below the molecular plane with a lower water density.

Active site of the solvated thiosulfate ion characterized by hydration structures and dynamics.

The reactivity of the terminated sulfur atom within the thiosulfate ion (S2O3(2-)) when it is involved in chemical reactions was investigated through the properties of the molecular hydration shell, obtained from the ab initio quantum mechanical change field molecular dynamics (QMCF MD) simulation. The average geometry indicated the significant effect of explicit water on the reduction of the S-S length, which was reflected in the splitting peaks of the spectrum for the stretching mode of this bond (ν(SS)). A further investigation on a simple model with various theoretical levels exhibited the hydrophobicity of the S-S bond. The evaluation of the molecular coordination number was sensitive to the radii of the atomic hydration spheres, which were obtained from the vague boundaries of the first peak in the atomic radial distribution functions. The number of actual contacts specified 6.8 water molecules interacting with the thiosulfate ion, and 2.4 extra waters located in the molecular hydration shell, forming a H-bonding network with the bulk water. The mean residence times for the water ligands distinguished the asymmetric strength of the hydration shell into a weaker sulfur and three stronger oxygen sites, instigating the terminated sulfur atom as the active site that is involved in chemical reactions.

The stability of bisulfite and sulfonate ions in aqueous solution characterized by hydration structure and dynamics.

The aqueous solutions of bisulfite (SO(3)H(-)) and sulfonate (HSO(3)(-)) were simulated by the ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics (QMCF MD) formalism. All superimposed trajectories for the atomic coordinates of solutes with three-dimensional alignment here illustrated the reactivities of the ions. Power spectra were evaluated on the basis of the velocity autocorrelation functions (VACFs) with the normal-mode analysis, presenting a higher frequency of the symmetric SO(3) deformation (δ(s)(SO(3))) than the asymmetric SO(3) deformation (δ(as)(SO(3))) modes for the sulfonate ion. The different influence of solvent on the frequency of the O-H and S-H stretching suggests a higher stability of hydrated sulfonate ion. The bisulfite shows a slightly stronger molecular hydration shell than the sulfonate ion with the average number of ion-solvent hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) of 5.3 and 5.0, respectively. Extra water molecules within the molecular hydration shell are found for bisulfite (1.2) and for sulfonate (1.6). The mean residence times for the water ligands classify each ion as a structure maker, while the S-H bond within the sulfonate ion displays a hydrophobic behavior. No tautomerization was observed within the simulation period.

Characterization of structure and dynamics of an aqueous scandium(III) ion by an extended ab initio QM/MM molecular dynamics simulation.

Hydration structure and dynamics of an aqueous Sc(III) solution were characterized by means of an extended ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular dynamical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics simulation at Hartree-Fock level. A monocapped trigonal prismatic structure composed of seven water molecules surrounding scandium(III) ion was proposed by the QM/MM simulation including the quantum mechanical effects for the first and second hydration shells. The mean Sc(III)-O bond length of 2.14 Å was identified for six prism water molecules with one capping water located at around 2.26 Å, reproducing well the X-ray diffraction data. The Sc(III)-O stretching frequency of 432 cm(-1) corresponding to a force constant of 130 N m(-1), evaluated from the enlarged QM/MM simulation, is in good agreement with the experimentally determined value of 430 cm(-1) (128 N m(-1)). Various water exchange processes in the second hydration shell of the hydrated Sc(III) ion predict a mean ligand residence time of 7.3 ps.

Paclitaxel delivery using carrier made from curcumin derivative: synergism between carrier and the loaded drug for effective cancer treatment.

To fully make use of the synergism between paclitaxel and curcumin (CUR) in cancer treatment, carrier made from CUR derivative was synthesized and used to deliver paclitaxel into cancer cells. The methoxylpolyethylene oxide-linked palmitate-modified curcumin (mPEO-CUR-PA) was synthesized and the obtained amphiphilic mPEO-CUR-PA molecules were allowed to self-assemble into microspheres. In vitro release of free CUR from mPEO-CUR-PA in the presence of lipase was proofed and the ability of cells to endocytose mPEO-CUR-PA microspheres was verified. Cytotoxic activity of the mPEO-CUR-PA microspheres toward cancer cell lines (S102 and A549) was evaluated and compared with that of the unmodified CUR. Paclitaxel was then loaded into the microspheres and the paclitaxel-loaded mPEO-CUR-PA microspheres showed up to fivefold to 44-fold increased in vitro cytotoxicity (in terms of % cell mortality) in susceptible (HCC-S102 and A549) and paclitaxel-resistant (A549RT-eto) cancer cells, respectively, compared with that of free paclitaxel.

Dynamics and mechanism of structural diffusion in linear hydrogen bond.

Dynamics and mechanism of proton transfer in a protonated hydrogen bond (H-bond) chain were studied, using the CH(3)OH(2)(+)(CH(3)OH)(n) complexes, n = 1-4, as model systems. The present investigations used B3LYP/TZVP calculations and Born-Oppenheimer MD (BOMD) simulations at 350 K to obtain characteristic H-bond structures, energetic and IR spectra of the transferring protons in the gas phase and continuum liquid. The static and dynamic results were compared with the H(3)O(+)(H(2)O)(n) and CH(3)OH(2)(+)(H(2)O)(n) complexes, n = 1-4. It was found that the H-bond chains with n = 1 and 3 represent the most active intermediate states and the CH(3)OH(2)(+)(CH(3)OH)(n) complexes possess the lowest threshold frequency of proton transfer. The IR spectra obtained from BOMD simulations revealed that the thermal energy fluctuation and dynamics help promote proton transfer in the shared-proton structure with n = 3 by lowering the vibrational energy for the interconversion between the oscillatory shuttling and structural diffusion motions, leading to a higher population of the structural diffusion motion than in the shared-proton structure with n = 1. Additional explanation on the previously proposed mechanisms was introduced, with the emphases on the energetic of the transferring proton, the fluctuation of the number of the CH(3)OH molecules in the H-bond chain, and the quasi-dynamic equilibriums between the shared-proton structure (n = 3) and the close-contact structures (n ≥ 4). The latter prohibits proton transfer reaction in the H-bond chain from being concerted, since the rate of the structural diffusion depends upon the lifetime of the shared-proton intermediate state.

Symmetry breaking and hydration structure of carbonate and nitrate in aqueous solutions: a study by ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics.

The ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics (QMCF MD) formalism was applied to simulate carbonate and nitrate anions in aqueous solution. The out-of-plane (ν(2)) spectra obtained from the velocity autocorrelation functions (VACFs) and the torsion angle-time functions indicate that the symmetry of carbonate is reduced from D(3h) to a lower degree by breaking up the molecular plane, whereas the planarity of nitrate anion is retained. The calculated frequencies are in good agreement with the Raman and IR data. Carbonate shows a stronger molecular hydration shell than the nitrate anion with the average molecular coordination numbers of 8.9 and 7.9, respectively. A comparison with the average number of ion-solvent hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) indicates the extra water molecules within the hydration shell of carbonate (∼2) and nitrate (∼3), readily migrating from one coordinating site to another. The mean residence times for water ligands in general classify carbonate and nitrate as moderate and weak structure-making anions, while the specific values for individual sites of nitrate reveal local weak structure-breaking properties.

Determination of structure and dynamics of the solvated bisulfide (HS-) ion by ab initio QMCF molecular dynamics.

The hydration structure of the bisulfide (HS(-)) ion in dilute aqueous solution was characterized by means of an ab initio quantum mechanical charge field (QMCF) molecular dynamics simulation at the Hartree-Fock level employing Dunning double-ζ plus polarization function (DZP) basis sets. An average H-S bond distance of 1.35 Å resulted from the simulation and a hydration shell located at 2.42 Å S(HS(-))···H(w) and 3.97 Å HS(-) distances, respectively. At the sulfur site, the average coordination number is 5.9 ± 1.1, while the value for the hydrogen site is 9.2 ± 1.6. The calculated H(HS(-))-S(HS(-)) stretching frequency of 2752 cm(-1) obtained from the QMCF MD simulation is in good agreement with that reported from the Raman spectrum (2570 cm(-1)) only if a scaling factor of 0.89 is applied. The stability of the nondissociated HS(-) structure is reflected by the force constants of 436.1 and 4.5 N/m determined for the H(HS(-))-S(HS(-)) and H(HS(-))···O(w) bonds, respectively. A weak structure-making effect of the hydrated HS(-) ion results from the mean residence times of 1.5 and 2.1 ps of coordinated water molecules at the sulfur and hydrogen sites of the HS(-) ion, respectively.

RISM-SCF-SEDD study on the symmetry breaking of carbonate and nitrate anions in aqueous solution.

The planarity of carbonate and nitrate anions was investigated in the gas and solution phases by means of the reference interaction site model self-consistent field spatial electron density distribution (RISM-SCF-SEDD) method. The computed optimized geometries and solvation structures are compared with the diffraction data. In the solution phase, the symmetry of carbonate anion is changed from D3h to C3v, whereas the planarity of nitrate anion is still retained. These are fully consistent with experimental knowledge. The classical electrostatic model was also utilized to elucidate the mechanism of the symmetry breaking. It should be emphasized that the symmetry breaking occurs not only by a specific solvent molecule attaching to the ion but by an overall electrostatic interaction between the infinite number of solvent molecules and the ion.

Structural and dynamical properties and vibrational spectra of bisulfate ion in water: a study by Ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics.

The ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics (QMCF MD) formalism was applied to simulate the bisulfate ion, HSO4-, in aqueous solution. The averaged geometry of bisulfate ion supports the separation of six normal modes of the O*-SO3 unit with C3v symmetry from three modes of the OH group in the evaluation of vibrational spectra obtained from the velocity autocorrelation functions (VACFs) with subsequent normal coordinate analyses. The calculated frequencies are in good agreement with the observations in Raman and IR experiments. The difference of the averaged coordination number obtained for the whole molecule (8.0) and the summation over coordinating sites (10.9) indicates some water molecules to be located in the overlapping volumes of individual hydration spheres. The averaged number of hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) during the simulation period (5.8) indicates that some water molecules are situated in the molecular hydration shell with an unsuitable orientation to form a hydrogen bond with the ion. The mean residence time in the surroundings of the bisulfate ion classify it generally as a weak structure-making ion, but the analysis of the individual sites reveals a more complex behavior of them, in particular a strong interaction with a water molecule at the hydrogen site.

Proton transfer reactions and dynamics in CH(3)OH-H(3)O(+)-H(2)O complexes.

Proton transfer reactions and dynamics in hydrated complexes formed from CH(3)OH, H(3)O(+) and H(2)O were studied using theoretical methods. The investigations began with searching for equilibrium structures at low hydration levels using the DFT method, from which active H-bonds in the gas phase and continuum aqueous solution were characterized and analyzed. Based on the asymmetric stretching coordinates (Deltad(DA)), four H-bond complexes were identified as potential transition states, in which the most active unit is represented by an excess proton nearly equally shared between CH(3)OH and H(2)O. These cannot be definitive due to the lack of asymmetric O-H stretching frequencies (nu(OH)) which are spectral signatures of transferring protons. Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations revealed that, when the thermal energy fluctuations and dynamics were included in the model calculations, the spectral signatures at nu(OH) approximately 1000 cm(-1) appeared. In continuum aqueous solution, the H-bond complex with incomplete water coordination at charged species turned out to be the only active transition state. Based on the assumption that the thermal energy fluctuations and dynamics could temporarily break the H-bonds linking the transition state complex and water molecules in the second hydration shell, elementary reactions of proton transfer were proposed. The present study showed that, due to the coupling among various vibrational modes, the discussions on proton transfer reactions cannot be made based solely on static proton transfer potentials. Inclusion of thermal energy fluctuations and dynamics in the model calculations, as in the case of BOMD simulations, together with systematic IR spectral analyses, have been proved to be the most appropriate theoretical approaches.

An ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics simulation of a dilute aqueous HCl solution.

An ab initio quantum mechanical charge field (QMCF) molecular dynamics simulation has been performed to study the structural and dynamical properties of a dilute aqueous HCl solution. The solute molecule HCl and its surrounding water molecules were treated at Hartree-Fock level in conjunction with Dunning double-zeta plus polarization function basis sets. The simulation predicts an average H-Cl bond distance of 1.28 A, which is in good agreement with the experimental value. The H(HCl)...O(w) and Cl(HCl)...H(w) distances of 1.84 and 3.51 A were found for the first hydration shell. At the hydrogen site of HCl, a single water molecule is the most preferred coordination, whereas an average coordination number of 12 water molecules of the full first shell was observed for the chloride site. The hydrogen bonding at the hydrogen site of HCl is weakened by proton transfer reactions and an associated lability of ligand binding. Two proton transfer processes were observed in the QMCF MD simulation, demonstrating acid dissociation of HCl. A weak structure-making/breaking effect of HCl in water is recognized from the mean residence times of 2.1 and 0.8 ps for ligands in the neighborhood of Cl and H sites of HCl, respectively.

Ab initio quantum mechanical charge field study of hydrated bicarbonate ion: structural and dynamical properties.

The ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics (QMCF MD) formalism was applied to simulate the bicarbonate ion, HCO(3)(-), in aqueous solution. The difference in coordination numbers obtained by summation over atoms (6.6) and for the solvent-accessible surface (5.4) indicates the sharing of some water molecules between the individual atomic hydration shells. It also proved the importance to consider the hydration of the chemically different atoms individually for the evaluation of structural and dynamical properties of the ion. The orientation of water molecules in the hydration shell was visualized by the theta-tilt surface plot. The mean residence time in the surroundings of the HCO(3)(-) ion classify it generally as a structure-breaking ion, but the analysis of the individual ion-water hydrogen bonds revealed a more complex behavior of the different coordination sites.

Structural and dynamical properties of hydrogen fluoride in aqueous solution: an ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics simulation.

The novel ab initio quantum mechanical charge field (QMCF) molecular dynamics simulation at the Hartree-Fock level has been employed to investigate hydration structure and dynamics of hydrogen fluoride in aqueous solution. The average H-F bond length of 0.93 A obtained from the QMCF MD simulation is in good agreement with the experimental data. The HHF...Ow distance of 1.62 A was evaluated for the first hydration shell, and 2.00 A was observed for the FHF...Hw distance. The stability of hydrogen bonding is more pronounced in the hydrogen site of hydrogen fluoride, with a single water molecule in this part of the first hydration shell. A wide range of coordination numbers between 3 and 9 with an average value of 5.6 was obtained for the fluorine site. The force constants of 819.1 and 5.9 N/m were obtained for the HHF-FHF and HHF...Ow interactions, respectively, proving the stability of the nondissociated form of hydrogen fluoride in aqueous solution. The mean residence times of 2.1 and 2.5 ps were determined for ligand exchange processes in the neighborhood of fluorine and hydrogen atoms of hydrogen fluoride, respectively, indicating a weak structure-making effect of hydrogen fluoride in water. The corresponding H-bond lifetimes attribute this effect to the H atom site of HF.

Structure and dynamics of sulfate ion in aqueous solution--an ab initio QMCF MD simulation and large angle X-ray scattering study.

The hydrated sulfate ion has been characterized in aqueous solution in structural and dynamic aspects using ab initio quantum mechanical charge field (QMCF) molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and large angle X-ray scattering (LAXS) methods. The LAXS data show an average coordination number of the sulfate ion of up to 12 water molecules bound through hydrogen bonding, while the QMCF MD simulation displays a wide range of coordination numbers between 8 and 14 with an average value of approximately 11. The Os...Ow distance cannot be distinguished from the Ow...Ow distance in the LAXS experiment; the weighted mean O...O distance is 2.880(10) A. In the simulation, the Os...Ow and Ow...Ow distances are found to be very similar, namely, 2.86 and 2.84 A, respectively. The S-Os bond and S...Ow distance have been determined by the LAXS experiment as 1.495(6) and 3.61(2) A, respectively, indicating an average nearly tetrahedral S-Os...Ow angle. The approximately 5% deviations of simulation distances (1.47 and 3.82 A) from the experimental ones can probably be ascribed to the neglect of correlation energy in the quantum mechanical method. The mean residence time of water ligands at O atoms, 2.57 ps, is longer than that in pure water, 1.7 ps, characterizing the sulfate ion as a weak structure maker.

Quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulations of the Tl(III) ion in water.

Classical molecular dynamics (MD) and combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) MD simulations have been performed to investigate the structural and dynamical properties of the Tl(III) ion in water. A six-coordinate hydration structure with a maximum probability of the Tl-O distance at 2.21 A was observed, which is in good agreement with X-ray data. The librational and vibrational spectra of water molecules in the first hydration shell are blue-shifted compared with those of pure liquid water, and the Tl-O stretching force constant was evaluated as 148 Nm(-1). Both structural and dynamical properties show a distortion of the first solvation shell structure. The second shell ligands' mean residence time was determined as 12.8 ps. The Tl(III) ion can be classified as "structure forming" ion; the calculated hydration energy of -986 +/- 9 kcal mol agrees well with the experimental value of -986 kcal mol.

Tl(I)-the strongest structure-breaking metal ion in water? A quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulation study.

Structural and dynamical properties of the Tl(I) ion in dilute aqueous solution have been investigated by ab initio quantum mechanics in combination with molecular mechanics. The first shell plus a part of the second shell were treated by quantum mechanics at Hartree-Fock level, the rest of the system was described by an ab initio constructed potential. The radial distribution functions indicate two different bond lengths (2.79 and 3.16 A) in the first hydration shell, in good agreement with large-angle X-ray scattering and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy results. The average first shell coordination number was found as 5.9, and several other structural parameters such as coordination number distributions, angular distribution functions, and tilt- and theta-angle distributions were evaluated. The ion-ligand vibration spectrum and reorientational times were obtained via velocity auto correlation functions. The Tl-O stretching force constant is very weak with 5.0 N m(-1). During the simulation, numerous water exchange processes took place between first and second hydration shell and between second shell and bulk. The mean ligand residence times for the first and second shell were determined as 1.3 and 1.5 ps, respectively, indicating Tl(I) to be a typical "structure-breaker". The calculated hydration energy of -84 +/- 16 kcal mol(-1) agrees well with the experimental value of -81 kcal mol(-1). All data obtained for structure and dynamics of hydrated Tl(I) characterize this ion as a very special case among all monovalent metal ions, being the most potent "structure-breaker", but at the same time forming a distinct second hydration shell and thus having a far-reaching influence on the solvent structure.