A Molecular Torsion Balance Study: A Nearby Anionic Group Exerts Little Influence on Hydrophobic Interactions between Nonpolar Surfaces.

Polar groups have a solvent ordering effect on water and therefore may affect hydrophobic binding energies for nearby lipophilic surfaces. This would mean that determinations of excess surface free energy association energies require consideration of nearby polar functional groups. This paper reports results of a study to measure this possible effect. It was concluded from the models used here that an anionic polar group nearby a hydrophobic surface has little or no effect on the magnitude of hydrophobic association.

Asymmetric solution-phase mixture aldol reaction using oligomeric ethylene glycol tagged chiral oxazolidinones.

Sorting tags are oligomeric structures that can be used as protecting groups or chiral auxiliaries enabling solution-phase mixture syntheses of multiple tagged compounds in one pot and allowing for facile and predictable chromatographic separation of products at the end of synthetic sequences. Perfluorinated hydrocarbon and oligomeric ethylene glycol (OEG) derivatives are known classes of sorting tags. Herein we describe the preparation of OEGylated chiral oxazolidinones and their use in asymmetric solution-phase mixture aldol reactions. Through the use of such oxazolidinones based on tyrosine four different individually tagged aldol adducts were obtained as a mixture, chromatographically demixed, detagged, and it was shown that these processes gave the desired aldol products in good yield and enantioselectivity.

Synthesis and NMR Analysis of a Conformationally Controlled ß-Turn Mimetic Torsion Balance.

The molecular torsion balance concept was applied to a new conformationally controlled scaffold and synthesized to accurately evaluate pairwise amino acid interactions in an antiparallel ß-sheet motif. The scaffold's core design combines (ortho-tolyl)amide and o,o,o'-trisubstituted biphenyl structural units to provide a geometry better-suited for intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Like the dibenzodiazocine hinge of the traditional torsion balance, the (ortho-tolyl)amide unit offers restricted rotation around an N-aryl bond. The resulting two-state folding model is a powerful template for measuring hydrogen bond stability between two competing sequences. The aim of this study was to improve the alignment between the amino acid sequences attached to the upper and lower aromatic rings in order to promote hydrogen bond formation at the correct distance and antiparallel orientation. Bromine substituents were introduced ortho to the upper side chains and compared to a control to test our hypothesis. Hydrogen bond formation has been identified between the NH amide proton of the upper side chain (proton donor) and glycine acetamide of the lower side chain (proton acceptor).

Rotational isomers of N-methyl-N-arylacetamides and their derived enolates: implications for asymmetric Hartwig oxindole cyclizations.

The rotational preferences of N-(2-bromo-4,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-methyl 2-phenylpropanamide were studied as a model of precursors for Hartwig asymmetric oxindole cyclizations. The atropisomers of this compound were separated by flash chromatography, and then the enantiomers were resolved and the interconversions of the stereocenter and the N-Ar axis were studied. Under thermal conditions, the axis is very stable. Under the basic conditions of the Hartwig cyclization, both the stereocenter and the chiral axis equilibrate via enolate formation. The N-Ar rotation barrier of a 2-phenylacetamide analogue was reduced from 31 kcal mol(-1) in the precursor to 17 kcal mol(-1) in the enolate. Reasons for this dramatic barrier reduction and implications of both N-Ar and amide C-N rotations for Hartwig cyclizations are discussed.

Synthesis of dibenzazepinones by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation of o-(2'-bromophenyl)anilide enolates.

A new approach for the convenient synthesis of dibenzazepinones is reported. The key step is the formation of the seven-membered ring through palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation of an anilide enolate. The reactions were completed in 10 min at 100 °C with moderate to excellent yields. Aminodibenzazepinone 1, the core structure in the γ-secretase inhibitor LY411575, can be prepared in five steps from 2-bromophenylboronic acid and 2-iodoaniline in 60% overall yield. The synthesis reported here compares favorably with presently available approaches to this interesting ring system.

A mild synthesis of unsymmetrical bisalkoxysilanes through catalyzed alcoholysis of hydridosilanes containing C-C multiple bonds and aryl halides.

The synthesis of unsymmetrical bisalkoxysilanes containing unsaturated C-C bonds and alkyl and aryl bromides has been developed. This method is a modification of our previously reported two-step procedure that utilizes readily available catalysts (rhodium acetate dimer and manganese pentacarbonyl bromide) under mild neutral aprotic conditions. Good to moderate yields of the products were obtained in a short period. In this two-step synthesis, unsymmetrical bisalkoxysilanes with groups that can be further functionalized can be prepared effectively without the need to isolate the intermediates.

Benzil-tethered precipitons for controlling solubility: a round-trip energy-transfer mechanism in the isomerization of extended stilbene analogues.

We are investigating photoresponsive molecules called "precipitons" that undergo a solubility change co-incident with isomerization. Isomerization can be induced by light or by catalytic reagents. Previous work demonstrated that covalent attachment of a metal complex, Ru(II)(bpy)3, greatly accelerates photoisomerization and influences the photostationary state. In this paper, we describe precipitons (1,2-biphenylethenes; analogous to stilbenes) that are activated by a covalently attached organic sensitizer (benzil). We find that isomerization of these stilbene analogues is little effected by the presence of benzil in solution but that the intramolecular benzil effect is to increase the rate of isomerization and to significantly change the photostationary state. What is most interesting about these observations is that the precipiton is the primary chromophore in this bichromophoric system (precipiton absorbance is many times greater than benzil absorbance in the 300-400 nm range), yet the neighboring benzil has a significant effect on the rate and the photostationary state. The effect of unattached benzil on the rate was small, about a 24% increase in rate as compared with 4-6-fold changes for an attached benzil. We speculate that the isomerization process occurs by a "round-trip" energy-transfer mechanism. Initial excitation of the precipiton chromophore initiates a sequence that includes (1) formation of the precipiton singlet state, (2) singlet excitation transfer from the precipiton unit to the benzil, (3) benzil-centered intersystem crossing to the localized benzil triplet state, (4) triplet energy transfer from the benzil moiety back to the precipiton, and (5) isomerization.

Total synthesis of a 28-member stereoisomer library of murisolins.

Total syntheses of two 16-member libraries of murisolin isomers are reported. In the first library, fluorous PMB (p-methoxybenzyl) groups encode configurations, and four mixtures of four dihydroxy-tetrahydrofurans are prepared by Shi epoxidation followed (optionally) by Mitsunobu reaction. The mixtures are coupled by Kocienski-Julia reaction with a single hydroxybutenolide followed by hydrogenation. Demixing and detagging provide the 16 pure stereoisomers. In the second synthesis, a single mixture of four fluorous-tagged dihydroxy-tetrahydrofurans is coupled with a four-compound mixture of hydroxybutenolides that bear derivatives of DMB (dimethoxybenzyl) groups with oligoethylene glycol (OEG) units that encode the configurations at C4 and C34. The 16-compound mixture is subjected to hydrogenation, double demixing, and detagging to provide the 16 isomerically pure murisolins. Twelve of these isomers are new, while four match samples from the first library.

Solution-phase parallel synthesis with oligoethylene glycol sorting tags. Preparation of all four stereoisomers of the hydroxybutenolide fragment of murisolin and related acetogenins.

The principles of the oligoethylene glycol (OEG) mixture synthesis are illustrated with the synthesis of all four possible stereoisomers of a hydroxybutenolide fragment common to murisolin and many other acetogenins. Modified dimethoxybenzyl groups with varying numbers of OEG units (-CH2CH2O-) are used to protect alcohols and serve as codes for configurations at two stereocenters. The encoded isomers are carried through several steps in a sequence of mixing prior to the reaction and then demixing during the separation to give individual pure products. A new tagging scheme is introduced in which a stereocenter bearing a hydroxy group is given two different tags. These initially redundant tags then serve to encode the configuration of another (untagged) stereocenter by appropriate pairwise reactions of the tagged precursors. The experimental features (reaction, analysis, separation, and characterization) of OEG mixture synthesis are detailed and are compared to and contrasted with those of fluorous mixture synthesis.

Intramolecularly sensitized precipitons: a model system for application to metal sequestration.

We have investigated light-triggered or catalytically activated precipitation agents and have proposed the name "precipiton" for such molecules or molecular fragments. A phase separation is induced when the precipiton isomerizes to a low-solubility form. In this paper we describe the first intramolecularly activated precipitons. The isomerization process is induced by intramolecular triplet energy transfer from a covalently attached metal complex. As expected, intramolecular sensitization leads to a more rapid isomerization than can be achieved by intermolecular sensitization at accessible concentrations. Two isomeric bichromophoric precipiton species, each containing [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) and 1,2-bis(biphenyl)ethene units covalently linked together by an ether tether, have been synthesized and characterized, and their photochemical properties have been investigated. The rates of photoisomerization of these complexes, [((Z)-1,2-bis(biphenyl)ethene-bpy)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(2) (2Z) and [((E)-1,2-bis(biphenyl)ethene-bpy)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(2) (2E), were compared to those of their untethered analogues, (Z)-1,2-bis(biphenyl)ethene-OTBS (1Z) and (E)-1,2-bis(biphenyl)ethene-OTBS (1E), where ruthenium sensitization occurred through an intermolecular pathway. Upon irradiation with visible light (lambda > or = 400 nm) in degassed solution, 2Z/E and 1Z/E obeyed reversible first-order rate kinetics. The intramolecularly sensitized precipiton 2Z isomerized 250 times faster (k(2Z-->2E) = 1.0 x 10(-3) s(-1) with a 51% neutral density filter) than the intermolecular case 1Z (k(1Z-->1E) = 0.80 x 10(-5) s(-1)). For 1E and 2E, the isomerization rates were k(1E-->1Z) = 11.0 x 10(-5) s(-1) and k(2E-->2Z) = 1.6 x 10(-3) s(-1), respectively. The average Z/E mole ratio at the photostationary state was 62/38 for 2Z/E and 93/7 for 1Z/E. The impetus for this study was our desire to evaluate the possibility of using metal-binding precipitons that would precipitate only upon metal-to-precipiton binding and would be inert to visible light in the absence of metals.

Inhibition of rat liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy and induction of ERK phosphorylation by Cpd 5, a K vitamin-based anticancer compound.

Thioalkyl K vitamin derivatives, like 2-(2-mercaptoethanol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (Cpd 5), have been shown to inhibit both hepatoma cell growth and DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes in vitro. We have here examined the tissue distribution, in vivo tolerance and growth inhibitory effects of a single injected dose of Cpd 5 in rats. Cpd 5 administered i.p. was sufficient to cause a 90% inhibition of the peak in DNA synthesis in rat liver 24 h after two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH). However, DNA synthesis in post-PH, Cpd 5-treated rat livers did occur, but with a delay of 36 h. Dual phosphorylation of ERK2 was induced in rat liver dose-dependently as early as 0.5 h, but gradually returned to almost basal levels by 6 h after Cpd 5 treatment. The MEK1/2 inhibitor PD098059, administered in vivo 1 h prior to Cpd 5 treatment, antagonized both induction of ERK2 phosphorylation and inhibition of DNA synthesis in rat liver. Liver protein lysates post-PH exhibited protein phosphatase activity for phospho-ERK2, which was inhibited by Cpd 5. These results show that induction of ERK2 phosphorylation is likely involved in the mechanism by which Cpd 5 inhibits PH-induced DNA synthesis, probably as a result of its ability to inhibit the activity of ERK phosphatase(s).

Precipiton reagents: precipiton phosphines for solution-phase reductions.

[structure: see text] [structure: see text] [structure: see text] Several Precipiton phosphines were prepared and employed in the Staudinger reaction and in the reduction of secondary ozonides. Both amines and aldehdyes were obtained in good to excellent yields and purities. After use of the phosphine, isomerization and precipitation of the spent phosphorus reagent were induced by exposure to visible light in the presence of erythrosin B, a triplet sensitizer. Products were isolated by simple filtration. The use of the triplet sensitizer has the added advantage of eliminating [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions between trans-Precipitons.

Binding and inhibition of Cdc25 phosphatases by vitamin K analogues.

A synthetic K vitamin analogue, 2-(2-mercaptothenol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone or Cpd 5, was previously found to be a potent inhibitor of cell growth [Nishikawa et al., (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 28304-28310]. The mechanisms of cell growth were hypothesized to include the inactivation of cellular protein tyrosine phosphatases, especially the Cdc25 family [Tamura et al. (2000) Cancer Res. 60, 1317-1325]. In this study, we synthesized PD 49, a new biotin containing Cpd 5 derivative, to search for evidence of direct interaction of these arylating analogues with Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and Cdc25C phosphatases. PD 49 was shown to directly bind to GST-Cdc25A, GST-Cdc25B, their catalytic fragments, and GST-Cdc25C. The binding could be competed with excess glutathione or Cpd 5, and a cysteine-to-serine mutation of the catalytic cysteine abolished binding. This was consistent with an involvement in binding of cysteine in the catalytic domain. This interaction between PD 49 and Cdc25 also occurred in lysates of treated cells. PD 49 also bound to protein phosphatases other than Cdc25. We found that the new analogue also inhibited Hep3B human hepatoma cell growth. This growth inhibition involved ERK1/2 phosphorylation and was inhibited by a MEK antagonist. The results demonstrate a direct interaction and binding between this growth-inhibiting K vitamin derivative with both purified as well as with cellular Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and Cdc25C.

High ionic strength glucose-sensing photonic crystal.

We demonstrate a colorimetric glucose recognition material consisting of a crystalline colloidal array embedded within a polyacrylamide-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel, or a polyacrylamide-15-crown-5 hydrogel, with pendent phenylboronic acid groups. We utilize a new molecular recognition motif, in which boronic acid and PEG (or crown ether) functional groups are prepositioned in a photonic crystal hydrogel, such that glucose self-assembles these functional groups into a supramolecular complex. The formation of the complex results in an increase in the hydrogel cross-linking, which for physiologically relevant glucose concentration blue shifts the photonic crystal diffraction. The visually evident diffraction color shifts across the visible spectral region over physiologically important glucose concentration ranges. These materials respond to glucose at physiological ionic strengths and pH values and are selective in their mode of response for glucose over galactose, mannose, and fructose. Thus, we have developed a new recognition motif for glucose that shows promise for the fabrication of noninvasive or minimally invasive in vivo glucose sensing for patients with diabetes mellitus.

Photonic crystal carbohydrate sensors: low ionic strength sugar sensing.

We developed a carbohydrate sensing material, which consists of a crystalline colloidal array (CCA) incorporated into a polyacrylamide hydrogel (PCCA) with pendent boronic acid groups. The embedded CCA diffracts visible light, and the PCCA diffraction wavelength reports on the hydrogel volume. This boronic acid PCCA responds to species containing vicinal cis diols such as carbohydrates. This PCCA photonic crystal sensing material responds to glucose in low ionic strength aqueous solutions by swelling and red shifting its diffraction as the glucose concentration increases. The hydrogel swelling results from a Donnan potential due to formation of boronate anion; the boronic acid pK(a) decreases upon glucose binding. This sensing material responds to glucose and other sugars at <50 microM concentrations in low ionic strength solutions.

Antitumor and anticarcinogenic actions of Cpd 5: a new class of protein phosphatase inhibitor.

Dual specificity phosphatases (DSP) play an important role in control of the cell cycle and signal transduction. We have synthesized a new class of DSP inhibitors. Cpd 5 or [2-(2-mercaptoethanol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone] is one of the most potent of these. It inhibits DSPs of cells in culture and induces tyrosine phosphorylation of various DSP substrates, including the Cdc25 target Cdks and it potently inhibits cell growth. In this study, we have evaluated Cpd 5 in vivo for its antitumor and growth inhibitory activity on carcinogen-altered foci. Cpd 5 inhibited growth of the transplantable rat hepatoma cell line JM-1 in vitro, with concomitant phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK1/2 but not JNK1/2 or p38. This ERK phosphorylation was associated with growth inhibition, as the ERK phosphorylation inhibitor PD098059 antagonized both ERK phosphorylation and growth inhibition. JM-1 cell lysates were found to contain ERK1/2-specific phosphatase(s) that could be inhibited by Cpd 5 and which are thought to be its major targets. Cpd 5 caused significant inhibition of both intrahepatic and subcutaneous (s.c.) growth of transplanted JM-1 cells in male Fischer F344 rats. The treatment was equally effective whether Cpd 5 was administered either as a single, acute dose or chronically as several lower doses. However, toxicity was much lower with chronic treatment. As in JM-1 cells in vitro, ERK1/2 was phosphorylated when rats in vivo were treated with Cpd 5 and tumor growth inhibition in vivo also was antagonized by treating rats with the ERK1/2 phosphorylation inhibitor PD098059. A single dose of Cpd 5 also inhibited the formation of glutathione S-transferase-pi enzyme-altered cells induced by the hepatocarcinogen N-nitrosodiethylamine. This is the first report of the in vivo activity and growth inhibitory mechanism of a novel class of K vitamin growth inhibitors that have potent tyrosine phosphatase activity.

A Cdc25A antagonizing K vitamin inhibits hepatocyte DNA synthesis in vitro and in vivo.

Thioalkyl containing K vitamin analogs have been shown to be potent inhibitors of hepatoma cell growth and antagonizers of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity. We now show that they inhibit the activity of specific protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) in cell-free conditions in vitro, particularly the dual specificity phosphatase Cdc25A. Using primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes that are in G0/G1 phase until stimulated into DNA synthesis by epidermal growth factor, we found that 2-(2-mercaptoethanol)-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone or Compound 5 (Cpd 5) inhibited hepatocyte DNA synthesis and PTP activity in cell culture and in vivo after a two-thirds partial hepatectomy. We found a selective inhibition of Cdc25A activity in vitro, using both synthetic substrates and authentic cellular substrate, immunoprecipitated phospho-Cdk4. Intact Cpd 5-treated cells had decreased cellular Cdc25A activity and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Cdk4, resulting in decreased phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb). Loss of Cdk4 activity was confirmed using Cdk4 immunoprecipitates from either Cpd 5-treated or untreated cells and measuring its kinase activity using GST-Rb as target. We found a similar order of activity for inhibition of growth and Cdc25A activity using several thiol-containing analogs. Cdc25A inhibitors may thus be useful for defining biochemical pathways involving protein tyrosine phosphorylation that mediate cell growth inhibition.

A photoactivated precipiton for reagent sequestration in solution-phase synthesis.

Precipitons are molecular phase tags for chemical separations. They can be switched from a high-solubility to a low-solubility state to facilitate product, reagent, or catalyst isolation. This paper presents the first photoactivated precipiton and demonstrates that this precipiton is an efficient amine scavenging agent in solution-phase syntheses of amides, ureas, and imines. This approach to amine scavenging offers advantages over solid-phase scavenging methods. The amine is captured in a homogeneous medium, so the capture is much faster than seen with isocyanate resins, and only a small excess of the scavenger is required.