Bibliothek

Notizen: Abstract  Recent developments in the field of endocrine cell biology and pathology at both morphological and molecular levels are briefly outlined and discussed as a basis for endocrine tumor characterization. The main tools available for identifying the endocrine nature of the tumors, their pathogenetic interpretation, and experimental reproduction with special emphasis on tumor antecedents are reported. Based on this, classifications of endocrine tumors of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract are developed, covering most clinical (hyperfunctional syndromes included), pathological, and biological patterns, with special emphasis on tumor prognosis.

Notizen: Zusammenfassung Das klinische Bild des Kollodiumbabys wird durch verschiedene Verhornungsstörungen hervorgerufen; in der Regel entwickelt sich später eine lamelläre Ichthyose. Eine Selbstheilung wird in bis zu 10% der Fälle beobachtet. Wir berichten über ein männliches Reifgeborenes, welches bei der Geburt vollständig in eine glänzende, kollodiumähnliche Membran gehüllt war. Weiterhin fanden sich ektropionierte Augenlider und evertierte Lippen. In den ersten Lebenswochen löste sich die Membran gänzlich ab und bis zum Alter von 3 Monaten war die Haut des Patienten weitgehend erscheinungsfrei. Die elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung einer am 20. Lebenstag entnommenen Hautbiopsie zeigte bei unserem Patienten keinen auf eine lamelläre Ichthyose oder eine andere Verhornungsstörung hinweisenden Strukturdefekt der Keratinozyten. Es fanden sich lediglich unspezifische Veränderungen im Sinn einer Abräumreaktion. Diskussion: Unter Berücksichtigung der Literatur läßt sich folgern, daß das klinische Bild eines Kollodiumbabys keine Rückschlüsse auf den weiteren Verlauf zuläßt. Dagegen kann die Elektronenmikroskopie prognostisch richtungsweisende Aussagen beim ätiologisch heterogenen Erscheinungsbild des Kollodiumbabys erlauben.

Notizen: Abstract Biofilms form on all implanted foreign materials. In venous access ports (VAPs), the biofilm with entrapped organisms may be the source of recurring bacteraemia. At present, little is known of the development of biofilms in VAPs. In this study light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the evolution of biofilms in VAPs implanted in 15 African children with Wilms' tumour. The VAPs were removed either emergently because of infection (n = 6) or blockage (n = 3), or electively at the end of chemotherapy (n = 6). Intact biofilms were obtained from lengths of the catheter attached to ports that had been in place for 11 days to 3 years. Each was prepared for light and electron microscopy. In infected ports, shortly after implantation biofilms were thin and comprised of apparently healthy erythrocytes (RBCs) and occasional platelets, leucocytes (WBCs), and bacteria enmeshed in a network of fibrin. Three weeks after implantation, RBCs had autolysed and large numbers of WBCs and bacterial colonies were present within and on the luminal surface. In 1 instance, the lumen of a VAP had been occluded by a “plug” of WBCs. In non-infected patients, the biofilms in long-standing VAPs were of varying thickness and primarily composed of an amorphous granular material. In most cases, healthy and necrotic bacteria were present both within the core and on the surface of the biofilms. The results suggest that while bacteria, per se, are an important factor, the presence and degradation of blood components may be an equally important factor in the development of biofilms in VAP catheters.

Notizen: Abstract  We report the first case of an extranodal follicular dendritic cell (FDC) tumour localized in the nasopharynx of a 44-year-old male patient. The tumour cells were characterized immunohistochemically by strong expression of CD21, HLA-DR and vimentin and focal expression of CD68 and cytokeratin. Electron microscopic examination revealed desmosomal cell junctions between adjacent cell processes. Molecular genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed germline configuration of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes were detectable by PCR. After complete surgical tumour removal and radiotherapy the patient is disease-free 20 months after the initial diagnosis.

Notizen: Abstract  Although pruritus is the cardinal symptom of atopic dermatitis, its mechanism is not well understood. Free nerve endings in the skin are involved in pruritus as itching receptors. We studied the cutaneous nerve fibres in lichenified lesions of 16 patients with adult atopic dermatitis. On immunohistochemistry, fibres immunoreactive for neurofilament, neuron-specific enolase, and protein gene product 9.5 were observed in the papillary dermis and dermoepidermal junctions as well as in the epidermis. In these areas, no fibres stained positively for substance P, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal peptide, beta endorphin, somatostatin or serotonin. On electron microscopy, the ultrastructure of subepidermal and intraepidermal free nerve endings appeared to be essentially normal. However, the distribution density of the cutaneous nerve fibres was much higher than in normal controls, and the diameter of these fibres was much larger, because of the large number of axons in each nerve fibre. Degranulation of mast cells was not seen. These findings suggest that pruritus in lichenified atopic skin is probably not caused by damage to the cutaneous free nerve endings. In such lesions, the number of the cutaneous free nerve endings is greatly increased, but they may have a normal function.

Notizen: Abstract  Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced apoptosis is associated with several nuclear and cell surface alterations, in particular with the condensation of chromatin and the fragmentation of the cell nucleus, formation of blebs on the cell surface and breakdown of the plasma membrane. However, there is little information about the relationship between the cell surface alterations and the nuclear changes during apoptosis. To study this, cultured WEHI cells were exposed to TNF-α over different time periods. The cytological changes were studied using a correlative approach, which allowed observation of the same cell consecutively under light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The earliest sign of cell alteration was a reduction of the number of microvilli after 15 min of TNF-α exposure. This reaction was reversible (reappearance of microvilli) and took place during the first hour, in which neither nuclear alterations nor plasma membrane breakdown were observed. The changes in the nucleus began with condensation of chromatin after approximately 1 h of TNF-α-exposure. After 4–5 h the microvilli disappeared again, particularly in areas where the formation of blebs (blebbing) was observed. Strikingly, cell surface alterations (bleb formation) were detected only in those cells that presented with condensed chromatin, and not in cells with a normal chromatin pattern, proving at least a close correlation between nuclear and cell surface changes during the process of apoptosis.

Notizen: Abstract In almost all of the earlier reported cases of Kufs’ disease, the adult form of ceroid lipofuscinosis, the diagnosis was ascertained by cerebral tissue examination, while peripheral biopsy examination revealed an apparent poor diffusion of specific lipofuscinic deposits, the finger print profiles (FPs). We report the ultrastructural data from skin, muscle and rectal biopsy specimens from two siblings, both still living, who present clinical features of Kufs’ disease. We observed the presence of FPs in locations that differ from the previous classic reports. Our results emphasize the value of extracerebral biopsies for the diagnosis of Kufs’ disease in vivo, and suggest some physiopathological assumptions based on vascular wall involvement.

Notizen: Abstract  Guanylin, structurally related to the heat-stable enterotoxin of E. coli, is a 15-amino-acid peptide isolated from rat small intestine. We investigated the morphological effects of an intravenous injection of rat and human guanylin upon the rat intestine. Various doses of rat guanylin were injected intravenously in anesthetized rats. After 5, 10 and 30 min, rats were killed by intracardiac perfusion with aldehyde fixative, and specimens of the intestine were then prepared for light and electron microscopy. Intravenously injected rat guanylin rapidly induced mucus secretion from crypt goblet cells in the duodenum. About half of the crypt goblet cells secreted mucous granules by compound exocytosis within 5 min. The villus goblet cells, in contrast, were not sensitive to guanylin. Goblet cells in the jejunum were less responsive than those in the duodenum. This secretory response was rare in the ileum and colon. Human guanylin produced similar results. The mucus secretion induced by guanylin was inhibited by a prior-injection of atropine, but not hexamethonium. Moreover, guanylin induced intense edema in the mucosa and submucosa of the small intestine 5 min after the injection, which disappeared after 30 min. A prior-injection of atropine did not block the appearance of edema. In conclusion, the intravenous injection of guanylin induces two phenomena related to water movement: (1) compound exocytosis of mucous granules from crypt goblet cells in the rat duodenum and jejunum; (2) perineural, inter-epithelial and intra-epithelial edema in the rat small intestine.

Notizen: Abstract Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that causes long-term secondary complications such as neuropathy. The occurrence of diabetic neuropathy has generally been thought of as being associated with hyperglycaemia. However, in a previous light microscopic examination of plantar nerves in diabetic BB/Wor rats treated with insulin implants we found that eu-/hyperglycaemic rats present a normal picture, whereas eu-/hypoglycaemic rats show severe changes. The aim of the present work is to supplement our previous light microscopic report with electron microsocpic data from the lateral plantar nerve of normal, eu-/hyperglycaemic and eu-/hypoglycaemic BB/Wor rats. Under the electron microscope lateral plantar nerves collected from eu-/hyperglycaemic rats presented a qualitatively normal picture. In addition, the fibre numbers and the size distribution of the myelinated fibres were normal. In contrast, specimens from eu-/hypoglycaemic BB/Wor rats showed severe qualitative changes, interpreted as signs of axonal de- and regeneration. The total number of axons was somewhat subnormal and the sizes of the myelinated fibres were strongly shifted towards smaller diameters. These data confirm our previous light microscopic observations. We conclude that eu-/hypoglycaemic BB/Wor rats treated with insulin implants, but not similarly treated eu-/hyperglycaemic animals, develop a neuropathy in their plantar nerves.

Notizen: Abstract Human spinocerebellar degeneration is one of the intractable diseases. We studied the detailed neuropathology of cats with hereditary cerebellar degeneration obtained from the experimental breeding. The findings included almost total loss of Purkinje cells with an increase in Bergmann’s glia in the cerebellar hemisphere, preservation of some Purkinje cells in the vermis and moderate neuronal depletion of the olive nucleus. Cerebellar and pontine nuclei were normal. The cerebrum and spinal cord as well as the peripheral nervous system appeared normal. Electron microscopic examination revealed swelling of the distal dendrites of Purkinje cells in the less-affected nodule of the vermis, and clusters of presynaptic boutons without any synaptic contact in the severely affected folia where Purkinje cell bodies and dendrites disappeared. Prolonged existence of presynapses in the molecular and Purkinje cell layers was confirmed by positive immunoreactivity to anti-synaptophysin. Quantitative analysis using electron microscopy demonstrated an apparent increase in the density and mean size of presynapses in the molecular layer of the severely affected folia. These findings indicate that degeneration of Purkinje cells started at the most distal part of the dendrite in this animal model of cerebellar degeneration, and that presynapses, axon terminals of the granular cells and basket cells can exist for a long time even after complete degeneration of the Purkinje cells. Further investigation of this novel animal model may promote a better understanding of pathogenesis of human hereditary cerebellar degeneration.

Notizen: Abstract  The innervation of the knee joint synovial membrane of the guinea pig, i.e., the synoviocyte layer, the subjacent connective tissue and the connective tissue region beneath, was analyzed with immunohistofluorescence and electron microscopy. A screening of the innervation with antibodies against the general axon marker – protein gene product (PGP) 9,5 – revealed the presence of nerve fibers distributed in various regions of the knee joint synovial membrane. Confirmating previous studies, some of these nerve fibers stained with antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). In addition, dynorphin (DYN)-containing fibers were detected, which have not been reported previously in normal joints. In general, the immunoreactive fibers were observed close to the synoviocytes and at blood vessels. Fibers with colocalization of NPY- and TH-like immunoreactivities (LIs), as well as of DYN- and TH-LIs were demonstrated. In the electron microscope, bundles of unmyelinated fibers as well as single fibers were found in the connective tissue region below the synoviocytes. Varicose parts of the nerve fibers contained mainly small, clear vesicles. Small and large dense-cored vesicles were also seen, but less frequently. Denser portions of the plasma membranes of some axons were observed in these regions, facing the extracellular space. Myelinated fibers were also observed in some nerve bundles. These findings emphasize the complex innervation of the synovial membrane, with nerve fibers containing a host of neuroactive substances. Altogether, these fibers are probably involved in many functions such as vasoregulation and control of synovial secretion in addition to being a source of mediators in joint inflammation.

Notizen: Abstract  Specimens of human cerebral cortex were obtained during neurosurgical operations and studied by immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy, using antibodies to the metabotropic glutamate receptor subunit mGluR1a and the ionotropic glutamate receptor GluR2/3. A small number of non-pyramidal neuronal cell bodies were labelled for mGluR1a. Double immunolabelling with mGluR1a and GluR2/3 showed that most pyramidal cell bodies were labelled for GluR2/3 but not for mGluR1a. Despite the non-colocalisation of these two receptor subtypes in cell bodies, however, many dendrites and dendritic spines were double-labelled for mGluR1a and GluR2/3 at electron microscopy. As there is evidence that most neurons positive for GluR2/3 are pyramidal cells, this suggests that mGluR1a is present in dendrites of pyramidal neurons, despite absent or low levels of immunoreactivity in their cell bodies.

Notizen: Abstract The aim of this electron-microscopic study was to analyze the distribution of synaptic contacts on the cell bodies and dendrites of permanently axotomized adult cat spinal α-motoneurons. Following transection and ligation of the medial gastrocnemius nerve, the synaptic covering of the cell bodies and three different dendritic compartments of homonymous α-motoneurons was analyzed quantitatively at 3, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively. The synaptic boutons were classified according to their size and the shape of their synaptic vesicles. On the soma, a transient increase in the number of boutons was noted at 3 weeks and 6 weeks postoperatively, while after 12 weeks the bouton number had decreased to half of its normal value. The transient increase was mainly due to an increase in the number of F-type boutons. At 12 weeks postoperatively, the synaptic covering was reduced by 83% on the soma and by 57% on the proximal dendrites. In the distal dendritic regions, the values for synaptic covering remained largely unchanged. In summary, axotomized motoneurons exhibit a reduction in synaptic covering which is maximal on the cell body and becomes less pronounced centrifugally along the dendrites. However, if also taking into account the loss of distal dendritic branches that occurs in axotomized motoneurons, the total loss of boutons is several times larger in the dendrites than on the soma.

Notizen: Abstract The morphological and physical characteristics of the capsule of Vibrio cholerae O139 were examined. An electron microscopic study using the freeze-substitution technique showed that all of the V. cholerae strains of the O139 serogroup examined have a very thin fibrous layer on the outside of the outer membrane. In contrast, the mutants of strain O139, strain MO10T4 (which lacks capsule synthesis), and strain Bengal-2R1 (which fails to synthesize both the capsule and the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide) were all found to have lost the surface layer. In addition, the capsule layer could also not be observed on the surface of V. cholerae strain O1. To determine the biological characteristics of the capsule of strains of the O139 serogroup, we investigated the serum killing activity and bacterial phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The O139 strains were more resistant to the serum killing activity than were the V. cholerae O1 strain and the O139 mutant strains, thus suggesting that the existence of the capsule gave a serum-resistant character to the O139 strains. The surface character of the O139 strains had the same hydrophobic character as did that of the O139 mutant strains and the O1 strain. In addition, all the V. cholerae O1 and O139 strains examined, including the mutant strains, were effectively ingested by the human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The number of ingested bacteria was not significantly different among the strains, and the ingestion of the acapsular O139 mutants thus showed that the capsule does not play an antiphagocytic role. These data suggest that the capsule of V. cholerae O139 has a physiological function different from that of the ordinal hydrophilic capsule that is found in invasive bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Notizen: Abstract Natural enrichments of magnetic bacteria from the Itaipu lagoon near Rio de Janeiro were dominated by coccoid-to-ovoid morphotypes that produced unusually large magnetosomes. To determine the phylogenetic position of these unusual microorganisms, 16S rRNA genes were retrieved from bacteria magnetically separated from sediment of the Itaipu lagoon by in vitro amplification and cloning of PCR products into a plasmid vector. Partial sequencing of the obtained clones revealed two clusters of closely related sequences affiliated to a distinct lineage consisting exclusively of magnetic bacteria within the α-subclass of Proteobacteria. For a detailed phylogenetic analysis, several almost complete sequences of the 16S rRNA genes were determined. One representative clone of each cluster provided a PCR template for the in vitro transcription of group-specific polynucleotide probes complementary to a variable region of the 16S rRNA molecule. At least three different morphotypes of magnetic bacteria were reliably identified by post-embedding hybridization of ultra-thin sections. Electron microscopic analyses of hybridized cells enabled for the first time a detailed description of the morphological variety and ultrastructure of phylogenetically identified, uncultured magnetic bacteria. Two distinct coccoid bacteria were identified by the transcript probe complementary to the 16S rRNA sequence mabrj12, whereas the probe complementary to the sequence mabrj58 allowed the identification of an ovoid morphotype that displayed magnetosomes with the largest volumes observed to date.

Notizen: Abstract DNA bound on clay minerals, sand, and humic acids has been shown, both in vitro and in situ, to be capable of transforming bacteria and to resist degradation by nucleases, which could result in the crypticity of genes in soil and other natural habitats. To determine where DNA is bound on clay minerals, which may help to explain how bound DNA becomes resistant to degradation by nucleases but retains the ability to transform competent cells, chromosomal DNA from Bacillus subtilis bound on montmorillonite (M) and kaolinite (K) was examined by X-ray diffractometry and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the basal spacings of M and K were not altered, indicating that this DNA did not significantly intercalate the clays. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed that the binding of this DNA was primarily on the edges of M and K, although some binding was also apparent on the planar surfaces. Based on the results of these studies, it is postulated that: 1.extension from the edges of the clays enables the unbound end of DNA to interact with receptor sites on competent cells and result in their transformation; and 2.binding on clays alters the electron distribution and/or conformation of DNA, which reduces its hydrolysis by nucleases.

Notizen: Abstract  In transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), such as scrapie in animals and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, the central event is the conversion of a host-encoded amyloidogenic protein (PrPc) into an abnormal isoform (PrPsc) that accumulates as amyloid in TSE brain. PrPc is a membrane sialoglycoprotein synthesized in the central nervous system and elsewhere. We have examined the ultrastructural localization of PrPc in numerous hamster and some human extracerebral tissues, by means of a post-embedding electron-microscopic method combined with immunogold labeling. In stomach, intestine, lung, and kidney from hamsters, and in stomach, kidney, and spleen from humans, immunogold labeling specific for PrPc is observed on various cellular substructures related to secretory pathways: Golgi apparatus, secretory globules, and plasma membrane. In mucous epithelial cells of stomach and intestine, PrPc appears to be concentrated in secretory globules, suggesting a role for PrPc in the secretory function of the digestive tract. The secretory aspect of PrPc may be a key to understanding the physiopathological mechanisms underlying TSE.

Notizen: Abstract  The evidence for vesicular transport as a mechanism for secretion by human basophils is reviewed. Initially, direct electron-microscopic inspection of experimentally produced and sequentially biopsied contact allergy skin lesions revealed a unique form of secretion termed piecemeal degranulation, characterized by the slow emptying of secretory granule contents (with retention of empty containers) in the absence of extrusion of entire granules. Budding of small vesicles to/from secretory granules was observed, and cytoplasmic vesicles were abundant. A generalized degranulation model was proposed to unify classical regulated secretion and this new form of secretion. Investigation of the mechanism(s) of secretion from human basophils required the development of numerous tools and resources. Chief among these were: (a) isolation and purification of circulating basophils; (b) identification of specific growth factors to increase the supply of this rare granulocyte; (c) understanding of secretogogue mechanisms and reliable analyses of secreted basophil products; and (d) development of ultrastructural preparations allowing imaging of small vesicles and quantifiable small electron-dense tags for granule materials in small vesicles. Applications of these tools to well-defined models of basophil secretion have established a role for vesicles as a mechanism for effecting secretion of histamine and the Charcot-Leyden crystal protein from activated human basophils.

Notizen: Abstract Specific populations of hepatic sinusoidal cells were stained with monoclonal antibodies that recognize monocytes/macrophages (ED1), tissue macrophages (Kupffer cells) (ED2), MHC class II (Ia) antigen (MRC OX6), and dendritic cells/γ,δ T-cells (MRC OX62) and analyzed by light and electron microscopy. The majority of ED1+ and/or ED2+ cells were localized to the hepatic parenchyma, whereas OX6+ and/or OX62+ cells were more densely distributed within Glisson’s sheath than in the hepatic parenchyma. Double-immunoperoxidase staining of normal liver for ED1, ED2, and OX6 identified dendritic cells (DC) of two different phenotypes, ED1+ED2–OX6+ and ED1–ED2–OX6+. DC can be classified into three different types based on ultrastructural characteristics. The first type (type I) is characterized by one or more long cytoplasmic processes and a well-developed lysosomal system. The second type (type II) has an inconspicuous lysosomal system, abundant hyaloplasm, and characteristic short cytoplasmic processes. The third type (type I–II) has cytologic features intermediate between those of type I and type II DC. At the electron-microscopic level, these three cell types are found in the sinusoidal lumen, whereas the majority of type II DC are located in the space of Disse and Glisson’s sheath. Furthermore, some OX6-labeled elongated DC appeared to traverse the lumen of sinusoids through endothelial pores to enter the space of Disse. One hour after intravenous injection of latex particles (0.81 μm in diameter), numerous latex-laden dendritic cells (ED1+OX6+, type I and type I–II) were detected in the lumen of hepatic sinusoids, but not in the space of Disse or Glisson’s sheath. These findings suggest that normal rat liver contains resident dendritic cells which downregulate phagocytic activity and mature into potent accessory cells during migration from the portal vein toward the central vein. These DC then traverse the sinusoidal lumen to the hepatic lymph system via the space of Disse.

Notizen: Abstract Interaction of the Escherichia coli DnaA (replication initiator) protein with restriction fragments of phage λ DNA demonstrated differential binding of DnaA along the whole λ DNA. Interaction of DnaA with the λ replication region (from the promoter p R to the origin of replication, oriλ) demonstrated a strong binding of DnaA to the region around the p o promoter where synthesis of a short antisense oop RNA is initiated. The four sequences protected by DnaA (two 9mers and two 5mers) are not related even to a relaxed DnaA box. The pattern of protection of these four sequences and the location of three DNase I hypersensitive sites in the λ DNA r strand, together with results of mobility shift assays and electron microscopy studies, may indicate an interaction involving DnaA monomers bound to different DNA positions on one side of the helix and the formation of higher-order nucleoprotein structures. Therefore, it is tempting to suggest that DnaA, in addition to its activity in regulation of replication and transcription, could be considered as a factor which structures certain chromosomal regions.

Notizen: Summary Exines fromTypha angustifolia L. pollen were dissolved in hot 2-aminoethanol. The solubilisate was successively fractionated and reaggregated via a dialysis cascade with dialysis tubings of different exclusion volumina. Four fractions of reaggregated material with different molecular mass were obtained. Fraction 1 with a molecular mass above 25,000 Da, fraction 2 with a molecular mass between 10,000–25,000 Da, fraction 3 with a molecular mass between 5,000–10,000 Da, and fraction 4 of a molecular mass lower than 5,000 Da. The fractions were comparatively analysed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray microscopy. The material of the fractions with a molecular mass above 10,000 Da exhibit high congruence to the initial material. Analysis of the reaggregated material with the lowest molecular mass revealed special distinct substructures which in form and size showed high similarities to substructures of exines described in literature. In detail, spherical substructures consisting of an electron-dense core surrounded by an electron-transparent corona and in addition elongated substructures with a distinctive surface sculpture were detected.

Notizen: Summary In the seed coat ofGasteria verrucosa the deposition of phytomelan takes place during seed development in three stages. Phytomelan is a black cell wall material which is chemically very inert. First the radial walls and part of the transverse cell wall of the outer epidermis of the outer integument become thickened by exocytosis of dictyosome vesicles. Callose is deposited at the tangential plasma membrane against those walls. After the callose deposition about two thirds of the original cell volume is filled with callose. During the second stage the callose is broken down, probably into glucose monomers or small polymers. At the same time cellulose is deposited at the outer tangential plasma membrane, forming a wall between the dissolving callose and the plasma membrane. In the third phase small granules appear in the solution of dissolved callose. which grow out and finally fuse to form a block of phytomelan, consisting of spherical 15-nm units. Remarkable is the function of the callose: it determines the size of the phytomelan block, and it probably functions as carbohydrate source for the phytomelan synthesis and/or for the cellulose inner layer. In this study transmission electron microscopy and cryo scanning electron microscopy are used to study the three developmental stages of the formation of the phytomelan layer.

Notizen: Summary The filamentous brown algaHincksia hincksiae can be infected by a large icosahedral double-stranded DNA virus (HincV-1). The virus shows extended latency and is replicated only in cells homologous to sporangia. Virus formation was studied by transmission electron microscopy, DAPI staining, and β-tubulin immunofluorescence. Inhibition of cytokineses results in multinucleate cells, which are the first indication of virus replication in productive cells; the microtubular cytoskeleton does not seem to be affected by the virus. Replication of viral DNA begins in the nuclei, which increase in size and eventually disintegrate. Virus assembly takes place in a mixed nucleo-/cytoplasm. Capsids bud from cisternae, which are interpreted as modified endoplasmic reticulum aggregated to virus assembly centres. The internal membranous component of the virus is thus derived from the endoplasmic reticulum. The particles are empty (electron translucent) when assembled, and the nucleoprotein core seems to be packaged subsequently through an opening in the capsid. A number of fine structural features not previously reported from brown algae and related to virus formation are described. Our results on Hincksia hincksiae virus are compared with observations made on various other icosahedral DNA viruses infecting eukaryotic algae and animals.

Notizen: Abstract In animal experiments, studies on the mechanisms involved in drowning were carried out using latex and gold tracers of defined size and concentration. The tracers were detectable by fluorescence microscopy (latex tracers) and by electron microscopy (gold tracers) in the lungs, kidneys and lymph nodes and were analysed further by X-ray microanalysis using a transmission scanning electron microscope. Tracers with small diameters were shown to penetrate intercellular gaps of the alveolar epithelium and the larger tracers were incorporated into the epithelial and endothelial cells by active pinocytotic mechanisms thus passing through the air-blood barrier. The detection and analysis of tracers in organs of the systemic circulation originating from the immersion fluid can assist in understanding the pathophysiology of drowning and in some selected cases, in making a more definitive diagnosis.

Notizen: To get informations on both the structure and dynamics of hydrogen chelates 1 of heteroaromatic systems, a great variety of quinazoline-2-acetonitrile chelates were synthesized (see 2-4). Similarly to the situation of the corresponding H-chelates in the pyrimidine-2-acetonitrile series, the investigation of these new derivatives 2-4 by NMR spectroscopic methods (DNMR, COSY, NOESY, ROESY, EXSY, HMQC, HMBC) confirms the presence of an equilibrium of the two possible H-chelate structures (two ‘rotamers’ I and II, i.e., (E)/(Z) isomers; see Scheme). The corresponding equilibria I ⇌ II were determined by complete 1H-NMR signal assignment at low temperatures (after freezing the rotational processes). In addition, the tautomer equilibria A ⇌ B (relative energies of the two minima of the nonsymmetrical double-well potential) for both ‘rotamers’ are ascertained by H,H and C,H couplings. The results are an important basis for the interpretation of both the UV/VIS absorptions and the dependence of fluorescence and fluorescence quantum yields on temperature.

Notizen: Stereoselective reactions of phthalimido-substituted radicals derived from (±)-threonine with different radical traps are reported (Scheme 3, Table 1). A strong influence of the nature of the radical trap on the stereoselectivity was noticed. Small nucleophilic radical traps gave preferentially the syn products. The observed selectivities are explained with the A1,3 strain model and depend on steric and electronic effects (Fig. 2). Reactions with electrophilic radical traps such as diphenyl diselenide gave the anti diastereoisomers with moderate stereocontrol, presumably due to stereoelectronic effects. The same stereochemical outcome, i.e., preferential formation of the anti products, was observed for the reactions of the related N-phthaloyliminium ion (Scheme 5, Table 2). The stereochemistry of the ionic reaction is rationalized by a Felkin-Anh model (Fig. 3).

Notizen: The cyclopalladation of 1,1′-azonaphthalene (= di(naphthalen-1-yl)diazene; 2) with bis(hexafluoroacetyl-acetonato)palladium(II) (3; [Pd(hfa)2]) yields the ortho-palladated complex (1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionato-κ2O,O′)[1-(naphthalen-1-ylazo-κN2)naphthalen-2-yl-κC2]palladium(II) (4) as well as the peri-palladated complex (1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionato-κ2O,O′)[8-(naphthalen-1-ylazo-κN2)naphthalen-1-yl-κC1]-palladium(II) (5); their structures were corroborated by X-ray analyses. The formation of the novel peri-metallated product 5 containing a six-membered palladacycle strongly depends upon the reaction conditions.

Notizen: The photoisomerization behavior of three mono[(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]spermidines, 1, 2, and 3, and three bis[(E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]spermidines, 4, 5, and 6, are investigated. The synthetic product (E)-1 could be almost quantitatively (〉 96%) converted into its isomer (Z)-1 under UV light irradiation. In the cases of (E)-2 and (E)-3, a mixture of (E)/(Z) ca. 1:2 was obtained, when the same conditions were applied. The comparison of their UV spectra provides the possible explanation for these different behaviors. Furthermore, it was noticed that the (Z) → (E) isomerization of the C=C bond took place during the purification by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and the (E)/(Z)-mixture is thus inseparable. The same feature could be observed during the isolation of the (Z,Z)-N,N′-bis[3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]-spermidines, (Z,Z)-4, (Z,Z)-5, and (Z,Z)-6. Nevertheless, the fractions of (Z,Z)-5 and (Z,Z)-6 were in almost pure state collected, and their 1-NMR spectra are presented.

Notizen: The synthesis, absolute configuration, and olfactive evaluation of (-)-(E)-α-trans-bergamotenone (= (-)-(1′S,6′R,E)-5-(2′,6′-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2′-en-6′-yl)pent-3-en-2-one; (-)-1), as well as its homologue (-)-19 are reperted. The previously arbitrarily attributed absolute configuration of 1 and of (-)-α-trans-bergamotene (= (-)-(1 S,6R)-2,6-dimethyl-6-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)bicyclo[3.1. 1]hept-2-ene; (-)-2), together with those of the structurally related aldehydes (-)-3a,b and alcohols (-)-4a,b, have been rigorously assigned.

Notizen: (-)-(R)-4,4,4,4′,4′,4′-Hexafluorovaline hydrochloride ((R)-5) of 98% ee is prepared from β,β-bis(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid (= benzyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)but-2-enoate; 1) in 4 steps with an overall yield of 9.6%. Key step is the separation of the TsOH salts of the diastereoisomers obtained by anti-Michael addition of (+)-(R)-1-phenylethylamine (2) to 1 (→ (R,R)-3). In contrast to the published (S)-chirality, the X-ray structure analysis of (R,S)-6 reveals, that (R)-chirality has to be assigned to the levorotatory (-)-4,4,4,4′,4′,4′-hexafluorovaline hydrochloride.

Notizen: The synthesis and characterization of tripodal dodecadentate ligands with salicylamide and bipyridine binding sites for iron(II) and iron(III) are presented.

Notizen: The reaction of CuO'Bu with CO2, and iPr2NH in the presence of PPh3, gives the dialkylcarbamato complex [Cu(O2CNiPr2)(PPh3)2] (1). The CO2/R2NH system (R = Me, Et) in an appropriate organic medium reacts with Ag2O giving the corresponding N,N-dialkylcarbamato complexes of analytical formula [Ag(C2CNR2)] (R = Me, 2; R = Et, 3). The methyl derivative 2 was characterized by X-ray diffraction methods. Crystal data of 2: for [Ag2(O2CNMe2)2], C6H12Ag2N2O4, mol. wt. 391.9; monoclinic, space group P21/c, a = 12.08(1), b = 3.797(2), c = 11.316(7) Å, β = 113.37(6)°, V = 476.3 Å3, Z = 2, Dc = 2.732 g cm-3; μ(MoKα) = 40.64 cm-1, F(000) = 376.0; R = 0.059, Rw = 0.067; g.o.f. 1.27. The structure consists of dinuclear [(Ag2OCNMe2)2] units with slightly distorted linearly two-coordinated Ag-atoms containing bridging carbamato groups to form a substantially planar eight-membered ring with an intra-annular Ag—Ag distance of 2.837(2) Å; the dinuclear units are further joined by Ag—O bonds to form an infinite array. Compound 3, which is presumably dinuclear, as suggested by cryoscopic measurements in benzene, undergoes a structural fission with PPh3, giving the mononuclear triphenylphosphine derivative [Ag(O2CNEt2)(PPh3)2] (4). The amine-catalyzed conversion of Ag2O into Ag2CO3, in the presence of the iPr2NH/CO2 system, is also reported. Cl-Exchange from [AuCl(PPh3)] with [Ag(O2CNEt2)] (3) gives the first N,N-dialkylcarbamato complex of gold, namely [Au(O2CNEt2)(PPh3)] (5), which crystallizes in the monoclinic system: C23H25AuNO2P · 0.5 C7H16, mol. wt. 625.5, space group P21/c; a = 13.212(5), b = 12.25(1), c = 16.795(6) Å, β = 109.09(2)°, V = 2568(2) Å3, Z = 4, Dc, = 1.618 g cm-3; μ(AgKα) = 31.40 cm-1, F(000) = 1236.0; R = 0.058; Rw = 0.064; g.o.f. 2.121. The compound contains two-coordinated Au-atom, namely to the P-atom and to the O-atom of the monodentate carbamato group, the P—Au—O bond angle being 174.7(3)°. The reaction with MeI showed these compounds to react predominantly at the carbamato O-atom giving the corresponding urethanes R2NCO2Me. Evidence was gathered for the transient coordination of CO to Ag in 3.

Notizen: The reactions of α-diazo ketones 1a,b with 9H-fluorene-9-thione (2f) in THF at room temperature yielded the symmetrical 1,3-dithiolanes 7a,b, whereas 1b and 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutane-1,3-dithione (2d) in THF at 60° led to a mixture of two stereoisomeric 1,3-oxathiole derivatives cis- and trans-9a (Scheme 2). With 2-diazo-1,2-diphenylethanone (1c), thio ketones 2a-d as well as 1,3-thiazole-5(4H)-thione 2g reacted to give 1,3-oxathiole derivatives exclusively (Schemes 3 and 4). As the reactions with 1c were more sluggish than those with 1a,b, they were catalyzed either by the addition of LiClO4 or by Rh2(OAc)4. In the case of 2d in THF/LiClO4 at room temperature, a mixture of the monoadduct 4d and the stereoisomeric bis-adducts cis- and trans-9b was formed. Monoadduct 4d could be transformed to cis- and trans-9b by treatment with 1c in the presence of Rh2(OAc)4 (Scheme 4). Xanthione (2e) and 1c in THF at room temperature reacted only when catalyzed with Rh2(OAc)4, and, in contrast to the previous reactions, the benzoyl-substituted thiirane derivative 5a was the sole product (Scheme 4). Both types of reaction were observed with α-diazo amides 1d,e (Schemes 5-7). It is worth mentioning that formation of 1,3-oxathiole or thiirane is not only dependent on the type of the carbonyl compound 2 but also on the α-diazo amide. In the case of 1d and thioxocyclobutanone 2c in THF at room temperature, the primary cycloadduct 12 was the main product. Heating the mixture to 60°, 1,3-oxathiole 10d as well as the spirocyclic thiirane-carboxamide 11b were formed. Thiirane-carboxamides 11d-g were desulfurized with (Me2N)3P in THF at 60°, yielding the corresponding acrylamide derivatives (Scheme 7). All reactions are rationalized by a mechanism via initial formation of acyl-substituted thiocarbonyl ylides which undergo either a 1,5-dipolar electrocyclization to give 1,3-oxathiole derivatives or a 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization to yield thiiranes. Only in the case of the most reactive 9H-fluorene-9-thione (2f) is the thiocarbonyl ylide trapped by a second molecule of 2f to give 1,3-dithiolane derivatives by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

Notizen: The synthesis of a series of chiral enantiomerically pure C2-symmetric binucleating ligands is reported. Ligands of type 1-4, which consist of a phenolic or heterocyclic unit bridging two chiral dihydrooxazole rings. are readily accessible from chiral amino alcohols. Ligands 5a and 5b are composed of a cyclic urea or thiourea unit, respectively, and two 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole rings containing a stereogenic center next to the N-atom. Compounds of this type are readily assembled from ethane-1,2-diamine and an imidothioic ester derived from pyroglutamic acid. These new ligands, which can coordinate two metals in close proximity to each other, are of interest regarding possible applications in asymmetric catalysis.

Notizen: Stability constants have been measured for a series of ligands based on a 2,2′-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis[1H-benzimidazole] unit which forms dinuclear double-stranded helical complexes with copper(I). Variation of different structural parameters confirms the importance of the coordinate bond, the stacking interactions, and the weakly bridging pyridine units observed by X-ray crystallography. The stabilities of the complexes depend strongly on the solvent, and in MeCN, which is a good solvent for copper(I), the complexes are less stable and assemble in a stepwise manner. The interconversion of the enantiomers may be followed by 1H-NMR and takes place on a millisecond time scale around room temperature. The trends in lability are similar to those found for the stability of the complexes.

Notizen: Oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-8-methylguanosine (m8c7Gd; 2b) were prepared. For this purpose, the phosphonate 3a and the phosphoramidite 3b were synthesized and employed in solidphase oligodeoxyribonucleotide synthesis. The structures and the thermodynamic data of duplex formation of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing 2b were investigated by temperature-dependent CD and UV spectra and compared with those containing 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-7-methylguanosine (m7c7Gd) or 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-guanosine (c7Gd; 2a). In general, compound 2b reduces the duplex stability. In case of the sequence d(m8c7G-C)4 (18), the B → Z transition was facilitated by the incorporation of 2b. Moreover, a single 7-deaza-8-methylguanine residue present in an oligodeoxyribonucleotide tract of guanine residues destabilizes the dG quadruplex significantly. This destabilization is more pronounced than in the case of 7-deazaguanine or 7-deaza-7-methyl-guanine.

Notizen: Absolute rate constants and their Arrhenius parameters are obtained for the addition of a cyclic malonyl radical derived from Meldrum's acid to 20 mono- or 1,1-disubstituted alkenes in (±)-propylene oxide and for the addition of the open-chain di(tert-butyl)malonyl radical to six mono- or 1,1-disubstituted alkenes in 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane by time-resolved electron spin resonance spectroscopy. At room temperature, the radicals add at the unsubstituted C-atoms with rate constants ranging from 1.1. 105 M-1S-1 (acrolein) to 2.4. 106 M-1S-1 (1,1-diphenylethene). The frequency factors are in the narrow ranges of log (A/M-1S-1) = 8.7 ± 0.1 for the cyclic and log (A/M-1S-1) = 8.2 ± 0.2 for the open-chain malonyl species, whereas the activation energies vary from 12.9 kJ/mol (1,1-diphenylethene) to 21.7 kJ/mol (acrylonitrile). They correlate with the alkene ionization potentials and, more weakly, with the reaction enthalpy. No correlation was found between the activation energies and the alkene electron affinities. Hence, the results confirm and quantify the electrophilic nature of malonyl radicals in addition reactions.

Notizen: An asymmetric synthesis of (-)-(4R)-dihydroisomyricoidine (28), a 13-membered amino lactam of type A, was performed by a diastereoselective Michael addition between the spermidine derivative 3 and the commercially available optically active ethyl carboxylate 4, and the cyclization of the resulting ω-amino acid 7 using diethyl phosphorocyanidate ((EtO)2POCN), followed by a Wittig reaction to introduce the (Z)-side chain. Some side reactions are also discussed.

Notizen: Natural free carboxylic acids from the hadromerid sponge Diacarnus levii (Kelly-Borges and Vacelet) were esterified to yield the new cyclic norditerpene peroxides ent-muqubilin benzyl ester (= (αR,3S,6R)-α,6-dimethyl-6-[(E)-4-methyl-6-(2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)hex-3-enyl]-1,2-dioxan-3-acetic acid benzyl ester; 6, diacarnoate B methyl ester(= (αS,3R,6R)-α,6-dimethyl-6-{2-(4aS,8aS)-3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-3-oxo-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthalen-1-yl)ethyl}-1,2-dioxan-3-acetic acid methyl ester; 9), and deoxydiacarnoate B benzyl ester (= (αS,3R,6R)-α,6-dimethyl-6-{2-[(4aS,8aS)-3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-1-naphthalenyl]ethyl}-1,2-dioxan-3-acetic acid benzyl ester; 10), which were isolated following extensive chromatography. The relative configuration of the peroxide/α-methylacetate moiety of 6, 9, and 10, was directly determined from their NMR spectra. The absolute configurations of the peroxide/α-methylacetate moiety was deduced from comparative 1H-NMR data of the (S)- and (R)-phenylglycine methyl ester derivatives 7 and 8 as well as 11/13 and 12/14, all obtained from a mixture of the precursors of 3, 6, and 10. The absolute configuration at the carbobicyclic moiety of enone 9 and of 10, is identical, as established by chemical interconversion, 9 and 10 belong to the normal labdane series according to empirical CD rules, applied either directly to 9 or to the parent (+)-sclareolide-derived enone 20. In contrast, molar rotation additivity rules suggest the ent-labdane configuration for 9 and 10. The epidioxides 1-3, 6, and 10 proved active in vitro against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum; especially the previously isolated methyl 3-epinuapapuanoate (2) was active against a chloroquine-resistant strain, and this with a good security index.

Notizen: 3-Hydroxy-2-cyanoalk-2-enamides, and 2-cyano-2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-ylidene)- and 2-cyano-2-(tetrahydropyran-2-ylidene)acetamides with N-alkyl and N-aryl substituents have been synthesized in three steps from cyanoacetic acid. Their conformations were investigated by X-ray crystallography and 1H-NMR ROESY spectroscopy at room temperature. The enolic compounds 1-3 adopt an extended conformation stabilized by a strong intramolecular O—H … O=C bond both in the solid state and in (D6)DMSO solution. In contrast, the structure of the cyclic derivatives 5a,b-8a,b is solvent-dependent. In the solid state and in CDCl3 solution, the compounds adopt an extended conformation of type I or III, while, in (D6)DMSO solution, their structures undergo time-dependent (Z)/(E)-isomerization structures (of type II or IV). This observation is compatible with a dipolar transition state of rotation. The kinetics of the isomerization are controlled by the N-substituent, the N-(t-Bu) derivatives 7a and 7b having the highest barrier of rotation around the C=C bond. The whole body of experimental evidence together with the results of molecular-mechanics calculations with I-IV, indicate that, in DMSO, two (E)/(Z)-isomers with two conformations are present, and that they undergo interconversion at room temperature with four different constants. The very fast exchange rates kI,II and kIII,IV in the NMR time-scale might be responsible for the detection of only two isomers.

Notizen: A new acylated dimeric secoiridoid glycoside, seemannoside A (2), has been isolated from the aerial parts of Lisianthius seemannii (GRISEB) O. KUNTZE (Gentianaceae). The structure was established by spectroscopic analysis (UV, MS, 1H- and 13C-NMR, and 2D-NMR experiments) and chemical reactions as (E-4′-O-p-coumaroyl)lisianthioside. The structure of the (Z)-isomer (seemannoside B, 3), also present in the plant, was confirmed by LC/UV/1H-NMR analysis. The active principle, 6, responsible for the antifungal activity of the apolar extract against Cladosporium cucumerinum, has been isolated. Its structure has been established by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic analysis as a rare type of aglycone monoterpene dimer.

Notizen: Asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of the pentadienoic and hexadienoic acids 2a,b with the chiral chloronitroso derivative 3 gave the primary adducts 4a,b with good-to-excellent enantioselectivity. Subsequent as- or trans-dihydroxylation and hydrogenolytic cleavage of the N—O bond led to the 5-amino-5-deoxypentono-δ-lactams 13a, 14, 15a, and 16 in the D-ribose, L-arabinose, D-xylose, and L-lyxose series, respectively, and to the 5-amino-5,6-dideoxyhexono-δ-lactams 13b and 15b in the D-allose and D-glucose series, respectively.

Notizen: The synthesis of the monomeric building block 13 and its constitutional isomer 12 of a new type of DNA analog, distamycin-NA, is presented (Schemes 1 and 2). This building block consists of a uracil base attached to a thiophene core unit via a biaryl-like axis. Next to the biaryl-like axis on the thiophene chromophore, a carboxy and an amino substituent are located allowing for oligomerization via peptide coupling. The proof of constitution and the conformational preferences about the biaryl-like axis were established by means of X-ray analyses of the corresponding nitro derivatives 10 and 11. Thus, the uracil bases are propeller-twisted relative to the thiophene core, and bidentate H-bonds occur between two uracil bases in the crystals. The two amino-acid building blocks 12 and 13 were coupled to give the dimers 15 and 16 using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) in THF/LiCl and DMF, respectively. While the dimer 15 showed no atropisomerism on the NMR time scale at room temperature, its isomer 16 occurred as distinct diastereoisomers due to the hindered rotation around its biaryl-like axis. Variable-temperature 1H-NMR experiments allowed to determine a rotational barrier of 19 ± 1 kcal/mol in 16. The experimental data were complemented by AM1 calculations.

Notizen: Heating of a mixture of N,N′-(thiocarbonyl)diimidazole (= 1,1′-(carbonothioyl)bis[1H-imidazole]; 1) and 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole 2a or 2b gave the 1,3-dithiolanes 4a and 4b, respectively, via a regiospecific 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the corresponding ‘thiocarbonyl methanides’ 3a,b onto the C=S group of 1 (Schemes 1 and 2). The adamantane derivative 4b was not stable in the presence of 1H-imidazole and during chromatographic workup. The isolated 1,3-dithiole 5 is the product of a base-catalyzed elimination of 1H-imidazole from the initial cycloadduct 4b. The formation of the S,N-acetal 6 can be rationalized by a protonation of the ‘thiocarbonyl ylide’ 3b followed by a nucleophilic addition of 1H-imidazole. With the diazo compounds 8a-e (Scheme 3) 1 underwent a regiospecific 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to give the corresponding 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives 9, which spontaneously eliminated 1H-imidazole to yield (1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazoles 10. The structures of 10a and 10d were established by X-ray crystallography. In the case of diazodiphenylmethane (8f), the initial cycloadduct 9f decomposed via a ‘twofold extrusion’ of N2 and S to give 1,1′-(2,2-diphenylethenylidene)bis[1H-imidazole] (11; Scheme 3).

Notizen: The synthesis of new deoxyribose nucleosides by coupling chloropurines with modified D-ribose derivatives is reported. The methyl 2-deoxy-N-methyl-3-O-(p-toluoyl)-α-D-ribofuranosiduronamide (α-D-8) and the corresponding anomer β-D-8 were synthesized starting from the commercially available 2-deoxy-D-ribose (1) (Scheme 1). Reaction of α-D-8 with the silylated derivative of 2,6-dichloro-9H-purine (9) afforded regioselectively the N9-(2′-deoxyribonucleoside) 10 as anomeric mixture (Scheme 2), whereas β-D-8 did not react. Glycosylation of 9 or of 6-chloro-9H-purine (17) with 1,2-di-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-N-methyl-β-D-ribofuranuronamide (13) yielded only the protected β-D-anomers 14 and 18, respectively (Scheme 3). Subsequent deacetylation and dechlorination afforded the desired nucleosides β-D-11, β-D-12,15, and 16. The 3′-deoxy-2-chloroadenosine derivative 15 showed the highest affinity and selectivity for adenotin binding site vs. A1 and A2A adenosine receptor subtypes.

Notizen: (S)-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′-Hexafluoroleucine ((S)-13) of 81 % ee is prepared from hexafluoroacetone (l) and ethyl bromopyruvate (= ethyl 2-oxopropanoate) in 7 steps with an overall yield of 18% (Schemes 1 and 2). Key step in this sequence is the highly enantioselective reduction of the carbonyl group in α-keto ester 4 either by bakers' yeast (91 % ee) or by ‘catecholborane’ 6 utilizing an oxazaborolidine catalyst, yielding hydroxy ester (R)-5 with 99% ee. The absolute configuration was determined by X-ray analysis of the HCl adduct (S,R)-9b of (2S)-N-[(R)- l-phenylethyl]-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′-hexafluoroleucine ethyl ester.

Notizen: N-Fmoc-Protected (Fmoc = (9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy)carbonyl) β-amino acids are required for an efficient synthesis of β-oligopeptides on solid support. Enantiomerically pure Fmoc-β3-amino acids β3: side chain and NH2 at C(3)(= C(β)) were prepared from Fmoc-protected (S)- and (R)-α-amino acids with aliphatic, aromatic, and functionalized side chains, using the standard or an optimized Arndt-Eistert reaction sequence. Fmoc-β2- Amino acids (β2 side chain at C(2), NH2 at C(3)(= C(β))) configuration bearing the side chain of Ala, Val, Leu, and Phe were synthesized via the Evans' chiral auxiliary methodology. The target β3-heptapeptides 5-8, a β3- pentadecapeptide 9 and a β2-heptapeptide 10 were synthesized on a manual solid-phase synthesis apparatus using conventional solid-phase peptide synthesis procedures (Scheme 3). In the case of β3-peptides, two methods were used to anchor the first β-amino acid: esterification of the ortho-chlorotrityl chloride resin with the first Fmoc-β-amino acid 2 (Method I, Scheme 2) or acylation of the 4-(benzyloxy)benzyl alcohol resin (Wang resin) with the ketene intermediates from the Wolff rearrangement of amino-acid-derived diazo ketone 1 (Method II, Scheme 2). The former technique provided better results, as exemplified by the synthesis of the heptapeptides 5 and 6 (Table 2). The intermediate from the Wolff rearrangement of diazo ketones 1 was also used for sequential peptide-bond formation on solid support (synthesis of the tetrapeptides 11 and 12). The CD spectra of the β2- and β3-peptides 5, 9, and 10 show the typical pattern previously assigned to an (M) 31 helical secondary structure (Fig.). The most intense CD absorption was observed with the pentadecapeptide 9 (strong broad negative Cotton effect at ca. 213 nm); compared to the analogous heptapeptide 5, this corresponds to a 2.5 fold increase in the molar ellipticity per residue!

Notizen: On irradiation (350 nm) in the presence of excess 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene, the newly synthesized title compound 5 affords as main products the unexpected cyclopropylpyrrolidine 10 (50%) and the spiro-oxetane 9 (25%).

Notizen: Among seventeen different Lewis acids, TiCl4 was found to be the best catalyst for the [4 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene to N,N′-fumaroylbis[(2R)-bornane-10,2-sultam] ((-)-1). Independently of the TiCl4 molar concentration, almost constant and complete (98-89% d.e.) diastereofacial π-selection was achieved in the Diels-Alder addition of (-)-1 to cyclopentadiene, cyclohexadiene, isoprene, and 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene.

Notizen: A new facile synthesis of N,S- and N,Se-acetals starting from aldehydes and primary amines is presented (Schemes 3-5). These acetals are used as precursors for stereoselective radical deuteration and allylation reactions (Schemes 6 and 7, Tables 1 and 2). The stereochemical outcome of the reactions depends on the radical trap and the substituents at the N-atom. Deuterations give always anti products with moderate to high selectivities. The allylation reactions give either syn or anti products with low to moderate selectivities. The observed stereoselectivities can be explained with a model based on minimization of A1,3 strain and are controlled by steric and stereoelectronic effects.

Notizen: Based on O-methylasparvenone (1), a N-free 5HT2C antagonist with moderate affinity (pKi = 6.7), derivatives bearing dimethylamino (7), (dimethylamino)methyl (17, 18, 21, and 22), and aminomethyl substituents (26) in place of the benzylic OH group of 1 as well as pyrrolidine- (33) and piperidine-fused derivatives (29, 43, and 45) were synthesized. In contrast to the lead structure 1, these new ligands were active in vivo in the rat. The tricycles 33 and 45 display high affinities for the 5HT2C receptor (pKi = 8).

Notizen: Thermal reactions of 1,2,3-trisubstituted aziridines 1 with 1,3-thiazole-5(4H)-thiones 6 in toluene yielded, in general, a mixture of two diastereoisomeric spirocyclic [2+3] cycloadducts. The formation of these products can be explained by a stereoselective electrocyclic ring opening of 1 to give an azomethine ylide 2 as the reactive intermediate, which is trapped immediately by 6 via a stereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Only in the case of trans-dimethyl 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)aziridine-2,3-dicarboxylate (trans-1a), four diastereoisomeric cycloadducts were formed (Scheme 4). This result is rationalized by an isomerization of the intermediate azomethine ylide cis-2a to trans -2a.

Notizen: Due to their small mass, adjacent protons (or H-atoms) of molecular systems may exhibit quantum entanglement (or quantum correlations), even at ambient conditions. The considerable thermal disturbance and/or manybody interactions of condensed matter and the associated decoherence effect, however, cause this protonic entanglement to be restricted in space and time. Some aspects of entanglement and decoherence are mentioned. Extending our previous theoretical work, in the present paper the focus is on the possible existence of entangled protons belonging to the H-bonds of adjacent base pairs of B-type DNA. Based on the ‘working hypothesis’ that this effect does really exist, the most probable ‘positions’ for the appearance of protonic entanglement in DNA sequences are qualitatively determined. Furthermore, these ‘positions’ appear to correspond uniquely to dimers of adjacent base pairs of DNA. As a consequence, one can straightforwardly search for an enhanced appearance of such entangled H-bonds in DNA sequences of living organisms, using the existing DNA databases. A quantitative analysis of protein-coding DNA sequences of various organisms has been performed, the results of which provide strong evidence for the existence of the considered effect. The most striking finding may be summarized as follows: Quantum entanglement appears preferably between the third base of a codon and the first base of the following one. Quantitative estimates of this and further obtained results are presented. It is also shown that quantum-chemical considerations of stacking energies cannot account for the results. The new findings provide first evidence for the biological significance of entangled H-bonds.

Notizen: The title compounds D-10 and L-10 were prepared from 1 in eight steps and in a combined overall yield of 41-49%.

Notizen: The reaction of N,N'-dimethyl-2-nitroethene-1,1-diamine (8) with α,ß-unsaturated acyl isothiocyanates 9 affords 3,3-diamino-2-nitroacrylthioamides 10 (Scheme 2) in moderate-to-good yields. Cyclization of 10 under acidic conditions gives 1,3-thiazin-4-one derivatives of type 11. Oxidative cyclization of 10 with diethyl azodicaboxylate leads to 4-nitro-1,2-thiazol-5(2H)-imine derivatives 12.

Notizen: The CH2Cl2 extract of Monotes engleri Gilg. (Dipterocarpaceae) showed antifungal activity against the yeast Candida albicans in our bioautographic TLC assays. After a first fractionation of the crude extract, the bioactivity was located in one of the fractions. To perform an efficient targeted isolation of the active compounds, LC/UV/MS and LC/UV/NMR analyses of the crude extract and the active fraction were performed. LC/UV/, LC/MS, and LC/NMR data (1D and 2D) allowed the identification of 1 as (2S)-2,3-dihydro-5,7-dihydroxy-{3-hydroxy-4-[(3-methylbut-2-enyl) oxy]phenyl}-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, a new prenylated flavanone, named monoteson A. Subsequent isolation of 1 has permitted the determination of its absolute configuration on the basis of CD measurements. Theree other prenylated flavanoes 2-4 were isolated from the same extract. Compound 3 was identified as 2- (3, 5-dihydroxyphenyl) -2,3-dihydro-5, 7-dihydroxy-6, 8-bis (3-methylbut-2-enyl)-4 H-1-benzopyran-4-one, another new natural product, named monotesone B. The structures of 2 and 4 were established as selinone and lonchocarpol A, respectively. The antifungal activity against Candida albicans was determined for all compounds.

Notizen: The disubstituted clusters[Ir4(CO)10(μ2-L—L)] with one edge-bridging ligand have a ground-state geometry with all COs terminal (L—L = (MeS)2CHMe, cluster 1) or with three edge-bridging COs (L—L = (Ph2P)2CHMe, cluste 2; L—L =Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2, cluster 3) in the solid state and in solution. A comparative 13C-NMR study of 1-3 shows that their respective ground-state geometries are merely relative minima of energy in the same kinetic profile of successive fluxional processes consisting of a merry-go-round of six COs about a unique trangular face and the rotation of terminal COs about one Ir-atom. The factors affecting the activation energy of the merry-go-round result from the relative bites of the bidentate ligands in the ground-state geometry, as shown by a comparison of the molecular structures of 2 and 3.

Notizen: The kinetics of the reaction between pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) with carbidopa, hydralazine, and isoniazid, in aqueous solution at variable pH and constant ionic strength of 0.1M was studied spectrophotometrically. The rate constants of formation and hydrolysis of the resulting Schiff base, and its stability were determined in a wide range of pH. A comparison is made of the formation rate constants with those of PLP with hydrazine. The reactivity shows the sequence isoniazid 〉 hydrazine 〉 carbidopa 〉 hydralazine in the whole range of pH studied. The Schiff bases studied are more stable than those formed by PLP and hexylamine and as stable as those described for the reactions of PLP with poly(L-lysine) or copolypeptides containing L-lysine.

Notizen: The coordination behavior of chiral binucleating ligands of type 1-4 with various transition metals has been investigated. 1H-NMR Titration experiments with zinc(II) salts gave detailed structural information about the structure of the resulting zinc complexes. Ligand 1 forms an unusual C3-symmetric dinuclear zinc complex [Zn2CIL3] (8a) which was characterized by X-ray crystallography. Treatment of complex 8a with various carboxylic acids resulted in ligand-exchange reactions. With ligand 2, a hydroxo-bridged dinuclear copper complex 15 was synthesized and its structure elucidated by X-ray analysis. Solution studies UV and 1H-NMR spectroscopy of the reaction of ligand 3 with ZnII and NII salts revealed the formation of dimeric species of the type [M2X4L2]. Ligand 4 formed well-defined dinuclear complexes with NiII and CuII salts of which the corresponding NiII complex [Ni2(AcO)2(ClO4)2L] (22a) was characterized by crystal-structure analysis.

Notizen: Why Pentose- and Not Hexose-Nucleic Acids? Purine-Purine Pairing in homo-DNA: Guanine,Isoguanine, 2,6-Diaminopurine, and XanthineThis paper concludes the series of reports in this journal [1-4] on the chemistry of homo-DNA, the constitutionally simplifie dmodel system of hexopyranosyl-(6′ → 4′)-oligonucleotide systems stidued in our laboratory as potentially natural-nucleic-acid alternatives in the context of a chemical aetiology of nucleic-acid structure. The report describes the synthesis and pairing properties of homo-DNA oligonucleotides which contain as nucleobases exclusively purines, and gives, together with part III of the series [3], a survey of what we know today about purine-purine pairingin homo-DNA. In addition, the paper discusses those aspects of the chemistry of homo-DNA which, we think, influence the way how some of the structural features of DNA (and RNA) are to be interpreted on a qualitative level.Purine-purine pairing occurs in the homo-DNA domain in great variety. Most prominent is a novel tridentate Watson-Crick pair between guanine and isoguanine, as well as one between 2,6-diaminopurine and xanthinone, both giving rise to very stable duplexes containing the all-purine strands in antiparallel orientation. For the guanine-isoguanine pair, constitutional assignment is based on temperature-dependent UV and CD spectroscopy of various guanine- and isoguanine-containg duplexes in comparison with duplexes known to be paired in the reverse guanine is replaced by 7-carbauguanine. Isoguanine and 2,6-diaminopurine also have the capability of self-pariring in the reverse-Hoogsteen mode, as previously observed for adenine and guanine [3]. In this type of pairing, the interchangeably. Fig. 36 provides an overall survey of the relative strength of pairing in all possible purine-purine combinations.Watson-Crick pairing of isoguanine with guanine demands the former to participate in its 3H-tautomeric form; hitherto this specific tautomer had not been considered in the pairing chemistry of isoguanine. Whereas (cumulative) purine-purine pairing in DNA (reverse-Hoogsten or Hoogsteen) seems to occur in triplexes and tetrapalexes only, its occurrence in duplexes in a characteristic feature of homo-DNA chemistry. The occurrence of purine-purine Watson-Crick base pairs is probably a consequence of homo-DNA's quasi-linear ladder structure [1][4]. In a double helix, the distance between the two sugar C-atoms, on which a base pair is anchored, is expected to be constrained by the dimensions of the helix; in a linear duplex, however, there would be no restrictions with regard to base-pair length. Homo-DNA's ladder-like model also allows one to recognize one of the reasons why nucleic-acid duplexes prefer to pair in antiparallel, rather than parallel strand orientation: in homo-DNA duplexes, (averaged) backbone and base pair axes are strongly inclined toward one another [4]; the stronger this inclination, the higher the preference for antiparallel strand orientation is expected to be (Fig. 16).In retrospect, homo-DNA turns out to be one of the first artificial oligonucleotide systems (cf. Footnote 65) to demonstrate in a comprehensive way that informational base pairing involving purines and pyrimidines is not a capability unique to ribofuranosyl systems. Stability and helical shape of pairing complexes are not necessary conditions of one another; it is the potential for extensive conformational cooperativity of hte backbone structure with respect to the constellational demands of base pairing and base stacking that determines whether or nor a given type of base-carrying backbone structure is an informational pairing system. From the viewpoint of the chemical aetiology of nucleic-acid structure, which inspired our investigations on hexopyranosyl-(6′ → 4′)-oligonucleotide systems in the first place, the work on homo-DNA is only an extensive model study, because homo-DNA is not to be considered a potential natural-nucleic-acid altenratie. In retrospect, it seems fortunate that the model study was carried out, because without it we could hardly have comprehended the pairing behavior of the proper nucleic-acid alternatives which we have studied later and which will be discussed in Part VI of this series.The English footnotes to Fig. 1-49 provide an extension of this summary.

Notizen: ‘Fully chiral’ dendrimers, containing a stereogenic center at each and every branching point, have been prepared using a chiral core triol with aromatic elongating units (cf. 27) and chiral branch diols (cf. 8, 12, and 24) as building blocks. The biggest dendrimer prepared is of the 4th generation (33: 46 building blocks, 93 stereogenic centers, 1028 possible stereoisomers), and has been obtained by a convergent growth approach in 32 steps starting from the biopolymer poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutanoic acid] (P(3-HB)). All compounds were shown to be monodisperse by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Spin-lattice relaxation-time (T1) measurements and size-exclusion chromatography show typical features of structurally related achiral dendrimers. The influence of the chiral building blocks on the shape of the whole dendrimer has been investigated by chiroptical measurements: the specific rotation can be considered as average of all chiroptical properties of its constituent chiral units, independent of the solvent, the concentration, and the temperature. On the other hand, regularity in the circular dichroism (CD) spectra is completely lost with variation of the solvent (cf. Fig. 13).

Notizen: The first steps, believed to be involved in the highly enantioselective copolymerization of styrene and carbon monoxide to poly[1-oxo-2-phenylpropane-1,3-diyl] with phosphinodihydrooxazole-palladium(II) complexes, were investigated. The insertion of carbon monoxide into [Pd(Me)(P^N)(solvent)] TfO (P^N = (S)-2-[2-(5H-benzo[b]phosphindol-5-yl)phenyl]4-benzyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole (1)) and of styrene into [Pd(Me)(P^N)(solvent)] TfO were highly regioselective (alkyl and acyl substituents trans to N); moreover, the olefin insertion took place with essentially complete enantioface discrimination.

Notizen: The [4 + 2] cycloadduct 17 of 2,3-dimethylidene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4-methanonaphthalene and 4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dione (PTAD) was subjected to a triplet-sensitized di-π-methane rearrangement. Hydrolysis of the resulting urazol 18 gave the hydrocarbon 7. Hydrolysis of 18 at lower base concentrations led to isomeric stable semicarbazides 24 and 25, which were submitted NiO2 or MnO2 oxidation, to give the target compound 7, and oxidation products 26 and 27.

Notizen: The difference between the strong inhibition of retaining β-glucosidases by the tetrazole 1 and the weak inhibition by the triazole 3 has been explained by the protonation by the enzymic catalytic acid of N(3) of 1, replaced by CH in 3. One also expects a contribution to the inhibition from the charge-dipole interaction between the enzymic catalytic nucleophile and the azole ring. The extent of this contribution was estimated from the calculated, distance-dependent heats of formation of the acetate-azole complexes. The calculations were validated by comparison of the charge-dipole interaction between phosphate and the inhibitors 1 and 3 in the glycogen phosphorylase b (GPb)-azole-phosphate complexes, as derived from differences in the Ki values for 1 and 3, while the structural invariance of the complexes was demonstrated by X-ray analysis. The difference between the charge-dipole interactions of (dihydrogen) phosphate and 1 or 3 as derived from Δ Ki is 1.1 kcal mol-1, while the calculated difference is 1.3 kcal mol-1. The calculated difference for the interaction of 1 or 3 with acetate, representing the catalytic nucleophile in β-glycosidases, is 2.0 kcal mol-1, while the differences of the binding energies as derived from the Ki values for the inhibition by 1 or 3 of different β-glycosidases range from 2.4 to 5.3 5 kcal mol-1. The calculated difference for 1 and the imidazole 6 is 2.5 kcal mol-1 in favour of 1, whereas the Ki-derived difference is 3.7 kcal mol-1 in favour of 6, equal to the calculated difference between 1 and the protonated imidazole 6. Thus, protonation by the catalytic acid and the charge-dipole interaction with the catalytic nucleophile contribute cooperatively to the binding of inhibitors possessing a trigonal anomeric centre bonded to a heteroatom.

Notizen: Described are the preparation of nanocrystals and the synthesis of molecules that may be covalently or noncovalently assembled in solution to yield heterosupermolecules possessing a well-defined heterosupramolecular function. Also described are preparative and synthetic methods that yield organized assemblies of heterosupermolecules possessing an addressable heterosupramolecular function. Finally, the development of these synthetic strategies to permit the covalent and noncovalent assembly and organization of a wide range of condensed phase and molecular components is outlined.

Notizen: For a comparison with the corresponding α- and β-hexapeptides H-(Val-Ala-Leu)2-OH (A) and H-(β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu)2-OH (B), we have now prepared the corresponding γ-hexapeptide 1 built from the homochirally similar (S)-4-aminobutanoic acid, (R)-4-amino-5-methylhexanoic acid, and (R)-4-amino-6-methylheptanoic acid. The precursors were prepared either by double Arndt-Eistert homologation of the protected amino acids Boc-Val-OH, Boc-Ala-OH, and Boc-Leu-OH (Schemes 1 and 2), or by the superior route involving olefination/hydrogenation of the corresponding aldehydes (Boc-valinal, Boc-alaninal, and Boc-leucinal; Scheme 3). Conventional peptide-coupling methodology (EDC/HOBt) furnished the γ-hexapeptide 1 (through the intermediate γ-di- and γ-tripeptide derivatives 9-11). Analysis of NMR measurements in (D5)pyridine and CD3OH solution (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY) reveals that the γ-hexapeptide 1 adopts a right-handed helical structure ((P)-2.61 helix of ca. 5-Å pitch, containing 14-membered H-bonded rings) which is to be compared with the left-handed helix of the corresponding β-peptide B ((M)-31 helix of 5-Å pitch, 14-membered H-bonded rings) and with the familiar right-handed, so-called α-helix of α-peptides ((P)-3.61 helix of 5.4-Å pitch, 13-membered rings). Like the helix sense, the helix dipole reverses when going from α-, (N + → C) to β-(C + → N) to γ-peptides (N + → C). The surprising difference between the natural α-, and the analogous β- and γ-peptides is that the helix stability increases upon homologation of the residues.

Notizen: 7-O-Substituted analogs of deaminodeoxycolchinol thiomethyl ether were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on tubulin polymerization in vitro. Ketone 9, a key compound in this study, was derived from thiocolchicone 6 by reaction with aniline. Reaction of compound 6 with MeNH2 or BuNH2 gave tetracyclic lactams 7 and 8, respectively. Optically active alcohols 11a and 11b were obtained from racemic 11 by chemical resolution including a separation of the comphanate diastereoisomers 12a and 12b, followed by basic hydrolysis. The (aR,7R)-configuration of 12b was verified by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Almost all racemic and optically active 7-O-acyl or 7-O-aroyl compounds had strong inhibitory effects on the tubulin polymerization reaction, with IC50 values from 1.7 to 5.1 μM. A few agents, such as the lactams 7 and 8, the camphanates 12a and 12b, the cyclohexanecarboxylates 19a and 19b, and, most notably, the (7S)-benzoate 15a, had negligible effects on polymerization, yielding IC50 values greater than 40μM. Ketone 9 showed strong inhibition of tubulin polymerization comparable to that of thiocolchicone (6). Optically active alcohol 11a and acyl esters 13a and 14a with a (7S)-configuration were more active than the (7R)-esters 13b and 14b. However, the esters 15a-17a with a (7S)-configuration were less active than the (7R)-isomers 15b-17b, in which the (7R)-benzoate 15b was at least 15-fold more inhibitory than the (7S)-isomer 15a. For the most part, the agents causing strongest inhibition of polymerization also caused the greatest inhibition of [3H]colchicine binding. NMR and optical rotatory data indicate that, in polar solvents, the equilibrium in esters with a 7-O-aroyl substituent, i.e., 15a,b, 16a,b, and 17a,b, is reversed from (aS) to (aR) or from (aR) to (aS), as compared to nonpolar solvents.

Notizen: As a continuation of our previous studies on the synthesis and antiplatelet activity of quinolin-2(1H)-ones with an α-methylidene-γ-butyrolactone substituted at O(8), the O(6)- and N(1)-substituted isomers were synthesized and evaluated for antiplatelet activity against thrombin (Thr)-, arachidonic acid (AA)-, collagen (Col)-, and platelet-activating-factor (PAF)-induced aggregation in washed rabbit platelets. These compounds were synthesized from 6-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one via alkylation and Reformatsky-type condensation (Schemes 1 and 2). All of them were found to inhibit the platelet aggregation perfectly which was induced by AA and Col. 6-Substituted isomers 5b-g exhibited very strong inhibitory activities against AA- and PAF- induced aggregation and are approximately ten times more potent than their 8-substituted counterparts. However, the 1-substituted (11a and 11b) and the 1,6-disubstituted (6) counterparts were relatively inactive. Their effects on the Ca2+-dependent vasoconstriction induced by high K+, and the phasic and tonic vasoconstrictions induced by norepinephrine (NE) in rat aorta were also evaluated. Except 5g, all of them were found to have significant inhibitory activity on the NE-induced phasic and tonic vasoconstrictions. Compounds 6 and 11b also exhibited strong inhibitory activity on high-K+ medium, Ca2+-induced vasoconstriction.

Notizen: The photolysis of N-alkylpyridinium halides 9a-e in alkaline H2O gave 6-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexenol derivatives 10a-e. N-Substituents bearing ether, acetal, and alcohol functions were found to do not adversely influence the photochemical reaction course. The free OH groups of the N-(3-hydroxypropyl) derivative 10d were protected by benzoylation. The ensuing dibenzoate 14 underwent stereocontrolled opening of the aziridine ring on reaction with MeSH/BF3 to give a thioether 15. With benzoic acid in CHCI3, 10d gave the 4-hydroxy-5-aminocyclopent-2-enyl benzoate 11. The meso-2-aminocyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diol 12 was obtained by hydrolysis of 11. On reaction with Boc2O and NaI, the aziridine ring of 14 was converted to a bicyclic compound 17. Hydrolysis of 17 provided the trans-1,3-diol 18, the epimer of 12. Face-selective dihydroxylation of Boc-protected 12 gave a meso-aminocyclopentanetetrol 23 which was characterized upon peracetylation. Dihydroxylation of 15 provided a racemic analogue of epi-mannostatin A (26).

Notizen: An alternative synthesis of enantiomerically pure SDZ 220-881 (1a) and SDZ EAB 515 (1b) starting from L-Z-tyrosine is described.

Notizen: Bicyclic thiohydantoins were synthesized in a stereoselective manner by reacting (2R)/(2S)-diastereoisomer mixtures of 1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acids or their dimethyl diesters with PhNCS. 5,5-Dimethyl-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid with PhNCS led to a cyclization involving the C=O group at the C(2) center of the thiazolidine ring, while the acid's dimethyl diester gave cyclization involving the C=O group at C(4). In contrast, reactions involving unsubstituted 1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid or its dimethyl diester led to thiohydantoins in which the ring closure had taken place only with the COO group at C(4). Independently of the direction of the ring closure, all reactions produce exclusively products with the (R)-configuration at C(2). The configurational assignments were based on 1H- and 13C-NMR studies, and confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analyses.

Notizen: The new, axially chiral bis(4,5-dihydrooxazoles) 4 have been synthesized in a straightforward manner, starting from the substituted, racemic 1,1′-biphenyl-2,2′-dicarboxylic acids 1 and optically active amino alcohols 2. The adducts were resolved by medium-performance liquid chromatography (MPLC; see Scheme 1). Formation of Cu1 complexes of 4 was followed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The catalytic behavior of these complexes has been investigated by asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate. Beside the influence of steric factors, a significant electronic effect on asymmetric induction could also be observed (see Scheme 2 and Table).

Notizen: The synthesis of the enantiomerically pure, bridgehead-functionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes 11 and 16, containing a conformationally fixed trihydroxypropyl (aminodihydroxypropyl) unit, as well as the X-ray structure of 11 are described. These compounds are of interest as sugar surrogates in the preparation of DNA analogs. Compounds 11 and 16 became available in 10 and 12 steps, respectively, and in an overall yield of 11 and 4% from D-arabinose via a highly stereoselective pinacol coupling as the key step.

Notizen: New derivatives of campholenaldehyde (= 2-(2,2,3-trimethylcyclopent-3-enyl)ethanal bearing two cyclopropane moieties were synthesized, and the structure of the stereoisomer responsible for its exceptionally strong, diffusive, and natural sandalwood-oil scent, ((1S,2S)-1-methyl-2-{[1S,3R,5R)-1,2,2-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-yl]methyl}cyclopropyl)methanol (13a), was elucidated.

Notizen: Titanium-dioxide surfaces have been glycosylated with the benzyl-, 4-fluorobenzyl-, and acetyl-protected diazirines 1-3. The modified TiO2 surfaces were characterized by contact-angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPES), and time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The main by-products of the glucosidation (mostly azines and trehaloses) were identified. Their physisorption slightly reduces the efficiency of the glucosidation by 1 mM solution of 1 or 2 in CH2Cl2, but this influence is neutralized by repeating the glucosidation, or by using a 100 mM solution of the diazirines. The immobilized, acetylated glucosyl moieties were deacetylated in situ. Calculations based on the XPES peaks of Ti 2p and F 1s for the TiO2 surface modified with 2 indicated 1.5 ± 0.9 immobilized glucosyl moieties per nm2.

Notizen: A Chemotaxonomic survey for biologically active compounds from Malaysian Calophyllum species led to the findings of the four new benzoylcoumarins 1a, 2, 3, and 4a (including the unusual prenylated 6-benzoylcoumann 1a), two uncommon coumarins 5 and 6a with a pyran-4-one moiety fused at C(6) and C(7), and compounds 7a, 9, and 10, all isolated from the bark of C. teysmannii var. inophylloide. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and chemical transformations. X-Ray crystal-structure determination of 2 provided information on the conformational preferences of substituents in this class of coumarins. The syntheses of the cytotoxic calanone (7a) and of some related coumarins are described.

Notizen: The heme-thiolate protein chloroperoxidase (CPO) catalyzes the chlorination of activated C—H bonds. A reaction mechanism is proposed for this enzymatic transformation (Scheme 1), and a new iron(III) porphyrinate complex 13 is synthesized containing pentafluorophenyl groups at two meso-positions and a thiophenolato ligand coordinating to the Fe-atom (Schemes 2 and 3). Due to the presence of the electron-withdrawing substituents, the catalyst 13 is appreciably resistant to oxidants (HOCl) and chlorinates, e.g., monochlorodimedone (5), with turnover numbers up to 1530. The redox potential of 13, E0 = - 134 mV, and the Soret band (λmax 448 nm) of the CO adduct of the reduced state of 13 are close to the corresponding values of the enzyme CPO.

Notizen: The chemical synthesis of 2′-amino-2′-deoxyribonucleosides of uracil, cytosine, adenine, and guanine, and their conversion into suitably protected 3′-phosphoramidite building blocks 35-40 for oligonucleotide synthesis are described. The aglycone and the 2′-amino functions were protected using the 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl (npeoc) group. The synthesis of the 3′-O-succinyl (3′-O-(3-carboxypropanoyl))-substituted starting nucleoside 41 is described and its behavior examined in solution and on solid phase with regard to an anticipated migration during 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) deprotection. Oligonucleotides were prepared using the new building blocks, and their hybridization properties were studied by UV-melting techniques.

Notizen: Chiral supermolecules may be obtained from suitable achiral molecular constituents associated through a dissymmetrizing interaction mode. This is the case for the supermolecules I-IV formed by hydrogen-bonding association between the achiral complementary components 1a,b and 2a,b,c. The crystal structures of the supermolecular pairs I-III and of the homochiral aggregate of two ternary supermolecules IV have been determined. The structural data are discussed.

Notizen: Various bifunctional amino-protecting groups such as the phthaloyl, succinyl, and glutaryl group were investigated as potential linker molecules for attachment to solid-support materials. Pentane-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid 1,3-anhydride (16) offered the best properties and reacted with the amino groups of differently sugar-protected adenosine (see 20 and 22), cytidine (see 29), and guanosine derivatives (see 32) to the corresponding 2-(2-carboxyethyl)glutaryl derivatives 23, 24, 30, and 33. The usefulness of the new linker-type molecules was demonstrated by the solid-support synthesis of the potentially antivirally active 3′-deoxyadenylyl-(2′-5′)-2′-adenylic acid 2′-{2-[(adenin-9-yl)methoxy]ethyl} ester (38) starting from the 2′-end with N6,N6-[2-(2-carboxyethyl)glutaryl]-9-{{2-[(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)ethoxy]methyl}adenine (12).

Notizen: An efficient stereocontrolled synthesis of (S)-N-Cbz-serine (Cbz = benzyloxycarbonyl; 12) and of its (R)-enantiomer is reported. Kinetic resolution of the easily available racemic 3-(hydroxymethyl)-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones is performed in the key step via acetylation by the immobilized Mucor miehei lipase (Lipozyme IM) at 60°. This method is characterized by high enantiomer purity (ee's ges; 99%) of the intermediary alcohols (+)-8 and (+)-9 and acetates (-)-10 and (-)-11, as well as of the final products (S)- and (R)-N-Cbz-serine, simple recycling of the biocatalyst, complete recovery of 2-aminobenzophenones (3 and 4) and their recycling into production of 1,4-benzodiazepines, and possibility to selectively racemize ‘wrong’ enantiomers of the alcohols 8 and 9 in the presence of Amberlite CG 400.

Notizen: The fate of an insect juvenile hormone analog applied to the insect body of the flesh fly (Sarcophaga bullata) or the tsetse fly (Glossina palpalis), respectively, was studied using three different radiolabeled positions in the parent biologically active compound 1. Several metabolites were found and analyzed. A mechanism of degradation of the applied molecule was designed using a combination of several radioanalytical methods. A unique monitoring of the applied compound and its metabolites was provided, based on the different radiolabeling of the structure (cf. 1a-1c), and established their fate in an insect body during a 10-day experiment. A 14C and 3H radiolabeling, respectively, was employed to synthesize three different radiolabeled forms 1a-1c derived from the parent non-labeled 1. A combination of three different ways of radiolabeling resulted in an advantage in tracing the metabolic pathway of degradation of the employed compound 1 in its radiolabeled forms 1a-1c.

Notizen: Previous work has indicated orbital-symmetry effects upon forward electron transfer in bimolecular systems, with magnitude similar to that encountered in rigid monomolecular systems. The present work, which employs back electron transfer, supports and extends these earlier findings.

Notizen: According to ab-initio calculations, the CF…HO H-bond in 1,3-diaxial 3-fluorocyclohexanol is characterized by d(F…H) = 2.08 Å, and ∠ (F…H—O) = 138°, and by ΔE between 1.2 and 4.1 kcal/mol, depending upon the reference system. Relative to the OH stretching frequency of axial cyclohexanol, the OH stretching frequency of 1,3-diaxial 3-fluorocyclohexanol is shifted by Δω = 7 cm-1. The rigid fluoro diols D-4 and L-4 were prepared from tetrahydroxy-p-benzoquinone in 11 steps and 1% overall yield. The IR spectrum of 4 in CCl4 soln. is characterized by Δν = 7 cm-1 for the axial and Δν = 44 cm-1 for the equatorial OH group. A relatively strong intramolecular CF…HO bond of 4 in CCl4 is evidenced by the large through-space coupling 5J(F,HO) of 9.3 Hz. Nevertheless, this FHO bond is disrupted in ethereal solvents, while the bifurcated O…HO bond subsists. In CCl4, the carbene generated from the glucosylidene-derived diazirine 5 reacted more rapidly with the axial OH group of D-4 and L-4 than with the equatorial one. This regioselectivity is in keeping with the weaker H-bond of the axial OH group. The regioselectivity is lower in ethers, but its solvent dependence does not parallel solvent basicity. This is not satisfactorily explained by the differential interaction of the ether solvents with the axial and equatorial OH groups, as evidenced by the solvent dependence of their chemical shift, but must also reflect the different interaction of the solvents with the carbene derived from 5, leading to ylides. The lower solvent dependence of the anomeric selectivity for the glycosidation of the equatorial OH group is a consequence of the coordination of the intermediate oxycarbenium ion with O—C(1) and O—C(3) rather than with the solvent. Under conditions of competitive glycosylation in CCl4, the fluoro alcohol D-22 reacted more slowly than the alcohol L-24, evidencing the intramolecular F…HO H-bond.

Notizen: Khusimone (1), one of the main odor-donating compounds of vetiver oil, is subject of the following study on structure/odor relationship. The omittance of the methano bridge of the tricyclic khusimone should lead to the bicyclic partial structure (-)-2. Unexpectedly, (-)-2 could not be obtained since epimerization favored (-)-16. The stereochemical key step of the synthesis of the hydrazulene nucleus is based on a highly diastereoselective conjugate addition to a chiral oxocyclopent-1-ene-1-carboxylate.

Notizen: A convenient preparation of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(neopentyloxy)isoborneol (= (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(2,2-dimethyl-propoxy)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ol; 1a), a valuable chiral auxiliary, is described. The synthesis involves six steps starting from the readily available camphorquinone (5) and gives 1a in 48% overall yield. The key step is the chemoselective hydrolysis of the less hindered 1,3-dioxolane moiety in the camphorquinone di-acetal 4.

Notizen: A novel general synthesis of 2,4,5-tri- and 2,4,5,6-tetrasubstituted pyrimidines 5a-d and 7a, e, f, g by condensation of thiouronium salts of type 3 with (ethoxymethylidene)malononitrile (4) and [bis(methylthio)methylidene]malononitrile (6), respectively, was first established in solution (Scheme 1) and successfully transferred onto solid support by using the polymer-bound thiouronium salt 11 (Scheme 3). Further investigations were directed toward a multidirectional cleavage procedure of the 2-(alkylsulfinyl) intermediates, obtained from the 2-(alkylthio)pyrimidines 7a (Scheme 2) or 12 and 14 (Schemes 3 and 4), with different nucleophiles to form highly substituted pyrimidines. In addition, fused-heterocycle derivatives 22a--h, 24a-c, and 26a-e were generated in good-to-excellent yields by condensation of 7a, e, h with versatile isocyanates and isothiocyanates, with subsequent alkylation (Scheme 5).

Notizen: Introduction of the non-complexing chiral (S)-2-methylbutoxy substituent close to the complexing site of a bis[(bipyridinyl)methoxy]calixarene podand resulted in the induction of an enantiomeric excess of ca. 30 % in the corresponding chiral CuI complex. Structural investigations by high-resolution NMR studies led us to propose the left-handed prohelical [CuI(bpy)2] substructure for the major enantiomer.

Notizen: The insecticidal polyether antibiotic X-206 (1) complexes potassium ions using nearly all of its O-atoms either for binding to the metal ion or for participation in a H-bonding network which helps to hold X-206 in the ionophoric tertiary structure. The group OH—C(22) is not involved in these processes. It was supposed that derivatization of this group would not affect the ionophoric properties and would produce insecticidally active compounds. The chemistry leading to selective modification of OH—C(22) via the intermediate 6 was developed. The potassium-binding properties and insecticidal activities of the MeCOO—C(22) and MeO—C(22) compounds 3 and 11, respectively, confirmed that derivatization of the peripheral OH—C(22) was a valid strategy for the synthesis of biologically active compounds.

Notizen: The lactam 21 was obtained in an overall yield of 72% from the hydroxy amide 16 by oxidation with the Dess-Martin periodinane, acid-catalysed isomerization of the oxidation products in toluene, whereupon 18/19 precipitated, and reductive dehydroxylation of 18/19 (Et3SiH/BF3 · OEt2; Scheme 1). The amide 16 was obtained by ammonolysis of the N-acetylglucosamine-derived lactone 15. Depending on the oxidation method, 16 yielded the keto amide 17, the hydroxy lactams 18/19, and the pyrrolidinecarboxamide 20 in widely different proportions. The pyrrolidinecarboxamide 20 was not reduced under the conditions of the reductive dehydroxylation. Hydrogenolysis of the benzyl-protected lactam 21 gave the trihydroxy lactam 22, while reduction with NaBH4/BF3 · OEt2 led to the 2-acetamidopiperidine derivative 24 (Scheme 2). Selective (tert-butoxy)carbonylation of the lactam 21 (→ 25) followed by NaBH4 reduction and acid-catalysed solvolysis in EtOH led to the α-ethoxycarbamates 28/29. Similarly, (tert-butoxy) carbonylation of 1 (→ 31) followed by reduction to 32/33 and glycosidation yielded the ethoxycarbamate 34. Treatment of the GlcNAc-derived ethyl glycosides 28/29 with Me3SiCN/BF3 · OEt2 gave the equatorial amino nitrile 30. Under similar conditions, the Glc-derived glycoside 34 led to the iminooxazolidinone 35. In the presence of a larger proportion of Me3SiCN at 5°, 34 was transformed into the axial, selectively monodebenzylated amino nitrile 36.

Notizen: The reaction of 2-(trimethylsilyl)thiazole (2-TST) with several ketones was tested in the presence or absence of aldehydes. The keto aldehyde 5 (Scheme 2) was prepared from 1 via the hydroxy aldehyde 4 in 3 steps. It reacted with 2-TST to give, after desilylation and acetylation, the bis-thiazole 6. The ketone 11, obtained from 4 in 3 steps, reacted with 2-TST to give, after desilylation, 12. The ketofuranose 17 (Scheme 3) reacted with 2-TST to yield exclusively the more stable D-gluco epimer 18. The reaction of the ketone 11 (Scheme 2) with 2-TST was faster in the presence of 1 equiv. of the keto aldehyde 5, suggesting that an aldehyde promotes the indirect and intermolecular addition of 2-TST to a ketone. We have studied the effect of several aldehydes on the rate of the reaction of the ketones 11 and 17 with 2-TST at different temperatures and at different concentrations of the ketones and of the aldehydes. Electrophilic aldehydes, and particularly 2-fluorobenzaldehyde (0.1 equiv.), promote the addition of 2-TST to electrophilic ketones.