Antifungal metabolites from the roots of Diospyros virginiana by overpressure layer chromatography

A preparative overpressure layer chromatography (OPLC) method was successfully used for the separation of two new natural compounds, 4‐hydroxy‐5,6‐dimethoxynaphthalene‐2‐carbaldehyde ( 1 ) and 12,13‐didehydro‐20,29‐dihydrobetulin ( 2 ) together with nine known compounds, including 7‐methyljuglone ( 3 ), diospyrin ( 4 ), isodiospyrin ( 5 ), shinanolone ( 6 ), lupeol ( 7 ), betulin ( 8 ), betulinic acid ( 9 ), betulinaldehyde ( 10 ), and ursolic acid ( 11 ) from the acetone extract of the roots of Diospyros virginiana. Their identification was accomplished by 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy and HR‐ESI‐MS methods. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antifungal activities against Colletotrichum fragariae, C. gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Phomopsis obscurans, and P. viticola using in vitro micro‐dilution broth assay. The results indicated that compounds 3 and 5 showed high antifungal activity against P. obscurans at 30 μM with 97.0 and 81.4% growth inhibition, and moderate activity against P. viticola (54.3 and 36.6%). It appears that an optimized OPLC system offers a rapid and efficient method of exploiting bioactive natural products.     

Preparation,properties and crystal structures of nickel(II) complexes with acyclic schiff bases derived from 2,6-diformyl-4-chlorophenol and 1,5-diamino-3-thiapentane or 3,3′-diamino-N-methyl-dipropylamine

Nickel(II) complexes with the compartmental Schiff bases derived from 2,6-diformyl-4-chlorophenol and 1,5-diamino-3-thiapentane (H₂L¹) or 3,3′-diamino-N-methyl-dipropylamine (H₂L²) were synthesized, and the crystal structures of [Ni(L¹)- (py)₂] and [Ni(L²)(dmf)]·H₂0 were determined by X-ray crystallography.Ni(L¹)(py)₂ is monoclinic, space group C2/c, with a= 18.457(6), b = 11.116(7), c= 16.098(6) Å, and β = 115.79(5)°; D_c = 1.49 g cm⁻³ for Z = 4. The structure was refined to the final R of 6.9%. The molecule has C₂ symmetry. The nickel atom is six-coordinated octahedral. Selected bond lengths are: NiO 2.04(1) Å, NiN (L¹) 2.08(1) Å, NiN(py) 2.17(1) Å.[Ni(L²)(dmf)]·H₂O is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, with a = 17.329(6), b = 13.322(7), c = 12.476(7) Å and β = 95.43(5)°; D_c = 1.45 g cm⁻³ for Z = 4. The structure was refined to the final R of 5.1%. The nickel atom is bonded in the octahedral geometry to the bianionic pentadentate ligand L² and to one molecule of dimethylformamide. Selected bond lengths are: NiO (charged) 2.063(3) Å (mean value), NiO (neutral) 2.120(3) Å, NiN (planar) 2.050(3) Å (mean value), NiN (tetrahedral) 2.177(3) Å.     

Coordination modes of polydentate ligands. 4. The crystal and molecular structure of an oxo-bridged iron(III) complex containing a pentadentate imino-alkoxy ligand

In the presence of Fe³⁺, template condensation of the fluorinated keto-alcohol CH₃C(O)CH₂C- (CF₃)₂OH with the triamine CH₃C(CH₂NH₂)₃ leads to two products: a fully condensed, imino-alkoxy, iron(III) complex, Fe{CH₃C[CH₂NC(CH₃)CH₂C(CF₃)₂O]₃}, and a partially condensed iron(III) complex, O{FeCH₃C[CH₂NC(CH₃)CH₂C(CF₃)₂O]₂(CH₂NH₂)}₂, in which two six-coordinate iron(III) centers are linked by an oxide ion. A complete crystal and molecular structure determination of the latter has been made.Crystals are monoclinic, space group C2/c, a= 13.886(4); b=23.206(5); c=15.241(4) Å; β= 106.55(2)°; V=4708 ų; Z=4. Least-squares refinement on F of 322 variables using 2627 observations converged at a conventional agreement factor of 3.8%. The Fe to bridging oxide distance is 1.811(1) Å, the FeFe distance 3.468 Å, and the FeOFe angle 146.6(2)°. A comparison is made between this structure and those of natural hemerythrin systems.     

Synthesis and biological activity of lipophilic analogs of the cationic antimicrobial active peptide anoplin

Anoplin is a short natural cationic antimicrobial peptide which is derived from the venom sac of the solitary wasp, Anoplius samariensis. Due to its short sequence G¹LLKR⁵IKT⁸LL‐NH₂, it is ideal for research tests. In this study, novel analogs of anoplin were prepared and examined for their antimicrobial, hemolytic activity, and proteolytic stability. Specific substitutions were introduced in amino acids Gly¹, Arg⁵, and Thr⁸ and lipophilic groups with different lengths in the N‐terminus in order to investigate how these modifications affect their antimicrobial activity. These cationic analogs exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than the native peptide; they are also nontoxic at their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and resistant to enzymatic degradation. The substituted peptide GLLKF⁵IKK⁸LL‐NH₂ exhibited high activity against Gram‐negative bacterium Zymomonas mobilis (MIC = 7 µg/ml), and the insertion of octanoic, decanoic, and dodecanoic acid residues in its N‐terminus increased the antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria (MIC = 5 µg/ml). The conformational characteristics of the peptide analogs were studied by circular dichroism. Structure activity studies revealed that the substitution of specific amino acids and the incorporation of lipophilic groups enhanced the amphipathic α‐helical conformation inducing better antimicrobial effects. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and crystal and molecular structure of a methyl N,N-diethylcarbamylmethylenephosphonato dysprosium thiocyanate complex

Bis-Methyl N,N-diethylcarbamylmethylenephosphonato dysprosium thiocyanate, Dy[O₂P(OCH₃)CH₂C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂]₂(NCS) was prepared from the combination of ethanolic solutions of Dy(NCS)₃·xH₂O and (CH₃O)₂P(O)CH₂C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂. The complex was characterized by infrared and NMR spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The crystal structure was determined at 25 °C from 3727 independent reflections by using a standard automated diffractometer. The complex was found to crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 13.282(4) Å, b = 19.168(5) Å, c = 9.648(2) Å, β = 90.09(2)°, Z = 4, V = 2456.4 ų and ?_cald = 1.72 g cm^?3. The structure was solved by standard heavy atom techniques, and blocked least-squares refinement converged with R_f = 4.7% and R_wF = 4.9%. The Dy atom is seven coordinate and bonded in a bidentate fashion to two anionic phosphonate ligands [O₂P(OCH₃)CH₂C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂^?] through the carbonyl oxygen atoms and one of two phosphonate oxygen atoms. In addition, each Dy atom is coordinated to two phosphonate oxygen atoms from two neighboring complexes and to the nitrogen atom of a thiocyanate ion. This coordination scheme gives rise to a two-dimensional polymeric structure. Some important bond distances include DyNCS 2.433(8) Å, DyO(carbonyl)_avg 2.39(2) Å, DyO(equat. phosphoryl)_avg 2.303(8) Å, DyO(axial phosphoryl)_avg 2.25(2), PO(phosphoryl)_avg 1.493(3) Å and CO(carbonyl)_avg 1.25(1) Å.     

New preparations and molecular structures of cis-MCl2(Ph2PCH2PPh2)2, M = Ru,Os and trans-RuCl2(Ph2PCH2PPh2)2

The title compounds were made by reacting bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) with reduced solutions of OsCl₆^4? and Ru₂OCl₁₀^4?. The crystal and molecular structures of these compounds have been determined form three-dimensional X-ray study. The cis-isomers crystallize with one CHCl₃ per molecule of the complex. All three compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with unit cell dimensions as follows: Cis-OsCl₂(dppm)₂·CHCl₃: a = 13.415(4) Å, b = 22.859(4) Å, c = 16.693(3) Å, β = 105.77(3)°, V = 4926(3) ų, Z = 4. cis-RuCl₂(dppm)₂·CHCl₃: a = 13.442(3) Å, b = 22.833(7) Å, c = 16.750(4) Å, β = 105.53(2)°, V = 4953(3) ų, Z = 4. trans-RuCl₂(dppm)₂: a = 11.368(7) Å, b = 10.656(6) Å, c = 18.832(12) Å; β = 103.90(6)°, V = 2213(7) ų; Z = 2. The structures were refined to R = 0.044 (R_w = 0.055) for cis-OsCl₂(dppm)₂·CHCl₃; R = 0.065 (R_w = 0.079) for cis-RuCl₂(dppm)₂·CHCl₃ and R = 0.028 (R_w = 0.038) for trans-RuCl₂(dppm)₂. The complexes are six coordinate with stable four-membered chelate rings. The PMP angle in the chelate rings is ca. 71° in each case.     

Crystal Structure of 2′-Deoxycytidine Hemidihydrogenphosphate Reveals C+·C Base Pairs and Tight,Hydrogen-Bonded (H2PO4 −)∞ Columns (1)

Abstract

2′-Deoxycytidine hemidihydrogenphosphate has been crystallized in the hexagonal space group P6₂ with α=25.839(3), c = 12.529(1) Å. The structure has been solved using the Patterson search method. The asymmetric unit contains two protonated, base-paired 2′-deoxycytidine dimers and two H₂PO₄ ^? anions. The C⁺·C base pairs are composed of a protonated and a neutral species each and are triple H-bonded, the central N(3)…N(3) bonds being 2.850(7) and 2.884(5) Å. The conformations of the four nucleosides fall in the same category (sugar puckers 2·-endo, glycosidic links anti) but in one of them the glycosidic torsion angle is quite low with consequences in other geometrical parameters. The H₂PO₄ ^? anions are located on twofold axes and form two types of tight columns with P…P separations about 4.18 Å The neighboring units along a column are linked via two very short O…H…O hydrogen bonds (O…O about 2.49 Å) leading to effective equalization of the P-O bonds. The base pairs of the two dC⁺·dC cations are coplanar and form layers perpendicular to the phosphate columns repeating every c/3. Within the layers, the dimers form a network through 0(5′)…O(2) hydrogen bonds but their primary intermolecular interactions have the form of H-bond anchors [N(4)-H…O-P and 0(3′)-H…O-P] to the phosphate groups.     

Volatile organic compounds produced by Lysinibacillus sp. FJAT-4748 possess antifungal activity against Colletotrichum acutatum

FJAT-4748 is a bacterial strain isolated from forest soil samples taken from Dongba Valley, Lijiang, Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China. This strain was identified as Lysinibacillus sp. based on a 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. FJAT-4748 has been shown to possess antifungal activity against different fungi, including Colletotrichum acutatum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium oxysporum. The results of the present study indicate that this antifungal activity results from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by this strain. The observed inhibition rates of VOCs from FJAT-4748 against these fungi were 100%, 100%, 37.20%, 18.94% and 7.64%, respectively. GC-MS analysis identified 24 VOCs from FJAT-4748, which included different categories of compounds, such as aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons and alkanes. Of these 24 VOCs, the most abundant compound was 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, which constituted 36.24% of the total VOCs based on the relative peak area. In the in vitro C. acutatum mycelial growth assay, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol exhibited the strongest activity, with an inhibitory rate of 100% using 10?µL/plate of this VOC. The activity of benzaldehyde was lower. 2-decanone showed the weakest activity among the compounds tested. The inhibitory activity of an artificial mixture of three VOCs against the C. acutatum increased with the amount of artificial mixture used. The inhibition rate reached 100% using 30?µL/plate of this artificial mixture in the plate test. Taken together, these results show that the antifungal VOCs produced by Lysinibacillus sp. FJAT-4748 are potentially useful as agents for controlling anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum.     

Structures of reduced and ligand‐bound nitric oxide reductase provide insights into functional differences in respiratory enzymes

Nitric oxide reductase (NOR) catalyzes the generation of nitrous oxide (N₂O) via the reductive coupling of two nitric oxide (NO) molecules at a heme/non‐heme Fe center. We report herein on the structures of the reduced and ligand‐bound forms of cytochrome c‐dependent NOR (cNOR) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a resolution of 2.3–2.7 Å, to elucidate structure‐function relationships in NOR, and compare them to those of cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) that is evolutionarily related to NOR. Comprehensive crystallographic refinement of the CO‐bound form of cNOR suggested that a total of four atoms can be accommodated at the binuclear center. Consistent with this, binding of bulky acetaldoxime (CH₃‐CH=N‐OH) to the binuclear center of cNOR was confirmed by the structural analysis. Active site reduction and ligand binding in cNOR induced only ～0.5 Å increase in the heme/non‐heme Fe distance, but no significant structural change in the protein. The highly localized structural change is consistent with the lack of proton‐pumping activity in cNOR, because redox‐coupled conformational changes are thought to be crucial for proton pumping in CCO. It also permits the rapid decomposition of cytotoxic NO in denitrification. In addition, the shorter heme/non‐heme Fe distance even in the bulky ligand‐bound form of cNOR (～4.5 Å) than the heme/Cu distance in CCO (～5 Å) suggests the ability of NOR to maintain two NO molecules within a short distance in the confined space of the active site, thereby facilitating N‐N coupling to produce a hyponitrite intermediate for the generation of N₂O. Proteins 2014; 82:1258–1271. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Crystal Structure and Conformation of 8-(2-Hydroxyethylamino) and 8-(Pyrrolidin-1-yl) Adenosines

In the course of investigation of 8-alkylamino substituted adenosines, the title compounds were synthesized as potential partial agonists for adenosine receptors. The structure determination of these compounds was carried out with the X-ray crystallography study. Crystals of 8-(2-hydroxyethylamino)adenosine are monoclinic, space group P 2₁; a = 7.0422(2), b = 11.2635(3), c = 8.9215(2) Å, β = 92.261(1)°, V = 707.10(3) ų, Z = 2; R-factor is 0.0339. The nucleoside is characterized by the anti conformation; the ribose ring has the C(2′)-endo conformation and gauche–gauche form across C(4′)–C(5′) bond. The molecular structure is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bond of N–H·O type. Crystals of 8-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)adenosine are monoclinic, space group C 2; a = 19.271(1), b = 7.3572(4), c = 11.0465(7) Å, β = 103.254(2)°, V = 1524.4(2) ų, Z = 4; R-factor is 0.0498. In this compound, there is syn conformation of the nucleoside; the ribose has the C(2′)-endo conformation and gauche–gauche form across C(4′)–C(5′) bond. The molecular structure is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bond of O–H·N type. For both compounds, the branching net of intermolecular hydrogen bonds occur in the crystal structures.     

Coordination chemistry of 7,9-disubstituted 6-oxopurine metal compounds. 4. Platinum(II) coordination at N(1). Molecular and crystal structure of [(ethylenediamine)bis(7,9-dimethylhypoxanthine)platinum(II)] hexafluorophosphate

The preparation and molecular and crystal structure of the complex [(ethylenediamine)bis(7,9,-dimethylhypoxanthine)platinum(II)] hexafluorophosphate, [Pt(C₂H₈N₂)(C₇H₈N₄O)₂] (PF₆)₂, are reported. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a = 12.334(2)Å, b = 10.256(2)Å, c = 22.339(3)Å, β = 101.31(1)°, V = 2771.0ų, Z = 4, D_measd = 2.087(3) g cm^?3, D_calc = 2.094 g cm^?3. Intensities for 3992 symmetry-averaged reflections were collected in the θ-2o scan mode on an automated diffractometer employing graphite-monochromatized MoKα radiation. The structure was solved by standard heavy-atom Patterson and Fourier methods. Full matrix least-squares refinement led to a final R value of 0.051. Both the ethylenediamine chelate and the PF₆^? anion are disordered. The primary coordination sphere about the Pt(II) center is approximately square planar with the bidentate ethylenediamine ligand and the N(1) atoms [Pt(II) ? N(1) = 2.020(5)Å] of two 7,9-dimethylhypoxanthine bases (related by a crystallographic twofold axis of symmetry) occupying the four coordination sites. The exocyclic O(6) carbonyl oxygen atoms of the two 7,9-dimethylhypoxanthine ligands participate in intracomplex hydrogen bonding with the amino groups of the ethylenediamine chelate [N(ethylenediamine) ? O(6) = 2.89( )Å]. The observed Pt ? O(6) intramolecular distances of 3.074(6)Å are similar to those found in other Pt(II) N(1)-bound 6-oxopurine complexes and in several Pt(II) N(3)-bound cytosine systems.     

A theoretical investigation into the cooperativity effect between the H∙∙∙O and H∙∙∙F– interactions and electrostatic potential upon 1:2 (F–:N-(Hydroxymethyl)acetamide) ternary-system formation

The cooperativity effects between the O/N–H???F^– anionic hydrogen-bonding and O/N–H???O hydrogen-bonding interactions and electrostatic potentials in the 1:2 (F^–:N-(Hydroxymethyl)acetamide (signed as “ha”)) ternary systems are investigated at the B3LYP/6-311++G** and MP2/6-311++G** levels. A comparison of the cooperativity effect in the “F^–???ha???ha” and “FH???ha^–???ha” systems is also carried out. The result shows that the increase of the H???O interaction energy in the O–H???O–H, N–H???O–H or N–H???O?=?C link is more notable than that in the O–H???O?=?C contact upon ternary-system formation. The cooperativity effect is found in the complex formed by the O/N–H???F^– and O/N–H???O interactions, while the anti-cooperativity effect is present in the system with only the O/N–H???F^– H-bond or the “FH???ha^–???ha” complex by the N^–???H–F contact. Atoms in molecules (AIM) analysis and shift of electron density confirm the existence of cooperativity. The most negative surface electrostatic potential (V _S,min ) correlates well with the interaction energy E′ _{int.(ha???F–)} and synergetic energy E _syn., respectively. The relationship between the change of V _S,min (i.e., ΔV _S,min ) and E _syn. is also found.

Synthesis and coordination chemistry of tripodal dialkyl[1,2-bis(diethylcarbamoyl)ethyl]phosphonates with lanthanide nitrates

Trifunctional dialkyl [1,2-bis(diethylcarbamoyl)- ethyl] phosphonates, (RO)₂P(O)CH[C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂]- [CH₂C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂] R  CH₃, C₂H₅, i-C₃H₇, n-C₆H₁₃ were prepared from the respective sodium salts, Na[(RO)₂P(O)CHC(O)N(C₂H₅)₂] and N,N- diethylchloroacetamide, and they were characterized by elemental analysis, mass, infrared and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of (i-C₃H₇O)₂- P(O)CH[C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂][CH₂C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂] was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and found to crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a=15.589(6), b=9.783(4), c= 16.283(7) Å, β = 110.90(3)°, Z = 4 and V= 2320(2) ų. The structure was solved by direct methods and blocked least-squares refinement converged with Rf = 5.7% and R_wF= 4.4% on 2266 unique data with F>4σ(F). Important bond distances include PO 1.459(3) Å, CHCO 1.228(3) Å and CHCH₂CO 1.223(3) Å. The coordination chemistry of the ligand with several lanthanides was examined, and the structure of the complex Gd(NO₃)₃{[(i-C₃H₇O)₂P(O)CH[C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂][CH₂C(O)N(C₂H₅)₂]}₂·H₂O was determined. The complex crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 13.524(5), b = 22.033(4), c = 19.604(4) Å β = 106.22(2)°, Z = 4 and V= 5609(3) ų. The structure was solved by heavy atom techniques and blocked least-squares refinement converged with R_F = 5.9% and R_wF = 4.1% on 5275 reflections with F > 4σ(F). Both trifunctional ligands were found to bond to Gd(III) through only the phosphoryl oxygen atoms. The remainder of the Gd coordination sphere was composed of three bidentate nitrate oxygen atoms and an oxygen bonded water molecule. Several important bond distances include GdO(phosphoryl)_av = 2.343(5) Å, GdO(nitrate)_av = 2.475(7) Å, GdO(water) = 2.354(5) Å, PO(phosphoryl)_av = 1.467(6) Å, CHCO_av = 1.242(10) Å and CHCH₂CO_av = 1.209(11) Å.     

Metal—phenoxyalkanoic acid interactions. Part 14. The crystal and molecular structures of diaquabis(4-fluorophenoxyacetato)copper(II) bis(4-fluorophenoxyacetic acid)dihydrate and tetra-μ-(4-fluorophenoxyacetato-0,0′)-bis[(2-aminopyrimidine)copper(II)]

The crystal structures of two copper(II) complexes of 4-fluorophenoxyacetic acid (4-FPAH) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. [Cu(4-FPA)₂(H₂O)₂]·2(4-FPAH)·2H₂O (1) is triclinic, space group P1 with Z = 1 in a cell of dimensions a = 14.808(2), b = 9.832(2), c = 6.847(2) Å, α = 87.77(2), β = 98.41(2), γ = 112.33(2)° and was refined to a residual of 0.038 for 1697 ‘observed’ reflections. The coordination sphere in this complex is tetragonally distorted octahedral comprising two waters [CuO, 1.940(3) Å], two unidentate carboxylate oxygens [CuO, 1.942(2) Å] and two ether oxygens [CuO, 2.471(2) Å]. Two adducted [4-FPAH] acid molecules are linked to the un-coordinated oxygens of the acid ligands by hydrogen bonds [2.547(4) Å]. [Cu₂(4-FPA)₄(2-aminopyrimidine)₂] (2) is triclinic, space group P1 with Z = 1 in a cell of dimensions a = 12.688(2), b = 11.422(2), c = 7.951(1) Å, α = 78.74(1), β = 107.51(1), γ = 75.78(1)°, and was refined to a residual of 0.042 for 2683 ‘observed’ reflections. (2) is a centrosymmetric tetracarboxylate bridged dimer with four similar CuO (equatorial) distances [1.967–1.987 Å; 1.977(3) Å mean] and the axial position occupied by the hetero nitrogen of the 2-aminopyrimidine ligand [CuN, 2.176(3) Å]. The Cu---Cu separation is 2.710(1) Å. Crystal data are also presented which confirm the isostructurality of complex (2) with [Cu₂(phenoxyacetate)₄(2-aminopyrimidine)₂], the Co^II, Mg^II and Mn^II4-fluorophenoxyacetate complexes with their phenoxyacetic and 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid analogues, and of Cd^II4-fluorophenoxyacetate with Cd^II and Zn^II phenoxyacetates.     

Molecular Phylogeny,Diversity, and Bioprospecting of Endophytic Fungi Associated with wild Ethnomedicinal North American Plant Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae)

The endophytic fungal community associated with the ethnomedicinal plant Echinacea purpurea was investigated as well as its potential for providing antifungal compounds against plant pathogenic fungi. A total of 233 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained and classified into 42 different taxa of 16 genera, of which Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum dematium, and Stagonosporopsis sp. 2 are the most frequent colonizers. The extracts of 29 endophytic fungi displayed activities against important phytopathogenic fungi. Eight antifungal extracts were selected for chemical analysis. Forty fatty acids were identified by gas chromatography‐flame‐ionization detection (GC‐FID) analysis. The compounds (–)‐5‐methylmellein and (–)‐(3R)‐8‐hydroxy‐6‐methoxy‐3,5‐dimethyl‐3,4‐dihydroisocoumarin were isolated from Biscogniauxia mediterraneaEPU38CA crude extract. (–)‐5‐Methylmellein showed weak activity against Phomopsis obscurans, P. viticola, and Fusarium oxysporum, and caused growth stimulation of C. fragariae, C. acutatum, C. gloeosporioides, and Botrytis cinerea. (–)‐(3R)‐8‐Hydroxy‐6‐methoxy‐3,5‐dimethyl‐3,4‐dihydroisocoumarin appeared slightly more active in the microtiter environment than 5‐methylmellein. Our results indicate that E. purpurea lives symbiotically with different endophytic fungi, which are able to produce bioactive fatty acids and aromatic compounds active against important phytopathogenic fungi. The detection of the different fatty acids and aromatic compounds produced by the endophytic community associated with wild E. purpurea suggests that it may have intrinsic mutualistic resistance against phytopathogen attacks in its natural environment.     

Crystal Structure and Conformation of 5‐Fluorouridine: Conformational Preferences for 5‐Fluorinated Pyranosides

Crystals of 5‐fluorouridine (5FUrd) have unit cell dimensions a = 7.716(1), b = 5.861(2), c = 13.041(1)Å, α = γ = 90°, β = 96.70° (1), space group P2₁, Z = 2, ρ_obs = 1.56 gm/c.c and ρ_calc = 1574 gm/c.c The crystal structure was determined with diffractometric data and refined to a final reliability index of 0.042 for the observed 2205 reflections (I ≥ 3σ). The nucleoside has the anti conformation [χ = 53.1(4)°] with the furanose ring in the favorite C2′–endo conformation. The conformation across the sugar exocyclic bond is g⁺, with values of 49.1(4) and ? 69.3(4)° for Φ_θc and Φ_∞ respectively. The pseudorotational amplitude τ_m is 34.5 (2) with a phase angle of 171.6(4)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by a network of N–H…O and O–H…O involving the N3 of the uracil base and the sugar O3′ and O2′ as donors and the O2 and O4 of the uracil base and O3′ oxygen as acceptors respectively. Fluorine is neither involved in the hydrogen bonding nor in the stacking interactions. Our studies of several 5‐fluorinated nucleosides show the following preferred conformational features: 1) the most favored anti conformation for the nucleoside [χ varies from ? 20 to + 60°] 2) an inverse correlation between the glycosyl bond distance and the χ angle 3) a wide variation of conformations of the sugar ranging froni C2′–endo through C3′–endo to C4′–exo 4) the preferred g⁺ across the exocyclic C4′–C5′ bond and 5) no role for the fluorine atom in the hydrogen bonding or base stacking interactions.     

Synthesis,antitumour and antioxidant activities of novel α,β-unsaturated ketones and related heterocyclic analogues: EGFR inhibition and molecular modelling study

New α,β-unsaturated ketones 4a,b; 5a–c; and 6a,b; as well as 4-H pyran 7; pyrazoline 8a,b; isoxazoline 9; pyridine 10–11; and quinoline-4-carboxylic acid 12a,b derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antitumour activity against HepG2, MCF-7, HeLa, and PC-3 cancer cell lines. Antioxidant activity was investigated by the ability of these compounds to scavenge the 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS^?+). Compounds 6a, 6b, 7, and 8b exhibited potent antitumour activities against all tested cell lines with [IC₅₀] ?5.5–18.1 µΜ), in addition to significantly high ABTS^?+ scavenging activities. In vitro EGFR kinase assay for 6a, 6b, 7, and 8b as the most potent antitumour compounds showed that; compounds 6b, and 7 exhibited worthy EGFR inhibition activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.56 and 1.6?µM, respectively, while compounds 6a and 8b showed good inhibition activity with IC₅₀ values of 4.66 and 2.16?µM, respectively, compared with sorafenib reference drug (IC₅₀?=?1.28?µM). Molecular modelling studies for compounds 6b, 7, and 8b were conducted to exhibit the binding mode towards EGFR kinase, which showed similar interaction with erlotinib.     

Comparative structural studies of the first row early transition metal(III) chloride tetrahydrofuran solvates

Two compounds of empirical formula MCl₃- (THF)₃, M = V and Cr, have been characterized by single crystal X-ray studies. The VCl₃(THF)₃ molecule, which has a mer octahedral stereochemistry, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a= 8.847(2),b= 12.861(5),c= 15.134(3) Å, β = 91.94(2)°, V = 1721(1) ų and Z = 4. The V-Ci(1) and V-CI(2) distances have a mean value of 2.330 [3] Å while V-CI(3) = 2.297(2) Å, The VO(1) and VO(2) distances have a mean value of 2.061[8] Å while V-O(3) = 2.102(3) Å cis ClVCl angles average 92.0[5]° and cis OVO angles average 86.2[2]° . The isostmctural complex, CrCl₃(THF)₃, has a crystal structure made up of discrete octahedral mer-CrCl₃(THF)₃ molecules with the following unit cell dimensions (space group P2₁/c): a = 8.715(1), b= 12.786(3), c = 15.122(3) Å, β = 92.15(1)°, V = 1684(1) ų and Z = 4. The CrCl(1) and CrCl(2) distances have a mean value of 2.310131 Å while CrCl(3) = 2.283(2) Å. The CrO(1) and CrO(2) distances have a mean value of 2.0101171 Å while CrO(3) = 2.077(4) Å. cis ClCrCl angles average 90.9[4]° and cis OCrO angles average 86.1 [2]°. The structures of these two octahedral complexes and those previously reported for ScCl₃(THF)₃ and TiCl₃(THF)₃ are compared and certain general trends are discussed.     

Chain length dependent transition of 310- to α-helix of Boc-(Ala-Aib)n-OMe

An apolar synthetic octapeptide, Boc-(Ala-Aib)₄-OMe, was crystallized in the triclinic space group P1 with cell dimensions a = 11.558 Å, b = 11.643 Å, c = 9.650 Å, α = 120.220°, β = 107.000°, γ = 90.430°, V = 1055.889 ų, Z = 1, C₃₄H₆₀O₁₁N₈·H₂O. The calculated crystal density was 1.217 g/cm³ and the absorption coefficient ? was 6.1. All the intrahelical hydrogen bonds are of the 3₁₀ type, but the torsion angles, ? and ψ, of Ala(5) and Ala(7) deviate from the standard values. The distortion of the 3₁₀-helix at the C-terminal half is due to accommodation of the bulky Boc group of an adjacent peptide in the nacking. A water molecule is held between the N-terminal of one peptide and the C-terminal of the other. The oxygen atom of water forms hydrogen bonds with N (1) -H and N (2) -H, which are not involved in the intrahelical hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen atoms of water also formed hydrogen bonds with carbonyl oxygens of the adjacent peptide molecule. On the other hand, ¹H-nmr analysis revealed that the octapeptide took an α-helical structure in a CD₃CN solution. The longer peptides, Boc-(Ala-Aib)₆-OMe and Boc-(Ala-Aib)₈-OMe, were also shown to take an α-helical structure in a CD₃CN solution. An α-helical conformation of the hexadecapeptide in the solid state was suggested by x-ray analysis of the crystalline structure. Thus, the critical length for transition from the 3₁₀- to α-helix of Boc-(Ala-Aib)_n-OMe is 8. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and x-ray structure of a Hg(II) complex with adenine N(1)-oxide. A model for mercury binding to DNA

The synthesis and crystal structure of the adenine N(1)-oxide complex with mercury(II) chloride, (C₅H₅N₅O)HgCl₂ are reported. Crystals of the coordination compound belong to the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with the following primary crystallographic data: a = 6.685(1) Å, b = 11.798(2) Å, c = 10.155(1) Å, β = 100.22(1)°, V = 906.04 ų, Z = 4. The structure was elucidated by conventional Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by the full matrix least-squares technique on the basis of 1977 observed reflections to an R value of 0.074. The basic unit of the structure is a dimer, with a centre of symmetry, consisting of two HgCl₂ moieties and two adenine N(1)-oxide ligands. A polymeric structure results from the bridging interactions of chloride ions. Adenine N(1)-oxide acts as a bidentate bridging ligand, coordinating through N(7) and O(1). The coordination geometry around the mercury ion is a distorted square pyramid with N(7) and three chlorines (two of which are centro-symmetrically related) forming the square plane and O(1) occupying the axial position. Hg also interacts indirectly with N(6) through a Cl

HN hydrogen bond. Principal intracomplex geometrical parameters are as follows: HgN(7) = 2.61(1) Å, HgO(1) = 2.55(1) Å, HgCl(1) = 2.330(3) Å, HgCl(2) = 2.318(3) Å, HgCl(2′) = 3.347(3) Å. The cis angles range from 77.5° to 107.9° and the two trans angles are 155.5° and 163.1°. The centro-symmetrically related bases overlap partially and pack at a distance of 3.2 Å. The glide-related bases are linked by a hydrogen bond, N(9)H

O(1) and are inclined to one another by 109.7°. The results are compared with those derived from spectroscopic and other physicochemical studies on metal interaction with adenine N(1)-oxide. Based on the present structural observations and earlier experimental results a possible mechanism is proposed for mercury interaction with DNA.