Reversible β-hydride elimination of amine ligands forming stable cis-η-iminium hydride Os complexes

Octahedral tetraammineosmium(II) species are generated from their Os^III precursors containing an amine ligand cis to a labile alcohol or triflate. These compounds undergo reversible β-hydride eliminations resulting in the formation of cis-η²-iminium hydride complexes. Judging from NMR data, the η²-iminium group in these products lies parallel to the osmium-hydride bond with the iminium carbon eclipsing the hydride. Attempts to form η²-arene complexes of an Os^II ammine system bearing a stereogenic carbon are also described.     

Spectroelectrochemical studies of some ruthenium(II) complexes with polypyridyl bridging ligands

Ruthenium(II) bis(2,2″-pyridyl) complexes with bridging ligands: 6,7-dichloro-2,3-di(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline; 2,3-di(2-pyridyl)-quinoxaline; 5-methyl-2,3-di(2-pyridyl) quinoxaline; 6,7-dibenzo-2,3-di(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline have been prepared. The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of these complexes are reported. The resonance Raman spectroelectrochemical results indicate the presence of oxidation state sensitive marker bands in the resonance Raman spectra of the oxidized complexes. The spectroscopic data for the reduced complexes is similar for all four species. The resonance Raman data for the reduced species are dominated by 2,2″-bipyridyl vibrations.     

Fungus β-glycosidases: immobilization and use in alkyl-β-glycoside synthesis

Production of β-glycosidases: β-xylosidase and β-glucosidase by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was optimized in the presence of different carbon sources. Immobilization supports with different physico-chemical characteristics were evaluated for use in continuous reactors. Immobilization and activity yields were calculated. Among the adsorption on Duolite, Amberlite, Celite and DEAE-sepharose, and entrapment in polyacrylamide gel or reticulation using glutaraldehyde, highest yields were obtained when β-xylosidase was adsorbed on Duolite A 7 and when β-glucosidase was adsorbed on DEAE-sepharose.

Enzyme preparations from S. sclerotiorum cultures were used in a biphasic (alcohol/aqueous) medium for the synthesis of alkyl-glycosides by trans-glycosylation of sugars and long-chain alcohols. The synthesis was studied under different conditions with primary and secondary alcohols as substrates, in the presence of free or immobilized enzyme. Xylan and cellobiose were used for the synthesis of alkyl-xylosides and alkyl-glucosides, respectively. The majority of the immobilized preparations were unable to catalyze the synthesis of alkyl-glycosides.

Highest yields were obtained when using xylan and C₄–C₆-alcohols. The reaction produced alkyl-β-xyloside and alkyl-β-xylobioside, as confirmed by MS/MS. Up to 22 mM iso-amyl-xyloside and 14 mM iso-amyl-xylobioside were produced from iso-amyl alcohol and xylan.     

Luminescent α-diimine complexes of ruthenium(II) containing scorpionate ligands

We describe the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of several Ru(II) complexes of the type cis-L₂Ru(Z)ⁿ⁺, where L is an α-diimine [e.g. 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen)] ligand and Z is a bis-coordinated scorpionate ligand such as tris-(1-pyrazolyl)methane (HC(pz)₃, PZ=1-pyrazolyl; n=2) or tetrakis-(1-pyrazolyl)borate anion (B(pz)₄ ⁻; n=1). The complexes each exhibit strong visible absorption assigned as a π*(L)←dπ(Ru) metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition characteristic of the cis-L₂Ru²⁺ kernel. A corresponding MLCT excited state emission is observed in room temperature CH₃CN solution, although emission energies, lifetimes, and quantum yields are reduced relative to Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺. Electronic spectra and cyclic voltammetry measurements indicate that the relative π-acceptor abilities of the coordinated Z are: Z=(1H-pyrazolyl)₂(pz)₂B(pz)₂<(pyridine)₂<(pz)₂CH(pz). Uncoordinated pz groups of cis-(bpy)₂Ru(pz)₂B(pz)₂ ⁺ can be reacted to form a sterically hindered, localized-valence (K_com33 l mol⁻¹) cis,cis-(bpy)₂Ru^II(pz)₂B(pz)₂Ru^II(bpy)₂ ³⁺ dimer. The dimer properties are interpreted by comparison to the known cis-(bpy)₂Ru^II(pz)₂Ru^II(bpy)₂ ²⁺ analog. The dimer is photoreactive and undergoes an asymmetrical photocleavage in CH₃CN (yielding cis-(bpy)₂Ru^III(pz)₂B(pz)₂ ²⁺ and cis-(bpy)₂Ru^II(CH₃CN)₂ ²⁺), similar to the corresponding thermal reaction observed for the mixed-valence cis-(bpy)₂Ru^II(pz)₂Ru^III(bpy)₂ ³⁺ system.     

Direct nitration of aryl groups σ-bound to ruthenium(II)

A new method has been developed for the preparation of nitroaryl transition metal complexes using copper(II) nitrate in the presence of acetic anhydride (Menke conditions) to directly nitrate an aryl group which is already σ-bound to a transition metal centre. Under these conditions ruthenium(II) aryl complexes of the type: (where R₁=R₂=H; R₁=H, R₂=CH₃; R₁=CH₃, R₂=H) react to yield three distinct types of nitroaryl-containing products (I–III).

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The preparation and characterisation of these compounds are described. X-ray crystallographic data for one example of each of the three types of compound, are also reported. The compounds that have been studied crystallographically are Ru(C₆H₄NO₂-4)(η²-O₂CCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (1a), C₄₅H₃₇NO₅P₂Ru·(CH₂Cl₂)_0.5, a = 20.254(5), b=19.437(8), c=22.629(3) Å, β=115.390(10)°, monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z=8; Ru(C6H4N[O]O-2)- Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (4a), C₄₃H₃₄ClNO₃P₂Ru, a=9.331(3), b=12.443(2), c=16.346(3) Å, =82.81(2), β=85.03(2), γ=74.76(2)°, triclinic, space group P , Z=2; Ru(C₆H₂CH₃-2,NO₂-4,N[O]O-6)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (5b), C₄₄H₃₅Cl- N₂O₅P₂Ru·(CH₂Cl₂)₂, a=19.497(3), b=14.502(3), c=19.340(5) Å, β=122.79(1)°, monoclinic, space group Cc, Z=4.     

Enzymic Preparation of Benzyl β-D-Glucopyranoside

Benzyl β-D-glucopyranoside was prepared by an enzyme-catalysed direct reaction between D-glucose, or better cellobiose, and benzyl alcohol in the presence of a minimum amount of water. The enzyme β-glucosidase was used in the immobilized form (adsorbed onto macroporous polyethylene terephthalate or covalently bound on polyglycidyl methacrylate), enabling multiple application.     

Proteolytic modification of membrane-associated phospholipase C-β by μ-calpain enhances its activation by G-protein βγ subunits in human platelets

Membrane-associated phosphoinositide-phospholipase C (PI-PLC)-β (150 kDa) and its truncated forms (100 kDa and 45 kDa) were purified from human platelets. The 100 kDa PI-PLC-β was found to be activated to a greater extent by brain G-protein βγ subunits compared to the intact 150 kDa enzyme. Furthermore, treatment with μ-calpain of the intact PI-PLC-β (150 kDa) caused a marked augmentation of its activation by βγ subunits. This enhanced PLC activation by βγ subunits was due to truncation by μ-calpain, producing a 100 kDa PI-PLC, but not by another protease,thrombin.     

Substitution kinetics of tetracarbonyl(η-alkene)ruthenium complexes: ALKENE = ethene and methyl acrylate

The kinetics in heptane of displacement of the alkene ligands ethene and methyl acrylate from Ru(CO)₄(η²-alkene) by P(OEt)₃ have been measured. The reactions occur by reversible dissociation of the alkenes, and activation parameters are compared with those for dissociation of CO from Ru(CO)₅ and for reactions of the corresponding Os complexes. A linear free energy relationship for ligand dissociation from Ru(CO)₅, Ru(CO)₄(C₂H₄) and Ru(CO)₄(MA) has a gradient close to unity, indicating virtually complete bond breaking in the transition states. Competition parameters for reactions of what is probably a solvated Ru(CO)₄S intermediate have been measured for the alkenes and P(OEt)₃, and for eleven other P-donor nucleophiles. Correlations with the electronic and steric properties of the P-donors show negligible dependence on the electron donicity of the nucleophiles and a small but significant dependence on their sizes. The sizes were quantified by Tolman cone angles or by ‘cone angle equivalents’ derived directly from Brown's ligand repulsion energies (E_r). These correlations compared with those, reported elsewhere, for reactions of the probably solvated intermediates Co₂(CO)₅(μ²-C₂Ph₂) and H₃Re₃(CO)₁₁ formed by ligand dissociative processes. In all cases the discrimination between nucleophiles by the intermediates is weak confirming their high reactivity and the borderline nature of the mechanisms of these bimolecular reactions between I_d and I_a.     

Biotransformations of α,β-Epoxyalcohols Catalyzed by Epoxide Hydrolases

Microsomal and cytosolic fractions of mammalian livers were screened for their capacity to resolve racemic mixtures of trans -2,3-epoxy-l-alkanols. The epoxide hydrolase activities showed some specificity for the 2S, 3S enantiomers which were attacked at the proximate carbon atom. The best resolutions were observed with guinea pig liver microsomal enzymes.     

Heterobimetallic chloro bridgedcomplexes of (η:η−C10H16)-ruthenium(IV) with palladium(II), platinum(II), rhodium(III), iridium(III), copper(I) and rhodium(I)

Metathesis of [(η³:η³−C₁₀H₁₆)Ru(Cl) (μ−Cl)]₂ (1) with [R₃P) (Cl)M(μ-Cl)]₂ (M = Pd, Pt), [Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄Pd(μ-Cl)]₂ and [(OC)₂Rh(μ-Cl)]₂ affords the heterobimetallic chloro bridged complexes (η³:η³-C₁₀H₁₆) (Cl)Ru(μ-Cl)₂M(PR₃)(Cl) (M = Pd, Pt), (η³:η³-C₁₀H₁₆) (Cl)Ru(μ-Cl)₂PdC₆H₄CH₂NMe₂ and (η³:η³-C₁₀H₁₆) (Cl)Ru(μ-Cl)₂Rh(CO)₂, respectively. Complex 1 reacts with [Cp^*M(Cl) (μ-Cl)]₂ (M = Rh, Ir), [p-cymene Ru(Cl) (μ-Cl]₂ and [(Cy₃P)Cu(μ-Cl)]₂ to give an equilibrium of the heterobimetallic complexes and of educts. The structures of (η³:η³-C₁₀H₁₆)Ru(μ-Cl)₂Pd(PR₃) (Cl) (R = Et, Bu) and of one diastereoisomer of (η³:η³-C₁₀H₁₆)Ru(μ-Cl)₂IrCp^*(Cl) were determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Expression and characterization of the human 3β-hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases (SULT2B1a and SULT2B1b)

The human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (DHEA-ST), is highly expressed in liver and adrenal cortex and displays reactivity towards a broad range of hydroxysteroids including 3β-hydroxysteroids, 3-hydroxysteroids, estrogens with a 3-phenolic moiety, and 17-hydroxyl group of androgens. In contrast, characterization of the newly described human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase SULT2B1 isoforms shows that these enzymes are selective for the sulfation of 3β-hydroxysteroids, such as pregnenolone, epiandrosterone, DHEA, and androstenediol. There was no activity detected towards testosterone, dexamethasone, β-estradiol, androsterone, or p-nitrophenol. The SULT2B1 gene encodes two isoforms, SULT2B1a and SULT2B1b, which are generated by alternate splicing of the first exon; therefore the SULT2B1 isoforms differ at their N-terminals. Northern Blot analysis detected a SULT2B1 message in RNA isolated from the human prostate and placenta. No SULT2B1 message was observed in RNA isolated from human liver, colon, lung, kidney, brain, or testis tissue. Purified SULT2B1a was used to generate a specific rabbit polyclonal anti-SULT2B1 antibody. The anti-SULT2B1 antibody did not react with expressed human EST, P-PST-1, M-PST, DHEA-ST, or ST1B2, during immunoblot analysis. The substrate specificity of the expressed SULT2B1 isoforms suggests that these enzymes are capable of regulating the activity of adrenal androgens in human tissues via their inactivation by sulfation.     

Mitogenic activity of particulate yeast β-(1 → 3)-d-glucan and its water-soluble derivatives

Particulate β-d-glucan was isolated from baker's yeast using autolysis and delipidization of the cells, followed by alkaline and acid treatment. The residual water-insoluble glucan termed cerevan has a β-(1→ 3)-linked backbone with β-(1 → 6)-linked short side chains. In order to achieve water solubility of the glucan, various derivatives were prepared (car☐ymethyl-, car☐yethyl-, hydroxyethyl-, sulfoethyl-), and the β-glucan was oxidized to glucuronoglucan. Their solubility, degree of substitution (DS), and molecular weight distribution (M_w) were compared. The immunomodulatory activity of these preparations was investigated in mitogenic and co-mitogenic tests on rat thymocytes. Cerevan showed higher stimulation indices compared with the known immunomodulator zymosan. Of the water-soluble derivatives, sulfoethylglucan was found to be the most active. Of the car☐ymethyl derivatives of various DS, the preparation with DS=0.75 exhibited the highest activity. Water-soluble car☐ymethyl preparations with DS > 1.0 and low-molecular-weight glucuronoglucan were inactive.     

Glycosidases in organic solvents: II. Transgalactosylation catalysed by polyethylene glycol-modified β-galactosidase

β- -Galactoside galactohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.23) was chemically modified with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole-activated polyethylene glycols (MW 2,000, 8,000, and 20,000). The modified β-galactosidases had over 50% of amino groups coupled to polyethylene glycol but retained over 50% of the original activity. The hydrophobically modified enzymes were soluble in chlorinated organic solvents in which transferase activity has been demonstrated. The transferase activity, its dependency on water content, and the thermostability of all three modified enzymes were compared.     

Comparing the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of ruthenium and osmium complexes of the tridentate polyazine ligands 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine

A number of osmium and ruthenium complexes of the tridentate ligands 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpy) and 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (tpp) have been prepared and characterized by our laboratory. All these complexes possess metal based oxidations and ligand based reductions localized on each polyazine ligand. Polymetallic complexes bridged by the tpp ligand exhibit two sequential tpp based reductions prior to the reduction of other polyazine ligands in these complexes. The spectroscopy of these complexes is dominated by ligand based π-π^* transitions in the ultraviolet and MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) bands terminating on each polyzine ligand in the visible. For the complexes reported herein the lowest lying optical transitionis a M → BL CT band. For most of the complexes reported, occupation of this excited state gives rise to an observable emission at room temperature. For ruthenium complexes of these tridentate ligands, the presence of a low-lying LF state shortens the excited state lifetimes of these chromophores. This gives rise to ruthenium complexes that display shorter excited state lifetimes than the analogous osmium based systems. Incorporation of tpp based chromophores into polymetallic frameworks leads to the production of bimetallic species with long-lived excited states, 100 ns at room temperature. This makes these chromophores good candidates for the development of stereochemically defined supramolecular complexes. It is possible to measure an electrochemical HOMO-LUMO energy gap and a correlation between this electrochemically measured energy gap and the spectroscopic energy associated with this HOMO→LUMO transition are reported herein (HOMO== highest occupied molecular orbital, LUMO = lowest unoccupied molecular orbital).     

Temporal Changes of Acid Phosphatase, Arylsulphatase, β-Galactosidase and β-N-ACETYL-d-Glucosaminidase Activities in Subcellular Fractions of Rat Liver

In this paper circadian changes in the liver enzyme activities of rat housed under highly standardized conditions with 12:12 hour light-dark cycle are shown. Activities of acid phosphatase, arylsulphatase, β-galactosidase and β-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase in microsomal and lysosomal fractions and crude homogenate were estimated every 4 hr during one 24-hr period. The enzyme activities were related to 1 mg of protein, 1 mg of DNA and 1 g fresh tissue. Daily changes of enzyme activities were found. In case of activity calculated per 1 mg DNA two maxima at 0500 and at 2100 hr were observed, while activity calculated per 1 mg protein showed one maximum at 0500 hr. Activity calculated per 1 g fresh tissue showed the maximum at 0500 hr for each enzyme only in microsomal fraction. As far as acrophase table is concerned for all enzymes and fractions the acrophase occurred during the night. The obtained results are discussed in relation to lysosomal enzymes synthesis process as well as different reference values.     

Synthetic β-endorphin-like peptide immunorphin binds to non-opioid receptors for β-endorphin on T lymphocytes

The synthetic decapeptide H-SLTCLVKGFY-OH (termed immunorphin) corresponding to the sequence 364–373 of the CH3 domain of human immunoglobulin G heavy chain was found to compete with [¹²⁵I]β-endorphin for high-affinity receptors on T lymphocytes from the blood of healthy donors (K_i = 0.6 nM). Besides immunorphin, its synthetic fragments H-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr-OH (K_i = 15 nM), H-Leu-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr-OH (K_i = 8.0 nM), H-Cys-Leu-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr-OH (K_i = 3.4 nM), H-Thr-Cys-Leu-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr-OH (K_i = 2.2 nM), H-Leu-Thr-Cys-Leu-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr-OH (K_i = 1.0 nM) possessed the ability to inhibit specific binding of [¹²⁵I]β-endorphin to T lymphocytes. Tests of the specificity of the receptors revealed that they are not sensitive to naloxone and Met-enkephalin, i.e. they are not opioid receptors. K_d values characterizing the specific binding of ¹²⁵I- labeled immunorphin and its fragment H-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr-OH to the receptors have been determined to be 7.4 nM and 36.3 nM, respectively.     

N-Nitroso-β-lactams as β-lactamase inhibitor

N-Nitroso-β-phenyl-β-lactam has been found to be a specific inhibitor of β-lactamase. N-Nitroso--phenyl-β-lactam, by contrast, was virtually ineffective although a transient inhibition of short duration was observed. The acyl enzyme derived from the β-phenyl isomer is presumably involved in a cross-linking reaction, whereas that from the -phenyl isomer was quenched by spontaneous hydrolysis without formation of a covalent bond. No inhibitory effect of the β-phenyl isomer on chymotrypsin has been observed.     

Multinucleating ligands from multiple palladium(0)-catalysed cross-coupling reactions — synthesis and characterisation of a trinuclear cyclometallated ruthenium(II) complex and a hexanuclear EPR-active molybdenum complex

Two multinucleating ligands have been prepared from 1,3,5-tris(3,5-dibromophenyl)benzene by multiple Pd(0)-catalysed cross-coupling reactions. 1,3,5-Tris[3,5-bis(4-pyridylethenyl)phenyl]benzene (L¹) has six remote pyridyl moieties, each of which can coordinate a 17 valence-electron Mo(tp^*)(NO)Cl fragment (tp^* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate), affording the hexanuclear complex [Cl(NO)(tp^*)Mo₆(L¹) (1). 1,3,5-Tris[3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)phenyl]benzene (L²) incorporates three potentially terdentate, cyclometallating N,C,N-donor sets, and can coordinate three Ru(tpy)²⁺ fragments (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) giving the trinuclear complex [(tpy)Ru₃(L²)][PF₆]₃ (2). Complex 1 is EPR active, with nearest-neighbour pairs of molybdenum centres displaying magnetic exchange interactions. Electrochemical studies of the two complexes suggest that there is little ground-state interaction between the metal centres in either case.