Flow‐injection chemiluminescence determination of diazepam by oxidation with N‐bromosuccinimide

A rapid and sensitive flow‐injection chemiluminescence (FI–CL) method is described for the determination of diazepam based on its reaction with N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) in alkaline medium in the presence of dichlorofluorescein (DCF) as an effective energy‐transfer agent. Under optimum conditions, the proposed method allowed the measurement of diazepam over the range of 2.0 × 10^?6 to 2.0 × 10^?4 mol/L with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10^?7 mol/L. The relative standard deviation for 11 parallel measurements of 2.0 × 10^?5 mol/L diazepam was 2.1%. The method was applied satisfactorily for the determination of diazepam in pharmaceutical preparations, and the results agree well with those obtained by spectrophotometry. The use of the proposed system for the determination of diazepam in urine and plasma samples was also tested. The possible mechanism of the chemiluminescence reaction is discussed briefly. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Racemization of the gastrointestinal antisecretory chiral drug esomeprazole magnesium via the pyramidal inversion mechanism: A theoretical study

The pyramidal inversion mechanisms of the 6‐methoxy and the 5‐methoxy tautomers of (S)‐omeprazole were studied, employing ab initio and DFT methods. The conformational space of the model molecule (S)‐2‐[(3‐methyl‐2‐pyridinyl)methyl]sulfinyl‐1H‐benzimidazole was calculated, with respect to rotations around single bonds, at the B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level. All of the resulting conformations were used as starting points for full optimizations of (S)‐omeprazole, at B3LYP/6‐31G(d), B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p), B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6‐311G(2df,2pd), MP2/6‐31G(d), and MP2/6‐311G(d,p) levels. Four distinct pathways were found for enantiomerization via the pyramidal inversion mechanism for each of the tautomers of (S)‐omeprazole. Each transition state, in which the sulfur, the oxygen and the two carbon atoms connected directly to the sulfur are in one plane, connects two diastereomeric minima. The enantiomerization is completed by free rotation around the sulfur–methylene bond, and around the methylene–pyridine ring bond. The effective Gibbs' free energy barrier for racemization ΔG of the two tautomers of (S)‐omeprazole are 39.8 kcal/mol (5‐methoxy tautomer) and 40.0 kcal/mol (6‐methoxy tautomer), indicating that the enantiomers of omeprazole are stable at room temperature (in the gas phase). The 5‐methoxy tautomer of (S)‐omeprazole was found to be slightly more stable than the 6‐methoxy tautomer, in the gas phase. The energy barrier (ΔG^?) for the(S,M) (S,P) diastereomerization of (S)‐omeprazole due to the rotation around the pyridine chiral axis was very low, 5.8 kcal/mole at B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p). Chirality 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Stereodynamics of Nitrogen Chiral Centers in aza‐β3‐Cyclodipeptides

The present work is devoted to the synthesis, conformational analysis, and stereodynamic study of aza‐β³‐cyclodipeptides. This pseudopeptidic ring shows E/Z hydrazide bond isomerism, eight‐membered ring conformation, and chirotopic nitrogen atoms, all of which are elements that are prone to modulate the ring shape. The (E,E) twist boat conformation observed in the solid state by X‐ray diffraction is also the ground conformation in solution, and emerges as the lowest in energy when using quantum chemical calculations. The relative configuration associated with ring chirality and with the two nitrogen chiral centers is governed by steric crowding and adopts the (P)S_NS_N/(M)R_NR_N combination which projects side chains in equatorial position. The nitrogen pyramidal inversion (NPI) at the two chiral centers is correlated with the ring reversal. The process is significantly hindered as was shown by VT‐NMR experiments run in C₂D₂Cl₄, which did not make it possible to determine the barrier to inversion. Finally, these findings make it conceivable to resolve enantiomers of aza‐β³‐cyclodipeptides by modulating the backbone decoration appropriately. Chirality 25:341–349, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of pyrazolin‐5‐ones to nitroolefins catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid derived 4‐methylbenzoylthioureas

Cinchona alkaloid‐derived 4‐methyl/nitro benzoylthioureas were synthesized, which smoothly catalyzed the asymmetric Michael addition of pyrazolin‐5‐ones to nitroolefins. The results showed that electronic effects of substituents in the benzene ring of benzoylthioureas have subtle influences on their catalytic abilities and electron donating methyl group is favored than electron withdrawing nitro group. Preliminary Hartree‐Fock calculations revealed that in the catalytic cycle, hydrogen bond energies of the complex formed with 4‐methylbenzoylthioureas are about 0.19 to 1.56 kcal/mol higher than with the corresponding 4‐nitrobenzoylthioureas. 4‐Methylbenzoylthioureas were identified as the most effective catalysts that promoted asymmetric Michael addition of pyrazolin‐5‐ones to nitroolefins to give the S‐ or R‐products with high enantioselectivities.     

Conformational study of trinucleoside tetraphosphate d(pCpGpCp): Transition of right-handed form to left-handed form

Using the semiempirical potential functions, conformational energies of the model compounds DMP^?, d(pCp), d(pGp), and d(pCpGpCp) are calculated, and the B → Z transition is discussed along the pseudorotational path of the sugar ring. For dimethylmonophosphate anion, DMP^?, the energy contour map is presented and the stabilities of the phosphodiester conformations discussed. For the sugar ring without the base attached, the minimum energies for each sugar-puckering form are calculated along the pseudorotational path. The energy barrier of the interconversion between the C(3′)-endo form and the C(2′)-endo form is calculated to be about 2.0 kcal/mol. From the conformational energy calculations of the interconversions of mononucleoside diphosphates, d(pCp) and d(pGp), between the C(2′)-endo conformer and the C(3′)-endo conformer, the purine sugar segment is known to be more convertible than the pyrimidine sugar segment. The results also support the finding that the pseudorotational transition occurred with the O(1′)-endo form more easily than with the O(1′)-exo form. Based on the results of conformational studies of DMP^?, d(pCp), and d(pGp), a topological transition of the handedness of the model compound, d(pCpGpCp), is studied. The left-handed Z-form is found to be less stable by about 8.5 kcal/mol than is the right-handed B-form. The energy barrier of the Z → B transition is calculated to be about 17.4 kcal/mol. The contributions of the electrostatic and nonbonded energies to the energy barrier are discussed in connection with the conformation changes of the model compound, d(pCpGpCp).     

Acid-Catalyzed nucleophilic substitution and racemization of 3-methoxy-N-desmethyldiazepam enantiomers in methanol

pK_a1 values of 3-methoxy-N-desmethyldiazepam in acetonitrile and methanol containing various acid concentrations were determined by spectrophotometry to be 3.5 and 1.3, respectively. Temperature-dependent racemization of enantiomeric 3-methoxy-N-desmethyldiazepam in methanol containing 0.5 M H₂SO₄ was studied by circular dichroism spectropolorimetry and the racemization reactions were found to follow apparent first-order kinetics. Thermodynamic parameters of the racemization reaction were found to be: E_act = 18.8 kcal/mol, and at 25°C: ΔH^? = 18.3 kcal/mol, ΔS^? = ?14.8 entropy unit, and ΔG^? = 22.7 kcal/mol, respectively. The racemization had an isotope effect (k_H/k_D) of 1.6 at 42°C. Based on the results of this report and those of earlier reports by other investigators, a nucleophilically solvated C3 carbocation intermediate resulting from either a P (plus) or an M (minus) conformation is proposed to be an intermediate and responsible for the stereoselective nucleophilic substitution and the subsequent racemization of 3-methoxy-N-desmethyldiazepam enantiomers. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Absolute configuration determination and conformational analysis of (−)‐(3S,6S)‐3α,6β‐diacetoxytropane using vibrational circular dichroism and DFT techniques

The absolute configuration of semisynthetic (?)‐3α,6β‐acetoxytropane 1 , prepared from (?)‐6β‐hydroxyhyoscyamine 2 , has been determined using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy. The vibrational spectra (IR and VCD) were calculated using DFT at the B3LYP/DGDZVP level of theory for the eight more stable conformers which account for 99.97% of the total relative abundance in the first 10 kcal/mol range. The calculated VCD spectra of all considered conformations showed two distinctive spectral ranges, one between 1300 and 1200 cm^?1, and the other one in the 1150–950 cm^?1 region. When compared with the experimental VCD spectrum, the first spectral region confirmed the calculated conformational preferences, whereas the second region showed little change with conformation, thus allowing the determination of the absolute configuration of 1 as (3S,6S)‐3α,6β‐diacetoxytropane. Also, the bands in the second region showed similarities between 1 and 2 in both the experimental and calculated VCD spectra, suggesting that these bands are mainly related to the absolute configuration of the rigid tropane ring system, since they show conformational independency, no variations with the nature of the substituent, and are composed by closely related vibrational modes. Chirality, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A transition state in pieces: major contributions of entropic effects to ligand binding by adenosine deaminase.

Nebularine undergoes hydration at the active site of adenosine deaminase, in a reaction analogous to a partial reaction in the displacement of ammonia from adenosine by water, to generate an inhibitory complex that captures much of the binding affinity expected of an ideal transition-state analogue. Enzyme affinities of several compounds related to nebularine 1,6-hydrate, and to its stable analog 2'-deoxycoformycin, were compared in an effort to identify the structural origins of strong binding. Binding of the stable transition-state analog inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin was rendered 9.8 kcal/mol less favorable by removal of substituent ribose, 9.7 kcal/mol less favorable by inversion of the 8-hydroxyl substituent of the diazepine ring, and 10.0 kcal/mol less favorable by removal of atoms 4-6 of the diazepine ring. Binding of the unstable transition-state analog nebularine hydrate was rendered at least 9.9 kcal/mol less favorable by removal of the 6-hydroxyl group and 10.2 kcal/mol less favorable by removal of atoms 1-3 of the pyrimidine ring. In each case, the enzyme exhibited only modest affinity (Kd greater than or equal to 10(-2) M) for the "missing piece", indicating that incorporation of 2 binding determinants within a single molecule permits an additional 7-12 kcal/mol of intrinsic binding energy to be manifested as observed binding energy. These results are consistent with earlier indications that adenosine deaminase may use 10.5 kcal/mol of the intrinsic free energy of binding of the two substrates to place them in positions appropriate for reaction at the active site, overcoming the unfavorable entropy change of -35 eu for the equilibrium of 1,6-hydration of purine ribonucleoside and reducing the equilibrium constant for attainment of the transition state in deamination of adenosine. Thus, adenosine deaminase may achieve up to 8 orders of magnitude of its catalytic power by converting the nonenzymatic, bimolecular, hydration reaction to a monomolecular reaction at its active site. Several new 6-substituted 1,6-dihydropurine ribonucleosides, prepared by photoaddition of formate and by low-temperature addition of organolithium reagents to a derivative of purine ribonucleoside, exhibited Ki values of 9-1400 microM against adenosine deaminase, in accord with the active site's considerable tolerance of bulky leaving groups in substrates. Inhibition by one diastereomer of 6-carboxy-1,6-dihydropurine ribonucleoside was found to be time-dependent, progressing from a weakly bound to a more strongly bound complex.     

Protoberberine Alkaloids Berberine,Palmatine, and Coralyne Binding to Poly(dT)⋅(Poly(dA)⋅Poly(dT)) Triplex: Comparative Structural Aspects and Energetics Profiles of the Interaction

The interaction of bioactive protoberberine alkaloids berberine, palmatine, and coralyne with the DNA triplex poly(dT)⋅(poly(dA)⋅poly(dT)) was studied using biophysical and calorimetric techniques. All three alkaloids bound the triplex cooperatively. Berberine and palmatine predominantly stabilized the triplex structure, while coralyne stabilized both triplex and duplex structures as inferred from optical thermal melting profiles. Fluorescence quenching, polarization, and viscometric studies hinted at an intercalative mode of binding for the alkaloids to the triplex, coralyne being more strongly intercalated compared to partial intercalation of berberine and palmatine. The overall affinity of coralyne was two order higher (2.29×10⁷ M ⁻¹) than that of berberine (3.43×10⁵ M ⁻¹) and palmatine (2.34×10⁵ M ⁻¹). Isothermal titration calorimetric studies revealed that the binding to the triplex was favored by negative enthalpy change (ΔH=−3.34 kcal/mol) with favorable entropy contribution (TΔS = 4.07 kcal/mol) for berberine, favored by almost equal negative enthalpy (ΔH =−3.88 kcal/mol) and entropy changes (TΔS = 3.37 kcal/mol) for palmatine, but driven by large enthalpy contributions (ΔH =−25.62 kcal/mol and TΔS =−15.21 kcal/mol) for coralyne. These results provide new insights on the binding of isoquinoline alkaloids to the DNA triplex structure.     

Enantioselectivity in the metabolism of mexiletine by conjugation in female patients with the arrhythmic form of chronic Chagas' heart disease

The phenomenon of enantioselectivity in the metabolism of mexiletine (MEX) conjugation was investigated in eight female patients with the arrhythmic form of chronic Chagas' heart disease treated with racemic mexiletine hydrochloride (two 100 mg capsules every 8 hr). Blood samples were collected up to 24 hr after the administration of the morning dose, with discontinuation of the subsequent doses during the study period. Plasma concentrations of N‐hydroxymexiletine glucuronide were calculated as the difference between the concentrations of unchanged and total (unchanged + conjugated) MEX enantiomers. Total plasma MEX concentrations were analyzed by HPLC after enzymatic hydrolysis with β‐glucuronidase, the formation of diastereomeric derivatives with the chiral reagent N‐acetyl‐l ‐cysteine/o‐phthalaldehyde, and fluorescence detection. The differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of the enantiomers were evaluated by the paired t‐test. The plasma concentrations of the (+)‐(S)‐MEX did not differ before and after enzymatic hydrolysis. The pharmacokinetic parameters calculated for (−)‐(R)‐N‐hydroxymexiletine glucuronide are presented as means (95% confidence interval): maximum plasma concentration C_max = 194.0 ng · ml⁻¹ (154.3–233.7), time to maximum plasma concentration t_max = 1.4 hr (0.3–2.5), area under the plasma concentration versus time curve AUC^0–24 = 2099.2 ng · h · ml⁻¹ (1585.6–2612.6), elimination half‐life t_1/2β = 12.8 hr (9.9–15.6) and extent of conjugation of 31.6% (24.3–38.9%). The present data indicate stereospecific conjugation of (−)‐(R)‐N‐hydroxymexiletine in the female patients with the arrhythmic form of Chagas' heart disease. Chirality 11:29–32, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The binding of Mg++ ions to polyadenylate, polyuridylate, and their complexes

The binding of Mg ⁺⁺ to polyadenylate (poly A), Polyuridylate(poly U), and their complexes, poly (A + U) and poly (A + 2U), was studied by means of a technique in which the dye eriochrome black T is used to measure the concentration of free Mg^?. The apparent binding constant K_X = [MgN]/[Mg⁺⁺][N], N = site for Mg⁺⁺ binding (the phosphate group of the nucleotide), was found to decrease rapidly as the extent of binding increased and, at low extents of binding, as the concentration of Na^? increased in poly A, poly (A + U), and poly (A + 2U), and somewhat less so in poly U. K_x is generally in the range 10⁴ > K_X > 10². The cause of these dependences is apparently, primarily, the displacement of Na⁺ by Mg⁺⁺ in poly U and poly (A + U) on the basis of the similarity of extents of displacement measured in this work and those measured potentiometrically. was calculated and was found to approach zero as the concentration of Na⁺ increased. In poly U, poly (A + U), and poly (A + 2U) at low ΔH′ v.H. > 0, about + 2 kcal/“mole.” In poly A, also at low salt, ΔH′ v.H. ≈ ?4 kcal/“mol” for the initial binding of Mg⁺⁺, and increases to +2 kcal/“mol” at saturation. This enthalpic variation probably accounts for the anticooperativity in the binding of Mg⁺⁺ not ascribable to the displacement of Na⁺⁺.     

Hybrid Pharmacophore Design,Molecular Docking,Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Aldimine‐Type Schiff Base Derivatives as Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitor

A series of hybrid aldimine‐type Schiff base derivatives including trimethoxyphenyl ring and 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiol/thione were designed as tubulin inhibitors. The molecular docking simulations on tubulin complex (PDB: 1SA0) revealed that derivatives with nitro and/or chloro or dimethylamino substitutes (4‐nitro, 2‐nitro, 3‐nitro, 4‐Cl‐3‐nitro, and 4‐Me₂N) on the aldehyde ring were the best compounds with remarkable binding energies (?9.09, ?9.07, ?8.63, ?8.11, and ?8.07 kcal mol^?1, respectively) compared to colchicine (?8.12 kcal mol^?1). These compounds were also showed remarkable binding energies from ?10.66 to ?9.79 and ?10.12 to ?8.95 kcal mol^?1 on human (PDB: 1PD8) and Candida albicans (PDB: 3QLS) DHFR, respectively. The obtained results of cytotoxic activities against HT1080, HepG2, HT29, MCF‐7, and A549 cancer cell lines indicated that 4‐nitro and 2‐nitro substituted compounds were the most effective agents by mean IC₅₀ values of 11.84 ± 1.01 and 19.92 ± 1.36 μm , respectively. 4‐Nitro substituted compound (5 μm ) and 2‐nitro substituted compound (30 μm ) were able to strongly inhibit the tubulin polymerization compared to colchicine (5 μm ) and 4‐nitro substituted compound displayed IC₅₀ values of 0.16 ± 0.01 μm compared to that of colchicine (0.19 ± 0.01 μm ). This compound also showed the lowest MIC values on all tested microbial strains including three Gram‐positive, four Gram‐negative, and three yeast pathogens.     

Proton and phosphorus-31 magnetic relaxation studies on the interaction of polyriboadenylic acid with Mn2+

Proton and phosphorus-31 nuclear spin–lattice relaxation times T₁ and spin–spin relaxation times T₂ have been measured on the single-stranded polyriboadenylic acid [poly(A)]–Mn²⁺ system in a neutral D₂O solution in the temperature range 10°–90°C at 100 and 40.5 MHz, respectively, with the Fourier transform nmr method. Minimum values of T₁ have been found for all these nuclei, which have enabled the exact estimation of apparent distances from Mn²⁺ to H₂, H₈, H_1′, and the phosphorus nucleus to be 4.7, 4.1, 5.2, and 3.0 Å, respectively. The electron spin of Mn²⁺ penetrates into the phosphorus nucleus, giving ³¹P hyperfine coupling of more than 10⁶ Hz. Evidence of penetration of the electron spin into H₈ and H₂ is also obtained, suggesting direct coordination of nitrogen atoms of the adenine ring to the Mn²⁺ Ion. Combined with the result from proton relaxation enhancement of water, it is concluded that every Mn²⁺ ion added is bound directly to two phosphate groups with a Mn²⁺–phosphorus distance of 3.3 Å, while a part of the Mn²⁺ ions are simultaneouly bound to the adenine ring. It is estimated that 39 ± 13% and 13 ± 5% of Mn²⁺ are coordinated by N₇ and N₃ (or N₁), respectively. The motional freedom of poly(A) in the environment of the Mn²⁺ binding site has been found to be quenched to the extent that the rotational motion becomes several times slower than that of the corresponding Mn²⁺–free poly(A). The activation energies for the molecular motion are, however, practically unchanged from those for Mn²⁺–free poly(A), and are found to be 8.3, 8.5, 6.1, and 8.7 kcal/mol for H₈, H₂, H_1′, and phosphorus, respectively. T₂ of phosphorus is determined by the dissociation rate (k_?1) of Mn²⁺ from the phosphate group for the whole temperature range studied with activation enthalpy of 6.5 kcal/mol. The dissociation rates of Mn²⁺ from the adenine ring are also estimated from proton T₂ values below 50°C.     

Lobster locomotor activity as a measure of GABAAreceptor modulation

Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a well‐known neurotransmitter. A crustacean behavioural assay was developed for the examination of the effects of a benzodiazepine agonist and an antagonist of GABA_A‐type receptors. Both adult and juvenile male and female lobsters, Homarus americanus, were treated with single (or follow‐up) empirically determined doses of the agonist, diazepam, one of its metabolites (desmethyldiazepam), the antagonist, N‐methyl‐ß‐carboline‐3‐carboxamide (MBC), or vehicle alone. The effects of the compounds were monitored in a submerged circular open‐field for differences in locomotor activity, which was significantly inhibited by diazepam. Treatment with MBC following injection of diazepam reversed the latter's effects on locomotion. These results suggest that benzodiazepines may affect crustacean GABA receptors in a fashion similar to the GABA_A type found in the vertebrates, and that they may be involved in the regulation of locomotor behaviour.     

(R)‐Metacycloprodigiosin‐HCl: Chiroptical properties and structure

(R)‐Metacycloprodigiosin can exist in three different tautomeric forms, each with hydrogens at C9′ and C12 in syn or anti orientation. With the addition of HCl, this structural diversity reduces to syn‐(R)‐metacycloprodigiosin‐HCl ( 1a ) and anti‐(R)‐metacycloprodigiosin‐HCl ( 1b ), each with multiple conformers. Energetics and chiroptical properties, namely, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and specific optical rotation (SOR), of (R)‐metacycloprodigiosin‐HCl have been investigated at B3LYP/6‐311++G(2d,2p) level. The experimental ECD spectra of (R)‐metacycloprodigiosin‐HCl have also been measured. Calculations indicated that the lowest energy conformer of 1b is approximately 2.7 kcal/mol lower in energy than that of 1a , and the energy barrier for anti to syn conversion is approximately 13 kcal/mol. The population weighted calculated SORs of 1a and 1b are, respectively, positive and negative. The respective calculated ECD spectra of these pseudoenantiomers show an almost mirror image relationship between them. The experimental SOR and ECD compare well with those predicted for 1b . Thus, 1b is expected to be predominant, a situation confirmed also by nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) data, with a similar conclusion reached for prodigiosin R1.     

Theoretical study of N<Subscript>4</Subscript>X (X = O,S, Se) systems

A series of N₄X (X = O, S, Se) compounds have been examined with ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods. To our knowledge, these compounds, except for the C_2v ring and the C_3v towerlike isomers of N₄O, are first reported here. The ring structures are the most energetically favored for N₄X (X = O and S) systems. For N₄Se, the cagelike structure is the most energetically favored. Several decomposition and isomerization pathways for the N₄X species have been investigated. The dissociation of C_2v ring N₄O and N₄S structures via ring breaking and the barrier height are only 1.1 and −0.2 kcal mol⁻¹ at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G*//MP2/6-311+G* level of theory. The dissociation of the cagelike N₄X species is at a cost of 12.1–16.2 kcal mol⁻¹. As for the towerlike and triangle bipyramidal isomers, their decomposition or isomerization barrier heights are all lower than 10.0 kcal mol⁻¹. Although the C_S cagelike N₄S isomer has a moderate isomerization barrier (18.3–29.1 kcal mol⁻¹), the low dissociation barrier (−1.0 kcal mol⁻¹) indicates that it will disappear when going to the higher CCSD(T) level. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Synthesis,Spectroscopic Analysis,and in Vitro/in Silico Biological Studies of Novel Piperidine Derivatives Heterocyclic Schiff-Mannich Base Compounds

In the present study, 3-substitued-4-(4-hydroxybenzylidenamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones ( S1-8 ) were synthesized by treating 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde ( B ) with eight different 3-substitued-4-amino-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-ones ( T1-8 ) in acetic acid medium, separately. The synthesized Schiff bases ( S ) were reacted with formaldehyde and secondary amine such as 4-piperidinecarboxyamide to afford novel heterocyclic bases. 3-Substitued-4-(4-hydroxybenzylidenamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones ( T ) were treated with 4-piperidinecarboxyamide in the presence of formaldehyde to synthesize eight new 1-(4-piperidinecarboxyamide-1-yl - methyl)-3-substitued-4-(4-hydroxybenzylidenamino)-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones ( M1-8 ). The structure characterization of compounds was carried out using ¹H-NMR, IR, HR-MS, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic methods. The inhibitory properties of the newly synthesized compounds were calculated against the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes. Ki values were calculated in the range of 20.06±3.11–36.86±6.17 μM for GST, 17.87±2.91–30.53±4.25 μM for AChE, 9.08±0.69–20.02±2.88 μM for BChE, respectively, Besides, IC₅₀ values were also calculated. Best binding scores of -inhibitors against used enzymes were calculated as −12.095 kcal/mol, −12.775 kcal/mol, and −9.336 kcal/mol, respectively. While 5-oxo-triazole piperidine-4-carboxamide moieties have a critical role in the inhibition of AChE and GST enzymes, hydroxy benzyl moiety is important for BChE enzyme inhibition.     

Configuration-dependent properties of randomly coiling polynucleotide chains. II. The role of the phosphodiester linkage

The dependence of the unperturbed dimensions of randomly coiling polynucleotides on the rotations about the phosphodiester linkages of the chain has been examined in order to understand the conformational discrepancies, set forth in paper I, regarding these angles (ω′ and ω). Large values of the characteristic ratio 〈r²〉₀/nl² , which agree with the experimental behavior of the chain, are obtained only if a sizeable proportion of the polymer residues have trans ω′ values. The asymmetric torsional potential that is believed to arise from gauche effects associated with the P-O bonds has been approximated using a hard core model. The calculated characteristic ratio exhibits a strong dependence upon the magnitude of this torsional barrier (separating trans and gauche conformations) and shows agreement with experimental values for polyribonucleotides only if this energy difference is 1 kcal/mol or less.     

A QM/MM study of the catalytic mechanism of SAM methyltransferase RlmN from Escherichia coli

RlmN is a radical S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme that catalyzes the C2 methylation of adenosine 2503 (A2503) in 23S rRNA and adenosine 37 (A37) in several Escherichia coli transfer RNAs (tRNA). The catalytic reaction of RlmN is distinctly different from that of typical SAM‐dependent methyltransferases that employs an S_N2 mechanism, but follows a ping‐pong mechanism which involves the intermediate methylation of a conserved cysteine residue. Recently, the x‐ray structure of a key intermediate in the RlmN reaction has been reported, allowing us to perform combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations to delineate the reaction details of RlmN at atomic level. Starting from the Cross‐Linked RlmN C118A?tRNA complex, the possible mechanisms for both the formation and the resolution of the cross‐linked species (IM2) have been illuminated. On the basis of our calculations, IM2 is formed by the attack of the C355‐based methylene radical on the sp²‐hybridized C2 of the adenosine ring, corresponding to energy barrier of 14.4 kcal/mol, and the resolution of IM2 is confirmed to follow a radical fragmentation mechanism. The cleavage of C′–S′ bond of mC355‐A37 cross‐link is in concert with the deprotonation of C2 by C118 residue, which is the rate‐limiting step with an energy barrier of 17.4 kcal/mol. Moreover, the cleavage of C′–S′ bond of IM2 can occur independently, that is, it does not require the loss of an electron of IM2 and the formation of disulfide bond between C355 and C118 as precondition. These findings would deepen the understanding of the catalysis of RlmN.     

Axially chiral N‐(o‐aryl)‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxazolidinone derivatives from diastereoselective reduction of N‐(o‐aryl)‐2,4‐oxazolidinediones: Thermally interconvertible atropisomers via ring‐chain‐ring tautomerization

The reduction of the axially chiral N‐(o‐aryl)‐5,5‐dimethyl‐2,4‐oxazolidinediones by NaBH₄ yielded axially chiral N‐(o‐aryl)‐4‐hydroxy‐5,5‐dimethyl‐2‐oxazolidinone enantiomers having a chiral center at C‐4, with 100% diastereoselectivity as has been shown by their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra and by enantioselective HPLC analysis. The resolved enantiomeric isomers were found to interconvert thermally through an aldehyde intermediate formed upon ring cleavage via a latent ring‐chain‐ring tautomerization. It was found that the rate of enantiomerization depended on the size and the electronic effect of the ortho substituent present on the aryl ring bonded to the nitrogen of the heterocycle. Chirality 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.