Synthesis of novel chiral Cu or Ag/S,N cluster complexes and absolute stereostructures as determined by x-ray crystallography

Novel chiral copper(I) and silver(I) metal complexes were synthesized from the reaction of chiral 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione ligand with CuCl and AgOAc in dichloromethane in the presence of Et(3)N and DMAP at room temperature. Their unique crystal structures were determined by X-ray analysis. Four Cu(I) atoms and four 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione ligands form a butterfly-type metal cluster. Six Ag(I) atoms and six 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione ligands form another butterfly-type cluster.     

The identification of 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thiones and 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thiones from the reaction of glucose with benzyl isothiocyanate

The structure of interaction products resulting from the reaction of unmodified glucose with benzyl isothiocyanate is reported. Prior to their identification, the main products of this reaction were isolated using solid-phase extraction (SPE) as well as preparative HPLC. They were then identified by NMR and MS as 3-benzyl-4-hydroxy-5-(D-arabino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)-1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione, 3-benzyl-4-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-5-(D-erythro-1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)-1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione, N-benzyl-(D-gluco-4,5-dihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydropyrano)[2,3-b]oxazolidine-2-thione and 3-benzyl-4-(N-benzyl amino)-5-(D-arabino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione. The identity of the last compound was secured by X-ray crystal structure data.     

Crystal structures of alpha-mercaptoacyldipeptides in the thermolysin active site: structural parameters for a Zn monodentation or bidentation in metalloendopeptidases.

Three alpha-mercaptoacyldipeptides differing essentially in the size of their C-terminal residues have been crystallized in the thermolysin active site. A new mode of binding was observed for 3 [HS-CH(CH(2)Ph)CO-Phe-Tyr] and 4 [HS-CH((CH(2))(4)CH(3))CO-Phe-Ala], in which the mercaptoacyl moieties act as bidentates with Zn-S and Zn-O distances of 2.3 and 2.4 A, respectively, the side chains fitting the S(1), S(1)', and S(2)' pockets. Moreover, a distance of 3.1 A between the sulfur atom and the OE1 of Glu(143) suggests that they are H-bonded and that one of these atoms is protonated. This H-bond network involving Glu(143), the mercaptoacyl group of the inhibitor, and the Zn ion could be considered a "modified" transition state mimic of the peptide bond hydrolysis. Due to the presence of the hindering (5-phenyl)proline, the inhibitor HS-CH(CH(2)Ph)CO-Gly-(5-Ph)Pro (2) interacts through the usual Zn monodentation via the thiol group and occupancy of S(1)' and S(2)' subsites by the aromatic moieties, the proline ring being outside the active site. The inhibitory potencies are consistent with these structural data, with higher affinities for 3 (4.2 x 10(-)(8) M) and 4 (4.8 x 10(-)(8) M) than for 2 (1.2 x 10(-)(6) M). The extension of the results, obtained with thermolysin being considered as the model of physiological zinc metallopeptidases, allows inhibitor-recognition modes for other peptidases, such as angiotensin converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase, to be proposed and opens interesting possibilities for the design of new classes of inhibitors.     

Synthesis and cleavage experiments of oligonucleotide conjugates with a diimidazole-derived catalytic center

Ribonuclease mimics based on diimidazole derived constructs in combination with or without additional amino groups have been synthesized and conjugated to oligonucleotides. The imidazole moiety was used either unprotected, protected with a monomethoxytrityl group or a tert-butyloxy carbonyl group. Acylation reactions were carried out using the 3-acyl-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione activation strategy. The peptides were coupled to the oligonucleotides with a mixture of PyBOP, DIEA an HOBt in DMF on solid support. The conjugates were purified by RP-HPLC and identified using negative ion mode mass spectrometry. Unfortunately, no cleavage of a linear RNA target under physiological conditions could be observed.     

Synthesis and effect of shortened oostatic decapeptide (TMOF) analogs with isosteric structures on reproduction of Neobellieria bullata.

Oligopeptides 2a-2d derived from the oostatic decapeptide (TMOF) sequence, H-Tyr-Asp-Pro-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-OH (1a) and containing isosteric structures were synthesized and assayed to determine their effect during reproduction in the flesh fly Neobellieria bullata. The N-terminal linear tetra- and pentapeptides 2a, 2b containing the Pro-psi[CH2O]Ala isosteric linkage affect egg development in 80-90% of ovarioles resulting in some resorbed egg chambers, abnormal yolk deposition, the formation of large eggs with irregular yolk granules and proliferation of follicular epithelium. In comparison with their nonisosteric precursors 1b, 1c they exhibit even more accelerated oostatic activity. However, peptides 2c, 2d containing a Pro-psi[CH2S]Ala isosteric linkage are less active.     

Neurokinin B in a human pheochromocytoma measured with a specific radioimmunoassay

An N-terminally directed antiserum to neurokinin B was raised in rabbits using an immunogen prepared by coupling the free-SH group of neurokinin B extended from its C-terminus by a cysteine residue (NKB-Cys) to an -NH2 group on human serum albumin using a heterobifunctional cross-linking reagent. In radioimmunoassay with 125I-Bolton-Hunter-labelled NKB-Cys as tracer, the antiserum showed no cross-reactivity with other tachykinins. An extract of a human pheochromocytoma, previously shown to contain peptides derived from preprotachykinin A, contained NKB-LI (13 pmol/g wet weight). The retention time of tumor neurokinin on reversed-phase HPLC was the same as that of synthetic neurokinin B. Peptides with the retention times of substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin A (3-10)-peptide and neuropeptide K were also identified in the tumor extract. NKB-LI was not detected in extracts of a further nine pheochromocytomas or in five carcinoid tumors that expressed the preprotachykinin A gene.     

A new condensing reagent, 1-(2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)tetrazolide and its use in the synthesis of lambda cro binding heptadecanucleotide on a polymer support.

A new condensing reagent 1-(2,4,6,-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)tetrazolide (TPSPy) was found to give one diastereoisomer of dinucleoside monophosphate aryl esters. Several oligodeoxynucleotide blocks were prepared using this reagent. A heptadecanucleotide, dTATCCCTTGCGGTGATA, which had the same sequence as the lambda cro binding DNA sequence was synthesized by condensing mono-, tri- and dodecanucleotide blocks using this reagent on a polystyrene support.     

Sequence specificity modification of double-stranded DNA with an alkylating derivative of oligodeoxyribonucleotide pT(CT)6

It is shown that in slightly acidic solution (pH approximately 5.3) reagent CIRCH2NHpT(CT)6 (RCl = -C6H4-N(CH3)CH2CH2Cl) modifies a double-stranded DNA fragment (120 b. p.) containing A(GA)6.T(CT)6 sequence at a single nucleotide residue, viz. G29 located near to this sequence in the DNA chain. The location of this modification point suggests formation of a triple-stranded reactive complex with parallel orientation of the pyrimidine oligonucleotide moiety of the reagent and pyrine sequence of the target DNA. Analysing the modification extent dependence of the reagent concentration the association constant Kx between the reagent and DNA was calculated (Kx = (0.95 +/- 0.03).10(5) M-1, 25 degrees C, pH = 5.3, [NaCl] = 0.1 M). The modification by the reagent ClRCH2NHpT(m5CT)6 has the same quantitative characteristics as in the case of ClRCH2NHpT(CT)6.     

Facile synthesis of N-(1-alkenyl) derivatives of 2,4-pyrimidinediones

N-(1-alkenyl) derivatives of 2,4-pyrimidinediones (6-9) were prepared in a one pot synthesis from aldehydes and the nucleobases using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfOTMS) as coupling reagent. Presilylation of the above nucleobases, and N6-benzoyladenine, with excess N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) followed by addition of one mol eq. TfOTMS yielded the N-(1-trimethylsilyloxyalkyl) derivatives 1-5.     

Cyclic analogs of substance P. III. Cyclo (6(sup)gamma----oligomethylenediamine----11) substance P(6-11)-hexapeptides]

Cyclic analogues of substance P of the formula cyclo-[Glu-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH(CH2)nNH-], where n = 3-10, 12, and open-chain analogues (XVIIIa, b) H-Glu.(NHR)-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NHR, where R = -CH3, -CH2CH2CH3, were synthesized. By NMR spectroscopy it was found that cyclo-compounds with n = 3-8 have regularly arranged structures, stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Substances of this type showed less than or equal to 0.1% of the substance P activity on the guinea pig ileum, but some of them antagonize the natural peptide (for compound with n = 5 IC50 = 3.2.10(-6) M). The open-chain compounds proved to have rather high myotropic activity, viz., 22% (R = -CH3) and 8% (R = -CH2CH2CH3) of the substance P activity.     

Protein thiolation and reversible protein-protein conjugation. N-Succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate, a new heterobifunctional reagent.

A heterobifunctional reagent, N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate, was synthesized. Its N-hydroxysuccinimide ester group reacts with amino groups and the 2-pyridyl disulphide structure reacts with aliphatic thiols. A new thiolation procedure for proteins is based on this reagent. The procedure involves two steps. First, 2-pyridyl disulphide structures are introduced into the protein by the reaction of some of its amino groups with the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester sie of the reagent. The protein-bound 2-pyridyl disulphide structures are then reduced with dithiothreitol. This reaction can be carried out without concomitant reduction of native disulphide bonds. The technique has been used for the introduction of thiol groups de novo into ribonuclease, gamma-globulin, alpha-amylase and horseradish peroxidase. N-Succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate can also be used for the preparation of protein-protein conjugates. This application is based on the fact that protein-2-pyridyl disulphide derivatives (formed from the reaction of non-thiol proteins with the reagent) react with thiol-containing proteins (with native thiols or thiolated by, for example, the method described above) via thiol-disulphide exchange to form disulphide-linked protein-protein conjugates. This conjugation technique has been used for the preparation of an alpha-amylase-urease, a ribonuclease-albumin and a peroxidase-rabbit anti-(human transferrin) antibody conjugate. The disulphide bridges between the protein molecules can easily be split by reduction or by thiol-disulphide exchange. Thus conjugation is reversible. This has been demonstrated by scission of the ribonuclease-albumin and the alpha-amylase-urease conjugate into their components with dithiothreitol. N-Succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate has been prepared in crystalline form, in which state (if protected against humidity) it is stable on storage at room temperature (23 degrees C).     

Solution phase synthesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-mating factor and its analogs

The solution phase synthesis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-mating factor and nonfarnesylated and nonmethylated a-factor analogs are reported. The a-factor, a lipopeptide with the sequence Tyr-Ile-Ile-Lys-Gly-Val-Phe-Trp-Asp-Pro-Ala-Cys(S-Farnesyl)OCH3 was synthesized by the condensation of the amine terminal protected decapeptide with the carboxyl terminal farnesylated dipeptide using benzotriazol-l-yloxy-tris-(dimethylamino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP reagent) as the coupling agent. The synthesis of the decapeptide involved 5 + 5 fragment coupling with the BOP reagent and the successful application of 9-fluorenylmethyl ester(OFm) and 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl(Fmoc) groups for the protection of Asp and Lys side chains and Tyr alpha-amine and of phenacyl esters (OPa) for alpha-carboxyl protection. The OFm and Fmoc groups tolerated repeated couplings and were completely stable to zinc powder in acetic acid, a condition under which the OPa group was removed. The synthesis of the nonfarnesylated alpha-factor was accomplished by the coupling of the decapeptide with tetrapeptide (Ala-CysOCH3)2 followed by the deprotection of the OFm and Fmoc groups with piperidine and the cleavage of the disulfide bond with zinc powder in acetic acid. The nonmethylated a-factor was prepared by 10 + 2 fragment coupling using OFm protection of the dipeptide carboxyl group followed by removal of all protecting groups with piperidine. Attempts to saponify a-factor were not successful. The synthetic nonfarnesylated and nonmethylated a-mating pheromones were 100-1000 times less active than the a-factor, indicating that although the methyl ester and the farnesyl group are not essential for biological activity, they are necessary for high potency.     

Synthesis of thionato(triethylphosphine) gold(I) complexes:analogues of "auranofin," an antiarthritic drug

New compounds having the formula [L-Au-PEt3]Cl (where L = imidazolidine-2-thione(Imt) and 1,3-Diazinane-2-thione(Diaz)) are synthesized. They are characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, 13C and 31P NMR spectroscopy.     

Differences in structure, physiological stability, electrochemistry, cytotoxicity, DNA and protein binding properties between two Ru(III) complexes

A novel Ru(III) complex, mer-[RuCl(3)(CH(3)CN)(dpq)] (1), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, where dpq=dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline. Its chemical and biological properties have been intensively compared with those of mer-[RuCl(3)(DMSO)(dpq)] (DMSO=dimethyl sulfoxide) (2). It has been found that the stability in buffered solutions and the reduction potential for the Ru(III)/Ru(II) couple can be modulated by changing the small molecule bonded to the Ru(III) center. Interactions of 1 with DNA have been investigated by DNA melting experiments, DNA competitive binding with EB (ethidium bromide), plasmid DNA cleavage experiments and viscosity measurements. The interaction of 1 and 2 with BSA (bovine serum albumin) has also been studied using fluorescent quenching method. The experimental results show that 1 exerts higher affinity towards DNA and BSA than 2 does. The cytotoxicity of 1 has been evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method, and 2 shows slightly higher anticancer potency than 1 does against all the cell lines screened. Attempts are made to clarify the possible antitumor mechanisms of these two complexes by analyzing the experimental results presented.     

Determination of barriers to rotation of axially chiral 5-methyl-2-(o-aryl)imino-3-(o-aryl)thiazolidine-4-ones

Thermally interconvertible axially chiral 5-methyl-2-(o-aryl)imino-3-(o-aryl)-thiazolidine-4-ones have been synthesized diastereoselectively, and conformations of the major and minor enantiomeric pairs have been determined by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance. Chromatographic resolutions of each compound have been performed by enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography, and the barriers to rotation about the N(3)-C(aryl) bond have been determined by following the thermal interconversion process of the major to minor isomers until equilibrium. The rotational barriers range from 96.2 to 115.2 kJ/mol, depending on the size of ortho substituent on N(3)-aryl ring.     

Facile synthesis of (R)-4-mercaptopyrrolidine-2-thione from L-aspartic acid

An SN2-type of substitution of (S)-bromide 4, which had been prepared from L-aspartic acid, with potassium thiobenzoate provided (R)-benzoylthio derivative 5 with complete inversion of the configuration. Compound 5 was converted, via iodide 6c, to (R)-4-amino-3-benzoylthiobutyric acid 8b. (R)-4-Mercapto pyrrolidine-2-thione 1 was readily obtained from 8b through cyclization with acetic anhydride, thionation with Lawesson's reagent and facile removal of the S-benzoyl group with sodium methoxide.     

Sulfhydryl-selective, covalent labeling of biomolecules with transition metallocarbonyl complexes. Synthesis of (eta5-C5H5)M(CO)3(eta1-N-maleimidato) (M = Mo, W), X-ray structure, and reactivity studies

The photochemical reaction of (eta5-C5H5)Mo(CO)3I with maleimide in the presence of diisopropylamine yielded complex (eta5-C5H5)Mo(CO)3(eta1-N-maleimidato) 4 in 52% yield. The single-crystal X-ray structure of this complex was determined and shows unusual interactions between oxygen atoms of the maleimidato ligand and carbon atoms of the cis-CO ligands. The tungsten analogue of 4, (eta5-C5H5)W(CO)3(eta1-N-maleimidato) 5, was synthesized in 37% yield by the reaction of (eta5-C5H5)W(CO)3I with the thallium(I) salt of maleimide. Complexes 4 and 5 reacted with cysteine ethyl ester and glutathione to afford products of the addition of the sulfhydryl group to the ethylenic bond of the maleimidato ligand. The reaction of 4 and 5 with glutathione proceeded faster than the reaction of the analogous complex (eta5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2(eta1-N-maleimidato) (3). However, all these complexes react with glutathione more slowly than N-ethylmaleimide. Complexes 4 and 5 were used for labeling of bovine serum albumin (BSA), enriched in thiol groups by reaction with Traut's reagent. Reaction of thiolated BSA containing 7.4 SH groups with 4 and 5 gave bioconjugates bearing 6.9 and 6.4 metallocarbonyl moieties, respectively. Under the same conditions, reaction with 3 afforded a BSA conjugate containing 7.6 metallocarbonyl moieties. Labeling was presumed to be site-specific, as the number of metallocarbonyl entities matched very well with the initial number of SH groups measured for the thiolated BSA sample. IR spectra of BSA labeled with 4 and 5 show intense nu(C[triple bond]O)) bands (2042 and 1948 cm(-1) in the latter case), enabling sensitive detection of the bioconjugates in biological samples. Complexes 4 and 5 (especially the latter) should be of interest as heavy atom phasing reagents for protein X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of 2,3-diaryl-1,3-thiazolidine-4-one derivatives as selective cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitors

A group of 2,3-diaryl-1,3-thiazolidine-4-ones, possessing a methylsulfonyl pharmacophore, were synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitory activity.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of 5-oxo and 5-thio derivatives of 1,4-diaryl tetrazoles

A series of 1,4-diaryl tetrazol-5-ones were synthesized by copper mediated N-arylation of 1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5(4H)-one with aryl boronic acids, o-R₁C₆H₄B(OH)₂ where R₁ = H, OMe, Cl, CF₃, Br, CCH. The 1,4-diaryl tetrazol-5-ones substituted with OMe, Cl, CF₃, Br underwent thionation with Lawesson’s reagent to yield the corresponding 5-thio derivatives. The 1-(2-bromophenyl)-4-phenyl-1H-tetrazole-5(4H)-thione so obtained was subjected to lithiation/protonation and Sonogashira coupling to produce 1,4-diphenyl-1H-tetrazole-5(4H)-thione and 1-(2-ethynylphenyl)-4-phenyl tetrazole-5-thione, respectively. The title compounds were found to be stable to strong Lewis acid conditions. Three of these novel compounds were found to inhibit L1210 leukemia cell proliferation and SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell growth over several days in culture in vitro. Shorter tetrazole derivative treatments also reduced the expression of the Ki-67 marker of cell proliferation in SK-BR-3 cells and the rate of DNA synthesis in L1210 cells.