Cucurbit[8]uril Binds Nonterminal Dipeptide Sites with High Affinity and Induces a Type II β-Turn.

In an effort to target polypeptides at nonterminal sites, we screened the binding of the synthetic receptor cucurbit[8]uril (Q8) to a small library of tetrapeptides, each containing a nonterminal dipeptide binding site. The resulting leads were characterized in detail using a combination of isothermal titration calorimetry, H NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), and X-ray crystallography. The equilibrium dissociation constant values determined for the binding of Q8 to nonterminal dipeptide sites Lys-Phe (KF) and Phe-Lys (FK) were 60 and 86 nm, respectively.

Stereoelectronically-induced allosteric binding: shape complementarity promotes positive cooperativity in fullerene/buckybowl complexes.

A novel 2 : 1 host-guest complex forms between 8--butyl-6-azapenta-benzo[,,,,]corannulene (1) and C with positive cooperativity ( = 2.56) and high affinity ( × = 2.8 × 10 M) at 25 °C.

Cyclic (Aryl)(Amido)Carbenes: NHCs with Triplet-like Reactivity.

The synthesis and study of a library of cyclic (aryl)(amido)carbenes (CArAmCs), which represent a class of electrophilic NHCs that feature low calculated singlet-triplet gaps (ΔE =19.9 kcal mol ; B3LYP/def2-TZVP) and exhibit reactivity profiles expected from triplet carbenes, are described. The electrophilic properties of the CArAmCs were quantified by analyzing their respective selenium adducts, which exhibited the largest downfield Se NMR chemical shifts (up to 1645 ppm) measured for any NHC derivative known to date, as well as their Ir carbonyl complexes, from which large Tolman electronic parameter (TEP) values (up to 2064 cm ) were ascertained.

Stereoelectronically Directed Photodegradation of Poly(adamantyl Vinyl Ketone).

Adamantyl vinyl ketone (AVK) and its copolymers are synthesized using reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) methodology and then degraded using UV light. The polymerization of AVK is found to be controlled as indicated by a linear correlation between the molecular weights of the polymers produced and monomer conversion as well as a series of chain extensions. The RAFT method is also used to synthesize random and block copolymers of AVK and methyl methacrylate.

Burgess Reagent Facilitated Alcohol Oxidations in DMSO.

The Burgess reagent ([methoxycarbonylsulfamoyl]triethylammonium hydroxide) has historically found utility as a dehydrating agent. Herein we show that, in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide, the Burgess reagent efficiently and rapidly facilitates the oxidation of a broad range of primary and secondary alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones in excellent yields and under mild conditions, and can be combined with other transformations (e.g.

Chemoselective N-deacetylation under mild conditions.

A mild and efficient chemoselective N-deacetylation using the Schwartz reagent at room temperature in rapid time is described. The mild and neutral conditions enable orthogonal N-deacetylation in the presence of some of the common protecting groups (viz. Boc, Fmoc, Cbz, Ts).

Stereoselective approach to cis-2,3-disubstituted piperidines via reduction of N-acyliminium ion intermediate: enantioselective synthesis of (+)-(2S,3S)-CP-99,994.

A very simple and efficient stereoselective approach to cis-2,3-disubstituted piperidines via the reduction of N-acyliminium ion intermediates is described. Application of this methodology is exemplified by the enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-(2S,3S)-CP-99,994.