Solid-state NMR and TGA studies of silver reduction in chabazite.

Silver-exchanged molecular sieves have shown great promise in applications ranging from antimicrobial materials to the adsorption of xenon and iodide, two key contaminants emitted from nuclear reactors. In this work, solid-state 27Al and 29Si MAS NMR and TGA were used to study silver reduction in silver-exchanged chabazite under various thermal conditions. The solid-state NMR results for both 27Al and 29Si show that there are no major changes in the chabazite during silver reduction in an argon stream; however a progressive structural change does take place in the hydrogen stream.

Synthetic UDP-galactofuranose analogs reveal critical enzyme-substrate interactions in GlfT2-catalyzed mycobacterial galactan assembly.

Mycobacterial cell wall galactan, composed of alternating β-(1→5) and β-(1→6) galactofuranosyl residues, is assembled by the action of two bifunctional galactofuranosyltransferases, GlfT1 and GlfT2, which use UDP-galactofuranose (UDP-Galf) as the donor substrate. Kinetic analysis of synthetic UDP-Galf analogs identified critical interactions involved in donor substrate recognition by GlfT2, a processive polymerizing glycosyltransferase. Testing of methylated UDP-Galf analogs showed the donor substrate-binding pocket is sterically crowded.

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography with acid labile surfactant.

We present a study of a degradable surfactant, sodium 4-[(2-methyl-2-undecyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methoxy]-1-propane sulfonate that is also known as an acid-labile surfactant (ALS). The performance of ALS as a pseudostationary phase is assessed and compared with established pseudostationary phases such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), volatile surfactants and polymeric micelles. ALS achieves separation efficiency of 100,000-145,000 theoretical plates and relative standard deviation (RSD) of electrophoretic mobility (n=5) of less than 3%.

High temperature normal phase liquid chromatography of aromatic hydrocarbons on bare zirconia.

The normal phase HPLC behavior of a bare zirconia column was studied at temperatures up to 200 °C using a hexane mobile phase. The use of elevated column temperatures significantly decreased the retention of twenty five aromatic model compounds according to the van't Hoff equation (>30-fold decrease for some compounds). Large improvements in peak shape, efficiency (>2.

High performance liquid chromatographic separations of gas oil samples and their hydrotreated products using commercial normal phases.

Three commercially available high performance liquid chromatography columns are used in normal phase or quasi-normal phase mode for the separation of gas oil samples. The columns are tested with 20 analytical standards to determine their suitability for separations of petroleum samples and their ability to separate the nitrogen group-types (pyrrole and pyridine) found in petroleum. The columns studied are polymeric hypercrosslinked polystyrene (HGN), a biphenyl phase, and a Chromegabond "DNAP" column from ES Industries.

Synthesis of the 6-O-methyl-D-glycero-α-L-gluco-heptopyranose moiety present in the capsular polysaccharide from Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168.

The first synthesis of the 6-O-methyl-D-glycero-α-L-gluco-heptopyranose moiety present in the capsular polysaccharide from Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 is reported. The target (1) was synthesized as the 8-aminooctyl glycoside and then conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) for the generation of antibodies recognizing this motif. Heptose 1 was obtained from D-galactose via a series of galactofuranose derivatives.

Reprint of "effect of carbohydrate amino group modifications on the cytotoxicity of glycosylated 2-phenyl-benzo[b]thiophenes and 2-phenyl-benzo[b]furans" [Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 21 (2011) 2591-2596].

In previous studies, we have identified a family of benzo[b]furan and benzo[b]thiophene derivatives linked to amino sugars (1-6) that are cytotoxic to a range of cancer cell lines. We describe here an exploration of the effect of structural modification of the amino group on one of the carbohydrate residues (4-amino-2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-α-l-threo-hexopyranoside) on in vitro cytotoxicity. It has been found that maintaining at least one basic functional group around the C-4 position in the carbohydrate moiety is crucial for cytotoxicity.

Homologous Mukaiyama reactions via trapping of the Nazarov intermediate with silyloxyalkenes.

Treatment of 1,4-pentadien-3-ones and silyloxyalkenes with BF(3)·OEt(2) at room temperature or lower initiates a domino process consisting of sequential 4π electrocyclization and capture of the resulting cyclopentenyl cation by the electron-rich trap. The overall process furnishes 1,4-dicarbonyl products containing highly substituted cyclopentanones in good yields and with the establishment of up to five new stereocenters.

Synthesis and NMR studies on the ABO histo-blood group antigens: synthesis of type III and IV structures and NMR characterization of type I-VI antigens.

The ABO histo-blood group antigens are best known for their important roles in solid organ and bone marrow transplantation as well as transfusion medicine. Here we report the synthesis of the ABO type III and IV antigens with a 7-octen-1-yl aglycone. Also described is an NMR study of the ABO type I to VI antigens, which were carried out to probe differences in overall conformation of the molecules.

Effect of carbohydrate amino group modifications on the cytotoxicity of glycosylated 2-phenyl-benzo[b]thiophenes and 2-phenyl-benzo[b]furans.

In previous studies, we have identified a family of benzo[b]furan and benzo[b]thiophene derivatives linked to amino sugars (1-6) that are cytotoxic to a range of cancer cell lines. We describe here an exploration of the effect of structural modification of the amino group on one of the carbohydrate residues (4-amino-2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-α-l-threo-hexopyranoside) on in vitro cytotoxicity. It has been found that maintaining at least one basic functional group around the C-4 position in the carbohydrate moiety is crucial for cytotoxicity.

Theoretical Investigations on the Conformation of the β-d-Arabinofuranoside Ring.

A method for the conformational analysis of furanose rings that involves the prediction of (3)JH,H that can be compared directly to experimental values is investigated. This method, which differs from the traditional PSEUROT approach for conformational studies of furanose rings, was previously applied to a number of α-d-arabinofuranosides and enabled the direct comparison of (3)JH,H values to those obtained from NMR spectroscopy. In this paper, the use of this approach to study the conformational preferences of oligosaccharides containing β-linked arabinofuranose residues is reported.

Chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of gallidermin-siderophore conjugates.

The lantibiotic gallidermin was modified at lysine residues by regioselective attachment of derivatives of pyochelin, agrobactin and desferrioxamine B with the objective of having siderophore receptors of Gram-negative bacteria transport the antibiotic-iron chelator conjugate through the outer membrane. All of the conjugates retained activity against the Gram-positive indicator strain, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris HP.

Expedient route to the tigliane-daphnane skeleton via oxonium ylide [1,2]-shift.

A short, stereoselective approach to the fused tricyclic carbon skeleton found in the tigliane and daphnane classes of diterpene natural products is described. Convergent coupling of the A- and C-rings, followed by diastereoselective cerium enolate addition and formation of a double acetal set the stage for generation of an oxonium ylide via a transient metallocarbene. An efficient Stevens [1,2]-shift furnished the 7-membered B-ring, possessing the bridgehead oxygenation pattern found in the natural systems.

Intermolecular [3 + 3]-cycloadditions of azides with the Nazarov intermediate.

Tetrasubstituted 1,4-dien-3-ones undergo Nazarov cyclization at low temperature, followed by reaction with organic azides via an apparent [3 + 3]-cycloaddition to give bridged bicyclic triazenes. These products do not appear to be intermediates in the previously described Schmidt-type process to furnish dihydropyridones. The reaction typically occurs with high diastereoselectivity.

A modified supported bilayer/diblock polymer--working towards a tunable coating for capillary electrophoresis.

A surfactant bilayer/diblock polymer coating was previously developed for the separation of proteins. The coating consisted of a mixture of the cationic surfactant dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and the neutral polymer poly-oxyethylene (POE) 40 stearate (Journal of Chromatography A 1130 (2006) 265-271). Herein an improved method of generating DODAB/POE stearate coatings is demonstrated, which yields more predictable EOF, more stable coatings, greater average efficiencies and easier method development.

Characterization of ion chromatography columns based on hydrophobicity and hydroxide eluent strength.

Only a few systematic studies have been performed on the factors affecting retention and selectivity in modern ion chromatography. In this study retention and selectivity of Dionex AS10, AS11-HC, AS15, AS16, AS18, AS19, AS20 and AS24 anion exchange columns with hydroxide eluent were studied using the Virtual Column Separation Simulator database. The hydrophobicity and hydroxide eluent strength on each of the columns were quantified.

Olefination of α,α'-divinyl ketones through catalytic Meyer-Schuster rearrangement.

The direct olefination of 1,4-dien-3-ones remains a synthetic challenge. A two-step protocol, employing acetylide addition followed by catalytic Meyer-Schuster rearrangement has been developed for the olefination of 1,4-pentadien-3-ones to afford [3]dendralenes. Many of the traditional methods for the Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of alkynyl carbinols are not suitable with these highly unsaturated substrates because of their acid sensitivity.

Cytotoxicity and topoisomerase I/II inhibition of glycosylated 2-phenyl-indoles, 2-phenyl-benzo[b]thiophenes and 2-phenyl-benzo[b]furans.

A panel of glycosylated DNA binding agents (1-12) designed as functional anthracycline mimics was screened against three solid-tumor cell lines (MCF-7, HT 29 and HepG2/C3A) and three non-tumor cell lines by the MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) cell viability assay. Several compounds showed better in vitro cytotoxicity and selectivity against MCF-7 cells than daunomycin and doxorubicin, two known DNA binding agents that are clinically-used anti-cancer agents. Although the selectivity for HT 29 and HepG2/C3A cells is generally lower, the IC(50) values of some analogs against these two cancer cell lines were of the same magnitude as doxorubicin.

Synthesis and NMR spectroscopic analysis of acylated pentasaccharide fragments of mycobacterial arabinogalactan.

The mycolyl-arabinogalactan (mAG) complex, a large glycolipid composed of arabinofuranose and galactofuranose monosaccharides and mycolic acid lipids, provides mycobacteria with substantial protection from their environment. It has been proposed that the presence of flexible furanose rings in the mAG facilitates the packing of the hydrophobic mycolic acids, forming a dense protective barrier of low permeability. In a previous article, we probed this "flexible scaffold hypothesis" through the synthesis and NMR analysis of di- and trisaccharide fragments of the mAG acylated with linear fatty acids.

A novel glycosyl donor for synthesis of 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-α-D-galactopyranosides.

2-Azido-4-benzylamino-4-N-,3-O-carbonyl-2,4,6-trideoxy-d-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (14) was conveniently prepared in six steps by regioselective introduction of an N-benzyl carbamate at O-3 of 6-deoxy-d-glucal 6, followed by mesylation at O-4. Intramolecular displacement of the leaving group afforded oxazolidinone 11. Azidonitration of the bicyclic glycal 11 gave the glycosyl nitrate anomers 12 in good yield and stereoselectivity.

Synthesis of ABO histo-blood group type I and II antigens.

The ABO histo-blood group system is one of the most clinically important antigen families. As part of our overall goal to prepare the entire set of the A, B and H type I-VI antigens for a range of biochemical investigations, we report herein the synthesis of the type I and II antigens with a 7-octen-1-yl aglycone. This linker was chosen to facilitate not only the future conjugation of the antigens to a protein or solid support but also the synthesis of the H type I and II octyl glycosides for enzyme kinetic studies.

Comparison of hypercrosslinked polystyrene columns for the separation of nitrogen group-types in petroleum using High Performance Liquid Chromatography.

High performance liquid chromatography in a quasi-normal phase mode (QNP) is used to separate the nitrogen group-types (pyrrole and pyridine) that are found in petroleum. A new type of stationary phase, hypercrosslinked polystyrene, is used to achieve this separation. Three different hypercrosslinked polystyrene stationary phases are compared under quasi-normal phase mode; a commercial 5-HGN packing, and two hypercrosslinked phases on silica particles.