Recently Developed Concepts for Studying and Understanding the Aggregation of Organic Molecules. Aggregating Tendencies of the Culprits of Arteriosclerosis

Recent developments in research on aggregation and self-coiling of organic molecules are reviewed: structure and medium effects on aggregating tendencies, electrostatically stabilized aggregates (ESAg), co-aggregating tendencies of cholesterols and the effect of chain-folding, and neutral and effective deaggregators (deAgr).     

Deaggregation of long chain alkyl β-naphthoic acid ester with β-CD and α-CD： A mimic way to remove excessive fat from fatty liver

The deaggregating ability of β-CD and α-CD against the aggregated n-hexadecyl β-naphthoate （A16） and n-dodecyl β-naphthoate （A12） depended not only on the aggregating tendency of A16 and A12 but also on the initial concentration of the aggregated A16 or A12. The inclusive ability of β-CD with the substrates is greater than that of α-CD under hydrophobiclipophilic interaction.     

Chemical Constituents of the Aerial Part of Celastrus Hypoleucus

Fourteen compounds including eight triterpenoids, 12‐oleanaen‐3β‐ol (β‐amyrin) ( 1 ), 12‐oleanaen‐3β‐caffeate ( 2 ), 9(11),12‐oleanadien‐3β‐ol ( 3 ), 9(11),12‐oleanadien‐3‐one ( 4 ), 9(11),12‐oleanadien‐3 β‐caffeate ( 5 ), friedela‐3‐one (friedelin) ( 6 ), friedela‐3‐one‐29‐ol ( 7 ), and 12‐gammateraen‐3 β‐ol (tetrehymanol) ( 8 ); one steroid, β‐sitosterol ( 9 ); one long‐chain acid, octadecadienoic acid ( 10 ); two esters, ester of n‐octaolecyl‐4‐hydroxy‐cinnamate ( 11 ), and ester of n‐octadecyl‐caffeic acid ( 12 ); one diterpene, 8β,19‐dihydroxy‐3‐oxopimar‐15‐ene ( 13 ); one sesquiterpene, 1β,2β,9α‐trihydroxy‐β‐dihydroagarofuran ( 14 ) were isolated from the aerial part of Celastrus hypoleucus. These compounds were characterized and identified by physical and spectral methods. All compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant. Among them 12‐oleanaen‐3β‐caffeate ( 2 ) and 9(11),12‐oleanadien‐3β‐caffeate ( 5 ) are two new compounds, and ester of n‐octadecyl‐caffeic acid (12) possessed antilipoperoxidative effect by specifically scavenging the hydroxyl free radical (?OH) in vitro.     

Asymmetric Synthesis and Binding Study of New Long‐Chain HPA‐12 Analogues as Potent Ligands of the Ceramide Transfer Protein CERT

A series of 12 analogues of the Cer transfer protein (CERT) antagonist HPA‐12 with long aliphatic chains were prepared as their (1R,3S)‐syn and (1R,3R)‐anti stereoisomers from pivotal chiral oxoamino acids. The enantioselective access to these intermediates as well as their ensuing transformation relied on a practical crystallization‐induced asymmetric transformation (CIAT) process. Sonogashira coupling followed by triple bond reduction and thiophene ring hydrodesulfurization (HDS) into the corresponding alkane moieties was then implemented to complete the synthetic routes delivering the targeted HPA‐12 analogues in concise 4‐ to 6‐step reaction sequences. Ten compounds were evaluated regarding their ability to bind to the CERT START domain by using the recently developed time‐resolved FRET‐based homogeneous (HTR‐FRET) binding assay. The introduction of a lipophilic appendage on the phenyl moiety led to an overall 10‐ to 1000‐fold enhancement of the protein binding, with the highest effect being observed for a n‐hexyl residue in the meta position. The importance of the phenyl ring for the activity was indicated by the reduced potency of the 3‐deoxyphytoceramide aliphatic analogues. The 1,3‐syn stereoisomers were systematically more potent than their 1,3‐anti analogues. In silico studies were used to rationalized these trends, leading to a model of protein recognition coherent with the stronger binding of (1R,3S)‐syn HPAs.     

Influence of the alkyl chain length of some mesogenic molecules on their Langmuir film formation ability

Langmuir films of members of two homologous series, the 4‐n‐alkyl‐4′‐cyanobiphenyls (nCB) for n = 2–14 and trans‐4‐n‐alkyl(4′‐cyanophenyl)cyclohexanes (PCHn) for n = 2–12, have been studied by recording surface pressure/area isotherms and by Brewster angle microscopy. It has been found that the compounds with very short chains (n3) and very long chains (n>12 for nCB, n>10 for PCHn) are unable to form compressible monolayers at the air–water interface. Other members of both series can form stable Langmuir films, but both their rigidity and stability as well as the molecular packing vary with the alkyl chain length. The isotherms and BAM images imply that the organization of the liquid crystal molecules in the films is to some extent correlated with their ability to form corresponding mesophase in the bulk: nematogenic compounds tend to form rounded droplet‐like domains, whereas smectogenic compounds tend to form flat domains.     

Sugars‐grafted aliphatic biodegradable poly(L‐lactide‐co‐carbonate)s by click reaction and their specific interaction with lectin molecules

A novel biodegradable aliphatic poly(L ‐lactide‐co‐carbonate) bearing pendant acetylene groups was successfully prepared by ring‐opening copolymerization of L ‐lactide (LA) with 5‐methyl‐5‐propargyloxycarbonyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐2‐one (PC) in the presence of benzyl alcohol as initiator with ZnEt₂ as catalyst in bulk at 100 °C and subsequently used for grafting 2‐azidoethyl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside and 2‐azidoethyl β‐lactoside by the typical “click reaction,” that is Cu(I)‐catalyzed cycloaddition of azide and alkyne. The density of acetylene groups in the copolymer can be tailored by the molar ratio of PC to LA during the copolymerization. The aliphatic copolymers grafted with sugars showed low cytotoxicity to L929 cells, improved hydrophilic properties and specific recognition and binding ability with lectins, that is Concanavalin A (Con A) and Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA). Therefore, this kind of sugar‐grafted copolymer could be a good candidate in variety of biomedical applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3204 –3217, 2007     

Capillary GC using pyridyl β‐cyclodextrin stationary phase

A new β‐CD derivative, heptakis [2,6‐di‐O‐pentyl‐3‐O‐(4′‐chloro‐5′‐pyridylmethyl)]‐β‐CD, was synthesized by the selective introduction of a pyridyl group on the 3‐positions of β‐CD. The chromatographic properties of the pyridyl β‐CD derivative were studied by using it as the stationary phase in capillary GC. The polarity of the prepared stationary phase was moderate, and the separation results demonstrated that the prepared stationary phase possessed excellent separation ability and chiral recognition for a wide range of analytes. Not only the aromatic positional isomers, such as o‐, m‐, p‐xylene and α‐, β‐naphthol isomers, but also some compounds with multi‐stereogenic centers, such as n‐(1‐methylpropyl)‐3‐(2,2‐dichloroethenyl)‐2,2‐dimethylcyclopropanecarboxamide and n‐(1‐methylpropyl)‐3‐(2‐chloro‐3,3,3‐trifluoropropenyl)‐2,2‐dimethylcyclopropanecarboxamide with three stereogenic centers including eight configurational isomers, were successfully separated. The results also indicated that the polarity of the β‐CD derivative, and the hydrogen bonding between the β‐CD derivative, and the analytes had a very important effect on separation.     

Convenient Procedure for Synthesis of N‐Protected β‐Aminomalonates and β‐Amino Acids From α‐Amidosulfones

A synthesis of N‐protected β‐aminomalonates starting from α‐amidosulfones under very mild and simple reaction conditions is described. Treatment of the sulfones with malonate esters in the presence of 2.5 equivalents of potassium carbonate affords the desired products in good yield. A variety of N‐Z and N‐Boc protected aliphatic and aromatic α‐aminosulfones and malonate esters have been successfully used as starting materials. Hydrolysis with concomitant decarboxylation of the N‐protected β‐aminomalonates provides a convenient access to racemic β‐amino acids.     

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer/miniemulsion polymerization of butyl methacrylate in the presence of β‐cyclodextrin

In the presence of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has been successfully applied to control the molecular weight and polydispersity [weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (M_w/M_n)] in the miniemulsion polymerization of butyl methacrylate, with 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate as a chain‐transfer agent (or RAFT agent) and 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. β‐CD acted as both a stabilizer and a solubilizer, assisting the transportation of the water‐insoluble, low‐molecular‐weight RAFT agent into the polymerization loca (i.e., droplets or latex particles) and thereby ensuring that the RAFT agent was homogeneous in the polymerization loca. The polymers produced in the system of β‐CD exhibited narrower polydispersity (1.2 < M_w/M_n < 1.3) than those without β‐CD. Moreover, the number‐average molecular weight in the former case could be controlled by a definite amount of the RAFT agent. Significantly, β‐CD was proved to have a favorable effect on the stability of polymer latex, and no coagulum was observed. The effects of the concentrations of the RAFT agent and AIBN on the conversion, the molecular weight and its distribution, and the particle size of latices were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the influences of the variations of the surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and costabilizer (hexadecane) on the RAFT/miniemulsion polymerization were also studied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2931–2940, 2005     

Polyketide Building Blocks via Diastereoselective Nitrile Oxide Cycloadditions with Homoallylic Alcohols and Monoprotected Homoallylic Diols

A modular approach to Δ²‐isoxazolines, latent aldol adducts and polyketide building blocks, is reported. The magnesium‐mediated, hydroxyl‐directed method allows for the diastereoselective access to a wide variety of masked β‐hydroxy ketones, starting from readily available aliphatic and aromatic oximes, homoallylic alcohols and monoprotected homoallylic diols. The utility of the prepared Δ²‐isoxazolines as polyketide building blocks is demonstrated by their ready conversion into the corresponding β‐hydroxy ketones. The anti‐diastereoselectivity of the reaction was established by derivatization, NOE studies and comparison of known compounds. A rationale for the observed diastereoselectivity is proposed.     

Preparation and Function of Poly(acrylic acid)s Modified by Supramolecular Complex Composed of Porphinatoiron and a Cyclodextrin Dimer That Bind Diatomic Molecules (O2 and CO) in Aqueous Solution

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) is modified by 5‐(4‐β‐alanylaminophenyl)‐10,15,20‐tris(4‐sulfonatophenyl) porphinatoiron(III) to yield iron porphyrin‐bearing PAAs (FeP(n)s) through a condensation reaction. FeP(n)s were further functionalized by Py3CD, which is a per‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin (CD) dimer with a pyridine linker and includes the porphyrin pendants to form ferric hemoCD‐P(n)s. Ferrous hemoCD‐P(3), having three porphyrin chromophores in a polymer chain, is shown to bind molecular oxygen (P_1/2=7.9±1.4 Torr) in aqueous solution at pH 7.0 and 25 °C, affording oxy‐hemoCD‐P(3). Oxy‐hemoCD‐P(3) is biphasically autoxidized to ferric hemoCD‐P(3), with 27 % of the dioxygen adducts being rapidly oxidized. The rate of autoxidation of oxy‐hemoCD‐P(15), having 15 porphyrin chromophores in a polymer chain, was much faster than that of oxy‐hemoCD‐P(3), thus suggesting self‐catalyzed autoxidation of oxy‐hemoCD‐P(n)s. Oxy‐hemoCD‐P(n)s are markedly stabilized by catalase, thereby indicating that hydrogen peroxide generated from oxy‐hemoCD‐P(n) accelerates the autoxidation. Most of the hemoCD‐P(3) molecules injected into the femoral vein of a rat remained in the body, though about 16 % of the hemoCD‐P(3) molecules were excreted in the urine as a carbon monoxide adduct.     

Carbonic Anhydrase‐Mimetic Bolaamphiphile Self‐Assembly for CO2 Hydration and Sequestration

A biomimetic catalyst was prepared through the self‐assembly of a bolaamphiphilic molecule with histidine moieties for the sequestration of carbon dioxide. The histidyl bolaamphiphilic molecule bis(N‐α‐amidohistidine)‐1,7‐heptane dicarboxylate has been synthesized and self‐assembled to produce analogues of the active sites of carbonic anhydrase (CA) after association with Zn²⁺ ions. Spectroscopic analysis demonstrated the coordination of the Zn²⁺ ions with histidine imidazole moieties, which is the core conformation of CA active sites. The Zn‐associated self‐assembly worked as a CA‐mimetic catalyst that shows catalytic activity for CO₂ hydration. Evaluation of the kinetics of using para‐nitrophenylacetate revealed that the kinetic parameters of the CA‐mimetic catalyst were maximized at the optimal Zn concentration and that excess Zn ions resulted in deteriorated catalytic activity. The performance of the CA‐mimetic catalyst was enhanced by changing the pH value and temperature of the reaction, which implies that the hydrolysis of the substrate is the rate‐determining step. The catalyst‐assisted sequestration of CO₂ was demonstrated by CaCO₃ precipitation upon the addition of Ca²⁺ ions. This study offers an easy way to prepare enzyme analogues for CO₂ sequestration through the self‐assembly of bolaamphiphile molecules with designer biochemical moieties.     

Monomers for adhesive polymers. XV. Synthesis,photopolymerization, and adhesive properties of polymerizable β‐ketophosphonic acids

The novel polymerizable β‐ketophosphonic acids 4 , 8 , 10 , and 16 as well as the 9‐(methacryloyloxy)‐nonylphosphonic acid 20 were synthesized in four to eight steps. They were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and by high‐resolution mass spectra. The free‐radical polymerization of 4 , 8 , 10 , and 16 was carried out in a water/ethanol solution, using 2,2′‐azo(2‐methylpropionamidine)dihydrochloride as initiator. To evaluate the reactivity of the acidic monomers 4 , 8 , 10 , 16 , and 20 , their photopolymerization behavior was investigated by photodifferential scanning calorimeter. Copolymerizations with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, glycol dimethacrylate, and N,N′‐diethyl‐1,3‐bis‐(acrylamido)propane were studied. The homopolymerization of the corresponding β‐ketophosphonates and their copolymerization with hydroxyethyl methacrylate were also carried out. Self‐etch adhesives based on the β‐ketophosphonic acids 4 , 8 , 10 , and 16 were able to provide high shear bond strengths (SBSs) of dimethacrylate‐based composite to dentin and enamel. The β‐ketophosphonic acid 8 was also shown to exhibit significantly better adhesive properties than the corresponding phosphonic acid 20 . Indeed, the presence of the carbonyl moiety in the β‐position of the phosphonic acid group led to a strong improvement of the composite SBS to dentin and enamel. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3550–3563     

α‐ and β‐Lipomycin: Total Syntheses by Sequential Stille Couplings and Assignment of the Absolute Configuration of All Stereogenic Centers

40 years ago spectroscopy, derivatization, and degradation revealed the structures of α‐lipomycin and its aglycon β‐lipomycin except for the configurations of their side‐chain stereocenters. We synthesized all relevant β‐lipomycin candidates: the (12R,13S) isomer has the same specific rotational value as the natural product. By the same criterion the (12R,13S)‐configured D ‐digitoxide is identical to α‐lipomycin. We double‐checked our assignments by degrading α‐ and β‐lipomycin to the diesters 33 and 34 and proving their 3D structures synthetically.     

Synthesis,Properties, and Remarkable 2 D Self‐Assembly at the Liquid/Solid Interface of a Series of Triskele‐Shaped 5,11,17‐Triazatrinaphthylenes (TrisK)

A series of 5,11,17‐triazatrinaphthylene (TrisK) derivatives, large disk‐like π‐conjugated molecules with C_3h symmetry, has been synthesised by following an optimised synthetic pathway. The synthesis was performed by a four‐step protocol based on the N‐arylation of 1,3,5‐tribromobenzene with appropriate anthranilate derivatives. This strategy permits the generation of either chlorinated ( TrisK‐Cl‐OCn ) or non‐chlorinated ( TrisK‐H‐OCn ) alkoxy‐substituted derivatives (OC_nH_2n+1 with n=3, 10, 12 and 16), thus providing additional versatility in the control of the structure–property relationships. The electronic properties of the various TrisK compounds have been characterised in solution by absorption and emission spectroscopies as well as cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structure of 2,8,14‐propyloxy‐5,11,17‐triazatrinaphthylene TrisK‐H‐OC3 has been determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis, which revealed the presence of stabilising weak intermolecular H bonds. Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) at the liquid/solid interface has revealed the remarkable 2D self‐assembling properties of the TrisK compounds. In particular, it has shown that TrisK‐H‐OC12 forms three concomitant self‐organised 2D phases with different row‐packing arrangements. This 2D polymorphism arises from slow ordering due to the presence of three long dodecyloxy chains on the molecular backbone. Individual molecules can be imaged with spectacular intramolecular resolution, thus providing the possibility of correlating the STM features with the calculated charge density distribution.     

Selective swelling induced pore generation of amphiphilic block copolymers: The role of swelling agents

Swelling of block copolymers by selective solvents has emerged as an extremely simple and efficient process to produce nanoporous materials with well‐controlled porosities. However, the role of the swelling agents in this pore‐making process remains to be elucidated. Here we investigate the evolution of morphology, thickness, and surface chemistry of thin films of polystyrene‐block‐poly (2‐vinyl pyridine) (PS‐b‐P2VP) soaked in a series of alcohols with changing carbon atoms and hydroxyl groups in their molecules. It is found that, in addition to a strong affinity to the dispersed P2VP microdomains, the swelling agents should also have a moderate swelling effect to PS to allow appropriate plastic deformation of the PS matrix. Monohydric alcohols with longer aliphatic chains exhibit stronger ability to induce the pore formation and a remarkable increase in film thickness is associated with the pore formation. High‐carbon alcohols including n‐propanol, n‐butanol, and n‐hexanol produce cylindrical micelles upon prolonged exposure for their strong affinity toward the PS matrix. In contrast, methanol and polyhydric alcohols including glycol and glycerol show very limited effect to swell the copolymer films as their affinity to the PS matrix is low; however, they also evidently induce the surface segregation of P2VP blocks. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 926–933     

Manganese(I)‐Catalyzed β‐Methylation of Alcohols Using Methanol as C1 Source

Highly selective β‐methylation of alcohols was achieved using an earth‐abundant first row transition metal in the air stable molecular manganese complex [Mn(CO)₂Br[HN(C₂H₄PⁱPr₂)₂]] 1 ([HN(C₂H₄PⁱPr₂)₂]=MACHO‐ⁱPr). The reaction requires only low loadings of 1 (0.5 mol %), methanolate as base and MeOH as methylation reagent as well as solvent. Various alcohols were β‐methylated with very good selectivity (>99 %) and excellent yield (up to 94 %). Biomass derived aliphatic alcohols and diols were also selectively methylated on the β‐position, opening a pathway to “biohybrid” molecules constructed entirely from non‐fossil carbon. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceeds through a borrowing hydrogen pathway involving metal–ligand cooperation at the Mn‐pincer complex. This transformation provides a convenient, economical, and environmentally benign pathway for the selective C?C bond formation with potential applications for the preparation of advanced biofuels, fine chemicals, and biologically active molecules     

12‐ to 22‐Membered Bridged β‐Lactams as Potential Penicillin‐Binding Protein Inhibitors

As potential inhibitors of penicillin‐binding proteins (PBPs), we focused our research on the synthesis of non‐traditional 1,3‐bridged β‐lactams embedded into macrocycles. We synthesized 12‐ to 22‐membered bicyclic β‐lactams by the ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) of bis‐ω‐alkenyl‐3(S)‐aminoazetidinone precursors. The reactivity of 1,3‐bridged β‐lactams was estimated by the determination of the energy barrier of a concerted nucleophilic attack and lactam ring‐opening process by using ab initio calculations. The results predicted that 16‐membered cycles should be more reactive. Biochemical evaluations against R39 DD‐peptidase and two resistant PBPs, namely, PBP2a and PBP5, revealed the inhibition effect of compound 4d , which featured a 16‐membered bridge and the N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl chain at the C3 position of the β‐lactam ring. Surprisingly, the corresponding bicycle, 12d , with the PhOCH₂CO side chain at C3 was inactive. Reaction models of the R39 active site gave a new insight into the geometric requirements of the conformation of potential ligands and their steric hindrance; this could help in the design of new compounds.     

Ionic Self‐Assembly and Red‐Phosphorescence Properties of a Charged Platinum(II) 8‐Quinolinol Complex Associated with Ammonium‐Based Amphiphiles

A series of ionic associates based on the platinum(II) chelate of 5‐sulfo‐8‐quinolinol, [Pt(qS)₂]^2?, and ammonium‐based amphiphiles is described. At variance with the prototypical neutral complex Pt(q)₂ (q=8‐quinolinol), these dianionic fluorophores, functionalized at the periphery with sulfonate groups, can be associated by the ionic self‐assembly approach with various ammonium cations, such as (H_{2 n+1}C_n)₂Me₂N⁺ (n=12, 16, 18) or complex ammonium cations carrying three C_n carbon chains (n=12, 14, 16) and an additional amide group. Investigations of their luminescence properties in solution, in the solid state, and, when possible, in thin films revealed that the phosphorescence properties in condensed phases are directly correlated to intermolecular interactions between the luminescent [Pt(qS)₂]^2? centers. Of particular interest is also the formation of a columnar liquid‐crystalline phase around room temperature (between ?25 and +180 °C), as well as the very good film‐forming ability of some of these fluorophores from organic solvents.