Site-directed mutagenesis in combination with Fourier transform infrared difference spectroscopy has been used to study how hydrogen bonding modulates the electronic and physical organization of P700, the primary electron donor in photosystem I. Wild-type PS I particles from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and a mutant in which ThrA739 is changed to alanine [TA(A739) mutant] were studied. ThrA739 is ...

Mn(III)-based oxidative free-radical cyclization of an unsaturated beta-keto ester containing a pyridine ring as radical trap has been studied. This intramolecular reaction of nucleophilic carbon-centered radicals with the pyridine ring leads to the stereospecific construction of a tetracyclic compound in which five chiral centers are created in one pot. This synthetic approach represents the f...

PEG-embedded potassium tribromide ([K(+)PEG]Br(3) (-)) was found to be an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of functionalized piperidines in high yields in a one step, three component coupling between aldehyde, amine and β-keto ester. At the end of the reaction the [K(+)PEG]Br(3) (-) was readily regenerated from the reaction mixture by treating the residue containing [K(+)PEG]...

trans-3-Hydroxy-nn-proline-3,4-3H was synthesized by reduction of N-carbobenzoxy-3-keto-DLproline methyl ester with NaBH4 (4). Uniformly labeled n-proline-r4C was obtained from New England Nuclear Corporation. Uniformly labeled 4-hydroxy-r.-prolineJ4C was generously donated to us by Dr. Chozo Mitoma. Seven-day-old chick embryos were obtained from the Duckworth Hatchery (Elkridge, Maryland) and ...

trans-3-Hydroxy-nn-proline-3,4-3H was synthesized by reduction of N-carbobenzoxy-3-keto-DLproline methyl ester with NaBH4 (4). Uniformly labeled n-proline-r4C was obtained from New England Nuclear Corporation. Uniformly labeled 4-hydroxy-r.-prolineJ4C was generously donated to us by Dr. Chozo Mitoma. Seven-day-old chick embryos were obtained from the Duckworth Hatchery (Elkridge, Maryland) and ...

The first examples of Cu-catalyzed γ-selective allylic alkenylation using organozinc reagents are reported. (E)-Alkenylzinc iodides were prepared by Fe-catalyzed reductive coupling of terminal arylalkynes with alkyl iodides. In the presence of a copper catalyst, these reagents reacted with allylic bromides derived from Morita-Baylis-Hillman alcohols to give 1,4-dienes in high yields. The reacti...

This study was designed to determine whether whole cells or crude enzyme extracts are more effective for preparative-scale ketone reductions by dehydrogenases as well as learning which cofactor regeneration scheme is most effective. Based on results from three representative ketone substrates (an α-fluoro-β-keto ester, a bis-trifluoromethylated acetophenone, and a symmetrical β-diketone), our r...

The design, synthesis and biological activities of potent pyrazole-based tricyclic CB1 receptor antagonists (2) are described. The key synthetic step involves the ring closure of the lithiated alpha, gamma-keto ester adduct (4). The optimal nitroderivative (28) in this series exhibits a high CB1 receptor affinity (pKi=7.2) as well as very potent antagonistic activity (pA2=8.8) in vitro. The reg...

Cholesteryl esters are the major lipids that accumulate in arteries during atherogenesis. The mechanisms responsible for this lipid accretion have not been completely defined. Our previous experiments have shown that prostacyclin (PGI2) enhances cholesteryl ester catabolism by increasing cyclic AMP in cultured arterial smooth muscle cells. However, PGI2 is rapidly degraded under physiologic con...

The first regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective allylic alkylation of acyclic β-ketoesters to form vicinal tertiary and all-carbon quaternary stereocenters is reported. Critical to the successful development of this method was the employment of iridium catalysis in concert with N-aryl-phosphoramidite ligands. Broad functional group tolerance is observed at the keto-, ester-, and α-positions ...