Steffen Lüdeke

Chirality and Diastereoselection of Δ/Λ-Configured Tetrahedral Zinc Complexes through Enantiopure Schiff Base Complexes: Combined Vibrational Circular Dichroism, Density Functional Theory, 1H NMR, and X-ray Structural Studies

The metal-centered Δ/Λ-chirality of four-coordinated, nonplanar Zn(A(^)B)(2) complexes is correlated to the chirality of the bidentate enantiopure (R)-A(^)B or (S)-A(^)B Schiff base building blocks [A(^)B = (R)- or (S)-N-(1-(4-X-phenyl)ethyl)salicylaldiminato-κ(2)N,O with X = OCH(3), Cl, Br]. In the solid-state the (R) ligand chirality induces a Λ-M configuration and the (S) ligand chirality quantitatively gives the Δ-M configuration upon crystallization as deduced from X-ray single crystal studies. The diastereoselections of the pseudotetrahedral zinc-Schiff base complexes in CDCl(3) solution were investigated by (1)H NMR and by vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy. The appearance of two signals for the Schiff-base -CH═N- imine proton in (1)H NMR indicates an equilibrium of both Δ- and Λ-diastereomers with a diastereomeric ratio of roughly 20:80% for all three ligands. VCD proved to be very sensitive to the metal-centered Δ/Λ-chirality because of a characteristic band representing coupled vibrations of the two ligands C═N stretch modes. The absolute configuration was assigned on the basis of agreement in sign with theoretical VCD spectra from Density Functional Theory calculations.

Polysaccharide hydrogels with tunable stiffness and provasculogenic properties via α-helix to β-sheet switch in secondary structure

Mechanical aspects of the cellular environment can influence cell function, and in this context hydrogels can serve as an instructive matrix. Here we report that physicochemical properties of hydrogels derived from polysaccharides (agarose, κ-carrageenan) having an α-helical backbone can be tailored by inducing a switch in the secondary structure from α-helix to β-sheet through carboxylation. This enables the gel modulus to be tuned over four orders of magnitude (G′ 6 Pa–3.6 × 104 Pa) independently of polymer concentration and molecular weight. Using carboxylated agarose gels as a screening platform, we demonstrate that soft-carboxylated agarose provides a unique environment for the polarization of endothelial cells in the presence of soluble and bound signals, which notably does not occur in fibrin and collagen gels. Furthermore, endothelial cells organize into freestanding lumens over 100 μm in length. The finding that a biomaterial can modulate soluble and bound signals provides impetus for exploring mechanobiology paradigms in regenerative therapies.

Stereoselective synthesis of bulky 1,2-diols with alcohol dehydrogenases

Although biotransformations implementing alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) are widespread, enzymes which catalyse the reduction and oxidation of sterically demanding substrates, especially 2-hydroxy ketones, are still rare. To fill this gap eight ADHs were investigated concerning their potential to reduce bulky 2-hydroxy ketones. All of these enzymes showed good activities along with excellent enantio- (ee > 99%) and diastereoselectivities (de > 99%). Due to their differences in substrate preferences and stereoselectivity a broad range of diastereomerically pure 1,2-diols is now accessible via biotransformation. Best results were obtained using the alcohol dehydrogenase from Ralstonia sp. (Cupriavidus sp.) (RADH), which showed a broad substrate range, especially for sterically demanding compounds. Araliphatic 2-hydroxy ketones, like (R)-2-hydroxy-1-phenylpropan-1-one ((R)-2-HPP), were reduced much faster than aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes (e.g. benzaldehyde) under the applied conditions. Additionally (R)- as well as (S)-2-hydroxy ketones were converted with high diastereoselectivities (de > 99%). RADH, which was up to now only studied as a whole cell biocatalyst overexpressed in E. coli, was purified and thoroughly characterised concerning its catalytic properties.

Regio- and Stereoselective Intermolecular Oxidative Phenol Coupling in Streptomyces

Intermolecular oxidative phenol coupling is the main process in nature for the formation of atroposelective biaryl compounds. Although well defined in plants and fungi, this type of dimerization reaction in bacteria is poorly understood. Therefore, the biosynthesis of julichromes, spectomycins, and setomimycin was investigated. The monomeric subunits of these biarylic pre-anthraquinones are derived from a common polyketidic precursor, yet the coupling reaction proceeds in a regioselective manner, with the position of attachment of the two subunits depending on the specific streptomycete strain. By using genome analysis and deletion experiments, the biosynthetic gene clusters were identified. Furthermore, it was established that cytochrome P450 enzymes are fundamentally involved during dimerization of the polyketide monomers.

Unprecedented Role of Hydronaphthoquinone Tautomers in Biosynthesis

Quinones and hydroquinones are among the most common cellular cofactors, redox mediators, and natural products. Here, we report on the reduction of 2-hydroxynaphthoquinones to the stable 1,4-diketo tautomeric form of hydronaphthoquinones and their further reduction by fungal tetrahydroxynaphthalene reductase. The very high diastereomeric and enantiomeric excess, together with the high yield of cis-3,4-dihydroxy-1-tetralone, exclude an intermediary hydronaphthoquinone. Labeling experiments with NADPH and NADPD corroborated the formation of an unexpected 1,4-diketo tautomeric form of 2-hydroxyhydronaphthoquinone as a stable intermediate. Similar 1,4-diketo tautomers of hydronaphthoquinones were established as products of the NADPH-dependent enzymatic reduction of other 1,4-naphthoquinones, and as substrates for different members of the superfamily of short-chain dehydrogenases. We propose an essential role of hydroquinone diketo tautomers in biosynthesis and detoxification processes.

Solvation-Induced Helicity Inversion of Pseudotetrahedral Chiral Copper(II) Complexes

The helicity of four-coordinated nonplanar complexes is strongly correlated to the chirality of the ligand. However, the stereochemical induction of either the Δ- or the Λ-configuration at the metal ion is also modulated by environmental factors that change the conformational distribution of ligand rotamers. Calculation of the potential energy surface of bis{(R)-N-(1-(4-X-phenyl)ethyl)salicylaldiminato-κ(2)N,O}copper(II) with X = Cl at the density functional theory level showed a clear dependence of the helicity-determining angle θ between the two coordination planes on the relative population of different ligand conformers. The influence of different substituents (X = H, Cl, Br, and OCH3) on complex helicity was studied by determination of the absolute configuration at the metal ion in complexes with either (R)- or (S)-configured ligands. X-ray single-crystal analysis showed that (R)-configured ligands with H, Cl, Br induce Δ, while OCH3-substituted (R)-configured ligands induce Λ in the solid state. According to vibrational circular dichroism and electronic circular dichroism studies in solution, however, all tested complexes with (R)-ligands exhibited a propensity for Δ, with high diastereomeric ratio for X = Cl and X = Br and moderate diastereomeric ratio for X = H and X = OCH3 substituted ligands. Therefore, solvation of copper complexes with X = OCH3 goes along with helicity inversion. This solid-state versus solution study demonstrates that it is not sufficient to determine the chiral-at-metal configuration of a compound by X-ray crystallography alone, because the solution structure can be different. This is particularly important for the use of chiral-at-metal complexes as catalysts in stereoselective synthesis.

Rhodopsin Activation Switches in a Native Membrane Environment

The elucidation of structure–function relationships of membrane proteins still poses a considerable challenge due to the sometimes profound influence of the lipid bilayer on the functional properties of the protein. The visual pigment rhodopsin is a prototype of the family of G protein‐coupled transmembrane receptors and a considerable part of our knowledge on its activation mechanisms has been derived from studies on detergent‐solubilized proteins. This includes in particular the events associated with the conformational transitions of the receptor from the still inactive Meta I to the Meta II photoproduct states, which are involved in signaling. These events involve disruption of an internal salt bridge of the retinal protonated Schiff base, movement of helices and proton uptake from the solvent by the conserved cytoplasmic E(D)RY network around Glu134. As the equilibria associated with these events are considerably altered by the detergent environment, we set out to investigate these equilibria in the native membrane environment and to develop a coherent thermodynamic model of these activating steps using UV–visible and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy as complementary techniques. Particular emphasis is put on the role of protonation of Glu134 from the solvent, which is a thermodynamic prerequisite for full receptor activation in membranes, but not in detergent. In view of the conservation of this carboxylate group in family A G protein‐coupled receptors, it may also play a similar role in the activation of other family members.

Quantum-cascade laser-based vibrational circular dichroism.

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra were recorded with a tunable external-cavity quantum-cascade laser (QCL). In comparison with standard thermal light sources in the IR, QCLs provide orders of magnitude more power and are therefore promising for VCD studies in strongly absorbing solvents. The brightness of this novel light source is demonstrated with VCD and IR absorption measurements of a number of compounds, including proline in water.

Substrate-Dependent Stereospecificity of Tyl-KR1: An Isolated Polyketide Synthase Ketoreductase Domain from Streptomyces fradiae

The stereospecificity of an enzymatic reaction depends on the way in which a substrate and its enantiomer bind to the active site. These binding modes cannot be easily predicted. We have studied the stereospecificity and stereoselectivity of the ketoreductase domain Tyl-KR1 of the tylactone polyketide synthase from Streptomyces fradiae by analysing the stereochemical outcome of the reduction of five different keto ester substrates. The absolute configuration of the Tyl-KR1 reduction products was determined by using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy combined with quantum chemical calculations. The conversion of only one of the tested substrates, 2-methyl-3-oxovaleric acid N-acetylcysteamine thioester, afforded the expected anti-(2R,3R) configuration of the α-methyl-β-hydroxyl ester product, representing the stereochemistry observed for the physiological polyketide product tylactone. For all other substrates, which were modified with respect to the type of ester and/or the chain length (C4 instead of C5), the opposite configuration (anti-(2S,3S)) was obtained with significant enantio- and diastereoselectivity. Inversion of both stereocentres suggests completely different binding modes invoked by only minor modifications of the substrate structure.

Syntheses, structures and properties of group 12 element (Zn, Cd, Hg) coordination polymers with a mixed-functional phosphonate-biphenyl-carboxylate linker

The new phosphonate-carboxylate ligand from 4-phosphono-biphenyl-4′-carboxylic acid (H2O3P–(C6H4)2–CO2H, H3BPPA) is based on the rigid biphenyl system and is studied toward the coordination behavior of group 12 elements zinc, cadmium and mercury. The crystalline products from hydrothermal syntheses highlight the versatile and different coordination modes with the (partially) deprotonated H3BPPA ligand to give coordination polymeric 3D-[Zn5(μ3-OH)4(μ4-O3P–(C6H4)2–CO2-μ2)2]n (5), 2D-[Zn(μ6-O3P–(C6H4)2–CO2H)]n (6), 3D-[Cd3(μ5-O3P–(C6H4)2–CO2-μ2)(μ6-O3P–(C6H4)2–CO2-μ3)]n (7) and 2D-[Hg(μ3-HO3P–(C6H4)2–CO2H)]n (8). The cobalt complex, 2D-[Co(μ4-O3P–(C6H4)2–CO2H)]n (9) is isostructural to 6. Through additional classic strong carbonyl O–H⋯O hydrogen bonding the dimensionality of the 2D coordination networks increases to 3D supramolecular frameworks. The carboxy-phosphonate ligand shows five different coordination modes which can be described as μ4-O3P–CO2-μ2 (5), μ6-O3P– (6), μ5-O3P–CO2-μ2, μ5-O3P–CO2-μ3 (7), and μ3-O3P– (8), that is, the ligand bridges altogether between 3 to 8 metal atoms with the phosphonate group alone connecting already 3 to 6 metal atoms. Layers of metal–oxygen polyhedra are interconnected via the biphenyl linker, which either coordinates metal atoms with both donor groups or the –COOH end forms tail-to-tail hydrogen bonds to create 3D or 2D coordination networks, respectively. In the flat {MOx} layers in 6 and 7 the Zn and Cd metal nodes represent a honeycomb and an mcm net, respectively. The coordination polyhedra of the Cd atoms in compound 7 were analyzed towards a trigonal-prismatic coordination environment. The complexes are hydrolytically very stable due to their hydrothermal preparation from aqueous solution at 180–200 °C. The compounds could be stored in water or air for months without apparent decomposition. Compounds 5 and 7, where the ligand is fully deprotonated, start to decompose at ∼400 °C. The fluorescence emission spectrum of the ligand, 4, shows an intense peak at 365 nm (λex = 316 nm). The fluorescence emission of the metal complexes 5, 7 and 9 is shifted towards larger wavelengths with values of 417 nm, 415 nm and 410 nm, respectively (λex = 354 nm for 5, λex = 350 nm for 7, λex = 400 nm for 8, λex = 360 nm for 9). In addition, the crystal structures of the H3BPPA ligand precursors 4-iodo-4′-biphenylcarboxylic acid methyl ester, and 4-diethylphosphono-4′-biphenylcarboxylic acid methyl ester are described here for the first time.