William E. Crowe

Lanthanide Complexes as Fluorescent Indicators for Neutral Sugars and Cancer Diagnosis

Simple water-soluble lanthanum and europium complexes are effective at detecting neutral sugars as well as glycolipids and phospholipids. In solutions at physiologically relevant pH the fluorescent lanthanum complex binds neutral sugars with apparent binding constants comparable to those of arylboronic acids. Interference from commonly occurring anions is minimal. The europium complex detects sialic acid-containing gangliosides at pH 7.0 over an asialoganglioside. This selectivity is attributed, in large part, to the cooperative complexation of the oligosaccharide and sialic acid residues to the metal center, based on analogous prior studies. In MeOH, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a biomarker for several pathological conditions including ovarian cancer, is selectively detected by the europium complex. LPA is also detected via a fluorescence increase in human plasma samples. The 2-sn-OH moiety of LPA plays a key role in promoting binding to the metal center. Other molecules found in common brain ganglioside and phospholipid extracts do not interfere in the ganglioside or LPA fluorescence assays.

Exploring the pH dependence of viologen reduction by α-carbon radicals derived from Hcy and Cys

The colorimetric reaction of homocysteine (HCy) with a series of viologen salts suggests a linear correlation between the mid-point reduction potential of Hcy-derived alpha-carbon radicals and pH.

Structure-activity of valencenoid derivatives and their repellence to the Formosan subterranean termite

Eight valencenoid derivatives were evaluated for their repelling activity against Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Among them, 1,10-dihydronootkatone was the strongest repellent, and valencene was the weakest. Results of the structure–repellency relationships indicated (1) reduction of the ketone group to the alcohol on position 2 of nootkatone curtailed the activity; (2) because of the low activity of valencene relative to nootkatone that the ketone group was essential for repellent activity; (3) reduction of the 1,10 double bond (1,10-dihydronootkatone and tetrahydronootkatone) produced compounds more repellent than nootkatone; (4) the isopropenyl group probably does not participate in binding as evidenced by no significant difference in the repellent activity among nootkatone (double bond between position 11 and 12), isonootkatone (double bond between position 7 and 11), and 11,12-dihydronootkatone.

One-carbon bridge stereocontrol in robinson annulations leading to bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes.

The one-carbon bridge stereochemistry of bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane products formed in the Robinson annulation reactions of 2-substituted cyclohex-2-enones was investigated. In contrast to previous reports, it was found that the major diastereomer formed places the one-carbon bridge substituent anti to the beta-keto ester/amide unit introduced in the Robinson annulation. This stereoselectivity appears to be kinetically controlled. In the case of a beta-keto amide product derived from carvone, it was demonstrated, through base-catalyzed epimerization, that thermodynamic control favors the syn isomer.

An efficient and economic asymmetric synthesis of (+)-nootkatone, tetrahydronootkatone, and derivatives.

A facile route to enantiomerically pure (+)-nootkatone and derivatives has been established through conjunctive stereoselective Grignard/anionic oxy-Cope (AOC) reactions.

Kinetic Mechanism and Structural Requirements of the Amine-Catalyzed Decarboxylation of Oxaloacetic Acid

The kinetic and chemical mechanism of amine-catalyzed decarboxylation of oxaloacetic acid at pH 8.0 has been reevaluated using a new and versatile assay. Amine-catalyzed decarboxylation of oxaloacetic acid proceeds via the formation of an imine intermediate, followed by decarboxylation of the intermediate and hydrolysis to yield pyruvate. The decrease in oxaloacetic acid was coupled to NADH formation by malate dehydrogenase, which allowed the rates of both initial carbinolamine formation (as part of the imination step) and decarboxylation to be determined. By comparing the rates observed for a variety of amines and, in particular, diamines, the structural and electronic requirements for diamine-catalyzed decarboxylation at pH 8.0 were identified. At pH 8.0, monoamines were found to be very poor catalysts, whereas some diamines, most notably ethylenediamine, were excellent catalysts. The results indicate that the second amino group of diamines enhances the rate of imine formation by acting as a proton shuttle during the carbinolamine formation step, which enables diamines to overcome high levels of solvation that would otherwise inhibit carbinolamine, and thus imine, formation. The presence of the second amino group may also enhance the rate of the carbinolamine dehydration step. In contrast to the findings of previous reports, the second amino group participates in the reaction by enhancing the rate of decarboxylation via hydrogen-bonding to the imine nitrogen to either stabilize the negative charge that develops on the imine during decarboxylation or preferentially stabilize the reactive imine over the unreactive enamine tautomer. These results provide insight into the precise catalytic mechanism of several enzymes whose reactions are known to proceed via an imine intermediate.

Structural requirements for repellency: norsesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoid derivatives of nootkatone against the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).

BACKGROUND Research has shown that the family of grapefruit flavors called nootkatones have significant repellant and toxic effects to Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki). RESULTS Nineteen synthetic nootkatone derivatives, along with three commercially available nootkatone derivatives, were tested for repellent activity against C. formosanus by a choice assay in a petri dish with a two-step triage procedure. Based on the repellency threshold value, the relationships between structure and activity are discussed. CONCLUSION Four derivatives of nootkatone have very high repellency and toxicity to C. formosanus, 9 times the potency of the primary compound nootkatone. Four other compounds have between 2 and 3 times the repellency of nootkatones, and three compounds are equal in their repellency to nootkatone.

The sesquiterpenoid nootkatone and the absolute configuration of a dibromo derivative.

Nootkatone, or (4R,4aS,6R)-4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,4a-dimethyl-6-(1-methylethenyl)naphthalen-2(3H)-one, C(15)H(22)O, a sesquiterpene with strong repellent properties against Formosan subterranean termites and other insects, has the valencene skeleton. The dibromo derivative (1S,3R,4S,4aS,6R,8aR)-1,3-dibromo-6-isopropyl-4,4a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydronaphthalen-2-one, C(15)H(24)Br(2)O, has two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, which differ in the rotation of the isopropyl group with respect to the main skeleton. The C-Br distances are in the range 1.950 (4)-1.960 (4) A. Both independent molecules form zigzag chains, with very short intermolecular carbonyl-carbonyl interactions, having the perpendicular motif and O...C distances of 2.886 (6) and 2.898 (6) A. These chains are flanked by intermolecular Br...Br interactions of distances in the range 4.067 (1)-4.218 (1) A. The absolute configuration of the dibromo derivative was determined, from which that of nootkatone was inferred.