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Alison J Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to Alison J Edwards.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Allylic stereocontrol of the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction.

The stereochemical outcome of the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of ester-linked 1,3,8-nonatrienes can be controlled by substituents about a stereogenic center attached to C1. The scope and limitations of this approach have been investigated, with variation in substrate structure about the allylic stereocenter and the dienophile. The stereochemical outcomes of these reactions are explained by reference to B3 LYP/6-31G(d) transition structures. New insights into the conformational preferences of allylic alcohol derivatives are reported, results which allow an explanation of the differing levels of pi-diastereofacial selectivity and cis/trans (i.e. endo/exo) selectivity from the reaction.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Electrochemically informed synthesis and characterization of salts of the [Pt2(mu-kappaAs,kappaC-C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2)4]+ lantern complex containing a Pt-Pt bond of order 1/2.

Detailed electrochemical studies in dichloromethane (0.1 M Bu4NPF6) on the oxidation of the half-lantern [Pt2(kappa2As,C-C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2)2(mu-kappaAs,kappaC-C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2)2] (1) and full-lantern [Pt2(mu-kappaAs,kappaC-C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2)4] (2) complexes reveal the presence of an exceptionally stable dinuclear Pt cation 2+. Thus, oxidation of 1 occurs on the voltammetric time scale via a ladder-square scheme to give 2+, whereas 2 is directly converted to 2+. Electrochemically informed chemical synthesis enabled the isolation of solid [2+][BF4-] to be achieved. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis showed that 2+ also has a lantern structure but with a shorter separation between the Pt centers [2.7069(3) A (2+), 2.8955(4) A (2)]. EPR spectra of 2+ provide unequivocal evidence for axial symmetry of the complex and are noteworthy because of an exceptionally large, nearly isotropic hyperfine coupling constant of about 0.1 cm(-1). Spectroscopic data support the conclusion that the unpaired electron in the 2+ cation is distributed equally between the two Pt nuclei and imply that oxidation of 2 to 2+ leads to the establishment of the metal-to-metal hemibond. Results of extended Huckel molecular orbital and density functional calculations on 2 and 2+ lead to the conclusions that s, p, dz2 mixing of orbitals contributes to the large EPR Pt hyperfine coupling and also that the structural adjustments that occur upon removal of an electron from 2 are driven by the metal-metal bonding character present in 2+.

Journal Article↗

Facile C-H bond activation: synthesis of the N4C donor set pentadentate ligand 1,4-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4-diazacyclononane (dmpdacn) and a structural study of its alkyl-cobalt(III) complex [Co(dmpdacn-C)(OH2)](ClO4)2.H2O and its hydroxylated derivative [Co(dmpdacnOH-O)Cl](ClO4)2.C3H6O.

The 1,4-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4-diazacyclononane (dmpdacn) ligand with a N(4)C donor set deprotonates at a CH(2) gamma to an amine under extraordinarily mild conditions (pH 7) and binds as a pentadentate ligand to Co(III) as the [Co(dmpdacn-C)(OH(2))](2+) complex. This complex was characterized by 1D and 2D NMR techniques, and a single-crystal X-ray structure is reported. In an alternative synthesis from Co(II), dmpdacn, and air, the same C-bonded complex is obtained along with a novel hydroxylated Co(III) complex [Co(dmpdacnOH-O)Cl](2+) which has been similarly characterized. Here the carbanion has been oxidized, a C- to O-bonded rearrangement has taken place, and the bound aqua group is replaced by Cl(-). The base hydrolysis kinetics of the hydroxylated Co(III) complex are reported, and mechanisms for this and the unusually facile C-H cleavage and CH(2) oxidation reactions are discussed.

Journal Article↗

Superbowl container molecules.

The design, chemical synthesis, guest binding, and self-assembly of tureen-shaped container molecules is presented. With a large noncollapsible interior and five external binding sites, each superbowl container host is shown to bind up to nine guest molecules in well-defined locations.

Calixarenes↗

Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical relationships of dinuclear complexes of platinum(II) and platinum(III) containing ortho-metalated tertiary arsine ligands.

Reaction of 2-Li-4-MeC6H3AsPh2 with [PtCl2(SEt2)2] gives two isomeric dinuclear platinum(II) complexes, one containing a half-lantern structure with two chelating and two bridging C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2 ligands, [Pt2(kappa2As,C-C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2)2(mu-kappaAs,kappaC-C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2)2], and the other, a full-lantern with four bridging C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2 ligands, [Pt2(mu-kappaAs,kappaC-C6H3-5-Me-2-AsPh2)4]. The lantern structure of the latter is retained in the dihalodiplatinum(III) complexes that are formed by oxidative addition of chlorine, bromine, or iodine to the isomeric mixture. The dichloro derivative undergoes metathesis reactions with silver or sodium salts, yielding the corresponding cyano, thiocyanato, cyanato, and fluoro species. The structures of all complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The oxidative addition products have Pt-Pt distances in the range 2.65-2.79 A (cf. 2.89 A in the lantern diplatinum(II) structure), consistent with the presence of a Pt-Pt bond. Electrochemical data lead to the conclusion that an initial rapid one-electron process and subsequent chemical reactions produce the dihalodiplatinum(III) lantern structure when mixtures of the lantern and half-lantern complexes are oxidized by halogens. The electrochemical data also explain why chemical reduction of the dihalodiplatinum(III) complex produces only the lantern diplatinum(II) complex.

Journal Article↗

Separated and aligned molecular fibres in solid state self-assemblies of cyclodextrin [2]rotaxanes.

The conformations of two [2]rotaxanes, each comprising alpha-cyclodextrin as the rotor, a stilbene as the axle and 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl substituents as the capping groups, have been examined in solution and in the solid state, using (1)H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, respectively. In solution, introducing substituents onto the stilbene prevents the cyclodextrin from being localized over one end of the axle. Instead the cyclodextrin moves back and forth along the substituted stilbene. In the solid state, the axles of the rotaxanes form extended molecular fibres that are separated from each other and aligned along a single axis. The molecular fibres are strikingly similar to those formed by the axle component of one of the rotaxanes in the absence of the cyclodextrin, but in the latter case they are neither separated nor all aligned.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Allylic halogenation of unsaturated amino acids.

A range of dehydro amino acid derivatives has been prepared and subjected to halogenation using either molecular bromine or chlorine, or NBS. Allylic halogenation of the unsaturated amino acid side chains occurs through radical bromination with NBS. The procedure is complementary to treatment with chlorine, which also affords allyl halides. This latter and unusual reaction is shown through a deuterium labelling study to proceed via an ionic mechanism. The choice of NBS or chlorine for allyl halide synthesis is shown to depend on the potential to avoid competing reactions, such as halolactonization of leucine derivatives with chlorine, and hydrogen abstraction and bromine incorporation at multiple sites on treatment of isoleucine derivatives with NBS. The synthetic utility of the allyl halides prepared in this study is indicated through the synthesis of a cyclopropyl amino acid derivative and the extension of the carbon skeleton of an amino acid side chain.

Allyl Compounds↗

Black tea consumption reduces total and LDL cholesterol in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults.

Despite epidemiological evidence that tea consumption is associated with the reduced risk of coronary heart disease, experimental studies designed to show that tea affects oxidative stress or blood cholesterol concentration have been unsuccessful. We assessed the effects of black tea consumption on lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults. Tea and other beverages were included in a carefully controlled weight-maintaining diet. Five servings/d of tea were compared with a placebo beverage in a blinded randomized crossover study (7 men and 8 women, consuming a controlled diet for 3 wk/treatment). The caffeine-free placebo was prepared to match the tea in color and taste. In a third period, caffeine was added to the placebo in an amount equal to that in the tea. Five servings/d of tea reduced total cholesterol 6.5%, LDL cholesterol 11.1%, apolipoprotein B 5% and lipoprotein(a) 16.4% compared with the placebo with added caffeine. Compared with the placebo without added caffeine, total cholesterol was reduced 3.8% and LDL cholesterol was reduced 7.5% whereas apolipoprotein B, Lp(a), HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I and triglycerides were unchanged. Plasma oxidized LDL, F2-isoprostanes, urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, ex vivo ferric ion reducing capacity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in LDL were not affected by tea consumption compared with either placebo. Thus, inclusion of tea in a diet moderately low in fat reduces total and LDL cholesterol by significant amounts and may, therefore, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Tea consumption did not affect antioxidant status in this study.

Antioxidants↗

Consumption of watermelon juice increases plasma concentrations of lycopene and beta-carotene in humans.

Watermelon is a rich natural source of lycopene, a carotenoid of great interest because of its antioxidant capacity and potential health benefits. Assessment of bioavailability of lycopene from foods has been limited to tomato products, in which heat processing promotes lycopene bioavailability. We examined the bioavailability of lycopene from fresh-frozen watermelon juice in a 19-wk crossover study. Healthy, nonsmoking adults (36-69 y) completed three 3-wk treatment periods, each with a controlled, weight-maintenance diet. Treatment periods were preceded by "washout" periods of 2-4 wk during which lycopene-rich foods were restricted. All 23 subjects consumed the W-20 (20.1 mg/d lycopene, 2.5 mg/d beta-carotene from watermelon juice) and C-0 treatments (controlled diet, no juice). As a third treatment, subjects consumed either the W-40 (40.2 mg/d lycopene, 5.0 mg/d beta-carotene from watermelon juice, n = 12) or T-20 treatment (18.4 mg/d lycopene, 0.6 mg/d beta-carotene from tomato juice, n = 10). After 3 wk of treatment, plasma lycopene concentrations for the W-20, W-40, T-20 and C-0 treatments were (least squares means +/- SEM) 1078 +/- 106, 1183 +/- 139, 960 +/- 117 and 272 +/- 27 nmol/L, respectively. Plasma concentrations of beta-carotene were significantly greater after W-20 (574 +/- 49 nmol/L) and W-40 (694 +/- 73 nmol/L) treatments than after the C-0 treatment (313 +/- 27 nmol/L). Plasma lycopene concentrations did not differ at wk 3 after W-20, W-40 and T-20 treatments, indicating that lycopene was bioavailable from both fresh-frozen watermelon juice and canned tomato juice, and that a dose-response effect was not apparent in plasma when the watermelon dose was doubled.

Adult↗

Preparation of benzyne complexes of group 10 metals by intramolecular suzuki coupling of ortho-metalated phenylboronic esters: molecular structure of the first benzyne-palladium(0) complex.

A series of nickel(II) and palladium(II) aryl complexes substituted in the ortho position of the aromatic ring by a (pinacolato)boronic ester group, [MBr[o-C(6)H(4)B(pin)]L(2)] (M = Ni, L(2) = 2PPh(3) (2a), 2PCy(3) (2b), 2PEt(3) (2c), dcpe (2d), dppe (2e), and dppb (2f); M = Pd, L(2) = 2PPh(3) (3a), 2PCy(3) (3b), and dcpe (3d)), has been prepared. Many of these complexes react readily with KO(t)Bu to form the corresponding benzyne complexes [M(eta(2)-C(6)H(4))L(2)] (M = Ni, L(2) = 2PPh(3) (4a), 2PCy(3) (4b), 2PEt(3) (4c), dcpe (4d); M = Pd, L(2) = 2PCy(3) (5b)). This reaction can be regarded as an intramolecular version of a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction, the driving force for which may be the steric interaction between the boronic ester group and the phosphine ligands present in the precursors 2 and 3. Complex 3d also reacts with KO(t)Bu, but in this case disproportionation of the initially formed eta(2)-C(6)H(4) complex (5d) leads to a 1:1 mixture of a novel dinuclear palladium(I) complex, [(dcpe)Pd(mu(2)-C(6)H(4))Pd(dcpe)] (6), and a 2,2'-biphenyldiyl complex, [Pd(2,2'-C(6)H(4)C(6)H(4))(dcpe)] (7d). Complexes 2a, 3b, 3d, 4b, 5b, 6, and 7d have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction; complex 5b is the first example of an isolated benzyne-palladium(0) species.

Journal Article↗

The seven-membered nickelacycle [NiBr=(o-CH=C(CF3)C6H4CH2PPh2-kappa2C,P)(PPh(CH2Ph)2)].

The crystal and molecular structures of the title compound, 3-bromo-3-(dibenzylphenylphosphonio)-2,2-diphenyl-5-trifluoromethyl-1H-benzo[e][1,2]phosphanickelepine, [NiBr(C(22)H(17)F(3)P)(C(20)H(19)P)], which was obtained as the major regioisomer from insertion of HCCCF(3) into the Ni-C bond of the five-membered phosphanickelacycle [NiBr(o-C(6)H(4)CH(2)PPh(2)-kappa2C,P)(PPh(CH(2)Ph)(2))], have been determined. Principal geometric data include the Ni-X bond lengths Ni-Br 2.3343 (4) A, Ni-P 2.1867 (7) and 2.2094 (7) A, and Ni-C 1.882 (3) A, and the two trans angles P-Ni-P 171.55 (3) degrees and Br-Ni-C 176.88 (9) degrees.

Journal Article↗

Alpha- and beta-carotene from a commercial puree are more bioavailable to humans than from boiled-mashed carrots, as determined using an extrinsic stable isotope reference method.

The extent to which processing affects the carotene or vitamin A value of foods is poorly understood. An extrinsic reference method was used to estimate the mass of carotenes and vitamin A derived from various preparations made from the same lot of carrots. Using a repeated-measures design, nine healthy adult subjects consumed test meals of either carrot puree (commercial baby food) or boiled-mashed carrots on separate days; six of the subjects also consumed a test meal of raw-grated carrot. Test meals supplied 34.7 micromol (18.6 mg) carrot beta-carotene (beta C), plus 6 micromol deuterium-labeled retinyl acetate (d(4)-RA) in oil solution. Baseline-adjusted carotene and retinyl ester (R-ester) area-under-curve (AUC) responses in the triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein (TRL) fraction (0-8.5 h) were determined using HPLC and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The masses of absorbed beta C, alpha-carotene (alpha C) and R-ester were estimated by comparing their AUC values with that of deuterium-labeled retinyl ester (d(4)-R-ester), assuming the latter represented 80% of the d(4)-RA reference dose. Absorption of beta C and alpha C was approximately twofold greater from carrot puree than from boiled-mashed carrots, whereas the retinol yield was only marginally (P = 0.11) influenced by treatment. Carotene and R-ester absorption from raw-grated carrot was intermediate to, and did not differ significantly from the cooked preparations. The vitamin A yield (puree, 0.53 mg; boiled-mashed, 0.44 mg) of cooked carrot containing 18.6 mg beta C was substantially less than that predicted by current convention and limited primarily by intestinal carotene uptake. Processing can therefore significantly improve bioavailability of carrot carotenes, and in some cases influence the carotene value more than the intrinsic vitamin A value.

Adult↗