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Alshakim Nelson

Publications and source records attributed to Alshakim Nelson.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Self-assembly with block copolymers through metal coordination of SCS-Pd(II) pincer complexes and pseudorotaxane formation.

Poly(norbornene)-based block copolymers containing side chains of palladated pincer complexes/dibenzo[24]crown-8 or palladated pincer complexes/dibenzylammonium salts were synthesized. Noncovalent functionalization was accomplished with their corresponding recognition units through simple 1:1 addition with association constants (Ka) greater than 10(5) m(-1). The self-assembly processes were monitored by using both 1H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. In all cases, we found that the self-assembly of the recognition units along each polymer block does not preclude the self-assembly processes along the other block.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Monitoring cyclodextrin-polyviologen pseudopolyrotaxanes with the Bradford assay.

Self-assembled multivalent pseudopolyrotaxanes, composed of lactoside-bearing cyclodextrin (CD) rings threaded on linear polyviologen polymers, have been introduced recently as flexible and dynamic neoglycoconjugates. In the course of this research, it was found that polyviologens are responsive to the Bradford assay, which is traditionally highly selective for proteins. The response of the pseudopolyrotaxanes to the Bradford assay was dependant on, and thus indicative of, the degree of threading of the CD rings onto the polyelectrolyte. The assay was then used to report on the threading and dethreading of native and lactoside-bearing alpha-CD rings onto and off of polyviologen chains, a phenomenon which demonstrates the utility of biochemical assays to address problems unique to supramolecular chemistry.

Cyclodextrins↗
PubMed2005

Template-directed olefin cross metathesis.

[reaction: see text] A template containing two secondary dialkylammonium ion recognition sites for encirclement by olefin-bearing dibenzo[24]crown-8 derivatives has been used to promote olefin cross metatheses with ruthenium-alkylidene catalysts. For monoolefin monomers, the rates of metatheses and yields of the dimers are both amplified in the presence of the template. Likewise, for a diolefin monomer, the yield of the dimer is enhanced in the presence of the template under conditions where higher oligomers are not formed.

Alkenes↗
PubMed2005

Multivalency and cooperativity in supramolecular chemistry.

Multivalent interactions, which rely upon noncovalent bonds, are essential ingredients in the mediation of biological processes, as well as in the construction of complex (super)structures for materials applications. A fundamental understanding of multivalency in supramolecular chemistry is necessary not only to construct motors and devices on the nanoscale but also to synthesize model systems to provide insight into how biological processes work. This Account focuses on the application of multivalency to supramolecular chemistry in particular and the nanosciences in general.

Macromolecular Substances↗
PubMed2004

A self-assembled multivalent pseudopolyrotaxane for binding galectin-1.

A self-assembled pseudopolyrotaxane consisting of lactoside-displaying cyclodextrin (CD) "beads" threaded onto a linear polyviologen "string" was investigated for its ability to inhibit galectin-1-mediated T-cell agglutination. The CDs of the pseudopolyrotaxane are able to spin around the axis of the polymer chain as well as to move back and forth along its backbone to alter the presentation of its ligand. This supramolecular superstructure incorporates all the advantages of polymeric structures, such as the ability to span large distances, along with a distinctively dynamic presentation of its lactoside ligands to afford a neoglycoconjugate that can adjust to the relative stereochemistries of the lectin's binding sites. The pseudopolyrotaxane exhibited a valency-corrected 10-fold enhancement over native lactose in the agglutination assay, which was greater than the enhancements observed for lactoside-bearing trivalent glycoclusters and a lactoside-bearing chitosan polymer tested using the same assay. The experimental results indicate that supramolecular architectures, such as the pseudopolyrotaxane, provide tools for investigating protein-carbohydrate interactions.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed2004

Synthesis of lactoside glycodendrons using photoaddition and reductive amination methodologies.

Carbohydrate-based divalent and tetravalent lactoside glycodendrons were constructed in a convergent manner. The dendrons were synthesized beginning with the photoaddition of hepta-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-lactose, in an anti-Markovnikov manner, to a bis-allyl AB2 trisaccharide to form a divalent dendron. Following two nearly quantitative deprotection steps, the divalent lactoside was coupled to another AB2 trisaccharide by reductive amination to afford a tetravalent dendron. These paucivalent compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

Amination↗
PubMed2003

Chemically defined sialoside scaffolds for investigation of multivalent interactions with sialic acid binding proteins.

Four glycodendrons and a glycocluster were synthesized from carbohydrate building blocks to form paucivalent (di- to tetravalent) structures of controlled scaffold architectures. Enzymatic sialylation of the functionalized cluster and dendrons, terminated in lactose residues, generated a library of paucivalent synthetic sialosides displaying sialic acids with different dispositions. These newly constructed bioactive sialic acid-based structures were differentially recognized by sialoadhesin, a mammalian macrophage sialic acid binding protein. The binding of the sialosides to sialoadhesin was evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay to investigate the complementarity of scaffold structure and binding to sialoadhesin. Modulating the interaction between sialoadhesin and its sialic acid ligands has important implications in immunobiology.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Using equilibrium isotope effects to detect intramolecular OH/OH hydrogen bonds: structural and solvent effects.

A comparative (1)H NMR study of partially deuterated 1,3- and 1,4-diols has demonstrated that intramolecular hydrogen bonds of different geometry can give rise to equilibrium isotope shifts of opposite sign in hydrogen-bond-accepting solvents such as DMSO-d(6), acetone-d(6), and THF-d(8). The sign inversion is interpreted in terms of the ability of solvent molecules to form competitive intermolecular hydrogen bonds with the diol and in terms of the limiting chemical shifts for the interior and exterior hydroxyl groups. Deuterium is shown to prefer the intermolecular solvent hydrogen bond by 10.9 +/- 0.5 cal/mol for 1,4-diol 3 dissolved in DMSO-d(6) at room temperature. Pyridine-d(5) is shown to be capable of amplifying positive (downfield) isotope shifts measured in DMSO-d(6), in some cases by as much as a factor of 3. Its use is demonstrated for the assignment of the syn or anti relative configuration of 2,4-pentanediol and for the amplification of isotope shifts used to detect intramolecular hydrogen bonds in alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin. Studies in apolar solvents such as CD(2)Cl(2) and benzene-d(6) reveal that the isotope shift is negative (upfield) for all hydrogen bond geometries studied. Larger isotope shifts are measured in benzene-d(6), and a rationale for this amplification is presented. The use of apolar solvents is particularly useful for assigning the syn or anti configuration of 2,4-pentanediol.

Alcohols↗