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Biomedical subjects

Christopher J Easton

Publications and source records attributed to Christopher J Easton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Harnessing the energy of molecular recognition in a nanomachine having a photochemical on/off switch.

6A-Deoxy-6A-(N-methyl-3-phenylpropionamido)-beta-cyclodextrin operates as a molecular machine, where the amide group serves as a torsion bar to harness the work output resulting from extraction of 1-adamantanol and consequent complexation of the aryl substituent by the cyclodextrin, when the latter behave as the piston and cylinder, respectively, of a molecular pump. At 25 degrees C, the complexation changes the ratio of the amide (Z)- and (E)-isomers from 2.4:1 to 25:1, on which basis the work performed on the amide bond is calculated to be 1.4 kcal mol-1. trans-6A-Deoxy-6A-(N-methylcinnamido)-beta-cyclodextrin and the cis isomer function as a more advanced version of the machine, with the alkene moiety serving as a photochemical on/off switch. Irradiation at 300 nm converts the trans cinnamide to the cis isomer, while the reverse process occurs at 254 nm. With the cis isomer there is little interaction of the phenyl group with the cyclodextrin cavity, so in that mode the machine is turned off. By contrast, complexation of the aryl substituent by the cyclodextrin occurs with the trans cinnamide and changes the ratio of the amide (Z)- and (E)-isomers from 2.6:1 to 100:1. Consequently, in this mode the machine is turned on, and the work harnessed by the amide bond is 2.1 kcal mol-1.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Reversal of regioselectivity and enhancement of rates of nitrile oxide cycloadditions through transient attachment of dipolarophiles to cyclodextrins.

The reactions of nitrile oxides with monosubstituted dipolarophiles, such as propiolamide, typically afford proportionally 80 % or more of the 3,5-disubstituted cycloadducts. By contrast, the reactions of 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-propynamido-beta-cyclodextrin with 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide and 4-phenylbenzonitrile oxide afford >90 % and approximately 85 % of the corresponding 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles, respectively. As well as reversing the regioselectivity, the cyclodextrin increases the rates of these cycloadditions. The extent of the acceleration is up to more than three orders of magnitude for the production of the cycloadduct preferred by the cyclodextrin, but even the rate of reaction to give the less favored regioisomer is increased. With 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-propynamido-beta-cyclodextrin, the cycloadducts are not easily separated from the cyclodextrin, as the amide bond is not readily cleaved. In comparison, the regioselectivity of the cycloadditions of 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and crotonic acid is also altered by formation of the corresponding cyclodextrin esters, by factors of 500, >10, and >100, respectively. The rates of cycloaddition are also increased by up to 475 times, and in these cases the products of cycloaddition are readily released from the cyclodextrin through ester hydrolysis. Incorporating these processes into a reaction cycle, acylation of beta-cyclodextrin with p-nitrophenyl acrylate and subsequent treatment first with 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide and then with base, the latter to catalyze ester hydrolysis and regenerate the beta-cyclodextrin, affords proportionally fivefold more of the 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoline than is produced directly from acrylic acid.

Acrylates↗
PubMed2006

Effect of side chains on competing pathways for beta-scission reactions of peptide-backbone alkoxyl radicals.

High-level quantum chemistry calculations have been carried out to investigate beta-scission reactions of alkoxyl radicals located at the alpha-carbon of a peptide backbone. This type of alkoxyl radical may undergo three possible beta-scission reactions, namely C-C beta-scission of the backbone, C-N beta-scission of the backbone, and C-R beta-scission of the side chain. We find that the rates for the C-C beta-scission reactions are all very fast, with rate constants of the order 10(12) s(-1) that are essentially independent of the side chain. The C-N beta-scission reactions are all slow, with rate constants that range from 10(-0.7) to 10(-4.5) s(-1). The rates of the C-R beta-scission reactions depend on the side chain and range from moderately fast (10(7) s(-1)) to very fast (10(12) s(-1)). The rates of the C-R beta-scission reactions correlate well with the relative stabilities of the resultant side-chain product radicals (*R), as reflected in calculated radical stabilization energies (RSEs). The order of stabilities for the side-chain fragment radicals for the natural amino acids is found to be Ala < Glu < Gln approximately Leu approximately Met approximately Lys approximately Arg < Asp approximately Ile approximately Asn approximately Val < Ser approximately Thr approximately Cys < Phe approximately Tyr approximately His approximately Trp. We predict that for side-chain C-R beta-scission reactions to effectively compete with the backbone C-C beta-scission reactions, the side-chain fragment radicals would generally need an RSE greater than approximately 30 kJ mol(-1). Thus, the residues that may lead to competitive side-chain beta-scission reactions are Ser, Thr, Cys, Phe, Tyr, His, and Trp.

Alcohols↗
PubMed2006

Factors affecting the relative and absolute rates of beta-scission of alkoxythiocarbonyl radicals and alkoxycarbonyl radicals.

High-level ab initio calculations demonstrate that alkoxy-thiocarbonyl radicals (ROC*=S) undergo beta-scission significantly faster than alkoxycarbonyl radicals (ROC*=O) despite having similar exothermicities. The relatively low reactivity of the ROC*=O radicals is reduced further by electron-donating R groups and arises from the large polarization of the C*-O bonds of the reactant radicals. The results suggest that the generation of alkyl radicals from ROC*=S should be particularly efficient when the R group bears radical-stabilizing and/or electron-accepting groups, such as CN.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Aromatic chlorination of omega-phenylalkylamines and omega-phenylalkylamides in carbon tetrachloride and alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene.

The aromatic halogenation of simple alkylbenzenes with chlorine proceeds smoothly in acetic acid but is much less efficient in less polar solvents. By contrast chlorination of omega-phenylalkylamines, such as 3-phenylpropylamine, occurs readily in either acetic acid, carbon tetrachloride or alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene, and in the latter solvents gives high proportions of ortho-chlorinated products. These effects are attributable to the involvement of N-chloroamines as reaction intermediates, with intramolecular delivery of the chlorine electrophile. Omega-phenylalkylamides, such as 3-phenylpropionamide, also easily undergo aromatic chlorination in carbon tetrachloride and alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene. These reactions generally show a first-order dependence on the substrate concentration, but not on the amount of chlorine. With carbon tetrachloride, very similar reaction rates are observed with chlorine concentrations ranging from 0.1-1.5 M. In alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene, the rates reach a plateau at a chlorine concentration of approximately 0.2 M. These features indicate that the reactions proceed via the formation of intermediates which evidence suggests may be the corresponding O-chloroimidates. Irrespective of the mechanistic details, the reactions are remarkably rapid, being faster than analogous reactions in acetic acid and three to four orders of magnitude more rapid than reactions of simple alkylbenzenes in carbon tetrachloride. Therefore, chlorination of the amines and amides may be accomplished without the need for highly polar solvents, added catalysts or large excesses of chlorine, which are often employed for electrophilic aromatic substitutions. Although the use of carbon tetrachloride is becoming increasingly impractical due to environmental concerns, the trifluorotoluene is a suitable alternative.

Amides↗
PubMed2006

A novel beta-oxa polyunsaturated fatty acid downregulates the activation of the IkappaB kinase/nuclear factor kappaB pathway, inhibits expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, and depresses inflammation.

Several novel polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that contain either an oxygen or sulfur atom in the beta-position were found to exhibit more selective antiinflammatory properties than their natural PUFA counterparts. One of these, beta-oxa-23:4n-6, unlike natural PUFAs, lacked ability to stimulate oxygen radical production in neutrophils but caused marked inhibition of agonist-induced upregulation of leukocyte adhesion to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression. In addition, beta-oxa-23:4n-6 inhibited acute and chronic inflammatory responses in mice as well as the upregulation of adhesion molecule expression in arterial endothelium. This action of beta-oxa-23:4n-6 required a functional 12- but not 5-lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenases, consistent with its metabolism via the 12-lipoxygenase pathway. Whereas beta-oxa-23:4n-6 did not affect the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases by tumor necrosis factor, activation of the IkappaB kinase/nuclear factor kappaB pathway was selectively inhibited. These novel PUFAs could form the basis for a potential new class of pharmaceuticals for treating inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

4-Alkoxycarbonyl- and aminocarbonyl-substituted isoxazoles as masked acrylates and acrylamides in the asymmetric synthesis of delta2-isoxazolines.

4-Alkoxycarbonyl and aminocarbonyl-substituted isoxazoles undergo conjugate reduction to give delta2-isoxazolines on treatment with sodium borohydride and sodium trifluoroacetoxyborohydride, respectively. They are also alkylated at C5 through sonication with secondary and tertiary alkyl iodides in the presence of zinc dust and copper(I) iodide. These reactions are analogous to those observed with acrylates and acrylamides. The behavior is characteristic of the 4-substituted isoxazoles but not the 5-substituted regioisomers. The reductions of 4,5-disubstituted isoxazoles and the C5 alkylations of 4-substituted isoxazoles generally afford trans-4,5-disubstituted isoxazolines. Incorporating chiral auxiliaries into the alkoxycarbonyl group maintains this relative stereoselectivity. It does not provide significant levels of asymmetric induction in the reductions, but the alkylations occur with good levels of stereocontrol at both C4 and C5. Because both enantiomers of the auxiliaries are available, this provides access to either enantiomer of the products, in 93 to > or = 98% de. The methodology, therefore, provides a complementary approach to nitrile oxide cycloadditions to alkenes for the asymmetric synthesis of delta2-isoxazolines.

Acrylamides↗
PubMed2005

Aminocyclodextrins to facilitate the deprotonation of 4-tert-butyl-alpha-nitrotoluene.

6A-Amino-6A-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin enhances the rate of the deprotonation of 4-tert-butyl-alpha-nitrotoluene. The rate constants for reaction of the cyclodextrin-bound species, kinc = 4 x 10(-3), 9 x 10(-3) and 19 x 10(-3) s(-1), at pH 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0, respectively, in 0.1 mol dm(-3) aqueous phosphate buffer containing 1% methanol at 298 K. These rate constants correspond to a rate acceleration (kinc/kun) of ca. 10 times at each pH. Under the same conditions, 6A-dimethylamino-6A-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin and 6A-(2-aminoethylamino)-6A-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin are more effective; at pH 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0, for the former, kinc = 3 x 10(-2), 7 x 10(-2) and 12 x 10(-2) s(-1), whilst for the latter, kinc = 4 x 10(-2), 5 x 10(-2) and 9 x 10(-2) s(-1), respectively. Each cyclodextrin also decreases the pKa of the nitrotoluene, from 6.8 in free solution, to 6.2 when bound. The accelerated deprotonation by 6A-amino-6A-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin is reflected in the enhanced rates of hydrogen-deuterium exchange of the nitrotoluene in deuterium oxide, and in the conjugate addition of the nitrotoluene to methyl vinyl ketone in aqueous solution.

Cyclodextrins↗
PubMed2005

Cyclodextrin and modified cyclodextrin complexes of E-4-tert-butylphenyl-4'-oxyazobenzene: UV-visible, 1H NMR and ab initio studies.

alpha-Cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin, N-(6(A)-deoxy-alpha-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)-N'6(A)-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea and N,N-bis(6(A)-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea (alphaCD, betaCD, 1 and 2) form inclusion complexes with E-4-tert-butylphenyl-4'-oxyazobenzene, E-3(-). In aqueous solution at pH 10.0, 298.2 K and I = 0.10 mol dm(-3)(NaClO(4)) spectrophotometric UV-visible studies yield the sequential formation constants: K(11) = (2.83 +/- 0.28) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1) for alphaCD.E-(-), K(21) = (6.93 +/- 0.06) x 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1) for (alphaCD)(2).E-3(-), K(11) = (1.24 +/- 0.12) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1) for betaCD.E-(-), K(21) = (1.22 +/- 0.06) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) for (betaCD)(2).E-(-), K(11) = (3.08 +/- 0.03) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1) for .E-3(-), K(11) = (8.05 +/- 0.63) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) for .E-3(-) and K(12) = (2.42 +/- 0.53) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) for .(E-3(-))(2). (1)H ROESY NMR studies show that complexation of E-3(-) in the annuli of alphaCD, betaCD, 1 and 2 occurs. A variable-temperature (1)H NMR study yields k(298 K)= 6.7 +/- 0.5 and 5.7 +/- 0.5 s(-1), DeltaH = 61.7 +/- 2.7 and 88.1 +/- 4.2 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS = -22.2 +/- 8.7 and 65 +/- 13 J K(-1) mol(-1) for the interconversion of the dominant includomers (complexes with different orientations of alphaCD) of alphaCD.E-3(-) and (alphaCD)(2).E-3(-), respectively. The existence of E-3(-) as the sole isomer was investigated through an ab initio study.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Inhibition of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase by exploitation of factors affecting the stability and ease of formation of glycyl radicals.

Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase catalyzes the biosynthesis of peptide hormones through radical cleavage of the C-terminal glycine residues of the corresponding prohormones. We have correlated ab initio calculations of radical stabilization energies and studies of free radical brominations with the extent of catalysis displayed by peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase, to identify classes of inhibitors of the enzyme. In particular we find that, in closely related systems, the substitution of glycolate for glycine reduces the calculated radical stabilization energy by 34.7 kJ mol(-1), decreases the rate of bromination with N-bromosuccinimide at reflux in carbon tetrachloride by a factor of at least 2000, and stops catalysis by the monooxygenase, while maintaining binding to the enzyme.

Bromosuccinimide↗
PubMed2004

The unusual bifunctional catalysis of epimerization and desaturation by carbapenem synthase.

High-level ab initio calculations have been used to study the mechanism for the conversion of (3S,5S)-carbapenam to the biologically active beta-lactam antibiotic, (5R)-carbapenem, catalyzed by carbapenem synthase. This process involves epimerization at C5 and desaturation at C2/C3. Our calculations suggest that the reaction proceeds via initial abstraction of the C5 hydrogen atom, followed by epimerization. In addition, we have identified an attractive mechanism for coupling the epimerization and desaturation in thermodynamically favorable steps with the aid of an external reductant. Other mechanisms that have been examined have significantly higher energy requirements or do not appear to be consistent with available experimental evidence.

Carbapenems↗
PubMed2004

Molecular reactors and machines: applications, potential, and limitations.

Molecular reactors are miniature vessels for the assembly of reactants at the molecular level, in order to change the nature of chemical transformations. It seems probable that those that will find most immediate applications are those that change product ratios or give products which would not readily form in the absence of the reactors, and thereby afford easy access to materials that are otherwise difficult to obtain. Molecular machines consist of interrelated parts with separate functions and perform some kind of work, at the molecular level. Practical examples are likely to be relatively uncomplicated and not based on individual functions of single-molecule devices. Instead they will probably rely on extensive redundancy of the molecular components and their interactions and reactions, as well as of the machines themselves.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Intra- and intermolecular complexation in C6 monoazacoronand substituted cyclodextrins.

The preparation of 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-(6-(2-(1,4,7,10-tetraoxa-13-azacyclopentadecan-13-yl)acetamido)hexylamino)-alpha-cyclodextrin, 3, 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-(6-(2-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxa-16-azacyclooctadecan-16-yl)acetamido)hexylamino)-alpha-cyclodextrin, 4, and their beta-cyclodextrin analogues, 5 and 6, are described. (1)H (600 MHz) ROESY NMR spectra of the C(6) substituted beta-cyclodextrins, 5 and 6, are consistent with the intramolecular complexation of their azacyclopentadecanyl- and azacyclooctadecanyl(acetamido)hexylamino substituents in the beta-cyclodextrin annulus in D(2)O at pD = 8.5 whereas those of their alpha-cyclodextrin analogues, 3 and 4 are not complexed in the alpha-cyclodextrin annulus. This is attributed to the monoazacoronand components of the substituents being able to pass through the beta-cyclodextrin annulus whereas they are too large to pass through the alpha-cyclodextrin annulus. However, the substituents of 3 and 4 are intermolecularly complexed by beta-cyclodextrin to form pseudo [2]-rotaxanes. Metallocyclodextrins are formed by 5 through complexation by the monoazacoronand substituent component for which log (K/dm(3) mol(-1))= <2, 6.34 and 5.38 for Ca(2+), Zn(2+) and La(3+), respectively, in aqueous solution at 298.2 K and I= 0.10 mol dm(-3)(NEt(4)ClO(4)).

Azo Compounds↗
PubMed2003

Cyclodextrin complexation of a stilbene and the self-assembly of a simple molecular device.

(E)-4-tert-Butyl-4'-oxystilbene, 1(-), is thermally stable as the (E)-1(-) isomer but may be photoisomerized to the (Z)-1(-) isomer as shown by UV-vis and (1)H NMR studies in aqueous solution. When (E)-1(-) is complexed by alphaCD two inclusion isomers (includomers) form in which alphaCD assumes either of the two possible orientations about the axis of (E)-1(-) in alphaCD.(E)-1(-) for which (1)H NMR studies yield the parameters: k(1)(298 K)= 12.3 +/- 0.6 s(-1), DeltaH(1)(++)= 94.3 +/- 4.7 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS1(++)= 92.0 +/- 5.0 J K(-1) mol(-1), and k(2)(298 K)= 10.7 +/- 0.5 s(-1), DeltaH(2)(++)= 93.1 +/- 4.7 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS2(++)= 87.3 +/- 5.0 J K(-1) mol(-1) for the minor and major includomers, respectively. The betaCD.(E)-1(-) complex either forms a single includomer or its includomers interchange at the fast exchange limit of the (1)H NMR timescale. Complexation of 1(-) by N-(6(A)-deoxy- alpha-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)-N'-(6(A)-deoxy- beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea, results in the binary complexes 2.(E)-1(-) in which both CD component annuli are occupied by (E)-1(-) and which exists exclusively in darkness and 2.(Z)-1(-) in which only one CD component is occupied by (Z)-1(-) and exists exclusively in daylight at lambda > or = 300 nm. Irradiation of solutions of the binary complexes at 300 and 355 nm results in photostationary states dominated by 2.(E)-1(-) and 2.(Z)-1(-), respectively. In the presence of 4-methylbenzoate, 4(-), 2.(Z)-1(-) forms the ternary complex 2.(Z)-1(-).4(-) where 4(-) occupies the second CD annulus. Interconversion occurs between 2.(Z)-1(-).4(-) and 2.(E)-1(-)+4(-) under the same conditions as for the binary complexes alone. Similar interactions occur in the presence of 4-methylphenolate and 4-methylphenylsulfonate. The two isomers of each of these systems represent different states of a molecular device, as do the analogous binary complexes of N,N-bis(6(A)-deoxy- beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea, 3, [3.(E)-1(-) and 3.(Z)-1(-), where the latter also forms a ternary complex with 4(-).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

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↗
PubMed2003

Installation of a ratchet tooth and pawl to restrict rotation in a cyclodextrin rotaxane.

Eight new [2]rotaxanes have been prepared, incorporating an alpha-cyclodextrin as the rotor, a stilbene as the axle, and trinitrophenyl substituents as capping groups. Strategies have been devised to elaborate these by linking the rotor to the axle, to produce two new [1]rotaxanes. Rotational motion in a selection of these rotaxanes has been investigated through the application of two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy by performing TOCSY, DQF-COSY, ROESY and HMQC experiments. This has shown that a methoxyl group incorporated on the stilbene and a succinamide joining the stilbene and the cyclodextrin behave analogously to a ratchet tooth and pawl, respectively, to restrict rotation.

Amides↗
PubMed2003

Inhibition of neutrophil leukotriene B4 production by a novel synthetic N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid analogue, beta-oxa 21:3n-3.

We recently reported the synthesis and anti-inflammatory properties of a novel long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with an oxygen atom in the beta-position, beta-oxa-21:3 n-3 (Z,Z,Z)-(octadeca-9,12,15-trienyloxy) acetic acid). Our data, from studies aimed at elucidating the mechanism of its action, show that pretreatment of human neutrophils with the beta-oxa-PUFA substantially depresses the production of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) in response to calcium ionophore, A23187, comparable to standard leukotriene inhibitors such as zileuton and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Interestingly, the n-6 equivalent, beta-oxa 21:3 n-6, is also a strong inhibitor of LTB(4) production. In contrast, naturally occurring PUFA only slightly reduce, for eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acids, or increase, for arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), the formation of LTB(4). The parent beta-oxa-21:3n-3 molecule, rather than its derivatives (methyl ester, saturated, monohydroperoxy, or monohydroxy forms), is exclusively responsible for attenuation of LTB(4) formation. beta-Oxa-21:3n-3 inhibits the conversion of [(3)H]20:4n-6 to [(3)H]5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and [(3)H]LTB(4) by neutrophils in the presence of calcium ionophore and also suppresses the activity of purified 5-lipoxygenase, but not cyclooxygenase 1 and 2. Beta-oxa-21:3n-3 is taken up by neutrophils and incorporated into phospholipids and neutral lipids. In the presence of calcium ionophore, the leukocytes convert a marginal amount of beta-oxa-21:3n-3 to a 16-monohydroxy-beta-oxa-21:3n-3 derivative. After administration to rodents by gavage or i.p. injection, beta-oxa-21:3n-3 is found to be incorporated into the lipids of various tissues. Thus, beta-oxa-21:3n-3 has the potential to be used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, which are mediated by products of the lipoxygenase pathway.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗