PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Mark E Light

Publications and source records attributed to Mark E Light.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A combined computational and experimental approach for the analysis of the enantioselective potential of a new macrocyclic receptor for N-protected alpha-amino acids.

A new macrocyclic receptor incorporating a thiourea moiety has been synthesised. Crystal structures of the macrocycle showed that the receptor has a rigid backbone but the thiourea moiety can orientate itself to bind to a DMSO solvent molecule. Force-field (MMFFs) calculations were performed to model the macrocycle and its binding properties with respect to N-protected amino acids, which were measured experimentally by NMR titration. Binding free energies were calculated by using the mode integration algorithm (MINTA) or free-energy perturbation (FEP). Excellent qualitative agreement with experiment was obtained. To further exploit the accuracy of the free-energy predictions for this system, the faster free-energy algorithm MINTA was used as a prediction tool to test the binding affinity of the macrocycle towards a series of several other amino acid derivatives, which speeded up considerably the screening process and reduced laboratory costs.

Journal Article↗

Self-assembly of halogenated cobaltacarborane compounds: boron-assisted C--H...X--B hydrogen bonds?

Full structural characterisation and complete synthetic procedures for three monohalogenated cobaltacarborane compounds closo-[3-Co(eta5-C5H5)-8-X-1,2-C2B9H10] (X=Cl (1), Br (2), I (3)) and the dibromo derivative closo-[3-Co(eta5-C5H5)-8,9-Br2-1,2-C2B9H9] (4) are reported. The supramolecular structures of 1, 3, and 4 reveal the existence of intermolecular C--HX--B interactions. The role of these interactions has been investigated through a CSD search and subsequent analysis of the reported crystalline compounds. The results show that halogens become reasonably good hydrogen-bond acceptors when bonded to boron and, in this respect, are comparable in strength to metal-bound halogens.

Boron↗

Phosphonioalkylthiosulfate zwitterions--new masked thiol ligands for the formation of cationic functionalised gold nanoparticles.

We report the synthesis and structural characterisation of a new family of stable phosphonioalkylthiosulfate zwitterions, R3P+ (CH2)nS2O3- (R = Ph or Bu, n = 3,4,6, 8 or 10) which behave as cationic masked thiolate ligands with applications in the functionalisation of gold nanoparticles, having potential as new diagnostic biorecognition systems. The ligands were prepared by treatment of omega-bromoalkylphosphonium salts with sodium thiosulfate. The crystal and molecular structures of the zwitterions (R = Ph, n = 3) and (R = Bu, n = 3) were determined. A series of phosphonioalkanethiolate-capped gold nanoparticles dispersed in water was prepared by borohydride reduction of potassium tetrachloroaurate in the presence of the zwitterions in a dichloromethane-water system. UV-visible spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron-microscopy indicated that capped nanoparticles of ca. 5 nm diameter were present.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Pyridyl thioureas as switchable anion receptors.

The binding selectivity of simple pyridyl thioureas in acetonitrile can be completely switched by protonation; hence the neutral thiourea binds acetate, but not chloride or bromide, whereas the protonated thiourea binds strongly to chloride or bromide, but is deprotonated by acetate.

Acetates↗

Calix[4]pyrrole as a chloride anion receptor: solvent and countercation effects.

The interaction of calixpyrrole with several chloride salts has been studied in the solid state by X-ray crystallography as well as in solution by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and (1)H NMR spectroscopic titrations. The titration results in dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile, nitromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and dichloromethane, carried out using various chloride salts, specifically tetraethylammonium (TEA), tetrapropylammonium (TPA), tetrabutylammonium (TBA), tetraethylphosphonium (TEP), tetrabutylphosphonium (TBP), and tetraphenylphosphonium (TPhP), showed no dependence on method of measurement. The resulting affinity constants (K(a)), on the other hand, were found to be highly dependent on the choice of solvent with K(a)'s ranging from 10(2)-10(5) M(-1) being recorded in the test solvents used for this study. In dichloromethane, a strong dependence on the countercation was also seen, with the K(a)'s for the interaction with chloride ranging from 10(2)-10(4) M(-1). In the case of TPA, TBA, and TBP, the ITC data could not be fit to a 1:1 binding profile.

Anions↗

Self-assembly of mercaptane-metallacarborane complexes by an unconventional cooperative effect: a C-H...S-H...H-B hydrogen/dihydrogen bond interaction.

The existence of a dihydrogen bond (S-H...H-B) and its combination with a C-H...S hydrogen bond in an unusual cooperative effect are demonstrated from a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. This cooperative effect seems to be responsible for self-assembly of mercaptane-metallacarborane complexes such as closo-[3-Ru(eta6-C6H6)-8-HS-1,2-C2B9H10] (1) and closo-[3-Co(eta5-C5H5)-8-HS-1,2-C2B9H10] (3), which present identical supramolecular two-dimensional polymeric networks. The findings, besides documenting structurally the first S-H...(H-B)2 dihydrogen bond and the unconventional cooperative ability of a boron-attached SH group, prove that substituted carboranes have the potential to serve as building blocks for assembling complex structures.

Journal Article↗

Structural systematics of the [Cu(chelate)3][Y]2 series. An interesting crystallographic structural insight involving vibronic coupling and the Jahn-Teller effect (JTE). The syntheses and low temperature crystal structures of tris(2,2'bipyridyl)copper(II) tetraphenylborate and tris(2,2'bipyridyl)zinc(II) tetraphenylborate.

The crystal structures of [Cu(bipy)(3)][BPh(4)](2), 1, and [Zn(bipy)(3)][BPh(4)](2), have been determined at low temperature. 1 and 2 are closely related, but are not isostructural. Both contain a two-dimensional supramolecular construct (SC) involving a sandwich structure. 1 has a six-coordinate CuN(6) chromophore with a regular elongated octahedral stereochemistry and rhombic in-plane bond lengths. The associated tetragonality value, T, of 1 is 0.8868. 2 involves a six-coordinate octahedral chromophore. Differences between 1 and 2 relate to the tendency of copper(II) complexes to undergo a Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion. The zinc(II) cation feels solely the host site strain, whereas the copper(II) cation also involves vibronic JT type coupling. The copper polyhedron geometry is characterized by both phenomena, with the vibronic interaction dominating. Scatter plot analysis involving the tris-chelate copper(II) series suggests that neither pure Q(theta) or Q(epsilon) components or the a(2u) mode operate in isolation over the entire series. All three operate in combination with varying quantifiable contributions, leading to distortion from the regular tetragonal octahedral stereochemistry.

Journal Article↗

Intra- and intermolecular N-H...F-C hydrogen-bonding interactions in amine adducts of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and -alane.

The reaction between B(C(6)F(5))(3) and NH(3)(g) in light petroleum yielded the solvated adduct H(3)N.B(C(6)F(5))(3).NH(3). Treatment with a second equivalent of B(C(6)F(5))(3) afforded H(3)N.B(C(6)F(5))(3). Attempts to prepare the analogous alane adduct were unsuccessful and resulted in protolysis. Related compounds of the form R'R' 'N(H).M(C(6)F(5))(3) were synthesized from M(C(6)F(5))(3) and the corresponding primary and secondary amines (M = B, Al; R' = H, Me, CH(2)Ph; R' ' = Me, CH(2)Ph, CH(Me)(Ph); R'R' ' = cyclo-C(5)H(10)). The solid-state structures of 13 new compounds have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and are discussed. Each of the borane adducts has a significant bifurcated intramolecular hydrogen bond between an amino hydrogen and two o-fluorines, while N-H...F-C interactions in the alane adducts are weaker and more variable. (19)F NMR studies demonstrate that the borane adducts retain the bifurcated C-F...H...F-C hydrogen bond in solution. Compounds of the type R'R' 'N(H).M(C(6)F(5))(3) conform to Etter's rules for the prediction of hydrogen-bonding interactions.

Journal Article↗