PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Teodor Parella

Publications and source records attributed to Teodor Parella.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

CN-HMBC: a powerful NMR technique for the simultaneous detection of long-range 1H,13C and 1H,15N connectivities.

[structure: see text] A new one-shot NMR experiment (CN-HMBC) is proposed for the simultaneous acquisition of 2D 1H,13C and 1H,15N HMBC spectra. Important sensitivity enhancements (up to 41% simultaneously for both 13C and 15N) or time savings (about 50%) can be achieved when compared to the separate acquisition of individual HMBC spectra. The experiment is highly recommended for the complete structural analysis and simultaneous chemical shift assignments of protonated and nonprotonated 13C and 15N resonances in nitrogen-containing organic compounds.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

New Ru complexes containing the N-tridentate bpea and phosphine ligands: consequences of meridional vs facial geometry.

The synthesis and isolation of the complex cis,fac-[RuIICl2(bpea)(PPh3)][3; bpea = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine] and three geometrical isomers of the complex [RuIICl(bpea)(dppe)](BF4) [4; dppe = (1,2-diphenylphosphino)ethane], trans,fac (4a), cis,fac (4b), and mer(down) (4c), have been described (see Chart 1 for a drawing of their structures). These complexes have been characterized through analytical, spectroscopic (IR, UV/vis, and 1D and 2D NMR), and electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry) techniques. In addition, complexes 3, 4a, and 4b have been further characterized in the solid state through monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The molecular and electronic structures of isomers 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d (the mer(up) isomer) have also been studied by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Furthermore, their low-energy electronic transitions have been simulated using time-dependent DFT approaches, which have allowed unraveling of their metal-to-ligand charge-transfer nature. Complexes 3 and 4a-c are capable of catalyzing H-transfer types of reactions between alcohols and aromatic ketones such as acetophenone and 2,2-dimethylpropiophenone (DP). A strong influence of the facial versus meridional geometry in the bpea ligand coordination mode is observed for these catalytic reactions, with the meridional isomer being much more active than the facial one. The meridional isomer is even capable of carrying out the H-transfer reaction of bulky substrates such as DP at room temperature.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Fructose-6-phosphate aldolase in organic synthesis: preparation of D-fagomine, N-alkylated derivatives, and preliminary biological assays.

[Structure: see text] D-fructose-6-phosphate aldolase (FSA) mediates a novel straightforward two-step chemo-enzymatic synthesis of D-fagomine and some of its N-alkylated derivatives in 51% isolated yield and 99% de. The key step is the FSA-catalyzed aldol addition of simple dihydroxyacetone (DHA) to N-Cbz-3-aminopropanal. The use of FSA greatly simplifies the enzymatic procedures that used dihydroxyacetonephosphate or DHA/esters. Some N-alkyl derivatives synthesized elicited antifungal and antibacterial activity as well as enhanced inhibitory activity, and selectivity against beta-galactosidase and alpha-glucosidase.

Alkylation↗
PubMed2006

Ile-phe dipeptide self-assembly: clues to amyloid formation.

Peptidic self-assembled nanostructures are said to have a wide range of applications in nanotechnology, yet the mechanistic details of hierarchical self-assembly are still poorly understood. The Phe-Phe recognition motif of the Alzheimer's Abeta peptide is the smallest peptide able to assemble into higher-order structures. Here, we show that the Ile-Phe dipeptide analog is also able to self-associate in aqueous solution as a transparent, thermoreversible gel formed by a network of fibrillar nanostructures that exhibit strong birefringence upon Congo red binding. Besides, a second dipeptide Val-Phe, differing only in a methyl group from the former, is unable to self-assemble. The detailed analysis of the differential polymeric behavior of these closely related molecules provides insight into the forces triggering the first steps in self-assembly processes such as amyloid formation.

Amyloid↗
PubMed2006

Simultaneous alpha/beta spin-state selection for (13)C and (15)N from a time-shared HSQC-IPAP experiment.

Two novel HSQC-IPAP approaches are proposed to achieve alpha/beta spin-state editing simultaneously for (13)C and (15)N in a single NMR experiment. The pulse schemes are based on a time-shared (TS) 2D (1)H,(13)C/(1)H,(15)N-HSQC correlation experiment that combines concatenated echo elements for simultaneous J(CH) and J(NH) coupling constants evolution, TS evolution of (13)C and (15)N chemical shifts in the indirect dimension and heteronuclear alpha/beta-spin-state selection by means of the IPAP principle. Heteronuclear alpha/beta-editing for all CH( n ) (n = 1-3) and NH( n ) (1-2) multiplicities can be achieved in the detected F2 dimension of a single TS-HSQC-F2-IPAP experiment. On the other hand, an alternative TS-HSQC-F1-IPAP experiment is also proposed to achieve alpha/beta-editing in the indirect F1 dimension. Experimental and simulated data is provided to evaluate these principles in terms of sensitivity and performance simultaneously on backbone and side-chain CH, CH(2), CH(3), NH, and NH(2) spin systems in uniformly (13)C/(15)N-labeled proteins and in small natural-abundance peptides.

Carbon Isotopes↗
PubMed2006

New synthetic routes toward enantiopure nitrogen donor ligands.

New polypyridylic chiral ligands, having either C3 or lower symmetry, have been prepared via a de novo construction of the pyridine nucleus by means of Kröhnke methodology in the key step. The chiral moieties of these ligands originate from the monoterpen chiral pool, namely (-)-alpha-pinene ((-)-14, (-)-15) and (-)-myrtenal ((-)-9, (-)-10). Extension of the above-mentioned asymmetric synthesis procedure to the preparation of enantiopure derivatives of some commonly used polypyridylic ligands has been achieved through a new aldehyde building block ((-)-16). As an example, the synthesis of a chiral derivative of N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine (bpea) ligand, (-)-19, has been performed to illustrate the viability of the method. The coordinative ability of the ligands has been tested through the synthesis and characterization of complexes [Mn((-)-19)Br2], (-)-20, and [RuCl((-)-10)(bpy)](BF4), (-)-21. Some preliminary results related to the enantioselective catalytic epoxidation of styrene with the ruthenium complex are also presented.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Redox-controlled molecular flipper based on a chiral Cu complex.

A molecular bipaddled flipper based on a tetradentate chiral Cu complex has been designed. The paddling motion of this unprecedented molecular-scale machine can be controlled by reversible oxidation of the metal center. Kinetic and computational (density functional theory) analyses provide a detailed picture of the flipper motion at the molecular scale, rationalize the switching role of the metal-ion oxidation state, and pose the basis for the fine-tuning of the dynamic motion of this new class of molecular-scale devices.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Lonicera Implexa leaves bearing naturally laid eggs of the specialist herbivore Euphydryas Aurinia have dramatically greater concentrations of iridoid glycosides than other leaves.

We tested in the field the hypothesis that the specialist butterfly Euphydryas aurinia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Melitaeinae) lays eggs on leaves of Lonicera implexa (Caprifoliaceae) plants with greater iridoid concentrations. We conducted our investigations in a Mediterranean site by analyzing leaves with and without naturally laid egg clusters. There were no significant differences in iridoid glycoside concentrations between leaves from plants that did not receive eggs and the unused leaves from plants receiving eggs, a fact that would seem to indicate that E. aurinia butterflies do not choose plants for oviposition by their iridoid content. However, the leaves of L. implexa that bore egg clusters had dramatically greater (over 15-fold) concentrations of iridoid glycosides than the directly opposite leaves on the same plant. These huge foliar concentrations of iridoids (15% leaf dry weight) may provide specialist herbivores with compounds that they either sequester for their own defense or use as a means of avoiding competition for food from generalist herbivores. Nevertheless, it may still be possible that these high concentrations are detrimental to the herbivore, even if the herbivore is a specialist feeder on the plant.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The production of a new extracellular putative long-chain saturated polyester by smooth variants of Mycobacterium vaccae interferes with Th1-cytokine production.

Mycobacterium vaccae is of major pharmaceutical interest as an immunotherapeutic agent. Although M. vaccae 15483 ATCC(T) strain displays smooth and rough colonial morphologies on solid culture media, it is not known in which conditions M. vaccae switches from one colonial morphotype to the other or whether there are biological differences, especially immunological, between them. We have found that the change from a smooth to rough stable variant occurs spontaneously at 30 degrees C. The analysis of the composition of the cell wall in both variants showed that the smooth morphotype presents an extracellular material that has never previously been described and was identified as a long-chain saturated polyester that, interestingly, is not produced by the rough morphotype. Our results also indicate that this compound could be implicated in the spreading ability of smooth colonies. Proliferation, IFN-gamma and IL-12(p40) production by splenocyte cultures was significantly higher in mice immunised with the rough variant compared with those immunised with the smooth one. This latter finding suggests that the different colonial morphology of M. vaccae may affect the immunomodulatory effects induced from M. vaccae preparations.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Can the disproportion of oxidation state III be favored in RuII-OH2/RuIV=O systems?

Three new Ru-aqua complexes containing a mixed carbene and pyridylic ligands with general formulas [Ru(CNC)(bpy)(H2O)](PF6)2 (1) (CNC is 2,6-bis(butylimidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine; bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine) and cis-/trans-[Ru(CNC)(nBu-CN)(H2O)](PF6)2 (cis-2 and trans-2) (nBu-CN is 2-(butylimidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine) have been prepared and structurally characterized both in the solid state (monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis for 1 and for the related complex trans-[Ru(Br)(CNC)(nBu-CN)](PF6)) and in solution (for all of them) through NMR. The electrochemical properties of these three Ru-aqua complexes have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and Coulombimetric techniques. It is found that, for complex 1 at pH 7, the difference between the IV/III and the III/II redox couples (DeltaE1/2) is 50 mV, which is the smallest ever reported for this type of complex. On the other hand, for complexes cis-2 and trans-2, the oxidation state III is unstable with respect to disproportionation to II and IV. The reactivity of their Ru=O species has been tested toward cis-beta-methylstyrene oxidation, and it has been compared to [Ru(O)(trpy)(bpy)]2+. An inverse correlation between the degree of cis/trans-epoxide isomerization and DeltaE1/2 is found. In particular, for complexes cis-2 and trans-2, which have a DeltaE1/2 < 0, the epoxidation is highly stereoselective, yielding only cis-epoxide.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Atropisomeric discrimination in new Ru(II) complexes containing the C(2)-symmetric didentate chiral phenyl-1,2-bisoxazolinic ligand.

A new family of Ru(II) complexes containing the tridentate meridional 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (trpy) ligand, a C(2)-symmetric didentate chiral oxazolinic ligand 1,2-bis[4'-alkyl-4',5'-dihydro-2'-oxazolyl]benzene (Phbox-R, R = Et or iPr), and a monodentate ligand, of general formula [Ru(Y)(trpy)(Phbox-R)](n+) (Y = Cl, H(2)O, py, MeCN, or 2-OH-py (2-hydroxypyridine)) have been prepared and thoroughly characterized. In the solid state the complexes have been characterized by IR spectroscopy and by X-ray diffraction analysis in two cases. In solution, UV/Vis, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy techniques have been used. We have also performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations with these complexes to interpret and complement experimental results. The oxazolinic ligand Phbox-R exhibits free rotation along the phenyloxazoline axes. Upon coordination this rotation is restricted by an energy barrier of 26.0 kcal mol(-1) for the case of [Ru(trpy)(Phbox-iPr)(MeCN)](2+) thus preventing its potential interconversion. Furthermore due to steric effects the two atropisomers differ in energy by 5.7 kcal mol(-1) and as a consequence only one of them is obtained in the synthesis. Subtle but important structural effects occur upon changing the monodentate ligands that are detected by NMR spectroscopy in solution and interpreted by using their calculated DFT structures.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Catalytic ability of a cationic Ru(II) monochloro complex for the asymmetric hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate and enamides.

The synthesis of two Ru chloro complexes, Ru(III)Cl(3)(bpea), 1, and cis-fac-Delta-[Ru(II)Cl{(R)-(bpea)}{(S)-(BINAP)}](BF(4)), cis-fac-Delta-(R)-(S)-2, (bpea = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine; (S)-BINAP = 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl), is described. Complex 2 is characterized in solution through UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that in the solid state it possesses the same structure as in solution, as expected for a low-spin d(6) Ru(II)-type complex. The molecular structure of cis-fac-Delta-(R)-(S)-2, consists of a nonsymmetric complex, where the Ru metal center has a significantly distorted octahedral-type coordination because of the bulkiness of the (S)-BINAP ligand. cis-fac-Delta-(R)-(S)-2 has a remarkable catalytic performance at P = 6.8 atm of H2 and T = 70 degrees C toward the hydrogenation of prochiral double bonds both from efficiency and from stereoselectivity viewpoints. As an example, prochiral olefins of technological interest such as dimethyl itaconate, methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate or methyl 2-acetamidocinnamate are catalytically hydrogenated by cis-fac-Delta-(R)-(S)-2, with conversions higher than 99.9% and ee > 99. Furthermore, cis-fac-Delta-(R)-(S)-2, also catalyzes the selective hydrogenation of beta-keto esters, although the reaction rates are lower than those found with the former substrates.

Amides↗
PubMed2006

Synthesis and conformational analysis of new cyclobutane-fused nucleosides.

[structure: see text]. A stereselective synthesis of 3-oxabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane nucleoside analogues, which were designed as conformational mimics of the anti-HIV agents 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythimidine (stavudine, d4T) and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (d4A), is described. The target compounds were prepared by condensation of a common intermediate bicyclic acetate, derived from a homochiral 2(5H)-furanone, with pyrimidine and purine bases under modified Vorbrüggen conditions. The conformational behavior of the synthesized nucleoside analogues was studied by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.

Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMed2006

Optimum spin-state selection for all multiplicities in the acquisition dimension of the HSQC experiment.

Most conventional heteronuclear spin-state-selective (S(3)) NMR experiments only work for a specific multiplicity, typically IS spin systems. Here, we introduce a general and efficient IPAP strategy to achieve S(3) editing simultaneously for all multiplicities in the acquisition dimension of the HSQC experiment. Complementary in-phase (HSQC-IP) and anti-phase (HSQC-AP) data are separately recorded with a simple phase exchange of two 90 degrees proton pulses involved in the mixing process of the F2-coupled sensitivity-improved HSQC pulse sequence. Additive and subtractive linear combination of these IP/AP data generates simplified F2-alpha/beta-spin-edited HSQC subspectra for all IS, I(2)S, and I(3)S spin systems and combines enhanced and optimized sensitivity with excellent tolerance to unwanted cross-talk contributions over a considerable range of coupling constants. Practical aspects such as pulse phase settings, transfer efficiency dependence, inter-pulse delay optimization, and percentage of cross-talk are theoretically analyzed and discussed as a function of each I(n)S multiplicity. Particular emphasis on the features associated to spin-editing in diastereotopic I(2)S spin systems and application to the measurement of long-range proton-carbon coupling constants are also provided.

Carbon Isotopes↗
PubMed2006

Time-sharing evolution and sensitivity enhancements in 2D HSQC-TOCSY and HSQMBC experiments.

Modifications of time-shared (TS) HSQC-like experiments originally developed by Griesinger and co-workers (Sattler M, Maurer M, Schleucher J, Griesinger C. J. Biomol. NMR 1995; 5: 97) are proposed to extract different types of information from a single NMR pulse scheme. It is shown that simultaneous acquisition of 1H,13C and 1H,15N HSQC-TOCSY and HSQMBC experiments can afford experimental sensitivity enhancements of 20-40% with respect to the separate acquisition of individual 13C or 15N data. In addition, the incorporation of a number of independent editing elements can be easily used for different purposes, for instance, to assign unambiguously 1H, 13C, and 15N chemical shifts, to differentiate directly from relayed cross-peaks, or to measure simultaneously long-range proton-carbon and proton-nitrogen coupling constants. The suggested methodologies can be applied to many different classes of nitrogen-containing compounds and illustrative examples are provided for the peptide cyclosporine as a demonstration of the performance of such experiments.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

(+)- and (-)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids and their incorporation into highly rigid beta-peptides: stereoselective synthesis and a structural study.

[Chemical reaction: See text] Several derivatives of (+)- and (-)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid, 1, have been prepared through enantiodivergent synthetic sequences. The stereoselective synthesis of free amino acid (+)-1 has been achieved, and this product has been fully characterized for the first time. Stereocontrolled alternative synthetic methodologies have been developed for the preparation of bis(cyclobutane) beta-dipeptides in high yields. Among them, enantio and diastereomers have been synthesized. beta,beta- and beta,delta-Dimers resulting from the coupling of a cyclobutane residue and a linear amino acid have also been prepared. The ability of the cyclobutane ring as a structure-promoting unit both in the monomers and in the dimers has been manifested. The NMR structural study and DFT theoretical calculations evidence the formation of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds giving rise to cis-fused [4.2.0]octane structural units that confer high rigidity on these molecules both in solution and in the gas phase. The contribution of a cis-trans conformational equilibrium derived from the rotation around the carbamate N-C(O) bond has also been observed, the trans form being the major conformer. In the solid state, this equilibrium does not exist, and moreover, intermolecular hydrogen bonds are present.

Amino Acids↗