catena-Poly[[dicyanamido(5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine-kappa2N,N')copper(II)]-mu-dicyanamido-kappa2N1:N5]

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu(C(2)N(3))(2)(C(12)H(12)N(2))](n), the Cu(II) atom adopts a distorted square-pyramidal geometry, the basal plane of which is formed by two N atoms of the bipyridine ligand, one N atom of a bidentate dicyanamide anion and one N atom of a monodentate dicyanamide anion [Cu-N = 1.9760(15)-2.0157(15)A]. The apical position is occupied by an N atom of a bidentate dicyanamide anion, located 2.2468(16)A from the Cu atom, thus forming a one-dimensional polymeric chain.

Effect of acyl chain length and branching on the enantioselectivity of Candida rugosa lipase in the kinetic resolution of 4-(2-difluoromethoxyphenyl)-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine 3,5-diesters

Since 2,6-dimethyl-4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridine 3,5-diesters themselves are not hydrolyzed by commercially available hydrolases, derivatives with spacers containing a hydrolyzable group were prepared. Seven acyloxymethyl esters of 5-methyl- and 5-(2-propoxyethyl) 4-[2-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate were synthesized and subjected to Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) catalyzed hydrolysis in wet diisopropyl ether. A methyl ester at the 5-position and a long or branched acyl chain at C3 gave the highest enantiomeric ratio (E values). The most stereoselective reaction (E = 21) was obtained with 3-[(isobutyryloxy)methyl] 5-methyl 4-(2-difluoromethoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate, and this compound was used to prepare both enantiomers of 3-methyl 5-(2-propoxyethyl) 4-[2-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate. The absolute configuration of the enzymatically produced carboxylic acid was established to be 4R by X-ray crystallographic analysis of its 1-(R)-phenylethyl amide.

A multiple hydrogen-bond scaffold based on dipyrimidin-2-ylamine

A multiple hydrogen-bond array based on dipyrimidin-2-ylamine is presented, which is easily accessible. The influence of a preorganizing intramolecular hydrogen bond, tautomeric equilibria, and steric effects on the association behavior were investigated. X-ray diffraction shows that the molecules feature an ADA (acceptor-donor-acceptor) array of hydrogen-bonding sites in the solid state. The array persists in solution, and (1)H NMR titrations show that molecules with sterically nondemanding DAD arrays are selectively bound. [structure: see text]

Characterization of poly(L-lactic acid) microspheres loaded with holmium acetylacetonate

Holmium-loaded PLLA microspheres are useful systems in radioembolization therapy of liver metastases because of their low density, biodegradability and favourable radiation characteristics. Neutron activated Ho-loaded microspheres showed a surprisingly low release of the relatively small holmium complex. In this paper factors responsible for this behaviour are investigated, in particular by the use of differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The holmium complex is soluble in PLLA up to 8% in films and 17% in microspheres. Interactions between carbonyl groups of PLLA, and the Ho-ion in the HoAcAc complex, explain very satisfactorily the high stability of holmium-loaded microspheres.

Conformational comparison of five follicular fluid meiosis-activating sterol-related active and inactive compounds

The crystal structures of five follicular fluid meiosis-activating sterol-related Delta(8,14)-sterol compounds are presented. These are 4,4-dimethyl-23-phenyl-24-nor-5alpha-chola-8,14-dien-3beta-ol, C(31)H(44)O, 4,4-dimethyl-22-phenyl-23,24-dinor-5alpha-chola-8,14-dien-3beta-ol, C(30)H(42)O, (20R)-4,4-dimethyl-22-oxa-5alpha,20-cholesta-8,14,24-trien-3beta-ol, C(28)H(44)O(2), 4,4-dimethyl-23-phenyl-22-oxa-24-nor-5alpha-chola-8,14-dien-3beta-ol-water (4/1), 4C(30)H(42)O(2).H(2)O, and 4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholesta-8,14-dien-3-one, C(29)H(46)O. Two of the derivatives are inactive and three are active as agonists. Preliminary structure-activity relationship studies showed that the positions of the double bonds in the skeleton and the structures of the side chains are important determinants for activity. The conformations of the skeletons were compared with double-bond isomers retrieved from the Cambridge Structural Database [Allen & Kennard (1993). Chem. Des. Autom. News, 8, 1, 31-37]; no significant differences were found. Thus, conformational changes induced by the double bonds are not discriminative with respect to the activity of the compounds. Comparisons of the side-chain conformations of active and inactive structures revealed that the crystal structures were not conclusive as far as correlation of conformation and activity of the side chains were concerned.

Relation between the molecular electrostatic potential and activity of some FF-MAS related sterol compounds

Follicular Fluid-Meiosis Activating Sterol (FF-MAS) is a compound important for maturation of gametes in mammals. Therefore, it may serve as a lead compound for a novel method of contraception. We studied the Molecular Electrostatic Potential of a series of active and inactive analogues of FF-MAS. We find that double bond configurations required for activity result in a local negative electrostatic potential which is larger as well as more dense compared to those of inactive molecules. We therefore hypothesize that the interaction energy of the double bond system of the MAS compounds with its receptor substantially contributes to the overall interaction energy. This notion is supported by interaction studies of the electrostatic potential originating from the double bonds in crystal structures of cholesterol and four MAS-derived Delta(8,14) structures synthesized and crystallized by us. In addition, we were able to derive a pharmacophore model that relates the local average ESP and its distance to the 3beta-OH oxygen atom to the activity of the molecules.