Photochemical Fingerprinting Is a Sensitive Probe for the Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; toward Robust Point-of-Care Detection.

With synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) use still prevalent across Europe and structurally advanced generations emerging, it is imperative that drug detection methods advance in parallel. SCRAs are a chemically diverse and evolving group, which makes rapid detection challenging. We have previously shown that fluorescence spectral fingerprinting (FSF) has the potential to provide rapid assessment of SCRA presence directly from street material with minimal processing and in saliva. Enhancing the sensitivity and discriminatory ability of this approach has high potential to accelerate the delivery of a point-of-care technology that can be used confidently by a range of stakeholders, from medical to prison staff. We demonstrate that a range of structurally distinct SCRAs are photochemically active and give rise to distinct FSFs after irradiation. To explore this in detail, we have synthesized a model series of compounds which mimic specific structural features of AM-694. Our data show that FSFs are sensitive to chemically conservative changes, with evidence that this relates to shifts in the electronic structure and cross-conjugation. Crucially, we find that the photochemical degradation rate is sensitive to individual structures and gives rise to a specific major product, the mechanism and identification of which we elucidate through density-functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT. We test the potential of our hybrid "photochemical fingerprinting" approach to discriminate SCRAs by demonstrating SCRA detection from a simulated smoking apparatus in saliva. Our study shows the potential of tracking photochemical reactivity via FSFs for enhanced discrimination of SCRAs, with successful integration into a portable device.

Harnessing Plasticity in an Amine-Borane as a Piezoelectric and Pyroelectric Flexible Film.

We demonstrate that trimethylamine borane can exhibit desirable piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. The material was shown to be able operate as a flexible film for both thermal sensing, thermal energy conversion and mechanical sensing with high open circuit voltages (>10 V). A piezoelectric coefficient of d33 ≈10-16 pC N-1 , and pyroelectric coefficient of p≈25.8 µC m-2 K-1 were achieved after poling, with high pyroelectric figure of merits for sensing and harvesting, along with a relative permittivity of ϵ 33 σ ≈ 6.3.

Exposing the Interplay Between Enzyme Turnover, Protein Dynamics, and the Membrane Environment in Monoamine Oxidase B.

There is an increasing realization that structure-based drug design may show improved success by understanding the ensemble of conformations accessible to an enzyme and how the environment affects this ensemble. Human monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) catalyzes the oxidation of amines and is inhibited for the treatment of both Parkinson's disease and depression. Despite its clinical importance, its catalytic mechanism remains unclear, and routes to drugging this target would be valuable. Evidence of a radical in either the transition state or the resting state of MAO-B is present throughout the literature and is suggested to be a flavin semiquinone, a tyrosyl radical, or both. Here we see evidence of a resting-state flavin semiquinone, via absorption redox studies and electron paramagnetic resonance, suggesting that the anionic semiquinone is biologically relevant. On the basis of enzyme kinetic studies, enzyme variants, and molecular dynamics simulations, we find evidence for the importance of the membrane environment in mediating the activity of MAO-B and that this mediation is related to the protein dynamics of MAO-B. Further, our MD simulations identify a hitherto undescribed entrance for substrate binding, membrane modulated substrate access, and indications for half-site reactivity: only one active site is accessible to binding at a time. Our study combines both experimental and computational evidence to illustrate the subtle interplay between enzyme activity and protein dynamics and the immediate membrane environment. Understanding key biomedical enzymes to this level of detail will be crucial to inform strategies (and binding sites) for rational drug design for these targets.

Modelling flavoenzymatic charge transfer events: development of catalytic indole deuteration strategies.

The formation and chemistry of flavin-indole charge transfer (CT) complexes has been studied using a model cationic flavin. The ability to form a CT complex is sensitive to indole structure as gauged by spectroscopic, kinetics and crystallographic studies. Single crystals of sufficient quality of a flavin-indole CT complex, suitable for X-ray diffraction, have been grown, allowing solid-state structural analysis. When CT complex formation is conducted in d4-methanol, an efficient and synthetically useful C-3 indole deuteration is observed.

Magnetic coupling in a hybrid Mn(ii) acetylene dicarboxylate.

The design of ligands that mediate through-bond long range super-exchange in metal-organic hybrid materials would expand chemical space beyond the commonly observed short range, low temperature magnetic ordering. Here we examine acetylene dicarboxylate as a potential ligand that could install long range magnetic ordering due to its spatially continuous frontier orbitals. Using a known Mn(ii)-containing coordination polymer we compute and measure the electronic structure and magnetic ordering. In this case, the latter is weak owing to the sub-optimal ligand coordination geometry, with a critical temperature of 2.5 K.

Catalytic Amine Oxidation under Ambient Aerobic Conditions: Mimicry of Monoamine Oxidase†B.

The flavoenzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) regulates mammalian behavioral patterns by modulating neurotransmitters such as adrenaline and serotonin. The mechanistic basis which underpins this enzyme is far from agreed upon. Reported herein is that the combination of a synthetic flavin and alloxan generates a catalyst system which facilitates biomimetic amine oxidation. Mechanistic and electron paramagnetic (EPR) spectroscopic data supports the conclusion that the reaction proceeds through a radical manifold. This data provides the first example of a biorelevant synthetic model for monoamine oxidase B activity.

Preparation of stereoregular isotactic poly(mandelic acid) through organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic O-carboxyanhydride.

Poly(mandelic acid) (PMA) is an aryl analogue of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a biodegradable analogue of polystyrene. The preparation of stereoregular PMA was realized using a pyridine/mandelic acid adduct (Py⋅MA) as an organocatalyst for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the cyclic O-carboxyanhydride (manOCA). Polymers with a narrow polydispersity index and excellent molecular-weight control were prepared at ambient temperature. These highly isotactic chiral polymers exhibit an enhancement of the glass-transition temperature (T(g)) of 15 °C compared to the racemic polymer, suggesting potential future application as high-performance commodity and biomedical materials.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are monoamine oxidase-A selective inhibitors.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are one of the fastest growing classes of recreational drugs. Despite their growth in use, their vast chemical diversity and rapidly changing landscape of structures make understanding their effects challenging. In particular, the side effects for SCRA use are extremely diverse, but notably include severe outcomes such as cardiac arrest. These side effects appear at odds with the main putative mode of action, as full agonists of cannabinoid receptors. We have hypothesized that SCRAs may act as MAO inhibitors, owing to their structural similarity to known monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's) as well as matching clinical outcomes (hypertensive crisis) of 'monoaminergic toxicity' for users of MAOIs and some SCRA use. We have studied the potential for SCRA-mediated inhibition of MAO-A and MAO-B via a range of SCRAs used commonly in the UK, as well as structural analogues to prove the atomistic determinants of inhibition. By combining in silico and experimental kinetic studies we demonstrate that SCRAs are MAO-A-specific inhibitors and their affinity can vary significantly between SCRAs, most notably affected by the nature of the SCRA 'head' group. Our data allow us to posit a putative mechanism of inhibition. Crucially our data demonstrate that SCRA activity is not limited to just cannabinoid receptor agonism and that alternative interactions might account for some of the diversity of the observed side effects and that these effects can be SCRA-specific.

Si-free enolate Claisen rearrangements of enamido substrates.

α-Alkyl ß-amino esters are available in high diastereoselectivity through a silicon-free Claisen enolate [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of enamide esters. Optimisation studies have probed the crucial role of the initial enolisation and the nature of the enamide N-centre. The demonstration of chirality transfer and the formation of ß-proline systems, is also presented.

Development of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of alkoxy- and aryloxy-substituted allyl glycinates.

The Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of 3-alkoxy- and 3-aryloxy-substituted allyl glycinates is presented. This [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement route offers direct access to syn ß-alkoxy and ß-aryloxy α-amino acid systems. In particular, N,N-diboc glycine esters rearrange with excellent diastereoselectivities (dr > 25:1). The synthesis of substrates, rearrangement optimization, and a discussion of stereoselection are presented.

Stereoselective synthesis of cyclohexanones via phase transfer catalyzed double addition of nucleophiles to divinyl ketones.

Functionalized cyclohexanones are formed in excellent yield and diastereoselectivity from a phase transfer catalyzed double addition of active methylene pronucleophiles to nonsymmetrical divinyl ketones.

One-pot o-nitrobenzenesulfonylhydrazide (NBSH) formation-diimide alkene reduction protocol.

A one-pot protocol for the formation of 2-nitrobenzenesulfonylhydrazide (NBSH) from commercial reagents and subsequent alkene reduction is presented. The transformation is operationally simple and generally efficient for effecting diimide alkene reductions. A range of 16 substrates have been reduced, highlighting the unique chemoselectivity of diimide as a reduction system.

Studies toward the photochemical synthesis of functionalized [5]- and [6]carbohelicenes.

An efficient route to nonsymmetrical helical menthyl esters by means of an oxidative photocyclization reaction of dissymmetric bis-stilbenes is reported. The developed route allows the introduction of functionality on rings A, E, or F, and the influence of the substituent pattern on the photochemical reaction has been examined. Diastereoselectivity is observed when a double chiral induction strategy with dimenthyl helicene esters synthesized in a 70:30 ratio of isomers is used.

Atomic dispensers for thermoplasmonic control of alkali vapor pressure in quantum optical applications.

Alkali metal vapors enable access to single electron systems, suitable for demonstrating fundamental light-matter interactions and promising for quantum logic operations, storage and sensing. However, progress is hampered by the need for robust and repeatable control over the atomic vapor density and over the associated optical depth. Until now, a moderate improvement of the optical depth was attainable through bulk heating or laser desorption - both time-consuming techniques. Here, we use plasmonic nanoparticles to convert light into localized thermal energy and to achieve optical depths in warm vapors, corresponding to a ~16 times increase in vapor pressure in less than 20 ms, with possible reload times much shorter than an hour. Our results enable robust and compact light-matter devices, such as efficient quantum memories and photon-photon logic gates, in which strong optical nonlinearities are crucial.

Enamides: valuable organic substrates.

Enamides display a fine balance of stability and reactivity, which is now leading to their increasing use in organic synthesis. Enamides offer multiple opportunities for the inclusion of nitrogen based functionality into organic systems. Recent examples of these compounds as substrates are discussed in this article.

Online monitoring of a photocatalytic reaction by real-time high resolution FlowNMR spectroscopy.

We demonstrate how FlowNMR spectroscopy can readily be applied to investigate photochemical reactions that require sustained input of light and air to yield mechanistic insight under realistic conditions. The Eosin Y mediated photo-oxidation of N-allylbenzylamine is shown to produce imines as primary reaction products from which undesired aldehydes form after longer reaction times. Facile variation of reaction conditions during the reaction in flow allows for probe experiments that give information about the mode of action of the photocatalyst.

Facile kinetic induction of a dihydropyridide to pyrrolide ring contraction.

Reactions between magnesium 1,4-dihydropyridide or 1,2-dihydro-iso-quinolide derivatives and carbodiimides, RN[double bond, length as m-dash]C[double bond, length as m-dash]NR, generally result in Mg-N insertion and formation of guanidinate complexes. More sterically perturbed systems with N-aryl carbodiimide substitution, however, follow a divergent course of reaction initiating heterocyclic ring contraction and pyrrolide formation under unprecedentedly mild conditions.

Modular design of SPIRO-OMeTAD analogues as hole transport materials in solar cells.

We predict the ionisation potentials of the hole-conducting material SPIRO-OMeTAD and twelve methoxy isomers and polymethoxy derivatives. Based on electronic and economic factors, we identify the optimal compounds for application as p-type hole-selective contacts in hybrid halide perovskite solar cells.

Enantiopure oxazolidinones as chiral acids in the asymmetric protonation of N-Boc pyrrole derived enolates.

The first use of geminally disubstituted oxazolidinones as chiral protonating agents is described: these new acids are able to directly protonate an enolate generated by the ammonia free partial reduction of an electron deficient pyrrole and give up to 68% ee in the pyrroline product.

Tandem cobalt mediated rearrangement and Pauson-Khand reaction for the synthesis of functionalized polycyclic systems.

The cobalt mediated rearrangement of enol ether complex 2 furnishes cyclic ketone 6, which undergoes an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction allowing access to functionalized polycyclic systems.