The Penetration Depth for Hanatoxin Partitioning into the Membrane Hydrocarbon Core Measured with Neutron Reflectivity.

Hanatoxin (HaTx) from spider venom works as an inhibitor of Kv2.1 channels, most likely by interacting with the voltage sensor (VS). However, the way in which this water-soluble peptide modifies the gating remains poorly understood as the VS is deeply embedded within the bilayer, although it would change its position depending on the membrane potential. To determine whether HaTx can indeed bind to the VS, the depth at which HaTx penetrates into the POPC membranes was measured with neutron reflectivity. Our results successfully demonstrate that HaTx penetrates into the membrane hydrocarbon core (∼9 Šfrom the membrane surface), not lying on the membrane-water interface as reported for another voltage sensor toxin (VSTx). This difference in penetration depth suggests that the two toxins fix the voltage sensors at different positions with respect to the membrane normal, thereby explaining their different inhibitory effects on the channels. In particular, results from MD simulations constrained by our penetration data clearly demonstrate an appropriate orientation for HaTx to interact with the membranes, which is in line with the biochemical information derived from stopped-flow analysis through delineation of the toxin-VS binding interface.

Destabilizing Character of a π-Conjugated Boron Center in Bisphenol Radicals.

Although boron-containing radicals are promising materials for molecular electronic devices, the electronic effect of the σ-donating yet π-accepting boron center on the stability of open-shell species has been less discussed. In this work, the role of a tricoordinate boron center in π-conjugated radicals was explored through electron paramagnetic resonance measurement of several boron-linked bisphenol radicals and diradicals. Replacing the bridging methine fragment of a neutral Galvinoxyl radical with an arylboryl group led to the corresponding boron-linked radical anion that requires excessive steric protection at the boron center to be persistent in solution. Experimental and theoretical investigations revealed that the introduction of boron would diminish the quinoidal character of the phenoxyl radical and increase both the electrophilicity and nucleophilicity of the open-shell species. Therefore, it is important to consider the steric protection of the boron center in boron-containing π-conjugated organic radicals.

From Carbamate to Chalcone: Consecutive Anionic Fries Rearrangement, Anionic Si → C Alkyl Rearrangement, and Claisen-Schmidt Condensation.

A highly efficient one-pot procedure was developed for the synthesis of various 2'-hydroxychalcones from phenyl diethylcarbamate, featuring consecutive Snieckus-Fries rearrangement, anionic Si → C alkyl rearrangement, and Claisen-Schmidt condensation in a single operation. The applicability of this protocol was demonstrated by the highly efficient synthesis of the anti-inflammatory natural product lonchocarpin. The mechanism insight is also provided.

Oxathiaborolium: A Type of Chiral Lewis Acid Catalyst and Its Application in Catalytic and Highly Enantioselective Diels-Alder Reactions.

The first reported sulfur-stabilized borenium cations were synthesized through halide abstraction of a haloborane intermediate by halophilic reagents. Different from the well-known cationic oxazaborolidines, a sulfide instead of an amine was used to not only simplify the preparation of the catalysts but also increase Lewis acidity of the boron atom. The in situ generated borenium salts showed exceptional Lewis acidity and successfully catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene and dienophiles in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. The NMR studies of these oxathiaborolium structures were reported as well.