Involvement of functional groups on the surface of carboxyl group-terminated polyamidoamine dendrimers bearing arbutin in inhibition of Na⁺/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1)-mediated D-glucose uptake.

A carboxyl group-terminated polyamidoamine dendrimer (generation: 3.0) bearing arbutin, which is a substrate of Na⁺/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1), via a nonbiodegradable ω-amino triethylene glycol linker (PAMAM-ARB), inhibits SGLT1-mediated D-glucose uptake, as does phloridzin, which is a typical SGLT1 inhibitor. Here, since our previous research revealed that the activity of arbutin was dramatically improved through conjugation with the dendrimer, we examined the involvement of functional groups on the dendrimer surface in inhibition of SGLT1-mediated D-glucose uptake. PAMAM-ARB, with a 6.25% arbutin content, inhibited in vitro D-glucose uptake most strongly; the inhibitory effect decreased as the arbutin content increased. In vitro experiments using arbutin-free original dendrimers indicated that dendrimer-derived carboxyl groups actively participated in SGLT1 inhibition. However, the inhibitory effect was much less than that of PAMAM-ARB and was equal to that of glucose moiety-free PAMAM-ARB. Data supported that the glucose moiety of arbutin was essential for the high activity of PAMAM-ARB in SGLT1 inhibition. Analysis of the balance of each domain further suggested that carboxyl groups anchored PAMAM-ARB to SGLT1, and the subsequent binding of arbutin-derived glucose moieties to the target sites on SGLT1 resulted in strong inhibition of SGLT1-mediated D-glucose uptake.

Acid/base controllable molecular switch based on a neutral phenanthroline guest penetrated pseudorotaxane.

A ditopic macrocycle with a bisamide and a half dibenzo-crown ether component has been newly synthesized and its complexation behavior toward neutral phenanthroline derivatives is reported. The macrocycle can bind phenanthroline derivatives very strongly by hydrogen bonding and pi-electron interaction, yielding pseudorotaxane structures. The inclusion complexes show a pH controllable reversible threading-dethreading molecular switching system.

Fluorometric sensing of alkaline Earth metal cations by new lariat ethers having plural pyrenylmethyl groups on the electron-donating sidearms.

[structure: see text] New fluorescent compounds (1), lariat ethers having plural pyrenylmethyl groups on the sidearms, were prepared, and their complexation behavior with alkaline earth metal cations was examined by fluorescence spectrometry. The pyrene excimer emission decreased accompanied with an increase in the monomer emission upon complexation with the metal ion. This finding is ascribed to the cooperative participation of one of the two sidearms in the complexation of the crown ring with the metal ion.

A facile synthesis of novel cyclodextrin derivatives incorporating one beta-(1,4)-glucosidic bond and their unique inclusion ability.

Novel cyclodextrin derivatives incorporating one (1,4)-glucosidic bond are easily synthesized in three steps from permethylated alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins, and such host molecules show inclusion selectivity for sodium m-nitrobenzoate over the corresponding p-isomer, in contrast to the cases of the parent permethylated alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins.

A novel fluorescent indicator for Ba2+ in aqueous micellar solutions.

The highly selective and sensitive fluorescence detection of Ba(2+) among alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations was successfully achieved in aqueous media by the combination of a novel monoazacryptand type of fluorophore and micelles of Triton X-100.

A facile synthesis of novel types of cyclodextrin derivatives by insertion of an aromatic dicarbonyl spacer into a permethylated alpha-cyclodextrin skeleton.

Novel types of cyclodextrin derivatives are easily synthesized by the insertion of an aromatic dicarbonyl spacer into the skeleton of permethylated alpha-cyclodextrin, and the isophthaloyl-inserted one shows almost the same complexing ability toward p-nitrophenol as permethylated beta-cyclodextrin.

Molecular Design of C-Pivot Tripodal Ligands: Importance of the Glycerol Structure for Effective Complexation toward Alkali Metal Cations.

A new series of C-pivot tripodal ligands 1-4 containing a 2-methylglycerol unit were prepared and their complexation properties toward alkali metal cations were examined by measuring the extractability, stability constant in THF, characteristic absorption in the UV spectrum, change in the chemical shift in the (1)H NMR, and competitive passive transport. This type of compound (1-4) was found to possess excellent complexing ability and higher selectivity than another type of tripodal ligand 5 derived from tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane. This remarkable difference in the stability constants was reasonably explained by considering that the former takes a three-dimensional coordination toward alkali metal cations by cooperatively using the three electron-donating arms but the latter does not. This finding clearly shows that a proper selection of the structure of the basic skeleton is important for the molecular design of C-pivot tripodal ligands.

Supported liquid membrane transport of alkali metal cations by monoazacryptand with a partially fluorinated sidearm and the corresponding monoazacrown ethers.

Monoazacryptand [20.18.18] (1), monoaza-15-crown-5 (2a), and monoaza-18-crown-6 (2b) with a partially fluorinated sidearm were newly prepared and their transport abilities were estimated in a supported liquid membrane containing a mixture of 2- (perfluorohexyl) ethyl alcohol and 2- (perfluorooctyl) ethyl alcohol. In competitive passive transport of K+, Na+, and Li+ under neutral conditions, the K+ selectivity increased in the order: ionophore 2a

Fluorometric sensing of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations by novel photosensitive monoazacryptand derivatives in aqueous micellar solutions.

Novel monoazacryptand-type fluorescent chemosensors, (derived from an 18-crown-6) and (derived from a 15-crown-5) both with a pyrene ring as their photoresponsive moiety, were synthesized. Their fluorescence properties for alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations in water were then examined. The detection of metal cations was accomplished by a change in the fluorescence intensity of the host compounds, based on a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. In aqueous solution, showed little fluorescence upon the addition of Ba2+ because of the very weak complexation with Ba2+, but the presence of micelles of polyoxyethylene(10) isooctylphenyl ether (Triton X-100) enabled to show highly sensitive and selective Ba2+ detection among alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations. With respect to the selective fluorescent detection of important metal cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+) relevant to living organisms, was found to detect K+ with high selectivity in aqueous micellar solutions of polyoxyethylene(20) sorbitan monostearate (Tween-60). The selectivity for metal cations was mainly dependent on the goodness of fit of the host cavity and the metal cation size. In the presence of anionic surfactants, detected alkaline earth metal cations more effectively than alkali metal cations.

New fluorescence method for the determination of the critical micelle concentration by photosensitive monoazacryptand derivatives.

A novel fluorescence method for the determination of the critical micelle concentration (cmc) is reported. The cmc values of nonionic and anionic surfactants were evaluated utilizing a photosensitive monoazacryptand-Ba2+ complex, whose fluorescence intensity is sensitively changed by environmental conditions based on the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism as a fluorescent probe (PET method). Based on a comparison of the cmc values obtained by the PET method versus those obtained by conventional fluorescence-based methods as well as the values reported in the literature, one can conclude that the PET method is useful for the cmc determination. In particular, the PET method was more effective for the cmc determination of nonionic surfactants with very low cmc values (< 10(-5) M) than any other fluorescence-based method. In the cases of anionic surfactants, the PET method revealed the formation of the premicellar aggregates comprised of surfactant molecules and fluorescent probes below the cmc. Moreover, the hydrophobicity around the monoazacryptand-Ba2+ complex incorporated into various nonionic surfactant micelles was evaluated by this PET method.

Short synthesis of skeleton-modified cyclodextrin derivatives with unique inclusion ability.

[reaction: see text] Skeleton-modified cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives, in which an alpha-(1,4)-glucosidic bond is converted into a beta-(1,4)-glucosidic bond, were conveniently synthesized by cleavage of a single glucosidic bond in permethylated and 2,6-di-O-methylated alpha- and beta-CDs and subsequent recyclization via the trichloroacetoimidate intermediates. The selective cleavage of an alpha-(1,4)-glucosidic bond of permethylated alpha- and beta-CDs was accomplished by stirring in 30% aq HClO(4) at 25 degrees C to give the corresponding maltohexaose and maltoheptaose derivatives, respectively. The cleavage of a glucosidic bond of hexakis(3-O-benzyl-2,6-di-O-methyl)-alpha-CD was successfully carried out in a mixed 60% aq HClO(4) and 1,4-dioxane solution (1:20). In the case of heptakis(3-O-benzyl-2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-CD, the solvent-free reaction with p-toluenesulfonic acid was found to be effective for selective cleavage of one glucosidic bond. The permethylated beta-CD derivative with a beta-(1,4)-glucosidic bond (4b) exhibited higher inclusion ability toward sodium m-nitrobenzoate than the parent permethylated beta-CD, while these hosts showed the same inclusion ability toward sodium p-nitrobenzoate. On the other hand, the beta-(1,4)-type permethylated alpha-CD derivative 4a exhibited lower inclusion ability toward sodium p- and m-nitrobenzoates than the parent permethylated alpha-CD. Interestingly, host molecules 4a and 4b showed inclusion selectivity for sodium m-nitrobenzoate as compared with the corresponding para-isomer, in contrast to permethylated CDs which possessed para-isomer selectivity. On the other hand, host molecules 4a and 4b showed para-isomer selectivity toward sodium nitrophenoxide guests, indicating that the inclusion selectivity was remarkably influenced by the guest hydrophilic groups. (1)H NMR studies on complexes of those beta-(1,4)-type CD derivatives with p- and m-nitrobenzoates and p- and m-nitrophenolates were carried out to estimate their structures.

Synthesis of double-armed lariat ethers with pyrene moieties at each end of two sidearms and their fluorescence properties in the presence of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations.

Two types of double-armed lariat ether derivatives having pyrene moieties at each end of two sidearms, (3x + 1)-crown-x derivatives 1 (x = 5), 2 (x = 6), and 3 (x = 4) (type A) and 3y-crown-y derivatives, 6 (y = 5) and 7 (y = 6) (type B), were synthesized, and their complexation behavior toward alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations was examined by fluorescence spectroscopy. Pyrene excimer emission decreased accompanied by an increase in monomer emission upon metal ion complexation. This finding is ascribed to the change of the spatial distance of two pyrene rings by movement suppression of both the crown ring and one of the two sidearms based on complexation with the metal cation. The selectivity for alkaline earth metal cations was highly dependent on the fitness of the host cavity and the guest size. Although most of the fluorophores did not respond to alkali metal cations, only trans-7a containing an 18-crown-6 ring showed K(+) selectivity.

Sugar-amide surfactant micelles as effective reaction fields for enantioselective hydrolysis of alpha-amino acid esters.

The enantioselective hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl esters of alpha-amino acids (Phe, Leu, Ala) was accomplished in micelles formed with the surfactants bearing one or two sugar-amide headgroups. The effect of structural variations in such sugar-amide surfactants on the rates and enantioselectivity (kD/kL) for hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl esters of D- and L-phenylalanine hydrogen bromides (D- and L-PheONp) was studied. Both the hydrolysis rate of D-PheONp and the enantioselectivity increased with an increase in the alkyl chain length as well as an increase in the number of the alkyl chains in the maltobionamide-type surfactants. Enantioselectivity also increased with an increase in the sugar chain length from bisgluconamide to bismaltobionamide (by one glucose unit per each sugar chain) in the double-sugar-chain surfactants, but enantioselectivity was no longer influenced by a further increase to bismaltotrionamide. The stereochemistry of the linkage between the sugar units in the sugar chain remarkably affected the enantioselectivity: the maltobionamide-type surfactant, in which the two sugar units are connected by an alpha-1,4-glucosidic linkage, showed high enantioselectivity (kD/kL = 5.5), whereas the surfactant bearing cellobionamide headgroups (beta-1,4-glucosidic linkage) showed no enantioselectivity. Similar trends were observed when p-nitrophenyl esters of D- and L-leucine hydrogen bromides were used as substrates. On the other hand, the rates and enantioselectivity for hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl esters of D- and L-alanine hydrogen bromides were not so largely affected by the structural variations in the sugar-amide surfactants. Additionally, the effects of the surfactant concentration and the reaction temperature on the rates and enantioselectivity for the hydrolysis of D- and L-PheONp were examined.