[The preparative method for 2-fluoroadenosine synthesis].

The preparative method for the synthesis of 2-fluoroadenosine starting from commercially available guanosine was developed. It included the intermediate formation of 2-amino-6-azido-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purine, which was isolated exclusively in the tetrazolo[5,1-i]-form {5-amino-7-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-7H-tetrazolo[5,1-i]purine}. The latter compound was converted by the Schiemann reaction to 6-azido-2-fluoro-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purine, which was isolated at an 80% yield after careful optimization of the process. The IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy data indicated the 6-azido-2-fluoropurine structure of the aglycone. The catalytic reduction of the azido group in 6-azido-2-fluoro-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purine to the amino moiety and the subsequent deacetylation by the routine procedure resulted in 2-fluoroadenosine at a total yield of 74%.

Two-color thermal detector with thermal chopping for infrared focal-plane arrays.

Micromachined thermal infrared (IR) detectors are emerging into the marketplace to provide high-performance thermal (IR) imagery at low cost. Thermal detectors can be improved when a tunable wavelength response is provided and when a thermal chopper is incorporated into the detector by use of microelectromechanical (MEM) elements. Most thermal detectors require a chopper, continuous synchronous chopping in the case of pyroelectric detectors, or asynchronous chopping in the case of staring microbolometers. Mechanical choppers are bulky and costly. We present the fundamental principles of micromachined thermal detectors that possess tunable wavelength or color response and a technique for thermal chopping. A micromirror, switching between two spatial positions under the detector, provides a response to two wavelength windows by tuning the optical resonant cavity. The image can then be integrated at the readout level to achieve a multicolor IR picture. A thermal MEM chopper can be used instead of a mechanical chopper to maintain the same video frame rate and to allow for an interlaced resetting of staring thermal arrays. Unlike the second generation of uncooled IR arrays, the actual temperature of objects can be obtained by a comparison of the response in two wavelength windows, in addition to the direct measurement of IR power that they radiate in the entire 8-14-microm spectral region.

Comparative analysis of the effects of synthetic derivatives of batrachotoxin on sodium currents in frog node of Ranvier.

1. In voltage-clamp experiments on frog myelinated nerve fibers, the effects of nine synthetic derivatives of batrachotoxin (BTX) obtained from 7,8-dihydrobatrachotoxinin A (DBTX-A) on Na+ currents (INa) have been investigated. 2. Both of 20 alpha-esters of DBTX-A with 2,4,5-trimethylpyrrol-3-carboxylic acid (DBTX-P) and benzoic acid (DBTX) at a 10(-5) M concentration caused modification of INa qualitatively similar to that induced by BTX. 3. The quaternary derivative of DBTX (QDBTX) produced such changes in INa only at a 5.10(-4) M concentration, apparently due to its much lower lipid solubility. 4. Replacement of a -CH2- by a -C = O. group in the homomorpholine ring near the tertiary nitrogen atom abolished the DBTX activity, strongly suggesting the necessity of tertiary nitrogen protonation for the toxin interaction with the channel receptor. 5. Transfer of an 11-hydroxygroup from the alpha- to the beta-position in the DBTX molecule did not decrease its activity in spite of the fact that in the beta-position this group is sterically very hindered. The activity of 11 beta-DBTX is at variance with the prediction of Codding's (1983) "oxygen triad" hypothesis. 6. DBTX-A and compounds obtained from DBTX by oxidation of the 11 alpha-hydroxygroup (K-DBTX), acetylation (Ac-DBTX), or reduction of the hemiketal moiety (H2DBTX) even at a concentration as high as 10(-3) M were able to modify only a very small fraction of the Na channels. However, a clear-cut reversible blocking action on both normal and modified Na channels was observed. 7. These results led us to conclude that BTX modifies the Na channels only in the charged form and hemiketal and 20 alpha-ester moieties provide adequate disposition of toxin on the receptor surface. The inability of H2DBTX, DBTX-A, and K-DBTX and Ac-DBTX to modify most of the Na channels can be explained by a low "probability of correct disposition" of these ligands on the receptor surface.

[Synthesis and biological activity of 7,8-dihydro derivatives of batrachotoxinin interacting with fast sodium channels]. / Poluchenie i issledovanie biologicheskoi aktivnosti 7,8-digidroproizvodnykh batrakhotoksinina, vzaimodeistvuiushchikh s bystrymi natrievymi kanalami.

7,8-Dihydrobatrachotoxinin (A) (I) was synthesized from 11 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (III) by a 37-stage procedure. Trimethylpyrrolcarboxylate, benzoate as well as 2-azido-benzoate derivatives of (I) were obtained by mixed anhydride technique, the latter two derivatives being prepared also with tritium atoms in aromatic rings (sp. radioactivity about 28 Cu/mmol). Upon interaction with rat brain synaptosomes the apparent Kd of 7,8-dihydrobatrachotoxinin A 20 alpha-[4-3H]benzoate (Iv) was about 2,5 x 10(-6) M. The (Iv) specific binding was inhibited by aconitine with K0,5 = 1,3 x 10(4) M. Anemonia sulcata toxin II (ATX II) enhanced (Iv) affinity for the receptor up to 7 x 10(-7) M, the maximum binding capacity being 2,5 pmol/mg of protein. Benzocaine and tetracaine competitively displaced specifically bound toxin with K0,5 = 3,1 x 10(-4) M and 5,7 x 10(-7) M, respectively, in the presence of 10(-5) M ATX II. 2-Azido[5-3H]benzoate derivative (Id) was shown to be an effective probe for covalent labeling of the alkaloid toxin receptor of the sodium channel.