Strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition for protein-protein coupling in the formation of a bis-hemoglobin as a copper-free oxygen carrier.

Conventional chemical approaches to protein-protein coupling present challenges due to the intrinsic competition between the desired interactions of reagents with groups of the protein as well as reactions with water. Biorthogonal Cu(i)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC)-processes provide a basis to direct reactivity without functional group interference. However, the requirement for Cu(i) in CuAAC leads to complications that result from the metal ion's interactions with the protein. In principle, a similar but metal-free alternative approach to coupling could employ the reaction of an alkyne that is strained in combination with an azide (strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition, SPAAC). The method is exemplified by the combination of a cyclooctyne derivative of hemoglobin with an azide-modified hemoglobin. The bis-hemoglobin tetramer that is produced has properties consistent with those sought for use as a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC).

Subunit-directed click coupling via doubly cross-linked hemoglobin efficiently produces readily purified functional bis-tetrameric oxygen carriers.

While cross-linked hemoglobin (Hb) tetramers can deliver oxygen as a supplement to red cells, they also cause unacceptable increases in blood pressure, presumably from their penetration of the linings of blood vessels (endothelia) where the internal hemes bind endogenous nitric oxide (NO). This penetration would lower the local concentration of NO that normally induces vasodilation. Enlarging the effective size of the oxygen-carrying protein by coupling two Hbs can prevent their extravasation. Efficient and selective protein-protein coupling to produce those species has been a significant challenge. Introduction of an azide within a protein provides a directionally-oriented reaction site for utilization of the Cu(i)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) in the protein-protein-coupling process based on solubility-directed sequential addition to a bis-alkyne. However, it is known that Hb with an azide-containing cross-link between α-subunits is unreactive in CuAAC. To direct reaction away from the α-subunits of Hb, a specific fumaryl cross-link is installed exclusively between the most reactive sites on those subunits, thereby blocking the α-99 lysyl groups and preventing any further reaction. This modification allows installation of an azide-containing cross-link exclusively between lysine-82 ε-amino groups of the ß-subunits of Hb. The multiply interconnected sites establish a geometry that permits initial interfacial interaction of the cross-linked Hb-azide with Cu(i) and a bis-alkyne. After coupling, the protein-linked azide product undergoes CuAAC at the remaining alkyne with a second cross-linked Hb-azide, producing a fully functional cross-linked Hb bis-tetramer whose oxygenation and structural properties include cooperativity and oxygen affinity that should be suitable for testing as an alternative to red cells in transfusions.

Selective aryl-fluoride reductive elimination from a platinum(IV) complex.

A difluoro(mesityl)platinum(IV) complex underwent highly selective reductive elimination of 2-fluoromesitylene upon heating in toluene. Kinetic analysis and DFT calculations suggest that the CF coupling involves a five-coordinate Pt(IV) transient intermediate resulting from the rate-limiting dissociation of the pyridine ligand.

Unprecedented 1,3-migration of the aryl ligand in metallacyclic aryl α-naphthyl Pt(IV) difluorides to produce ß-arylnaphthyl Pt(II) complexes.

Electrophilic fluorination of aryl α-naphthyl Pt(II) complexes leads to an unprecedented 1,3-migration of the aryl ligand to the ß-position of the naphthyl group. The reaction proceeds via the initial oxidative addition of two fluoro ligands to the Pt center followed by C(sp(2))-C(sp(2)) coupling and aryl migration.

Electrophilic fluorination of organoplatinum(II) iodides: iodine and platinum atoms as competing fluorination sites.

A series of diphosphine Pt(II) aryl iodo complexes were reacted with XeF(2) to cleanly produce the corresponding Pt(II) difluoro complexes and free iodoarenes. However, when aryl ligands bearing fluoro substituents in the ortho positions were used, the formation of the corresponding Pt(II) aryl fluoro complexes was observed in the reaction with XeF(2). In the case of the Pt-C(6)F(5) complex, the products of the fluoride-for-iodide exchange were the only products observed by means of (31)P and (19)F NMR spectroscopy. The experimental and theoretical studies suggest that the formation of iodine-fluorine bond may accompany this transformation. The plausible "I-F" species could be trapped by electron-richer organoplatinum complexes to give a Pt(IV) transient which subsequently eliminates the corresponding aryl iodide. Hence, in some cases a pathway involving an attack of XeF(2) at the iodo ligand of Pt(II) aryl iodo complexes to generate I-F species can be operative in addition to or instead of the XeF(2) attack at the metal center. Our DFT studies demonstrate that the electrophilic attacks of XeF(2) at both sites, platinum and iodide, can be competitive.