Search

Unlike conventional amide synthesis, a decarboxylative amidation of aryl/heteroarylacetic acids by reaction with NHS and tert-butyl nitrite has been reported to afford both aliphatic and (hetero)aromatic amides in satisfactory yields. Mechanistic studies revealed a previously unexplored pathway for the formation of an activated ester through the generation and subsequent reactions of traceless α-functionalized benzylic radicals, which upon subsequent one-pot reaction with amines form the amides. A gram-scale synthesis of Moclobemide indicates the practical applicability.

A simple approach for the intramolecular aroylation of electron-rich arenes under mild conditions has been developed. A pH-controlled polarity umpolung strategy can be used to synthesize different fluorenones, which are important building blocks for biological applications. Unlike previous acylation reactions involving nucleophilic aroyl radicals, this approach likely relies on in situ generated electrophilic aroyl radicals. Detailed mechanistic and computational investigations provide detailed insights into the reaction mechanism and support the hypothesis of a pH-mediated umpolung.

ABSTRACTWe have characterized monoclonal antibodies raised against the neuraminidase (NA) of a Sydney-like influenza virus (A/Memphis/31/98, H3N2) in a reassortant virus A/NWS/33HA-A/Mem/31/98NA(H1N2) and nine escape mutants selected by these monoclonal antibodies. Five of the antibodies use the same heavy chain VDJ genes and may not be independent. Another antibody, Mem5, uses the same VHand J genes with a different D gene and different isotype. Sequence changes in escape mutants selected by these antibodies occur in two loops of the NA, at amino acid 198, 199, 220, or 221. These amino acids are located on the opposite side of the NA monomer to the major epitopes found in N9 and early N2 NAs. Escape mutants with a change at 198 have reduced NA activity compared to the wild-type virus. Asp198 points toward the substrate binding pocket, and we had previously found that a site-directed mutation of this amino acid resulted in a loss of enzyme activity (M. R. Lentz, R. G. Webster, and G. M. Air, Biochemistry 26:5351-5358, 1987). Mutations at residue 199, 220, or 221 did not alter the NA activity significantly compared to that of wild-type NA. A 3.5-A° structure of Mem5 Fab complexed with the Mem/98 NA shows that the Mem5 antibody binds at the sites of escape mutation selected by the other antibodies.