X-ray crystallographers

Anuther concept that is extremely powerful when considering lattice structures is the fi i i/imca/ lattice. X-ray crystallographers use a reciprocal lattice defined by three vectors a, b and c in which a is perpendicular to b and c and is scaled so that the scalar juoduct of a and a equals 1. b and c are similarly defined. In three dimensions this leads to the following definitions ... 

Note that the denominator in each case is equal to the volume of the unit cell. The fact that a, b and c have the units of 1/length gives rise to the terms reciprocal space and reciprocal latlice. It turns out to be convenient for our computations to work with an expanded reciprocal space that is defined by three closely related vectors a , b and c, which are multiples by 2tt. of the X-ray crystallographic reciprocal lattice vectors ... 

The primary structure of a peptide is its ammo acid sequence We also speak of the secondary structure of a peptide that is the conformational relationship of nearest neighbor ammo acids with respect to each other On the basis of X ray crystallographic studies and careful examination of molecular models Linus Pauling and Robert B Corey of the California Institute of Technology showed that certain peptide conformations were more stable than others Two arrangements the a helix and the (5 sheet, stand out as... 

Watson and Crick shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in physiol ogy or medicine with Maurice Wilkins who with Rosalind Franklin was responsible for the X ray crystallographic work... 

Microchemical or ultramicrochemical techniques are used extensively ia chemical studies of actinide elements (16). If extremely small volumes are used, microgram or lesser quantities of material can give relatively high concentrations in solution. Balances of sufficient sensitivity have been developed for quantitative measurements with these minute quantities of material. Since the amounts of material involved are too small to be seen with the unaided eye, the actual chemical work is usually done on the mechanical stage of a microscope, where all of the essential apparatus is in view. Compounds prepared on such a small scale are often identified by x-ray crystallographic methods. 

Chemical conversion of compounds to intermediates of known absolute configuration is a method routinely used to determine absolute configuration (86). This is necessary because x-ray analysis is not always possible suitable crystals are required and deterrnination of the absolute configuration of many crystalline molecules caimot be done because of poor resolution. Such poor resolution is usually a function of either molecular instability or the complex nature of the molecule. For example, the relative configuration of the macroHde immunosuppressant FK-506 (105) (Fig. 8), which contains 14 stereocenters, was determined by x-ray crystallographic studies. However, the absolute configuration could only be elucidated by chemical degradation and isolation of L-pipecoUc acid (110) (80). 

Cromakalim (137) is a potassium channel activator commonly used as an antihypertensive agent (107). The rationale for the design of cromakalim is based on P-blockers such as propranolol (115) and atenolol (123). Conformational restriction of the propanolamine side chain as observed in the cromakalim chroman nucleus provides compounds with desired antihypertensive activity free of the side effects commonly associated with P-blockers. Enantiomerically pure cromakalim is produced by resolution of the diastereomeric (T)-a-meth5lben2ylcarbamate derivatives. X-ray crystallographic analysis of this diastereomer provides the absolute stereochemistry of cromakalim. Biological activity resides primarily in the (—)-(33, 4R)-enantiomer [94535-50-9] (137) (108). In spontaneously hypertensive rats, the (—)-(33, 4R)-enantiomer, at dosages of 0.3 mg/kg, lowers the systoHc pressure 47%, whereas the (+)-(3R,43)-enantiomer only decreases the systoHc pressure by 14% at a dose of 3.0 mg/kg. 

Crystalline Structures. Crystal shape of amino acids varies widely, for example, monoclinic prisms in glycine and orthorhombic needles in L-alanine. X-ray crystallographic analyses of 23 amino acids have been described (31). L-Glutamic acid crystallizes in two polymorphic forms (a and P) (32), and the a-form is mote facdely handled in industrial processes. The crystal stmeture has been determined (33) and is shown in Figure 1. 

Tolypomycins. The addition of small amounts of iron salts to the fermentation medium increases the production of tolypomycin Y (48) (7,203,204), the stmcture of which was arrived at by chemical degradation (205,206) and confirmed by x-ray crystallographic analysis (207) (Fig. 5). Mild acid hydrolysis of tolypomycin Y yields tolypomycinone [22356-23-6] (49, R = H), C27H42NO23, and tolyposamine [34174-76-0] C23H23NO2, (50). Further hydrolysis of tolypomycinone using acid yields tolyponone [24317-12-2] (51), which is also formed upon mild acid hydrolysis of rifamycia S. 

Kanglemycin. Kanglemycia (74) (Fig. 8) is isolated from the fermentation broth filtrate of Nocardia mediterranei var kanglensis (1747-64) and its stmcture determiaed by x-ray crystallographic studies. The antibiotic is active against gram-positive bacteria (28). 

Additional compounds having similar biological activities and stmctural components were isolated resulting in the recognition of PGs as a family of closely related compounds. Stmctural and stereochemical assignments of PGE and PGF, were confirmed by x-ray crystallographic analysis of their... 

Although many sterols and bile acids were isolated in the nineteenth century, it was not until the twentieth century that the stmcture of the steroid nucleus was first elucidated (5). X-ray crystallographic data first suggested that the steroid nucleus was a thin, lath-shaped stmcture (6). This perhydro-l,2-cyclopentenophenanthrene ring system was eventually confirmed by the identification of the Diels hydrocarbon [549-88-2] (4) and by the total synthesis of equilenin [517-09-9] (5) (7). 

X-ray crystallographic analysis of the sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate [10102-17-7] crystal indicates a tetrahedral stmcture for the thiosulfate ion. The S—S bond distance is 197 pm the S—O bond distance is 148 pm (5). Neutron diffraction of a barium thiosulfate monohydrate [7787-40-8] crystal confirms the tetrahedral stmcture and bond distances for the thiosulfate ion (6). 

The 1-alkoxytitatranes can be synthesized by the reaction of equimolar amounts of tetraalkyl titanates and triethanolamine (105). X-ray crystallographic analysis of the soHd isolated from the reaction of one mole of triethanolamine and one mole of TYZOR TPT confirms the stmcture as a centrosymmetric dimer having a Ti isopropoxy nitrilotriethoxy ratio of 1 1 1. The titanium atoms have achieved a coordination number of six via a rather unsymmetrical titanium—oxygen bridge (106). 

Infrared and nmr spectroscopy have been used to help distinguish between vitamins D2 and D (87—89). X-ray crystallographic techniques are used ... 

Cyclosporin A forms white prismatic crystals from acetone and is only slightly soluble in water and saturated hydrocarbons, but is very soluble in methanol, ethanol, acetone, and diethyl ether. Optical and nmr data on cyclosporins and x-ray crystallographic data on cyclosporin A and an io do derivative have been reviewed (273,275). 

X-ray crystallographic studies (59) have defined the conformations and hydrogen bonding of the tetracyclines under nonpolar and polar conditions. These are shown ia Figure 3. It is beheved that the equiUbrium between the 2witterionic and nonioni2ed forms is of importance for the broad-spectmm antibacterial activity, membrane permeation, and pharmacokinetic properties. 

Fig. 3. Computer projections of P-cyclodextfin inclusion complexes of (a) (R)-propranolol and (b) (3)-piopianolol from x-ray crystallographic data. Dotted lines represent potential hydrogen bonds (see text). The configurations shown represent the optimal orientation of each isomer on the basis of the highest...

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