Focal molography is a next-generation biosensor that visualizes specific biomolecular interactions in real time. It transduces affinity modulation on the sensor surface into refractive index modulation caused by target molecules that are bound to a precisely assembled nanopattern of molecular recognition sites, termed the 'mologram'. The mologram is designed so that laser light is scattered at specifically bound molecules, generating a strong signal in the focus of the mologram via constructive interference, while scattering at nonspecifically bound molecules does not contribute to the effect. We present the realization of molograms on a chip by submicrometre near-field reactive immersion lithography on a light-sensitive monolithic graft copolymer layer. We demonstrate the selective and sensitive detection of biomolecules, which bind to the recognition sites of the mologram in various complex biological samples. This allows the label-free analysis of non-covalent interactions in complex biological samples, without a need for extensive sample preparation, and enables novel time- and cost-saving ways of performing and developing immunoassays for diagnostic tests.

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A new strategy toward glycosidase inhibitors, represented by valienamine, which is such an inhibitor itself as well as a critical unit of pseudooligosaccharides that function this way, evolved from two newly developed palladium-catalyzed reactions. The applicability of a palladium(0)-catalyzed net regioselective cis-hydroxyamination derives from the reaction of vinyl epoxides with isocyanates. The utilization of a cocatalyst in this reaction is required in this case and may prove generally useful. A bidentate phosphite proved to be the most effective ligand. The requisite substrate was available via a Diels−Alder protocol and allowed the obtention of (±)-valienamine in only seven steps. The inability to perform the Diels−Alder reaction asymmetrically led to a different asymmetric synthesis of the pivotal epoxide intermediate in enantiomerically pure form, which derived from asymmetric palladium-catalyzed reactions. Using the desymmetrization of meso enedicarboxylates, the net equivalence of an asymmetric cis-hydroxycarboxylation led to the enantiomerically pure desired epoxide. (+)-Valienamine was available in 14 steps by this route.

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The application of the evolutionary fragment-based de novo design tool TOPology Assigning System (TOPAS), starting from a known CB1R (CB-1 receptor) ligand, followed by further refinement principles, including pharmacophore compliance, chemical tractability, and drug likeness, allowed the identification of benzodioxoles as a novel CB1R inverse agonist series. Extensive multidimensional optimization was rewarded by the identification of promising lead compounds, showing in vivo activity. These compounds reversed the CP-55940-induced hypothermia in Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice and reduced body-weight gain, as well as fat mass, in diet-induced obese Sprague-Dawley rats. Herein, we disclose the tools and strategies that were employed for rapid hit identification, synthesis and generation of structure-activity relationships, ultimately leading to the identification of (+)-[( R)-2-(2,4-dichloride-phenyl)-6-fluoro-2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl]-morpholin-4-yl-methanone ( R)-14g . Biochemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic characteristics of ( R)-14g are discussed.