The common feature of proteins involved in many neurodegenerative diseases is their ability to adopt at least two different stable conformations. The conformational transition that shifts the equilibrium from the functional, mostly partially alpha-helical structure, to the beta-sheet rich amyloid can be triggered by numerous factors, such as mutations in the primary structure or changes in the environment. We present a set of model peptides that, without changes in their primary structure, react in a predictable fashion in the presence of transition metal ions by adopting different conformations and aggregate morphologies. These de novo designed peptides strictly follow the characteristic heptad repeat of the alpha-helical coiled-coil structural motif. Furthermore, domains that favor beta-sheet formation have been incorporated to make the system prone to amyloid formation. As a third feature, histidine residues create sensitivity towards the presence of transition metal ions. CD spectroscopy, ThT fluorescence experiments, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize peptide conformation and aggregate morphology in the presence of Cu2+ and Zn2+. Furthermore, the binding geometry within peptide-Cu2+ complexes was characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The synthesis of a series of substituted naphthacene derivatives through the coupling reaction of zirconacyclopentadienes with diiodobenzenes is reported. A reaction of bis(propargyl)benzenes with zirconacene dibutyl afforded the corresponding tricyclic zirconacyclopentadienes, which reacted with o-diiodobenzenes to afford the corresponding dihydronaphthacenes. The yields of the coupling reactions were dependent on the substituents on both of the zirconacycles and o-diiodobenzenes. The reactions of diphenyl-substituted zirconacycles gave higher yields than those of the alpha,alpha'-dialkyl-substituted derivatives. The iodide functions thus introduced allowed further introduction of substituents by well-established cross-coupling reactions after construction of the naphthacene skeletons.

Fused 6,6,6,6-ring systems Q 1130 Substituent Effects in the Preparation of Naphthacenes by the Coupling Reaction of Diyne-Derived Zirconacyclopentadienes with Tetraiodobenzene. -(SERI, T.; QU, H.; ZHOU, L.; KANNO, K.-I.; TAKAHASHI*, T.; Chem. Asian J. 3 (2008)