Peptide-modified cryptophane enables sensitive detection of protein analytes using hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR spectroscopy. Here we report improved targeting and delivery of cryptophane to cells expressing αvβ3 integrin receptor, which is overexpressed in many human cancers. Cryptophane was functionalized with cyclic RGDyK peptide and Alexa Fluor 488 dye, and cellular internalization was monitored by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Competitive blocking assays confirmed cryptophane endocytosis through an αvβ3 integrin receptor-mediated pathway. The peptide–cryptophane conjugate was determined to be nontoxic in normal human lung fibroblasts by MTT assay at the micromolar cryptophane concentrations typically used for hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR biosensing experiments. Flow cytometry revealed 4-fold higher cellular internalization in cancer cells overexpressing the integrin receptor compared to normal cells. Nanomolar inhibitory concentrations (IC50 = 20–30 nM) were measured for cryptophane biosensors against vitronectin binding to αvβ3 integrin and fibrinogen binding to αIIbβ3 integrin. Functionalization of the conjugate with two propionic acid groups improved water solubility for hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR spectroscopic studies, which revealed a single resonance at 67 ppm for the 129Xe-cryptophane–cyclic RGDyK biosensor. Introduction of αIIbβ3 integrin receptor in detergent solution generated a new “bound” 129Xe biosensor peak that was shifted 4 ppm downfield from the “free” 129Xe biosensor.

A series of 35 benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized from 2-chloromethyl-1H-benzimidazole in good yields. Their structures were characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR and HRESIMS. Antifungal activities of all of the synthesized compounds were evaluated against five phytopathogens fungi (Cytospora sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, and Fusarium solani) using the mycelium growth rate method. Compound 4m displayed strong growth inhibition of C. gloeosporioides, A. solani, and F. solani with IC50 of 20.76, 27.58, and 18.60 μg/mL, respectively. Selective inhibition of B. cinerea instead of the other fungal pathogenes was observed with 7f (IC50 of 13.36 μg/mL), comparable to that of positive control, a commercial agricultural fungicide hymexazol (IC50 of 8.92 μg/mL). Compound 5b exhibited remarkable antifungal properties against Cytospora sp., C. gloeosporioides, B. cinerea, and F. solani with IC50 values of 30.97, 11.38, 57.71, and 40.15 μg/mL, respectively; among the target fungi, 5b was the most active compound and superior to the reference against C. gloeosporioides alone. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) data of these compounds are as follows: (1) introduction of the chlorine atom on para-position in the benzene ring help to increase activity (4f vs 4c; 7f vs 7n), (2) the sulfonyl group is critical for the inhibition of C. gloeosporioides (5b and 5c vs 5a), and (3) the unsubstituted benzene ring improve activity (4m vs 4n, 4e and 4a). Thus, compounds 5b, 4m, and 7f emerged as a new leading structure for the development of new fungicides.

The [2+2] cycloaddition is a versatile strategy for the synthesis of strained cyclobutenes of high synthetic value. In this study, two efficient intermolecular [2+2] cycloadditions between two different types of chloroalkynes and unactivated alkene are realized with gold catalysis. Of significance is that the reaction works with challenging monosubstituted unactivated alkenes, which is unprecedented in gold catalysis and scarcely documented in other metal-catalyzed/promoted reactions; moreover, the reaction exhibits excellent regioselectivities, which are much better than those reported in literature. With 1,2-disubstituted unactivated alkenes, the reaction is largely stereospecific. The cyclobutene products can be prepared in nearly gram scale and readily undergo further reactions including various cross-coupling reactions using the C(sp)-Cl and/or C(sp)-SPh bond, which in turn substantially broaden the scope of accessible cyclobutenes and enhance the synthetic utility of this bimolecular reaction.

Hyperpolarized 129Xe chemical exchange saturation transfer (129Xe Hyper-CEST) NMR is a powerful technique for the ultrasensitive, indirect detection of Xe host molecules (e.g., cryptophane-A). Irradiation at the appropriate Xe-cryptophane resonant radio frequency results in relaxation of the bound hyperpolarized 129Xe and rapid accumulation of depolarized 129Xe in bulk solution. The cryptophane effectively ‘catalyzes’ this process by providing a unique molecular environment for spin depolarization to occur, while allowing xenon exchange with the bulk solution during the hyperpolarized lifetime (T1 ≈ 1 min). Following this scheme, a triacetic acid cryptophane-A derivative (TAAC) was indirectly detected at 1.4 picomolar concentration at 320 K in aqueous solution, which is the record for a single-unit xenon host. To investigate this sensitivity enhancement, the xenon binding kinetics of TAAC in water was studied by NMR exchange lifetime measurement. At 297 K, kon ≈ 1.5 × 106 M−1s−1 and koff = 45 s−1, which represent the fastest Xe association and dissociation rates measured for a high-affinity, water-soluble xenon host molecule near rt. NMR linewidth measurements provided similar exchange rates at rt, which we assign to solvent-Xe exchange in TAAC. At 320 K, koff was estimated to be 1.1 × 103 s−1. In Hyper-CEST NMR experiments, the rate of 129Xe depolarization achieved by 14 pM TAAC in the presence of RF pulses was calculated to be 0.17 µM·s−1. On a per cryptophane basis, this equates to 1.2 × 104 129Xe atoms s−1 (or 4.6 × 104 Xe atoms s−1, all Xe isotopes), which is more than an order of magnitude faster than koff, the directly measurable Xe-TAAC exchange rate. This compels us to consider multiple Xe exchange processes for cryptophane-mediated bulk 129Xe depolarization, which provide at least 107-fold sensitivity enhancements over directly detected hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR signals.

With environmental pollution, residual hazards accumulate and severe drug resistance and many other problems appear; some highly toxic drugs have been banned, and antifungal agents are far from satisfactory. Natural products play an important role in the discovery and development of new pesticides. The natural product griseofulvin (1) has been known as an antifungal agent in the treatment of dermatomycoses for decades. In this study, a series of new griseofulvin derivatives were synthesized with good yields. Their structures were characterized by 1 H and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance and highresolution mass spectrometry (electrospray ionization). The antifungal activities of griseofulvin analogues were first evaluated against five phytopathogenic fungi (Cytospora sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, and Fusarium solani) in vitro. Of significance is that most of them showed excellent antifungal activities against C. gloeosporioides. The antifungal activities of the four best compounds (6a, 6c, 6e, and 6f) against C. gloeosporioides were further investigated in vivo using infected apples. The results suggested that compounds 6c, 6e, and 6f [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) = 47.25 ± 1.46, 49.44 ± 1.50, and 53.63 ± 1.74 μg/mL, respectively] were better than thiophanate-methyl (IC 50 = 69.66 ± 6.07 μg/mL). Furthermore, comparative molecular field analysis was performed on the basis of the antifungal activity results of all 22 of the compounds against C. gloeosporioides in vitro. The three-dimensional coefficient contour plots revealed that the suitable bulky and electronegative acyl-substituted groups seem to be more favorable for increasing activity at the 4′ position of griseofulvin. The structure−activity relationships were also discussed. Griseofulvin derivatives can be used for the development of highly effective and safe agricultural fungicides.

Xenon and radon have many similar properties, a difference being that all 35 isotopes of radon ( 195 Rn– 229 Rn) are radioactive. Radon is a pervasive indoor air pollutant believed to cause significant incidence of lung cancer in many geographic regions, yet radon affinity for a discrete molecular species has never been determined. By comparison, the chemistry of xenon has been widely studied and applied in science and technology. Here, both noble gases were found to bind with exceptional affinity to tris-(triazole ethylamine) cryptophane, a previously unsynthesized water-soluble organic host molecule. The cryptophane–xenon association constant, K a  = 42,000 ± 2,000 M -1 at 293 K, was determined by isothermal titration calorimetry. This value represents the highest measured xenon affinity for a host molecule. The partitioning of radon between air and aqueous cryptophane solutions of varying concentration was determined radiometrically to give the cryptophane–radon association constant K a  = 49,000 ± 12,000 M -1 at 293 K.

Previously, we reported hyperpolarized 129Xe chemical exchange saturation transfer (Hyper-CEST) NMR techniques for the ultrasensitive (i.e., 1 picomolar) detection of xenon host molecules known as cryptophane. Here, we demonstrate a more general role for Hyper-CEST NMR as a spectroscopic method for probing nanoporous structures, without the requirement for cryptophane or engineered xenon-binding sites. Hyper-CEST 129Xe NMR spectroscopy was employed to detect Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus subtilis spores in solution, and interrogate the layers that comprise their structures. 129Xe-spore samples were selectively irradiated with radiofrequency pulses; the depolarized 129Xe returned to aqueous solution and depleted the 129Xe-water signal, providing measurable contrast. Removal of the outermost spore layers in B. anthracis and B. subtilis (the exosporium and coat, respectively) enhanced 129Xe exchange with the spore interior. Notably, the spores were invisible to hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR direct detection methods, highlighting the lack of high-affinity xenon-binding sites, and the potential for extending Hyper-CEST NMR structural analysis to other biological and synthetic nanoporous structures.

Folate-conjugated cryptophane was developed for targeting cryptophane to membrane-bound folate receptors that are overexpressed in many human cancers. The cryptophane biosensor was synthesized in 20 nonlinear steps, which included functionalization with folate recognition moiety, solubilizing peptide, and Cy3 fluorophore. Hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR studies confirmed xenon binding to the folate-conjugated cryptophane. Cellular internalization of biosensor was monitored by confocal laser scanning microscopy and quantified by flow cytometry. Competitive blocking studies confirmed cryptophane endocytosis through a folate receptor-mediated pathway. Flow cytometry revealed 10-fold higher cellular internalization in KB cancer cells overexpressing folate receptors compared to HT-1080 cells with normal folate receptor expression. The biosensor was determined to be nontoxic in HT-1080 and KB cells by MTT assay at low micromolar concentrations typically used for hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR experiments.