Exploring the scope of DBU-promoted amidations of 7-carboxymethyl-pterin

Pteridines are an important heterocycle often used in the development of pharmaceutically relevant compounds, and in the field of supramolecular chemistry. Their synthetic use is often hampered by the notorious insolubility of pterins, slowing the development of novel pteridine derivatives. Reactions which expedite the rapid development of new pterins are thus of great importance. Through a dual role of diazabicycloundecene (DBU), 7-carboxymethyl-pterin is converted to the soluble DBU salt, with additional DBU promoting an ester-to-amide transformation. We have explored this reaction to assess its scope and identify structural features in the amines which significantly affect success, monitored the reaction using pseudo-first order kinetics, and further adapted the reaction conditions to allow for product formation in as little as 5 min, with yields often \u3e80%

A Seventh Take on Jacques

Since Jeff Wasserstrom posted a round-up of reviews of Martin Jacques’ When China Rules the World, pieces that reference the book have continued to be published, including a column by Robert Samuelson at the Wall Street Journalthat calls Jacques’ book ”masterful.” Jacques, meanwhile, published another op-ed on China and the US last week titled ”Crouching Dragon, Weakened Eagle” in the International Herald Tribune. Below, Harald Bockman raises his concerns about the on-going attention Jacques’ book is receiving, and points out—despite that attention—the weakness in the book that most reviewers are still missing

Shannon County Warrants

Finding amusement in the realm of the grotesque can alleviate some of the uncomfortable and inevitable parts of our nature. In my work, by creating images closely related to cartoons or other benign media (i.e. puppets, old country songs and toys.), I am able to illuminate the dark aspects of the redneck culture in a blithe and lighthearted manner inviting the viewer to contemplate and challenge regional stereotypes

Exploring the scope of DBU-promoted amidations of 7-carboxymethyl-pterin

Pteridines are an important heterocycle often used in the development of pharmaceutically relevant compounds, and in the field of supramolecular chemistry. Their synthetic use is often hampered by the notorious insolubility of pterins, slowing the development of novel pteridine derivatives. Reactions which expedite the rapid development of new pterins are thus of great importance. Through a dual role of diazabicycloundecene (DBU), 7-carboxymethyl-pterin is converted to the soluble DBU salt, with additional DBU promoting an ester-to-amide transformation. We have explored this reaction to assess its scope and identify structural features in the amines which significantly affect success, monitored the reaction using pseudo-first order kinetics, and further adapted the reaction conditions to allow for product formation in as little as 5 min, with yields often \u3e80%

Synthetic Routes to a Library of Novel Methionine Synthase Inhibitors

Fungal infections are of continuous concern, especially with regard to immunocompromised patients. In an effort to develop new potential anti-fungal agents, we have begun synthesizing a library of potential inhibitors of the fungal Methionine Synthase (MetSyn) enzyme. Key differences between the B12-independant fungal MetSyn enzyme and the B12-dependant mammalian form can allow for an antifungal drug to be developed to exclusively bind the fungal enzyme and inhibit fungal growth while leaving the host (patient) unaffected. We are currently exploring the synthesis of various pterin and deazaguanine-based molecules as these mimic folate, an essential substrate for MetSyn function. We have begun testing these new molecules for activity in a fungal growth assay, as well as a fluorescent assay for monitoring MetSyn activity

“Socialist accounting” by Karl Polanyi: with preface “socialism and the embedded economy”

Ariane Fischer, David Woodruff, and Johanna Bockman have translated Karl Polanyi’s “Sozialistische Rechnungslegung” [“Socialist Accounting”] from 1922. In this article, Polanyi laid out his model of a future socialism, a world in which the economy is subordinated to society. Polanyi described the nature of this society and a kind of socialism that he would remain committed to his entire life. Accompanying the translation is the preface titled “Socialism and the embedded economy.” In the preface, Bockman explains the historical context of the article and its significance to the socialist calculation debate, the social sciences, and socialism more broadly. Based on her reading of the accounting and society that Polanyi offers here, Bockman argues that scholars have too narrowly used Polanyi’s work to support the Keynesian welfare state to the exclusion of other institutions, have too broadly used his work to study social institutions indiscriminately, and have not recognized that his work shares fundamental commonalities with and often unacknowledged distinctions from neoclassical economics