Phosphonate Monoester Research Articles

Dynamics of Coordinated Phosphonate Group Directly Observed by 17O-NMR in Lanthanide(iii) Complexes of a Mono(ethyl phosphonate) DOTA Analogue.

Biological phosphates can coordinate metal ions and their complexes are common in living systems. Dynamics of mutual oxygen atom exchange in the tetrahedral group in complexes has not been investigated. Here, we present a direct experimental proof of exchange ("phosphonate rotation") in model Ln(III) complexes of monophosphonate H4dota analogue which alters phosphorus atom chirality of coordinated phosphonate monoester. Combination of macrocycle-based isomerism with P-based chirality leads to several diastereoisomers. (Non)-coordinated oxygen atoms were distinguished through 17O-labelled phosphonate group and their mutual exchange was followed by various NMR techniques and DFT calculations. The process is sterically demanding and occurs through bulky bidentate (κ2-PO2)- coordination and was observed only in twisted-square antiprism (TSA) diastereoisomer of large Ln(III) ions. Its energy demands increase for smaller Ln(III) ions (298ΔG≠(exp./DFT)=51.8/52.1 and 61.0/71.5 kJ mol-1 for La(III) and Eu(III), respectively). These results are helpful in design of such complexes as MRI CA and for protein paramagnetic NMR probes. It demonstrates usefulness of 17O NMR to study solution dynamics in complexes involving phosphorus acid derivatives and it may inspire use of this method to study dynamics of phosphoric acid derivatives (as e. g. phosphorus acid-based inhibitors of metalloenzymes) in different areas of chemistry.

Controlling Extraction of Rare Earth Elements Using Functionalized Aryl-vinyl Phosphonic Acid Esters.

Ligands that can discriminate between individual rare earth elements are important for production of these critical elements. A set of aryl-vinyl phosphonic acid ligands for extracting rare earth elements were designed and synthesized under the hypothesis that the strength of the rare earth-ligand interactions could be tuned by changing the dipole moment of the ligand. The ligands were synthesized via a two-step reaction procedure using a Heck coupling reaction to functionalize vinyl phosphonic acid, followed by Steglich esterification to obtain high-purity styryl phosphonic acid monoesters with varying dipole moments along the P-C bond. The metal binding strength and composition of the rare earth complexes formed with these styryl phosphonic acid monoesters were experimentally studied by liquid-liquid extraction techniques, while DFT calculations were performed to determine the dipole moments of the free and complexed ligands and the electronic structure of the complexes formed. All three prepared ligands were much stronger extracting agents for europium(III) than the dialkylphosphonic acids usually used for this separation. However, the order of increasing extraction strength was found to match the order of the decreasing calculated dipole moment along the P-C bond of the three styryl-based ligands, rather than correlating with increasing ligand basicity, as reflected by the pKa of the ligands. These findings suggest that this approach can be used to systematically alter the extraction strength of aromatic phosphonic monoesters for rare earth element purification.

Access to mixed difluoromethylphosphonates by alkylation of phosphonamidates

Mixed phosphonates attract much attention in medicinal chemistry for drugs discovery. We report herein the alkylation of a phosphonamidate to access to functionalized difluoromethylphosphonamidates and the preparation of the corresponding phosphonate monoesters.

Ancestral sequences of a large promiscuous enzyme family correspond to bridges in sequence space in a network representation

Evolutionary relationships of protein families can be characterized either by networks or by trees. Whereas trees allow for hierarchical grouping and reconstruction of the most likely ancestral sequences, networks lack a time axis but allow for thresholds of pairwise sequence identity to be chosen and, therefore, the clustering of family members with presumably more similar functions. Here, we use the large family of arylsulfatases and phosphonate monoester hydrolases to investigate similarities, strengths and weaknesses in tree and network representations. For varying thresholds of pairwise sequence identity, values of betweenness centrality and clustering coefficients were derived for nodes of the reconstructed ancestors to measure the propensity to act as a bridge in a network. Based on these properties, ancestral protein sequences emerge as bridges in protein sequence networks. Interestingly, many ancestral protein sequences appear close to extant sequences. Therefore, reconstructed ancestor sequences might also be interpreted as yet-to-be-identified homologues. The concept of ancestor reconstruction is compared to consensus sequences, too. It was found that hub sequences in a network, e.g. reconstructed ancestral sequences that are connected to many neighbouring sequences, share closer similarity with derived consensus sequences. Therefore, some reconstructed ancestor sequences can also be interpreted as consensus sequences.

Detection of an enzyme isomechanism by means of the kinetics of covalent inhibition

Turnover of substrates by many enzymes involves free enzyme forms that differ from the stable form of the enzyme in the absence of substrate. These enzyme species, known as isoforms, have, in general, different physical and chemical properties than the native enzymes. They usually occur only in small concentrations under steady state turnover conditions and thus are difficult to detect. We show in this paper that in one particular case of an enzyme (a class C β-lactamase) with specific substrates (cephalosporins) the presence of an enzyme isoform (E′) can be detected by means of its different reactivity than the native enzyme (E) with a class of covalent inhibitors (phosphonate monoesters). Generation of E′ from E arises either directly from substrate turnover or by way of a branched path from an acyl-enzyme intermediate. The relatively slow spontaneous restoration of E from E′ is accelerated by certain small molecules in solution, for example cyclic amines such as imidazole and salts such as sodium chloride. Solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects and the effect of methanol on cephalosporin turnover showed that for both E and E′, kcat is limited by deacylation of an acyl-enzyme intermediate rather than by enzyme isomerization.

Hydrophilic and hydrophobic calcium-phosphonate monoester metal-organic layers

Two isostructural calcium-phosphonate monoester layered coordination polymers grafted with methoxyethyl (Ca-L1) and ethyl (Ca-L2) groups were synthesized by solvothermal method. Both materials can be exfoliated into metal–organic layers (MOLs) with structure retention via a “top-down” approach. The introduction of phosphonate monoester (PME) grafting groups not only ensures the formation of two-dimensional layers but also plays an important role to regulate the hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity and water stability of the materials.

Alkyl and aryl α-ketophosphonate derivatives as photoactive compounds targeting glutathione S-transferases

In this article, photoactive alkyl and aryl α-ketophosphonate derivatives were studied as inhibitors of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). The α-ketophosphonate monoesters were synthesized by sodium iodide-induced dealkylation of corresponding phosphonate diesters. The compounds being inactive toward the enzyme without UV light were activated by irradiation at 365 nm which caused inhibition of GSTs from equine liver and human placenta with micromolar IC50 values. Hetaryl α-ketophosphonate monoesters can also be potential candidates for the UV-dependent enzyme targeting. Inhibitory potency of the phosphonate monoesters was comparable to that of free phosphonic acid. No effects were observed in case of dialkyl α-ketophosphonates. The light-induced effects of the inhibitors were found to be related to decrease in maximum velocity but not to Michaelis constants of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The kinetics of a decrease in enzyme activity was described by pseudo-first order rate constants dependent on inhibitor concentration. The calculated second order rate constants indicated that the alkyl α-ketophosphonate monoesters can exhibit higher potency in comparison with that of aryl or hetaryl phosphonate derivatives.

Synthetic strategies of phosphonodepsipeptides

Phosphonodepsipeptides are phosphorus analogues of depsipeptides and phosphonate-linked analogues of naturally occurring peptides. They are more stable than phosphonopeptides and have been widely applied as enzyme inhibitors, haptens for the production of antibodies, biological agents, and prodrugs. The synthetic strategies towards phosphonodepsipeptides are reviewed, including the phosphonylation of hydroxy esters with phosphonochloridates, the condensation of phosphonic monoesters and hydroxy esters, the alkylation of phosphonic monoesters with 1-(alkoxycarbonyl)alkyl halides or sulfonates, multicomponent condensation of amides, aldehydes, and dichlorophosphites followed by alcoholysis with hydroxy esters, the phosphinylation of hydroxy esters with phosphonochloridites followed by oxidation, and the carbene insertion of N-protected amino acids with 1-diazoalkylphosphonates. This review includes the synthesis of α-, β-, and γ-phosphonodepsipeptides and phosphonodepsipeptides with C-1-hydroxyalkylphosphonic acids.

A novel method for synthesis of styryl phosphonate monoester and its application in La(III) extraction

Herein, styryl phosphonate monoester (SPE) was synthesized and first introduced as rare earth extractant. The solvent extraction of lanthanum (III) from nitrate solution using styryl phosphonate mono-iso-octyl ester (SPE108), di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid-mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (EHEHPA) as extractants was investigated. The effects of experimental parameters including equilibrium time, extractant concentration, aqueous pH, phase ratio and salt concentration on the extraction process were studied. The results indicate that the extraction ability and capacity of the extractants follow the order: SPE108 > D2EHPA > EHEHPA. What's more, the extraction process is less affected by ammonium sulfate in the aqueous phase with SPE108. The results of the separation between lanthanum and adjacent lanthanides (Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) show that SPE108 can separate lanthanides efficiently at low pH. The extraction mechanism of SPE108 is proved to be similar to D2EHPA, and the density functional theory (DFT) calculation results infer that SPE108 exhibits superior extraction ability due to its strong electron-accepting ability.

Balancing Specificity and Promiscuity in Enzyme Evolution: Multidimensional Activity Transitions in the Alkaline Phosphatase Superfamily.

Highly proficient, promiscuous enzymes can be springboards for functional evolution, able to avoid loss of function during adaptation by their capacity to promote multiple reactions. We employ a systematic comparative study of structure, sequence, and substrate specificity to track the evolution of specificity and reactivity between promiscuous members of clades of the alkaline phosphatase (AP) superfamily. Construction of a phylogenetic tree of protein sequences maps out the likely transition zone between arylsulfatases (ASs) and phosphonate monoester hydrolases (PMHs). Kinetic analysis shows that all enzymes characterized have four chemically distinct phospho- and sulfoesterase activities, with rate accelerations ranging from 1011- to 1017-fold for their primary and 109- to 1012-fold for their promiscuous reactions, suggesting that catalytic promiscuity is widespread in the AP-superfamily. This functional characterization and crystallography reveal a novel class of ASs that is so similar in sequence to known PMHs that it had not been recognized as having diverged in function. Based on analysis of snapshots of catalytic promiscuity "in transition", we develop possible models that would allow functional evolution and determine scenarios for trade-off between multiple activities. For the new ASs, we observe largely invariant substrate specificity that would facilitate the transition from ASs to PMHs via trade-off-free molecular exaptation, that is, evolution without initial loss of primary activity and specificity toward the original substrate. This ability to bypass low activity generalists provides a molecular solution to avoid adaptive conflict.

Structural and Mechanistic Analysis of the Choline Sulfatase from Sinorhizobium melliloti: A Class I Sulfatase Specific for an Alkyl Sulfate Ester

Hydrolysis of organic sulfate esters proceeds by two distinct mechanisms, water attacking at either sulfur (S–O bond cleavage) or carbon (C–O bond cleavage). In primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, attack at carbon is favored, whereas in aromatic sulfates and sulfated sugars, attack at sulfur is preferred. This mechanistic distinction is mirrored in the classification of enzymes that catalyze sulfate ester hydrolysis: arylsulfatases (ASs) catalyze S–O cleavage in sulfate sugars and arylsulfates, and alkyl sulfatases break the C–O bond of alkyl sulfates. Sinorhizobium meliloti choline sulfatase (SmCS) efficiently catalyzes the hydrolysis of alkyl sulfate choline-O-sulfate (kcat/KM=4.8×103s−1M−1) as well as arylsulfate 4-nitrophenyl sulfate (kcat/KM=12s−1M−1). Its 2.8-Å resolution X-ray structure shows a buried, largely hydrophobic active site in which a conserved glutamate (Glu386) plays a role in recognition of the quaternary ammonium group of the choline substrate. SmCS structurally resembles members of the alkaline phosphatase superfamily, being most closely related to dimeric ASs and tetrameric phosphonate monoester hydrolases. Although >70% of the amino acids between protomers align structurally (RMSDs 1.79–1.99Å), the oligomeric structures show distinctly different packing and protomer–protomer interfaces. The latter also play an important role in active site formation. Mutagenesis of the conserved active site residues typical for ASs, H218O-labeling studies and the observation of catalytically promiscuous behavior toward phosphoesters confirm the close relation to alkaline phosphatase superfamily members and suggest that SmCS is an AS that catalyzes S–O cleavage in alkyl sulfate esters with extreme catalytic proficiency.

Microsphere Assemblies via Phosphonate Monoester Coordination Chemistry.

By complexing a bent phosphonate monoester ligand with cobalt(II), coupled with in situ ester hydrolysis, coordination microspheres (CALS=CALgary Sphere) are formed whereas the use of the phosphonic acid directly resulted in a sheet-like structure. Manipulation of the synthetic conditions gave spheres with different sizes, mechanical stabilities, and porosities. Time-dependent studies determined that the sphere formation likely occurred through the formation of a Co2+ and ligand chain that propagates in three dimensions through different sets of interactions. The relative rates of these assembly processes versus annealing by ester hydrolysis and metal dehydration determine the growth of the microspheres. Hardness testing by nanoindentation is carried out on the spheres and sheets. Notably, no templates or capping agents are employed, the growth of the spheres is intrinsic to the ligand geometry and the coordination chemistry of cobalt(II) and the phosphonate monoester.

Computational and Experimental Assessment of CO2 Uptake in Phosphonate Monoester Metal–Organic Frameworks

Phosphonate monoesters (PMEs) as ligands for metal–organic frameworks can potentially direct topology, enhance water stability, and modify pore chemistry. Here, we show, experimentally and computationally, not only that is the ratio of phosphonate to phosphonate monoester significant, but also that gas sorption depends on the distribution of the monoesters in the structure. A phosphonate monoester ligand, 1,3,5-tri(4-phosphonato)benzene-tris(monoethylester), was coordinated to copper(II) to form two different frameworks based on the same copper–phosphonate chain building units, one dense (1) and the other with an experimental surface area over 1000 m2 g–1 (CALF-33-Et3). One of the three phosphonate monoesters in CALF-33-Et3 can be hydrolyzed to make an isostructural material, CALF-33-Et2H, with approximately the same surface areas but vastly superior CO2 sorption. Controlling the hydrolysis at this site allowed the partially hydrolyzed variants, CALF-33-Et3–xHx (where 0 < x < 1), to be prepared and their ...

Specificity Effects of Amino Acid Substitutions in Promiscuous Hydrolases: Context-Dependence of Catalytic Residue Contributions to Local Fitness Landscapes in Nearby Sequence Space.

Catalytic promiscuity can facilitate evolution of enzyme functions—a multifunctional catalyst may act as a springboard for efficient functional adaptation. We test the effect of single mutations on multiple activities in two groups of promiscuous AP superfamily members to probe this hypothesis. We quantify the effect of site‐saturating mutagenesis of an analogous, nucleophile‐flanking residue in two superfamily members: an arylsulfatase (AS) and a phosphonate monoester hydrolase (PMH). Statistical analysis suggests that no one physicochemical characteristic alone explains the mutational effects. Instead, these effects appear to be dominated by their structural context. Likewise, the effect of changing the catalytic nucleophile itself is not reaction‐type‐specific. Mapping of “fitness landscapes” of four activities onto the possible variation of a chosen sequence position revealed tremendous potential for respecialization of AP superfamily members through single‐point mutations, highlighting catalytic promiscuity as a powerful predictor of adaptive potential.

Mediating Order and Modulating Porosity by Controlled Hydrolysis in a Phosphonate Monoester Metal–Organic Framework

A crystalline and permanently porous copper phosphonate monoester framework has been synthesized from a tetraaryl trigonal phosphonate monoester linker. This material has a surface area over 1000 m2 g-1 , as measured by N2 sorption, the highest reported for a phosphonate-based metal-organic framework (MOF). The monoesters result in hydrophobic pore surfaces that give a low heat of adsorption for CO2 and low calculated selectivity for CO2 over N2 and CH4 in binary mixtures. By careful manipulation of synthetic conditions, it is possible to selectively remove some of the monoesters lining the pore to form a hydrogen phosphonate while giving an isomorphous structure. This increases the affinity of the framework for CO2 giving higher ambient uptake, higher heat of adsorption, and much higher calculated selectivity for CO2 over both N2 and CH4 . Formation of the acid groups is noteworthy as complexation with the parent acid gives a different structure.

Mediating Order and Modulating Porosity by Controlled Hydrolysis in a Phosphonate Monoester Metal–Organic Framework

AbstractA crystalline and permanently porous copper phosphonate monoester framework has been synthesized from a tetraaryl trigonal phosphonate monoester linker. This material has a surface area over 1000 m2 g−1, as measured by N2 sorption, the highest reported for a phosphonate‐based metal–organic framework (MOF). The monoesters result in hydrophobic pore surfaces that give a low heat of adsorption for CO2 and low calculated selectivity for CO2 over N2 and CH4 in binary mixtures. By careful manipulation of synthetic conditions, it is possible to selectively remove some of the monoesters lining the pore to form a hydrogen phosphonate while giving an isomorphous structure. This increases the affinity of the framework for CO2 giving higher ambient uptake, higher heat of adsorption, and much higher calculated selectivity for CO2 over both N2 and CH4. Formation of the acid groups is noteworthy as complexation with the parent acid gives a different structure.

Cooperative Electrostatic Interactions Drive Functional Evolution in the Alkaline Phosphatase Superfamily.

It is becoming widely accepted that catalytic promiscuity, i.e., the ability of a single enzyme to catalyze the turnover of multiple, chemically distinct substrates, plays a key role in the evolution of new enzyme functions. In this context, the members of the alkaline phosphatase superfamily have been extensively studied as model systems in order to understand the phenomenon of enzyme multifunctionality. In the present work, we model the selectivity of two multiply promiscuous members of this superfamily, namely the phosphonate monoester hydrolases from Burkholderia caryophylli and Rhizobium leguminosarum. We have performed extensive simulations of the enzymatic reaction of both wild-type enzymes and several experimentally characterized mutants. Our computational models are in agreement with key experimental observables, such as the observed activities of the wild-type enzymes, qualitative interpretations of experimental pH-rate profiles, and activity trends among several active site mutants. In all cases the substrates of interest bind to the enzyme in similar conformations, with largely unperturbed transition states from their corresponding analogues in aqueous solution. Examination of transition-state geometries and the contribution of individual residues to the calculated activation barriers suggest that the broad promiscuity of these enzymes arises from cooperative electrostatic interactions in the active site, allowing each enzyme to adapt to the electrostatic needs of different substrates. By comparing the structural and electrostatic features of several alkaline phosphatases, we suggest that this phenomenon is a generalized feature driving selectivity and promiscuity within this superfamily and can be in turn used for artificial enzyme design.

Design of a humidity-stable metal-organic framework using a phosphonate monoester ligand.

Phosphonate monoesters are atypical linkers for metal-organic frameworks, but they offer potentially added versatility. In this work, a bulky isopropyl ester is used to direct the topology of a copper(II) network from a dense to an open framework, CALF-30. CALF-30 shows no adsorption of N2 or CH4 however, using CO2 sorption, CALF-30 was found to have a Langmuir surface area of over 300 m(2)/g and to be stable to conditions of 90% relative humidity at 353 K owing to kinetic shielding of the framework by the phosphonate ester.

Phosphonate monoesters on a thiacalix[4]arene framework as potential inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B.

Monoester derivatives of thiacalix[4]arene tetrakis(methylphosphonic) acid were found to be capable of inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. In addition, these compounds can strongly bind to human serum albumin.

Development of Phosphonate Monoesters Building Units in Metal-Organic Frameworks

The use of predictable coordination geometries and the development of new ligands has allowed supramolecular chemists to design a plethora of new materials. Among these are metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are composed of ligands coordinating to metal atoms or clusters to generate a framework with potential porosity. MOFs exemplify supramolecular design strategy as their extended structure and tunable properties allow them to be applied for various applications.1 To date, many MOFs utilize carboxylates as the coordinating group since they have well studied coordination geometries and thus predictable framework topologies. Though there are examples of carboxylate-based MOFs possessing water stability, most do not possess this key feature, hindering their application in industrial settings. Phosphonate monoesters (PMEs) have been investigated as a means to impart water stability to a MOF by kinetically shielding the linker-metal bond with the ester moiety.2 Unfortunately, phosphonate monoesters have relatively unexplored coordination geometries, with most studies focusing on chlodronic acid and its derivatives, which do not typically form porous materials. In an attempt to establish building units based on PMEs, 1,4-benzenediphosphonate monoester ligands have been synthesized, coordinated to Cu(II), and characterized. It was found that while the methyl and ethyl analogues form similar 3-D structures with poor water stability,3 the isopropyl analogue forms a layered material possessing water stability. The isopropyl analogue contains chains of Cu-PME, with the isopropyl esters lying directly above and below the Cu atoms, kinetically shielding this bond from water. This water stable building unit was predicted to generate a porous framework with non-linear ligands. To test this hypothesis, 1,3,5-benzenetriphosphonate monoisopropyl ester was synthesized and coordinated to Cu(II). Unfortunately, no single crystal of sufficient quality has been produced, though a predicted and refined structure matches well to various characterization techniques. As predicted, this material is porous and does not degrade in harsh humid conditions (353K and 90% relative humidity).