Abstract: The present invention provides bicyclic metabotropic glutamate receptor ligands, as well as compositions comprising such ligands, and methods for their use.

Abstract: An article suitable for use as a biosensor includes a molecule of a formula X—R—Ch adhered to a surface of the article as part of a self-assembled monolayer. X is a functionality that adheres to the surface, R is a spacer moiety, and Ch is a chelating agent. A metal ion can be coordinated by the chelating agent, and a polyamino acid-tagged biological binding partner of a target biological molecule coordinated to the metal ion. A method of the invention involves bringing the article into contact with a medium containing or suspected of containing the target biological molecule and allowing the biological molecule to biologically bind to the binding partner. The article is useful particularly as a surface plasmon resonance chip.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, and Y have any of the meanings defined in the specification; as well a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I; intermediates and methods useful for preparing a compound of formula I; and therapeutic methods for treating drug addiction, Parkinson's disease or depression comprising administering a compound of formula I, to a mammal in need of such treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for stereoselective or regioselective chemical synthesis which generally comprises reacting a nucleophile and a chiral or prochiral cyclic substrate in the presence of a non-racemic, chiral catalyst to produce a stereoisomerically- and/or regioisomerically-enriched product. The present invention also relates to hydrolytic kinetic resolutions of racemic and diastereomeric mixtures of epoxides.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to methods for the transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition of a nucleophile, e.g., hydride, to cyclic and acyclic enoates and enones. In certain embodiments of the methods of the present invention, the transition metal catalyst consists essentially of copper and an asymmetric bidentate bisphosphine ligand.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a catalytic compound of anion-modified metal oxides doped with metal ions. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of isomerizing an alkane or alkyl moiety.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate to the measurement of nitrate levels in a sample of gas, for example, air, exhaust, or other sources of gas. Moreover, the systems and methods described herein are capable of operating using short sample collection periods, permitting rapid data collection and finely time-resolved nitrate monitoring over a span of time. Additionally, ambient nitrate can effectively be distinguished from other airborne particles, such as sulfate and carbon.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to spirocyclic compounds. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the spirocyclic compounds as ligands for mammalian G-protein-coupled receptors or sigma receptors. The present invention also relates to methods of modulating the activity of a G-protein-coupled receptor or a sigma receptor in a mammal using the spirocyclic compounds of the present invention. The present invention also relates to methods of treating various diseases in a mammal using the spirocyclic compounds of the present invention.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to novel reaction conditions that allow the efficient synthesis of diaryl ethers from arenes bearing a leaving group and arenols under relatively mild conditions. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the dramatic effects of acidic activators on Ullmann-type couplings involving electron-poor and/or relatively insoluble substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to copper-catalyzed carbon-heteroatom and carbon-carbon bond-forming methods. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to copper-catalyzed methods of forming a carbon-nitrogen bond between the nitrogen atom of an amide or amine moiety and the activated carbon of an aryl, heteroaryl, or vinyl halide or sulfonate. In additional embodiments, the present invention relates to copper-catalyzed methods of forming a carbon-nitrogen bond between a nitrogen atom of an acyl hydrazine and the activated carbon of an aryl, heteroaryl, or vinyl halide or sulfonate. In other embodiments, the present invention relates to copper-catalyzed methods of forming a carbon-nitrogen bond between the nitrogen atom of a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic, e.g., indole, pyrazole, and indazole, and the activated carbon of an aryl, heteroaryl, or vinyl halide or sulfonate.

Abstract: A method of producing carbon single wall nanotubes (SWNT) by CVD is disclosed. The SWNTs are grown on a metal-catalyzed support surface, such as a commercially available silicon tips for atomic force microscopes (AFM). The growth characteristics of the SWNTs can be controlled by adjusting the density of the catalyst and the CVD growth conditions. The length of the SWNTs can be adjusted through pulsed electrical etching. Nanotubes of this type can find applications in nanotubes structures with defined patterns and for nano-tweezers. Nano-tweezers may be useful for manipulating matter, such as biological material, on a molecular level.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for the kinetic resolution of racemic and diastereomeric mixtures of chiral compounds. The critical elements of the method are: a non-racemic chiral tertiary-amine-containing catalyst; a racemic or diastereomeric mixture of a chiral substrate, e.g., a cyclic carbonate or cyclic carbamate; and a nucleophile, e.g., an alcohol, amine or thiol. A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for achieving the kinetic resolution of racemic and diastereomeric mixtures of derivatives of &agr;- and &bgr;-amino, hydroxy, and thio carboxylic acids. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention achieve dynamic kinetic resolution of a racemic or diastereomeric mixture of a substrate, i.e.

Abstract: A method of fabricating SWNT probes for use in atomic force microscopy is disclosed. In one embodiment, the SWNT's are fabricated using a metallic salt solution. In another embodiment, the SWNT's are fabricated using metallic colloids.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to base-labile crosslinkers. A second aspect of the present invention relates to degradable crosslinked polymers and hydrogels comprising a base-labile crosslinker. The present invention also relates to a method of influencing the degradation rate of a crosslinked polymer or hydrogel, comprising the step of incorporating uncharged acrylamides into the crosslinked polymer or hydrogel.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to piperidine-piperazine compounds generically represented by A. A second aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the piperidine-piperazine compounds as ligands for various mammalian cellular receptors or transporters or both, including dopamine, serotonin or norepinephrine receptors or transporters, any combination of them, or all of them.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions, i.e. synthetic libraries of candidate compounds, useful in the discovery and optimization of compounds which catalyze at least one chemical transformation. In certain instances, the subject compounds catalyze a chemoselective, regioselective, stereoselective or enantioselective transformation.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to heterocyclic compounds comprising a sulfonamide moiety. A second aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the heterocyclic compounds comprising a sulfonamide moiety to treat diseases, afflictions or maladies caused at least in part by abnormal activity of one or more GPCRs or ligand-gated ion channels. An additional aspect of the present invention relates to the synthesis of combinatorial libraries of the heterocyclic compounds comprising a sulfonamide moiety, and the screening of those libraries for biological activity, e.g., in animal models of psychosis.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to methods of synthesizing substituted piperidines. A second aspect of the present invention relates to stereoselective methods of synthesizing substituted piperidines. The methods of the present invention will find use in the synthesis of compounds useful for treatment of numerous ailments, conditions and diseases that afflict mammals, including but not limited to addiction and pain. An additional aspect of the present invention relates to the synthesis of combinatorial libraries of the substituted piperidines using the methods of the present invention. An additional aspect of the present invention relates to enantiomerically substituted pyrrolidines, piperidines, and azepines.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds. A second aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the novel heterocyclic compounds as ligands for various mammalian cellular receptors, including G-protein coupled receptors. A third aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the novel heterocyclic compounds as ligands for mammalian dopamine, muscarinic or serotonin receptors or transporters. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the novel heterocyclic compounds as ligands for mammalian dopamine, muscarinic or serotonin receptors.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to optionally substituted halogenated benzyl halides and the like. These compounds are useful as halogenated benzyl ether-based protecting groups for a variety of functional groups. Another aspect of the present invention relates to use of said protecting groups in an orthogonal protecting group strategy for the synthesis of complex molecules that comprise a number of suitable functional groups. Another aspect of the present invention relates to saccharides bearing various arrays of protecting groups of the present invention. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of synthesizing an oligosaccharide or glycoconjugate, comprising the steps of: using a saccharide bearing at least one protecting group of the present invention to glycosylate a second molecule to give a product comprising said saccharide; and removing a protecting group of the present invention from said product.