This invention provides two soluble polypeptides which comprise a portion of CD4 comprising all HIV gp120-binding epitopes present on intact CD4, wherein the polypeptide has a cysteine substitution at a residue which, in intact CD4, interfaces with HIV gp120. This invention also provides a method for making a derivatized soluble polypeptide and a method for obtaining a structural model useful in the design of an agent for inhibiting CD4 binding to HIV gp120.
Trimethylaluminium-Facilitated Direct Amidation of Carboxylic Acids
Free carboxylic acids are converted into amides in moderate to high yields in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of trimethylaluminium and amines at 90 ËC after 1 hour.