Reaction du meta-diisopropyl-phenyllithium-chrometricarbonyle avec le monoxyde de carbone

The complex CpV(CO)₃THF has been prepared in THF solution (i) photochemically from CpV(CO)₄, and (ii) from [CpV(H)(CO)₃]^?/[Ph₃C]⁺ at low temperatures. THF is replaced by [CpV(H)(CO)₃]^? to form [{CpV(CO)₃}₂-μ-H]^?, and by various ligands L with C, η²-CC, Sn, N, O, S, Se or Te functionality to yield CpV(CO)₃L and cis-[CpV(CO)₂LL] (LL = bipy, o-phen, tolane). The δ (⁵¹V) values range over ca. 1400 ppm and allow the assignment of distinct coordination modes for ambidentate ligands. The temperature gradient is ca. +1.2 ppm/deg. For [CpV(SnCl₃)(CO)₃]^? (δ ?1340 ppm rel. to VOCl₃), ¹J(⁵¹V-^117,119Sn) is 900 Hz. The isotope effect on introducing ¹²CO for ¹³CO in CpV(CO)₄ is ?0.48(2) ppm; ¹J(⁵¹V-¹³C) 107 Hz.     

Staphylococcus aureus bicomponent gamma-hemolysins, HlgA, HlgB, and HlgC, can form mixed pores containing all components

Staphylococcal gamma-hemolysins are bicomponent toxins forming a protein family with leucocidins and alpha-toxin. Two active toxins (AB and CB) can be formed combining one of the class-S components, HlgA or HlgC, with the class-F component HlgB. These two gamma-hemolysins form pores with marked similarities to alpha-toxin in terms of conductance, nonlinearity of the current-voltage curve, and channel stability in the open state. AB and CB pores, however, are cation-selective, whereas alpha-toxin is anion-selective. gamma-Hemolysins' pores are hetero-oligomers formed by three or four copies of each component (indicated as 3A3B and 3C3B or 4A4B and 4C4B). Point mutants located on a beta-strand of the class-S component that forms part of the protomer-protomer contact region can prevent oligomer assembly. Interestingly, these mutants inhibit growth of pores formed not only by their natural components but also by nonstandard components. This lead to the hypothesis that mixed ABC pores could also be formed. By studying the conductance of pores, assembled in the presence of all three components (in different ratios), it was observed that the magnitudes expected for mixed pores were, indeed, present. We conclude that the gamma-hemolysin/leucocidin bicomponent toxin family may form a larger than expected number of active toxins by cross-combining various S and F components.     

Influence de la structure sur l'hydrolyse des N-pyrrolylmethylene-2 anilines

Hydrolysis of the imine function of a series of Schiff bases derived from pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde and substituted anilines (X = H, p-OCH₃, p-OC₂H₅, p-CH₃, p-Cl, p-Br, m-CN, m-NO₂, p-NO₂) was studied in all of the pH ranges. The hydrolysis curves log k_abs (mn^?1) = f(pH) were established in buffered aqueous methanol by polarography or amperometry. The shapes of the curves obtained for pH > 5 indicates that N-pyrrolylmethylene-2 anilines hydrolyse according to the same mechanism as N-benzylidene anilines. The particular stability of these products for pH < 5 permits one to obtain complete hydrolysis curves in acid media. A very good Hammett correlation (k_obs = + 1,73) has been established from the maxima which appear for strong acidity. This stability is interpreted as due to the specific electron-donating effect of the pyrrole nucleus. The influence of the structural parameter X on the morphology of the curves log k_abs = f(pH) and on the hydrolysis mechanism of the imine function is discussed in all of the pH ranges.     

A new route for the functionalisation of wood through transesterification reactions

A novel transesterification reaction between acetylated maritime pine sapwood (Pinus pinaster Soland) and methyl benzoate (MB), in the presence of dibutyltin oxide (DBTO) as a catalyst, was performed. Reaction was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance cross-polarisation with magic-angle spinning (NMR CP MAS) analysis: signals corresponding to benzoylated wood were identified and, when transesterification was performed with ethyl trimethylsilylacetate (ETMSA), characteristic trimethylsilyl groups were detected. The acetyl/benzoyl exchange rate was found to increase with increasing amount of DBTO, temperature and reaction time and a concurrent deterioration of the woody material was evidenced.     

Structural insights into aluminum chlorofluoride (ACF)

The structure of the very strong solid Lewis acid aluminum chlorofluoride (ACF, AlCl(x)F(3-x), x = 0.05-0.3) was studied by IR, ESR, Cl K XANES, (19)F MAS NMR, and (27)Al SATRAS NMR spectroscopic methods and compared with amorphous aluminum fluoride conventionally prepared by dehydration of alpha-AlF(3) x 3H(2)O. The thermal behavior of both compounds was investigated by DTA and XRD. In comparison to ACF, amorphous AlF(3) prepared in a conventional way is not catalytically active for the isomerization reaction of 1,2-dibromohexafluoropropane, which requires a very strong Lewis acid. Both compounds are mainly built up of corner-sharing AlF(6) octahedra forming a random network. The degree of disorder in ACF is higher than in amorphous AlF(3). Terminal fluorine atoms were detected in ACF by (19)F NMR. The chlorine in ACF does not exist as a separate, crystalline AlCl(3) phase. Additionally, chlorine-containing radicals, remaining from the synthesis, are trapped in cavities of ACF. These radicals are stable at room temperature but do not take part in the catalytic reaction.     

Restricted diffusion in silica particles measured by pulsed field gradient NMR

The restricted diffusion coefficient of water through porous silica is measured by pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR as a function of loading in order to develop a model for self-diffusion at full pore filling in sol-gel-made porous silica particles. This model describes the pore or intraparticle diffusion coefficient as a function of particle porosity, tortuosity, and the steric hindrance applied on the molecules by the pore space. The particle morphology is characterized by nitrogen adsorption and an appropriate tortuosity model is chosen in comparison with literature data. To characterize the material, NMR relaxation and diffusion studies at different degrees of pore filling were carried out in relation to the silica/water adsorption isotherm.     

Sampling and convergence in free energy calculations of protein-ligand interactions: The binding of triphenoxypyridine derivatives to factor Xa and trypsin

The binding of a set of 10 triphenoxypyridine derivatives to two serine proteases, factor Xa and trypsin, has been used to analyze factors related to sampling and convergence in free energy calculations based on molecular dynamics simulation techniques. The inhibitors investigated were initially proposed as part of the Critical Assessment of Techniques for Free Energy Evaluation (CATFEE) project for which no experimental results nor any assessment of the predictions submitted by various groups have ever been published. The inhibitors studied represent a severe challenge for explicit free energy calculations. The mutations from one compound to another involve up to 19 atoms, the creation and annihilation of net charge and several alternate binding modes. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that it is possible to obtain highly converged results (+/- 5-10 kJ/mol) even for such complex multi-atom mutations by simulating on a nanosecond time scale. This is achieved by using soft-core potentials to facilitate the creation and deletion of atoms and by a careful choice of mutation pathway. The results show that given modest computational resources, explicit free energy calculations can be successfully applied to realistic problems in drug design.     

A facile and general route to 4-substituted-2 butenolides

Grignard reagents react with 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride and produce in high yields the corresponding substituted bicyclo-γ-butanolides. These lactones produce the title compounds by retro Diels-Alder reaction during distillation.