Comparative analysis of local spin definitions

This work provides a survey of the definition of electron spin as a local property and its dependence on several parameters in actual calculations. We analyze one-determinant wave functions constructed from Hartree-Fock and, in particular, from Kohn-Sham orbitals within the collinear approach to electron spin. The scalar total spin operators S2 and Sz are partitioned by projection operators, as introduced by Clark and Davidson, in order to obtain local spin operators SASB and SzA, respectively. To complement the work of Davidson and co-workers, we analyze some features of local spins which have not yet been discussed in sufficient depth. The dependence of local spin on the choice of basis set, density functional, and projector is studied. We also discuss the results of Sz partitioning and show that SzA values depend less on these parameters than SASB values. Furthermore, we demonstrate that for small organic test molecules, a partitioning of Sz with preorthogonalized Lowdin projectors yields nearly the same results as one obtains using atoms-in-molecules projectors. In addition, the physical significance of nonzero SASB values for closed-shell molecules is investigated. It is shown that due to this problem, SASB values are useful for calculations of relative spin values, but not for absolute local spins, where SzA values appear to be better suited.     

Uranyl ion-selective optode based on neutral ionophores

A pulsed molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer especially designed for the quantitative analysis of polar pollutants in air is presented. This very fast method has a sensitivity in the ppm range and can be applied to a wide variety of substances. Details of the apparatus and the results of some performance tests are given.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of 3-Hydroxyprolines by Photocyclization of N-(2-Benzoylethyl)glycinamides

The chiral N-(2-benzoylethyl)-N-tosylglycinamides 1a-c were prepared from the C₂-symmetric pyrrolidines 5a-c . Irradiation of these ketones 1a-c gave cis-3-hydroxyprolinamides 10-12 in moderate to good yields (Scheme 3). The de of the photocyclizations depended on the size of the substituents in positions C(2) and C(5) of the chiral pyrrolidine auxiliaries. In addition, the de varied with the reaction temperature, allowing the determination of activation-parameter differences. The structure of products 10-12 were established by NMR and X-ray analyses.     

Säurekatalysierte Umlagerung von 9-Hydroxyfuranoeremophilanen zu Eremophilanlactonen

Acid-Catalyzed Rearrangement of 9-Hydroxyfuranoeremophilanes to Eremophilanlactones 9-Hydroxyfuranoeremophilanes 1–3 are the main components of freshly harvested rhizomes of P. hybridus (furanopetasin chemovar, Table, Fig. 1). They easily and quantitatively rearrange in the presence of traces of acid to give an epimeric mixture of 8-H-eremophilanlactones 4–6 (eremophilenolides, Table, Figs. 4 and 5). Besides subsequent oxidation (see 4 → 7 ), this is the most important reaction occuring during drying and storage of rhizomes of P. hybridus (Figs. 1 and 3). A reasonable mechanism of the rearrangement is presented, and spectroscopic structure elucidation of 8-H-eremophilanlactones is discussed.     

Dimetallic complexes of a structurally versatile pyridazine-containing Schiff-base macrocyclic ligand with pendant pyridine arms

The new [2 + 2] Schiff-base macrocyclic ligand L2, containing pyridazine head units and pyridine pendant arms, was synthesised as [Ba(II)2L2(ClO4)4(OH2)] 1 from the barium(II) ion templated condensation reaction of 3,6-diformylpyridazine and N1-(2-aminoethyl)-N1-(methylene-2-pyridyl)-ethane-1,2-diamine. Subsequent transmetallation reactions of 1 with copper(II), iron(II) and manganese(II) perchlorates led to the formation of [Cu(II)2L2](ClO4)4.2MeCN 2, [Fe(II)2L2(MeCN)2](ClO4)4 3 and two manganese complexes, 4 and 5, with the same formula, [Mn(II)2L2(MeCN)(OH2)](ClO4)4, but slightly different crystal structures, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray structural analyses reveal the variety of structures which can be supported by L2 in order to meet the coordination environment preferences of the incorporated metal ions. The barium(II) ions in 1 have an irregular ten-coordinate geometry whereas the copper(II) ions in 2 have a square pyramidal geometry and the iron(II) ions in 3 have an octahedral geometry, while in 4 and 5 every manganese(II) ion is seven-coordinate and the environment can be best described as distorted pentagonal bipyramidal. In 1, 4 and 5 the pyridazine moieties bridge the metal centres [Ba(1)...Ba(2) 4.9557(3)A 1; Mn(1)...Mn(2) 4.520(1)A 4; Mn(1)[dot dot dot]Mn(2) 4.3707(8)A 5] but this is not observed in the copper(II) and iron(II) complexes, 2 and 3, in which the metal ions are well separated [Cu(1)...Cu(2) 5.9378(6)A 2; Fe(1)...Fe(2) 5.7407(12)A 3]. In the cyclic voltammogram of [Cu2(II)L2](ClO4)4.2MeCN 2 in MeCN vs. Ag/AgCl two separate reversible one-electron transfer steps are observed [E(1/2)=0.04 V, DeltaE= 0.12 V and E(1/2)= 0.20 V, DeltaE=0.12 V; K(c)=510; in this system E(1/2)(Fc+/Fc)=0.42 V and DeltaE(Fc+/Fc)=0.08 V]. The other complexes cannot be reversibly reduced/oxidised.     

Selective metal promoted hydrolysis of nitrile groups in the side chain of tetraazamacrocyclic Cu2+-complexes

The metal promoted hydrolysis of nitrile groups in the side chains of tetraazamacrocyclic Cu2+ complexes has been studied by stopped-flow techniques. It is shown that the reaction proceeds by an intramolecular attack of an axially coordinated OH- onto the nitrile group to give the corresponding amide. In alkaline solution the amide then deprotonates and binds to the axial position of the Cu2+ thus preventing further coordination of an OH-. This explains mechanistically that in the Cu2+ complexes of macrocycles carrying two nitrile functions only one is selectively hydrolysed. The nitrile hydrolysis has also been used on a preparative scale to synthesize tetraazamacrocycles with two different side chains. X-Ray diffractions of several products are presented to confirm the structures and the results from the kinetics and equilibria measurements.     

Non-covalent polyvalent ligands by self-assembly of small glycodendrimers: a novel concept for the inhibition of polyvalent carbohydrate-protein interactions in vitro and in vivo

Polyvalent carbohydrate-protein interactions occur frequently in biology, particularly in recognition events on cellular membranes. Collectively, they can be much stronger than corresponding monovalent interactions, rendering it difficult to control them with individual small molecules. Artificial macromolecules have been used as polyvalent ligands to inhibit polyvalent processes; however, both reproducible synthesis and appropriate characterization of such complex entities is demanding. Herein, we present an alternative concept avoiding conventional macromolecules. Small glycodendrimers which fulfill single molecule entity criteria self-assemble to form non-covalent nanoparticles. These particles-not the individual molecules-function as polyvalent ligands, efficiently inhibiting polyvalent processes both in vitro and in vivo. The synthesis and characterization of these glycodendrimers is described in detail. Furthermore, we report on the characterization of the non-covalent nanoparticles formed and on their biological evaluation.     

Characterization of cocoa butters and other vegetable fats by pyrolysis-mass spectrometry

Pyrolysis Mass Spectrometry (Py-MS) was used for the discrimination of cocoa butters from other vegetable fats. Mass spectra ranging from 50 amu to 250 amu were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and with neural nets. The application of neural nets leads to a good discrimination between the two classes. Detailed analysis of the nets revealed that only the first 60 masses were used within the net. The use of PCA requires a careful selection of the number of masses included in the calculation. Canonical variance analysis was applied to determine the significant masses. Optimal performance of PCA was observed only using the first 22 significant masses. Most of these masses were different from the ones used by the neural net. It seems that the mass spectra obtained by Py-MS contain sufficient information for the discrimination of pure cocoa butter from other vegetable fats, but none of the methods seems to be able to extract all information available. Neural net provides a very robust method for this task and no prior data selection was necessary. Received: 13 May 1996 / Revised: 7 August 1996 / Accepted: 7 August 1996     

Designed Beta‐Turn Mimic Based on the Allylic‐Strain Concept: Evaluation of Structural and Biological Features by Incorporation into a Cyclic RGD Peptide (Cyclo(‐L‐arginylglycyl‐L‐α‐aspartyl‐))

The (3R,5S,6E,8S,10R)‐11‐amino‐3,5,8,10‐tetramethylundec‐6‐enoic acid (ATUA; 1 ), which was designed as a βII′‐turn mimic according to the concepts of allylic strain and 2,4‐dimethylpentane units, was incorporated into a cyclic RGD peptide. The three‐dimensional structure of cyclo(‐RGD‐ATUA‐) (=cyclo(‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐ATUA‐)) 4 in H₂O was determined by NMR techniques, distance geometry calculations and molecular‐dynamics simulations. The RGD sequence of 4 shows high conformational flexibility but some preference for an extended conformation. The structural features of the RGD sequence of 4 were compared with the RGD moiety of cyclo(‐RGDfV‐) (=cyclo(‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐D ‐Phe‐Val‐)). In contrast to cyclo(‐RGDfV‐), which is a highly active αvβ3 antagonist and selective against αIIbβ3, cyclo(‐RGD‐ATUA‐) shows a lower activity and selectivity. The structure of the ATUA residue in the cyclic peptide resembles a βII′‐turn‐like conformation. Its middle part, adjacent to the C?C bond, strongly prefers the designed and desired structure.