Templating and selection in the formation of macrocycles containing [[P(micro-NtBu)(2)](micro-NH)](n) frameworks: observation of halide ion coordination

Amination of [ClP(micro-NtBu)](2) (1) using NH(3) in THF gives the cyclophospha(III)zane dimer [H(2)NP(micro-NtBu)](2) (2), in good yield. (31)P NMR spectroscopic studies of the reaction of 1 with 2 in THF/Et(3)N show that almost quantitative formation of the cyclic tetramer [[P(micro-NtBu)](2)(micro-NH)](4) (3) occurs. The remarkable selectivity of this reaction can (in part) be attributed to pre-organisation of 1 and 2, which prefer cis arrangements in the solid state and solution. The macrocycle 3 can be isolated in yields of 58-67 % using various reaction scales. The isolation of the major by-product of the reaction (ca. 0.5-1 % of samples of 3), the pentameric, host-guest complex [[P(micro-NtBu)(2)](2)(micro-NH)](5)(HCl).2 THF] (4.2 THF), gives a strong indication of the mechanism involved. In situ (31)P NMR spectroscopic studies support a stepwise condensation mechanism in which Cl(-) ions play an important role in templating and selection of 3 and 4. Amplification of the pentameric arrangement occurs in the presence of excess LiX (X=Cl, Br, I). In addition, the cyclisation reaction is solvent- and anion-dependent. The X-ray structures of 2 and 4.2 THF are reported.     

Studies of phosphazenes. Aminolysis reactions of pentachloro(2′, 2′, 2′-triphenyl-phosphazen-1′-yl) cyclotriphosphazene,N3P3Cl5(NPPh3)

The reactions of pentachloro(2′, 2′, 2′-triphenylphosphazen-1′-yl)cyclotriphosphazene, N₃P₃Cl₅(NPPh₃), with primary and secondary amines have been investigated using diethyl ether, methyl cyanid or benzene as the solvent. The structures of the products obtained, N₃P₃Cl_5minus;nR_n(NPPh₃) [n = 1, R = NHMe, NHBu^t, NMe₂, NC₅H₁₀, NEt₂; n = 2, R = NMe₂, NC₅H₁₀, NEt₂; n = 3, R = NMe₂, NHBu^t; n = 5, R = NMe₂] are elucidated by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The ? NPPh₃ substituent exerts a pronounced geminal directing influence on incoming secondary amino nucleophiles; compounds containing a ≡ PCl(NPPh₃) group are not formed at the bis and subsequent stages of chlorine replacement. The reactions that involve primary amines follow the pattern established for the analogous reactions of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene. The effect of solvent and possible mechanism(s) are discussed.     

An examination of intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in biomolecules by AM1 and MNDO/M semiempirical molecular orbital studies

The recent NMDO/M modification and parameterization of the MNDO molecular orbital method has been used to analyze intermolecular hydrogen bonding between amino acids and water, and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in monosaccharides. The results have been compared to AM1 calculations on the same systems. The MNDO/M calculations gave values which were similar to ab initio calculations with respect to the intermolecular interactions, but yielded significantly poorer results for the intramolecular interactions. The AM1 procedure performed better on the intramolecular interactions than the MNDO/M procedure, but frequently provided unfavorable three-centered hydrogen bonding geometries for the intermolecular interactions.     

The effect of photofrin on DNA strand breaks and base oxidation in HaCaT keratinocytes: a comet assay study

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) kills cells via the production of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species. PDT causes chromosomal damage and mutation to cultured cells. However, DNA damage does not contribute to the phototoxic effect. To study the effect of Photofrin-PDT-induced DNA damage, we used the comet assay in combination with endonuclease III and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase and a human keratinocyte cell line to investigate photogenotoxicity and its prevention by tocopherol (TOC). This study shows that PDT induced DNA damage in HaCaT cells at doses allowing cells to survive 7 days after irradiation. alpha-TOC did not prevent the acute cell lysis caused by Photofrin-PDT but did prevent Photofrin-PDT-induced DNA damage. However, the concentration of TOC that conferred protection (100 microM) was higher than is detected in human serum. Base oxidation was also measured using the comet assay. Although TOC could prevent frank DNA strand breaks caused by PDT, it was unable to decrease the level of base oxidation as revealed by enzyme-sensitive sites. It is suggested that the potential genotoxic risk from laser-PDT could be low, and that topical micro-TOC at a high concentration may be useful in preventing some types of DNA damage without preventing acute photolysis after Photofrin-PDT.     

Synthesis and structure of [(Sn(mu-PCy))3(Na x PMDETA)2], containing an electron-deficient [(Sn(mu-PCy))3]2- dianion

The reaction of CyPHNa with Sn(NMe2)2 in the presence of PMDETA (= (Me2NCH2CH2)2NMe) gives the title compound [(Sn(mu-PCy))3(Na x PMDETA)2] (1), containing an electron-deficient [(Sn(mu-PCy))]3(2-) dianion with a novel two-electron, three centre (2e-3c) bonding arrangement.     

The configurational dependence of binding free energies: A Poisson–Boltzmann study of Neuraminidase inhibitors

The linear finite difference Poisson-Boltzmann (FDPB) equation is applied to the calculation of the electrostatic binding free energies of a group of inhibitors to the Neuraminidase enzyme. An ensemble of enzyme-inhibitor complex conformations was generated using Monte Carlo simulations and the electrostatic binding free energies of subtly different configurations of the enzyme-inhibitor complexes were calculated. It was seen that the binding free energies calculated using FDPB depend strongly on the configuration of the complex taken from the ensemble. This configurational dependence was investigated in detail in the electrostatic hydration free energies of the inhibitors. Differences in hydration energies of up to 7 kcal mol^–1 were obtained for root mean square (RMS) structural deviations of only 0.5 Å. To verify the result, the grid size and parameter dependence of the calculated hydration free energies were systematically investigated. This showed that the absolute hydration free energies calculated using the FDPB equation were very sensitive to the values of key parameters, but that the configurational dependence of the free energies was independent of the parameters chosen. Thus just as molecular mechanics energies are very sensitive to configuration, and single-structure values are not typically used to score binding free energies, single FDPB energies should be treated with the same caution.     

The hydrophilic nature of gold and platinum

Clean gold and platinum surfaces have been shown to be hydrophilic in borate and sulphate media at all potentials between hydrogen and oxygen evolution. Finite contact angles were observed at the nitrogen/metal/solution interface immediately after polishing with diamond paste, but electrochemical evidence demonstrated that such surfaces were contaminated. After cleaning the surface chemically or electrochemically, zero contact angles were observed.     

Characterization of etched electrochemical detection for electrophoresis in micron inner diameter capillaries

An enhanced etched electrochemical (EC) detection technique has been developed for CE in micron inner diameter capillaries. The design improvements allow for better alignment between the capillary bore and the electrode. This new method involves utilizing a carbon fiber microelectrode and etching both the carbon fiber and the detection end of a micrometer-sized inner diameter capillary to limit dead volume and analyte diffusion at the amperometric EC detector. To understand the factors affecting enhanced detector efficiency, a detailed examination of the relationship between detector design and performance has been completed by exploring the effects of varying electrode diameter, tip shape, and size, in addition to the etch length of the capillary outlet. The enhanced detection provides peak efficiencies as high as 75000 theoretical plates and estimated detection limits as low as 40 nM for dopamine. This etched detection method should further facilitate volume-limited sample analysis by CE.