Presentations for groups acting on simply-connected complexes

New expansions for global semigroup theory are developed. Many expansions have a left and a right version, each with specific (dual) properties; e.g., the Rhodes expansions ?^$\text{L}$, resp. ?^$\text{R}$, have unambiguous $\text{L}$-resp. $\text{R}$-order. In applications one sometimes needs expansions having both properties simultaneously; these can be constructed by alternately applying the left and the right expansion (possibly infinitely often) while keeping the same set of generators. Thus one obtains an expansion which is invariant under application of the old two expansions and thus has the properties of both (e.g., one obtains -+ with

, and so -+ has unambiguous $\text{L}$-and $\text{R}$-order). It is proved that, in the case of the Rhodes expansion, the new expansion is ‘close’ to the original semigroup; in particular (and this is the main result of the paper), ?⁺_A is finite (resp. finite $\text{J}$-above) if S is finite (resp. finite$\text{J}$-above).     

Several convenient methods for the synthesis of 2-amido substituted furans

Several new methods for the synthesis of differently substituted 2-amidofurans are described. The thermolysis of furan-2-carbonyl azide results in a Curtius rearrangement and the resulting furanyl isocyanate was trapped with various organometallic reagents. A second method consists of a C-N cross-coupling reaction of a bromo-substituted furan with various amides, carbamates, and lactams. The CuI-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between furanyl bromides and amides furnished 2- and 3-substituted amidofurans in 45-95% yield. The third protocol used involves the reaction of cyclic carbinol amides with triflic anhydride. The reaction proceeds under very mild conditions to provide alpha-(trifluoromethyl)sulfonamido-substituted furans in high yield. The resulting iminium ion derived from the reaction of the hydroxy pyrrolidinone with Tf(2)O undergoes a facile ring opening as a consequence of the adjacent hydroxyl group to produce an imino triflate intermediate. Subsequent cyclization of this highly electrophilic imine with the oxygen atom of the adjacent carbonyl group leads to an imino dihydrofuran that reacts further with another equivalent of Tf(2)O to give the observed product.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of the dinuclear zinc-beta-lactamase from Bacteroides fragilis complexed with imipenem

Herein, we present results from MD simulations of the Michaelis complex formed between the dizinc beta-lactamase from B. fragilis and imipenem. We considered two catalytically important configurations, which differ in the presence or absence of a hydroxide bridge connecting the two zinc ions in the active site. The structural and dynamical effects induced by substrate binding, the specific roles of the conserved residues and the zinc-bound water molecules, the near attack conformers of the Michaelis complex, and so forth, are discussed in detail. The relative stability of the two configurations was estimated from QM linear scaling calculations on the enzyme-substrate complex combined with Poisson-Boltzmann electrostatic calculations and normal mode calculations. Importantly, we find that the two configurations have similar energies, indicating that these two structures could readily be interchanged, thereby facilitating catalysis. The configuration with the hydroxide bound to the two zinc ions is predicted to be the resting form of the enzyme, while the configuration without the bridge is the reactive form that was found to place the hydroxide in position to attack the carbonyl of the beta-lactam ring. Thus, we propose that the enzyme initiates catalysis by converting from the hydroxide bridge form into the configuration that lacks the hydroxide bridge. This interconversion increases the nucleophilicity of the hydroxide ion and exposes it to the beta-lactam carbonyl, which ultimately facilitates nucleophilic attack. The implications of the observed modes of binding, the possible influence of mutating the Lys184 and Asn193 residues on substrate binding, and the reaction mechanism are also discussed in detail.     

A computational study of [2.2]cyclophanes

A computational study of isomeric [2.2]cyclophanes, namely [2.2]paracyclophane 1, [2.2]metacyclophane 2, and [2.2]metaparacyclophane 3, has been carried out. For 1, geometry optimizations performed by various methods at different basis sets showed that MP2/6-31+G(d,p) and B3PW91/6-31+G(d,p) provide the best results in comparison to the X-ray data. Compound 1 has D(2) symmetry with distorted bridges. A conformational search was performed for [2.2]cyclophanes 2 and 3. Each cyclophane exists in two conformations which have different energies in the case of 3 but are degenerate in the case of 2. Relative energies and strain energies at the bridges follow the same order, indicating that the relief of bridge tension and repulsion between pi clouds are determining factors for the stability of [2.2]cyclophanes. Through a decomposition of strain energy, it can be concluded that both the rings or the bridges can absorb strain, but it depends on the conformer of butane that is considered in the calculation of SE(br). Changes in aromaticity of these compounds were evaluated by NICS and HOMA and were compared with benzene and xylenes dimers as models. Despite distortions from planarity and shortening and lengthening of the C-C bonds relative to the mean, the phenyl rings are aromatic. NICS suggests a concentration of electronic density between the rings as a result of bridging process. Computed MK, NPA, and GAPT charges were compared for the isomeric cyclophanes. The GIAO chemical shifts were calculated and indicate that 1 has a larger diamagnetic anisotropy than the other isomers.     

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of guest molecules by chemometric analysis of the UV-visible spectra of cyclodextrin guest-host complexes

Multivariate statistical techniques were applied to the UV spectra of a series of solutions at pH 12 containing a fixed concentration (30 mM) of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and a fixed concentration (15 mM) of 2-phenylglycine (phi-Gly) with various known enantiomeric compositions. Multivariate correlation of the spectral data for the solutions containing the phi-Gly/beta-CD guest-host complexes with the known enantiomeric composition of the phi-Gly samples was accomplished by partial-least-squares regression. When the multivariate model was used to predict the enantiomeric purity of a test set of samples over the mol fraction range of 0.5-0.9 R-phi-Gly, the average magnitude of the relative errors in the mol fraction determination of enantiomeric composition was 3%. A plot of the enantiomeric composition predicted by the model versus the known enantiomeric composition of the calibration set gave a straight line with a correlation coefficient of 0.955, a slope of 1.05, and an offset of 5.61 x 10-4.     

Destruction of carbonyl and hydroperoxide groups in oxidised polypropylene: Effect on photo-oxidation

The effect of destroying carbonyl and hydroperoxide groups in oxidised polypropylene on the subsequent rate of photo-oxidation has been examined using infra-red spectroscopy. The results show that carbonyl groups dominate the rate of photo-oxidation in severely oxidised polymer. In mildly oxidised polymer hydroperoxide groups control the rate, but to a much smaller extent. Destruction of the photo-active carbonyl and hydroperoxide groups in the unoxidised and oxidised polymers by prior photolysis in an inert atmosphere gave rise to some interesting and complex effects on subsequent photo-oxidation. The results indicate that although carbonyl and hydroperoxide groups may control the rates of photo-oxidation of thermally oxidised/processed polymer, their importance as primary photo-initiators is highly questionable. Oxygen-polymer charge transfer complexes appear to be the more likely photo-initiators.     

Inorganic Electronic Spectroscopy : 2nd edition; by A.B.P. Lever (Studies in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry 33), Elsevier,Amsterdam, etc. 1984, xvi + 863 pages,Dfl. 295 (US $113.50), ISBN 0-444-42389-3.

2-Aziridine-2-chlorocarboxylic acid alkyl esters have been prepared in basic alcoholic medium from alkyl dichloroacetate and aromatic imines by an extension of the Darzens reaction.     

Synthesis of 2-carboxy-4-methylazetidine. A novel isomeric analog of dl-proline

L-Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid is a naturally occurring azetidine currently used in the synthesis of abnormally high molecular weight polypeptides. The synthesis of 2-carboxy-4-methylazetidine is now reported which is a novel isomeric analog of dl -proline. Reaction of α,β-dibromo carbonyl ester with three molar equivalents of benzylamine yields 1-benzyl-2-carbomethoxy-4-methyl-azetidine. Hydrolysis of the latter compound with barium hydroxide yields 1-benzyl-2-carboxyl-4-methylazetidine which, if subjected to catalytic hydrogenation., yields the title compound in practical yield. The cis configuration is tentatively assigned to the title compound on the basis of previously published arguments.     

Hydrogen bonding Part 20. Infrared study of the high temperature β-form of choline chloride

Infrared spectral studies of β-choline chloride at 95°C clearly demonstrate the presence of O---H … Cl hydrogen bonding. This observation contradicts an earlier conclusion, based on X-ray structural studies, that such hydrogen bonding could not occur in this high-temperature form of choline chloride. A moderate reinterpretation of the X-ray data may reconcile these contradictory conclusions. Unlike -choline chloride, β-choline chloride does not show C---H … Cl hydrogen bonding. It is possible that loss of C---H … Cl hydrogen bonding is a factor in the marked difference in radiation sensitivity of the - and β-forms.     

A dynamic supramolecular system exhibiting substrate selectivity in the catalytic epoxidation of olefins

A dynamic supramolecular system involving hydrogen bonding between a Mn(III) salen catalyst and a Zn(II) porphyrin receptor exhibits selectivity for pyridine appended cis-beta-substituted styrene derivatives over phenyl appended derivatives in a catalytic epoxidation reaction.