α-Methylidene- and α-Alkylidene-β-lactams from Nonproteinogenic Amino Acids

Treatment of methyl 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)prop-2-enoates 1 with conc. HBr solution afforded methyl (Z)-2-(bromomethyl)alk-2-enoates 2 , which were transformed regioselectively into N-substituted methyl (E)-2- (aminomethyl)alk-2-enoates 3 (S_N2 reaction) and into N-substituted methyl 2-(1-aminoalkyl)prop-2-enoates 4 (S_N2′ reaction). Regiocontrol of nucleophilic attack by amine was accomplished simply by choice of solvent, the S_N2 reaction occurring in MeCN and the S_N2′ reaction in petroleum ether. Hydrolysis and lactamization afforded β-lactams 7 and 8 , containing an exocyciic alkylidene and methylidene group at C(3), respectively.     

Binding the tobacco mosaic virus to inorganic surfaces

We studied the adsorption behavior and surface chemistry of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) on well-defined metal and insulator surfaces. TMV serves as a tubular supramolecular model system with precisely known surface termination. We show that if the surface chemistry of the substrate and the pH-dependent chemistry of the molecular surface match, for example, by hydrogen bonding, a strong adsorption occurs, and lateral movement is impeded. Due to the immobilization, the virion can be imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode. We also used self-assembled monolayers with an acyl chloride group to induce covalent bonding via ester formation. Noncontact AFM proved that TMV keeps its cylindrical cross section only under weak adsorption conditions, that is, on hydrophobic surfaces, while on hydrophilic substrates a deformation occurs to maximize the number of interacting chemical groups.     

Differential determination of arsenic (III) and total arsenic with L-cysteine as prereductant using a flow injection non-dispersive atomic absorption device

Speciation of arsenic in environmental samples gains increasingly importance, as the toxic effects of arsenic are related to its oxidation state. A method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of arsenic (III) and total arsenic by flow injection hydride generation coupled with an in-house made non-dispersive AAS device. The total arsenic is determined after prereduction of arsenic (V) to arsenic (III) with L-cysteine in a low concentration of hydrochloric, acetic or nitric acid. The conditions for the prereduction, hydride generation and atomization were systematically investigated. A quartz tube temperature of 800 degrees C was found to be optimum in view of peak shape and baseline stability. Pb(II), Ni(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Ag(I), Al(III), Ga(II), Se(IV), Bi(III) were checked for interfering with the 2 microg/L As(V) signal. A serious signal depression was only observed for Se(IV) and Bi(III) at a 150-fold excess. With the above system, arsenic was determined at a sampling frequency of about 1/min with a detection limit (3sigma) of 0.01 microg/L using a 0.5 mL sample. The reagent blank was 0.001+/-0.0003 absorbance units and the standard deviation of 10 measurements of the 2 microg/l As signal was found to be 1.2%. Results obtained for standard reference materials and water samples are in good agreement with the certified values and those obtained by ICP-MS     

Small angle neutron scattering measurements on micellar solutions of perfluor detergents

Small angle neutron scattering experiments (SANS) were carried out with solutions of the Lithium salt of Perfluoroctanoic acid (LIPFO) in pure D₂O and mixtures of D₂O and H₂O and Diethylammoniumperfluorononanoate (DEAFN). For LIPFO the scattering intensity as a function of the scattering angles could be fitted with calculated scattering functions for spheres. The contrast variation method allowed us to extract accurate values for the radius, the concentrations of the micelles and the aggregation number. For DEAFN the observed scattering function could be fitted on the basis of spherical vesicles with an appreciable variance in diameter. For several solutions these parameters and the concentration of the vesicles could be evaluated.     

Sampling unfolding intermediates in calmodulin by single-molecule spectroscopy

We used single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET) measurements to characterize denatured and partially denatured states of the multidomain calcium signaling protein calmodulin (CaM) in both its apo and Ca(2+)-bound forms. The results demonstrate the existence of an unfolding intermediate. A CaM mutant (CaM-T34C-T110C) was doubly labeled with fluorescent probes AlexaFlour 488 and Texas Red at opposing globular domains. Single-molecule distributions of the distance between fluorophores were obtained by spFRET at varying levels of the denaturant urea. Multiple conformational states of CaM were observed, and the amplitude of each conformation was dependent on urea concentration, with the amplitude of an extended conformation increasing upon denaturation. The distributions at intermediate urea concentrations could not be adequately described as a combination of native and denatured conformations, showing that CaM does not denature via a two-state process and demonstrating that at least one intermediate is present. The intermediate conformations formed upon addition of urea were different for Ca(2+)-CaM and apoCaM. An increase in the amplitude of a compact conformation in CaM was observed for apoCaM but not for Ca(2+)-CAM upon the addition of urea. The changes in the single-molecule distributions of CaM upon denaturation can be described by either a range of intermediate structures or by the presence of a single unfolding intermediate that grows in amplitude upon denaturation. A model for stepwise unfolding of CaM is suggested in which the domains of CaM unfold sequentially.     

Syntheses and Structure of Gd<Subscript>3</Subscript>Rh<Subscript>1.940(7)</Subscript>In<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Summary. The gadolinium–rhodium–indide Gd₃Rh_1.940(7)In₄ was prepared by arc-melting of the elements and subsequent annealing in a corundum crucible in a sealed silica tube. Gd₃Rh_1.940(7)In₄ adopts the hexagonal Lu₃Co_1.87In₄ type, space group , a = 781.4(5), c = 383.8(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0285, BASF = 0.375(1) (merohedric twinning via a twofold axis (xx0)), 648 F² values, 22 variables. The structure is derived from the well known ZrNiAl type through an ordering of rhodium and indium atoms on the Ni2 sites. The Rh/In ordering forces a reduction of the space group symmetry from to , leading to merohedric twinning for the investigated crystal. The Rh1 site has an occupancy of only 94.0(7)%. The investigated crystal had a composition Gd₃Rh_1.940(7)In₄. The main geometrical motif are three types of centered, tricapped trigonal prisms, i.e., [Rh1In2₆Gd₃], [Rh2Gd₆In2₃], and [In1Gd₆In2₃]. The shortest interatomic distances occur for Rh–In (276–296 pm) followed by In–In (297 pm). Together, the rhodium and indium atoms build up a three-dimensional [Rh_1.940(7)In₄] network, in which the gadolinium atoms fill slightly distorted pentagonal channels. The crystal chemistry of Gd₃Rh_1.940(7)In₄ is discussed on the basis of a group-subgroup scheme.     

Self-assembly of amphiphilic hexapyridinium cations at the air/water interface and on HOPG surfaces.

Mono- and multilayers of a novel amphiphilic hexapyridinium cation with six eicosyl chains (3) are spread at the air/water interface as well as on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). On water, the monolayer of 3 is investigated by recording surface pressure/area and surface potential/area isotherms, and by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Self-organized tubular micelles with an internal edge-on orientation of molecules form at the air/water interface at low surface pressure whereas multilayers are present at high surface pressure, after a phase transition. Packing motifs suggesting a tubular arrangement of the constituting molecules were gleaned from atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers being transferred on HOPG at different surface pressures. These LB film structures are compared to the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 3 formed via adsorption from a supersaturated solution, which is studied by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). On HOPG the SAM of 3 consists of nanorods with a highly ordered edge-on packing of the aromatic rings and an arrangement of alkyl chains which resembles the packing of molecules at the air/water interface at low surface pressure. Additional details of the molecular packing were gleaned from single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of the hexapyridinium model compound 2b, which possesses methyl instead of eicosyl residues.     

A novel viscoelastic system from a cationic surfactant and a hydrophobic counterion

The phase behavior of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid (2,1-HNC) mixed with cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (CTAOH) is reported. This novel system is compared with the published one of 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (3,2-HNC) mixed with CTAOH. We investigated the phase behavior and properties of the phases in aqueous solutions of 100 mM CTAOH with 2,1-HNC. In both systems a multilamellar vesicle phase is formed when the naphthoate/surfactant ratio (r) reaches unity. When an increasing amount of 2,1-HNC is mixed with a micellar solution of 100 mM CTAOH, an isotropic low-viscous micellar solution, a viscoelastic gel (consisting of rodlike micelles), a turbid region (two-phase region), and a viscoelastic liquid crystalline gel (consisting of multilamellar vesicles, MLV) were formed. The vesicular phase is highly viscoelastic and has a yield stress value. The transition from the micellar to the vesicle phase occurs for CTAOH/2,1-HNC over a two-phase region, where micelles and vesicles coexist. Also it was noticed that 2,1-HNC is dissolved in 100 mM CTAOH until the naphthoate/surfactant ratio reaches approximately 1.5, and the liquid crystalline phases were found to change their color systematically when they were viewed between two crossed polarizers. The vesicles have been characterized by differential interference contrast microscopy, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The vesicles were polydisperse and their diameter ranged from 100 to 1000 nm. The interlamellar spacing between the bilayers was determined with small angle neutron scattering and agrees with the results from different microscopical methods. The complex viscosity rises by six orders of magnitude when rodlike micelles are formed. The complex viscosity decreases again in the turbid region, and then rises approximately six orders of magnitude above the water viscosity. This second rising is due to the formation of the liquid crystalline MLV phase.     

Lower rim substituted tert-butylcalix[4]arenes. Part 8: Calix[4]arenes with dialkoxyphosphoryl functions. Synthesis and complexing properties

New compounds: 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis(3-diisopropoxyphosphorylpropoxy)calix[4]arene (1) and 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis(3-methoxyethoxyphosphorylpropoxy)calix[4]arene (2) were synthesized and their ionophoric properties in ion-selective membrane electrodes were studied in comparison with already described by us 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis(3-diethoxyphophorylpropoxy)calix[4]arene (3). Complexes of 1 with calcium(II), lanthanum(III), europium(III) and gadolinium(III) nitrates were prepared in direct reaction of the ligand and appropriate metal salts. They were characterized by spectral data (IR, UV/Vis, luminescence, NMR, ESI-MS) and elemental analysis. The similarity in complexing behavior of the (dialkoxyphosphoryl)propoxy-calix[4]arenes toward calcium and some lanthanides was observed.     

Chiral allyl cations are captured by furan with 100% stereoselectivity: synthesis of enantiopure 2-alkoxy-8-oxabicyclo

A low-temperature (-95 degrees C) protocol for intermolecular cycloadditions of furan to chiral silyloxyallyl cations in dichloromethane is described. Key precursors are open-chain, mixed a-ketoacetals, which are chiral. The resulting [4+3] cycloadducts are densely functionalized and are isolated as single enantiomers in high chemical yield. The yield of the cycloadducts increases with increasing dilution. Three and four stereogenic centres are created in one single step.