Theoretical study of reaction channels for the weakly bound complex systems created with HF,CO2, and various amines

This investigation conducted reaction channels of weakly bound complexes CO₂…HF, CO₂…HF…NH₃, CO₂…HF…NH₂CH₃, CO₂…HF…NH(CH₃)₂, and CO₂…HF…N(CH₃)₃ systems, using the Gaussian 98 package at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(3df,2pd) level. The syn‐fluoroformic acid or syn‐fluoroformic acid plus NH₃ or amine conformers are more stable than the related anti‐fluoroformic acid or anti‐fluoroformic acid plus NH₃ or amine conformers. However, the above‐mentioned weakly bound complexes are more stable than both the related syn‐ and anti‐type fluoroformic acid or acid plus NH₃ or amine conformers and their related decomposed into CO₂ + HF or CO₂ + NHR₃F (R?H, CH₃) combined molecular systems. Five reaction channels of the weakly bound complexes exist. Each channel includes weakly bound complexes and their related above‐mentioned systems. Moreover, each reaction channel contains two transition states. The transition state between the weakly bound complex and anti‐fluoroformic acid type structure (T₁₃) is significantly higher than that of internal rotation (T₂₃) between syn‐ and anti‐FCO₂H (or FCO₂H…NR₃) structures. However, the above‐mentioned T₁₃ can significantly decrease its energy by adding the third molecule NH₃ or NR₃ (R?H or CH₃). The more CH₃ that is substituted in NR₃ of the reaction channel, the lower the activation energy of the transition state in the system is affected. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Bis induces growth inhibition and differentiation of HL-60 cells via up-regulation of p27

Bis (Bag-3, CAIR), a Bcl-2-interacting protein, promotes the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-2 and increased levels of Bis have been observed in several disease models. The involvement of Bcl-2 and some Bcl-2-binding proteins in differentiation has recently been reported. However, the relevance of Bis to cellular differentiation remains unknown. The findings herein show that Bis expression is up-regulated during the differentiation of HL-60 cells. To investigate the effect of Bis expression on differentiation, we established Bis-overexpressing HL-60 cells (HL-60-bis). HL-60-bis cells have a low nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio and indented nucleus in Wright- Giemsa staining, and an increased expression of CD11b in immunofluorescence study, indicating the promotion of differentiation. The overexpression of Bis also resulted in a retarded cell growth rate, accompanied by the accumulation of HL-60 cells at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, which was sustained during the differentiation process. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of p27, a representative inducer of cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, was increased 2.5-fold in HL-60-bis cells compared to HL-60-neo cells. These results suggest that the Bis induced growth inhibition of HL-60 cells promotes G0/G1 phase arrest via up-regulation of p27, which seems to be a prerequisite for differentiation. Further studies will be required to define the exact roles of Bis on cellular differentiation more precisely.     

Oligothiophene isocyanides for platinum-based molecular electronic applications

Understanding molecular orientation on a metal surface is key to designing molecular electronic device junctions. Though platinum device electrodes are of particular interest as a more stable alternative to the often used gold electrodes, the chemisorption of conducting molecules onto platinum surfaces has not been thoroughly studied. We present herein the first detailed study of the ability and manner in which soluble oligothiophene isocyanides, of lengths ranging from 2 to 7 nm, chemisorb onto platinum surfaces and nanoparticles. It was found that these oligothiophene isocyanides stand at a 41 degrees angle from the platinum surface normal, suggesting their applicability in molecule-bridged platinum electrode devices.     

From model compounds to extended pi-conjugated systems: synthesis and properties of dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phospholes

To explore their suitability for applications in molecular optoelectronics and as sensory materials, novel dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phospholes have been synthesized and their reactivity and properties investigated. An efficient two-step synthesis allowed for a modular assembly of differently functionalized compounds. The dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phosphole system exhibits extraordinary optoelectronic properties with respect to wavelength, intensity, and tunability. Owing to the nucleophilic nature of the central phosphorus atom, its significant electronic influence on the conjugated pi system can be altered selectively by chemically facile modifications such as oxidation or complexation with Lewis acids or transition metals. All the dithienophosphole species presented show very strong blue photoluminescence with excellent quantum yield efficiencies supporting their potential utility as blue-light emitting components in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Furthermore, depending on the electronic nature of the phosphorus center, the materials exhibit distinctive optoelectronic properties suggesting that the dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phosphole system may be useful as sensory material. Theoretical calculations, including time-dependent DFT methods, revealed the excellent predictability of the structures and optoelectronic properties of the functionalized dithienophospholes allowing the design of future dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phosphole-based materials to be "stream-lined". By using tin-functionalized dithienophosphole monomers, a strategy, which involves Stille coupling, towards extended pi-conjugated materials with significantly redshifted optoelectronic properties is also presented.     

Catalytic Cyclophanes. Part VIII. Cytochrome P-450 activity of a porphyrin-bridged cyclophane

Following a known synthetic procedure, the porphyrin-cyclophane 1 having a porphyrin attached by two straps to an apolar cyclophane binding site was prepared. Upon metallation, the Zn^II and Fe^III derivatives 2 and 3 , respectively, were obtained in good yields. Treatment of 3 with base yielded the μ-oxo dimer 4 in which the two oxo-bridged porphyrins moieties are both capped by cyclophane binding sites. All compounds 1–4 are freely soluble in protic solvents such as MeOH and CF₃CH₂OH, and the Fe^III derivatives 3 and 4 are active cytochrome P-450 mimics in these protic environments. Strong inclusion complexation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by 1 and 3 in alcoholic solvents was observed and quantified by ¹H-NMR and UV/VIS titrations. Acenaphthylene binds in an ‘equatorial’ orientation which locates its reactive 1,2-double bond near the porphyrin center, whereas phenanthrene binds ‘axially’ with the reactive 9,10-double bond oriented away from the porphyrin. The reduction potential of 3 was not significantly altered by substrate binding. In the unbound form, the Fe^III center in porphyrin 3 was found by ESR and ¹H-NMR to prefer a high-spin state (S = 5.2). In CF₃CH₂OH, using iodosylbenzene as O-transfer agent, the Fe^III derivative 3 catalyzed the oxidation of acenaphthylene to acenaphthen-1-one ( 14 ). Phenanthrene inhibited the reaction, possibly as a result of strong but nonproductive binding. Under similar conditions, isotetralin ( 18 ) was aromatized with high turnover to 1,4-dihydronaphthalene. The μ-oxo dimer 4 also showed high activity in the oxidation of acenaphthylen in MeOH, a result which provides strong evidence for efficent supramolecular catalysis. Due to as yet unknown reaction channels leading to polymeric products, poor mass balances were generally obtained in the oxidations effected in MeOH and CF₃CH₂OH in the presence of PhIO.     

Covering with blocks in the non-symmetric case

Considering an infinite string of i.i.d. random letters drawn from a finite alphabet we define the cover timeW _n as the number of random letters needed until each pattern of lenghtn appears at least once as a substring. Sharp weak and a.s. limit results onW _n are known in the symmetric case, i.e., when the random letters are uniformly distributed over the alphabet. In this paper we determine the limit distribution ofW _n in the nonsymmetric case asn. Generalizations in terms of point processes are also proved.Dedicated to Endre Csáki on his 60th birthday.