Synthesis, structure, and dynamics of six-membered metallacoronands and metallodendrimers of iron and indium

In the reaction of the N-substituted diethanolamines (H(2)L(1-3)) (1-3) with calcium hydride followed by addition of iron(III) or indium(III) chloride, the iron wheels [Fe(6)Cl(6)(L(1))(6)] (4) and [Fe(6)Cl(6)(L(2))(6)] (6) or indium wheels [In(6)Cl(6)(L(1))(6)] (5), [In(6)Cl(6)(L(2))(6)] (8) and [In(6)Cl(6)(L(3))(6)] (9) were formed in excellent yields. Exchange of the chloride ions of 6 by thiocyanate ions afforded [Fe(6)(SCN)(6)(L(2))(6)] (7). Whereas the structures of 4, 5 and 7 were determined unequivocally by single-crystal X-ray analyses, complexes 8 and 9 were characterised by NMR spectroscopy. Contrary to what is normally presumed, the scaffolds of six-membered metallic wheels are not generally rigid, but rather undergo nondissociative topomerisation processes. This was shown by variable temperature (VT) (1)H NMR spectroscopy for the indium wheel [In(6)Cl(6)(L(1))(6)] (5) and is highlighted for the enantiotopomerisation of one indium centre [ 1/6[S(6)-5]<==>[1/6[S(6)-5']]. The self-assembly of metallic wheels, starting from diethanolamine dendrons, is an efficient strategy for the convergent synthesis of metallodendrimers.     

NMR spectroscopy techniques for screening and identifying ligand binding to protein receptors

Binding events of ligands to receptors are the key for an understanding of biological processes. Gaining insight into protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions in solution has recently become possible on an atomic level by new NMR spectroscopic techniques. These experiments identify binding events either by looking at the resonance signals of the ligand or the protein. Ideally, both techniques together deliver a complete picture of ligand binding to a receptor. The approaches discussed in this review allow screening of compound libraries as well as a detailed identification of the groups involved in the binding events. Also, characterization of the binding strength and kinetics is possible, competitive binding as well as allosteric effects can be identified, and it has even been possible to identify ligand binding to intact viruses and membrane-bound proteins.     

The RuO4-catalysed dihydroxylation, ketohydroxylation and mono oxidation--novel oxidation reactions for the synthesis of diols and alpha-hydroxy ketones

Alpha-hydroxy ketones are versatile intermediates for the synthesis of complex molecular architectures and subunits of a variety of natural products. Different approaches towards the synthesis of this important functional group combination have been elaborated. The present article summarises our research on the field of RuO4-catalysed oxidations of alkenes that resulted in the development of the first RuO4-catalysed ketohydroxylation of olefins. Mechanistic investigations of both dihydroxylation and ketohydroxylation led to the discovery of the first regioselective catalytic mono oxidation of vic-diols, which was applied in a two-step sequence of asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective mono oxidation to furnish enantiopure alpha-hydroxy ketones with both predictable regioselectivity and absolute configuration.     

Alkenes as ketol surrogates-a new approach toward enantiopure acyloins

[reaction: see text] Enantiopure alpha-hydroxy ketones are important building blocks in organic synthesis. This paper describes the use of cyclic ruthenates for the first catalytic regioselective oxidation of vic-diols to alpha-ketols. The combination of RuCl3/Oxone/NaHCO3 was used in a two-step sequence of asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective monooxidation for the synthesis of a broad scope of enantiopure acyloins.     

An experimental study of chromatographic dynamics in open and packed non-cylindrical conduits

A systematic investigation of the influence of the perimeter shape of open and particle packed fused silica capillaries on chromatographic properties such as resistance to flow and dispersion of solutes propelled through these channels has been conducted. Verifications of these uncommon experiments with existing theoretical treatments are presented and the insights transferred to a novel polymer chip design with integrated facilities for complex separations. A comparison of the chromatographic performance of a real life proteomics sample on this chip with a capillary column of "similar" dimensions is presented.     

Theoretical study of the reaction of alkynes with furan catalyzed by AuCl3 and AuCl

A general scheme for the endo‐ and exo‐cyclization of furan reactivity with [L ‐Au^{III, I}Cl_x] with (x = 3, 1 and L ‐acetylene and vinylidene) complexes is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) code. Two conceivable mechanisms via a [4 + 2] Diels–Alder process or carbene complex are analyzed. According to the activation energy values of the gold (III and I) catalyst, the first mechanism, which implies the Diels–Alder reaction of Au^III, is thermodynamically favored and gives more evidence of the intramolecular addition of the furan with the alkynes. The second mechanism, presumably assisted by the spontaneous formation of the exo‐vinylidene complexes and intermediates of gold (III, I) by forming the carbene complex, is kinetically favored. Additionally, we compare our results with other structures with intramolecular additions that exhibit the quasi‐similarity of gold analogue structures. Differences in activation energies are observed, according to the functional used. Finally, we probe the solvent effects, which decrease the energy barrier in the path. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Simultaneous differential pulse-polarographic determination of CS2 and COS gases and its application in the analysis of dithiocarbamate fungicide residues in foods

The differential pulse-polarographic (DPP) determination of both CS₂ and COS gases, after their absorption in a methanolic piperidine reagent and the subsequent application of this technique to the residue analysis of dithiocarbamate fungicides is described. Rectilinear calibration curves for both CS₂ and COS in the respective regions of 1.5–9.2 and 2.1–12.6 mol/l were obtained. The DPP method has been successfully applied to the determination of thiram residues on apples after a hot acid hydrolysis of the fruits.     

A cyclographic approach to the vertices of plane curves

For a closed plane curve the centers of distance functions are considered satisfying the condition that the function attains at least two absolute minima along. From the topology of the closure of this set some information on specific vertices of the curve can be obtained. If a simply closed curve has a finite number of vertices only, then the structure of this set is given by a tree, composed from regular arcs, such that the end points of this tree belong to minimal osculating circles of, which entirely are located in the interior of. Furthermore, the curve can be reconstructed from this set as the envelope of a suitable family of circles. These relations are used to give alternative proofs and extensions of several known vertex theorems for closed curves.Dedicated to N. Stephanidis on occasion of his 65. birthday     

The job-shop problem and immediate selection

The job-shop problem is one of the most difficult NP-hard scheduling problems. A 10×10-problem published in 1963 has been solved only recently by Carlier and Pinson using a branch and bound method. Other branch and bound algorithms have been developed recently. The efficiency of all these branch and bound methods relies on the concept of immediate selection which allows to introduce order relations on the setI of all operations to be processed on the same machine before branching. We present new algorithms for immediate selection. Among them are

1. anO(max {n logn,f})-algorithm for fixing all disjunctions induced by cliques;
2. anO(n ²)-algorithm based on concepts which are different from those used by Carlier and Pinson.

Here,n is the number of operations inI andf is the number of induced order relations.