Environmental applications of membrane introduction mass spectrometry

The purpose of this review is to highlight the versatility of membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) in environmental applications, summarize the measurements of environmental volatile organic compounds (VOCs) accomplished using MIMS, present developments in the detection of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and forecast possible future directions of MIMS in environmental applications.     

Spectral and magnetic investigations on some binuclear oxovanadium compounds

Several binuclear oxovanadium compounds of binucleating ligands are synthesised and investigated by magnetic, spectral and esr methods. The experimental results show that there is weak exchange interaction mediated by the bridging organic molecules between the vanadium centres. The magnitude of this interaction is more than that observed in the corresponding copper(II) dimers. The possible reason for this is discussed.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of rhodium hydride complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Addition of excesses of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) IEt₂Me₂, IⁱPr₂Me₂ or ICy (IEt₂Me₂ = 1,3-diethyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene; IⁱPr₂Me₂ = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene; ICy = 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazol-2-ylidene) to [HRh(PPh₃)₄] (1) affords an isomeric mixture of [HRh(NHC)(PPh₃)₂] (NHC = IEt₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-2), IⁱPr₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-3), ICy (cis-/trans-4) and [HRh(NHC)₂(PPh₃)] (IEt₂Me₂(cis-/trans-5), IⁱPr₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-6), ICy (cis-/trans-7)). Thermolysis of 1 with the aryl substituted NHC, 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (IMesH₂), affords the bridging hydrido phosphido dimer, [{(PPh₃)₂Rh}₂(μ-H)(μ-PPh₂)] (8), which is also the reaction product formed in the absence of carbene. When the rhodium precursor was changed from 1 to [HRh(CO)(PPh₃)₃] (9) and treated with either IMes (=1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene) or ICy, the bis-NHC complexes trans-[HRh(CO)(IMes)₂] (10) and trans-[HRh(CO)(ICy)₂] (11) were formed. In contrast, the reaction of 9 with IⁱPr₂Me₂ gave [HRh(CO)(IⁱPr₂Me₂)₂] (cis-/trans-12) and the unusual unsymmetrical dimer, [(PPh₃)₂Rh(μ-CO)₂Rh(IⁱPr₂Me₂)₂] (13). The complexes trans-3, 8, 10 and 13 have been structurally characterised.     

Synthesis of some amino-substituted furanopyrimidines and styrylpyrimidines

5-p-Chlorophenyl-6,6-dimethyl-5,6-dihydro-3H-furano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4-one is readily converted to 4,6-dichloro-5-β-β-dimethyl-α- (p-chlorostyryl)pyrimidine by warming in phosphorus oxychloride and acetic acid, behavior which is in strong contrast to that of the analogous 5-phenyl derivative. The reaction provides a convenient source of 4-amino-6-chloro-5β,β-dimethyl-α- (p-chlorostyryl)pyrimidines and 4,6-diamino-5-β,β-dimethyl-α- (p-chlorostyryl)pyrimidines, compounds of potential biological interest.     

Ab initio interaction and spectral properties of CO+–He

In this contribution, ab initio methods have been used to study the open-shell CO⁺–He van der Waals (vdW) complex in both the ground and the first Π excited electronic state. Calculations were performed at the UCCSD(T) level of theory in the framework of the supermolecule approach using the cc-pVTZ basis set complemented with a set of standard bond functions in the middle of the vdW bond. Calculations predict a most-stable equilibrium conformation with β e=45°, R _e =2.85 Å and D _e =275 cm^?1 for the ground CO⁺(X²Σ)–He(¹S) state and β e=90°, R _e =2.70 Å and D _e =218 cm^?1 for the excited CO ⁺(A²Π)–He(¹S) state. The dipole moment μ and independent components of the field polarizability α of the CO ⁺–He vdW complex have been studied at the calculated equilibrium geometry of these states. The vertical excitation energies from the ground CO⁺(X ²Σ)–He(¹S) to the excited CO⁺(A²Π)–He (¹S) electronic state and corresponding shifts in the fluorescent spectrum with respect to the isolated CO⁺ molecule are also presented     

Mononuclear and dinuclear complexes with a [Ru(tBu2PCH2CH2PtBu2)(CO)] core

Thermolysis of solid [Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)2Cl2](2, d(t)bpe =(t)Bu2PCH2CH2P(t)Bu2) under vacuum affords the five-coordinate complex [Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)Cl2] (4), which was shown by X-ray crystallography to contain a weak remote agostic interaction. In solution, 4 can be readily trapped by CO, CH3CN or water to give [Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)(L)Cl2](L = CO, 2; L = CH3CN, 6; L = H2O, 7). Reaction of 4 with AgOTf/H2O yields the tris-aqua complex [Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)(H2O)3](OTf)2 (8), which has been structurally characterised and probed in solution by pulsed-gradient spin echo (PGSE) NMR spectroscopy. The water ligands in 8 are labile and easily substituted to give [Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)(NCCH3)3](OTf)2 (10) and [Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)(DMSO)3](OTf)2 (11). In the presence of CO, the tris-aqua complex undergoes water-gas shift chemistry with formation of the cationic hydride species [Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)3H](OTf) (12) and CO2. X-Ray crystal structures of complexes 2, 4, 6, 8 and 11-12 are reported along with those for [{Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)}2(mu-Cl)2(mu-OTf)](OTf) (3), [{Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)}2(mu-Cl)3][Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)Cl3](5) and [Ru(d(t)bpe)(CO)(H2O)2(OTf)](OTf)(9).     

thermodynamic/kinetic control in the isomerization of the [[tBuNP(mu-NtBu)]2]2- ion

The unique structure of [(tBuN)(2)PK]( infinity ) (2) (containing [(tBuN)(2)P](-) monoanions) is in stark contrast to the previously reported Li(+) analogue [[[tBuNP(mu-NtBu)](2)](2)]Li(4) (1) (containing the dimeric [[tBuNP(mu-NtBu)](2)](2-) ion). DFT and (31)P NMR spectroscopic studies reveal that the formation of the monoanion arrangements are most thermodyamically favored for Li, Na, and K, 1 being the product of kinetic control and 2 being the product of thermodynamic control.     

Crystal structure of human carboxylesterase 1 complexed with the Alzheimer's drug tacrine: from binding promiscuity to selective inhibition

Human carboxylesterase 1 (hCE1) is a broad-spectrum bioscavenger that plays important roles in narcotic metabolism, clinical prodrug activation, and the processing of fatty acid and cholesterol derivatives. We determined the 2.4 A crystal structure of hCE1 in complex with tacrine, the first drug approved for treating Alzheimer's disease, and compare this structure to the Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase (AcChE)-tacrine complex. Tacrine binds in multiple orientations within the catalytic gorge of hCE1, while it stacks in the smaller AcChE active site between aromatic side chains. Our results show that hCE1's promiscuous action on distinct substrates is enhanced by its ability to interact with ligands in multiple orientations at once. Further, we use our structure to identify tacrine derivatives that act as low-micromolar inhibitors of hCE1 and may provide new avenues for treating narcotic abuse and cholesterol-related diseases.     

PHOTOTACTIC RESPONSE OF CHLAMYDOMON AS TO FLASHES OF LIGHT-I. RESPONSE OF CELL POPULATIONS

Abstract— Chlamydomonas reinhardi responds phototactically to a single, very short flash of blue light (6-4 μs). Net oriented response of a cell population is monitored photometrically, using the "population system" of Feinleib and Curry (1967). A single high-intensity flash elicits a small, but definite net movement away from the stimulus source. Repetitive flashing at low frequency (between 8 and 60 flashes per min) and at the same intensity elicits a prolonged response in the same direction. Net phototactic response to single or repetitive flashes varies with stimulus intensity in the same way as does response to continuous light (Feinleib and Curry, 1971b); response is positive at low intensity and negative at high intensity. These data indicate that at least some cells become oriented in response to a short flash. The occurrence of such a response has implications for the mechanism of phototactic orientation. If almost all the cells responded, one would assume that Chlamydomonas perceives light direction instantaneously by detecting an absorption gradient within the cell. Unequivocal interpretation of the short-flash response requires examination of the behavior of individual cells.     

The formation of dimeric phosph(III)azane macrocycles [[P(mu-NtBu)]2.LL]2 [LL = organic spacer

The dimeric macrocycles [[P(mu-NtBu)]2.LL]2 [LL = OCH2C(Me)2CH2O (1), 2,6-(NH)2C5H3N (2), 1,2-(NH)2C6H4(3)] have been obtained by the reactions of the appropriate diols and diamines (LLH2) with the dimeric phosph(III)azane [ClP(mu-NtBu)]2. Under different conditions the reaction of 1,2-(NH2)2C6H4 with [ClP(mu-NtBu)]2 gives the monomer [[P(mu-NtBu)]2.[1,2-(NH)2C6H4]] (4) (instead of the dimer 3). Contrary to the literature, the results illustrate that the formation of dimeric macrocycles is common in these reactions and dependent among other factors on the steric demands and length of the organic spacer (LL) as well as the reaction conditions.