Kinetics of the M-Intermediate in the Photocycle of Bacteriorhodopsin upon Chemical Modification with Surfactants

The spectroscopic and kinetic studies of the interaction between bacteriorhodopsin in the M-intermediate and several surfactants (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, diethylene glycol mono-n-hexyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-hexyl ether, sodium 1-decanesulfonate and sodium 1-heptanesulfonate) have been investigated using steady-state UV–VIS spectrometry and time-resolved absorption techniques. The steady-state spectral results show that bR retains its trimeric state. Time-resolved observations indicate that the rate of deprotonation of the protonated Schiff base increases in the presence of the cationic surfactants, whereas insignificant changes are observed in the neutral or anionic surfactants. The rate of the reprotonation of the Schiff base in the transition M → N is accelerated in anionic and neutral surfactants, but is decelerated in the presence of the cationic surfactants. Surfactants with a longer hydrocarbon tail have a greater effect on the kinetics when compared with surfactants having shorter hydrocarbon tails. The opposite effect is observed when the hydrophilic head of the surfactants contains opposite charges. These distinct kinetics are discussed in terms of the difference in the modified surface hydrophilicity of the bR and the possible protein configurational changes upon surfactant treatments.     

A novel method for the analysis of calf thymus DNA based on CdTe quantum dots-Ru(bpy) 3 2+ photoinduced electron transfer system

A method has been developed for the rapid determination of calf thymus (ct) DNA that is based on the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) that occurs between CdTe quantum dots and the ruthenium(II)tris-bipyridyl complex. The latter quenches the photoluminescence (PL) of the quantum dots through PET. The Stern-Volmer quenching constant is 2,500 L?mol^?1. The intensity of the PL the system is recovered in the presence of ct DNA, and relative recovered PL intensity is linearly proportional to the concentration of ct-DNA. The dynamic range is from 17?µM to 1.5 mM of DNA, and the detection limit (at S/N?=?3) is 5.7?µM. The relative standard deviation (at 0.5 mM of ct-DNA) is 4.1% (n?=?11). A possible reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Rapid ultraviolet monitoring of multiple psychotropic drugs with a renewable microfluidic device

A rapid method for sensitive ultraviolet detection of multiple psychotropic drugs in human plasma was developed on a low-cost and expediently fabricated hybrid microfluidic device. The device was composed of one fused-silica capillary with a sampling fracture, a poly(methyl methacrylate) board with four reservoirs, and a printed circuit board. At the optimal separation and detection conditions, the baseline separation of three kinds of psychotropic drugs including barbiturates (phenobarbital and barbital), benzodiazepines (nitrazepam, clonazepam, chlordiazepoxide, alprazolam and diazepam) and tricyclic antidepressant drugs (amitriptyline) was achieved within 200 s with separation efficiency up to 3.80 × 10(5) plates m(-1). The linear ranges for ultraviolet detection were from 2.0 to 1000.0 μg mL(-1) for chlordiazepoxide and 1.0 to 1000.0 μg mL(-1) for other seven drugs. Combining with solid-phase extraction, this novel protocol could successfully be used to screen naturally existing psychotropic drugs in a known human plasma sample. The minimum detectable concentration was down to 27 ng mL(-1) for phenobarbital spiked in plasma. This work provided a promising way to initially screen different psychotropic drugs with high resolution, rapid separation and low-cost.     

Synthesis and application in polypropylene of a novel of phosphorus-containing intumescent flame retardant

A novel phosphorus-containing triazine oligomer poly(2-morpholinyl-4-penta-erythritol phosphate-1,3,5-triazine) (PMPT) was synthesized as a kind of tri-component intumescent flame retardant (IFR). The chemical structure of PMPT was characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR and 31P-NMR, and the mechanical and flammability properties of FR-PP were measured. The FTIR results showed that the expected chemical reactions had happened at each step. The 1H-NMR and 31P-NMR spectra also agreed with the chemical structure of PMPT. The slight effect of PMPT on the mechanical properties of FR-PP suggested that PMPT and PP are compatible. The high limited oxygen index (LOI) values of FR-PP revealed that PMPT was an efficient IFR and there was the synergistic effect between PMPT and ammonium polyphosphate/ pentaerythritol (APP/PER).     

Symmetry forbidden vibronic spectra and internal conversion in benzene

The spectra of symmetry-forbidden transitions and internal conversion were investigated in the present work. Temperature dependence was taken into account for the spectra simulation. The vibronic coupling, essential in the two processes, was calculated based on the Herzberg-Teller theory within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The approach was employed for the symmetry-forbidden absorption/fluorescence, and internal conversion between 1(1)A(1g) and 1(1)B(2u) states in benzene. Vibrational frequencies, normal coordinates, electronic transition dipole moments, and non-adiabatic coupling matrix elements were obtained by ab initio quantum chemical methods. The main peaks, along with the weak peaks, were in good agreement with the observed ones. The rate constant of the 1(1)A(1g)← 1(1)B(2u) internal conversion was estimated within the order of 10(3) s(-1). This could be regarded as the lower limit (about 4.8 × 10(3) s(-1)) of the internal conversion. It is stressed that the distortion effect was taken into account both in the symmetry-forbidden absorption/fluorescence, and the rate constants of internal conversion in the present work. The distortion effects complicate the spectra and increase the rate constants of internal conversion.     

Copper-mediated oxidative trifluoromethylation of boronic acids

A copper-mediated oxidative cross-coupling of aryl- and alkenylboronic acids with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (Me(3)SiCF(3)) under mild conditions has been developed. This method allows a wide range of functional group tolerant trifluoromethylated arenes and alkenes to be easily prepared. This oxidative trifluoromethylation has the potential to introduce trifluoromethyl groups into advanced, highly functionalized organic molecules.     

Phenylcarbamoylated β‐CD: π‐Acidic and π‐basic chiral selectors for HPLC

Two types of chiral stationary phases for HPLC based on π‐acidic or π‐basic perphenylcarbamoylated β‐CDs were synthesized. The relative structural features of the two effective chiral selectors are discussed and compared in both normal‐phase and RP modes. In addition, the nature and concentration of alcoholic modifiers were varied for optimal separation in normal phase and the structural variation of the analytes was also examined. The results showed that hydrogen bonding, steric effect and π‐acidic–π‐basic interaction contributed greatly to enantioseparation. Upon comparison, some of the differences in the separation behavior of the two types of chiral stationary phases might be due to the π‐acidic or π‐basic phenylcarbamate groups.     

4,4′‐Bis(2,2,2‐trifluoroethoxymethyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine

As part of a homologous series of novel polyfluorinated bipyridyl (bpy) ligands, the title compound, C₁₆H₁₄F₆N₂O₂, contains the smallest fluorinated group, viz. CF₃. The molecule resides on a crystallographic inversion centre at the mid‐point of the pyridine C_ipso—C_ipso bond. Therefore, the bpy skeleton lies in an anti conformation to avoid repulsion between the two pyridyl N atoms. Weak intramolecular C—H...N and C—H...O interactions are observed, similar to those in related polyfluorinated bpy–metal complexes. A π–π interaction is observed between the bpy rings of adjacent molecules and this is probably a primary driving force in crystallization. Weak intermolecular C—H...N hydrogen bonding is present between one of the CF₃CH₂– methylene H atoms and a pyridyl N atom related by translation along the [010] direction, in addition to weak benzyl‐type C—H...F interactions to atoms of the terminal CF₃ group. It is of note that the O—CH₂CF₃ bond is almost perpendicular to the bpy plane.