A molecular mechanics study of the effect of substitution in position 1 on the conformational space of the oxytocin/vasopressin ring

Summary The effect of the substitution in position 1 on the low-energy conformations of the oxytocin/vasopressin 20-membered ring was investigated by means of molecular mechanics. Three representative substitutions were considered: -mercapto-,-dimethyl)propionic acid (Dmp), (-mercapto-,-cyclopentamethylene)propionic acid (Cpp), both forming strong antagonists, and (,-dimethyl--mercapto)propionic acid (-Dmp), forming analogs of strongly reduced biological activity, with the -mercaptopropionic (Mpa) residue taken as reference. Both ECEPP/2 (rigid valence geometry) and AMBER (flexible valence geometry) force fields were employed in the calculations. Three basic types of backbone conformations were taken into account which are distinguished by the type of -turn at residues 3 and 4: 1/III, II, and I/III, all types containing one or two intra-annular hydrogen bonds. The allowed (ring-closed) disulfide-bridge conformations were searched by an algorithm formulated in terms of scanning the disulfide-bridge torsional angle C-S-S-C. The ECEPP/2 and AMBER energies of the obtained conformations were found to be in reasonable agreement. Two of the low-energy conformers of the [Mpa¹]-compound agreed very well with the cyclic part of the two conformers found in the crystal structure of [Mpa¹]-oxytocin. An analysis of the effect of -substitution on relative energies showed that the conformations with the N-C-CH₂-CH₂ (₁) and C-CH₂-CH₂-S (₁) angles of the first residue around (–100°, 60°) and (100°, –60°) are not affected; this in most cases implies a left-handed disulfide bridge. In the case of -substitution the allowed values of ₁ are close to ± 60°. This requirement, being in contradiction to the one concerning -substitution, could explain the very low biological activity of the -substituted analogs. The conformational preferences of substituted compounds can largely be explained by the analysis of local interactions within the first residue. Based on the selection of the conformations which are low in energy for both the reference and -substituted compounds, two distinct types of possible binding conformations were proposed, the first one being similar to the crystal conformer with a left-handed disulfide bridge, the second one having a right-handed bridge, but a geometry different from that of the crystal conformer with the right-handed bridge. The first type of disulfide-bridge arrangement is equally favorable for both I/III and II types of backbone structure, while the second one is allowed only for the II type of backbone. No conformation of the I/III type has a low enough energy to be considered as a possible binding conformation for all of the active compounds studied in this work.     

On the aronszajn property for a differential equation of fractional order in Banach spaces

In this paper we investigate some topological properties of solution sets of a differential equation of fractional order in Banach spaces. Our assumptions and proofs are expressed in terms of measures of noncompactness.     

Intermolecular interactions in mixtures of dichroic dyes with n-alkyl-4-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)bicyclo[2,2,2]octanes

On the basis of the polarized absorption spectra, the guest order parameter as a function of temperature for five dichroic azo dyes dissolved in four members (pentyl to octyl) of the homologous series of n-alkyl-4-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)bicyclo[2,2,2]octanes has been evaluated. Moreover, the influence of the dichroic dye addition on the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature has been examined. The relation between the molecular geometry of the guest, its orientation efficiency in the nematic host and the clearing temperature of the azo dye-liquid crystal mixtures has been determined. The experimental results have been compared in some detail with calculations performed on the basis of the mean field theory for binary mixtures.     

EPR spectra of gamma-irradiated DL-alpha-alanine supported on molecular sieves

The aim of the work was to collect information concerning boundary effects which are suspected in alpha-alanine dosimeters consisted of powdered microcrystalline alpha-alanine and binders. In our experiments the conventional binders were replaced by molecular sieves (MS). MS are inorganic porous materials (host structures) with well organized and uniform intra-crystalline pore systems of nano-scale size. The guest molecules can be either physically adsorbed on very large inner MS surface, or chemically bound to the active sites. They can be also encapsulated inside the intracrystalline cavities. The EPR spectra of gamma irradiated DL-alpha-alanine supported on NaY, CeY, SOD, mordenite, ZSM-5 and ALPO(4)-5 were very similar to that one observed for irradiated microcrystalline DL-alpha-alanine. In the case of alanine supported on HY an initial EPR spectrum was different and only after some weeks it made resemble to the well known quintet observed in microcrystalline samples. In sodalites synthesized in the presence of DL-alpha-alanine EPR signal appeared in non-irradiated sample was very low and structureless. The irradiated sample showed a distinct spectrum which was quite different from that one observed for crystalline DL-alpha-alanine.     

Sulfur radicals embedded in various cages of ultramarine analogs prepared from zeolites

The colored (greenish) products analogous to ultramarine obtained from zeolite A, cancrinite and erionite by means of high-temperature (500-800 °C) treatment of zeolites mixed with elemental sulfur and alkalis can maintain the original structure of the parent zeolite under certain preparation conditions. The ESR spectra of samples recorded at room temperature always indicate the presence of radicals S₃⁻ (the blue chromophore). The spectra of samples prepared from zeolites recorded at 77 K exhibit additional signals that could be assigned to the yellow chromophore (the radical S₂⁻) encapsulated inside the β or ε-cages. It is remarkable that in the case of products with preserved cancrinite structure, where the S₂⁻ radicals are encapsulated inside the ε-cages, the above signals are visible already at room temperature. It may result from retarded mobility of these species in small cancrinite cages.     

Study of the role of ceramic filler in composite gel electrolytes based on microporous polymer membranes

The presented contribution aims at reconsidering the role of filler in affecting the ionic transport in composite gel electrolytes for Li-ion cells based on microporous polymer membranes. The gels have been prepared by swelling thin PVdF/HFP membranes either with conventional liquid electrolyte or with pure propylene carbonate solvent. The membranes contained dispersed submicron-size modified silica filler added in a wide range of weight ratios. The effect of filler content on the kinetics of liquid phase absorption and evaporation from the composite membranes, as well as on the conductivity of the corresponding gel electrolytes, has been studied and discussed in terms of the “colloidal” and “soggy sand” electrolyte concepts. It has been found that conductivity increase of composite gels is not directly correlated with the liquid electrolyte uptake. On this basis it is concluded that important part of ionic transport in this type of composite gel polymer electrolytes is realized on the filler grain boundaries, through overlapping space charge layers of the silica grains.     

α-Alkyl(aryl)sulfenyl substituted β-ketophosphonates: synthesis, properties and reactivity

A new synthesis of the title compounds via acylation of α-lithio-α-phosphorylalkyl sulfides is described. Two additional approaches to these compounds, although less efficient, involve: (a) sulfenylation of O-silylated dialkyl β-ketophosphonates and (b) the Arbuzov reaction of triethyl phosphite with α-chloro-α-methylthiomethyl phenyl ketone. The keto-enol tautomerism of the title compounds and reactivity of the anions derived from them with electrophilic reagents were investigated. The P(O)-olefination products obtained from electron rich aromatic aldehydes were found to undergo the acid-catalyzed desulfenylation reaction affording α,β-unsaturated ketones.     

The unusual course of the high-pressure reaction of 1,10-diaza-[18]-crown-6 with α,ω-diiodo ethers

Simple 1,10-diaza-[18]-crown-6 reacts smoothly with di(2-indoethyl)ether under high-pressure (10 kbar) to give a bis-quaternary spiro salt as a major product, whereas the analogous reaction with 1,8-diiodo-3,6-dioxaoctane leads to the expected precursor of a [2.2.2] cryptand.     

Mesomorphic Properties of New 5-Alkyl-2-Pyrimidinols Esters

Abstract

A synthesis of a number of 5-alkyl-2-pyrimidinol esters was conducted, their mesomorphic properties were examined. Two ring esters of said pyrimidinols are nonmesomorphic, while three ring esters are typical mesogens, forming nematic either nematic-smectic mesophases.