Use of anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography for the study of smooth muscle myosin light-chain kinase and its catalytic domain

Avian myosin light-chain kinase from smooth muscle of the gizzard and its catalytic domain, derived from the intact enzyme by trypsin digestion, was purified within 30-40 min by both analytical and preparative anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. The proteins obtained were more than 95% pure and retained their biological activity. The high-performance anion-exchange chromatography protocols represent a significant decrease in purification time when compared with conventional ion-exchange chromatography.     

Approximating Clarke’s subgradients of semismooth functions by divided differences

We show that the algorithm presented in an earlier paper by Studniarski (Numer. Math., 55:685–693, 1989) can be applied, after only a small modification, to approximate numerically Clarke’s subgradients of semismooth functions of two variables. Results of computational testing of this modified algorithm are also reported.      

Do intramolecular halogen bonds exist? Ab initio calculations and crystal structures’ evidences

Cl···O intramolecular contacts are analysed here. Hence the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) search was performed to find five-membered Cl–C=C–C=O pseudo-rings closed through Cl···O intramolecular contacts. Such rings were analysed and it was found that some of Cl···O distances are smaller than the corresponding sum of van der Waals radii. Additionally ab initio MP2/6-311++G(d,p) calculations and AIM analyses were carried out here on 3-chloropropenal and its fluoro derivatives to deepen the nature of intramolecular Cl···O interactions, some of findings may indicate that they are attractive and stabilizing ones. This paper is dedicated to Prof. T. M. Krygowski on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Thiol-ene chemistry as an effective tool for hydrophobization of cotton fabrics

In this paper, several methods of hydrophobization of cotton fabrics using the thio-ene click reaction were compared. Durable, superhydrophobic textiles were obtained in an easy way. Various variants of functionalized silsesquioxanes were used for the hydrophobization of fabrics. The synthesis of bifunctional silsesquioxanes (RSiMe₂O)₄(ViSiMe₂O)₄Si₈O₁₂ and (RSiMe₂O)₄(R’SiMe₂O)₄Si₈O₁₂ were performed via hydrothiolation of silsesquioxane derivative (ViSiMe₂O)₈Si₈O₁₂. Alkoxysilyl, alkyl and fluoroalkyl moieties were introduced as functional groups. Samples were prepared using four methods, differing in the modification method and the number of stages. During the research, fabrics were modified via (a) the dip-coating process, (b) carrying out thiol-ene click reactions directly on the surface of the fabric and (c) using both of these methods. The hydrophobicity of the fabric was evaluated by measuring the Water contact angle (WCA). The obtained samples were also examined using infrared analysis (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Elemental analysis (SEM–EDS). All analyses were performed before and after the washing process in order to verify the stability of the performed modifications.

Graphical abstract

     

Structural assignment of organotin hydrides containing the oxazoline ligand

A series of triorganotin hydrides and diorganotin dihydrides containing the optically active 2-(4-isopropyl-2-oxazolinyl)-5-phenyl ligand have been characterized by means of the multinuclear low-temperature NMR investigations, the results of which are discussed. In the corresponding organotin hydrides values of the ¹J(¹H-^117/119Sn) couplings appeared to be temperature dependent, supporting an axial/equatorial position of the hydrogen attached to the tin.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Optical Sol–Gel Adhesive for Military Protective Polycarbonate Resin

Sol–gel adhesive material for isostatic hotpressing lamination process was synthesized using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTES), 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS) and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS) as precursors. Reaction dynamics between APTES and GPTS was followed on-line with Raman spectroscopy. The lamination process was optimized by varying hotpressing times and pressures at the constant temperature. Mechanical shear strength properties were found to be excellent for studied composition, 25–30 kg/cm² at its best. One possible application of laminated polycarbonate (PC) structure is a soldier helmet visor. Therefore, the ballistic protection properties were tested by shooting with 1.1 gram standard fragment, and determining the v₅₀ velocity value, which corresponds to 50% perforation. The laminated structure gave 5.7% better protection compared with the solid polycarbonate. The laminated components were found to have high optical transparency at the visible wavelengths as well as high environmental stability.     

Synthesis and characterization of the non-Kekulé, singlet biradicaloid Ar'Ge(micro-NSiMe(3))(2)GeAr' (Ar' = 2,6-Dipp(2)C(6)H(3), Dipp = 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3))

Reaction of Ar'GeGeAr' (1) with an excess of Me3SiN3 gives the non-Kekulé, biradicaloid Ar'Ge(mu-NSiMe3)2GeAr' (3, Ar' = 2,6-Dipp2C6H3, Dipp = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3) which has a planar Ge2N2Si2 array and pyramidal geometry at the germaniums. DFT calculations for the model MeGe(mu-NSiH3)2GeMe indicate no Ge-Ge bonding and a singlet ground state. The calculated energy difference between the optimized singlet and triplet states is 17.51 kcal/mol.