Novel Capsular Aggregates from Flexible Tripodal Triureas with Cs Symmetry

Tris(2‐ and 3‐ureidobenzyl)amines with C_s symmetry self‐assemble in solution forming mixtures of regioisomeric capsular aggregates, one of which is chiral and the other centrosymmetric. Under certain conditions, a predominance of the centrosymmetric regioisomer is found before equilibrium, that is, a mixture close to the statistical ratio of the two species is reached. In the solid state, there is a preference for the centrosymmetric capsules. Molecular models of both regioisomeric aggregates have been built and analyzed for comparison. Guests inside capsules formed by self‐assembly of desymmetrized tris(3‐ureidobenzyl)amines feel different magnetic environments, depending on whether they are inside a chiral or an achiral regioisomeric container. Of special significance are the experiments with a more flexible triurea endowed with an ureidopropylic arm, which self‐assembles with the same efficiency as the more rigid tris(ureidobenzyl)amines.     

Unprecedented intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloadditions of azido-ketenimines and azido-carbodiimides. Synthesis of indolo[1,2-a]quinazolines and tetrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolines

N-(2-azidomethyl)phenyl ketenimines and N-(2-azidomethyl)phenyl-N'-alkyl(aryl) carbodiimides undergo, under mild thermal conditions, intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions between the azido group and either the C=C or the distal C=N double bonds of the ketenimine and carbodiimide functions respectively. The reaction products are indolo[1,2-a]quinazolines and/or indolo[2,1-b]quinazolines in the case of azido-ketenimines, and tetrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolines in the case of azido-carbodiimides. The formation of the two classes of indoloquinazolines implies the ulterior dinitrogen extrusion from the non-isolated, putative [3 + 2] cycloadducts between the azide and ketenimine functions, whereas in the case of azido-carbodiimides the initial cycloadducts, tetrazoloquinazolines, were cleanly isolated and further converted into 2-aminoquinazolines by thermally induced dinitrogen extrusion.     

DYNGA: a general purpose QM-MM-MD program. I. Application to water

We present a general purpose QM-MM-MD engine (DYNGA) designed to test alternative hybrid Hamiltonians geared towards the treatment of problems of interest in structural biology including the use of experimental data constraints. In this first presentation we use DYNGA to explore the behaviour of a traditional QM-MM approach in the treatment of the water—water interaction. We find the potential energy hypersurface for the water dimer computed with the HF 4–31G*/TIP3P hybrid Hamiltonian tends to be too flat. We also explore the effect of using traditional QM-MM techniques on proton wires and conclude there is a need for improvement, possibly addressed by using polarizable force fields.     

PAST AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF A COLLAPSED FISHERY: THE BAY OF BISCAY ANCHOVY

Abstract We analyze the efficiency of the international management of the Bay of Biscay anchovy. While a sharing agreement between France and Spain has been in place since 1992, the fish stock collapsed in 2005 and the fishery closed from 2005 to spring 2010. We consider differences in production technologies between both countries and calibrate our model using data from 1987 to 2009. Our results suggest two sources of rent dissipation under the existing sharing agreement: inefficient quota allocation and production inefficiencies due to inflexible national regulations. We discuss several alternatives to improve management.     

Highly diastereoselective self-assembly of chiral tris(m-ureidobenzyl)amino capsules

The self-assembly of chiral tris(m-ureidobenzyl)amines to give dimeric capsules is a highly diastereoselective process in solution, while in the solid state, the formation of the corresponding capsules is not only diastereoselective but also regioselective.     

ConFlo III - an interface for high precision delta(13)C and delta(15)N analysis with an extended dynamic range

A newly developed interface coupling a CHN combustion device (elemental analyser 'EA') to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer is described and evaluated. The purpose of the device is to extend the dynamic range of delta(13)C and delta(15)N analysis from less than 2 orders of magnitude to more than 3 orders of magnitude. Carbon isotope ratio measurements of atropine as a model compound have been performed analysing between 1 μg to 5 mg C with acceptable to excellent precision (0.6 to 0.06 per thousand, delta-notation). The correction due to the blank signal is critical for sample amounts smaller than 4 μg C. The maximum sample weight is determined by the combustion capacity of the EA. Larger sample amounts are measured using dilution of a small part of the EA effluent with helium. The dilution mechanism works virtually free of isotope fractionation. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dimeric self-assembling capsules derived from the highly flexible tribenzylamine skeleton

Tris(m-ureidobenzyl)amines dimerize both in solid state and in solution to give molecular capsules which are able to encapsulate small molecules. The self-assembly was confirmed by crystal X-ray analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray structure showed the encapsulation of one molecule of CH(2)Cl(2). This new type of capsules presents a propeller-like topology and a belt of six hydrogen-bonded ureas. Encapsulation studies in solution and heterodimerization processes are also disclosed.