Synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-fluoro-olefin analogues of potent dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors

(E)- and (Z)-fluoro-olefin analogues of potent dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors were synthesized. A Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons reaction, followed by amide formation and reduction of the amide were used for the construction of the α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated amine functionality.     

NMR and stereochemical studies of non aromatic heterocyclic compounds—II : 13C and 31P NMR of 2-methoxy-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes

¹³C and ³¹P chemical shift data for eight 2-methoxy-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes are reported. Examination of pairs of geometrical isomers, which differ only in the orientation of the OMe substituent on P^III, have shown that both the ³¹P and the ¹³C signals of C_4,6 atoms appear 3–4 ppm at higher field when the OMe is axial compared with the equatorial isomer. This observation can be associated with the 1–3 syn diaxial interaction between the phosphorus axial substituent and the axial hydrogens on C_4,6 and should thus constitute, in the future, a supplementary tool for the structural analysis of this kind of compound. Important long range δ effects were observed both on ¹³C and especially on ³¹P chemical shifts. It is suggested that the high field δ_e effects could reflect a direct stereoelectronic interaction between the P atom and the cyclic C-5 atom. This interpretation is supported by a study of the ³¹P…¹³C coupling constants and their stereochemical dependence.     

Upper bounds on the independence and the clique covering number

New upper bounds for the independence number and for the clique covering number of a graph are given in terms of the rank, respectively the eigenvalues, of the adjacency matrix. We formulate a conjecture concerning an upper bound of the clique covering number. This upper bound is related to an old conjecture of Alan J. Hoffman which is shown to be false. Key words: adjacency matrix, eigenvalues, independence number, clique covering number. AMS classification: 05C.     

Equitable resolvable coverings

In an earlier article, Willem H. Haemers has determined the minimum number of parallel classes in a resolvable 2‐(qk,k,1) covering for all k ≥ 2 and q = 2 or 3. Here, we complete the case q = 4, by construction of the desired coverings using the method of simulated annealing. Secondly, we look at equitable resolvable 2‐(qk,k,1) coverings. These are resolvable coverings which have the additional property that every pair of points is covered at most twice. We show that these coverings satisfy k < 2q ? , and we give several examples. In one of these examples, k > q. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 11: 113–123, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/jcd.10024     

Spectral Characterizations of Some Distance-Regular Graphs

When can one see from the spectrum of a graph whether it is distance-regular or not? We give some new results for when this is the case. As a consequence we find (among others) that the following distance-regular graphs are uniquely determined by their spectrum: The collinearity graphs of the generalized octagons of order (2,1), (3,1) and (4,1), the Biggs-Smith graph, the M ₂₂ graph, and the coset graphs of the doubly truncated binary Golay code and the extended ternary Golay code.     

Looped structure of flowerlike micelles revealed by 1H NMR relaxometry and light scattering

We present experimental proof that so-called "flowerlike micelles" exist and that they have some distinctly different properties compared to their "starlike" counterparts. Amphiphilic AB diblock and BAB triblock copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as hydrophilic A block and thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) B block(s) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). In aqueous solutions, both block copolymer types form micelles above the cloud point of pNIPAm. Static and dynamic light scattering measurements in combination with NMR relaxation experiments proved the existence of flowerlike micelles based on pNIPAm(16kDa)-PEG(4kDa)-pNIPAm(16kDa) which had a smaller radius and lower mass and aggregation number than starlike micelles based on mPEG(2kDa)-pNIPAm(16kDa). Furthermore, the PEG surface density was much lower for the flowerlike micelles, which we attribute to the looped configuration of the hydrophilic PEG block. (1)H NMR relaxation measurements showed biphasic T(2) relaxation for PEG, indicating rigid PEG segments close to the micelle core and more flexible distal segments. Even the flexible distal segments were shown to have a lower mobility in the flowerlike micelles compared to the starlike micelles, indicating strain due to loop formation. Taken together, it is demonstrated that self-assemblies of BAB triblock copolymers have their hydrophilic block in a looped conformation and thus indeed adopt a flowerlike conformation.     

An odd characterization of the generalized odd graphs

We show that any connected regular graph with d+1 distinct eigenvalues and odd-girth 2d+1 is distance-regular, and in particular that it is a generalized odd graph.     

Quantum theory as a description of robust experiments: Derivation of the Pauli equation

It is shown that the Pauli equation and the concept of spin naturally emerge from logical inference applied to experiments on a charged particle under the conditions that (i) space is homogeneous (ii) the observed events are logically independent, and (iii) the observed frequency distributions are robust with respect to small changes in the conditions under which the experiment is carried out. The derivation does not take recourse to concepts of quantum theory and is based on the same principles which have already been shown to lead to e.g. the Schrödinger equation and the probability distributions of pairs of particles in the singlet or triplet state. Application to Stern–Gerlach experiments with chargeless, magnetic particles, provides additional support for the thesis that quantum theory follows from logical inference applied to a well-defined class of experiments.     

Lipid length and iso-branching of trehalose diesters influences Mincle agonist activity

We report on the efficient synthesis of linear trehalose diesters (TDEs) and iso-branched TDEs (maradolipids or iso-TDEs) and their ability to activate bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) as determined by cytokine (IL-1β, IL-12, IL-6, IL-10) and chemokine (MIP-2) production. Both classes of TDEs were found to activate BMDMs in a Mincle-dependent manner, with longer-chain (≥C18) lipids leading to a robust inflammatory response. On the whole, the iso-branched TDEs led to greater cytokine production and a faster immune response when compared to their linear counterparts. Moreover, C12-TDE and iso-C12-TDE elicited the production of MIP-2 by BMDMs, thereby providing the first example of TDEs with a chain length of ≤ C12 leading to a Mincle-dependent immune response and one that is less inflammatory in nature.