Domain-based local pair natural orbital methods within the correlation consistent composite approach

Ab initio composite approaches have been utilized to model and predict main group thermochemistry within 1 kcal mol⁻¹, on average, from well-established reliable experiments, primarily for molecules with less than 30 atoms. For molecules of increasing size and complexity, such as biomolecular complexes, composite methodologies have been limited in their application. Therefore, the domain-based local pair natural orbital (DLPNO) methods have been implemented within the correlation consistent composite approach (ccCA) framework, namely DLPNO-ccCA, to reduce the computational cost (disk space, CPU (central processing unit) time, memory) and predict energetic properties such as enthalpies of formation, noncovalent interactions, and conformation energies for organic biomolecular complexes including one of the largest molecules examined via composite strategies, within 1 kcal mol⁻¹, after calibration with 119 molecules and a set of linear alkanes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Asymmetric synthesis of novel spirocycles via a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed desymmetrization

A straightforward method for the asymmetric preparation of novel lactone and lactam spirocycles is described. An initial desymmetrization via a chiral Brønsted acid yields enantioenriched lactones which readily undergo a second cyclization to give the desired spirocycle.     

Synthesis of Structurally Varied 1,3‐Disiloxanediols and Their Activity as Anion‐Binding Catalysts

A series of new 1,3‐disiloxanediols has been synthesized, including naphthyl‐substituted and unsymmetrical siloxanes, and demonstrated as a new class of anion‐binding catalysts. In the absence of anions, diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) displays self‐association of 1,3‐disiloxanediols through hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Binding constants determined for 1,3‐disiloxanediol catalysts indicate strong hydrogen‐bonding and anion‐binding abilities with unsymmetrical siloxanes displaying different hydrogen‐bonding abilities for each silanol group.     

Determination of 11 Cannabinoids in Hemp Plant and Oils by Liquid Chromatography and Photodiode Array Detection

Chromatographia - Drug scheduling has directed the testing approaches for forensic laboratories since the 1970s when Cannabis (marijuana and hemp) and its psychoactive constituent,...     

Mass‐Spectrometric Observation of Counter Anion Production in SU‐8 Exposed to UV Light and its Use for Dill C Parameter Determination

Photopolymerization is a phenomenon that is the basis of much of today's microfabrication technology and intense research is conducted to improve its control and the characteristics of end products for a variety of applications. The design of microscopic structures often relies on the accurate knowledge and modeling of photopolymer's behavior upon exposure, i.e. the Dill parameters, for each radiation species of interest and therefore the development of flexible characterization techniques is of great importance. SU‐8 is a popular compound that is representative of a whole class that relies on cationic polymerization, where an acid is obtained via photolysis of an onium salt during exposure. Here we report on the observation of SbF₆^? via laser desorption mass spectrometry on SU‐8 exposed to UV light at the wavelength of 365 nm and demonstrate that the yield of this counter‐anion as a function of exposure is consistent with the Dill C parameter value available in the literature. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 967–972     

Ammonia Oxidation Enhanced by Photopotential Generated by Plasmonic Excitation of a Bimetallic Electrocatalyst

We study how visible light influences the activity of an electrocatalyst composed of Au and Pt nanoparticles. The bimetallic composition imparts a dual functionality: the Pt component catalyzes the electrochemical oxidation of ammonia to liberate hydrogen and the Au component absorbs visible light by the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonances. Under visible-light excitation, this catalyst exhibits enhanced electrochemical ammonia oxidation kinetics, outperforming previously reported electrochemical schemes. We trace the enhancement to a photochemical potential resulting from electron–hole carriers generated in the electrocatalyst by plasmonic excitation. The photopotential responsible for enhanced kinetics scales linearly with the light intensity—a general design principle for eliciting superlative photoelectrochemical performance from catalysts comprised of plasmonic metals or hybrids. We also determine a photochemical conversion coefficient.     

Activity-Directed Synthesis of Inhibitors of the p53/hDM2 Protein–Protein Interaction

Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) provide a rich source of potential targets for drug discovery and biomedical science research. However, the identification of structural-diverse starting points for discovery of PPI inhibitors remains a significant challenge. Activity-directed synthesis (ADS), a function-driven discovery approach, was harnessed in the discovery of the p53/hDM2 PPI. Over two rounds of ADS, 346 microscale reactions were performed, with prioritisation on the basis of the activity of the resulting product mixtures. Four distinct and novel series of PPI inhibitors were discovered that, through biophysical characterisation, were shown to have promising ligand efficiencies. It was thus shown that ADS can facilitate ligand discovery for a target that does not have a defined small-molecule binding site, and can provide distinctive starting points for the discovery of PPI inhibitors.