Mackay,Anti-Mackay,Double-Mackay,Pseudo-Mackay,and Related Icosahedral Shell Clusters

Mackay introduced two important crystallographic concepts in a short paper published 40 years ago. One is the icosahedral shell structure (iss) consisting of concentric icosahedra displaying fivefold rotational symmetry. The number of atoms contained within these icosahedral shells and subshells agrees well with the magic numbers in rare gas clusters, (C₆₀) _N molecules, and some metal clusters determined by mass spectroscopy or simulated on energy considerations. The cluster of 55 atoms within the second icosahedral shell occurs frequently and has been called Mackay icosahedron, or simply MI, which occurs not only in various clusters, but also in intermetallic compounds and quasicrystals. The second concept is the hierarchic icosahedral structures caused by the presence of a stacking fault in the fcc packing of the successive triangular faces in the iss. For instance, a fault occurs after the ABC layers resulting an ABCB packing. This is, in fact, a hierarchic icosahedral structure of a core icosahedron connected to 12 outer icosahedra by vertex sharing, or an icosahedron of icosahedra (double MI. Contrary to Mackay's iss, a faulted hierarchic icosahedral shell is, in fact, a twinlike face capping of the underlying triangles; it is, therefore, called an anti-Mackay cluster. The hierarchic icosahedral structure in an Al-Mn-Pd icosahedral quasicrystal has a core of body-centered cube rather than an icosahedron and, therefore, is called a pseudo-Mackay cluster. The hierarchic icosahedral structures have been studied separately in the past in the fields of clusters, nanoparticles, intermetallic compounds, and quasicrystals, but the underlying geometry should be the same. In the following a unified geometrical analysis is presented.     

Concise Synthesis of P-Glycosyl Alkenylphosphonates and P,C-di and P,P,C tri-Glycosyl Phosphonates

A direct access to P-glycosyl-, P, P-di-glycosyl alkenylphosphonates and P, C-glycosyl phosphonates is described. The method involves the Horner reaction of an anion derived from P-monoglycosyl and P ¹, P′-diglycosyl methylenediphosphonates either on the exocyclic aldehyde group of carbohydrates or on the masked aldehydic form of the furanose hemiacetals. In this last case, the carbonyl olefination, followed by an intramolecular cyclization, leads to P,C-di and P,P,C-triglycosyl phosphonates.     

Cloning, heterologous expression, and characterization of Thielavia terrestris glucoamylase

Thielavia terrestris is a soil-borne thermophilic fungus whose molecular/cellular biology is poorly understood. Only a few genes have been cloned from the Thielavia genus. We detected an extracellular glucoamylase in culture filtrates of T. terrestris and cloned the corresponding glaA gene. The coding region contains five introns. Based on the amino acid sequence, the glucoamylase was 65% identical to Neurospora crassa glucoamylase. Sequence comparisons suggested that the enzyme belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase family 15. The T. terrestris glaA gene was expressed in Aspergillus oryzae under the control of an A. oryzae α-amylase promoter and an Aspergillus niger glucoamylase terminator. The 75-kDa recombinant glucoamylase showed a specific activity of 2.8 μmol/(min·mg) with maltose as substrate. With maltotriose as a substrate, the enzyme had an optimum pH of 4.0 and an optimum temperature of 60°C. The enzyme was stable at 60°C for 30 min. The K _m and k _cat of the enzyme for maltotriose were determined at various pHs and temperatures. At 20°C and pH 4.0, the enzyme had a K _m of 0.33±0.07 mM and a k _cat of (5.5±0.5)×10³ min⁻¹ for maltotriose. The temperature dependence of k _cat /K _m indicated an activation free energy of 2.8 kJ/mol across the range of 20–70°C. Overall, the enzyme derived from the thermophilic fungus exhibited properties comparable with that of its homolog derived from mesophilic fungi.     

Synthesis,characterization, and polymerization of N-vinylarylamines

Several N-vinylarylamines have been prepared by direct N-vinylation of arylamine salts with acetylene at atmospheric pressure. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the various N-vinylarylamines were recorded and chemical shift assignments were made for the first time. The vinyl protons of the enamines generally exhibit an ABX pattern. The electron-rich monomers are sensitive to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis in a wet solvent. Polymerizations of the monomers were carried out at low temperatures with phosphorous pentafluoride as an initiator. It was found that PF₅ generated directly from thermal decomposition of p-chlorobenzenediazonium hexafluorophosphate is useful in the preparation of an extremely high-molecular-weight poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (M _w = 3 × 10⁶) with a narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD = 2.1). The polymerizability of N-vinylarylamines appears to vary with the amine functional groups of the monomers. N-vinylarylamine containing a planar amine moiety such as carbazole forms a higher-molecular-weight polymer than the monomers with the nonplanar bulky amine groups.     

Stereochemical Definition of the Natural Product (6R,10R,13R, 14R,16R,17R,19S,20S,21R,24S,25S,28S,30S,32R,33R,34R,36S,37S,39R)‐Azaspiracid‐3 by Total Synthesis and Comparative Analyses

The previously accepted structure of the marine toxin azaspiracid‐3 is revised based upon an original convergent and stereoselective total synthesis of the natural product. The development of a structural revision hypothesis, its testing, and corroboration are reported. Synthetic (6R,10R,13R,14R,16R,17R,19S,20S,21R,24S,25S,28S,30S,32R, 33R,34R,36S,37S,39R)‐azaspiracid‐3 chromatographically and spectroscopically matched naturally occurring azaspiracid‐3, whereas the previously assigned 20R epimer did not.     

Highly Enantioselective,Organocatalytic, and Scalable Synthesis of a Rare cis,cis-Tricyclic Diterpenoid

A highly enantioselective, organocatalytic, and scalable synthesis of a very unusual cis-decalin-cis-hydrindane tricyclic diterpenoid system has been achieved. Despite the prevalent pharmacological space that the related trans,trans and trans,cis-systems occupy, there have been no reports of an asymmetric synthesis of the cis,cis systems in the literature until now. We demonstrate the flexibility of our approach not only through access to a diverse range of products, all of which are attained in exceptionally high selectivities, but also by showing their easy conversion to the corresponding trans,cis-system and other derivatives.     

Tetracyclopenta[def,jkl,pqr,vwx]tetraphenylene: A Potential Tetraradicaloid Hydrocarbon

A tetramesityl derivative of hitherto unknown tetracyclopenta[def,jkl,pqr,vwx]tetraphenylene (TCPTP), which is a potential tetraradicaloid hydrocarbon, was synthesized. Theoretical calculations based on spin‐flip time‐dependent density functional theory predict that the closed‐shell D_2h form of TCPTP is more stable than the open‐shell D_4h form with its slightly tetraradical character. The tetramesityl derivative (Mes)₄‐TCPTP exhibits remarkable antiaromaticity as a result of the peripheral 20‐π‐electron circuit, which causes an absorption maximum at a long wavelength and a small HOMO–LUMO gap. In solution, (Mes)₄‐TCPTP most likely adopts rapidly equilibrating D_2h structures that interconvert via the D_4h transition state. X‐ray crystallographic analysis showed (Mes)₄‐TCPTP as an approximate D_2h structure.     

A density functional theory study on boundary of “superreduced” transition metal carbonyl anions [M(CO)n](M=Cr, n=5, 4, 3, z=2, 4, 6; M=Mn, n=5, 4, 3, z=1, 3, 5; M=Fe, n=4, 3, 2, z=2, 4, 6; M=Co, n=4, 3, 2, z=1, 3, 5)

A nonlocal density functional theory (DFT) method has been applied to the calculations on optimized geometry, Mulliken atomic net charges and interatomic Mulliken bond orders as well as total bonding energies (E) in the binary transition metal carbonyl anions with different reduced states [M(CO)_n]^z− (M=Cr, n=5, 4, 3, z=2, 4, 6; M=Mn, n=5, 4, 3, z=1, 3, 5; M=Fe, n=4, 3, 2, z=2, 4, 6; M=Co, n=4, 3, 2, z=1, 3, 5). For comparison of relative stability, a relative stabilization energy D is defined as D=E([M(CO)_n]^z−)−nE(CO). The calculated C–O distances are lengthened monotonously with the increase of the anionic charge, but the M–C distances are significantly lengthened only in the higher reduced states. The relative stabilization energy calculated is a considerable negative value in the lower reduced states, but a larger positive value in the higher reduced states. The DFT calculations show that with the increase of the anionic charge, the Mulliken net charges on the M, C, and O atoms all increase, however, an excess of the anionic charge is mainly located at the central metal atom. The calculated C–O Mulliken bond orders decrease consistently with the increase of the anionic charge, but the M–C bond orders exhibit an irregular behavior. However, the total bond orders calculated clearly explain the higher reduced states to be considerably unstable. From analysis of the calculated results, it is deduced that the stability of the binary transition metal carbonyl anions [M(CO)_n]^z− studied are associated with the coordination number n and the anionic charge z, further, it is possible for the anions studied to be stable if n≥z, conversely, it is impossible when n<z.     

Reaction of N,N,N',N'-Tetramethyloxamide with Bromine

Reaction of bromine with N,N,N',N'-tetramethyloxamide results in dibromobromate of 3-methyl-5-dimethylimmoniooxazolidin-4-one (in an open system) and in dibromobromate of 4,5,-dibromo-1,3-dimethylimidazolium (in a closed system).     

Enantioselective Sulfoxidations Catalyzedby Horseradish Peroxidase, ManganesePeroxidase, and Myeloperoxidase

Summary.  Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and manganese peroxidase (MnP) have been shown to catalyze the asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole. When H₂O₂ was added stepwise to MPO, a maximal yield of 78% was obtained at pH 5 (ee 23%), whereas an optimum in the enantiomeric excess (32%, (R)-sulfoxide) was found at pH 6 (60% yield). For MnP a yield of 18% and a high enantiomeric excess of 91% of the (S)-sulfoxide were obtained at pH 5 and a yield of 36% and an ee of 87% at pH 7.0. Optimization of the conversion catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase at pH 7.0 by controlled continuous addition of hydrogen peroxide during turnover and monitoring the presence of native enzyme as well as of intermediates I, II, and III led to the formation of the sulfoxide in high yield (100%) and moderate enantioselectivity (60%, (S)-sulfoxide). Received November 18, 1999. Accepted January 21, 2000     

Synthesis,Enzymic Degradation,Lipophilic Properties,and Biological Activity of [D-Alanine2, t-butylglycine5]enkephalin Amide

L -C^α-t-Butylglycine (Bug), its amide, methyl ester, and N^α-t-butoxycarbonyl derivative were prepared by an asymmetric synthesis, and the Hansch side-chain hydrophobic (lipophilicity) parameter determined. A new enkephalin analogue, H · Tyr-D -Ala-Gly-Phe-Bug · NH₂ was synthesized which is pharmacologically active in two in vitro assays and strongly resistant against a number of enzymes in vitro.     

Manganese Tetraboride,MnB4: High‐Temperature Crystal Structure,p–n Transition, 55Mn NMR Spectroscopy,Solid Solutions,and Mechanical Properties

The structural and electronic properties of MnB₄ were studied by high‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction and measurements of the conductivity and Seebeck coefficient on spark‐plasma‐sintered samples. A transition from the room‐temperature monoclinic structure (space group P2₁/c) to a high‐temperature orthorhombic structure (space group Pnnm) was observed at about 650 K. The material remained semiconducting after the transition, but its behavior changed from p‐type to n‐type. ⁵⁵Mn NMR measurements revealed an isotropic chemical shift of ?1315 ppm, confirming an oxidation state of Mn close to I. Solid solutions of Cr_1?xMn_xB₄ (two phases in space groups Pnnm and P2₁/c) were synthesized for the first time. In addition, nanoindentation studies yielded values of (496±26) and (25.3±1.7) GPa for the Young’s modulus and hardness, respectively, compared to values of 530 and 37 GPa obtained by DFT calculations.     

Fragmentations Principales de Mono-, Di-, Triet Tetra-azaindolizines Sous L'Impact Electronique

The principal fragmentations of 41 azaindolizines having an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, imidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, imidazo[1,5-b]-1,2,4-triazine, triazolo[2,3-b], -[4,3-b]-, -[3,4-c]- and -[3,2-c]-1,2,4-triazine structure are described. It is shown that each structure has its own characteristic fragmentation pathways except where a Dimroth rearrangement into an isomeric product can be postulated. The degradation scheme is correlated with the number and the position of the nitrogen atoms of the azaindolizines.     

STO-3G study of uracil,thymine, 5-fluorouracil, 5-methoxyuracil,and their 4-hydroxytautomeric forms

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations with an STO -3G basis have been performed to investigate the energetics and electronic properties of some 5-substituted uracils and their 4-OH tautomer forms with R including F, CH₃, and OMe. In all cases, the diketo form is more stable. An excellent linear correlation between the calculated and experimental ionization potentials was found.     

Reactions of indoles with ortho esters,N,N-dimethylformamide and N,N-dimethylacetamide dialkyl acetals

Indole and N-methylindole react with oxa stabilized carbocations generated in situ from orthoformates to yield tris(3-indolyl)methane. The unsymmetrical isomers, e.g. 2-(N-methyl-3-indolyl)di(N-methyl-3-indolyl)-methane ( 4 ), were not formed as established by an independent synthesis. N,N-Dimethylacetamide dimethyl-acetal reacted with 2-alkyl substituted indoles to produce 1,1-bis(3-indolyl)ethanes ( 3 ).     

Thermodynamic Properties of Tetraphenyltetrahydroxycyclotetrasiloxane,Octaphenyltetrahydroxytricyclooctasiloxane, Octaphenylpentacyclosilsesquioxane,and Polyphenylsilsesquioxane in the Range 0-300 K

The temperature dependences of the heat capacities of crystalline tetraphenyltetrahydroxycyclotetrasiloxane, octaphenyltetrahydroxytricyclooctasiloxane, and octaphenylpentacyclosilsesquioxane and of glassy polyphenylsilsesquioxane were measured in the range 6-300 K with an adiabatic vacuum calorimeter, with an accuracy of 0.3%. From these data, the thermodynamic functions C ⁰ _p (T), H ⁰(T) - H ⁰(0), S ⁰(T) - S ⁰(0), and G ⁰(T) - H ⁰(0) of these substances were calculated for the range 0-300 K. The standard entropies of their formation from elements at 298.15 K, _f S ⁰, and the entropies of mutual transformations of these substances in the range 0-298.15 K were calculated.     

Enantioselective Sulfoxidations Catalyzedby Horseradish Peroxidase, ManganesePeroxidase, and Myeloperoxidase

 Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and manganese peroxidase (MnP) have been shown to catalyze the asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole. When H₂O₂ was added stepwise to MPO, a maximal yield of 78% was obtained at pH 5 (ee 23%), whereas an optimum in the enantiomeric excess (32%, (R)-sulfoxide) was found at pH 6 (60% yield). For MnP a yield of 18% and a high enantiomeric excess of 91% of the (S)-sulfoxide were obtained at pH 5 and a yield of 36% and an ee of 87% at pH 7.0. Optimization of the conversion catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase at pH 7.0 by controlled continuous addition of hydrogen peroxide during turnover and monitoring the presence of native enzyme as well as of intermediates I, II, and III led to the formation of the sulfoxide in high yield (100%) and moderate enantioselectivity (60%, (S)-sulfoxide).     

Über die Mischbarkeit von UN mit LaN,CeN, PrN,NdN, SmN,GdN, DyN,und ErN

X-Ray studies of the mixed nitride phases indicate complete miscibility in all cases. Lattice parameters generally showed negative deviations from the additivity rule.

Teilauszug aus der Dissertation des Dipl.-Ing.J. Waldhart an der Technischen Universität Wien, Österreich.     

Enthalpies of dilution of aqueous solutions of formamide,acetamide, propionamide,andN,N-dimethylformamide

The enthalpies of dilution of aqueous solutions of formamide, acetamide, propionamide,N,N-dimethylformamide, and sucrose have been measured from about 0.15 to 2.0 moles-kg ^–1 at 25.0°C. The results of the enthalpy measurements were used to calculate the pairwise enthalpies of interaction for each compound with itself. The equation of Savage and Wood together with their interaction parameters are used to predict the experimental results. All of the predictions are within the standard deviation of the original correlation of Savage and Wood (±220 J-kg-mole ^–2 ). Detailed examination of the results shows that specific effects are present but they are less than 220 J-kg-mole ^–2 . Results on urea and substituted ureas are used to determine interaction coefficients for a urea group with itself and with another CH ₂ group. The result,H _U,U =–280 andH _{U,CH 2} =29 J-kg-mole ^–2 , is an improvement on the previous arbitrary assignment of parameters for urea interactions.