Synthesis of a putative antigenic heptapeptide from Escherichia coli K88 ab protein fimbriae

The heptapeptide Tyr-Arg-Glu-Asp-Met-Glu-Tyr-OMe, spanning region 213-219 of Escherichia coli K88 ab protein fimbriae, was synthesized with an overall yield of 37% using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) preactivation in all condensation reactions. The C-terminal was protected as the methyl ester. The protection scheme of N alpha-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-(Boc) and benzyl-(Bzl) or benzyloxycarbonyl (Z) groups for side chain protection was found to be orthogonal when a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), phenol (PhOH) and p-cresol (CrOH) was used for repetitive deprotection. The final deprotection of Boc-Tyr(Bzl)-Arg(Z2)-Glu(Bzl)-Asp(Bzl)-Met-Glu(Bzl+ ++)-Tyr(Bzl)-OMe (17) was accomplished in 80% yield by prolonged treatment with hydrogen fluoride, dimethyl sulfide, p-cresol and p-thiocresol. The BSA-linked synthetic peptide was used in immunisation experiments on rabbits.     

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the reaction of nitric oxide with a water-soluble octa-anionic iron(III) porphyrin complex

The polyanionic water-soluble and non-mu-oxo-dimer-forming iron porphyrin iron(III) 5(4),10(4),15(4),20(4)-tetra-tert-butyl-5(2),5(6),15(2),15(6)-tetrakis[2,2-bis(carboxylato)ethyl]-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, (P(8-))Fe(III) (1), was synthesized as an octasodium salt by applying well-established porphyrin and organic chemistry procedures to bromomethylated precursor porphyrins and characterized by standard techniques such as UV-vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. A single pK(a1) value of 9.26 was determined for the deprotonation of coordinated water in (P(8-))Fe(III)(H(2)O)(2) (1-H(2)()O) present in aqueous solution at pH <9. The porphyrin complex reversibly binds NO in aqueous solution to give the mononitrosyl adduct, (P(8-))Fe(II)(NO(+))(L), where L = H(2)O or OH(-). The kinetics of the binding and release of NO was studied as a function of pH, temperature, and pressure by stopped-flow and laser flash photolysis techniques. The diaqua-ligated form of the porphyrin complex binds and releases NO according to a dissociative interchange mechanism based on the positive values of the activation parameters DeltaS() and DeltaV() for the "on" and "off" reactions. The rate constant k(on) = 6.2 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) (24 degrees C), determined for NO binding to the monohydroxo-ligated (P(8-))Fe(III)(OH) (1-OH) present in solution at pH >9, is markedly lower than the corresponding value measured for 1-H(2)O at lower pH (k(on) = 8.2 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1), 24 degrees C, pH 7). The observed decrease in the reactivity is contradictory to that expected for the diaqua- and monohydroxo-ligated forms of the iron(III) complex and is accounted for in terms of a mechanistic changeover observed for 1-H(2)O and 1-OH in their reactions with NO. The mechanistic interpretation offered is further substantiated by the results of water-exchange studies performed on the polyanionic porphyrin complex as a function of pH, temperature, and pressure.     

Dissociation of ionized benzophenones investigated by the kinetic method: effective temperature, steric effects and gas-phase CO+* affinities of phenyl radicals

Ionized benzophenones ([PhC(O)PhY](+*); Y = 4 - NO(2), 4 - CF(3), 4-F, 4-Br, 4-Me, 3,4-diMe, 4-OH, 4-OMe, 2-Cl, 2-Me, 2-OH, 2,6-diMe) undergo competitive dissociation upon collision-induced dissociation (CID) at 20 eV collision energy to generate benzoyl cations ([PhCO](+) and [YPhCO](+)) and phenyl radicals (Ph(*) and YPh(*)). For the para-substituted benzophenones, the natural logarithm of the abundance ratio of the benzoyl cations [ln([PhCO(+)]/[YPhCO(+)])] is found to correlate linearly with the calculated CO(+*) affinities of the phenyl radicals Ph(*) and YPh(*). A deviation from linearity is observed for the ortho-substituted isomers. This is probably due to a significant intramolecular steric interaction between the carbonyl group and the ortho substituent which prevents the formation of a stable planar system. An observed shift in the intercept relative to the origin is interpreted as the result of a systematic error in the calculated CO(+*) affinities and this effect is minimized by calculations at a higher level. The dissociation of ionized para-substituted benzophenones is associated with a relatively high effective temperature of 1816 +/- 41 K, calculated from the slope of the kinetic method plot, a value that is consistent with a covalent bond in the activated ion. In addition, Delta(DeltaS(CO(+) )), the dissociation entropy of the benzoyl cations to form CO(+*) and the aryl radical, is found to be about 4 J mol(-1) K(-1) by employing the extended version of the kinetic method.     

Studies on amino acids and peptides-III. 2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,2,4-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfide,LR, as a new racemization free coupling reagent in peptide synthesis

The easily accessible 2,4-bis (4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,2,4-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfide, $\text{LR}$, has been reacted with salts of N-protected amino acids $\text{1}$ (Z-Gly-OH, Boc-Gly-OH, Boc-S-Ser(Bzl)-OH, Boc-S-Tyr(Bzl)-OH, Z-S-Arg(Z₂)-OH, and Z-S-Pro-OH), at room temperature in CH₂Cl₂ to give the intermediates $\text{2}$, mixed anhydrides. When $\text{2}$ is treated with two moles of a base and one mole of the salt of an amino acid ester $\text{3}$ (TosOH·H-Gly-OBzl, HCl·H-Gly-OBzl, HCl·H-Gly-OEt, and HCl·H-S-Phe-OtBu) at 0°C, the expected peptide $\text{4}$ is isolated in high yields. LR is also found to be a useful reagent in a fragment coupling between Z-Gly-S-Ala-OH and TosOH·H-S-Leu-OBzl). This tripeptide was tested by means of HPLC (deprotection and amino acid analysis according to Izumiya was not necessary), and no epimerization (<0.7 %) was observed.     

Structure of complexes formed by dissolution of palladium diacetate in methanol and chloroform. In situ NMR study

The behavior of palladium diacetate cyclic trimer [Pd(OAc)(2)](3) (1) upon its dissolution in methanol and wet chloroform was studied by (1)H and (13)C NMR including 2D-HSQC and 2D-DOSY techniques. Upon dissolution, trimer 1 reacts with methanol and is completely transformed first into the methoxo complex Pd(3)(μ-OMe)(OAc)(5) (2), which already at -18 °C undergoes a slow exchange of second bridging acetate ligand between the same palladium atoms to form the symmetric dimethoxo complex Pd(3)(μ-OMe)(2)(OAc)(4), the maximum relative concentration of which reaches 20-30 mol % of initial loading trimer 1. Along with the dimethoxo complex, both soluble and insoluble polynuclear palladium clusters are gradually formed at -18 °C, and their total amount reaches up to 60% of the starting Pd(2+) loading. The increase of temperature to 27 °C results in the reduction of palladium(II) to Pd metal by methanol, which is oxidized and transformed into formaldehyde hemiacetal and methyl formate. Upon dissolution in wet chloroform, trimer 1 is reversibly hydrolyzed to the hydroxo complex Pd(3)(μ-OH)(OAc)(5) (10) in ratio 1/10 ≈ 3/1. The temperature decrease and addition of acetic acid shift the equilibrium in this system toward trimer 1, and addition of water shifts it in the opposite direction. Addition of methanol to the equilibrium mixture of 1 and 10 results in the fast exchange of bridging acetate in trimer 1 by the μ-OMe group. Substitution of the μ-OH ligand by μ-OMe in 10 occurs in parallel but more slowly. Complex 2 formed in both cases is more stable in chloroform than in methanol.     

Sequence selective recognition in the minor groove of dsDNA by pyrrole,imidazole-substituted bis-benzimidazole conjugates

A series of pyrrole, imidazole-substituted bis-benzimidazole conjugates, Py-Py-Im-gamma-biBenz, Py-Py-gamma-biBenz, Py-Im-gamma-biBenz, and Im-Py-gamma-biBenz (1-4), were prepared in an attempt to target dsDNA sequences possessing both A/T and G/C bps. The dsDNA interactions and sequence specificity of the conjugates have been characterized via spectrofluorometric titrations and thermal melting studies. All conjugates form 1:1 complexes with dsDNA at subnanomolar concentrations. The Im moiety selectively recognizes a G/C bp embedded in the A/T-rich binding site. This represents the first clear example of sequence selective recognition in a 1:1 motif.(1) The equilibrium association constant (K(1)) for complexation of a specific nine-bp dsDNA site, 5'-gcggTATGAAATTcgacg-3', by conjugate 1 is approximately 2.6 x 10(9) M(-1). Displacement of the G/C position or G/C-->A/T substitution within the nine-bp site decreases the K(1) by approximately 8-fold, whereas two continuous G/C bps decrease the K(1) by approximately 50-fold magnitude. The K(1) values for seven-bp dsDNA, 5'-gcggtaTGAAATTcgacg-3' and 5'-gcggtaCAAAATTcgacg-3', binding sites by conjugates Py-Im-gamma-biBenz (3) and Im-Py-gamma-biBenz (4) are approximately 2.3 x 10(9) and approximately 1.2 x 10(9) M(-1), respectively. However, the conjugates with no Im moiety, Py-Py-gamma-biBenz (2) and Py-Py-Py-gamma-biBenz (5 and 6), are specific for seven- to nine-bp A/T-rich sites and single A/T-->G/C bp substitution within the binding site decreases the K(1) values by 1-2 orders of magnitude.     

The role of ion-molecule pairs in solvolysis reactions. Nucleophilic addition of water to a tertiary allylic carbocation.

The acid-catalyzed solvolysis of 2-methoxy-2-phenyl-3-butene (1-OMe) in 9.09 vol % acetonitrile in water provides 2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-3-butene (1-OH) as the predominant product under kinetic control along with the rearranged alcohol 1-hydroxy-3-phenyl-2-butene (2-OH) and a small amount of the rearranged ether 2-OMe. The more stable isomer 2-OH is the predominant product after long reaction time, K(eq) = [2-OH](eq)/[1-OH](eq) = 16. The ether 2-OMe reacts to give 2-OH and a trace of 1-OH. Solvolysis of 1-OMe in (18)O-labeled water/acetonitrile shows complete incorporation of (18)O in the product 1-OH, confirming that the reaction involves cleavage of the carbon-oxygen bond to the allylic carbon. A completely solvent-equilibrated allylic carbocation is not formed since the solvolysis of the corresponding chloride 1-chloro-3-phenyl-2-butene (2-Cl) yields a larger fraction of 1-OH. This may be attributed to a shielding effect from the chloride leaving group. Quantum chemical calculations of the geometry and charge distribution show that the cation should rather be described as a vinyl-substituted benzyl cation than as an allyl cation, which is in accord with its higher reactivity at the tertiary carbon.     

New insights into the acid-promoted reaction of caffeic acid and its esters with nitrite: decarboxylation drives chain nitrosation pathways toward novel oxime derivatives and oxidation/fragmentation products thereof

In 0.05 M acetate buffer, pH 4, containing 1% methanol, caffeic acid (1a) (2 x 10(-3) M) reacted smoothly with nitrite (NO(2)(-)) (4 x 10(-3) M) to afford as main products the novel 2-hydroxy- and 2-methoxyaldoximes 7a,b, the 2-oxoaldoxime 9a, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, and the known furoxan 3c and benzoxazinone 4b in smaller amounts. At lower 1a concentration (e.g., 1 x 10(-4) M), 7a was the main product, whereas with 0.1 M 1a and 0.5 M NO(2)(-) 3c and 9a were prevailing. At pH 2, 7a was still the most abundant product, together with 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and some 9a, whereas at pH 1 9a and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde were formed in higher yields. No evidence for ring nitration products, including the previously reported 4,5-dihydroxy-2-nitrobenzaldehyde, was obtained. At 2 x 10(-3) M concentration and at pH 4, caffeic acid methyl ester (1b) reacted with NO(2)(-) chiefly via ring nitration and/or dimerization to give 5a, the novel nitrated neolignan derivative 10, and the parent 6. Chlorogenic acid (1c) afforded only the ring nitrated derivative 5b. A unifying mechanism for the reaction of 1a and its esters with NO(2)(-) is proposed involving reversible formation of nitroso intermediates via chain nitrosation at the 2-position of the (E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propenoic system. In the case of 1a, decarboxylation would drive the nitroso intermediates toward the formation of oximes 7a,b and 3c, reflecting nucleophilic addition of water, methanol, and NO(2)(-), and their oxidation or breakdown products, viz. 9a, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and the benzoxazinone 4b. In the case of esters 1b,c, to which decarboxylation is precluded, ring nitration or dimerization become the favored routes, triggered by preliminary oxidation at the catechol moiety.     

Reactions of 1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl radicals with NO2-: time-resolved electron spin resonance

The reaction of the alpha-hydroxyalkyl radical of 2-propanol (1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl radical) with nitrite ions was characterized. A product of the reaction was assigned as the adduct nitro radical anion, [HO-C(CH(3))(2)NO(2)](*-). This radical was identified using time-resolved electron spin resonance (TRESR). The radical's magnetic parameters, the nitrogen hyperfine coupling constant (a(N) = 26.39 G), and its g-factor (2.0052) were the same as those of the nitro radical anion previously discovered in (*)OH spin-trapping experiments with the aci-anion of (CH(3))(2)CHNO(2). Production of [HO-C(CH(3))(2)NO(2)](*-) was determined to be 38% +/- 4% of the reaction of (CH(3))(2)C(*)-OH with nitrite. The reason why this fraction was less than 100% was rationalized by invoking the competitive addition at oxygen, which forms [HO-C(CH(3))(2)ONO](*-), followed by a rapid loss of (*)NO. Furthermore, by taking this mechanism into account, the bimolecular rate constant for the total reaction of (CH(3))(2)C(*)-OH with nitrite at reaction pH 7 was determined to be 1.6 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), using both decay traces of (CH(3))(2)C(*)-OH and growth traces of [HO-C(CH(3))(2)NO(2)](*-). This correspondence further confirms the nature of the reaction. The reaction mechanism is discussed with guidance by computations using density functional theory.     

High-performance liquid chromatography determination of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by indirect fluorescence detection

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the analysis of nitrated polcyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) is reported. NPAH mixtures were pre-concentrated using solid-phase extraction and well resolved on a C(18) column. They were detected using an indirect method involving the quenching of the emission from the fluorophores 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthol (5,6,7,8-THN-1-OH), 7-amino-4-methyl coumarin (Coumarin 120, COU-120) and 3-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxy-4-sulfo-1-naphthylazo)2-naphthalene carboxylic acid (Calcon carboxylic acid, CCA). Linear calibration curves were obtained in the range 1.1 x 10(-9) to 1.1 x 10(-8) mol/L. Using COU 120 as the fluorophore, the detection limit was 2.9 x 10(-10) mol/L for 1-nitronaphthalene and 2.1 x 10(-11) mol/L for 2-nitrofluorene. Recoveries of NPAHs from spiked tap water samples were between 88 and 100%.     

A novel isomerization on interaction of antitumor-active azole-bridged dinuclear platinum(II) complexes with 9-ethylguanine. Platinum(II) atom migration from N2 to N3 on 1,2,3-triazole

The reactions of the dinuclear platinum(II) complexes, [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)](2)(mu-OH)(mu-pz)](NO(3))(2) (1, pz = pyrazolate), [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)](2)(mu-OH)(mu-1,2,3-ta-N1,N2)](NO(3))(2) (2, 1,2,3-ta = 1,2,3-triazolate), and a newly prepared [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)](2)(mu-OH)(mu-4-phe-1,2,3-ta-N1,N2)](NO(3))(2) (3, 4-phe-1,2,3-ta = 4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazolate), whose crystal structure was determined, with 9-ethylguanine (9EtG) have been monitored in aqueous solution at 310 K by means of (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The dinuclear platinum(II) complexes 1-3 each react with 9EtG in a bifunctional way to form 1:2 complexes, [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)(9EtG-N7)](2)(mu-pz)](3+) (4), [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)(9EtG-N7)](2)(mu-1,2,3-ta-N1,N3)](3+) (5), and [[cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)(9EtG-N7)](2)(mu-4-phe-1,2,3-ta-N1,N3)](3+) (6). The reactions of 2 and 3 involve a novel isomerization, in which the Pt atom, initially bound to N2 on the 1,2,3-ta, migrates to N3 after the first substitution by N7 of 9EtG. This isomerization reaction has been unambiguously characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and pH titration. The reactions of 2 and 3 with 9EtG show faster kinetics, and the second-order rate constants (k) for the reactions of 1-3are 1.57 x 10(-4), 2.53 x 10(-4), and 2.56 x 10(-4) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. The pK(a) values at the N1H site of 9EtG were determined for 4-6 from the pH titration curves. Cytotoxicity assays of 1-3 were performed in L1210 murine leukemia cell lines, respectively sensitive and resistant to cisplatin. In the parent cell line, 2 and 3 exhibit higher cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin, especially, 2 is 10 times as active as cisplatin. 1 was found to be less cytotoxic than cisplatin, but still in the active range and more active than cisplatin in a cisplatin-resistant cell line.     

Fc-Arg(NO2)-Gly-Asp(OMe)-OMe的合成及其与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用

以二茂铁,Gly,Asp和BOC-Arg(NO2)-OH为原料,采用液相合成法,以HBTU及HOBt为缩合剂合成了二茂铁-肽化合物Fc-Arg(NO2)-Gly-Asp(OMe)-OMe（5）,其收率为38.7%,并对化合物5进行了表征。采用电化学、紫外-可见吸收光谱及荧光光谱等研究了近生理条件下其与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用,讨论了其对BSA构象的影响。实验结果表明化合物5与BSA间相互作用为静态猝灭过程,反应结合位点数为0.856,结合常数为1.75×103 L•mol-1,并依据能量转移理论确定了其与BSA相互作用的最近距离为2.14 nm。     

Anion exchange induced tunable catalysis properties of an uncommon butterfly-like tetranuclear copper(II) cluster and magnetic characterization

An uncommon butterfly-like tetranuclear copper(ii) cluster with the formula {[Cu(4)(μ(3)-OH)(2)(μ(4)-Cl)(H(2)O)(2)(L)(2)]·Cl(H(2)O)(7)}(n) (1) (H(2)L = 1,2-bis[3-(1,2,4-triazolyl)-4-amino-5-carboxylmethylthio]ethane) has been synthesized. Compound 1 exhibits interesting anion exchange characteristics, in which both guest and coordinated Cl(-) can be replaced by I(-) or NO(3)(-) in water. Furthermore, a high catalytic selectivity to produce poly(phenylene ether) by the oxidative coupling of 2,6-dimethylphenol in water is found to be 74% for 1 and 87% for the anion-exchanged product 1-MI(x), respectively. Additionally, the antiferromagnetic interaction among Cu ions for compound 1 is also found.     

Fluorescence-quenched solid phase combinatorial libraries in the characterization of cysteine protease substrate specificity

To map the substrate specificity of cysteine proteases, two combinatorial peptide libraries were synthesized and screened using the archetypal protease, papain. The use of PEGA resin as the solid support for library synthesis facilitated the application of an on-resin fluorescence-quenched assay. Results from the screening of library 2 indicated a preference for Pro or Val in the S3 subsite and hydrophobic residues in S2; the most prevalent residue not being Phe but Val. The S1 subsite exhibited a dual specificity for both small, nonpolar residues, Ala or Gly, as well as larger, Gln, and charged residues, Arg. Small residues predominated in the S1'-S4' subsites. Active peptides from the libraries and variations thereof were resynthesized and their kinetics of hydrolysis by papain assessed in solution phase assays. Generally, there was a good correlation between the extent of substrate cleavage on solid phase and the kcat/KM's obtained in solution phase assays. Several good substrates for papain were obtained, the best substrates being Y(NO2)PMPPLCTSMK(Abz) (kcat/KM = 2109 (mM s)-1), Y(NO2)PYAVQSPQK(Abz) (kcat/KM = 1524 (mM s)-1), and Y(NO2)PVLRQQRSK(Abz) (kcat/KM = 1450 (mM s)-1). These results were interpreted in structural terms by the use of molecular dynamics (MD). These MD calculations indicated two different modes for the binding of substrates in the narrow enzyme cleft.     

Rate constants for the reactions of a series of alkylperoxy radicals with NO

The rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of isopropyl- and tert-butylperoxy radicals with nitric oxide (NO) have been studied at 298 +/- 2 K and a total pressure of 3-4 Torr (He buffer) using a laser flash photolysis technique coupled with a time-resolved negative-ionization mass spectrometry. The alkyl peroxy radicals were generated by the reaction of alkyl radicals with excess O(2), where alkyl radicals were prepared by laser photolysis of several precursor molecules. The rate constants were determined to be k(i-C(3)H(7)O(2) + NO) = (8.0 +/- 1.5) x 10(-12) and k(t-C(4)H(9)O(2) + NO) = (8.6 +/- 1.4) x 10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). The results in combination with our previous studies are discussed in terms of the systematic reactivity of alkyl peroxy radicals toward NO.     

Mechanistic studies of nitric oxide reactions with water soluble iron(II), cobalt(II), and iron(III) porphyrin complexes in aqueous solutions: implications for biological activity.

The reactions of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide with water soluble iron and cobalt porphyrin complexes were investigated over the temperature range 298-318 K and the hydrostatic pressure range 0.1-250 MPa [porphyrin ligands: TPPS = tetra-meso-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphinate and TMPS = tetra-meso-(sulfonatomesityl)porphinate]. Large and positive DeltaS(double dagger) and DeltaV(double dagger) values were observed for NO binding to and release from iron(III) complexes Fe(III)(TPPS) and Fe(III)(TMPS) consistent with a dissociative ligand exchange mechanism where the lability of coordinated water dominates the reactivity with NO. Small positive values for Delta and Delta for the fast reactions of NO with the iron(II) and cobalt(II) analogues (k(on) = 1.5 x 10(9) and 1.9 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) for Fe(II)(TPPS) and Co(II)(TPPS), respectively) indicate a mechanism dominated by diffusion processes in these cases. However, reaction of CO with the Fe(II) complexes (k(on) = 3.6 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) for Fe(II)(TPPS)) displays negative Delta and Delta values, consistent with a mechanism dominated by activation rather than diffusion terms. Measurements of NO dissociation rates from Fe(II)(TPPS)(NO) and Co(II)(TPPS)(NO) by trapping free NO gave k(off) values of 6.3 x 10(-4) s(-1) and 1.5 x 10(-4) s(-1). The respective M(II)(TPPS)(NO) formation constants calculated from k(on)/k(off) ratios were 2.4 x 10(12) and 1.3 x 10(13) M(-1), many orders of magnitude larger than that (1.1 x 10(3) M(-1)) for the reaction of Fe(III)(TPPS) with NO.     

Synthese eines dekapeptid-derivates mit der sequenz b 21–30 des rinderinsulins

The synthesis of the benzyltype protected bovine insulin fragment B 21–30 Boc-Glu(OBzl)-Arg(H+)-Gly-Phe-Phe-Tyr(Bzl)-Thr(Bzl)-Pro-Lys(Z)-Ala-OBzl following the route 3 + 3 + 4 is described. In addition, the solid phase technique is applied to the synthesis of the corresponding protected sequence B 24–30.     

Metallopolymer-peptide hybrid materials: synthesis and self-assembly of functional, polyferrocenylsilane-tetrapeptide conjugates

Conjugates of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFDMS) with Ac-(GA)(2)-OH, Ac-A(4)-OH, Ac-G(4)-OH and Ac-V(4)-OH have been prepared by reaction of the tetrapeptide units with the amino-terminated metallopolymer. The number average degree of polymerisation (DP(n)) of the PFDMS was approximately 20 and comparable materials with shorter (DP(n) ≈ 10) and/or amorphous chains have been prepared by the same procedure. Poly(ferrocenylethylmethylsilane) (PFEMS) was employed for the latter purpose. All conjugates were characterised by GPC, MALDI-TOF?MS, NMR and IR spectroscopy. With the exception of Ac-V(4)-PFDMS(20), all materials exhibited some anti-parallel β-sheet structure in the solid state. The self-assembly of the conjugates was studied in toluene by DLS. The vast majority of the materials, irrespective of peptide sequence or chain crystallinity, afforded fibres consisting of a peptidic core surrounded by a PFS corona. These fibres were found in the form of cross-linked networks by TEM and AFM. The accessibility of the chemically reducing PFS corona has been demonstrated by the localised formation of silver nanoparticles on the surface of the fibres.     

A computational study on the kinetics and mechanism for the unimolecular decomposition of o-nitrotoluene

The kinetics and mechanism for the unimolecular decomposition of o-nitrotoluene (o-CH(3)C(6)H(4)NO(2)) have been studied computationally at the G2M(RCC, MP2)//B3LYP/6-311G(d, p) level of theory in conjunction with rate constant predictions with RRKM and TST calculations. The results of the calculations reveal 10 decomposition channels for o-nitrotoluene and its six isomeric intermediates, among them four channels give major products: CH(3)C(6)H(4) + NO(2), C(6)H(4)C(H)ON (anthranil) + H(2)O, CH(3)C(6)H(4)O (o-methyl phenoxy) + NO, and C(6)H(4)C(H(2))NO + OH. The predicted rate constants in the 500-2000 K temperature range indicate that anthranil production, taking place initially by intramolecular H-abstraction from the CH(3) group by NO(2) followed by five-membered ring formation and dehydration, dominates at temperatures below 1000 K, whereas NO(2) elimination becomes predominant above 1100 K and CH(3)C(6)H(4)O formation by the nitro-nitrite isomerization/decomposition process accounts for only 5-11% of the total product yield in the middle temperature range 800-1300 K. The branching ratio for CH(2)C(6)H(4)NO formation by the decomposition process of CH(2)C(6)H(4)N(O)OH is negligible. The predicted high-pressure-limit rate constants with the rate expression of 4.10 x 10(17) exp[-37000/T] s(-1) for the NO(2) elimination channel and 9.09 x 10(12) exp[-25800/T] s(-1) for the H(2)O elimination channel generally agree reasonably with available experimental data. The predicted high-pressure-limit rate constants for the NO and OH elimination channels are represented as 1.49 x 10(14) exp[-30000/T] and 1.31 x 10(15) exp[-38000/T] s(-1), respectively.     

Reaction of cyclic nitroxides with nitrogen dioxide: the intermediacy of the oxoammonium cations

Piperidine and pyrrolidine nitroxides, such as 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TPO) and 3-carbamoylproxyl (3-CP), respectively, are cell-permeable stable radicals, which effectively protect cells, tissues, isolated organs, and laboratory animals from radical-induced damage. The kinetics and mechanism of their reactions with .OH, superoxide, and carbon-centered radicals have been extensively studied, but not with .NO2, although the latter is a key intermediate in cellular nitrosative stress. In this research, .NO2 was generated by pulse radiolysis, and its reactions with TPO, 4-OH-TPO, 4-oxo-TPO, and 3-CP were studied by fast kinetic spectroscopy, either directly or by using ferrocyanide or 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate), which effectively scavenge the product of this reaction, the oxoammonium cation. The rate constants for the reactions of .NO2 with these nitroxides were determined to be (7-8) x 10(8) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), independent of the pH over the range 3.9-10.2. These are among the highest rate constants measured for .NO2 and are close to that of the reaction of .NO2 with .NO, that is, 1.1 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). The hydroxylamines TPO-H and 4-OH-TPO-H are less reactive toward .NO2, and an upper limit for the rate constant for these reactions was estimated to be 1 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). The kinetics results demonstrate that the reaction of nitroxides with .NO2 proceeds via an inner-sphere electron-transfer mechanism to form the respective oxoammonium cation, which is reduced back to the nitroxide through the oxidation of nitrite to .NO2. Hence, the nitroxide slows down the decomposition of .NO2 into nitrite and nitrate and could serve as a reservoir of .NO2 unless the respective oxoammonium is rapidly scavenged by other reductant. This mechanism can contribute toward the protective effect of nitroxides against reactive nitrogen-derived species, although the oxoammonium cations themselves might oxidize essential cellular targets if they are not scavenged by common biological reductants, such as thiols.