New Nucleoside Analogues for the Treatment of Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Infections

Eight different compounds, all nucleoside analogues, could presently be considered as potential drug candidates for the treatment of Ebola virus (EBOV) and/or other hemorrhagic fever virus (HFV) infections. They can be considered as either (i) adenine analogues (3‐deazaneplanocin A, galidesivir, GS‐6620 and remdesivir) or (ii) guanine analogues containing the carboxamide entity (ribavirin, EICAR, pyrazofurin and favipiravir). All eight owe their mechanism of action to hydrogen bonded base pairing with either (i) uracil or (ii) cytosine. Four out of the eight compounds (galidesivir, GS‐6620, remdesivir and pyrazofurin) are C‐nucleosides, and two of them (GS‐6620, remdesivir) also contain a phosphoramidate part. The C‐nucleoside and phosphoramidate (and for the adenine analogues the 1′‐cyano group as well) may be considered as essential attributes for their antiviral activity.     

Unexpected Coordination Modes of the Tris(imidazolyl)phosphane Oxide Ligand 4‐TIPOiPr in the Chloro Complexes of Zinc,Cobalt and Nickel

The coordination chemistry of the water soluble phosphane oxide ligand tris[2‐isopropylimidazol‐4(5)‐yl]phosphane oxide, 4‐TIPO^iPr, has been explored. A variety of 3d‐metal halide complexes have been prepared and the crystal structures of the solvates [(4‐TIPO^iPr)ZnCl₂]·MeOH·¹/₂dioxane ( 1 ·MeOH·¹/₂dioxane), [(4‐TIPO^iPr)CoCl₂]·H₂O·2dioxane ( 2 ·H₂O·2dioxane) and [(4‐TIPO^iPr)₂Ni(MeOH)₂]Cl₂·2MeOH ( 3 ·2MeOH) have been determined. All three structures show unprecedented coordination modes of the 4‐TIPO^iPr ligand. Both zinc and cobalt complexes are coordinated in a bidentate κ²N fashion, whereas the nickel atom is coordinated by two ligands in a κN,O mode using one imidazolyl substituent and the P=O oxygen atom.     

New Optically Active Bis‐Heterocycles Derived from (S)‐Proline

Enantiomerically pure bis‐heterocycles containing a (S)‐proline moiety have been prepared starting from (S)‐N‐benzylprolinehydrazide ( 2b ). The reactions with isothiocyanates or butyl isocyanate in refluxing MeOH led to the corresponding thiosemicarbazide 5 and semicarbazide 9 with a N‐benzylprolinoyl residue. The structure of the tert‐butyl derivative 5d was established by X‐ray crystallography. Base‐catalyzed cyclization of 5 and 9 led to (S)‐3‐(pyrrolidin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5(4H)‐thiones 6 and the corresponding 5(4H)‐one 8 , respectively, whereas, in concentrated H₂SO₄, compounds 5 undergo cyclization to give (S)‐5‐amino‐2‐(pyrrolidin‐2‐yl)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles 7 . Furthermore, 2b reacted with hexane‐2,5‐dione in boiling ⁱPrOH to yield the (S)‐N‐(2,5‐dimethylpyrrol‐1‐yl)prolinamide 10 . In the case of the bis‐heterocycle 8 , treatment with HCOONH₄ and Pd/C in MeOH gave the debenzylated product 12 .     

Synthesis,stereochemistry and adsorption studies of new spiranes and polyspiranes containing 1,2‐dithiolane units

The synthesis and stereochemistry of a series of new cyclic disulfides containing (poly)spirane 1,2‐dithiolane units are reported. Also included is a study of the self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these compounds on a gold surface. The characteristics of the resultant SAMs were determined by IR spectroscopy using molecular mechanics calculations.     

Advancing the computational methodology of rigid rod and semiflexible polymer systems: A new solution to the wormlike chain model with rod‐coil copolymer calculations

A wormlike chain model for rod type blocks in a rod‐coil diblock copolymer is implemented in the self‐consistent field theory (SCFT) formalism. A pseudo‐spectral method is used to solve for the single‐chain partition function of this copolymer system. Orientation degrees of freedom are discretized using Lebedev sphere rules such that orientation integrations are carried out through a Lebedev quadrature, an approach not used previously in tandem with the pseudo‐spectral method. Phase behavior in the rigid‐rod limit as a function of rod segment volume fraction, Flory–Huggins interaction parameter χ , degree of polymerization N , and rod contour length ratio β are examined in detail in one and two dimensions. Examples extending to three dimensions are included. Semiflexible behavior via the rod bending rigidity κ is explored. An approximation is used for rigid‐rods that do not need spherical harmonics leading to increased speed in finding equilibrium morphologies. The results show that standing vertical structures may be more easily produced with rigid‐rod blocks compared to coil‐coil lamellae, an important feature in nanolithographic applications. Suggestions are made for using the model in future molecular orientation studies where the model can be used with inverse search methods to measure the values of the model parameters for the real systems. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 29–39     

Induced changes of polymer organization in a gel of poly(vinyl alcohol) crosslinked by Congo red

Different gel microstructures are induced at variable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Congo red concentrations, as revealed by ultrarapid freezing and a replica technique for transmission electron microscopy. The polymer microstructures observed include random coils, rigid polymer rods, and long fibers. The development of the different polymer conformations is proposed to be dependent on the degree of intramolecular and intermolecular crosslinking and on the electrostatic interactions of the Congo red ions. The rigid‐rod conformation appears to be the most energetically stable form; it is disrupted by electrostatic effects around the polymer overlap concentration (C*_PVA). We propose that the gel microstructure influences the physical properties of the gel. Gels possessing the rigid‐rod microstructure have increased Young's storage modulus values. Two possible mechanisms of gelation are suggested. The first describes a one‐stage reaction when the polymer concentration approximates C*_PVA, where polymers in an extended random‐coil conformation undergo intermolecular crosslinking without any microstructural changes. The second describes a two‐stage reaction when the polymer concentration is less than or greater than C*, where a disorder–order transition results in the formation of rigid polymer rods and fibers followed by the formation of a macromolecular network. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1471–1483, 2001     

Cleft‐Type Diamidinium Receptors for Dicarboxylate Binding in Protic Solvents

A series of potential cleft‐type receptors for dicarboxylate substrates were prepared by attachment of two phenylamidinium ions to either naphthalene or 1,1′‐binaphthalene scaffolds. Their synthesis (Schemes 1 – 4) involved the Pd⁰‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of aryl nitriles to the central scaffold, followed by transformation of the nitrile into amidinium groups using the Garigipati reaction. The 1,1′‐binaphthalene derivative (±)‐ 1 with phenylamidinium residues attached to the 6,6′‐positions in the major groove was found to be a highly efficient receptor for dicarboxylate guests, such as glutarate and isophthalates, even in competing protic solvents such as CD₃OD (Table 1). The van't Hoff analysis of variable‐temperature ¹H‐NMR (VT‐NMR) titrations (Table 2 and Fig. 3) and isothermal microcalorimetry (ITC; Table 3 and Fig. 4) revealed that complexation in MeOH is strongly entropically driven with an unfavorable enthalpic change, which partially compensates the entropic gain. These thermodynamic quantities are best explained by a particularly favorable solvation of the binding partners in the unbound state and the release of the MeOH molecules, which solvate the free ions into the bulk upon complexation. Receptor (±)‐ 1 binds flexible glutarate and rigid isophthalates with similar association strength. This lack in response to guest preorganization and reduced guest selectivity is explained with the non‐directionality of the coulombic charge‐charge interactions in the complexes.     

Photophysical Investigations on Photoinitiators with Covalently Linked Thioxanthone Sensitizer Moieties

The photophysical properties of three photoinitiators with a covalently linked thioxanthone sensitizer unit absorbing up to 410 nm were investigated by laser‐flash photolysis and CIDNP spectroscopy. These complementary techniques revealed two competing reaction pathways of the molecular dyads 1 – 3 : i) triplet‐energy transfer from the sensitizer to the morpholine moiety followed by α‐cleavage to yield a radical pair, which initiates radical polymerization, and ii) bimolecular electron transfer from the morpholine to the thioxanthone subunit followed by proton transfer. The relative efficiency of these routes is determined by the triplet energy of the photoinitiator moiety relative to that of the sensitizer.     

Effect of Supramolecular Inclusion on the 1,2‐Rearrangement of Free Radicals

The free radicals 3‐ethoxy‐2‐(ethoxycarbonyl)‐3‐oxopropyl ( 1 ^.) and 3‐ethoxy‐2‐(ethoxycarbonyl)‐2‐methyl‐3‐oxopropyl ( 2 ^.) were generated by photolysis of perester precursors in i) hexane solution, ii) in the presence of β‐cyclodextrin, and iii) in NaY zeolite. While free radicals in solution are reluctant to rearrange, they do so when encapsulated in β‐cyclodextrin or NaY zeolite. The coenzyme‐B₁₂‐dependent enzymic rearrangement of methylmalonyl‐CoA to succinyl‐CoA could be mimicked by photochemical generation of an analogue of the putative intermediate radical in a molecular container.     

Allylic Sulfones Containing Triene Moieties as Key Synthons for Carotenoid Synthesis

An efficient synthetic method for the allylic sulfone 2 containing a conjugated triene moiety has been proposed involving i) coupling of allylic sulfones 4 with the C₅ bromoallylic sulfide 5 , ii) base‐promoted dehydrosulfonation in the presence of allylic sulfide, and iii) selective oxidation of the resulting trienyl sulfide to the corresponding sulfone. Total synthesis of lycopene starting from the C₁₅ allylic sulfone 2b has been described, where the new C₁₀ bis(chloroallylic) sulfone 11 proved to be a useful substitute for the C₁₀ bis(chloroallylic) sulfide 3 , which did not require the problematic chemoselective sulfur oxidation in a conjugated polyene.     

Amide–Amide Hydrogen Bonding. Semirubin Amides

Semirubins are analogs for one-half of the bilirubin structure and capable of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Semirubin amides of ammonia and primary amines are also capable of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. From a combination of spectroscopic methods (¹H NMR, NOE, and VPO), the primary amide is found to engage very effectively in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The secondary and tertiary amides engage in both intramolecular (i) and intermolecular (ii) hydrogen bonding: N-methyl (i, monomer + ii, dimer), N-tert-butyl (ii, dimer), N,N-diethyl (i, monomer + ii, dimer). With an oxo-group at C(10), all of the amides are monomeric and most engage in intramolecular hydrogen bonding.     

Amide–Amide Hydrogen Bonding. Semirubin Amides

Summary. Semirubins are analogs for one-half of the bilirubin structure and capable of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Semirubin amides of ammonia and primary amines are also capable of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. From a combination of spectroscopic methods (¹H NMR, NOE, and VPO), the primary amide is found to engage very effectively in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The secondary and tertiary amides engage in both intramolecular (i) and intermolecular (ii) hydrogen bonding: N-methyl (i, monomer + ii, dimer), N-tert-butyl (ii, dimer), N,N-diethyl (i, monomer + ii, dimer). With an oxo-group at C(10), all of the amides are monomeric and most engage in intramolecular hydrogen bonding.     

Solvent‐Dependent Asymmetric Synthesis of Alkynyl and Monofluoroalkenyl Isoindolinones by CpRhIII‐Catalyzed C−H Activation

The asymmetric synthesis of alkynyl and monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones from N‐methoxy benzamides and α,α‐difluoromethylene alkynes is enabled by C?H activation with a chiral CpRh^III catalyst. Remarkably, product formation is solvent‐dependent; alkynyl isoindolinones are afforded in MeOH (up to 86 % yield, 99.6 % ee) whereas monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones are generated in ⁱPrCN (up to 98:2 Z/E, 93 % yield, 86 % ee). Mechanistic studies revealed chiral allene and E‐configured alkenyl rhodium species as reaction intermediates. The latter is transformed into the corresponding Z‐configured monofluoroalkene upon protonation in the ⁱPrCN system and into an alkyne by an unusual anti β‐F elimination in the MeOH system. Notably, kinetic resolution processes occur in this reaction. Despite the moderate enantiocontrol for the formation of the chiral allene, the Z‐monofluoroalkenyl isoindolinones and alkynyl isoindolinones were obtained in good enantiopurities by one or two sequential kinetic resolution processes.     

Rotational diffusivity of rodlike molecules in amorphous polymeric matrices

In this note, scaling laws for rotational diffusivity of dilute monodisperse rigid-rod molecules (guest rods) in semidilute amorphous polymer solutions (host molecules) are derived. The coillike matrix molecules are modeled as a collection of flexibly connected rigid subunits. This allows an analogy with the Doi-Edwards theory for monodisperse rigid rods in semidilute solutions to be used in the analysis. Very strong dependencies are predicted for the rotational diffusivity of the rods on host polymer volume fraction and rod length. In semidilute polymer solutions the coils dramatically hinder the rotational freedom of the rods for r² ? ψ_p^?1, r being the rod aspect ratio and ψ_p the polymer volume fraction.     

The Substrate Specificity of β, β‐Carotene 15,15′‐Monooxygenase

The synthesis of several substrate analogues of the enzyme β,β‐carotene 15,15′‐monooxygenase is reported. The substrate specificity of enriched enzyme fractions isolated from chicken intestinal mucosa was investigated. Regarding substrate binding/cleavage, these experiments demonstrate that i) any deviation from the `rod‐like' β,β‐carotene structure is not tolerated, ii) one `natural', unsubstituted β‐ionone ring is required, iii) the position and presence of the Me groups attached to the polyene chain is significant. These results suggest a hydrophobic barrel‐like substrate binding site in which the protein's amino acid residues through interaction with the Me groups, direct the central C=C bond in binding distance to the active site's metal‐oxo center, supporting the unique regiospecificity of cleavage to retinal (provitamin A).     

Active Agents in Heterogeneous Photocatalysis: Atomic Oxygen Species vs. OH. Radicals: Related Quantum Yields

After a general survey of the fundamental characteristics of heterogeneous photocatalysis, the present article classifies the ensemble of reactions into three major categories: i) mild oxidations, ii) total oxidations, and iii) reactions involving hydrogen. Depending on the presence or absence of H₂O, the active oxidizing species will be either a dissociated neutral oxygen species, denoted as O*, which is present in anhydrous systems and responsible for selective mild oxidation reactions, or an OH^. radical, formed in the presence of H₂O and responsible for totally degradative oxidation reactions. The existence of O* species is substantiated by photoconductivity measurements, oxygen‐isotope exchange, and reactions in which oxygen‐free NO is the oxidizing agent. The influence of the five main parameters that govern kinetics experiments i) the mass of the catalysts, ii) the wavelength, iii) the concentrations or partial pressures of reactants, iv) the temperature, and v) the radiant flux is examined to determine the best conditions for obtaining the optimum photocatalytic quantum yield (PQY), the definition of which is based on the quantum yield given in [1] for photochemistry.     

Isomerization of N-[α-(Alkylthio)alkyl]- and N-[α-(Arylthio)alkyl]benzotriazoles

The thermal isomerizations of N-[α-(alkylthio)alkyl]- and N-[α-(arylthio)alkyl]benzotriazoles have been investigated under N₂ atmospheres (i) in toluene, xylene, MeOH, or EtOH, in the presence of acid catalysts and (ii) in the absence of solvent. The sulfide isomerization rates depend on the number of H-atoms carried by the C-atom attached to the N-atom of the benzotriazole: tertiary (no hydrogen) > secondary (1 hydrogen) > primary (2 hydrogens). The results support an isomenzation mechanism involving a heterolytic N? C bond cleavage with formation of sulfonium/carbonium and benzotriazolate ions.     

Calibration coefficient of a heat-flow DSC. Part I. Relation to the Sensitivity of a thermocouple

Relation between the calibration coefficient of a DSC sensor k(T) and the sensitivity of a thermocouple e(T) which the sensor is made from was derived from the analysis of a heat transfer inside a DSC cell. Ratio e(T)/k(T) is equal to A+BT ³. The first component depends on heat conduction and the second one on radiation. The relationship was tested for DSC-204 Netzsch using (i) data on calibration vs. enthalpies of phase transitions (reference samples) and (ii) measurements of heat capacity of corundum. Both tests show very good agreement between experimental data and predicted theoretical function. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Dye‐Adsorption Solvent on the Performances of the Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Black Dye

The effects of the dye‐adsorption solvent on the performances of the dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on black dye have been investigated. The highest conversion efficiency (10.6 %) was obtained in the cases for which 1‐PrOH and the mixed solvent of EtOH and tBuOH (3:1 v/v) were employed as dye‐adsorption solvents. The optimized value for the dielectric constant of the dye‐adsorption solvent was found to be around 20. The DSSCs that used MeOH as a dye‐adsorption solvent showed inferior solar‐cell performance relative to the DSSCs that used EtOH, 1‐PrOH, 2‐PrOH, and 1‐BuOH. Photo‐ and electrochemical measurements of black dye both in solution and adsorbed onto the TiO₂ surface revealed that black dye aggregates at the TiO₂ surface during the adsorption process in the case for MeOH. Both the shorter electron lifetime in the TiO₂ photoelectrode and the greater resistance in the TiO₂–dye–elecrolyte interface, attributed to the dye aggregation at the TiO₂ surface, cause the decrease in the solar‐cell performance of the DSSC that used MeOH as a dye adsorption solvent.     

Morphology control and inducing a curvature on the domain interface by increasing the steric bulk of polymethacrylate in POSS‐containing diblock copolymers

Herein, a novel rod‐coil type polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)‐containing diblock copolymer was designed to enable the self‐assembly of hexagonally packed cylinders of the POSS‐containing domain in a poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA) matrix. When POSS‐containing diblock copolymers were synthesized with polyisoprene or poly(methyl methacrylate), cylindrical structures could not be obtained as POSS‐containing polymers form stretched rigid rods. This makes the formation of cylindrical structures with the POSS‐containing domain entropically unfavorable. Therefore, to obtain the cylindrical structures, we constructed a novel diblock copolymer using PnBMA to increase the steric bulk and segment volume of the flexible coil. Steric crowding of the butyl groups reduces the entropic free stretching energy of the PnBMA chains, which in turn encourages the formation of a POSS‐containing hexagonally packed cylindrical structure within the PnBMA matrix as the system minimizes the total free energy of the thermodynamically stable nanostructure. Small angle X‐ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy analyses indicated that cylinders of the POSS domain had formed. Oxygen plasma etching was then used on the thin film to selectively remove the PnBMA domain to yield line and space structures with a high degree of long‐range order and a 14 nm feature size. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2234–2242