The α and β domains of human metallothionein-3 co-operatively protect against Aβ1-42-Cu2+ cytotoxicity

Cytotoxicity of A β with redox active metals in neuronal cells has been implicated in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease （AD）.Zn₇MT-3 protects cell against Aβ-Cu²⁺ toxicity.The roles of single domain proteins（α/β） andα-βdomain-domain interaction of Zn₇MT-3 in its anti-Aβ_1-42-Cu²⁺ toxicity activity were investigated herein.Aβ_1-42 and four mutants of human MT3 （α/βdomain,β（MT3）-α（MTl） and A31-34） were prepared and characterized.Aβ_1-42-Cu²⁺ induced hydroxyl radical and ROS production with/without Zn-MTs were measured by fluorescence spectroscopy and DCFH-DA in living cells,respectively.These results indicate that the two domains form a co-operative unit and each of them is indispensable in conducting its bioactivity.     

Glycosides of marine invertebrates. XV. A new triterpene glycoside — Holothurin A1 — From Caribbean holothurians of the family Holothuriidae

A glycoside, holothurin A₁ has been isolated from the polar glyosidic fractions of the holothuriansH. floridana andH. grisea. The complete structure of the glycoside has been established; it is: 3β-[0-(3-0-methyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 3)-0-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-0-β-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-(4-sulfato-β-D-xylopyranosyl)oxy]holosta-9(11)-ene-12α,17α,22ξ-triol. Details of the IR and¹H and¹³C NMR spectra of the compounds obtained are given.     

Glycosides of marine invertebrates. Structure of holothurin A2 from the holothurianHolothuria edulis

The structure of a new glycoside fromHolothuria edulis, holothurin A₂, has been established with the aid of periodate oxidation, methylation, Smith degradation, and¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the glycoside has been determined as holost-9(11)-ene-3β,12α,17α-triol 3-0-{2-0-[3-0-methyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-0-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-0-β-D-quinovopyranosyl]-4-0-sulfate-β-D-xylopyranoside}.     

Polarographic studies of complexes of cadmium with chloride and thiocyanate ions in aqueous medium

This is a polarographic study of the system Cd(II)?NaCl?NaSCN in aqueous medium of a constant ionic strength of μ=1.0 M with NaClO₄. Reduction takes place through a reversible bielectronic process. The diffusion magnitudes I_d and D have been determined, and the formation of the mixed complexes CdClSCN, [CdCl₂SCN]^? and [CdCl(SCN)₂]^?, with stability constants of β₁₁=106±101² mol^?2, β₂₁=156±101³ mol^?3 and β₁₂=484±801³ mol^?3, respectively, has been demonstrated. The values of these constants are discussed in the light of statistical aspects and Watters equations.     

Interactions between β-cyclodextrin and an amino acid-based anionic gemini surfactant derived from cysteine

The interaction between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and an amino acid-based anionic gemini surfactant derived from cysteine (C₈Cys)₂ was studied by three independent techniques: electrical conductivity, UV–Vis spectral displacement technique using phenolphthalein as probe, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The data obtained indicated the formation of a 1:1 inclusion complex between β-CD and the gemini surfactant studied and allowed for the determination of the binding constant, K₁, by considering this stoichiometry. Electrical conductivity, spectral displacement technique, and NMR chemical shift measurements, obtained for aqueous β-CD–surfactant systems, yielded consistent K₁ values in the order of 10² dm³ mol^?1, typical of a weakly bound β-CD–surfactant complex. The influence of the presence of the inclusion complex on the micellization process of the gemini surfactant has also been studied and the apparent critical micelle concentration (cmc¹) has been obtained. Increasing β-CD concentration was found to shift the cmc¹ to higher values, as complexed surfactant monomers are not available to form micelles and aggregation takes place only when all β-CD cavities are occupied.     

Diffusion coefficients of β-cyclodextrin sulfated sodium salt in aqueous solutions

The Taylor dispersion technique has been used for measuring mutual diffusion coefficients of β-cyclodextrin sulfated sodium salt (NaSO₃βCD) at temperatures (298.15 and 310.15) K and at finite concentrations. These studies have been complemented by density and viscosity measurements. From these experimental results, the hydrodynamic radius R_h, and its dependence on the viscosity, diffusion coefficient at infinitesimal concentration, D⁰, ion conductivity of NaSO₃βCD and the thermodynamic factor, F_T, have been estimated, permitting us to have a better understanding of the structure of the aqueous system containing NaSO₃βCD.     

Structure and reactivity of steroids—VI : Long range effects in a series of Δ1,3,5(10)-estratriene compounds

The kinetics of the oxidation of 17β-hydroxy-Δ^1,3,5(10)-estratrienes which differ in D ring size, in C₃, substituent and in the character of fusion of the B and C rings by CrO₃ in AcOH has been studied. An increase in size of the D ring in the substrate diminishes reactivity of the 17β-hydroxy group in the oxidation. It has been found that the reactivities of the 17β and 17β-hydroxy groups of the Δ^1,3,5(10)-estratriene derivatives depend upon the electronic nature of the substituent at C³, explained by a long range effect operating from the A to D ring. The pK'a's of phenolic steroids have been measured and it was shown that introduction of the Δ⁸⁽⁹⁾ double bond increases the degree of dissociation of the phenolic hydroxyl. Expansion of the D ring and also reduction of the 17(17a)-keto group to 17β (17aβ) hydroxy group decreases the degree of dissociation of the phenolic hydroxyl as a result of the long range effect from the D to A ring. A linear correlation has been established between the oxidation and dissociation rate constants, confirming the existence of an interaction between C₃ and C_17(17a) at the expense of the long range effects from the A to D ring and vice versa. The long range effect apparently arises from a combination of inductive and conformational effects of the substituent. The kinetics of enzymic oxidation of 17β-hydroxy-Δ^1,3,5(10)-estratrienes by soluble 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase from human placenta has been investigated. In the case of 17β-hydroxy-Δ^1,3,5(10)-estratrienes of natural configuration, a linear correlation has been established between the values of the maximum rate constant and the oxidation rate constant. An assumption can thus be made about the major role of the contribution of the specific reactivity of the substrate to that of the enzyme-substrate complex, involving the size of the D ring and the long range effect of the substituent at C₃ upon the reaction center at C_17(17a). For 17β-hydroxy-Δ^1,3,5,(10)-estratrienes of the 8-isoconfiguration it is the specific reactivity of the substrate that makes the major contribution to the maximum rate values; this specific activity is a result of the substrate's configuration, which is responsible for the stability of the enzyme-substrate complex.     

L-shell ionization in Au by O5+-and Ni5+-ion impact

TheL X-ray production cross sections in gold by 60 to 72 MeV O⁵⁺ ions and 58 to 87 MeV Ni⁵⁺-ions have been measured. TheL-subshell ionization cross sections derived from these experimental results have been compared with the direct ionization theories viz. plane wave Born approximation (PWBA) theory and modified perturbed-stationary-state theory with energy loss, Coulomb deflection and relativistic effects (MECPSSR). A new procedure has been described to account for the change in the yield ratioLβ₁/Lβ_{2, 15} with energy, for Ni⁵⁺-ion impact on gold. TheL sub-shell ionization cross sections have been derived fromLβ₁,Lβ₄ andLβ_{2, 15} lines of theLβ group in addition to those calculated by the conventional Datz TRY3 technique usingLα,Lγ₁ andLγ_{2, 3} X-ray lines. From the shift in the energies of variousL X-ray lines and changes in their intensities, 3 and 5 spectator vacancies in theM- andN-shells in gold have been estimated with O⁵⁺-ion impact while 7, 20 and 4 to 6 spectator vacancies have been inferred in theM-,N-andO-shells respectively with Ni⁵⁺-ion impact in the energy range of the projectiles undertaken in the present studies.     

Optical absorption spectra of praseodymium acetate complexes in solution

Results of analyses of the solution spectra of Pr³⁺ in the acetates of praseodymium, magnesium, calcium and cadmium complexes are presented. Slater-Condon (F₂, F₄ and F₆), configurational interaction (α,β), spin-orbit (ξ_4f), nephelauxetic ($\text{β}$) bonding (δ) and Judd-Ofelt (T₂T₄ and T₆) intensity parameters are evaluated. Judd-Ofel intensity relationship has been used in the calculation of electric dipole line-strengths. Theoretical evaluation of predicted radiative lifetimes (τ_R) of the electronic excited states ³P₁, ³P₀ and ¹D₂ of Pr³⁺ in four diff been carried out.     

Synthesis, Structures, and Thermal Expansion of the La2W2−xMoxO9 Series

The La₂W_2−xMo_xO₉ series has been synthesized by the ceramic method. An alternative synthesis using microwave radiation is also reported. La₂W₂O₉ has two polymorphs and the low-temperature phase (α) transforms to the high-temperature form (β) at 1077°C. The influence of the W/Mo substitution in this phase transition has been investigated by DTA. The β structure for x≥0.7 compositions can be prepared as single phase at any cooling rate. The β phase for 0.3≤x≤0.7 compounds can be prepared as single phase by quenching, whereas a mixture of α and β phases is obtained by slow cooling. The W/Mo ratio in both coexisting phases is different with the β-phase having a higher Mo content. The x=0.1 and 0.2 compounds have been prepared as mixtures of phases. The room temperature structure of β-La₂W_1.7Mo_0.3O₉ has been analyzed by the Rietveld method in P2₁3 space group. The final R-factors were R_WP=9.0% and R_F=5.6% with a structure similar to that of β-La₂Mo₂O₉. Finally, the thermal expansion of both types of structures has been determined from a thermodiffractometric study. The thermal expansion coefficients were 2.9×10⁻⁶ and 9.7×10⁻⁶°C⁻¹ for α-La₂W₂O₉ and β-La₂W_1.2Mo_0.8O₉, respectively.     

Crystal Structure, Electric and Magnetic Properties of Layered Cobaltite β-NaxCoO2

The layered oxide thermoelectric material β-Na_0.67CoO₂ has been studied by powder neutron diffraction, electric and magnetic measurements. This compound includes an edge-sharing CoO₆ slab and a highly vacant Na⁺ sheet in a unit cell (space group symmetry C2/m, a=4.9023(4) Å, b=2.8280(2) Å, c=5.7198(6) Å and β=105.964(6)° at 300 K). The evaluated formal valence of cobalt ion, +3.33(1), is ascribed to the coexistence of Co³⁺ and Co⁴⁺ in the ratio 2:1. Polycrystalline β-Na_0.67CoO₂, a p-type thermoelectric material, exhibits metallic behavior of the electric resistivity below 300 K. The Curie-Weiss-type magnetic susceptibility indicates antiferromagnetic interactions between magnetic cobalt ions in the edge-sharing CoO₆ slab.     

Hydrolysis of platinum(II) phosphine complexes in aqueous 1.0 M NaNO3 medium

Hydrolysis of [Pt(PR₃)₂]²⁺ (R=Me, Et) have been investigated at 25.0°C in 1.000 M NaNO₃ by the combined emf–NMR method. Quantitative analysis of the emf and ³¹P NMR data revealed the formation of [{Pt(PR₃)₂(μ-OH)}₂]²⁺ as the only hydrolysis product in the range 1.5<−log h<5.7. Least-squares calculation gave log β_Me=−4.19±0.04 and log β_Et=−3.58±0.04, where β_Me and β_Et stand for the formation constants of the dimeric cations of methyl and ethyl derivatives, respectively. The ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR data were also consistent with this model.     

Synthesis, structure and theoretical studies of a new ternary non-centrosymmetric β-LaGaS3

New ternary β-LaGaS₃ has been synthesized from the stoichiometric mixture of elements by a conventional solid-state reaction at 1100 °C and annealed at 820 °C. This compound represents a new structure type that crystallizes in a non-centrosymmetric orthorhombic space group Pna2₁ (No.33) with a=10.405(1) Å, b=21.984(2) Å, c=6.0565(5) Å, and Z=12, and features the wavy GaS₄ tetrahedron chains that are separated by La³⁺ cations. Detailed structural differences between the title compound and its isomer, monoclinic α-LaGaS₃, are discussed. With the aid of WIEN2k package, the absorption spectra and electronic structures as well as the refractive indexes, absorption coefficients and reflectivities of two types of LaGaS₃ have been calculated. The calculated band gap and the absorption edge of β-LaGaS₃ agree well with the experimental measurements. And a weak NLO response of β-LaGaS₃ has been detected.     

Compromise between conjugation length and charge-transfer in nonlinear optical η-monocyclopentadienyliron(II) complexes with substituted oligo-thiophene nitrile ligands: Synthesis, electrochemical studies and first hyperpolarizabilities

A systematic series of η⁵-monocyclopentadienyliron(II) complexes with substituted oligo-thiophene nitrile ligands of general formula [FeCp(P_P)(NC{SC₄H₂}_nNO₂)][PF₆] (P_P = dppe, (+)-diop; n = 1-3) has been synthesized and characterized. The electrochemical behaviour of the new compounds was explored by cyclic voltammetry. Quadratic hyperpolarizabilities (β) of the complexes with dppe coligands have been determined by hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) measurements at two fundamental wavelengths of 1.064 and 1.550 μm, to uncover the two-photon resonance effect and to estimate static β values. The obtained overall results are found to be better than for the related η⁵-monocyclopentadienyliron(II) complexes with p-benzonitrile derivatives. Although an increase of the resonant β at 1.064 μm with increasing number of thiophene units in the conjugated ligand was found (up to 910 × 10⁻³⁰ esu), the static values β₀ remain practically unchanged, as shown by the 1.550 μm measurements. Combined with the electrochemical and spectroscopic data (IR, NMR, UV-vis), this remarkable evolution of β shows that the increase of conjugation length is balanced by a decrease in charge-transfer efficiency.     

Kinetic study on reactive extraction for chiral separation of phenylsuccinic acid enantiomers

The kinetics of the extraction of phenylsuccinic acid (PSA) enantiomers by hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) in a modified Lewis cell was studied, in which HP-β-CD dissolved in 0.1 mol L^?1 NaH₂PO₄/H₃PO₄ buffer solution (pH = 2.5) was selected as the chiral extractant. PSA enantiomers were extracted from organic phase to aqueous phase in the extraction module. The theory of extraction accompanied by a chemical reaction has been used to obtain the intrinsic kinetics of this extraction module. The different parameters affecting the extraction rate such as agitation speed, interfacial area, initial concentration of PSA enantiomers in organic phase as well as HP-β-CD concentration in aqueous phase were separately studied. The experimental results demonstrate that the extraction reactions are fast. The reactions were found to be first order with respect to PSA and second order with respect to HP-β-CD with forward rate constants of 3.4 × 10^?2 m⁶ mol^?2 s^?1 for R-PSA and 9.96 × 10^?3 m⁶ mol^?2 s^?1 for S-PSA. These data will be useful in the design of extraction processes.     

Stereoselective synthesis of novel C-3 functionalized 3-sulfonyl-β-lactams: Promising biologically active heterocyclic scaffolds

An efficient and operationally simple strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of novel C-3 functionalized 3-sulfonyl-β-lactam heterocycles is described. The C-3 functionalized 3-phenyl/benzylsulfonyl-β-lactams 3/3′, 5/5′ has been synthesized via Michael addition using different Michael acceptors on trans-3-phenyl/benzylsulfonyl-β-lactams 2(a–f) using K₂CO₃ as a base and acetonitrile/DMF as solvents. The reaction furnished exclusively cis-β-lactam adducts 3(a–r) using sterically less hindered Michael acceptors. Further, the effect of steric bulk and chiralilty of Michael acceptors was explored to achieve target C-3 functionalized β-lactams 3(s-u)/3′(s-u) and 5(a–c)/5′(a–c). The structural and stereochemical analysis of novel β-lactams were carried out using FT-IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹³C COSY and ¹³C DEPT-135), elemental analysis (CHNS), mass spectrometry (EIMS and LCMS) in representative cases and single crystal X-ray crystallographic studies (3e). The cis or trans configuration of the Michael acceptor (E) at C-3 was assigned with respect to C4-H.     

Complexation equilibria and spectrophotometric determination of zinc (II) with 2-(4′-methyl-2′-thiazolylazo)-4,6-dimethylphenol

2-(4′-methyl-2′-thiazolylazo)-4,6-dimethylphenol has been synthesized and its acid—base behaviour (pK_a1=0.03 ± 0.01, pK_a2=9.70±0.09) and complexation equilibria with zinc (logβ₁₀₁=6.70±0.04, logβ₁₀₂ = 13.70±0.02) studied in a 40% (v / v) ethanol—water medium at I=0.25 M NaClO₄. A spectrophotometric method for the determination of 0.2–1.5 ppm of zinc has been developed (ε=1.83 × 10⁴ 1. mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 590 nm) and applied to its determination in lubricating oils.     

Synthesis of a transmembrane ionophore based on a C2-symmetric polyhydroxysteroid derivative

The synthesis of the C₂-symmetric bis-(20S)-5α-23,24-bisnorchol-16-en-3β,6α,7β-triol-22-terephthaloate (1), active as Na⁺-transporting transmembrane channel, has been achieved in 16 steps (10% overall yield) starting from the commercially available androst-5-en-3β-ol-17-one (3). The straightforward stereospecific functionalization of the side-chain, via the ‘ene’ reaction, and the successful regioselective terephthaloylation of the C-22 hydroxy group, illustrate the efficiency of the synthetic strategy.     

Synthesis, characterization, and structure determination of the orthorhombic U2(PO4)(P3O10)

β-UP₂O₇ has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions (θ=500°C, P=200 MPa), using UO₂ and H₃PO₄. β-UP₂O₇ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pn2₁a, with a=11.526 (2) Å, b=7.048 (2) Å, c=12.807 (2) Å and Z=4. Its structure has been determined through direct methods and difference Fourier synthesis and has been refined to R=0.0396. The structure is built on UO₈ polyhedral chains along the b-axis. PO₄³⁻ and P₃O₁₀⁵⁻ groups coexist in the structure and the latter groups form non-linear chains. Cohesion of the structure is made through the linkage of UO₈ chains by PO₄ and P₃O₁₀ groups leading to the formula U₂(PO₄)(P₃O₁₀) instead of β-UP₂O₇. Vibrational and optical spectra confirm the results obtained by X-ray diffraction. DTA-TGA measurements show that the transformation of U₂(PO₄)(P₃O₁₀) to the cubic α-UP₂O₇ occurs at θ=870°C.     

Effects of fluorine atoms on the optical nonlinear response of stilbene derivatives

The effect of fluorine atoms on the second-order optical nonlinear response of 4-nitro-4′-methoxy-trans-stilbene and polyene derivatives containing up to three double bonds (n=1, 2, 3) has been investigated within a semiempirical context (PM3 Hamiltonian). Experimental data reported in literature indicate a β_vec(SHG) value of 34, 47 and 76 (×10⁻³⁰ esu) for n=1, 2, 3, respectively, at 0.65 eV in CHCl₃ solutions. Our calculations show that fluorinating the nitrophenyl group the β_vec(SHG) is doubled. Further increase in the second-order nonlinear response can be obtained fluorinating the CC bond linkers between the aromatic moieties.Besides, the effect of different donor-acceptor pairs has been studied and the results interpreted in the two-state model context.Some results concerning the third-harmonic generation (THG), γ (THG), are presented, and a possible interpretation proposed.