Synthesis,Properties, and Remarkable 2 D Self‐Assembly at the Liquid/Solid Interface of a Series of Triskele‐Shaped 5,11,17‐Triazatrinaphthylenes (TrisK)

A series of 5,11,17‐triazatrinaphthylene (TrisK) derivatives, large disk‐like π‐conjugated molecules with C_3h symmetry, has been synthesised by following an optimised synthetic pathway. The synthesis was performed by a four‐step protocol based on the N‐arylation of 1,3,5‐tribromobenzene with appropriate anthranilate derivatives. This strategy permits the generation of either chlorinated ( TrisK‐Cl‐OCn ) or non‐chlorinated ( TrisK‐H‐OCn ) alkoxy‐substituted derivatives (OC_nH_2n+1 with n=3, 10, 12 and 16), thus providing additional versatility in the control of the structure–property relationships. The electronic properties of the various TrisK compounds have been characterised in solution by absorption and emission spectroscopies as well as cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structure of 2,8,14‐propyloxy‐5,11,17‐triazatrinaphthylene TrisK‐H‐OC3 has been determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis, which revealed the presence of stabilising weak intermolecular H bonds. Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) at the liquid/solid interface has revealed the remarkable 2D self‐assembling properties of the TrisK compounds. In particular, it has shown that TrisK‐H‐OC12 forms three concomitant self‐organised 2D phases with different row‐packing arrangements. This 2D polymorphism arises from slow ordering due to the presence of three long dodecyloxy chains on the molecular backbone. Individual molecules can be imaged with spectacular intramolecular resolution, thus providing the possibility of correlating the STM features with the calculated charge density distribution.     

Recognition of G-quadruplex DNA by triangular star-shaped compounds: with or without side chains?

We report the synthesis of two new series of triangular aromatic platforms, either with three aminoalkyl side chains (triazatrinaphthylene series, TrisK: six compounds), or without side chains (triazoniatrinaphthylene, TrisQ). The quadruplex-DNA binding behavior of the two series, which differ essentially by the localization of the cationic charges, was evaluated by means of FRET-melting and G4-FID assays. For the trisubstituted triazatrinaphthylenes (TrisK), the length of the substituents and the presence of terminal hydrogen-bond-donor groups (NH(2)) were shown to be crucial for ensuring a high quadruplex affinity (ΔT(1/2) values of up to 20 °C at 1 μM for the best candidate, TrisK3-NH) and selectivity versus duplex DNA. Subsequently, comparison of data collected on both the telomeric- and c-myc-quadruplex showed that the nonsubstituted TrisQ is even more efficient than TrisK3-NH, both in terms of quadruplex affinity (ΔT(1/2)=26 °C in K(+) buffer) and selectivity versus duplex DNA. Structural considerations conducted with the c-myc quadruplex indicate that both TrisK3-NH and TrisQ stack well onto the G-quartet but in an offset position, which might be influenced by the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds with the target in the former case. Finally, the nonsubstituted TrisQ displays a binding profile very similar to some of the best quadruplex binders, BRACO-19 and bisquinolinium 360A, used herein as references, and thereby represents a highly promising novel molecular design for quadruplex recognition.     

Synthesis of a triply-bridged molecular gyroscope by a directed meridional cyclization strategy

A crystalline triply bridged molecular gyroscope has been prepared and analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A convergent synthetic strategy was developed to control the direction of the three bridges, from the preferred two zonal and one meridional arrangement of a one-step cylclization process to the directed three meridional bridges achieved by a north-south desymmetrization.     

Formation of a tris-capsule and a tris-carceplex from a cyclic six-bowl assembly

A macrocycle composed of six cavitands was assembled into a tris-capsule and a tris-carceplex, each of which encapsulates three guest molecules.     

Production of three radical cations from a single photon using a photo acid generator

Efficient generation of the organic radicals is a fundamental technology for preparing the spintronic materials. In this Letter, we present the chemical reaction of the three radical generation from a single photon. A photo acid generator which can release the multiple acid molecules via the automatic amplification mechanism was synthesized. The synthesized acid generator immediately released methanesulfonic acid by UV irradiation. Due to the amplification system, a maximum of three acid molecules can be produced from the single acid generator. In addition, the release of acid is induced by UV irradiation and automatically proceeds until the release of three acid molecules is finished. Finally, by employing the acid-catalyzed radical generation of tetrathiafulvalene, we also demonstrate the efficient radical generation triggered by UV irradiation in the polymer film.     

Assembly of a trinuclear metallo-capsule from a tripodal tris(beta-diketone) derivative and copper(II)

A new metallo-capsule has been synthesised that consists of three copper(II) ions and two molecules of a tris-deprotonated tripodal ligand in which three 2,4-pentanedione groups are linked via their gamma-carbons through thioether spacers to the 1,3,5-positions of a triazine core.     

Assembly of a tri-silver metallo-capsule incorporating a tripodal tris-pyridyl ligand

A trinuclear metallo-capsule has been assembled from a new tripodal pyridyl ligand and three silver(I) ions; the X-ray structure shows the presence of a Ag-Ag interaction in the solid state giving rise to a non-symmetric capsule arrangement while NMR evidence indicates that the structure in solution is symmetrical.     

Evaluation of a Compact Differential Cell for Secondary pH Measurements by a Bilateral Interlaboratory Comparison

This work presents a new differential potentiometric cell for the standardization of pH buffer solutions and its evaluation, by means of a bilateral interlaboratory comparison, in relation to a traditional Baucke cell. The results obtained with the two cells were exactly the same for three of the pH buffer solutions analyzed (1.68, 4.01, and 6.86) and similar to each other for the remaining buffer solution (9.18). The new cell showed an average measurement time of only 21 minutes, in comparison with one to three hours for other cells described in the literature (including the Baucke cell).     

First examples of a new class of discogen

Two examples of a new class of discotic liquid crystals are presented. Their molecular architecture consists of a trisubstituted central core (either a benzene or a cyclohexane ring) and three regional cores, with three decyloxy-chains in the 3,4,5-positions of a particular benzene ring. These regional cores are linked to the central core via ester groups. Polarizing microscopy and calorimetric measurements reveal the existence of monotropic and enantiotropic discotic mesophases respectively. The products exhibit a pronounced hindering of crystallization at room temperature.     

Preparation of a new hydrophilic copolymer from a polylactone and the structure analyses

A new hydrophilic copolymer having three kinds of hydroxyl groups, i.e. primary OH on -hydroxy allyl alcohol component, secondary OH on cyclic hemiacetal component and tertiary OH on -hydroxy acrylate component, was prepared by reducing a ‘polylactone’, poly(1-oxa-2-oxobutane-1,4:3,3-tetrayl), with NaBH₄ in mixed solvents containing an alcohol. The structural analyses were performed by the solution ¹H NMR and the solid state ¹³C NMR spectroscopies of the reduced samples. The composition of the three components turned out to be variable to the alcohol species used for the mixed solvent.     

First examples of a new class of discogen

Abstract

Two examples of a new class of discotic liquid crystals are presented. Their molecular architecture consists of a trisubstituted central core (either a benzene or a cyclohexane ring) and three regional cores, with three decyloxy-chains in the 3,4,5-positions of a particular benzene ring. These regional cores are linked to the central core via ester groups. Polarizing microscopy and calorimetric measurements reveal the existence of monotropic and enantiotropic discotic mesophases respectively. The products exhibit a pronounced hindering of crystallization at room temperature.     

Solid-state phosphorus-31 NMR spectroscopy of a multiple-spin system: an investigation of a rhodium-triphosphine complex

Phosphorus-31 NMR spectra of solid [tris(dimethylphenylphosphine)](2,5-norbornadiene) rhodium(I) hexafluorophosphate have been acquired at several applied magnetic field strengths. The phosphorus nuclei of the three phosphine ligands are spin-spin coupled to each other and to 103Rh, resulting in complex NMR spectra; however, the three phosphorus chemical shift (CS) tensors were determined through the analysis of NMR spectra of slow magic angle spinning and stationary samples. Spectra of spinning samples in rotational resonance and two-dimensional 31P NMR spectra were particularly useful for determining the magnitudes of the indirect spin-spin couplings, and to probe their signs. Despite being in similar environments, the three phosphorus nuclei of the phosphine ligands have distinct CS tensors. In particular, the spans of these tensors, delta11-delta33, range from 80 to 176 ppm. The phosphorus CS tensors have been assigned to specific sites determined by X-ray crystallography, based on a combination of the experimental results and the results of quantum chemical calculations of the phosphorus shielding and 2J(31P,31P) values. The effect of coordination of dimethylphenylphosphine with rhodium has been investigated by comparing calculated phosphorus CS tensors for the uncoordinated ligand with those obtained for the ligands in the complex.     

Simultaneous operation of plural separation modes in capillary electrophoresis with a chemiluminescence detector possessing a micro-space area for reaction/detection

Analysis of alpha-amino acids, proteins, and phenolic compounds was simultaneously performed using three capillaries in capillary electrophoresis with chemiluminescence detection, taking advantage of the micro-space area for reaction/detection at the tip of the capillary. The three capillaries included usual, polymer-containing, and sodium docley sulfate (SDS)-containing migration buffers for separation. The eluted samples from the capillaries, which were inserted into the chemiluminescence detection cell, were mixed with chemiluminescence reagent at the tips of the capillaries to generate visible light. The specific micro-space area for reaction/detection at the tips of the capillaries enabled the simultaneous operation of the three separation modes in the present system.     

Orthogonal ligation: a three piece assembly of a PNA-peptide-PNA conjugate

A PNA-peptide-PNA conjugate was assembled from three fragments using a combination of native chemical ligation and an orthogonal, auxiliary-mediated ligation.     

Dynamical heterogeneity in a highly supercooled liquid under a sheared situation

In the present study, we performed molecular dynamics simulations and investigated dynamical heterogeneity in a supercooled liquid under a steady shear flow. Dynamical heterogeneity can be characterized by three quantities: the correlation length ξ(4)(t), the intensity χ(4)(t), and the lifetime τ(hetero)(t). We quantified all three quantities by means of the correlation functions of the particle dynamics, i.e., the four-point correlation functions, which are extended to the sheared condition. Here, to define the local dynamics, we used two time intervals t = τ(α) and τ(ngp); τ(α) is the α-relaxation time, and τ(ngp) is the time at which the non-Gaussian parameter of the Van Hove self-correlation function is maximized. We discovered that all three quantities (ξ(4)(t), χ(4)(t), and τ(hetero)(t)) decrease as the shear rate γ of the steady shear flow increases. For the time interval t = τ(α), the scalings ξ(4)(τ(α))~γ(-0.08), χ(4)(τ(α))~γ(-0.26), and τ(hetero)(τ(α))~γ(-0.88) were obtained. The steady shear flow suppresses the heterogeneous structure as well as the lifetime of the dynamical heterogeneity. In addition, we demonstrated that all three quantities in the sheared non-equilibrium state can be mapped onto those in the equilibrium state through the α-relaxation time τ(α). This finding means that the same relation between τ(α) and three quantities holds in both the equilibrium state and the sheared non-equilibrium state and therefore proposes that the dynamical heterogeneity can play a similar role in the drastic change of τ(α) due to not only the temperature but also the shear rate.     

Chemical physics: The standing of a mature discipline

Background

The use of immobilized enzymes for catalyzing various biotransformations is now a widely used approach. In recent years, cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) have emerged as a novel and versatile biocatalyst design. The present work deals with the preparation of a CLEA from a commercial preparation, Pectinex? Ultra SP-L, which contains pectinase, xylanase and cellulase activities. The CLEA obtained could be used for any of the enzyme activities. The CLEA was characterized in terms of kinetic parameters, thermal stability and reusability in the context of all the three enzyme activities.

Results

Complete precipitation of the three enzyme activities was obtained with n-propanol. When resulting precipitates were subjected to cross-linking with 5 mM glutaraldehyde, the three activities initially present (pectinase, xylanase and cellulase) were completely retained after cross-linking. The V_max/K_m values were increased from 11, 75 and 16 to 14, 80 and 19 in case of pectinase, xylanase and cellulase activities respectively. The thermal stability was studied at 50°C, 60°C and 70°C for pectinase, xylanase and cellulase respectively. Half-lives were improved from 17, 22 and 32 minutes to 180, 82 and 91 minutes for pectinase, xylanase and cellulase respectively. All three of the enzymes in CLEA could be reused three times without any loss of activity.

Conclusion

A single multipurpose biocatalyst has been designed which can be used for carrying out three different and independent reactions; 1) hydrolysis of pectin, 2) hydrolysis of xylan and 3) hydrolysis of cellulose. The preparation is more stable at higher temperatures as compared to the free enzymes.     

Structural Adaptation of a Protein to Increased Metal Stress: NMR Structure of a Marine Snail Metallothionein with an Additional Domain

In this study, we present an NMR structure of the metallothionein (MT) from the snail Littorina littorea (LlMT) in complex with Cd²⁺. LlMT is capable of binding 9 Zn²⁺ or 9 Cd²⁺ ions. Sequence alignments with other snail MTs revealed that the protein is likely composed of three domains. The study revealed that the protein is divided into three individual domains, each of which folds into a single well‐defined three‐metal cluster. The central α2 and C‐terminal β domains are positioned with a unique relative orientation. Two variants with longer and shorter linkers were investigated, which revealed that specific interdomain contacts only occurred with the wild‐type linker. Moreover, a domain‐swap mutant in which the highly similar α1 and α2 domains were exchanged was structurally almost identical. It is suggested that the expression of a three‐domain MT confers an evolutionary advantage on Littorina littorea in terms of coping with Cd²⁺ stress and adverse environmental conditions.     

Effect of dimensionality of a crystal lattice on the properties of a localized impurity

The changes of electron density due to the presence of a localized impurity in a crystal lattice are examined in dependence on the lattice dimensionality. The Koster–Slater impurity model developed for the case of a three‐dimensional simple cubic lattice has been taken as the basis of examinations. Ordinary bound states, virtual bound states, and delocalized electron states are considered in each lattice case. For the delocalized states extended in a one‐dimensional lattice the amplitude of the oscillatory changes of the electron density due to the impurity perturbation does not decrease with the distance from the impurity position, whereas for a two‐dimensional lattice this amplitude decreases roughly proportionally to the reciprocal value of the square root of the distance from the impurity. Let us note that a well‐known amplitude characterizing the decrease of the oscillatory change of the electron density in a three‐dimensional system is proportional to the reciprocal value of the third power of the distance from the impurity position. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 80: 61–78, 2000     

Local pressure tensor of a simple fluid in a conelike cage of a solid

Asymptotic formulas are derived for distribution functions and components of the pressure tensor for a Van der Waals fluid in a conelike cage of a solid. The formulas describe the local behavior of the fluid far from the vertex of the cone and at rather large distances from solid walls. It is shown that, due to the symmetry of the system, three diagonal components and one off-diagonal component of the pressure tensor differ from zero. The effect of the deviation of conelike pore walls from a cylindrical shape on the appearance of a noticeable contribution to the local characteristics of the fluid in the pore is estimated.     

Photocount distribution of photons emitted from three sites of a human body

Spontaneous photon emission from 30 sites on the skin of a live human subject is measured at different times and on different days. Signals from three representative sites of low, intermediate and high intensities are selected for further analysis. Fluctuations in these signals are measured by the probabilities of detecting different numbers of photons in a bin. The probabilities have non-classical features and are well described by the signal in a quantum squeezed state of photons. Measurements with bins of three sizes yield same values of three parameters of the squeezed state. A procedure for making correction due to background noise is developed. The correction changes the parameters of the quantum state. The new state appears more like a coherent state of photons.