Proton spin-lattice relaxation studies. N-aryl-1-isoindolinones

Proton spin-lattice relaxation rates (R₁ values) have been measured, at 270 MHz, for a series of N-aryl isoindolinones. A normalization procedure has been used to enable comparison of R₁ values in different compounds by minimizing the effects on relaxation rates of changes in motional correlation times accompanying changes in substitution patterns. A substantial (4.3-fold) dynamic range of R₁ values has been observed, and individual values have been correlated with the molecular environments of the nuclei. There is evidence for an interring relaxation process.     

A general survey of the proton spin–lattice relaxation rates of steroids

The spin-lattice relaxation rates of the aromatic, alkene, hydroxyl, methine and methyl protons of 19 steroid derivatives have been measured using the null point method. A simple procedure is described whereby the R₁ values of molecules which have different motional tumbling rates can be directly inter-compared, and it is shown that such ‘normalized’ relaxation data can provide novel insight concerning both the geometry and the local molecular motion of these substances in solution.     

A proton spin–lattice relaxation rate and nuclear Overhauser effect investigation of the stereochemistry of some 1-aryl derivatives of 1,2-dihydro-s-triazines

Proton spin–lattice relaxation rates (R₁ values) have been measured, at 400 MHz, for a number of 2-methyl- and 2,2-dimethyl-substituted 4,6-diamino-1-aryl-1,2-dihydro-S-triazines. These compounds have high barriers to internal rotation about the aryl C? N bond, and exist in solution as mixtures of enantiomeric or diastereomeric rotational isomers. Diastereotopically related 2-methyl groups in enantiomeric rotamers, and 2-methyl and 2-methine protons in diastereomeric rotamers, typically have different relaxation rates. In favourable circumstances this information may be used to identify the individual rotamers. Unequivocal direct identification of rotamers may be obtained from nuclear Overhauser effect difference spectra.     

1H and 13C NMR spectra of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine in CDCl3 solution and in sonicated dispersions in 2H2O

A mixed-acid monounsaturated lecithin, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (POL), has been synthesized by phospholipase A₂ digestion of 1,2 dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine followed by reacylation of the lysolecithin with oleic anhydride. ¹H (90 MHz) and ¹³C (25.2 MHz) NMR spectra of POL in CDCl₃ solution and in sonicated dispersions in ²H₂O have been obtained, and spin-lattice relaxation times measured. The relaxation times were characteristic of the type of structure formed and reflect molecular motion within the lecithin molecule in each structure. In both systems the spin-lattice relaxation times increase along the alkyl chains towards the terminal methyl group, showing a corresponding increase in the chain molecular motion, although there are significant differences in the gradation of the changes.     

Dynamic viscosity of dilute aqueous solutions of poly(acrylic acid) at frequencies of 2–500 kHz

The dynamic viscosity of aqueous solutions of poly(acrylic acid) at a polymer concentration of ca. 0.15 g/100 ml has been measured at frequencies from 2 to 500 kHz as a function of degree of polymerization P, degree of neutralization α, and salt (NaCl) concentration C_s. Relaxation spectra have been obtained from the dynamic viscosity. The spectra in the short relaxation time region can be approximated by the Zimm theory for the conformational relaxation of nonionic polymers. The maximum relaxation time τ₁ of the Zimm spectra is proportional to P² and depends rather moderately on α and C_s. Increased deviation is found, however, in the long relaxation time region, in particular for high values of P and α and low values of C_s. The major part of the deviation is interpreted in terms of rotational relaxation of a molecule as a whole. The rotational relaxation time τ_R is proportional to P³ and increases with increasing α and decreasing C_s. The remaining part of the excess spectra located between τ₁ and τ_R is ascribed to the deviation of the conformational relaxation from the Zimm theory arising from ionization of the polymer.     

DFT‐based QSAR study and molecular design of AHMA derivatives as potent anticancer agents

A quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) of 3‐(9‐acridinylamino)‐5‐hydroxymethylaniline (AHMA) derivatives and their alkylcarbamates as potent anticancer agents has been studied using density functional theory (DFT), molecular mechanics (MM+), and statistical methods. In the best established QSAR equation, the energy (E_NL) of the next lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (NLUMO) and the net charges (Q_FR) of the first atom of the substituent R, as well as the steric parameter (MR₂) of subsituent R₂ are the main independent factors contributing to the anticancer activity of the compounds. A new scheme determining outliers by “leave‐one‐out” (LOO) cross‐validation coefficient (q) was suggested and successfully used. The fitting correlation coefficient (R²) and the “LOO” cross‐validation coefficient (q²) values for the training set of 25 compounds are 0.881 and 0.829, respectively. The predicted activities of 5 compounds in the test set using this QSAR model are in good agreement with their experimental values, indicating that this model has excellent predictive ability. Based on the established QSAR equation, 10 new compounds with rather high anticancer activity much greater than that of 34 compounds have been designed and await experimental verification. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Antiferromagnetic Ordering and Structural Characterization of the Brown Colored R2BaCoO5 Oxides (R = Rare Earth)

New R₂BaCoO₅ oxides (_R = rare earth) have been prepared in Ar flow, and the X-ray diffraction data reveal that they crystallize in the Nd₂BaNiO₅ structural type (space group Immm ). The existence of dimorphism has been shown for R = Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm. A comparative study of the influence of the rare earth size on the structural parameters is presented for this family of compounds. The relative stability of these oxides is discussed from the variation of the so-called global instability index (GII) calculated using the bond valence method. The GII values around 0.2 v.u. are indicative of the high stress present in this structure. The magnetic properties of these oxides have been studied from magnetic susceptibility measurements and one-dimensional antiferromagnetic correlations in the Co⁺² sublattice are presented around the room temperature, while three-dimensional antiferromagnetic interactions in both R⁺³ and Co⁺² sublattices have been observed at lower temperatures (T_Néel < 40 K) in this family of oxides. This behavior is explained considering the crystal structure of these compounds and the electronic states of the Co⁺² and R⁺³ cations.     

Porous sol gel silica films doped with crystalline NiO nanoparticles for gas sensing applications

A reliable sol gel route to synthesize NiO doped SiO₂ films with different NiO content is here described. The films showed detectable and reversible changes in both optical and electrical properties when exposed to some reducing/oxidizing gaseous species at temperatures in the 250°C–350°C range. A functional characterization protocol has been designed and some of the sensing properties of the materials have been investigated for detecting NO₂, CH₄, CO and H₂. An optical transmittance increase up to 2% has been detected for 1% CO in dry air atmospheres, while relative resistance response (R _R = R _gas/R _air) values up to 4.97 for 850 ppm H₂/air mixtures have been registered for conductometric gas sensing. Films at all NiO molar concentrations in the 10% NiO - 40% range showed an optical response to the target gas, while only 30% and 40% NiO films provided a detectable gas induced resistance change.     

Study of single vibrational level relaxation in CS2(R3B2) by stimulated emission pumping

The relaxation of single vibrational levels of CS₂(R³B₂) has been studied by the stimulated emission pumping technique for the first time. The relaxation rate of the 0,6,0 and 0,8,0 levels is found to be 0.89 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ Torr⁻¹ and 1.2 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ Torr⁻¹ respectively. These values are about an order of magnitude higher than the R³B₂ state quenching rate. This is direct experimental evidence that the vibrational relaxation process within this triplet takes place essentially prior to quenching.     

Effect on structural relaxation of the poly(methyl‐methacrylate) copolymers chain flexibility

The structural relaxation of poly(methyl‐methacrylate) (PMMA)‐based copolymers with different chain flexibility has been studied by DSC with the classical procedure of the isothermal and dynamical approach. Modified PMMA with different chain flexibility have been prepared by free radical polymerization in solution using a mixture of monomers containing 10 mol % of alkyl methacrylate (i.e., ethyl, buthyl, and hexyl methacrylate). The molecular characteristics of all the prepared copolymers have been performed by a multiangle laser light scattering (MALS) photometer on‐line to a size exclusion chromatography (SEC) system (SEC‐MALS) after and before the thermal treatments, NMR (¹H and ¹³C) and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. A comparison of the apparent relaxation rate (R_H) was appraised from the enthalpy loss by annealing the different samples at the same level of undercooling (T_a = T_g ? 18 °C). It was found an increase of R_H increasing the chain flexibility in the copolymers. Dynamical tests, performed at different cooling rates, have been used to estimate the apparent activation energy of the relaxation process. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 596–607, 2009     

Monitoring dendrimer conformational transition using 19F and 1H2O NMR

The conformational transition of a fluorinated amphiphilic dendrimer is monitored by the ¹H signal from water, alongside the ¹⁹F signal from the dendrimer. High-field NMR data (chemical shift δ, self-diffusion coefficient D, longitudinal relaxation rate R₁, and transverse relaxation rate R₂) for both dendrimer (¹⁹F) and water (¹H) match each other in detecting the conformational transition. Among all parameters for both nuclei, the water proton transverse-relaxation rate R₂(¹H₂O) displays the highest relative scale of change upon conformational transition of the dendrimer. Hydrogen/deuterium-exchange mass spectrometry reveals that the compact form of the dendrimer has slower proton exchange with water than the extended form. This result suggests that the sensitivity of R₂(¹H₂O) toward dendrimer conformation originates, at least partially, from the difference in proton exchange efficiency between different dendrimer conformations. Finally, we also demonstrated that this conformational transition could be conveniently monitored using a low-field benchtop NMR spectrometer via R₂(¹H₂O). The ¹H₂O signal thus offers a simple way to monitor structural changes of macromolecules using benchtop time-domain NMR.     

Studies on (SCN)2M(NCS)2Hg2(p-tolyl)2 and (SCN)2M(NCS)2Hg2(α-naphthyl)2 and their complexes

p-Tolyl mercury thiocyanate and α-naphthyl mercury thiocyanate react with Co(NCS)₂2py and form a bimetallic pink compound of formula (py)₂(SCN)₂Co(NCS)₂Hg₂R₂ (R = p-tolyl and α-naphthyl group). On heating this compound in vacuum a blue compound (SCN)₂Co(NCS)₂Hg₂R₂ is formed. Nickel analogues (SCN)₂Ni(NCS)₂Hg₂R₂ are formed by direct reaction of p-tolyl or α-naphthyl mercury thiocyanate with nickel thiocyanate. (SCN)₂Co(NCS)₂Hg₂R₂ and (SCN)₂Ni(NCS)₂Hg₂R₂ act as Lewis acids and form complexes with bases. The Lewis acids and their complexes with various bases have been characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance, molecular weight, magnetic moment, infrared and electronic spectral studies. These studies reveal that both the Lewis acids are monomers. In (SCN)₂Co(NCS)₂Hg₂R₂ the CO(II) has tetrahedral geometry, where as in (SCN)₂Ni(NCS)₂Hg₂R₂ the Ni(II) has octahedral geometry through elongated axial bondings with SCN-groups of other molecules. Thiocyanate bridging of the type R-Hg-SCN-M [M = Co(II), Ni(II)] is present in the compounds. Pyridine and dimethylsulphoxide form adducts with these compounds by coordinating at Co(II) or Ni(II). The thiocyanate bridge is retained in these complexes. 2-2′bipyridyl ruptures the thiocyanate bridging in both the Lewis acids and forms cationic-anionic complexes of the type [M(L-L)₃][RHg(SCN)₂]₂. In both the type of complexes Co(II) and Ni(II) possess octahedral environment. The “softness” values have been used in a novel manner in proposing the structure of the complexes.     

Electron impact induced fragmentations of 2-chlorovinyl methyl sulphides

A series of 2-chlorovinyl methyl sulphides, CH₃SCR¹?CR²Cl (R¹, R² = H, Me, Et, t-Bu, Ph; R¹ = H, R² = CH₃) has been analysed under electron impact conditions. The most significant common fragmentations involve primary loss of Cl˙ and methyl radicals. Analysis of the phenyl-substituted derivative suggests that loss of CH₃˙ is a lower activation energy process than loss of Cl˙. The characteristic loss of CH₃SCl from the same derivative has been examined with respect to the structure of the resulting fragment by means of suitable model compounds.     

New Intermetallic Compounds Ln2Ni2Mg (Ln = Y,La–Nd,Sm, Gd–Tm) with Mo2FeB2 Structure

The title compounds were synthesized by reacting the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in a high‐frequency furnace. They crystallize with the Mo₂FeB₂ structure, a ternary ordered variant of the U₃Si₂ type, space group P4/mbm. All compounds were characterized through Guinier powder patterns and the lattice parameters were obtained from least‐squares fits. Four structures were refined from single crystal X‐ray data: a = 740.5(1) pm, c = 372.5(1) pm, wR2 = 0.0430, 247 F values, 13 variables for Y₂Ni_1.90Mg, a = 764.5(1) pm, c = 394.39(9) pm, wR2 = 0.0371, 310 F values, 12 variables for La₂Ni₂Mg, a = 754.4(1) pm, c = 385.20(9) pm, wR2 = 0.0460, 295 F values, 12 variables for Pr₂Ni₂Mg, and a = 752.53(8) pm, c = 382.33(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0183, 291 F values, and 12 variables for Nd₂Ni₂Mg. A refinement of the occupancy parameters indicated small defects on the nickel site of the yttrium compound, resulting in the composition Y₂Ni_1.90Mg for the investigated single crystal. The compounds with cerium, samarium, and gadolinium to thulium as rare earth component were characterized through their Guinier powder patterns. The cell colume of Ce₂Ni₂Mg is smaller than that of Pr₂Ni₂Mg, indicating intermediate‐valent cerium. The structures can be considered as an intergrowth of distored AlB₂ and CsCl related slabs of compositions LnNi₂ and LnMg. Chemical bonding in La₂Ni₂Mg and isotypic La₂Ni₂In is compared on the basis of extended Hückel calculations.     

Long-range interaction between 1s and 2s or 2p hydrogen atoms

Long-range interaction energy between two hydrogen atoms has been computed in the second order of the perturbation theory. All states of the system arising when one of the atoms is in the 1s and the other in the 2s or 2p state have been considered. The energy represented by a series expansion in inverse powers of the internuclear distance, R, has been computed up to the terms in R^?8. The results are believed to give reliable interaction energies for R > 15 a.u. Accurate interaction energy for two ground-state hydrogen atoms has also been obtained up to the terms in R^?10. Results for the B′ ¹∑ state are employed to discuss the experimental ground-state dissociation energy of H₂, D₂, and HD. For H₂ all values of the dissociation energy obtained from various experimental absorption limits, by using the computed potential energy curve to separate off the effect of rotation, are shown to be satisfactorily consistent. The resulting total energy of H₂ is, however, higher than the most accurate theoretical value.     

Tautomeric behavior of 3-(arylhydrazono)methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoxalines between the hydrazone imine and diazenyl enamine forms in acidic media. Solvent and substituent effects

The 3-(arylhydrazono)methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoxalines 1a-h and 2a-e showed tautomeric equilibria between the hydrazone imine A and diazenyl enamine B forms in a series of mixed trifluoroacetic acid/dimethyl sulfoxide media. The substituent and solvent effects on the tautomer ratios of A to B in a series of mixed media were studied for compounds 1a-h and 2a-e by the nmr spectroscopy. In compounds 1a-h and 2a-e , the ratios of the tautomer B gradually increased with elevation of acid concentration, and the tautomer B exclusively existed in trifluoroacetic acid media. The various acid concentrations (C v/v%, C' mol/1) giving the 1:1 tautomer ratios [C(A:B = 1:1), C'(A:B = 1:1)] were obtained from all compounds (Figures 1–13), and the linear correlation of the Hammett σ_p values with the log C'(A:B = 1:1) values were observed for compounds 1a-h. The larger Hammett σ_p values brought about the larger acid concentrations C(A:B = 1:1) in compounds 1a-h and 2a-e , indicating that the higher acid concentration was required for the stabilization of tautomer B possessing the electron-withdrawing p-substituents R¹, which weakened the basicity of the azo nitrogen atom. Moreover, the ester group R² of compounds 2a-e was found to decrease the electron density of the azo nitrogen atom, since the acid concentration C(A:B = 1:1) of compound 2c (R¹ = H, R² = COOMe, σ_p = O) was 52%, whose value was larger than that of compound 1b (R¹ = CN, R² = H, σ_p = 0.66) [C(A:B = 1:1) = 42%].     

Theoretical studies on QSAR and mechanism of 2‐indolinone derivatives as tubulin inhibitors

The theoretical studies on three‐dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship (3D‐QSAR) and action mechanism of a series of 2‐indolinone derivatives as tubulin inhibitors against human breast cancer cell line MDA‐MB‐231 have been carried out. The established 3D‐QSAR model from the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) shows not only significant statistical quality but also predictive ability, with high correlation coefficient (R² = 0.986) and cross‐validation coefficient (q² = 0.683). In particular, the appropriate binding orientations and conformations of these 2‐indolinone derivatives interacting with tubulin are located by docking study, and it is very interesting to find that the plot of the energy scores of these compounds in DOCK versus the corresponding experimental pIC₅₀ values exhibits a considerable linear correlation. Therefore, the inhibition mechanism that 2‐indolinone derivatives were regarded as tubulin inhibitors can be theoretically confirmed. Based on such an inhibition mechanism along with 3D‐QSAR results, some important factors improving the activities of these compounds were discussed in detail. These factors can be summarized as follows: the H atom adopted as substituent R₁, the substituent R₂ with higher electropositivity and smaller bulk, the substituents R₄–R₆ (on the phenyl ring) with higher electropositivity and larger bulk, and so on. These results can offer useful theoretical references for understanding the action mechanism, designing more potent inhibitors, and predicting their activities prior to synthesis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Negative ion mass spectra of metal complexes: Secondary electron capture and CS2 elimination from nickel (ii) dithiocarbamates

Negative ion mass spectra of series of bis-(N, N-dithiocarbamato)nickel(II) complexes of formula [NiS₂C·NR¹R²]₂ (where·NR¹R² ? ·NEt₂ ·NPr₂, ·NBu₂, pyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, morpholinyl, and ·NEtPh) have been obtained by secondary electron capture. Intense molecular anions are given for all compounds, with most fragments originating from these ions. Metastable data indicate that CS₂ is eliminated from all molecular anions.     

Relaxivity and Transmetallation Stability of New Benzyl‐Substituted Derivatives of Gadolinium?DTPA Complexes

In our efforts of finding new specific contrast agents of higher relaxivity and selectivity, we have prepared the two new benzyl‐functionalized DTPA (‘diethylenetriamine pentaacetate’) gadolinium complexes (S)‐ 3 and (R,S)‐ 4 , and compared their properties with those of the known regioisomers (S)‐ 2 and (S)‐ 1 . The theoretical fitting of the reduced transverse relaxation rates of the ¹⁷O‐nucleus of H₂O gave values for the water‐residence time (τ_M) of 86–143 ns at 310 K, values that are not limiting the proton relaxivity at body temperature. ¹H‐NMRD (nuclear magnetic‐relaxation dispersion) Profiles showed that the relaxivity of 1 – 4 (r₁=4.3–5.1 s^?1 mM ^?1 at 20 MHz and 310 K) is higher than for the Gd? DTPA parent compound 5 . Transmetallation assessment demonstrated that all substituted compounds, except for (S)‐ 2 , are more stable than 5 . The highest stability towards Zn²⁺‐induced transmetallation was achieved with complexes 3, 1 , and 4 (in decreasing order). Apparently, the steric hindrance of the benzyl substituents in positions 5, 4, and 2, respectively, favorably reduces the accessibility of Zn ions. From a synthetic point of view, 4‐substituted DTPA complexes of type 1 are more readily accessible than 5‐substituted compounds of type 3 . Therefore, the former seem to be superior for linking substituted DTPA complexes to macromolecules or specific vectors.     

Lignans from the seeds of Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida var. major N.E.Br.) against β-amyloid aggregation

Phytochemical investigation on the seeds of hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) led to the isolation of a new compound, (7′R, 8′R, 8S)-isolariciresinol (1), along with six known compounds (2–7). The structures of all compounds were determined based on spectroscopic data interpretation. The Aβ_1–42 inhibition activity of all isolated compounds was evaluated in vitro. As a result, compounds 5 and 6 showed stronger inhibition of Aβ_1–42 aggregation than curcumin, with inhibition rates of 70.59 and 68.14% at 20 μM. The possible mechanism of interaction between Aβ_1–42 and the active compounds 5 and 6 was also investigated by molecular docking.