Complexation of well-controlled low-molecular weight polyelectrolytes with antisense oligonucleotides

The influences of polymer-related properties such as molecular weight, charge density, counter ion, and hydrophilic block on the complexation of polyelectrolytes and a fluorescein-labeled oligonucleotide (ON) were investigated. A series of well-defined and well-controlled 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) polymers and block copolymers were prepared using living anionic and radical polymerization methods. Fluorescence measurement was used to reveal the effects of polymer molecular weight, charge density, and counter ion type on the complexation. PolyDMAEMA samples having double molecular weights of the chosen oligonucleotide gave the optimal complexation performance. Kinetic studies showed that high-molecular weight/high-charge density polymer samples produced very stable complexes. The fully charged polyDMAEMA displayed the strongest binding with the ON. These complexes were therefore less sensitive to the changes in the environment. PolyDMAEMA–DMSQ samples had slightly higher complexation ability than polyDMAEMA–MCQ (DMSQ: dimethylsulfate quat; MCQ: methylchloride quat). Both poly(DMAEMA-b-HEMA) and poly(DMAEMA–MCQ-b-PEG) block copolymers showed good complexation ability and steric stability [HEMA: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate; PEG: poly(ethylene glycol)]. PEG, but not HEMA block, enhanced the effectiveness of polyDMAEMA–MCQ binding with the ON.     

Determination of aromatic sulfonic acids in industrial waste water by ion-pair chromatography

A method for the identification and quantification of aromatic sulfonic acids in industrial waste water has been developed. The preparation of the samples comprises a clean-up step and an enrichment step, utilizing i) reversed-phase extraction and ii) ion-pair solid phase extraction. The aromatic sulfonic acids are separated by ion-pair chromatography with diode-array detection. An advantage of the developed ion-pair chromatographic method is the separation of linear alkylbenzenesulfonic acids (LAS), lignosulfonic acids and aromatic sulfonic acids in one chromatographic run. Also described is an optimized clean-up procedure for collected fractions of a preparative chromatographic run to identify monosulfonic acids with GC/MS after methylation. The detection limits for aromatic sulfonic acids in industrial waste waters are at the g/l level.     

Extension of conjugation leading to bathochromic or hypsochromic effects in OPV series

Four OPV series 1-4 (a-d) with a terminal dialkylamino group as electron donor were prepared by Wittig-Horner reactions. To study the influence of the push-pull effect on the long-wavelength absorption, three of the four series contained terminal acceptor groups (CN, CHO, NO(2)). The length of the chromophores strongly affects the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-an effect which superimposes upon the extension of the conjugation. Increasing numbers n of repeat units cause an overall bathochromic shift for the purely donor-substituted series 1 a-4 a and the series 1 b-4 b with CN as weak acceptor. The two effects annihilate each other in the series 1 c-4 c with terminal CHO groups, so that the absorption maxima are almost independent of the length of the chromophore. A hypsochromic shift is observed for the series 1 d-4 d, which contains the strong acceptor group NO(2). This anomaly disappears on protonation of the dialkylamino group because the push-pull effect disappears in the ammonium salts. The results can be explained by semiempirical quantum mechanics (AM1, INDO/S). The HOMO-LUMO transition, which is mainly responsible for the ICT, becomes less important in the electron transitions S(0)-->S(1) when the distance between donor and acceptor is increased. The commonly used VB model, which contains an electroneutral and a zwitterionic resonance structure, is contrasted with a MO model with dipole segments at both ends of the OPV chains. The latter model turned out to be more appropriate-at least for donor-acceptor-substituted OPVs with n >/= 2.     

Structural Patterns and Dimensionality in Magnesium Borophosphates: The Crystal Structures of Mg2(H2O)[BP3O9(OH)4] and Mg(H2O)2[B2P2O8(OH)2]·H2O

Hydrothermal investigations in the system MgO/B₂O₃/P₂O₅(/H₂O) yielded two new magnesium borophosphates, Mg₂(H₂O)[BP₃O₉(OH)₄] and Mg(H₂O)₂[B₂P₂O₈(OH)₂]·H₂O. The crystal structures were solved by means of single crystal X‐ray diffraction. While the acentric crystal structure of Mg₂(H₂O)[BP₃O₉(OH)₄] (orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁ (No. 19), a = 709.44(5) pm, b = 859.70(4) pm, c = 1635.1(1) pm, V = 997.3(3) × 10⁶ pm³, Z = 4) contains 1D infinite chains of magnesium coordination octahedra interconnected by a borophosphate tetramer, Mg(H₂O)₂[B₂P₂O₈(OH)₂]·H₂O (monoclinic, P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 776.04(5) pm, b = 1464.26(9) pm, c = 824.10(4) pm, β = 90.25(1)°, V = 936.44(9) × 10⁶ pm³,Z = 4) represents the first layered borophosphate with 6³ net topology. The structures are discussed and classified in terms of structural systematics.     

Equilibrating parent aminomercaptocarbene and CO2 with 2-amino-2-thioxoacetic acid via heavy-atom quantum tunneling

The search for methods to bind CO₂ and use it synthetically as a C₁-building block under mild conditions is an ongoing endeavor of great urgency. The formation of heterocyclic carbene–carbon dioxide adducts occurs rapidly when the carbene is generated in solution in the presence of CO₂. Here we demonstrate the reversible formation of a complex of the hitherto unreported aminomercaptocarbene (H₂N–$\ddot{C}$–SH) with CO₂ isolated in solid argon by photolysis of 2-amino-2-thioxoacetic acid. Remarkably, the complex disappears in the dark as deduced by time-dependent matrix infrared measurements, and equilibrates back to the covalently bound starting material. This kinetically excluded process below ca. 8 K is made possible through heavy-atom quantum mechanical tunneling, as also evident from density functional theory and ab initio computations at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Our results provide insight into CO₂ activation using a carbene and emphasize the role of quantum mechanical tunneling in organic processes, even involving heavy atoms.

A novel heterosubstituted carbene spontaneously binds CO₂ in a tunneling reaction under cryogenic conditions.     

Hypernuclear physics at \overline{\mbox{P}} anda

Samples obtained as a result of the valleriite synthesis process under different conditions (temperature and proportion Cu:Fe:Mg in the initial mixture) were investigated by ⁵⁷Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy with attraction data of X-ray diffraction. Parameters of hyperfine interactions for valleriite were determined and crystal chemical identification of ⁵⁷Fe subspectra was carried out. It was found that valleriite was formed in samples synthesized at 150°C and 180°C and not formed in samples synthesized at 250°C.