Molecular dynamics and information on possible sites of interaction of intramyocellular metabolites in vivo from resolved dipolar couplings in localized H NMR spectra

Proton NMR resonances of the endogenous metabolites creatine and phosphocreatine ((P)Cr), taurine (Tau), and carnosine (Cs, β-alanyl-l-histidine) were studied with regard to residual dipolar couplings and molecular mobility. We present an analysis of the direct ¹H–¹H interaction that provides information on motional reorientation of subgroups in these molecules in vivo. For this purpose, localized ¹H NMR experiments were performed on m. gastrocnemius of healthy volunteers using a 1.5-T clinical whole-body MR scanner. We evaluated the observable dipolar coupling strength SD₀ (S = order parameter) of the (P)Cr-methyl triplet and the Tau-methylene doublet by means of the apparent line splitting. These were compared to the dipolar coupling strength of the (P)Cr-methylene doublet. In contrast to the aliphatic protons of (P)Cr and Tau, the aromatic H2 (δ = 8 ppm) and H4 (δ = 7 ppm) protons of the imidazole ring of Cs exhibit second-order spectra at 1.5 T. This effect is the consequence of incomplete transition from Zeeman to Paschen-Back regime and allows a determination of SD₀ from H2 and H4 of Cs as an alternative to evaluating the multiplet splitting which can be measured directly in high-resolution ¹H NMR spectra. Experimental data showed striking differences in the mobility of the metabolites when the dipolar coupling constant D₀ (calculated with the internuclear distance known from molecular geometry in the case of complete absence of molecular dynamics and motion) is used for comparison. The aliphatic signals involve very small order parameters S ≈ (1.4 − 3) × 10⁻⁴ indicating rapid reorientation of the corresponding subgroups in these metabolites. In contrast, analysis of the Cs resonances yielded S ≈ (113 − 137) × 10⁻⁴. Thus, the immobilization of the Cs imidazole ring owing to an anisotropic cellular substructure in human m. gastrocnemius is much more effective than for (P)Cr and Tau subgroups. Furthermore, ¹H NMR experiments on aqueous model solutions of histidine and N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA) enabled the assignment of an additional signal component at δ = 8 ppm of Cs in vivo to the amide group at the peptide bond. The visibility of this proton could result from hydrogen bonding which would agree with the anticipated stronger motional restriction of Cs. Referring to the observation that all dipolar-coupled multiplets resolved in localized in vivo ¹H NMR spectra of human m. gastrocnemius collapse simultaneously when the fibre structure is tilted towards the magic angle (θ ≈ 55°), a common model for molecular confinement in muscle tissue is proposed on the basis of an interaction of the studied metabolites with myocellular membrane phospholipids.     

Some probabilistic and extremal results on subdivisions and odd subdivisions of graphs

A probabilistic result of Bollobás and Catlin concerning the largest integer p so that a subdivision of K_p is contained in a random graph is generalized to a result concerning the largest integer p so that a subdivision of A_p is contained in a random graph for some sequence A₁, A₂,… of graphs such that A_i+1 contains a subdivision of A_i. A similar result is proved for subdivisions with odd paths or cycles. The result is applied to disprove a conjecture of Chartrand, Geller, and Hedetniemi. The maximum number of edges in a graph without a subdivision of K_p, p = 4, 5, with odd paths or cycles is determined.     

Quecksilber(II)‐chlorid‐ und ‐iodid‐Komplexe von Dithia‐ und Tetrathiakronenethern

Mercury(II) Chloride and Iodide Complexes of Dithia‐ and Tetrathiacrown Ethers The complexes [(HgCl₂)₂((ch)₂30S₄O₆)] ( 1 ), [HgCl₂(mn21S₂O₅)] ( 2 ), [HgCl₂(ch18S₂O₄)] ( 3 ) and [HgI(meb12S₂O₂)]₂[Hg₂I₆] ( 4 ) have been synthesized, characterized and their crystal structures were determined. In [(HgCl₂)₂((ch)₂30S₄O₆)] two HgCl₂ units are discretely bonded within the ligand cavity of the 30‐membered dichinoxaline‐tetrathia‐30‐crown‐10 ((ch)₂30S₄O₆) forming a binuclear complex. HgCl₂ forms 1 : 1 “in‐cavity” complexes with the 21‐membered maleonitrile‐dithia‐21‐crown‐7 (mn21S₂O₅) ligand and the 18‐membered chinoxaline‐dithia‐18‐crown‐6 (ch18S₂O₄) ligand, respectively. The 12‐membered 4‐methyl‐benzo‐dithia‐12‐crown‐4 (meb12S₂O₂) ligand gave with two equivalents HgI₂ the compound [HgI(meb12S₂O₂)]₂[Hg₂I₆]. In the cation [HgI(meb12S₂O₂)]⁺ meb12S₂O₂ forms with the cation HgI⁺ a half‐sandwich complex.     

Double photoionisation spectra of small molecules and a new empirical rule for double ionisation energies

Complete double photoelectron spectra are presented for 18 small molecules where the location of charges in the cations and dications is relatively clearly defined. The data demonstrate the importance of a coulombic repulsion contribution to the double ionisation energies. Examination of data for a wide range of molecules leads to a new empirical rule to calculate double ionisation energies from the molecules’ single ionisation energies and maximum dimensions. Where single and double ionisation energies are known the rule allows the deduction of plausible intercharge distances.     

A method for nitration of thiazoles

Nitrations of some sensitive thiazole derivatives with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid-trifluoro-methanesulfonic anhydride.-potassium nitrate in 1,2-dichloroethane gave significantly higher yields of the nitro compounds in comparison with nitrations in sulfuric acid-nitric acid mixtures.     

Monte Carlo simulation of RRKM unimolecular decomposition in molecular beam experiments. I. Basic considerations and calculational procedure

A simulation method is described for the comparison of a molecular decomposition theory, based on the fundamental RRKM theory, with crossed molecular beam experiments. In the present formulation, the method is applied to the case with long-lived collision complexes surrounded by a centrifugal barrier. The procedure uses Monte Carlo techniques to simulate the formation and decomposition of the complexes, thus effectively solving the high-dimensional integrals resulting but seldom solved in the analytical treatments. Several computational problems, like singularities in the c.m. angular distributions, have been circumvented in this procedure. Angular momentum conservation, the simultaneous interaction of several decomposition channels and strict flux conservation are included in the procedure. Dynamical features can be introduced, as will be shown in forthcoming papers.     

Photoinduced electron transfer in platinum(II) terpyridinyl acetylide complexes connected to a porphyrin unit

A series of six new dyads consisting of a zinc or magnesium porphyrin appended to a platinum terpyridine acetylide complex via a para-phenylene bisacetylene spacer are described. Different substituents on the 4' position of the terpyridinyl ligand were explored (OC7H15, PO3Et2, and H). The ground-state electronic properties of the dyads are studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy and electrochemistry, and they indicate some electronic interactions between the porphyrin subunit and the platinum complex. The photophysical properties of these dyads were investigated by steady-state, time-resolved, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in N,N-dimethylformamide solution. Excitation of the porphyrin unit leads to a very rapid electron transfer (2-20 ps) to the nearby platinum complex followed by an ultrafast charge recombination, thus preventing any observation of the charge separated state. The variation in the rate of the photoinduced electron transfer in the series of dyads is consistent with Marcus theory. The results underscore the potential of the para-phenylene bisacetylene bridge to mediate a rapid electron transfer over a long donor-acceptor distance.     

Electrochemical techniques for lab-on-a-chip applications

During the last few years there has been a rapid increase in the use of electrochemical reactions in lab-on-a-chip devices. This development, which has so far mainly focussed on electrochemical detection in chip-based capillary electrophoresis, can be explained by the fact that electrochemical techniques and devices are particularly well-suited for inclusion in lab-on-a-chip systems. The most important reason for this is that the required electrodes can readily be manufactured and miniaturised without loss of analytical performance using conventional microfabrication methods. In this Research Highlight article, the developments during the last three years concerning electrochemical techniques for lab on-a-chip applications are discussed, with particular focus on emerging electrochemical methods for sample clean-up and preconcentration, electrochemical derivatisation and electrochemical detection in chip-based capillary electrophoresis.     

Synthesis and photophysics of one mononuclear Mn(III) and one dinuclear Mn(III,III) complex covalently linked to a ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridyl) complex

The preparation of donor (D)-photosensitizer (S) arrays, consisting of a manganese complex as D and a ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) complex as S has been pursued. Two new ruthenium complexes containing coordinating sites for one (2a) and two manganese ions (3a) were prepared in order to provide models for the donor side of photosystem II in green plants. The manganese coordinating site consists of bridging and terminal phenolate as well as terminal pyridyl ligands. The corresponding ruthenium-manganese complexes, a manganese monomer 2b and dimer 3b, were obtained. For the dimer 3b, our data suggest that intramolecular electron transfer from manganese to photogenerated ruthenium(III) is fast, k(ET) > 5 x 10(7) s(-)(1).