Hyaluronic acid-copper(II) complexes: Spectroscopic characterization

Hyaluronic acid-copper(II) complexes were studied by ultraviolet and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), as well as by rheological measurements. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters were obtained from experimental spectra measured at 200 K by non-linear optimization method. These showg _x g _y <g _z and indicate the ground electronic state of copper ion, which is characteristic for carboxylato-copper(II) complexes. The non-axial symmetry of theg-tensor suggest rhombic crystal field symmetry. Formation of HA-Cu(II) complex is realized through the interaction of copper ions with carboxyl groups of the HA macromolecule. This complex is characteristic of the network-like rheological properties of its aqueous solution.     

The alpha-helix folds more rapidly at the C-terminus than at the N-terminus

The helix-coil dynamics of different sections of an alpha-helical model peptide were observed separately by nanosecond temperature jump experiments with IR detection on a series of isotopically labeled peptides. The results show that the helix-coil dynamics of the alpha-helical C-terminus are faster than those of the N-terminus.     

Investigation of oligomethylmethacrylate-lithium and its donor-acceptor complexes with organometal compounds by means of infrared spectroscopy

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in THF and toluene at ?70° was studied by means of i.r. spectroscopy. The reaction mixtures show characteristic absorption at 1600–1750 cm^?1 caused by the stretching vibrations of the propagating centre as well as by the groups obtained in side reactions (metal splitting, addition to a carbonyl group, cyclization). Sec-butyllithium is more effective in THF than n-butyllithium, ethyllithium and fluorenyllithium. When polymerizing in toluene, small amounts of a donor (THF or HMPT) cause formation of active centres similar to those in pure THF. The “living” ends of oligo-MMA form 1:1 complexes with electron acceptors such as trialkylaluminium and triethylboron.     

The synthesis of 8‐hydroxyquinazoline derivatives and their acid‐base interactions

The reaction of N‐(2‐R¹‐oxyphenyl)benzimidoyl chlorides with cyanamide derivatives in the presence of titanium tetrachloride as a catalyst has yielded some new 4‐amino‐8‐R¹‐oxy‐2‐phenylquinazolines. pK_a values have been determined for these compounds and the influence of substituents at the basicity of the parent system has been discussed. Some investigations on the methyl‐quinazolinyl ether cleavage in different medium have been done yielding the appropriate hydroxyquinazoline derivatives. In those cases when the deprotection of 4‐amino‐8‐methoxy‐2‐phenylquinazoline was carried in aqueous acidic solutions, the formation of the hydrolysis products 3,4‐dihydro‐2‐phenyl‐4‐quinazolone derivatives was observed as well.     

Multiple binding modes of the camptothecin family to DNA oligomers

The binding constants of camptothecin, topotecan and its lactone ring-opened carboxylate derivative to DNA octamers were measured by UV and NMR spectroscopy. The self-association of topotecan (TPT) was also measured. The carboxylate form of TPT binds in the same way as the lactone, but more weakly. Titration of TPT into d(GCGATCGC)2 shows a preferred location stacked onto the terminal G1 base. However, the intermolecular NOEs cannot be reconciled with a single conformation of the complex, and suggest a model of a limited number of conformations in fast exchange. MD calculations on four pairs of starting structures with TPT stacked onto the G1-C8 base pair in different orientations were therefore performed. The use of selected experimental "docking" restraints yielded ten MD trajectories covering a wide conformational space. From a combination of calculated free energies, NOEs and chemical shifts, some of the structures produced could be eliminated, and it is concluded that the data are consistent with two major families of conformations in fast exchange. One of these is the conformation found in a crystal of a TPT/DNA/topoisomerase I ternary complex [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2002, 99, 15 387-15 392].     

Zwitterionic titanoxanes {Cp[η-C5H4B(C6F5)3]Ti}2O and {(η-PrC5H4)[η-1,3-PrC5H3B(C6F5)3]Ti}2O as catalysts for cationic ring-opening polymerization

Zwitterionic titanoxanes {Cp[η⁵-C₅H₄B(C₆F₅)₃]Ti}₂O (I) and {(η⁵-ⁱPrC₅H₄)[η⁵-1,3-ⁱPrC₅H₃B(C₆F₅)₃]Ti}₂O (II), which contain two positively charged Ti(IV) centres in the molecule, are able to catalyse the ring-opening polymerization of -caprolactone (-CL) in toluene solution and in bulk. The process proceeds with a noticeable rate even at room temperature and accelerates strongly on raising the temperature to 60 °C. The best results have been obtained on carrying out the reaction in bulk. Under these conditions, the use of I as a catalyst (-CL:I = 1000:1) gives at 60 °C close to quantitative yield of poly--CL with the molecular mass of 197 000. An increase in the -CL:I ratio to 6000:1 increases the molecular mass of poly--CL to 530 000. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is also polymerized under the action of I albeit with a lesser rate. However, the molecular mass of the resulting poly-THF can reach rather big values under optimal conditions (up to 217 000 at 20 °C and the THF:I ratio of 770:1). A rise in the reaction temperature from 20 to 60 °C results here to a decrease in the efficiency of the process. Titanoxane II is close to I in its catalytic activity in the -CL polymerization but it is much less active in the polymerization of THF. Propylene oxide (PO), in contrast to -CL and THF, gives with I only liquid oligomers in wide temperature and PO:I molar ratio ranges (−30 to +20 °C, PO:I = 500–2000:1). γ-Butyrolactone and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone are not polymerized under the action of I at room temperature. The reactions found are the first examples of catalysis of the cationic ring-opening polymerization by zwitterionic metallocenes of the group IVB metals.     

Serendipitous synthesis of a ditwistane: a one-step access!

4-tert-Butyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one dimerizes in THF solution via its kinetic enolate, leading to di-tert-butylditwistane 8 in up to 36% yield (−78 °C → room temp., protonolysis, flash chromatography). X-ray crystallography shows that 8 incorporates one R and one S enantiomer of the starting ketone; none of the diastereomeric ditwistanes epi-8, epi’-8 or iso-8 was isolated. This means that the formation of 8 proceeds with mutual kinetic resolution and 100% induced diastereoselectivity.     

L-proline catalyzed asymmetric transfer aldol reaction between diacetone alcohol and aldehydes

We demonstrate for the first time, L-proline as a chiral catalyst for transfer aldol reaction between aldehydes and diacetone alcohol.     

Advanced kinetic tools for the evaluation of decomposition reactions

Summary An advanced kinetic study on the thermal behaviour of pyrotechnic ignition mixtures has been carried out by differential scanning calorimetry using different B/KNO3 mixtures (50:50, 30:70, 20:80) as a model reaction. The experimental conditions applied (isochoric conditions/closed crucibles and isobaric conditions/open crucibles) as well as the composition of the mixtures noticeably influences the relative thermal stabilities of the energetic materials. The kinetic study focused on the prediction of the thermal stability of the different mixtures both in extended temperature ranges and under temperature conditions at which ordinary investigation would be very difficult. Using advanced numerical tools [1], thermal ageing and influence of the complex thermal environment on the heat accumulation conditions were computed. This can be done for any surrounding temperature profile such as isothermal, non-isothermal, stepwise, modulated, shock, adiabatic conditions and additionally for temperature profiles reflecting real atmospheric temperature changes (yearly temperature profiles of different climates with daily minimal and maximal fluctuations). Applications of accurate decomposition kinetics enabled the determination of the time to maximum rate under adiabatic conditions (TMR_ad) with a precision given by the confidence interval of the predictions. This analysis can then be applied for the examination of the effects of the surrounding temperature for safe storage or transportation conditions (e.g. determination of the safe transport or storage temperatures).