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].     

Desorption of chloroorganic compounds from a bed of activated carbon

The desorption of 1,2-dichloroethane from a bed of DTO activated carbon after adsorption from aqueous solution has been investigated. The desorption process was carried out using steam. The basic characteristics of the process were determined. The studies were performed in the temperature range 100-160 degrees C. A steam consumption indicator reduces with an increase of temperature from 100 to 140 degrees C. An elevation of temperature above 140 degrees C does not cause an improvement in the desorption efficiency. The number of performed cycles does not reduce the adsorption capacity of used activated carbon. Studies on the regeneration of the bed saturated with a seven-component mixture of chloroorganic compounds at temperature of 140 degrees C were carried out. The degree of removal of the sum of chloro-derivatives exceeded 0.96 at a volume ratio of steam (recalculated on the condensate) to bed of about 10. It was found that the dechlorination proceeds during desorption at elevated temperature. The quantitative ratio of chloro-derivatives in the desorbate was changed in comparison to the composition of wastewater directed to the adsorption.     

Synthesis of highly substituted meso-tetraarylporphyrins

meso-Tetraphenylporphyrin (and its derivatives), in the reaction with fuming yellow nitric acid (d=1.53), form either 5-(4-nitroaryl)-10,15,20-triarylporphyrin, 5,10-bis(4-nitroaryl)-15,20-diarylporphyrin, or 5,10,15-tris(4-nitroaryl)-20-arylporphyrin, depending on the reaction temperature (0-20 °C), amounts of the acid used, and reaction time. The above nitroporphyrins react, in the presence of a base (t-BuOK) at 0 °C, with carbanions (which bear nucleophugal groups at the carbanionic center: ⁻CH(Cl)SO₂Tol, ⁻CH(Br)SO₂Tol, and ⁻CH(Cl)SO₂NMe₂), leading to the nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen in one or more of the meso-nitroaryl rings. By this route, the preparation of the highly substituted ‘synthetic’ porphyrins (bearing up to ten O-, N-, Cl-, or C-substituents) was demonstrated.     

Ferrocenecarbothioamide and N-ethoxycarbonylferrocenecarbothioamide: Synthesis, structure and application in synthesis of 2,4-diferrocenylthiazole

Ferrocenecarbothioamide (1) and its N-ethoxycarbonyl derivative (2) were synthesised by a Friedel-Crafts type reaction of ferrocene with potassium thiocyanate and ethoxycarbonyl isothiocyanate, respectively, in a strongly acidic medium. The X-ray structure of 1 was determined and shows conjugation between the ferrocene moiety and the thioamido group. Compound 1 reacts with chloroacetylferrocene affording 2,4-diferrocenylthiazole, whose structure was determined by X-ray diffraction and electronic properties studied by cyclic voltammetry.     

NMR spectra of salicylohydroxamic acid in DMSO-d6 solution: a DFT study

The ¹H, ¹³C and ¹H, ¹³C COSY NMR spectra of salicylohydroxamic acid (sha) were measured in DMSO-d₆ solution. The B3LYP GIAO method with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set was chosen to reproduce the experimental spectra. All possible zusammen and entgegen conformers of monomeric sha were computed. After geometry optimisation (B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)) only nine independent models of the molecule were shown to be stable. Additionally, the NMR chemical shifts of the Onsager model of the most stable monomer were calculated. The computed chemical shifts for the labile protons for all aforementioned geometries meaningfully underestimated experimental results suggesting the existence of the H-bonded structure of sha in DMSO solution. The most probable two dimeric structures along with two solvent-bounded aggregates were subsequently calculated at the same level of theory. The best agreement was obtained for sha H-bonded with two DMSO molecules (confirmed by the absence of concentration effect). The relative error not exceeding 10 and 4% for chemical shifts in ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of sha–(DMSO)₂, respectively, showed that the applied method with the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) basis set was efficient to predict the NMR shifts of a compound with strong H-bonds. Thus, this allows to assign properly NMR resonances to specific structure formed in DMSO solution.     

A Stopped-flow Study on the Kinetics and Mechanism of CO2 Uptake by the cis-[Cr(1,10-phenanthroline)2(OH2)2]3+ Complex Ion

The kinetics of the reaction between gaseous CO₂ and the cis-[Cr(phen)₂(OH₂)₂]³⁺ ion leading to the formation of the carbonato complex ion, have been studied over the pH and temperature ranges: 3 < pH < 6 and 5 < T < 25 °C, respectively, at a constant ionic strength of 1 m (NaClO₄). Investigations were carried out using the stopped-flow spectrophotometry technique in the UV–Vis range: 340–700 nm. The major reactant species in the pH range studied was cis-[Cr(phen)₂(OH)(OH₂)]²⁺ ion, which underwent reaction with CO₂ to form cis-[Cr(phen)₂(OH₂)(HCO₃)]²⁺ ion. Subsequently, slower ring closure of the latter species to form the bidentate carbonato chelate was observed. The possible mechanism has been discussed and the activation parameters ΔH^† and ΔS^† were also determined for the reaction studied.     

Incorporation of Na(+),K(+)-ATP-ase into the thiolipid biomimetic assemblies via the fusion of proteoliposomes

The black lipid membranes (BLMs) are artificial membrane systems that have been widely used in the study of different biological processes. In this paper the planar bilayer lipid membranes have been used to study the behavior of thiolipid molecules-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine-mercaptopropionamide (DPPE-MPA) and cholesteryl 3-mercaptopropionate (Chs-MPA)-as compared to classical BLM made of natural lipids. We present our experiments on black thiolipid bilayer (BTM) formation from a thiolipid solution and basic results of pump currents generated by sodium-potassium pump-Na(+),K(+)-ATP-ase-introduced to such bilayer systems via proteoliposome adsorption with subsequent fusion. Our results imply that no substantial difference exists between BLMs formed from classical lipids and those made from thiolipids used in this study. The same thiolipid molecules were subsequently used for the formation of covalently bound, tethered bilayer lipid membranes (t-BLMs) on polycrystalline gold electrodes. Similarly, as in the case of BLMs, we took advantage of proteoliposome adsorption/fusion to obtain a t-BLM system with reconstituted enzyme. The vesicle fusion on hydrophobic or hydrophilic substrates is one of the main ways to obtain a bilayer system with incorporated biological species. In this paper we present also our preliminary results of electrochemical experiments using rapid solution exchange technique on such t-BLMs systems and their comparison with painted solid supported membranes (SSMs) and BLMs. We have also followed the process of vesicles fusion onto thiolipid monolayer by means of in situ atomic force microscopy in tapping mode (TM-AFM). On the basis of these experiments, we conclude that DPPE-MPA and Chs-MPA molecules used in our experiments preserve lipid properties, allowing for at least partial reconstitution of Na(+),K(+)-ATP-ase into such t-BLMs. On the other hand, the relatively compact organization on polycrystalline gold and the hydrophobic nature of the first monolayer of tethered thiolipids slows down the proteoliposome fusion onto such monolayers and consequently hinders the protein insertion. However, this effect can be overcome by mechanical stimulus that facilitates proteoliposome delamination onto the self-assembled monolayer.     

New type of thermoplastic multiblock elastomers––poly(ester-block-amide)s––based on oligoamide 12 and oligoester prepared from dimerized fatty acid

Multiblock poly(ester-block-amide)s (PEA) elastomers comprising hard blocks of oligoamide and oligoester soft segments were prepared and their structure-property relations were analysed. The polycondensation reaction of oligoesters (prepared from 1,4-butanediol and dimerized fatty acid) with oligolaurolactam (PA12) gave copolymer series with variable blocks content (the soft segments content was varied from 24 to 60 wt.%). PEAs are the phase system composed of crystallised sequences of oligoamide (hard segment phase) as well as oligoesters (soft segment phase). Mixing between the hard and soft phases was studied by thermal and mechanical measurements (DSC, DMTA). These results have indicated on a multiphase structure of investigated materials. The relationship between the observed thermal and tensile properties and the soft/hard segments content indicated on an increase of the phase separation with soft segments content.     

Anion-sealed single-molecule capsules

A new approach to anion recognition utilizing electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions has been demonstrated by placement of the whole ion-pair in a molecular capsule.     

A new strategy for the synthesis of pendant benzodiazacoronands and their use as components of chromatographic stationary phases

The synthesis of a novel class of functionalized benzophanes in which a (2′-hydroxy)ethoxy pendant arm is attached to the phenyl ring is reported. The reported approach, utilizes simple starting materials, and skillful organization of the synthetic steps allows for simultaneous transforms of the macrocyclic ring and the pendant arm. Binding studies of these systems with Pd²⁺ and Cd²⁺ cations is described. A chromatographic stationary phase containing the benzodiazacoronand moiety was also synthesized, and found to interact specifically with isomeric nitrobenzene derivatives.