Dansyl-Modified γ-Cyclodextrin as a fluorescent sensor for molecular recognition

The crystal structure of thiamine iodide sesquihydrate has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods as a host-guest model for coenzyme-substrate interactions. The asymmetric unit contains two chemical units. Both the thiamine molecules A and B, which are crystallographically independent, assume the usualF conformation and have a disordered hydroxyethyl side chain. An iodide anion (or a water molecule) bridges the pyrimidine and thiazolium rings of molecule A (or B) by forming a hydrogen bond with the amino group and an electrostatic contact with the thiazolium ring to stabilize the molecular conformation. In the crystal the thiamine molecules self-associate to form a pipe-like polymeric structure, in which four thiamine hosts surround an iodide guest and hold it through C(2)-H...I hydrogen bonds and thiazolium...I electrostatic interactions. Crystal data: C₁₂H₁₇N₄OS⁺·I^– · 1.5 H₂O, monoclinic,P2₁/c, a=12.585(2), b=25.303(5), c=12.030(2) Å, =115.15(1)°,V=3468(1) ų,Z=8,D _c=1.606 g cm^–3,R=0.045 for 3328 observed reflections. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP. 82156 (13 pages).     

Protonation-induced structural change of lyotropic liquid crystals in oley- and alkyldimethylamine oxides/water systems

Lyotropic phase behavior of the nonionic and the half-ionized oleyldimethylamine oxide (OlDMAO)/water systems was investigated using polarized light microscopy, small-angle X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Nonionic OlDMAO formed isotropic micellar solution, nematic, hexagonal, cubic, and lamellar liquid crystalline phases as the surfactant concentration increased. In contrast, half-ionized OlDMAO (i.e., 1:1 mixture of the nonionic and the protonated species) had a greater tendency to form bilayer structures, and the phase diagram became quite similar to those of double-chained ionic surfactants rather than single-chained ones, despite the introduction of positive charges to the nonionic one. The preference of the bilayer structures in the half-ionized OlDMAO was interpreted in terms of the dimers stabilized by the hydrogen bond between the nonionic and protonated species. For alkyldimethylamine oxides with a saturated hydrocarbon chain (CnDMAO, chain length: n = 14, 16, and 18), the phase sequence of lyotropic liquid crystals was hardly affected by the protonation, but an elongation of the cylinders of the hexagonal phase was observed for the half-ionized C14DMAO. Consequently, it can be considered that the dominant bilayer formation of the half-ionized OlDMAO is attributed to the combined effect of the hydrogen-bonded dimer formation and the cis-double-bond configuration of the alkyl chain.     

Coenzyme models. 32. Catalytic activity of polymer-bound thiazolium ions as estimated by flavin trapping technique

Three thiazolium-containing polymers, Th-7, Th-33, and Th-18-Py [where Th-x and Py mean x mol % thiazolium unit and pyridinium unit (54 mol %), respectively], were synthesized from partially p-chloromethylated polystyrene. The catalytic activities of these polymer catalysts in acyloin condensation of aldehydes and decarboxylation of α-keto acids were estimated kinetically by oxidative trapping of the key intermediate by flavin (flavin-trapping technique). In aqueous solution at 30°C, the catalytic activity of Th-18-Py and Th-33 in condensation of p-chlorobenzaldehyde was comparable with that of the cationic-micelle-bound thiazolium ion, whereas Th-7 and a monomeric thiazolium compound (N-benzylthiazolium bromide) scarcely exhibited any catalytic activity. The catalysis of the polymer-bound thiazolium ions was sensitively suppressed by increased ionic strength. These results suggest that the pendent thiazolium ion is activated by the relatively high charge density along the polymer chain: the cationic environment is able to facilitate dissociation of the thiazolium ion to the ylid form and deprotonation of the thiazolium-aldehyde adduct to the key intermediate.     

Langmuir-Blodgett films of a clay mineral and ruthenium(II) complexes with a noncentrosymmetric structure

Mono- and multilayers of amphiphilic [Ru(phen)(2)(dcC12bpy)](2+) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dcC12bpy = 4,4'-caboxyl-2,2'-bipyridyl didodecyl ester) hybridized with a clay mineral have been prepared by a modified Langmuir-Blodgett method, and their structures and properties have been investigated. Formation of a hybrid monolayer of the Ru(II) complex cations and the clay platelets at an air-clay suspension interface was confirmed by surface pressure-molecular area (pi-A) isotherm measurement and atomic force microscopic (AFM) observation. Multilayers were fabricated by depositing the hybrid monolayers onto glass substrates. The absorbance at 492 nm due to the Ru(II) complex cation in the multilayer increased linearly with the increase in the layer number, indicating layer-by-layer deposition of the hybrid monolayers. Because no increase in the second-harmonic generation (SHG) signal from the multilayers against the layer number was observed, the orientation of the Ru(II) complex cations in the layer would be disturbed. The hydrophilic surface of the transferred hybrid monolayer can be converted to a hydrophobic surface by dipping it in an aqueous solution of octadecylammonium chloride (ODAH(+)Cl(-)). The multilayers modified with ODAH(+) showed a quadratic relation between the SHG intensity and the layer number. This means that the Ru(II) complex cations in the multilayer are successfully oriented in a noncentrosymmetric way by the conversion of the surface property. Both a racemic mixture and an enantiomer of the Ru(II) complex cations were employed to examine the chiral effect on the film properties. The chiral contribution to the SHG signal was enhanced in the multilayer modified with ODAH(+).     

Fabrication of high performance thin films from metal fluorocomplex aqueous solution by the liquid phase deposition

The hetro-structured oxide thin films from metal fluorocomplex solution have been prepared by the liquid phase deposition (LPD) method. The Pt/Nb₂O₅ and Au/Nb₂O₅ composite films can be prepared from a mixed solution of niobium source, H₃BO₃, Pt(NH₃)₄Cl₂ and HAuCl₄ aqueous solutions under the ambient temperature and atmosphere. In the case of Au/SiO₂ composite film, (NH₄)₂SiF₆ solution is used as a mother solution. The Pt and Au ionic species are deposited in Nb₂O₅ and SiO₂ matrices. They are reduced to their metallic state after treatment above 200 °C. The size of dispersed particles can be controlled by heat treatment temperature. It is also clear that, gold nanoparticles are also found to interact with SiO₂, although the interaction is smaller than that with Nb₂O₅ showing the size of Au nanoparticles remain smaller in Nb₂O₅ that in SiO₂.     

Negative ion mass spectra of chlorine-containing molecules

The negative ion mass spectra of chlorine-containing molecules have been measured using a double focusing mass spectrometer with a photographic plate detector. The formulae of the negative ions not previously assigned using an electron multiplier detector have now been assigned.     

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of zinc in coal fly ash and pond sediments with 2-[2-(3,5-dibromopyridyl)azo]-5-dimethylaminobenzoic acid

An extraction-spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of traces of zinc with 2-[2-(3,5-dibromopyridyl)azo]-5-dimethylaminobenzoic acid. The reagent forms a stable, blue 1:2 zinc/reagent complex that can be extracted into chloroform. The apparent molar absorptivity of the zinc(II) complex is 1.26 × 10⁵ l mol^?1 cm^?1 at 610 nm in chloroform. The reagent is relatively selective; interferences from cobalt, copper and nickel can be masked with dimethylglyoxime and aluminium and iron with a mixture of sodium fluoride and triethanolamine. The method is applied to the determination of zinc in coal fly ash and pond sediments with good precision and accuracy.     

Some triplet energy-transfer reactions initiated by photoexcitation of triplet excited state of dibenz[a,h]anthracene to the higher triplet excited states

Some triplet energy-transfer reactions initiated by photoexcitation of the triplet excited state of dibenz[a,h]anthracene to higher triplet excited states (DBA(T_n)) were observed in the presence of the triplet energy quenchers (Q) such as naphthalene, biphenyl, p-dichlorobenzene, and o-dicyanobenzene. In the case of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) as Q, DBA(T_n)-sensitized decomposition of CCl₄ occurred.     

Novel method to control release of lipophilic drugs with high potency from silicone

Silicone has been utilized as a carrier material for sustained release system of lipophilic drugs. Extensive studies revealed that drug release rate is influenced by factors such as physicochemical properties of the drug and additives.(1-5)) When a lipophilic drug is highly potent at low concentrations, the drug release rate should be strictly controlled so as to avoid side effects. In this study, using vitamin D(3) (VD(3)) as an example of such drugs, we investigated novel method to suppress initial burst and to modify drug release rate from silicone matrix. As a result, it was found that (a). addition of human serum albumin (HSA) suppressed initial burst and enhanced release rate in the later stage, resulting constant release of VD(3), (b). covering a matrix formulation with a membrane of low diffusivity (core-rod formulation) suppressed initial burst and released drug in a constant rate, and (3) using materials for which the drug has high affinity as dissolution solvent (reservoir formulation), the drug release rate was reduced.