Une extension de la méthode CNDO/2 á l'étude des complexes d'éléments de transition

An extension of the CNDO/2 formalism, similar to the method of Clack, Hush and Yandle but with a different parametrisation, is proposed for investigating the electronic structure of transition metal complexes. The results for Ni(CO)₄ and Ni(PF₃)₄ agree well with those ofab initio calculations and with some experimental data. Such a semi-empirical approach may be performed, usingab initio results as reference data, in order to interpret the physical and chemical behaviour of largeseries of complexes in their ground state.

     

Recognition of RNA by amide modified backbone nucleic acids: molecular dynamics simulations of DNA-RNA hybrids in aqueous solution

Thermodynamic and structural properties of a chemically modified DNA-RNA hybrid in which a phosphodiester linkage is replaced by a neutral amide-3 linkage (3'-CH(2)-CONH-5') were investigated using UV melting experiments, molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water, and continuum solvent models. van't Hoff analysis of the experimental UV melting curves suggests that the significant increase of the thermodynamic stability of a 15-mer DNA-RNA with seven alternated amide-3 modifications (+11 degrees C) is mainly due to an increased binding enthalpy. To further evaluate the origin in the observed affinities differences, the electrostatic contribution to the binding free energy was calculated by solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation numerically. The nonelectrostatic contribution was estimated as the product of a hydrophobic surface tension coefficient and the surface area that is buried upon double strand formation. Structures were taken from 10 ns molecular dynamics simulations computed in a consistent fashion using explicit solvent, counterions, and the particle-mesh Ewald procedure. The present preliminary thermodynamic study suggests that the favorable binding free energy of the amide-3 DNA single strand to the complementary RNA is equally driven by electrostatic and nonpolar contributions to the binding compared to their natural analogues. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water were performed on an amide-3 DNA single strand and the corresponding natural DNA. Results from the conformations cluster analysis of the simulated amide-3 DNA single strand ensembles suggest that the 25% of the population sampled within 10 ns has a pre-organized conformation where the sugar C3' endo pucker is favored at the 3'-flanking nucleotides. These structural and thermodynamic features contribute to the understanding of the observed increased affinities of the amide-3 DNA-RNA hybrids at the microscopic level.     

Easy access to phosphonothioates

A new and particularly mild method for the formation of phosphorus-sulfur bonds has been achieved through base-catalyzed addition of thiocyanate to the corresponding H-phosphine oxide, phosphinate, or phosphonate. This reaction procedure offers many advantages: the use as starting material of a stable and not oxygen-sensitive phosphorus(v) species, particularly mild and nonaqueous reaction conditions and workup (a pivotal point for these sensitive phosphonothioates), and, through optimized access to thiocyanates, a wider scope of substrates. This method has been applied to achieve the synthesis of substrate analogues for the study of antibody-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor PhX (11).     

Titanium catalysis in the Ugi reaction of alpha-amino acids with aromatic aldehydes

[reaction: see text] Ugi reaction between an (S)-alpha-amino acid, an aromatic aldehyde, and an isonitrile proceeds best under catalysis by TiCl(4) in MeOH. The sense of diastereoinduction is (S,S).     

Thin films of metal dibenzotetraaza [14] annulene complexes.: Part 3. Dimerization and alternated dimerizations of γ-substituted Ni complexes

The electrochemical behaviour of some Ni γ-monosubstituted dibenzotetraaza [14] annulene complexes has been investigated. The oxidation in CH₂Cl₂ of the complex containing a 4-carboxybenzyl group leads to the corresponding γ-γ dimer whose electrochemical properties have been studied. The electrode surface can be coated by thin films of this dimer using CH₃CN instead of CH₂Cl₂; however, the resulting modified electrode is poorly stable. The oxidation of the complex containing 1-(4-carboxybenzyl)pyrrole as γ substituent involves γ-γ dimer formation before the formation of a regular polypyrrole film. The film displays reversible electrochemical reduction of the metal centre (Ni(II)/Ni(I)) and two successive oxidations of the macrocycle (Mc/Mc^•+ and Mc^•+/Mc²⁺). The complex containing a bromo(4-carboxybenzyl) group offers an unusual feature in that polymeric films can be obtained following an original procedure based on alternated dimerizations. This is a consequence of the formation of two different dimers obtained by anodic and cathodic processes.     

Polyvinylchloride stabilisation with organotin compounds—Part III: Effect of lewis acidity and co-ordination of organotin chlorides upon their catalytic activity towards dehydrochlorination

The catalysis of the E2 dehydrochlorination of a model compound for the allylic chlorine atoms in PVC involves the co-ordination of this chlorine to the tin atom. It is enhanced by an increase in the Lewis acidity of the tin chloride compound (scaled by Mossbauer spectroscopy), but may be inhibited if other groups, internal or external, are competing for the co-ordination. HCl may be one of these competitors, although, in some cases, it breaks the weakest tin—carbon bonds, giving rise to stronger prodegradant Lewis acids.     

Stereochemistry of the tin—carbon bond: II. Brominolysis of a series of exo- and endo-2-triorganostannylnorbornanes

The brominolysis of a series of exo- and endo-2-triorganostannylnorbornanes with methyl, isopropyl, neopentyl and cyclohexyl as substituents on tin, proceeds with inversion of configuration for the endo-carbon—tin bond and with retention of configuration for the exo-carbon—tin bond. The norbornyl system seems to favour the exo-approach of the electrophile.     

Aptamer-oligonucleotide binding studied by capillary electrophoresis: cation effect and separation efficiency

Novel features of DNA structure, recognition and discrimination have been recently elucidated through the solution structural characterization of DNA aptamers that bind cofactors, amino acids and peptides with high affinity and specificity. Multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance methodologies have been successfully applied to solve the solution structures. In this work, it was demonstrated that capillary electrophoresis was a powerful tool allowing the fundamental study of the binding mechanism between a DNA aptamer and three ligands, adenosine and adenylate compounds, i.e., adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In order to gain further insight into this binding, thermodynamic measurements under different values of parameters (such as salt nature and its concentration (x) in the run buffer) were carried out. The results showed that dehydration at the binding interface, van der Waals interactions, H-bonding and adjustment of the aptamer recognition surface were implied in the aptamer-ligand association. As well, it was demonstrated that the addition in the medium of the sodium monovalent cation Na(+) or the nickel divalent cation Ni(2+) decreased the complex formation. Separation efficiency and peak shape can also be improved by Mg(2+) divalent cation, which increased the mass transfer kinetics during the ligand-aptamer binding process. A significant separation for the worst separated pair of peaks on the electropherogram ((ADP, ATP) peak pair) was thus achieved.     

Reverse hydrolysis reaction in aqueous medium without any cosolvent

The synthesis of L-tyrosine fructosyl ester, from fructose and L-tyrosine methyl ester, was carried out by a transesterification reaction catalyzed by α-chymotrypsin in water without cosolvent. The effect of fructose concentration and temperature for the transesterification reaction were determined on both specific activities and product yield. The influence of the presence of fructose has been studied regarding α-chymotrypsin and L-tyrosine fructosyl ester stabilities. It appeared that an increase of temperature enhanced enzyme activity but slumped the product yield because of the very weak stability of tyrosine fructosyl ester.     

Use of sulfur derivatives as an ortho directing group for the metalation of diazines. Metalation of diazines. XVIII

The metalation of thioethers, methyl and phenyl sulfoxides and sulfones of pyrazine and pyridazine has been performed. Methyl sulfoxides and sulfones were first metalated on the methyl group. The ortho directing effect of thioethers, sulfoxides and sulfones have been compared with the methoxy group. The sulfoxides were shown to be very good ortho directing groups.