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.     

Spectrometrie de masse d'heterocycles selenies. IV—comportement de quelques benzo[b]selenophenes 2,3-disubstitutes

The fragmentation of eighteen 2,3-disubstituted benzo[b]selenophenes under electron-impact have been studied. The influence of the substituents on the behaviour of heterocyclic nucleus and the degradation of the sidechains has been examined.     

Synthesis and characterization of silica/poly (methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite latex particles through emulsion polymerization using a cationic azo initiator

Following a previous work (J. L. Luna-Xavier et al., Colloid Polym. Sci.279, 947 (2001)), silica-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposite latex particles have been synthesized in emulsion polymerization using a cationic initiator, 2,2'-azobis (isobutyramidine) dihydrochloride (AIBA), and a nonionic polyoxyethylenic surfactant (NP30). Silica beads with diameters of 68, 230, and 340 nm, respectively, were used as the seed. Coating of the silica particles with PMMA was taking place in situ during polymerization, resulting in the formation of colloidal nanocomposites with a raspberry-like or a core-shell morphology, depending on the size and nature of the silica beads. The amount of surface polymer was quantified by means of ultracentrifugation and thermogravimetric analysis as extensively described in the first article of the series (see above reference). The influence of some determinant parameters such as the pH of the suspension, the initiator, silica, monomer, or surfactant concentration on the amount of coating polymer and on the efficiency of the coating reaction was investigated in details and discussed in light of the physicochemical properties of the seed mineral. Electrostatic attraction between the positive end groups of the macromolecules and the inorganic surface proved to be the driving force of the polymer assembly on the seed surface at high pH, while polymerization in adsorbed surfactant bilayers (so-called admicellar polymerization) appeared to be the predominant mechanism of coating at lower pH. Optimal conditions have been found to reach high encapsulation efficiencies and to obtain a regular polymer layer around silica.     

Dissection of human tropoelastin: solution structure, dynamics and self-assembly of the exon 5 peptide

The elastic properties of elastin have essentially been discussed in terms of dominant entropic components, with questions still remaining about whether the basic mechanism is compatible with the classical theory of rubber elasticity. A better understanding of the structure-function relationships in terms of the protein's elastic properties remains an important goal in elastin science. Recently, we succeeded in the exon-by-exon synthesis of all polypeptide sequences encoded by the so-called hydrophobic exons and almost all of the cross-linking exons of human tropoelastin. Among these, the peptide encoded by exon 5 (PGGLAGAGLGA) has been extensively studied by classical spectroscopic methods, such as CD and NMR spectroscopy, and by molecular dynamics simulations. The results obtained clearly evidenced a large flexibility of the polypeptide chain, which oscillates between rather extended conformations, such as PPII, and folded ones, such as beta turns. At the supramolecular level, we obtained evidence by TEM that shows that the peptide encoded by exon 5 is able to self-assemble in fibrillar structures, a result indicating that the "information" for self-assembly is also contained within a small domain of tropoelastin.     

MICROSPECTROFLUOROMETRIC APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF FREE/BOUND NAD(P)H RATIO AS METABOLIC INDICATOR IN VARIOUS CELL TYPES

Under excitation at 365 nm, the cell fluorescence is mainly due to bound and free NAD(P)H, plus a small contribution from flavins. Resolution is first attempted in the simplest case. i.e. the increase spectrum (δI_f) due to microinjection of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) into EL2 ascites cells. Above 510 nm, δI_F is identical to the spectrum of free NADH. Below 510 nm. the presence of a second component is suggested, i.e. the intensity of the free NADH spectrum is lower than the measured δI_F level. The difference between δI_f and the free NADH spectrum (maximum at 475 nm) yields a spectrum suggestive of bound NADH with maximum at 450 nm. Thus, with free and bound NADH, the entire δI_F can be reconstructed, with some assumptions as to the relative quantum yields of the two components. This seems to leave no place for a flavin component. The questions raised by the lack of such a component are answered using a new microspectrofluorometer, which aiiows correlated monitoring of NAD(P)H and flavins with excitations at 365 and 436 nm, respectively. As detected by excitation at 436 nm, injections of G6P, malate, ADP, and treatments with azide, cyanide or partial anaerobiosis, all indeed show a redox change of flavins, in the sense of decreased emission. It is understandable, however, that such a change which is not very large even using 436 nm excitation should remain undetected when flavins are excited at 365 nm, i.e. using the tail of their excitation spectrum. In contrast to the increased δI_F spectrum recorded in response to injected substrate, the initial spectrum (I_f) of the cell prior to a metabolic perturbation reveals a third component, even with 365 nm excitation. The position and reactivity of this component shows flavin-like properties. The structural resolution attainable makes it possible to obtain the evaluation of free vs. bound NAD(P)H and flavin fluorochromes in the mitochondrial and cytosolic compartments of the intact cell.     

Sur le diborure et le tétraborure de magnésium. Considérations cristallochimiques sur les tétraborures

MgB₂ and MgB₄ have been prepared at high temperature in sealed molybdenum vessels from mixtures of the elements. The utilization of an excess of metal in the vessel generates a pressure of magnesium vapor which inhibits thermal decomposition of the compounds during the synthesis. The structure of MgB₄ has been established from single crystal data collected on an automatic diffractometer. MgB₄ is orthorhombic, space group Pnam with a = 5.464; b = 7.472; c = 4.428Å and Z = 4. The structure of MgB₄, is based on chains of boron pentagonal pyramids in which the averaged BB bond is 1.787 Å. Interchain BB bonds of 1.730 Å are responsible for the three-dimensional boron framework. The Mg atoms, located in tunnels, form zigzag chains. The structure of MgB₄ is compared to those of ThB₄ and CrB₄; it is concluded that the size of the metal atom plays an important role in the nature of the boron framework which exists. In MgB₄, the fundamental unit of the boron skeleton is a pentagonal pyramid; a new feature, in boron-rich borides where this type of coordination polyhedron was previously found only in B₁₂ icosahedra.     

Preparation,characterization, and porperties of optically active poly(α-methyl-α-ethyl-β-propiolactones)

S(?) and R(+) enantiomers of α-methyl-α-ethyl-β-propiolactone (MEEPL) were prepared in an eight-step synthesis with respective optical purities of 99 and 97% determined by ¹H-NMR (250 MHz) spectroscopy. Polymers (PMEPL) of different enatiomeric compositions were prepared with an anionic-type initiator. Substantial differences in physical properties were observed between the racemic and optically pure polymers; for example, the melting point of the latter is 42°C higher than that of the former. Chiroptical properties of PMEPLs are reported. The ¹³C-NMR (100.62 MHz) spectra of the polymers indicated that the distribution of configurational units in the macromolecular chain is random.     

Inter- and intramolecular carbene reactions of diazoketones tethered to tricarbonyliron coordinated acyclic dienes. New tricarbonyliron complexes of cyclohexa-2,4-dienone and cyclopent-2-enone

A series of diazoketones tethered to tricarbonyliron coordinated dienes at the terminal position have been synthesized, and their decomposition reactions as carbene precursors studied. Intermolecular reactions with nucleophilic olefins were observed with Cu(acac)₂ as catalyst, the tricarbonyliron playing the role of an efficient protecting group of the diene fragment. With rhodium^II acetate, intramolecular reactions predominate, with formation of five-membered rings, in the side chain, or less commonly, as a cyclopentenone joined side by side to a rearranged diene ligand. Unusually, due to cationic stabilization by the iron, six-membered rings in the side chain are also formed here. A still different reaction was observed during the thermal decomposition of a diazoketone tethered to a coordinated diene at position 2: the formation of a stable complex of a cyclohexa-2-4-dienone (iron assisted carbene reaction and multiple hydrogen migrations).     

Model system for concentrated electrolyte solutions: Thermodynamic and transport properties of ethylammonium nitrate in acetonitrile and in water

Ethylammonium nitrate (ETAN), a low melting fused salt which is completely miscile in water and in many non-aqueous solvents, was used as a model system for the study of concentrated non-aqueous electrolyte solutions. Acetonitrile (AN) was chosen as a representative aprotic solvent. Some data were also obtained for water as solvent. The properties investigated over the whole mole fraction range, many as a function of temperature, were solid-liquid phase diagram, volume, heat capacity, conductivity and viscosity. Most properties in both solvents vary in a regular fashion over the whole mole fraction range and the properties at high concentration rapidly tend to those of the molten salt. The apparent volumes and heat capacities vary linearly with lnX₂ over a large mole fraction range. There is evidence of significant association in AN (K _A =1094 l-mol⁻) but not in water. The low concentration thermodynamic data were fitted with an association model using the above K _A to obtain the partial molar quantities of ETAN at infinite dilution and in the associated state. These latter values are of the same magnitude as the molar quantities of the molten electrolyte.     

α-(3,7-Dioxa-r-1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-c-5-ylmethoxy)-diazines. Part 2: Functionalisation via directed ortho-metallation and cross-coupling reactions

The functionalisation of the title compounds via regioselective Directed ortho-Metallation (DoM) and cross-coupling reactions is studied. The compatibility of the 3,7-DiOxa-r-1-AzaBicyclo[3.3.0]Oct-c-5-ylmethoxy system (DOABO-CH₂O) to typical reaction conditions is established. Its role as Directed ortho-Metallation Group (DoMG) is examined, including competition with classical DoMGs, chlorine and methoxy. The chelating ability of some functionalised terms such as DOABO-CH₂O substituting chiral diarylmethanols and polyaza analogues of 2,6-terpyridine is discussed as intramolecular steric relationships determining configuration and aptitude to bind selectively transition metals, respectively.