The role of guaiacyl moiety in free radical scavenging by 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol: thermodynamics of 3H+/3e− mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Participation of guaiacyl moiety of 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (DHMBA) in inactivation of free radicals was investigated using the DFT method. The thermodynamics of triple (3H⁺/3e^?) free radical scavenging mechanisms was investigated. The Gibbs free energies of reactions of inactivation of selected 10 free radicals indicate DHMBA as a potent scavenger. Obtained results allow us to suggest that the contribution of guaiacyl moiety to antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds should be taken into account, what has been scarcely considered until now.     

Thermal properties of defect melting

Using mean field theory and high temperature expansions the transition temperature, entropy jump and heat capacity are calculated in the recent microscopic model of defect melting proposed by Kleinert. The results are compared with the experimental data for almost isotropic substances.     

Riffs on the infinite ping-pong ball conundrum

This article presents a novel re-conceptualisation to a well-known problem – The Ping-Pong Ball Conundrum. We introduce a variant of this super-task by considering it through the lens of ‘measuring infinity’ – a conceptualisation of infinity that extrapolates measuring properties of numbers, rather than cardinal properties. This approach is consistent with a nonstandard analysis approach to infinite numbers, and gives credence to the intuitive (but otherwise normatively incorrect) resolution. We explore the mathematical motivation and consequences of this variant, as well as offer further ‘riffs’ on the infinite ball problem for consideration.     

Segmented conjugated macromolecules containing silicon and boron: ADMET synthesis and luminescent properties

Boron‐ and silicon‐containing conjugated homo‐ and copolymers could be synthesized using acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) condensation of bis‐styryl monomers. Both, tri‐and tetra‐coordinated boron monomers were successfully polymerized forming homopolymers, or random copolymers (if polymerized together with a silicon containing co‐monomer). Polymer molecular weights M_n were measured at ～6000 to 15,000 g/mol (NMR end group analysis) with molecular weight distributions M_w/M_n ～1.8 to 2.2. The polymers absorbed at λ_max ～317 to 406 nm and emitted at λ_max ～370 to 494 nm with fluorescent quantum efficiencies ～24 to 48%. The copolymer with tri‐coordinate boron showed highly efficient fluorescence quenching in the presence of fluoride ions at ratios boron/fluoride ～5/1, demonstrating its potential as anion sensor. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1707–1718     

Photochemically patterned poly(methyl methacrylate) surfaces used in the fabrication of microanalytical devices

We report here the photochemical surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, microfluidic devices by UV light to yield pendant carboxylic acid surface moieties. Patterns of carboxylic acid sites can be formed from the micrometer to millimeter scale by exposure of PMMA through a contact mask, and the chemical patterns allow for further functionalization of PMMA microdevice surfaces to yield arrays or other structured architectures. Demonstrated here is the relationship between UV exposure time and PMMA surface wettability, topography, surface functional group density, and electroosmotic flow (EOF) of aqueous buffer solutions in microchannels made of PMMA. It is found that the water contact angle on PMMA surfaces decreases from 70 degrees to 24 degrees after exposure to UV light as the result of the formation of carboxylic acid sites. However, upon rinsing with 2-propanol, the water contact angle increases to approximately 80 degrees , and this increase is attributed to changes in surface roughness resulting from removal of low molecular weight PMMA formed from scission events. In addition, the surface roughness and surface coverage of carboxylic acid groups exhibit a characteristic trend with UV exposure time. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) in PMMA microchannels increases upon UV modification and is pH dependent. The possible photolysis mechanism for formation of carboxylic acid groups on PMMA surfaces under the conditions outlined in this work is discussed.     

Novel Copolymers of Trisubstituted Ethylenes and Styrene. 7. Dihalogen Ring-Substituted Ethyl 2-Cyano-1-oxo-3-phenyl-2-propenylcarbamates

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylenes, dihalogen ring-substituted ethyl 2-cyano-1-oxo-3-phenyl-2-propenylcarbamates, RC₆H₃ CH = C(CN)CONHCO₂C₂H₅(where R is 2,3-diCl, 2,4-diCl, 2,6-diCl, 3,4-diCl, 3,5-diCl, and 2-Cl-6-F, were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The monomers were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and N-cyanoacetylurethane, and characterized by CHN analysis, IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. All the ethylenes were copolymerized with styrene (M₁) in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r ₁) for the monomers 2,4-diCl (4.4) > 2,6-diCl (3.6) > 2,3-diCl (3.4) = 3,4-diCl (3.4) > 2-Cl-6-F (2.7) > 3,5-diCl (2.0). High T _g of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene structural unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in 270–420°C with residue (5–13% wt), which then decomposed in the 420–650°C range.     

Synthesis, modeling, and anti-tubulin activity of a D-seco paclitaxel analogue

[reaction: see text] We have previously described a model of paclitaxel-microtubule binding that led to the prediction that analogues of paclitaxel lacking any D ring could stabilize microtubules as well as paclitaxel if the substituent present at C4 did not have unfavorable steric interactions with the binding pocket. We report the synthesis of a 4-methyl paclitaxel analogue, compound 1, which bears this prediction out. Compound 1 is as potent as paclitaxel at microtubule stabilization in vitro; however, it has only about one-four-hundredth the cytotoxicity of paclitaxel.     

Chemical Synthesis of O‐Glycosylated Human Interleukin‐2 by the Reverse Polarity Protection Strategy

The chemical synthesis of human interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) , having a core 1 sugar, by a ligation method is reported. Although IL‐2 is a globular glycoprotein, its C‐terminal region, in particular (99‐133), is extremely insoluble when synthesized by solid‐phase method. To overcome this problem, the side‐chain carboxylic acid of the Glu residues was protected by a picolyl ester, thus reversing its polarity from negative to positive. This reverse polarity protection significantly increased the isoelectric point of the peptide segment and made it positive under acidic conditions and facilitated the purification. An efficient method to prepare the prolyl peptide thioester required for the synthesis of the (28‐65) segment was also developed. These efforts resulted in the total synthesis of the glycosylated IL‐2 having full biological activity.