Novel Xylene‐Linked Maltoside Amphiphiles (XMAs) for Membrane Protein Stabilisation

Membrane proteins are key functional players in biological systems. These biomacromolecules contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions and thus amphipathic molecules are necessary to extract membrane proteins from their native lipid environments and stabilise them in aqueous solutions. Conventional detergents are commonly used for membrane protein manipulation, but membrane proteins surrounded by these agents often undergo denaturation and aggregation. In this study, a novel class of maltoside‐bearing amphiphiles, with a xylene linker in the central region, designated xylene‐linked maltoside amphiphiles (XMAs) was developed. When these novel agents were evaluated with a number of membrane proteins, it was found that XMA‐4 and XMA‐5 have particularly favourable efficacy with respect to membrane protein stabilisation, indicating that these agents hold significant potential for membrane protein structural study.     

An existence result of a quasi-variational inequality associated to an equilibrium problem

In this paper we consider a Walrasian pure exchange economy with utility function which is a particular case of a general economic equilibrium problem, without production. We assume that each agent is endowed with at least of a commodity, his preferences are expressed by an utility function and it prevails a competitive behaviour: each agent regards the prices payed and received as independent of his own choices. The Walrasian equilibrium can be characterized as a solution to a quasi-variational inequality. By using this variational approach, our goal is to prove an existence result of equilibrium solutions.     

Simultaneous ion transfer across the microhole ITIES: an example of ternary electrodiffusion

Ternary electrodiffusion at the immiscible liquid liquid interface (ITIES) is considered in the case where a univalent cation is transferring from the water to the organic phase through a microhole, and simultaneously a univalent anion is transferring in the opposite direction. The process is assumed to take place at steady-state. If the separation between the formal transfer potentials of these ions is large enough, a limiting current corresponding to the electrodiffusion of the ion with the lower formal transfer potential is observed. Thereafter, the current begins to rise again as a linear function of the cell potential because the Galvani potential across the interface has reached its limiting value and the potential is expended in the form of ohmic loss in the diffusion boundary layers. The Galvani potential across the interface cannot overcome the average value of the formal transfer potentials due to the electroneutrality condition. The present case is analogous to a redox reaction at the ultramicroelectrode with sign reversal (K.B. Oldham, J. Electroanal. Chem. 337 (1992) 91) but no suitable experimental system has yet been found with which to test this prediction. Experiments without supporting electrolytes seem to have only little value in quantitative analysis of ion transfer.     

Synthesis and characterization of a hyperbranched hydrogen bond acidic carbosilane sorbent polymer

Sorbent polymers can be designed to target molecular interactions with a variety of hazardous chemicals including explosives, chemical agents, narcotics, and toxic industrial chemicals. Applications of functionalized sorbent polymers include preconcentrator devices, SPME fibers, membrane introduction systems, chromatographic stationary phases and coatings for chemical sensors. One common feature of a wide range of hazardous chemicals is their hydrogen bond (h‐b) basicity. In this work, we report on the synthesis and characterization of a h‐b acidic hyperbranched carbosilane fluoroalcohol based sorbent polymer (poly(methyldi(1,1,1‐trifluoro‐2‐trifluoromethyl‐2‐hydroxypent‐4‐enyl)silane; HCSFA2), which is suitable for sorbing these hazardous h‐b basic analytes. Multiple batches of HCSFA2 were characterized with routine composition, spectroscopic, thermal analysis, and inverse gas chromatography (iGC) to evaluate polymer physicochemical properties. In comparison with previously developed h‐b acidic polymers (e.g., FPOL and SXFA), HCSFA2 exhibits a sorption improvement of 10–15 fold for h‐b basic analytes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3000–3009, 2010     

Versatile access to benzhydryl-phenylureas through an unexpected rearrangement during microwave-enhanced synthesis of hydantoins

[reaction: see text] A new access to benzhydryl-phenylureas is described. These new interesting urea derivatives were obtained by reaction of substituted benzils with substituted phenylureas under microwave irradiation. Phenylthiourea, when reacted with benzil, gave 3-phenyl-thiohydantoin. Moreover, benzylurea, as phenethylurea, gave the corresponding 3-substituted hydantoin derivatives, demonstrating that only phenylurea derivatives can result in benzhydryl-phenylureas under the applied conditions. This new reaction proved to be an easy access to substituted 1-benzhydryl-3-phenyl-ureas.     

Mechanistic changeover for the water substitution on fac-[(CO)3Re(H2O)3]+ revealed by high-pressure NMR

The complex formation in water between the stable tricarbonyltriaqua fac-[(CO)(3)Re(H(2)O)(3)](+) (1) complex and N- and S-donor ligands has been studied by high-pressure (1)H NMR. Rate and equilibrium constants for the formation of [(CO)(3)Re(Pyz)(H(2)O)(2)](+), [(CO)(3)(H(2)O)(2)Re(mu-Pyz)Re(H(2)O)(2)(CO)(3)](2+), [(CO)(3)Re(THT)(H(2)O)(2)](+), and [(CO)(3)Re(DMS)(n)()(H(2)O)(3-n)](+) (n = 1-3) (Pyz = pyrazine, THT = tetrahydrothiophene, DMS = dimethyl sulfide) have been determined and are in accord with previous results (Salignac, B.; Grundler, P. V.; Cayemittes, S.; Frey, U.; Scopelliti, R.; Merbach, A. E.; Hedinger, R.; Hegetschweiler, K.; Alberto, R.; Prinz, U.; Raabe, G.; K?lle, U.; Hall, S. Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 3516). The calculated interchange rate constant k(1)' (Eigen-Wilkins mechanism) increases from the hard O- and N-donors to the soft S-donors, as exemplified by the following series: TFA (trifluoroacetate) (k(1)' = 2.9 x 10(-3) s(-1)) < Br(-) < CH(3)CN < Pyz < THT < DMS < TU (thiourea) (k(1)' = 41.5 x 10(-3) s(-1)). On the other hand, values remain close to that of water exchange k(ex) on 1 (k(ex) = 6.3 x 10(-3) s(-1)). Thus, an I(d) mechanism was assigned, suggesting however the possibility of a slight deviation toward an associatively activated mechanism with the S-donor ligands. Activation volumes determined by high-pressure NMR, for Pyz as Delta V(++)(f,1) = +5.4 +/- 1.5, Delta V(++)(r,1) = +7.9 +/- 1.2 cm(3) mol(-)(1), for THT as Delta V(++)(f,1) = -6.6 +/- 1, Delta V(++)(r,1) = -6.2 +/- 1 cm(3) mol(-1), and for DMS as Delta V(++)(f,1) = -12 +/- 1, Delta V(++)(r,1) = -10 +/- 2 cm(3) mol(-1) revealed the ambivalent character of 1 toward water substitution. Hence, these findings are interpreted as a gradual changeover of the reaction mechanism from a dissociatively activated one (I(d)), with the hard O- and N-donor ligands, to an associatively activated one (I(a)), with the soft S-donor ligands.     

Polymétallorotaxanes conjugués contenant des unités pentacoordinantes

Conjugated polymetallorotaxanes containing pentacoordinating units. The present paper reports the synthesis and cyclic voltammetry study of new conjugated polyrotaxanes containing penta-coordinating units around copper or zinc centres. The gathering and threading effect of these metal centres has been used to prepare the desired prerotaxanes, whose macrocyclic and linear components incorporate a tridentate chelate of the terpy type (terpy = 2,2′,6′,2″-terpyridine) and a phen (phen = 1,10-phenantroline) derivative, respectively. Electrochemical oxidative coupling of the end groups (thiophene or pyrrole) leads to the corresponding polymers. Ion-exchange processes, induced by demetalation/remetalation, have been investigated as well as the conductivity of the polymer films prepared.     

Crystal structures of baclofen analogs: 3-thienyl- and 3-furylaminobutyric acids

X-ray crystal structures of 4-amino-3-(2-thienyl) butyric acid (compound1), 4-amino-3-(4-bromo-2-thienyl) butyric acid (compound2), and 4-amino-3-(5-methyl-2-furyl) butyric acid (compound3) are reported. Space groups and unit/cell parameters are: compound1, monoclinic,P2₁ c,a=13.288(3),b=5.231(1),c=12.388(2)Å,=92.3(1)°; compound2, monoclinic,P2₁/c,a=12.610(7),b=5.156(1),c=15.814(8)Å,=101.8(1)°; compound3, orthorhombic, Pccn,a=11.461(1),b=25.284(2),c=6.977(1)Å. FinalR indices are: compound1, 0.057; compound2, 0.069; compound3, 0.060. Conformations of their -aminobutyric chains are compared with the one of -amino--(p-chlorophenyl)-butyric acid (baclofen, compound4). Two different types of conformations are observed, i.e., conformations (i) with folding (compound3) or (ii) without folding (compounds1,2, and4) of the ammonium group toward the heteroaromatic or aromatic ring. However, distances between ionized groups are constant.     

Preparation of block copolymers of polystyrene and poly (t‐butyl acrylate) of various molecular weights and architectures by atom transfer radical polymerization

Block copolymers of polystyrene and poly(t‐butyl acrylate) were prepared using atom transfer radical polymerization techniques. These polymers were synthesized with a CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine catalyst system and had predictable molecular weights based on the degree of polymerization, as calculated from the initial ratio of monomer to initiator. The final polydispersities were low (1.10 < M_w /M_n < 1.3) for all the homopolymers and block copolymers. Polymers of various chain architectures were prepared, ranging from linear AB diblocks to three‐armed stars composed of AB diblocks on each arm. The key to controlled synthesis with this catalyst system was the choice of the solvent, temperature, and concentrations of catalyst and deactivator. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2274–2283, 2000