Morphology and chain dynamics during collapse transition of PNIPAM gels studied by combined imaging, relaxometry and 129Xe spectroscopy techniques

The temperature-induced shape transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels of different cross-link densities was investigated by a combination of NMR techniques allowing the characterization of both the macroscopic collapse as well as the changes on a molecular scale related to the expulsion of water from the gel network. The proton-containing gel phase was visualized by swelling in heavy water, and the volume change was monitored by proton imaging for cross-link densities between 0.5% and 2.5%. Above the transition temperature of 35 degrees C, gel collapse led to a volume change of up to a factor of 17 for the gel of smallest cross-link density. Two spectral lines of 129Xe are found in the gel state and are assigned to the hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts of the network. In the collapsed state, the hydrophobic peak shows a strong shift while the hydrophilic peak disappears. A considerable shortening of both T1 and T2 of the gel protons upon collapse was found at a field of 4.7 T. At lower fields, the effect becomes more pronounced and qualitatively different dispersion behaviors between the swollen and the collapsed states are observed.     

N-(acridin-9-yl)arenesulfonamides: Synthesis,quantum chemical studies and crystal structure analysis to establish the tautomeric preferences

The potentiality of the N-(acridin-9-yl)arenesulfonamide moiety as a hybrid pharmacophore due to the distinct pharmacological activities of acridines and aryl/heteroaryl sulfonamides prompts to synthesise N-(acridin-9-yl)arenesulfonamides and study their structural properties. Various N-(acridin-9-yl)arene/heteroarenesulfonamides were obtained through the development of a new methodology adopting the Pd₂(dba)₃-catalyzed CN bond formation strategy for the reaction of 9-chloloroacridine with arene/heteroarenesulfonamides. The 1H and ¹³C NMR spectra suggest these N-(acridin-9-yl)arene/heteroarenesulfonamides to exist solely as the sulfonimide tautomer rather than anticipated sulfonamide form and was confirmed by the single crystal XRD analysis of one of the newly synthesized compounds. The quantum chemical studies rationalized this tautomeric preference revealing that the sulfonimide tautomers are more stable than the sulfonamide tautomers by ?0.67 to ?5.12?kcal/mol in the gas phase. In the solid state, the sulfonimide tautomer is stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bond between NH?OS and π? π stacking between the acridine rings.     

Biflavonoids from Cycas beddomei

Chemical investigation on the constituents of the cones of Cycas beddomei has resulted in the isolation of a new biflavonoid, 2,3-dihydro-4'-O-methyl amentoflavone, along with 2,3,2',3'-tetrahydro hinokiflavone, 2,3,2',3'-tetrahydro amentoflavone, 2,3-dihydro amentoflavone. The last two compounds were not reported earlier from this plant. The structure of the new compound was established by detailed analysis of its spectral (mainly 1D and 2D NMR) data.     

Formation of a stable 14-helix in short oligomers of furanoid cis-beta-sugar-amino acid

Oligomers of a new class of sugar amino acids (SAA) using a xylofuranoic acid has been shown to generate a robust 14-helix. The design involved the use of xylofuranose with a cis arrangement between the amine and carboxyl groups to promote the adoption of a 14-helix instead of a mixed 12/10-helix observed in a sugar oligomer using a ribofuranoic acid and beta-Ala. The observation of a stable right-handed 14-helix in a cis-SAA is unprecedented.     

Theoretical studies on the stereochemical course of 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides derived from indol‐2,3‐dione and thiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid

1,3‐Dipolar cycloadditon of azomethine ylides with different dipolarophiles leads to the formation of novel heterocyclic spiro compounds having two or more chiral centers. The theoretical studies (HF/3–21G) on the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction between ethene and azomethine ylide A4 derived from isatin and thaizolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid, indicates that the energy barrier for this addition is about ～ 8 kcal/mol higher than that in simplest azomethine ylide A1 . HF/3–21G studies on a series of azomethine ylides A2 and A3 suggested that the increased barrier is mainly due to stabilization of azomethine ylides arising from aromatic indol nucleus. Semi‐empirical studies indicate that the cycloaddition is streocontrolled as the transition states corresponding to only the stericlly allowed paths could be located on the potential energy surface.     

Dienophilic behavior of the vinylic (C=C) and the carbonyl (C=O) bonds of ketenes in reactions with 1,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes

[reaction: see text] Ab initio and density functional studies (DFT) on cycloaddition reactions of 1,3-diazabuta-1,3-dienes with ketenes are reported. The vinylic (C=C) and the carbonyl (C=O) units of the ketenes are found to participate in concerted asynchronous [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. The transition states (3t, 4t, and 7t) for these paths have been located on the PE surface at the correlated levels of ab initio calculations. A reasonable mechanism for the formation of [4 + 2] and [2 + 2] adducts is presented.     

Isolobal analogy between trivalent boron and divalent silicon

Singlet organosilylenes with a lone pair and an emptyp orbital are isolobal to trivalent borane if a B-H is equated to the lone pair on Si. Using this analogy, a particular isomer of CSi₂H₂ (24) is predicted to be a stable structure. MNDO calculations on24 and many of its possible isomers suggest that24 is at global minimum on the potential energy surface of CSi₂H₂.Ab initio calculations using a, minimal STO-3G basis set, on some selected structures also support these results.     

Electronic structure and reactivity of guanylthiourea: A quantum chemical study

Electronic structure analysis of guanylthiourea (GTU) and its isomers has been carried out using quantum chemical methods. Two major tautomeric classes (thione and thiol) have been identified on the potential energy (PE) surface. In both the cases conjugation of pi‐electrons and intramolecular H‐bonds have been found to play a stabilizing role. Various isomers of GTU on its PE surface have been analyzed in two different groups (thione and thiol). The interconversion from the most stable thione conformer ( GTU‐1 ) to the most stable thiol conformer ( GTU‐t1 ) was found to take place via bimolecular process which involves protonation at sulfur atom of GTU‐1 followed by subsequent C? N bond rotation and deprotonation. The detailed analysis of the protonation has been carried out in gas phase and aqueous phase (using CPMC model). Sulfur atom (S1) was found to be the preferred protonation site (over N4) in GTU‐1 in gas phase whereas N4 was found to be the preferred site of protonation in aqueous medium. The mechanism of S‐alkylation reaction in GTU has also been studied. The formation of alkylated analogs of thiol isomers (alkylated guanylthiourea) is believed to take place via bimolecular process which involves alkyl cation attack at S atom followed by C? N bond rotation and deprotonation. The reactive intermediate RS(NH₂)C? N? C(NH₂)₂⁺ belongs to the newly identified ^⊕N(←L)₂ class of species and provides the necessary dynamism for easy conversion of thione to thiol. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

A comparative study on the nature and strength of O–O, S–S, and Se–Se bond

A computational study on dichalcogenide molecules (R₂X₂; X = O, S, Se; R = H, CH₃, NH₂) has been carried out employing B3LYP and MP2 levels using 6-31+G*, 6-311+G*, 6-311++G**, and PVDZ basis sets. The relative energies have been evaluated at G2MP2 also. The rotational barriers and bond dissociation energies indicate that S–S bond is stronger than Se–Se and O–O bond. NBO analysis at MP2/6-31+G* suggest the presence of partial π character between X–X bond that decreases in the order S–S > Se–Se > O–O. Fuki functions for nucleophilic and electrophilic attack fail to distinguish the reactivity of S and Se. The proton affinities of the O₂H₂, S₂H₂, Se₂H₂ decrease in the order Se > S > O.