Dimers and Chains of Hydrogen bonded [HS2O7]– Anions in the Crystal Structures of M[HS2O7] (M = K, [NH4], [NO], Rb,Cs)

The reactions of KCl, [NH₄]₂[SO₄], Rb₂[CO₃], and Cs₂[CO₃] with fuming sulfuric acid (65 % SO₃) yielded colorless and moisture sensitive crystals of K[HS₂O₇] (monoclinic, P2₁/c (no. 14), Z = 4, a = 716.67(3) pm, b = 1043.57(4) pm, c = 828.78(3) pm, β = 107.884(1)°, V = 589.89(4) × 10⁶ pm³), [NH₄][HS₂O₇] (monoclinic, P2₁/c (no. 14), Z = 4, a = 729.29(1) pm, b = 1079.73(1) pm, c = 843.26(1) pm, β = 106.397(1)°, V = 637.01(1) × 10⁶ pm³), Rb[HS₂O₇] (monoclinic, P2₁/c (no. 14), Z = 4, a = 724.49(2) pm, b = 1073.19(3) pm, c = 852.01(3) pm, β = 106.534(1)°, V = 635.06(3) × 10⁶ pm³), and Cs[HS₂O₇] (triclinic, P$\bar{1}$ (no. 2), Z = 2, a = 537.61(3) pm, b = 784.71(4) pm, c = 867.93(4) pm, α = 94.214(2)°, β = 103.138(2)°, γ = 105.814(2)°, V = 339.47(3) × 10⁶ pm³). Colorless crystals of [NO][HS₂O₇] (monoclinic, P2₁/c (no. 14), Z = 4, a = 739.90(4) pm, b = 1048.00(5) pm, c = 830.97(4) pm, β = 106.985(2)°, V = 106.985(2) × 10⁶ pm³) were obtained as a side product from the reaction of [NH₄]₂[Rh(NO₂)₄] with oleum (65 % SO₃) in the ionic liquid [BMIm][OTf]. The crystal structures of K[HS₂O₇], [NH₄][HS₂O₇], [NO][HS₂O₇], and Rb[HS₂O₇] show the [HS₂O₇]^– ions linked into dimers by strong hydrogen bonds. Contrastingly, in the crystal structure of Cs[HS₂O₇] the [HS₂O₇]^– ions are connected to infinite chains. Raman spectra were recorded for M[HS₂O₇] (M = K, Rb, Cs).     

Catalytic action of CTAB/KBr/C9OH micellar media on the basic hydrolysis of crystal violet

The kinetics of basic hydrolysis of crystal violet (CV) in CTAB/KBr/C₉OH micellar media was investigated under pseudo-first-order conditions. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance of CV at 590?nm. It was observed that the pseudo-first-order rate constant increases with increase in C₀. The enhancement of reaction rate with C₀ is explained on the basis of dependence of reaction rate on micellar morphology. Further, the viscosity and DLS analysis supports nonanol-induced morphological transitions. Fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to understand dye–micelles interactions. The enhancement of fluorescence intensity of CV with C₀ suggests an increase in dye–micelles interaction with C_0. The concentration of surfactant and salt had a marked effect on reaction rate. The inhibition of reaction rate at high concentration of surfactant and salt is due to the ionic competition of OH^? and Br^? ions for the reaction center. The influence of [OH^?] on CV hydrolysis was also investigated. The results show that the pseudo-first-order rate constant, k’, increases linearly with hydroxide ion concentration, indicating first-order dependence on [OH^?].     

The effects of dimethyl ether and ethanol on benzene and soot formation in ethylene nonpremixed flames

Soot volume fractions, C1-C12 hydrocarbon concentrations, and gas temperature were measured in ethylene/air nonpremixed flames with up to 10% dimethyl ether (CH₃OCH₃) or ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) added to the fuel. The measurement techniques were laser-induced incandescence, photoionization mass spectroscopy, and thermocouples. Oxygenated hydrocarbons have been proposed as soot-reducing fuel additives, and nonpremixed flames are good laboratory-scale models of the fuel-rich reaction zones where soot forms in many full-scale combustion devices. However, addition of both dimethyl ether and ethanol increased the maximum soot volume fractions in the ethylene flames studied here, even though ethylene is a much sootier fuel than either oxygenate. Furthermore, dimethyl ether produced a larger increase in soot even though neat dimethyl ether flames produce less soot than neat ethanol flames. The detailed species measurements suggest that the oxygenates increase soot concentrations because they decompose to methyl radical, which promotes the formation of propargyl radical (C₃H₃) through C1 + C2 addition reactions and consequently the formation of benzene through propargyl self-reaction. Dimethyl ether has a stronger effect than ethanol because it decomposes more completely to methyl radical. Ethylene does not decompose to methyl, so its flames are particularly sensitive to this mechanism; the alkane-based fuels used in most practical fuels do decompose to methyl radical, so the mechanism will be much less important for practical devices.     

Chain conformations and bound-layer correlations in polymer nanocomposites

Small angle neutron scattering studies on polystyrene loaded with spherical silica nanoparticles under contrast-matched conditions unequivocally show that chain conformations follow unperturbed Gaussian statistics independent of chain molecular weight and filler composition. Liquid state theory calculations are consistent with this conclusion and also predict filler-induced modification of interchain polymer correlations which have a distinctive scattering signature that is in nearly quantitative agreement with our observations.     

AG-013736, a novel inhibitor of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases, inhibits breast cancer growth and decreases vascular permeability as detected by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) was used to noninvasively evaluate the effects of AG-03736, a novel inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor tyrosine kinases, on tumor microvasculature in a breast cancer model. First, a dose response study was undertaken to determine the responsiveness of the BT474 human breast cancer xenograft to AG-013736. Then, DCE-MRI was used to study the effects of a 7-day treatment regimen on tumor growth and microvasculature. Two DCE-MRI protocols were evaluated: (1) a high molecular weight (MW) contrast agent (albumin-(GdDTPA)(30)) with pharmacokinetic analysis of the contrast uptake curve and (2) a low MW contrast agent (GdDTPA) with a clinically utilized empirical parametric analysis of the contrast uptake curve, the signal enhancement ratio (SER). AG-013736 significantly inhibited growth of breast tumors in vivo at all doses studied (10-100 mg/kg) and disrupted tumor microvasculature as assessed by DCE-MRI. Tumor endothelial transfer constant (K(ps)) measured with albumin-(GdDTPA)(30) decreased from 0.034+/-0.005 to 0.003+/-0.001 ml min(-1) 100 ml(-1) tissue (P<.0022) posttreatment. No treatment-related change in tumor fractional plasma volume (fPV) was detected. Similarly, in the group of mice studied with GdDTPA DCE-MRI, AG-013736-induced decreases in tumor SER measures were observed. Additionally, our data suggest that 3D MRI-based volume measurements are more sensitive than caliper measurements for detecting small changes in tumor volume. Histological staining revealed decreases in tumor cellularity and microvessel density with treatment. These data demonstrate that both high and low MW DCE-MRI protocols can detect AG-013736-induced changes in tumor microvasculature. Furthermore, the correlative relationship between microvasculature changes and tumor growth inhibition supports DCE-MRI methods as a biomarker of VEGF receptor target inhibition with potential clinical utility.     

Specificity of acyl transfer from 2-mercaptobenzamide thioesters to the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein

The HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein (NCp7) is a small, highly conserved protein with two zinc-binding domains that are essential for the protein's function. Molecules that bind to and inactivate NCp7 are currently being evaluated as new antiviral drugs. In particular, derivatives based on a 2-mercaptobenzamide thioester template have been shown to specifically eject zinc from the C-terminal zinc-binding domain (ZD2) of NCp7 via acyl transfer from the thioester to a cysteine sulfur. In this study, mutational analysis of the NCp7 amino acid sequence has been used to investigate the specificity of the interaction between ZD2 and a 2-mercaptobenzamide thioester compound using UV-vis spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to monitor the rate of metal ejection from NCp7 mutant peptides and sites of acylation, respectively. We were able to extend the previously reported mechanism of action of these thioester compounds to include a secondary S to N intramolecular acyl transfer that occurs after the primary acyl transfer from the thioester to a cysteine side chain in the protein. Structural models of the thioester/ZD2 complex were then examined to identify the most likely binding orientation. We determined that position x+1 (where x is Cys36) needs to be an aromatic residue for reactivity and a hydrogen-bond donor in position x+9 is important for optimal reactivity. A basic residue (lysine or arginine) is required at position x+2 for the correct fold, while a lysine residue is needed for reactivity involving S to N acyl transfer. We report highly specific interactions between 2-mercaptobenzamide thioester compounds and NCp7 that offer a structural basis for refining and designing new antiretroviral therapeutics, directed toward a target that is resistant to viral mutation.     

A U(V) chalcogenide: synthesis, structure, and characterization of K2Cu3US5

The compound K2Cu3US5 was obtained by the reaction of K2S, UCl4, CuCl, and S at 973 K. K2Cu3US5 crystallizes in a new structure type in space group Cmcm of the orthorhombic system in a cell of dimensions a = 3.9374(6) A, b = 13.813(2) A, c = 17.500(3) A, and V = 951.8(2) A3 at 153 K. The structure comprises (2)(infinity)[UCu3S52-] slabs separated by K+ cations. The slabs are built from CuS4 tetrahedra and US6 octahedra. Their connectivity differs from other known octahedral/tetrahedral packing patterns. In the temperature range 130-300 K the compound exhibits Curie-Weiss magnetic behavior with mu(eff) = 2.45(8) mu(B). This result together with both the bond distances and bond valence calculations and the absence of a Cu2+ ESR signal support the formulation of the above compound as K+2Cu+3U5+S2-5.     

Periodic trends within a series of five-coordinate thiolate-ligated [MII(SMe2N4(tren))]+ (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) complexes, including a rare example of a stable CuII-thiolate

A series of five-coordinate thiolate-ligated complexes [M(II)(tren)N4S(Me2)]+ (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) are reported, and their structural, electronic, and magnetic properties are compared. Isolation of dimeric [Ni(II)(SN4(tren)-RS(dang))]2 ("dang"= dangling, uncoordinated thiolate supported by H bonds), using the less bulky [(tren)N4S](1-) ligand, pointed to the need for gem-dimethyls adjacent to the sulfur to sterically prevent dimerization. All of the gem-dimethyl derivatized complexes are monomeric and, with the exception of [Ni(II)(S(Me2)N4(tren)]+, are isostructural and adopt a tetragonally distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry favored by ligand constraints. The nickel complex uniquely adopts an approximately ideal square pyramidal geometry and resembles the active site of Ni-superoxide dismutase (Ni-SOD). Even in coordinating solvents such as MeCN, only five-coordinate structures are observed. The MII-S thiolate bonds systematically decrease in length across the series (Mn-S > Fe-S > Co-S > Ni-S approximately Cu-S < Zn-S) with exceptions occurring upon the occupation of sigma* orbitals. The copper complex, [Cu(II)(S(Me2)N4(tren)]+, represents a rare example of a stable CuII-thiolate, and models the perturbed "green" copper site of nitrite reductase. In contrast to the intensely colored, low-spin Fe(III)-thiolates, the M(II)-thiolates described herein are colorless to moderately colored and high-spin (in cases where more than one spin-state is possible), reflecting the poorer energy match between the metal d- and sulfur orbitals upon reduction of the metal ion. As the d-orbitals drop in energy proceeding across the across the series M(2+) (M= Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu), the sulfur-to-metal charge-transfer transition moves into the visible region, and the redox potentials cathodically shift. The reduced M(+1) oxidation state is only accessible with copper, and the more oxidized M(+4) oxidation state is only accessible for manganese.     

A novel highly stereoselective synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted 3H-quinazoline-4-one derivatives

[structure: see text]. An efficient three-step synthesis of chiral 3H-quinazoline-4-one derivatives from commercial materials is disclosed. The Mumm reaction of imidoyl chloride with alpha-amino acids followed by reductive cyclization affords enantiomerically pure (ee >93%) quinazoline-4-ones in good overall yield. A comparison with existing approaches indicates that this method is superior for hindered substrates.