Benzyl ions from 1,1-(2,2'-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted 2-methylpropanes under electron ionization

The electron ionization (EI)-induced fragmentations of a series of 1,1-(2,2'-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted 2-methylpropanes (1-20) in both 70 eV and mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra have been investigated. The EI-MS spectra of these compounds are characterized by the presence of abundant benzyl ions. These ions result from competitive hydrogen migration from the 2- and 2'-methoxy groups on the carbenium center of the diphenylmethyl cations formed by benzylic cleavage of the molecular ions. The relative abundances of the benzyl ions arising from such competitive processes are discussed and rationalized. The steric effect of the 3- or 3'-substituents is the main discriminating factor between the two competitive processes. The structural information, arising either from the 70 eV or the MIKE spectra, is discussed.     

Dinuclear Pt(II)-bisphosphonate complexes: a scaffold for multinuclear or different oxidation state platinum drugs

Geminal bisphosphonates (BPs), used in the clinic for the treatment of hypercalcaemia and skeletal metastases, have been also exploited for promoting the specific accumulation of platinum antitumor drugs in bone tissue. In this work, the platinum dinuclear complex [{Pt(en)}(2)(μ-AHBP-H(2))](+) (1) (the carbon atom bridging the two phosphorous atoms carrying a 2-ammonioethyl and a hydroxyl group, AHBP-H(2)) has been used as scaffold for the synthesis of a Pt(II) trinuclear complex, [{Pt(en)}(3)(μ-AHBP)](+) (2), and a Pt(IV) adamantane-shaped dinuclear complex featuring an oxo-bridge, [{Pt(IV)(en)Cl}(2)(μ-O)(μ-AHBP-H(2))](+) (3) (X-ray structure). Compound 2 undergoes a reversible, pH dependent, rearrangement with a neat switch point around pH = 5.4. Compound 3 undergoes a one-step electrochemical reduction at E(pc) = -0.84 V affording compound 1. Such a potential is far lower than that of glutathione (-0.24 V), nevertheless compound 3 can undergo chemical reduction to 1 by GSH, most probably through a different (inner-sphere) mechanism. In vitro cytotoxicity of the new compounds, tested against murine glioma (C6) and human cervix (HeLa) and hepatoma (HepG2) cell lines, has shown that, while the Pt(IV) dimer 3 is inactive up to a concentration of 50 μM, the two Pt(II) polynuclear compounds 1 and 2 have a cytotoxicity comparable to that of cisplatin with the trinuclear complex 2 generally more active than the dinuclear complex 1.     

Protonation thermodynamics of some aminophenol derivatives in NaCl(aq) (0 ⩽ I ⩽3 mol · kg−1) at T = 298.15 K

The acid–base properties of four aminophenol derivatives, namely m-aminophenol (L1), 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene (L2), 2-amino-5-ethylphenol (L3) and 5-amino-4-chloro-o-cresol (L4), are studied by potentiometric and titration calorimetric measurements in NaCl_(aq) (0 ? I ? 3 mol · kg^?1) at T = 298.15 K. The dependence of the protonation constants on ionic strength is modelled by the Debye–Hückel, SIT (Specific ion Interaction Theory) and Pitzer equations. Therefore, the values of protonation constants at infinite dilution and the relative interaction coefficients are calculated. The dependence of protonation enthalpies on ionic strength is also determined. Distribution (2-methyl-1-propanol/aqueous solution) measurements allowed us to determine the Setschenow coefficients and the activity coefficients of neutral species. Experimental results show that these compounds behave in a very similar way, and common class parameters are reported, in particular for the dependence on ionic strength of both protonation constants and protonation enthalpies.     

Ligand-induced biphasic thermal denaturation of RNAase A

DSC measurements have been accomplished in aqueous solutions of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNAase A) in the presence of subsaturating amounts of 3′ cytidine monophosphate (3′ CMP) and 2′ cytidine monophosphate (2′ CMP) atpH 5.0 and 5.5. In these conditions the experimental profiles do not conform to a one-step unfolding process. It can be emphasized, as a general phenomenon, that a strong linkage between the temperature-induced protein unfolding and the ligand binding, when the ligand is less than the saturation level, causes marked distortions from a two-state transition. A purely equilibrium thermodynamic analysis gives a correct account of this behaviour and allows to simulate calorimetric curves. It is thus possible to obtain, in an indirect manner, information about the thermodynamic parameters concerning the binding process, namely the association constant and the binding enthalpy. The values ofKb and Δ_b H for 3′CMP and 2′CMP, so determined, are consistent with the literature data.     

Thermal denaturation of ribonuclease T1 a DSC study

The thermal denaturation of microbial Ribonuclease T1 (RNAase T1) as a function ofpH, was studied by means of DSC microcalorimetry. The midpoint denaturation temperatures, enthalpy changes and heat capacity changes of Ribonuclease T1 were compared with those obtained for pancreatic Ribonuclease A (RNAase A). It was found that the microbial T1 protein undergoes a more complex conformational transition than the simple two-state transition shown by Ribonuclease A. The hypothesis of the presence of a molten globule form is discussed. The conformational stability of RNAase T1 is lower than that of RNAase A at highpH values. Indeed, the maximum stability of RNAase T1 occurs atpH 5, whereas that of RNAase A occurs atpH 8. AtpH=3.7 an irreversible aggregation phenomenon was indicated by the existence of a reproducible exothermic peak. The conformational transition of RNAase T1 is reversible in the range ofpH 4.5–7.0, whereas it becomes irreversible atpH8.0 as for RNAase A.This work was financed by the National Research Council (C.N.R.-Rome) and by Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research.     

Thermodynamic Study on the Protonation and Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-Complexation of a Biodegradable Chelant (HEIDA) at Different Ionic Strengths and Temperatures

A potentiometric method has been used for the determination of the protonation constants of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (HEIDA or L) at various temperatures 283.15?≤?T/K?≤?383.15 and different ionic strengths of NaCl_(aq), 0.12?≤?I/mol·kg^?1?≤?4.84. Ionic strength dependence parameters were calculated using a Debye–Hückel type equation, Specific Ion Interaction Theory and Pitzer equations. Protonation constants at infinite dilution calculated by the SIT model are \( \log_{10} \left( {{}^{T}K_{1}^{\text{H}} } \right) = 8.998 \pm 0.008 \) (amino group), \( \log_{10} \left( {{}^{T}K_{2}^{\text{H}} } \right) = 2.515 \pm 0.009 \) and \( \log_{10} \left( {{}^{T}K_{3}^{\text{H}} } \right) = 1.06 \pm 0.002 \) (carboxylic groups). The formation constants of HEIDA complexes with sodium, calcium and magnesium were determined. In the first case, the formation of a weak complex species, NaL, was found and the stability constant value at infinite dilution is log₁₀K_NaL?=?0.78?±?0.23. For Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, the CaL, CaHL, CaL₂ and MgL species were found, respectively. The calculated stability constants for the calcium complexes at T?=?298.15 K and I?=?0.150 mol·dm^?3 are: log₁₀β_CaL?=?4.92?±?0.01, log₁₀β_CaHL?=?11.11?±?0.02 and \( \log_{10} \beta_{\text{Ca{L}}_{2}} \)?=?7.84?±?0.03, while for the magnesium complex (at I?=?0.176 mol·dm^?3): log₁₀β_MgL?=?2.928?±?0.006. Protonation thermodynamic functions have also been calculated and interpreted.     

Thermodynamic characterisation of RNAase a in the presence of urea and GuHCl

It is presented a study concerning the influence of guanidinium chloride (GuHCl) and urea on thermal stability of Bovine Pancreatic Ribonuclease A (RNAase A) at differentpH values. As expected, at increasing the denaturant concentration, the protein thermostability decreases. This is shown by a decrease of both the thermodynamic parameters, temperature and heat effect, characterising the denaturation process. In order to analyse the calorimetric curves we adopt a statistical thermodynamic approach. The individual one-dimensional DSC profiles have been expanded into another dimension by varying the GuHCl concentration, so that a heat capacity surface is defined for eachpH. By means of the ICARUS program, developed in our laboratory, we accomplish a two dimensional deconvolution of the experimental data linking the binding equilibrium to the denaturation process. This analysis provides a well founded and complete statistical thermodynamic characterisation of denaturation process of RNAase A in the presence of GuHCl and allows to calculate the thermodynamic parameters associated to the binding of denaturant molecule.     

Polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities for the atoms Al, Si, P, S, Cl, and Ar: Coupled cluster calculations

Accurate static dipole polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities are calculated for the ground states of the Al, Si, P, S, Cl, and Ar atoms. The finite-field computations use energies obtained with various ab initio methods including Moller-Plesset perturbation theory and the coupled cluster approach. Excellent agreement with experiment is found for argon. The experimental alpha for Al is likely to be in error. Only limited comparisons are possible for the other atoms because hyperpolarizabilities have not been reported previously for most of these atoms. Our recommended values of the mean dipole polarizability (in the order Al-Ar) are alpha/e(2)a(0) (2)E(h) (-1)=57.74, 37.17, 24.93, 19.37, 14.57, and 11.085 with an error estimate of +/-0.5%. The recommended values of the mean second dipole hyperpolarizability (in the order Al-Ar) are gamma/e(4)a(0) (4)E(h) (-3)=2.02 x 10(5), 4.31 x 10(4), 1.14 x 10(4), 6.51 x 10(3), 2.73 x 10(3), and 1.18 x 10(3) with an error estimate of +/-2%. Our recommended polarizability anisotropy values are Deltaalpha/e(2)a(0) (2)E(h) (-1)=-25.60, 8.41, -3.63, and 1.71 for Al, Si, S, and Cl respectively, with an error estimate of +/-1%. The recommended hyperpolarizability anisotropies are Deltagamma/e(4)a(0) (4)E(h) (-3)=-3.88 x 10(5), 4.16 x 10(4), -7.00 x 10(3), and 1.65 x 10(3) for Al, Si, S, and Cl, respectively, with an error estimate of +/-4%.