Novel Copolymers of Styrene. Alkyl and Alkoxy Ring-Substituted 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes

Novel copolymers of trisubstituted ethylene monomers, alkyl and alkoxy ring-substituted 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes, RC₆H₄CH=C(CN)₂ (where R is 2-ethyl, 4-i-propyl, 4-butyl, 4-i-butyl, 4-t-butyl, 2-ethoxy, and 4-hexyloxy) and styrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was 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 is 4-t-butyl (1.45) > 4-i-propyl (1.38) > 2-ethyl (1.37) > 4-hexyloxy (1.33) > 4-i-butyl (1.24) > 2-ethoxy (1.13) > 4-butyl (1.04). High T _g of the copolymers, in comparison with that of polystyrene) indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200–500°C range with residue (1–10% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500–800°C range.     

Tylosin polyketide synthase module 3: stereospecificity,stereoselectivity and steady-state kinetic analysis of β-processing domains via diffusible,synthetic substrates

Polyketide synthase (PKS) β-processing domains are responsible for much of the stereochemical complexity of polyketide natural products. Although the importance of β-processing domains has been well noted and significantly explored, key stereochemical details pertaining to cryptic stereochemistry and the impact of remote stereogenic centers have yet to be fully discerned. To uncover the inner workings of ketoreductases (KR) and dehydratases (DH) from the tylosin pathway a didomain composed of TylDH3-KR3 was recombinantly expressed and interrogated with full-length tetraketide substrates to probe the impact of vicinal and distal stereochemistry. In vitro product isolation analysis revealed the products of the cryptic KR as d-alcohols and of the DH as trans-olefins. Steady-state kinetic analysis of the dehydration reaction demonstrated a strict stereochemical tolerance at the β-position as d-configured substrates were processed more than 100 times more efficiently than l-alcohols. Unexpectedly, the k _cat/K _M values were diminished 14- to 45-fold upon inversion of remote ε- and ζ-stereocenters. This stereochemical discrimination is predicted to be driven by a combination of allylic A^1,3 strain that likely disfavors binding of the ε-epimer and a loss of electrostatic interactions with the ζ-epimer. Our results strongly suggest that dehydratases may play a role in refining the stereochemical outcomes of preceding modules through their substrate stereospecificity, honing the configurational purity of the final PKS product.     

Visualising mouse neuroanatomy and function by metal distribution using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry imaging

Metals have a number of important roles within the brain. We used laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to map the three-dimensional concentrations and distributions of transition metals, in particular iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) within the murine brain. LA-ICP-MS is one of the leading analytical tools for measuring metals in tissue samples. Here, we present a complete data reduction protocol for measuring metals in biological samples, including the application of a pyramidal voxel registration technique to reproducibly align tissue sections. We used gold (Au) nanoparticle and ytterbium (Yb)-tagged tyrosine hydroxylase antibodies to assess the co-localisation of Fe and dopamine throughout the entire mouse brain. We also examined the natural clustering of metal concentrations within the murine brain to elucidate areas of similar composition. This clustering technique uses a mathematical approach to identify multiple ‘elemental clusters’, avoiding user bias and showing that metal composition follows a hierarchical organisation of neuroanatomical structures. This work provides new insight into the distinct compartmentalisation of metals in the brain, and presents new avenues of exploration with regard to region-specific, metal-associated neurodegeneration observed in several chronic neurodegenerative diseases.     

CoII Complexes as Liposomal CEST Agents

Three paramagnetic Co^II macrocyclic complexes containing 2‐hydroxypropyl pendant groups, 1,1′,1′′,1′′′‐(1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane‐1,4,8,11‐tetrayl)tetrakis‐ (propan‐2‐ol) ([Co(L1)]²⁺, 1,1′‐(4,11‐dibenzyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane‐1,8‐diyl)bis(propan‐2‐ol) ([Co(L2)]²⁺), and 1,1′‐(4,11‐dibenzyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane‐1,8‐diyl)bis(octadecan‐2‐ol) ([Co(L3)]²⁺) were synthesized to prepare transition metal liposomal chemical exchange saturation transfer (lipoCEST) agents. In solution, ([Co(L1)]²⁺) forms two isomers as shown by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. X‐ray crystallographic studies show one isomer with 1,8‐pendants in cis‐configuration and a second isomer with 1,4‐pendants in trans‐configuration. The [Co(L2)]²⁺ complex has 1,8‐pendants in a cis‐configuration. Remarkably, the paramagnetic‐induced shift of water ¹H NMR resonances in the presence of the [Co(L1)]²⁺ complex is as large as that observed for one of the most effective Ln^III water proton shift agents. Incorporation of [Co(L1)]²⁺ into the liposome aqueous core, followed by dialysis against a solution of 300 mOsm L^?1 produces a CEST peak at 3.5 ppm. Incorporation of the amphiphilic [Co(L3)]²⁺ complex into the liposome bilayer produces a more highly shifted CEST peak at ?13 ppm. Taken together, these data demonstrate the feasibility of preparing Co^II lipoCEST agents.     

Complexes H2CO:PXH2 and HCO2H : PXH2 for X=NC,F, Cl,CN, OH,CCH, CH3, and H: Pnicogen Bonds and Hydrogen Bonds

Ab initio MP2/aug’-cc-pVTZ calculations have been carried out to investigate H₂CO : PXH₂ pnicogen-bonded complexes and HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes that are stabilized by pnicogen bonds and hydrogen bonds, with X=NC, F, Cl, CN, OH, CCH, CH₃, and H. The binding energies of these complexes exhibit a second-order dependence on the O−P distance. DFT-SAPT binding energies correlate linearly with MP2 binding energies. The HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes are stabilized by both a pnicogen bond and a hydrogen bond, resulting in greater binding energies for the HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes compared to H₂CO : PXH₂. Neither the O−P distance across the pnicogen bond nor the O−P distance across the hydrogen bond correlates with the binding energies of these complexes. The nonlinearity of the hydrogen bonds suggests that they are relatively weak bonds, except for complexes in which the substituent X is either CH₃ or H. The pnicogen bond is the more important stabilizing interaction in the HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes except when the substituent X is a more electropositive group. EOM-CCSD spin-spin coupling constants ^1pJ(O−P) across pnicogen bonds in H₂CO:PXH₂ and HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes increase as the O−P distance decreases, and exhibit a second order dependence on that distance. There is no correlation between ^2hJ(O−P) and the O−P distance across the hydrogen bond in the HCO₂H : PXH₂ complexes. ^2hJ(O−P) coupling constants for complexes with X=CH₃ and H have much greater absolute values than anticipated from their O−P distances.     

Antibacterial Activity of Biosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles Using Extracts of Calendula officinalis against Potentially Clinical Bacterial Strains

The use of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in the biomedical area has been increasing as an alternative to the growing bacterial resistance to antibiotics. In this research, SeNPs were synthesized by green synthesis using ascorbic acid (AsAc) as a reducing agent and methanolic extract of Calendula officinalis L. flowers as a stabilizer. Characterization of SeNPs was performed by UV-vis spectrophotometry, infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. SeNPs of 40–60 nm and spherical morphologies were obtained. The antibacterial activity of marigold extracts and fractions was evaluated by disk diffusion methodology. The evaluation of SeNPs at different incubation times was performed through the colony-forming unit (CFU) count, in both cases against Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, and Alcaligenes faecalis bacteria. Partial antibacterial activity was observed with methanolic extracts of marigold leaves and flowers and total inhibition with SeNPs from 2 h for S. marcescens, 1 h for E. cloacae, and 30 min for A. faecalis. In addition, SeNPs were found to exhibit antioxidant activity. The results indicate that SeNPs present a potentiated effect of both antimicrobial and antioxidant activity compared to the individual use of marigold extracts or sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃). Their application emerges as an alternative for the control of clinical pathogens.     

Using laser micro mass spectrometry with the LAMMA-1000 instrument for monitoring relative elemental concentrations in vitrinite

The variation in relative elemental concentrations among a series of coal macerals belonging to the vitrinite maceral group was determined using laser micro mass spectrometry (LAMMS). Variations in Ba, Cr, Ga, Sr, Ti, and V concentrations among the coals were determined using the LAMM A-1000 instrument. LAMMS analysis is not limited to these elements; their selection illustrates the application of the technique. Ba, Cr, Ga, Sr, Ti, and V have minimal site-to-site variance in the vitrinite macerals of the studied coals as measured by LAMMS. The LAMMS data were compared with bulk elemental data obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and D. C. arc optical emission spectroscopy (DCAS) in order to determine the reliability of the LAMMS data. The complex nature of the ionization phenomena in LAMMS and the lack of standards characterized on a microscale makes obtaining quantitative elemental data within the ionization microvolume difficult; however, we demonstrate that the relative variation of an element among vitrinites from different coal beds in the eastern United States can be observed using LAMMS in a bulk mode by accumulating signal intensities over several microareas of each vitrinite. Our studies indicate gross changes (greater than a factor of 2 to 5 depending on the element) can be monitored when the elemental concentration is significantly above the detection limit.Bulk mode analysis was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of future elemental LAMMS microanalyses. The primary advantage of LAMMS is the inherent spatial resolution, ~ 20m for coal. Two different vitrite bands in the Lower Bakerstown coal bed (CLB-1) were analyzed. The analysis did not establish any certain concentration differences in Ba, Cr, Ga, Sr, Ti, and V between the two bands.     

Magnetic iron oxide nanopowders produced by CO2 laser evaporation

Magnetic iron oxide nanopowders were produced with the laser evaporation technique under normal process gas pressure. In addition, the generated particles were coated in situ with stearic acid and separated on magnets. The methods and the used laboratory setup are briefly described. Influences of essential process conditions, particularly the use of continuous and pulsed laser radiation as well as the properties of the process gas, were experimentally investigated. The produced nanopowders were analysed with TEM, XRD, and magnetic measurements and confirmed the in-principle suitability of the presented method.     

Kinetics and products of the reactions of selected diols with the OH radical

Using a relative rate method, rate constants have been measured at 296 ± 2 K for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with 1,2‐butanediol, 2,3‐butanediol, 1,3‐butanediol, and 2‐methyl‐2,4‐pentanediol, with rate constants (in units of 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) of 27.0 ± 5.6, 23.6 ± 6.3, 33.2 ± 6.8, and 27.7 ± 6.1, respectively, where the error limits include the estimated overall uncertainty of ±20% in the rate constant for the reference compound. Gas chromatographic analyses showed the formation of 1‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone from 1,2‐butanediol, 3‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone from 2,3‐butanediol, 1‐hydroxy‐3‐butanone from 1,3‐butanediol, and 4‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2‐pentanone from 2‐methyl‐2,4‐pentanediol, with formation yields of 0.66 ± 0.11, 0.89 ± 0.09, 0.50 ± 0.09, and 0.47 ± 0.09, respectively, where the indicated errors are the estimated overall uncertainties. Pathways for the formation of these products are presented, together with a comparison of the measured and estimated rate constants and product yields. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 310–316, 2001     

Anab initio molecular orbital study of substituted carbonyl compounds

Ab initio SCF calculations with a minimal STO-3G basis set have been performed to determine the equilibrium geometries of two series of carbonyl compounds, RCHO and R₂ CO. For the mono-substituted compounds, R may be CH₃, NH₂, OH, F, CHO, and C₂ H₃. In the disubstituted compounds, R has been restricted to the isoelectronic saturated groups. The computed equilibrium geometries of these compounds are in satisfactory agreement with the experimentally-determined geometries, with an average difference of 0.021 Å between computed and experimental bond lengths, and 1.9 ° in corresponding bond angles. An analysis of the effect of the substituent on the electronic structure of the carbonyl group has also been made. The saturated groups are found to be electron-withdrawing groups relative to H, with the electron withdrawing ability increasing in the order CH₃ 2 2H₂ are also electron withdrawing relative to H, and comparable to CH₃ in acetaldehyde. Vertical ionization potentials andn* transition energies have also been calculated for these molecules at their optimized geometries, experimental geometries, and geometries given by a standard model. The effect of changes in molecular geometry on these computed properties has been analyzed.