Mukaiyama–Michael Reactions with trans‐2,5‐Diarylpyrrolidine Catalysts: Enantioselectivity Arises from Attractive Noncovalent Interactions,Not from Steric Hindrance

The scope of the enantioselective Mukaiyama–Michael reactions catalyzed by trans‐2,5‐diphenylpyrrolidine has been expanded to include both α‐ and β‐substituted enals. However, the rationalization of the observed enantioselectivity is far from obvious since the catalyst is not very sterically hindered. DFT calculations were carried out to rationalize the observed stereoselectivities. Transition states of the C?C bond formation between iminium intermediates and silyloxyfurans were located and their relative energies were used to estimate the stereoselectivity data. We find excellent agreement between the predicted and observed stereoselectivities. The analysis of intermolecular forces reveals that the enantioselectivity is mostly due to stabilizing noncovalent interactions between the reacting partners, not due to steric hindrance. The role of attractive noncovalent interactions in enantioselective catalysis may be underappreciated.     

Lamellar mono-amidosil hybrids doped with Rhodamine (B) methyl ester perchlorate

Ordered mono-amide cross-linked alkyl/siloxane hybrids (mono-amidosils) incorporating a Rhodamine (B) methyl ester perchlorate dye (Rh(B)CH₃ClO₄) have been synthesized through the sol–gel process and self-directed assembly. The host hybrid matrix m-A(14) is a lamellar bilayer hierarchically structured hybrid composed of short methyl-capped alkyl chains grafted to a siliceous framework through amide groups. At low dye concentration [n = 20, where n is the molar ratio of amide groups per Rh(B)CH₃ClO₄] a new lamellar structure with higher interlamellar distance than that of m-A(14) is formed, whereas at higher dye content (n = 5) this new lamellar structure coexists with that of m-A(14). The efficient encapsulation of Rh(B)CH₃ClO₄ provided by m-A(14) via hydrogen bonding interactions ensured the complete dissolution of the dye and induced a blue shift of the emission of the dye with respect to that of the isolated state, leading to an increase in the quantum yield from values below 0.01 % (measured for the isolated dye) to 4 % at n = 20. The formation of non-fluorescent H-type dimers in the sample with n = 5 accounts for the reduction of the quantum yield. The incorporation of Rh(B)CH₃ClO₄) into m-A(14) was clearly beneficial from the standpoint of the dye’s photostability, allowing to suppress photobleaching during the first 4 h. An intensification of the emission intensity by 50 and 25 % for the emission centered at 600 and 645 nm resulted, respectively, at n = 20.     

TEAD–YAP Interaction Inhibitors and MDM2 Binders from DNA-Encoded Indole-Focused Ugi Peptidomimetics

DNA-encoded combinatorial synthesis provides efficient and dense coverage of chemical space around privileged molecular structures. The indole side chain of tryptophan plays a prominent role in key, or “hot spot”, regions of protein–protein interactions. A DNA-encoded combinatorial peptoid library was designed based on the Ugi four-component reaction by employing tryptophan-mimetic indole side chains to probe the surface of target proteins. Several peptoids were synthesized on a chemically stable hexathymidine adapter oligonucleotide “hexT”, encoded by DNA sequences, and substituted by azide-alkyne cycloaddition to yield a library of 8112 molecules. Selection experiments for the tumor-relevant proteins MDM2 and TEAD4 yielded MDM2 binders and a novel class of TEAD-YAP interaction inhibitors that perturbed the expression of a gene under the control of these Hippo pathway effectors.     

Effect of microcrystalline and microfibrillated cellulose on the evolution of hydration of cement pastes by thermogravimetry

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The interest in the use of cellulose fibers of increasingly smaller sizes in cementitious materials has increased in recent years. This paper brings...     

Small molecule diffusion in a rubbery polymer near Tg: Effects of probe size,shape, and flexibility

A novel experimental approach involving fluorescence nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) is employed to study the Fickian diffusion of small molecules in rubbery poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA) films near the glass transition, using a formalism that directly relates the small molecule translational diffusion coefficient, D, to changes in the normalized nonradiative energy transfer efficiency, E_N. Values of D for pyrene, 1,3-bis-(1-pyrene) propane (BPP), 1,3-bis-(1-pyrene) decane (BPD), 9,10-bis-phenyl ethynyl anthracene (BPEA), diphenyl Disperse Red 4 (DPDR4), and decacyclene in PiBMA are measured over temperatures ranging from approximately T_g to T_g + 25°C. Among these chromophores, significant differences in both the magnitude and temperature dependence of D are observed which are attributed to differences in molecule shape and flexibility, as well as molar volume. Other factors being equal, chromophore flexibility was shown both to increase the magnitude of D and to decrease its dependence on temperature, as does an increase in aspect ratio. For BPD, these effects are attributed to the ability of the flexible molecule to diffuse in a piecewise manner, requiring the cooperative mobility of fewer polymer chain segments than a rigid molecule of the same molar volume. For BPEA and DPDR4, this deviation from D being dominated by molar volume effects is attributed the to high aspect ratio of these elongated molecules. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A Promising Thermodynamic Study of Hole Transport Materials to Develop Solar Cells: 1,3-Bis(N-carbazolyl)benzene and 1,4-Bis(diphenylamino)benzene

The thermochemical study of the 1,3-bis(N-carbazolyl)benzene (NCB) and 1,4-bis(diphenylamino)benzene (DAB) involved the combination of combustion calorimetric (CC) and thermogravimetric techniques. The molar heat capacities over the temperature range of (274.15 to 332.15) K, as well as the melting temperatures and enthalpies of fusion were measured for both compounds by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The standard molar enthalpies of formation in the crystalline phase were calculated from the values of combustion energy, which in turn were measured using a semi-micro combustion calorimeter. From the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the rate of mass loss as a function of the temperature was measured, which was then correlated with Langmuir’s equation to derive the vaporization enthalpies for both compounds. From the combination of experimental thermodynamic parameters, it was possible to derive the enthalpy of formation in the gaseous state of each of the title compounds. This parameter was also estimated from computational studies using the G3MP2B3 composite method. To prove the identity of the compounds, the ¹H and ¹³C spectra were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and the Raman spectra of the study compounds of this work were obtained.     

Vitamin C and Phenolic Antioxidants of Jua (Ziziphus joazeiro M.) Pulp: A Rich Underexplored Brazilian Source of Ellagic Acid Recovered by Aqueous Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

Jua (juá in Portuguese) is an underexplored fruit from Brazil’s northeast. This fruit is rich in antioxidant substances. However, there is a dearth of information about jua’s bioactive potential. The present study evaluated two extraction methods (continuous agitation and ultrasound-assisted extraction—UAE) and employed three different solvents (water, ethanol, and acetone) to efficiently recover soluble phenolic compounds. Aqueous extracts obtained by UAE showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity. Besides being an eco-friendly procedure, extraction and/or solubility in an aqueous medium is also important for food application. Ellagic acids were the predominant phenolics (80%) found in aqueous jua pulp extract obtained by UAE, as determined by HPLC, while its TPC was 405.8 gallic acid equivalent per gram of fruit. This extract also exhibited a higher scavenging activity towards peroxyl radicals when compared to that of several other fruits from the literature, including grape, strawberry, cranberry, and walnuts, which are known references in terms of antioxidants. This is the first report that demonstrates jua pulp’s potential as an alternative source of ellagic acid and other phenolic acids and flavonoids. Therefore, the outcome of this study provides new information that can be useful for functional food and nutraceutical industries.     

Fast-atom bombardment and tandem mass spectrometry of macrolide antibiotics

Molecular weights of macrolide antibiotics can be determined from either (M + H)⁺ or (M + Met)⁺, the latter desorbed from alkali metal salt-saturated matrices. The ion chemistry of macrolides, as determined by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), is different for ions produced as metallated than those formed as (M + H)⁺ species. An explanation for these differences is the location of the charge. For protonated species, the charge is most likely situated on a functional group with high proton affinity, such as the dimethylamino group of the ammo sugar. The alkali metal ion, however, is bonded to the highly oxygenated aglycone. As a result, the collision-activated dissociation spectra of protonated macrolides are simple with readily identifiable fragment ions in both the high and low mass regions but no fragments in the middle mass range. In contrast, the cationized species give complex spectra with many abundant ions, most of which are located in the high mass range. The complementary nature of the fragmentation of these two species recommends the study of both by MS/MS when determining the structure or confirming the identity of these biomaterials.     

The Influence of Different Bleaching Protocols on Dentinal Enzymatic Activity: An In Vitro Study

This study aimed to investigate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in human dentin using in-situ and gelatin zymography, after at-home and in-office bleaching, related to their clinical exposure times. Dentin specimens (n = 5) were treated with 35% hydrogen peroxide (50 min per session/4 sessions), 10% carbamide peroxide (180 min/21 sessions), or no treatment. All were subjected to in-situ zymography. Dentin slices were, subsequently, obtained, covered with fluorescein-conjugated gelatin, and examined with confocal laser-scanning microscopy. The fluorescence intensity was quantified and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (α = 0.05). Furthermore, gelatin zymography was performed on protein extracts obtained from dentin powder (N = 8 teeth), treated with hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, with different exposure times (10/50 min for hydrogen peroxide; 252/1260 min for carbamide peroxide). The results of the in-situ zymography showed no statistical differences between the bleached specimens and the control group, with a medium level of gelatinolytic activity expressed in the dentin tubules. The results of gelatin zymography showed an increased expression of pro-MMP-9 in carbamide peroxide groups. The expression of pro-MMP-2 decreased in all the experimental groups. The bleaching treatments performed on the enamel of sound teeth do not influence dentinal enzymatic activity. However, when unprotected dentin tissue is bleached, matrix metalloproteinases are more expressed, particularly when carbamide peroxide is used, proportional to the exposure time.     

Concavity maximum principle for viscosity solutions of singular equations

We prove a concavity maximum principle for the viscosity solutions of certain fully nonlinear and singular elliptic and parabolic partial differential equations. Our results parallel and extend those obtained by Korevaar and Kennington for classical solutions of quasilinear equations. Applications are given in the case of the singular infinity Laplace operator.