Position dependent heavy atom effect in physical triplet quenching by electron donors

The radical yields and rate constants in the quenching reaction of thionine triplet with the complete series of monohalogen substituted anilines as electron donors were determined by flash spectroscopy. Whereas the quenching rate constants show little and unsystematic variation, the radical yields decrease with increasing spin—orbit coupling constant of the halogen substituent. This effect is very sensitive to the position of the halogen in the donor. The results are explained in terms of a heavy atom effect on the intersystem crossing rate constant in a triplet exciplex.     

Mimicry of host-defense peptides by unnatural oligomers: antimicrobial beta-peptides

We have designed beta-amino acid oligomers that are helical, cationic, and amphiphilic with the intention of mimicking the biological activity of amphiphilic, cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides found in nature (e.g., magainins). We have previously identified a 17-residue beta-peptide (called beta-17) with antibiotic activity similar to that of a magainin derivative against four bacterial species, including two clinical isolates that are resistant to common antibiotics. This beta-peptide displays very low hemolytic activity against human red blood cells, which indicates selectivity for bacterial cells over mammalian cells. Here we examine some of the factors important for activity in this class of beta-peptides. An amphiphilic helix is necessary, because a nonamphiphilic isomer proved to be inactive. The ratio of cationic to hydrophobic residues is also important. Active beta-peptides induce the leakage of beta-galactosidase from treated Bacillus subtilis cells, as do alpha-helical antibiotic peptides, and this similarity suggests that the beta-peptide mode of action involves disruption of microbial membranes. This class of beta-peptides is not degraded by proteases, which bodes well for biological applications.     

EXCITATION ENERGY TRANSFER IN THE CRYPTOPHYTES. FLUORESCENCE EXCITATION SPECTRA AND PICOSECOND TIME-RESOLVED EMISSION SPECTRA OF INTACT ALGAE AT 77 K

Excitation spectra of chlorophyll- a (Chl- a ) fluorescence in intact cells of Cryptomonas ovata, Chroomonas pauciplastida and Chroomonas salina were determined at 77 K. For all species the excitation spectra for emission from Chl- a associated with photosystem II (PSII) showed increased contributions by a carotenoid (493 nm) and phycobiliproteins, and decreased contributions by carotenoid (417 nm, 505 nm) and Chl- a (445 nm) as compared to excitation spectra for emission from Chl- a associated with photosystem I (PSI). Excitation spectra of C. salina and C. ovata showed an increased contribution by Chl- c ² to PSII Chl- a fluorescence emission. In all three species the absorbance band positions of Chl- a , as determined from the excitation spectra, were similar to those previously described in green plants. green algae and phycobilisome-containing organisms. Time-resolved 77 K fluorescence emission spectra of C. ovata and C. salina showed successive emission from both phycoerythrin and Chl- c ², PSII Chl- a , and PSI Chl- a. C. pauciplastida showed successive emission from phycocyanin, PSII Chl- a , and PSI Chl- a. Spectral red-shifts with time were observed for the phycobiliprotein peaks in all three species. The fluorescence decay of phycoerythrin in C. ovata and C. salina was faster than that of phycocyanin in C. pauciplastida. The results are discussed in relation to the organization of the antenna pigments of PSII and PSI in the cryptophyte algae.     

Temperature-sensitive polypeptide brushes-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for dual-responsive drug release

A multifunctional nanohybrid based on mesoporous silica nanoparticle and biocompatible polypeptide was fabricated for targeted and dual-responsive therapy of tumor cells.     

INCREASED QUANTUM YIELD OF PHOTOREDUCTION OF DYES (A CATALYTIC EFFECT)

Abstract— While studying the photoreduction of some dyes (D) by reducing agents (R), it was observed that the quantum yield of the photoreduction increases considerably upon addition of a third substance (C), whereas it is very small when the dye is photoreduced by C alone (catalytic effect), (see Table 1).
The system thionine (D), allylthiourea (R), and azulene (C) was investigated in detail using both flash photolysis and continuous illumination. On photolysis, thionine is converted into its photo-reduced form, leucothionine. Azulene reacts with the basic form of the thionine triplet ³ TH ⁺ to produce the semithionine radical. In the system thionine and azulene, most of these radicals revert back to thionine. When ATU (˜ 10^2- M ) is added to thionine and azulene (3 × 10^-4 M ), the semithionine radicals are reduced to leucothionine; the quantum yield of this reduction is considerably higher than in the system thionine and allylthiourea. Flash experiments demonstrate that allylthiourea does not react with the semithionine radicals.
At very high ATU concentrations (≥ 10^-1 M ), however, the primary reaction is between thionine triplet and allylthiourea; under these conditions the quantum yield is not influenced by azulene (3 × 10^-4 M ).     

On-line determination of mercury in river water at the German monitoring station Schnackenburg/Elbe

A monitor is described which provides the on-line determination of mercury in river water at concentrations from 20 to 1000 ng/L. The measurement includes an on-line digestion with Br-/BrO3- and UV-radiation. Each determination is controlled by an on-line addition of 50 and 100 ng/L mercury carried out by pre-dilution of a 500 and 1000 ng/L stock solution using sequential injection analysis (SIA). One cycle of analysis takes 20 min and results in nine signals. A five days stand-alone operation has been performed successfully. Details are also published at web page: "http/www.rzbd.fh-hamburg.de/-prmercol".     

Efficient synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes in an aqueous-organic system using a versatile and recyclable Rh/m-TPPTC catalyst

We have found that the use of [Rh(cod)OH]₂ associated with the water-soluble ligand m-TPPTC was highly efficient for the Rh-catalyzed arylation of alkynes. Aryl and alkyl alkynes were transformed to alkenes using 3 mol % rhodium catalyst and 2.5 equiv of boronic acid at 100 °C in a biphasic water/toluene system in 80-99% yield. The reaction was found to be totally regioselective for alkyl arylalkynes and alkyl silylated alkynes. The Rh/m-TPPTC system was for the first time recycled with no loss of the activity and with excellent purity of the desired alkene.     

Synthesis and structure of the calixarene-like phosph(III)azane macrocycle [{P(mu-N(t)Bu)}2{1,5-(NH)2C10H6}]3

The reaction of [ClP(mu-NtBu)]2 with 1,5-diamino-naphthalene [1,5-(NH2)2C10H6] in Et3N-thf gives the trimeric macrocycle [{P(mu-NtBu)}2{1,5-(NH)2C10H6}]3(1); the X-ray structure of the toluene solvate 1.3toluene reveals a cone-shaped (calixarene-like) arrangement in which toluene guest molecules are trapped within the cavity.     

Separation of sodiated isobaric disaccharides and trisaccharides using electrospray ionization-atmospheric pressure ion mobility-time of flight mass spectrometry

A series of isobaric disaccharide-alditols, four derived from O-linked glycoproteins, and select trisaccharides were rapidly resolved using tandem high resolution atmospheric pressure ion-mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Electrospray ionization was used to create the gas-phase sodium adducts of each carbohydrate. Using this technique it was possible to separate up to three isobaric disaccharide alditols and three trisaccharides in the gas phase. Reduced mobility values and experimentally determined ion-neutral cross sections are reported for each sodium-carbohydrate complex. These studies demonstrated that ion mobility separations at atmospheric pressure can provide a high-resolution dimension for analysis of carbohydrate ions that is complementary to traditional mass spectral (m/z) ion analysis. Combining these independent principles for separation of ions provides a powerful new bioanalytical tool for the identification of isomeric carbohydrates.     

Yellowing and IR-changes of spruce wood as result of UV-irradiation

The yellowing and IR-changes of spruce wood as a result of UV-irradiation were studied using two different types of xenon lamps (lambda>300 nm; I(o)=50 mW cm(-2) and lambda>280 nm; I(o)=17.5 mW cm(-2)). Changes in the IR spectra as well as the yellowing of the irradiated wood surfaces show the influence of UV light on the wood modules. The UV-irradiation (72 h; lambda>300 nm; I(o)=50 mW cm(-2)) decreased the lignin content on the surface by up to 20% of the original values. The colour difference of yellowing (deltaE) exhibited a systematic trend to higher values with increasing irradiation time. Our results show that the photoyellowing (UV-Vis detection) correlates very well with lignin degradation (IR detection). This result is in agreement with the quinone formation as the chromophoric reaction product of lignin decay. The degradation, yellowing, and oxidation kinetics differed only little using different light sources. The absorbed light intensity, which depends on wavelength, the intensity distribution of the light source and the absorption spectrum of lignin, influenced the degradation rate. Under the current experimental conditions, the absorption spectrum of lignin was the most important factor. Therefore, irradiation with lambda>280 nm is useful for rapidly monitoring the UV-degradation of wood