Aminocyclodextrins to facilitate the deprotonation of 4-tert-butyl-alpha-nitrotoluene

6A-Amino-6A-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin enhances the rate of the deprotonation of 4-tert-butyl-alpha-nitrotoluene. The rate constants for reaction of the cyclodextrin-bound species, kinc = 4 x 10(-3), 9 x 10(-3) and 19 x 10(-3) s(-1), at pH 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0, respectively, in 0.1 mol dm(-3) aqueous phosphate buffer containing 1% methanol at 298 K. These rate constants correspond to a rate acceleration (kinc/kun) of ca. 10 times at each pH. Under the same conditions, 6A-dimethylamino-6A-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin and 6A-(2-aminoethylamino)-6A-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin are more effective; at pH 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0, for the former, kinc = 3 x 10(-2), 7 x 10(-2) and 12 x 10(-2) s(-1), whilst for the latter, kinc = 4 x 10(-2), 5 x 10(-2) and 9 x 10(-2) s(-1), respectively. Each cyclodextrin also decreases the pKa of the nitrotoluene, from 6.8 in free solution, to 6.2 when bound. The accelerated deprotonation by 6A-amino-6A-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin is reflected in the enhanced rates of hydrogen-deuterium exchange of the nitrotoluene in deuterium oxide, and in the conjugate addition of the nitrotoluene to methyl vinyl ketone in aqueous solution.     

Photophysical properties of biologically compatible CdSe quantum dot structures

The photophysical properties of CdSe and ZnS(CdSe) semiconductor quantum dots in nonpolar and aqueous solutions were examined with steady-state (absorption and emission) and time-resolved (time-correlated single-photon-counting) spectroscopy. The CdSe structures were prepared from a single CdSe synthesis, a portion of which were ZnS-capped, thus any differences observed in the spectral behavior between the two preparations were due to changes in the molecular shell. Quantum dots in nonpolar solvents were surrounded with a trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) coating from the initial synthesis solution. ZnS-capped CdSe were initially brighter than bare uncapped CdSe and had overall faster emission decays. The dynamics did not vary when the solvent was changed from hexane to dichloromethane; however, replacement of the TOPO cap by pyridine affected CdSe but not ZnS(CdSe). CdSe was then solubilized in water with mercapto-acetic acid or dihydrolipoic acid, whereas ZnS(CdSe) could be solubilized only with dihydrolipoic acid. Both solubilization agents quenched the nanocrystal emission, though with CdSe the quenching was nearly complete. Additional quenching of the remaining emission was observed when the redox-active molecule adenine was conjugated to the water-soluble CdSe but was not seen with ZnS(CdSe). The emission of aqueous CdSe could be enhanced under prolonged exposure to room light and resulted in a substantial increase of the emission lifetimes; however, the enhancement occurred concurrently with precipitation of the nanocrystals, which was possibly caused by photocatalytic destruction of the mercaptoacetic acid coating. These results are the first presented on aqueous CdSe quantum dot structures and are presented in the context of designing better, more stable biological probes.     

Linear programs with an additional reverse convex constraint

A constraintg(x)0 is said to be a reverse convex constraint if the functiong is continuous and strictly quasi-convex. The feasible regions for linear programs with an additional reverse convex constraint are generally non-convex and disconnected. It is shown that the convex hull of the feasible region is a convex polytope and, as a result, there is an optimal solution on an edge of the polytope defined by only the linear constraints. The only possible edges which can contain such an optimal solution are characterized in relation to the best feasible vertex of the polytope defined by only the linear constraints. This characterization then provides a finite algorithm for finding a globally optimal solution.Research supported by NSF Grant ENG76-12250 and ONR Contract N00014-78-C-0428.     

Optimization of an electrolytic conductivity detector for determination of toxic nitrogen-containing food contaminants separated by open tubular column gas chromatography

The combination of open tubular column gas chromatography with electrolytic conductivity detection has been evaluated for the determination of nitrogen-containing pesticide residues in food extracts. Optimization of the column position at the column-detector interface was crucial to the successful operation of the detector. The signal-to-noise ratio and response stability of the detector are greatly influenced by the composition of the electrolyte solvent. Large volume splitless injections using retention gaps and optimized detector operating conditions enabled pesticide residues in food extracts to be determined at sub parts-per-million levels. Although the electrolytic conductivity detector is less sensitive than the thermionic ionization detector, its greater nitrogen selectivity can he crucial to the determination of nitrogen-containing contaminants in food extracts, particularly in complex mixtures where phosphorus-containing contaminants or matrix compounds are also present.     

2]pseudorotaxane formation with N-benzylanilinium axles and 24-crown-8 ether wheels

[reaction: see text] As a hybrid of the N,N-dibenzylammonium and 1,2-bis(pyridinium)ethane axles, various N-benzylanilinium cations were investigated as suitable axles for the formation of [2]pseudorotaxanes with the 24-membered crown ethers 24C8 and DB24C8. The effect of electron-donating OCH(3) and electron-withdrawing CF(3) groups on both the anilinium and benzyl aromatic rings was studied. Formation constants and structural details were compared to the [2]pseudorotaxanes formed by the two aforementioned dibenzylammonium and 1,2-bis(pyridinium)ethane axles.     

Structures and anion-binding properties of M4L6 tetrahedral cage complexes with large central cavities

Reaction of the bis-bidentate bridging ligand L(3), in which two bidentate chelating 3(2-pyridyl)pyrazole units are separated by a 3,3'-biphenyl spacer, with Co(II) salts affords tetranuclear cage complexes of composition [Co(4)(L(3))(6)]X(8)(X =[BF(4)](-), [ClO(4)](-), [PF(6)](-) or I(-)) in which four 6-coordinate Co(II) ions in an approximately tetrahedral array are connected by six bis-bidentate bridging ligands, one spanning each of the six edges of the Co(4) tetrahedron. In every case, X-ray crystallography reveals that the 'apical' Co(II) ion has a fac tris-chelate geometry, whereas the other three Co(II) ions have mer tris-chelate geometries, resulting in (non-crystallographic)C(3) symmetry for the cages; that this structure is retained in solution is confirmed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy of the paramagnetic cages. In every case one of the anions is located inside the central cavity of the cage, with the remaining seven outside. We found no clear evidence for an anion-based templating effect. The cage superstructure is sufficiently large to leave gaps in the centres of the faces through which the internal and external anions can exchange. Variable-temperature (19)F NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate the dynamic behaviour of the cages with X =[BF(4)](-) and [PF(6)](-) in MeCN solution: in both cases two separate signals, corresponding to external and internal anions, are clear at 233 K which have coalesced to a single signal at room temperature. Analysis of the linewidth of the minor signal (for the internal anion) at various temperatures below coalescence gave an activation energy for anion exchange of ca. 50 kJ mol(-1) in each case, a figure which suggests that anion exchange can occur via a conformational rearrangement of the cage superstructure in solution rather than opening of the cavity by cleavage of metal-ligand bonds.     

Stacking due to ionic transport number mismatch during sample sweeping on microchips

Sample stacking can occur in isoconductive buffer systems as a result of ion transport mismatches that cause changes in buffer conductivity during electrophoresis. Fluorescence imaging was used to examine this effect in the sweeping of hydrophobic dyes with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on microchips. Imaging revealed the occurrence of a stacking effect in a sodium borate buffer system in which the sample buffer and SDS-containing run buffer had the same initial conductivity. Injected sample plugs were first swept by SDS micelles and the swept band was then stacked at the trailing end of the sample zone. This effect is due to changes in conductivity at both the front and back interfaces of the injected sample plug and can be modeled by moving boundary equations. Maximum signal enhancements of 86-, 160- and 560-fold were obtained for Rhodamine 560, Rhodamine B and Rhodamine 6G, respectively, by the combination of sweeping and stacking within a 1 cm section of microchannel. Based on sample sweeping/stacking and manipulation of the electric field polarity, a method of trapping and concentrating analyte from multiple injections was also demonstrated.     

Does Exposure to UV Radiation Induce a Shift to a Th-2-like Immune Reaction?

In addition to being the primary cause of skin cancer, UV radiation is immune suppressive and there appears to be a link between the ability of UV to suppress the immune response and induce skin cancer. Cytokines made by UV-irradlated keratinocytes play an essential role in activating immune suppression. In particular, we have found that keratinocyte-derlved interleukin (IL)-10 is responsible for the systemic impairment of antigenpresenting cell function and the UV-induced suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). Antigen presentation by splenic adherent cells isolated from UV-irradiated mice to T helper-1 type T (Th1) cells is suppressed, whereas antigen presentation to T helper-2 type T (Th2) cells is enhanced. The enhanced antigen presentation to Th2 cells and the impaired presentation to Th1 cells can be reversed in vivo by injecting the UV-irradiated mice with monoclonal anti-IL-10 antibody. Furthermore, immune suppression can be transferred from UV-irradiated mice to normal recipients by adoptive transfer of T cells. Injecting the recipient mice with anti-IL-4 or anti-IL-10 prevents the transfer of immune suppression, suggesting the suppressor cells are Th2 cells. In addition, injecting UV-irradiated mice with IL-12, a cytokine that has been shown to be the primary inducer of Th1 cells, and one that prevents the differentiation of Th2 cells in vivo, reverses UV-induced immune suppression. These findings support the hypothesis that UV exposure activates IL-10 secretion, which depresses the function of Th1 cells, while enhancing the activity of Th2 cells.     

On incorporation of atomic correlation in transition-metal molecular calculations: NiH

The atomic correlation terms necessary to lead to anaccurate 4s²3d⁸-4s^t 3d⁹ separation for the Ni atom have been incorporated into all-electron MC SCF/Cl calculations for the X² Δ state of NiH. The calculated potential curve properties are significantly improved compared to calculations which dissociate to Hartree-Fock atoms.