New SbS2 strings in the BaSb2S4 structure

The new compound BaSb₂S₄ crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group: $\text{P2}{}_1\text{c}$, No. 14) with a = 8.985(2) Å, b = 8.203(3) Å, c = 20.602(5) Å, β = 101.36(3)°. SbS₃ ψ tetrahedra and ψ-trigonal SbS₄ bipyramids are connected by common corners and edgers to infinite strings. These are arraged cross-wise in sheets perpendicular to the c axis.     

Eine neue photometrische Eisenbestimmung mit Äthylendiamintetraessigsäure

Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt, daß man mit Hilfe von Komplexon-III Eisen-III-Verbindungen nach Überführung in gelbgefärbte Komplexverbindungen, deren Absorptionsmaximum unterhalb 366 m liegt, photometrisch bestimmen kann. Die Extinktion ist bei gleicher Eisenkonzentration vomph-Wert abhängig und in denph-Bereichen zwischen 0,80 und 2,80 sowie zwischen 3,92 und 5,10 konstant, so daß beide Bereiche zur Bestimmung geeignet sind. Es ist beachtlich, daß die komplexe Bindung erst oberhalbph 10,5 zerfällt und Eisenhydroxyd ausflockt. DasLambert-Beersche Gesetz ist in dem Konzentrationsbereich zwischen 4g und 500g Eisen/ml streng erfüllt. Die Bestimmung ist vielen anderen bisher bekannten photometrischen Eisenbestimmungsverfahren überlegen, da schwächere Komplexbildner (z. B. Weinsäure) und sonstige Lösungspartner nicht stören.

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Summary It was found that iron (III) compounds can be determined photometrically by the aid of complexone III. The yellow complex compound has an absorption maximum below 366 m. The extinction, at equal iron concentration, is dependent on theph value. It is constant inph ranges between 0.80 and 2.80 and also between 3.92 and 5.10, so that either of these ranges is suitable for this determination. It should be noted that the complex decomposes only aboveph = 10.5; iron hydroxide separates. TheLambert-Beer law is strictly followed in the concentration range 4g and 500g iron/ml. This method of determination is far superior to many familiar photometric procedures for iron because weaker complex-formers (e. g. tartaric acid) and other cosolutes do not interfere.

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Résumé On montre que les composés du fer-III peuvent être dosés photométriquement à l'aide de la complexone-III après transformation en un complexe coloré en jaune dont l'absorption maximum se trouve au-dessous de 366 m. L'extinction dépend duph pour des concentrations égales en fer et se montre constante entre 0,80 et 2,80, de même qu'entre 3,92 et 5,10, de sorte que ces deux domaines conviennent pour le dosage. Il faut remarquer que le complexe ne se détruit qu'au-dessus deph 10,5 et l'hydroxyde ferrique flocule. La loi deLambert-Beer est satisfaite dans le domaine de concentration entre 4 g et 500 g de fer/ml. La méthode de dosage est de beaucoup supérieure aux méthodes connues jusqu'ici pour la détermination colorimétrique du fer du fait que les complexants les plus faibles, comme l'acide tartrique, ne gênent pas.

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Jetzt: Riedel De Haën A.-G., Chemische Fabriken Seelze bei Hannover.     

Electron-transfer polymers. XXXIV. Redox polyurethanes from p-benzoquinone-2,5-diols and diisocyanates

It is possible to prepare polyurethanes from p-benzoquinone-diols and diisocyanates by using dibutyltin diacetate catalyst at room temperature or below, since the benzoquinone group does not react with isocyanate under these conditions. This permits preparation of new redox polymers. In preparing the polyurethanes excess isocyanate groups must be destroyed at the end of the reaction time in order to prevent crosslinking during work-up. These polymers are readily reduced by aqueous hydrosulfite. Good viscosity numbers are obtained; and, in general, upon reduction the viscosity increases over that of the oxidized form. There is no evidence of crosslinking. When oxidized and reduced forms of these polymers are mixed there is no evidence of charge transfer.     

Spiers memorial lecture dynamics of surface reactions

The dynamics of electrode processes is discussed in the framework of the general hierarchy of dynamic processes underlying interface reactions. On the quantum level, the energy transfer between the various degrees of freedom of a reacting system may now be studied by ultrafast (femtosecond) laser techniques. On the atomic level the mechanism of surface reactions may be investigated by STM and spectroscopic methods. Frequently a surface reaction will affect the structure of the substrate on the mesoscopic scale. The kinetics of such phase transformations proceeds either by a nucleation and growth mechanism or by spinodal decomposition. The latter can be studied in electrodissolution by combining STM with very short potential pulses. In this context, a novel technique for electrochemical micromachining is presented. Finally, some aspects of nonlinear kinetics on the macroscopic level associated with spatio-temporal pattern formation are briefly discussed.     

Adrenaline recognition in water

Host molecule 1 displays a high affinity in water towards catecholamines and especially related structures such as beta-blockers with extended aromatic pi-faces (up to 7x10(3) M(-1) for each single complexation step or 5x10(7) M(-2) for both steps). The amphiphilic structural design leads to an extensive self-association of host molecules through their aromatic flanks. Above a cmc (critical micelle concentration) of 3x10(-4) M, host 1 forms micelles that produce a favorable microenvironment for hydrophobic interactions with the included guest molecules. Electrostatic attraction of the ammonium alcohol by the phosphonate anions is thus combined with hydrophobic contributions between the aromatic moieties. Ionic hydrogen bonds with polar OH or NH groups of the guest enforce the non-covalent interactions, and finally lead to increased specificity. Both its affinity and its selectivity towards adrenergic receptor substrates are greatly enhanced if the receptor molecule 1 is transferred from water into a lipid monolayer. Catecholamines and beta-blockers lead to drastically different effects at concentrations approaching the micromolar regime. Especially beta-blockers with minute structural changes can be easily distinguished from each other. In both cases, extensive hydrophobic interactions with a self-associated and/or self-organized microenvironment are largely responsible for the observed high efficiency and specificity.     

Saludimerines A and B, novel-type dimeric alkaloids with stereogenic centers and configurationally semistable biaryl axes

The first biarylic bis-morphinanedienone alkaloids, saludimerines A (3a) and B (3b), isolated from a tree of Croton flavens (Euphorbiaceae) are described. These naturally occurring dimers of the known alkaloid salutaridine are joined together via a rotationally hindered biaryl axis, giving rise to atropo-diastereomers that are configurationally stable at room temperature but slowly interconvert in methanolic solution within several days. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods and by partial synthesis, which was achieved by a highly atropo-diastereoselective biomimetic oxidative coupling of the monomeric precursor, salutaridine. Their axial configurations were elucidated by circular dichroism (CD) investigations, which succeeded despite the fact that the two atropo-diastereomers exhibit near-identical CD spectra. This remarkable phenomenon was rationalized by quantum chemical CD calculations. The configurational assignment of saludimerines A (3a) as P-axial and B (3b) as M was corroborated by atropisomer-specific NOE interactions between protons of the one molecular half with nuclei in the other.     

Approaches to the description and prediction of the binding affinity of small-molecule ligands to macromolecular receptors

The influence of a xenobiotic compound on an organism is usually summarized by the expression biological activity. If a controlled, therapeutically relevant, and regulatory action is observed the compound has potential as a drug, otherwise its toxicity on the biological system is of interest. However, what do we understand by the biological activity? In principle, the overall effect on an organism has to be considered. However, because of the complexity of the interrelated processes involved, as a simplification primarily the "main action" on the organism is taken into consideration. On the molecular level, biological activity corresponds to the binding of a (low-molecular weight) compound to a macromolecular receptor, usually a protein. Enzymatic reactions or signal-transduction cascades are thereby influenced with respect to their function for the organism. We regard this binding as a process under equilibrium conditions; thus, binding can be described as an association or dissociation process. Accordingly, biological activity is expressed as the affinity of both partners for each other, as a thermodynamic equilibrium quantity. How well do we understand these terms and how well are they theoretically predictable today? The holy grail of rational drug design is the prediction of the biological activity of a compound. The processes involving ligand binding are extremely complicated, both ligand and protein are flexible molecules, and the energy inventory between the bound and unbound states must be considered in aqueous solution. How sophisticated and reliable are our experimental approaches to obtaining the necessary insight? The present review summarizes our current understanding of the binding affinity of a small-molecule ligand to a protein. Both theoretical and empirical approaches for predicting binding affinity, starting from the three-dimensional structure of a protein-ligand complex, will be described and compared. Experimental methods, primarily microcalorimetry, will be discussed. As a perspective, our own knowledge-based approach towards affinity prediction and experimental data on factorizing binding contributions to protein-ligand binding will be presented.