Desorption of Rb and Cs from PDMS induced by non resonant light scattering

Simultaneous light-induced desorption of rubidium and cesium atoms has been observed in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated Pyrex cells at room temperature and at low light intensity. The two alkali atoms show the same dynamics and the same dependence on the desorbing light frequency. No competition in the free sites occupancy exists. An interpretation of the experimental results in terms of non-resonant light scattering from the PDMS coating is discussed.     

Intrinsically Photoswitchable α/β Peptides toward Two‐State Foldamers

A simple, unsaturated, E–Z photoisomerizable β‐amino acid, (Z)‐3‐aminoprop‐2‐enoic acid, has been introduced into peptide foldamers through a one‐pot chemical coupling, based on Pd/Cu‐catalyzed olefin oxidative amidation, between two peptide segments carrying, respectively, a ‐Gly‐NH₂ residue at the C‐terminus and an acryloyl group at the N‐terminus. Reversible conversion between the Z and E configurations of the 3‐aminoprop‐2‐enoic linkage was achieved photochemically. A crystallographic analysis on two model compounds shed light on the consequences, in terms of 3D structure and self‐association properties, brought about by the different configuration of the unsaturated linkage. As a proof of concept, E–Z photoisomerization of a 3‐aminoprop‐2‐enoic acid residue, inserted as the junction between two conformationally distinct peptide domains (one helical while the other β‐sheet promoter), allowed supramolecular self‐association to be reversibly turned on/off.     

Measure properties of the set of initial data yielding non uniqueness for a class of differential inclusions

We study uniqueness property for the Cauchy problemxV(x), x(0)=, whereVR ⁿR is a locally Lipschitz continuous, quasiconvex function (i.e. the sublevel sets {Vc} are convex) and V(x) is the generalized gradient ofV atx. We prove that if 0V(x) forV(x)b, then the set of initial data {V=b} yielding non uniqueness of solution in a geometric sense has (n–1)-dimensional Hausdorff measure zero in {V=b}.     

In silico rationalization of the structural and physicochemical requirements for photobiological activity in angelicine derivatives and their heteroanalogues

In PUVA (Psoralen plus UVA) chemotherapy 8-methoxypsoralen is the most widely used compound, although its efficacy is endowed with undesired side effects. In order to have an evident anti-proliferative activity with a reduced phototoxicity, many linear and angular derivatives have been synthesised. In this paper we describe a QSAR study in which, by means of the neural networks methodology, a useful model for predicting biological activity, expressed as ID₅₀ (the UVA dose that reduces to 50% the DNA synthesis in Ehrlich cells), has been derived. A decision tree that is able to discriminate between active and inactive compounds has been built based on recursive partitioning. The study shows the key structural features responsible for the activity and could be a helpful tool in the rational design of new, less toxic, photochemotherapeuthic agents.     

Docking studies on NSAID/COX-2 isozyme complexes using Contact Statistics analysis

Summary The selective inhibition of COX-2 isozymes should lead to a new generation of NSAIDs with significantly reduced side effects; e.g. celecoxib (Celebrex^®) and rofecoxib (Vioxx^®). To obtain inhibitors with higher selectivity it has become essential to gain additional insight into the details of the interactions between COX isozymes and NSAIDs. Although X-ray structures of COX-2 complexed with a small number of ligands are available, experimental data are missing for two well-known selective COX-2 inhibitors (rofecoxib and nimesulide) and docking results reported are controversial. We use a combination of a traditional docking procedure with a new computational tool (Contact Statistics analysis) that identifies the best orientation among a number of solutions to shed some light on this topic.     

Reaction of sulfenes with heterocyclic N,N-disubstituted α-aminomethyleneketones. XII. Synthesis of [1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin derivatives

The 1,4-cycloaddition of sulfene to N,N-disubstituted (E)-4-aminomethylene-3,4-dihydro[1]benzothiepin-5(2H)-ones I occurred only in the case of aliphatic N,N-disubstitution to give in good yield 4-dialkylamino-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides, which are derivatives of the new heterocyclic system [1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin. Also the reaction of I with chlorosulfene occurred only in the case of aliphatic N,N-disubstitution to afford chiefly trans-4-dialkylamino-3-chloro-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides III in satisfactory yield. Adducts III were dehydrochlorinated with DBN to 4-dialkylamino-5,6-dihydro[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides in good yield.