Supramolecular photochirogenesis with biomolecules. Mechanistic studies on the enantiodifferentiation for the photocyclodimerization of 2-anthracenecarboxylate mediated by bovine serum albumin

Photophysics and photochemistry of 2-anthracenecarboxylate (AC) bound to bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated in detail for the first time by electronic absorption, circular dichroism (CD), steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence, fluorescence quenching, and product analysis studies. Through the spectroscopic investigations, it was revealed that the four independent binding pockets of BSA, which are known to accommodate 1, 3, 2, and 3 AC molecules in the order of decreasing affinity, are distinctly different in hydrophobicity, chiral environment, and accessibility. Interestingly, AC bound to site 1 gave highly structured fluorescence with dual lifetimes of 4.8 and 2.1 ns in an intensity ratio of 3:2, which may be assigned to the existence of two positional or orientational isomers within the very hydrophobic site 1. In contrast, the lifetime of AC in site 2 was much longer (13.3 ns), and ACs in sites 3 and 4 have broader fluorescence spectra with lifetimes that were practically indistinguishable from that in bulk water (15.8 ns). Although each of sites 2-4 simultaneously binds multiple AC molecules, no CD exciton coupling or static fluorescence quenching was detected, indicating that ACs bound to each site are not in close proximity to each other. Quenching studies with nitromethane further confirmed the significant difference in accessibility among the binding sites; thus, ACs bound to sites 1 and 2 are highly protected from the attack of the quencher, affording 32 and 10 times smaller rate constants than that for free AC in water. Product studies in the presence and absence of nitromethane more clearly revealed the photochirogenic performance of each binding site. Although the addition of nitromethane did not greatly alter the product distribution, the enantiomeric excesses (ee's) of chiral cycloadducts 2 and 3 were critically manipulated by selectively retarding the photoreaction occurring at the more accessible binding sites. Thus, the highest ee of 38% was obtained for 2 in the presence of 18 mM nitromethane, while the highest ee of 58% was attained for 3 in the absence of nitromethane, both at [AC]/[BSA]=3.6.     

Separation of double-stranded DNA fragments in plastic capillary electrophoresis chips by using E99P69E99 as separation medium.

The separation of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) fragments in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) capillary electrophoresis (CE) chips by using E99P69E99 as a separation medium has been demonstrated. The PMMA CE chips were simply manufactured by micromachining and adhesive tape sealing. To make the separation channel compatible with the separation medium, a dynamic nonionic surfactant coating procedure was developed, which made the plastic separation channel sufficiently hydrophilic to allow the separation medium to fill the channel by capillary action. Subsequent separation of DNA fragments was successful with a separation efficiency of the order of 10(4) theoretical plates over an effective separation distance of 1.5 cm. By using an applied electric field strength of 200 V/cm, the separation of low DNA mass ladder was completed within 5 min. The simple coating procedure, together with the self-assembled viscosity-adjustable separation medium, should be useful to meet some of the essential requirements for developing single-use disposable CE chips. Coating the channels with polymer blends of PMMA and the separation medium also showed promise.     

Non‐Newtonian viscosity in linear and star polymers

We theoretically investigate non‐Newtonian viscosity and coil deformation of linear and (regular) star polymers in dilute solution subject to large shear rates. A bead‐and‐spring model with preaveraged hydrodynamic interaction, accounting also approximately for good‐solvent expansion, is employed within the Rouse‐Zimm approach. We impose a constraint on the average spring lengths, so as to keep constant the average contour length of the arms under shear: this corresponds to assuming that the springs become increasingly stiffer. For any topology and a very large molecular mass, coil deformation modifies the hydrodynamic interaction, that goes to a maximum, and then decreases with a crossover from the Zimm to the Rouse regime with increasing shear rate. Correspondingly, the intrinsic viscosity decreases and then raises above its low‐shear value. This behavior is however much less pronounced under good‐solvent conditions. At very large shear rate, the constraint on the spring lengths becomes the dominant factor. This leads to a decrease of intrinsic viscosity with an asymptotic –2/3 power law for any draining condition. Simultaneously, the strongly elongated coil becomes fully aligned with flow.     

On the structure of 3‐acetylamino‐5‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole and on the fully degenerate rearrangements (FDR) of its anion: a stimulating comparison between the results of ‘in‐silicon chemistry’ and ‘laboratory chemistry’

An accurate crystal structure determination has provided evidence for a planar conformation for 3‐acetylamino‐5‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole ( 5 ), in agreement with quantum‐mechanical calculations in the gas phase. In the crystal, a series of strong intermolecular N7H7^….O9 hydrogen bonds link the amido groups of different molecules, causing the formation of infinite parallel ordered chains. The effect of the DMSO solvent on the energy and charge distribution of compound 5 and on its relevant 5 ^? anion, involved in a fully degenerate rearrangement (FDR), has been deepened by quantum‐mechanical DFT calculations. The calculated energy barrier for the FDR increases in going from in vacuo to DMSO, in agreement with previsions based on the Hughes and Ingold rules concerning the nucleophilic substitution of an anionic reagent (the deprotonated amido group in the side chain) on a neutral substrate (the 1,2,4‐oxadiazole ring). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of thermal history in the ring opening polymerization of CBT and its mixtures with montmorillonite on the crystallization of the resulting poly(butylene terephthalate)

Differential scanning calorimetry was used to study the thermal characteristics and morphological structure of species produced during the ring opening polymerization of cyclic butylene terephthalate (CBT). Thermal programs consisting of a first ramp heating scan and an isothermal step, followed by cooling and a second ramp heating step, were used to study the effects of thermal history, catalyst (butyl chlorotin dihydroxide) at concentrations between 0.1 and 1.3% (w/w), and the presence of a layered silicate nanofiller (montmorillonite at 4.0%, w/w) on the structure of the resulting polymer (poly(butylene terephthalate), pCBT). Wide angle X-ray diffraction was used to monitor the degree of exfoliation of the nanocomposites.It was found that pCBT is formed in the amorphous state, and crystallizes during the heating step or during the isothermal step at temperatures lower than the equilibrium melting temperature of the polymer (). When premixed with the nanofiller, irrespective of whether this was previously intercalated with a tallow surfactant or used in its pristine form, polymerization took place at higher temperatures and most of the crystallization was found to occur during the cooling stage. In those cases where crystallization took place during either the first heating scan, or during a prolonged isothermal step below the of the polymer, the resulting crystals were found to have a higher lamellar thickness, as compared with the same polymer crystallized from the melt during the cooling step from temperatures above the polymer .     

Poly(ε-caprolactone) modified by functional groups: Preparation and chemical–physical investigation

Functionalization of polymers is a particular relevant approach in the field of biodegradable polymers, where modifications are often required to allow these materials to replace more conventional, not biodegradable polymers in a wider range of applications. This article will report on functionalization of poly(ε-caprolactone) with unsaturated monomers bearing either anhydride groups (PCL-g-(MA-GMA)) or tertiary amines (PCL-g-DMAEA), obtained through radical grafting in a Brabender mixer. Crystallization kinetics parameters have been determined with several techniques (rheology, optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry) and the results obtained are in good agreement. It was observed that the crystallization rate significantly increases in the case of the modified polymers.     

Theoretical studies of five-membered ring ketene acetals

Cyclic ketene acetals are a class of organic molecules characterized by a nucleophilic exo-methylene carbon attached to a carbon with two adjacent O, N, or S atoms. We have carried out a systematic computational study of a series of five-membered cyclic acetals like 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane and its OS, SS, NO, NS, and NN analogs as well as all the protonated species. The calculations were performed at the MP2 level using a triple zeta plus polarization basis set. The nucleophilicity was discussed in terms of geometrical factors, calculated atomic charges, calculated chemical shifts, and proton affinities. All the six neutral species were strong nucleophiles. The NN analog was predicted to be the strongest and the SS analog the weakest nucleophile.