Synthetic thermally reversible gel systems. V

Differential thermal analysis has been used to study the fusion of aqueous thermally reversible gels of gelatin and polyacrylylglycinamide (PAG). In the case of gelatin gels, endotherms close to the melting point are readily observed and these are sometimes preceeded by a small exothermic heat of gel reorganization. Calculations are presented to show that breaking of the gelatin gel network requires only a small fraction of the observed endothermic heat of fusion and that most of the heat is required for melting larger crystallites within gelatin aggregates and for perhaps a helix → coil transition. Failure to observe endotherms by DTA over the known temperature range of fusion of PAG gels is consistent with prior measurements and conclusions. The noncrystallinity of PAG gels and soluble aggregates together with a heat of crosslinking of only ?5 to ?10 kcal/mole of crosslinks places the heat of fusion of PAG gels outside the lower limits of DTA sensitivity.     

Microchemical investigation of medicinal plants. XV

Summary A method is described for the determination of alkaloids in morning glory leaves by means of spectrophotofluorimetry. The total alkaloidal contents found in different batches of leaves ranged from 0.027 to 0.04%.

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Zusammenfassung Ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Gesamtalkaloide in den Blättern vonIpomoea violacea wurde angegeben. Spektralfluoreszenzmessungen ergaben für verschiedene Chargen solcher Blätter Gehalte von 0,027 bis 0,04%.

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For part XIV see Mikrochim. Acta [Wien]1976 I, 227.     

Cell docking inside microwells within reversibly sealed microfluidic channels for fabricating multiphenotype cell arrays

We present a soft lithographic method to fabricate multiphenotype cell arrays by capturing cells within an array of reversibly sealed microfluidic channels. The technique uses reversible sealing of elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds on surfaces to sequentially deliver various fluids or cells onto specific locations on a substrate. Microwells on the substrate were used to capture and immobilize cells within low shear stress regions inside channels. By using an array of channels it was possible to deposit multiple cell types, such as hepatocytes, fibroblasts, and embryonic stem cells, on the substrates. Upon formation of the cell arrays on the substrate, the PDMS mold could be removed, generating a multiphenotype array of cells. In addition, the orthogonal alignment and subsequent attachment of a secondary array of channels on the patterned substrates could be used to deliver fluids to the patterned cells. The ability to position many cell types on particular regions within a two dimensional substrate could potentially lead to improved high-throughput methods applicable to drug screening and tissue engineering.     

Rearrangement of 5-trimethylsilylthebaine on treatment with L-selectride: an efficient synthesis of (+)-bractazonine

Treatment of 5-trimethylsilylthebaine with L-Selectride gave rise to a rearrangement to 10-trimethylsilylbractazonine through migration of the phenyl group, whereas treatment of thebaine with strong Lewis acids is known to lead to a similar rearrangement through migration of the alkyl bridge to give, after reduction, (+)-neodihydrothebaine. It is suggested that the rearrangement of the alkyl group of thebaine is favored due to the formation of a tertiary benzylic cation. However, for 5-trimethylsilylthebaine, the lithium ion of L-Selectride acts as the Lewis acid and the beta-silyl effect dominates in the stabilization of any positive charge. This rearrangement provides a clear example of the greater relative migratory aptitude of phenyl groups over alkyl groups, and provides an efficient synthesis of (+)-bractazonine from thebaine.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of [SiMe2(C5H4)2][(C5Me5) Zr(μ-S)]2. a dinuclear zirconocenophane complex with a skewed dimethylsilyl-bridged bis(cyclopentadienyl) ligand

The reaction of [SiMe₂(C₅H₄)₂][(C₅Me₅)ZrMe₂]₂ with H₂S at 110°C proceeds with the formation of [SiMe₂(C₅H₄)₂][(C₅Me₅)Zr(-S)]₂]₂. The molecular structure of this dinuclear zirconocenophane compound features a non-planar four-membered Zr₂(-S)_{2 2} ring with two symmetrically-bridging sulfido groups. The bridging dimethylsilyl-bridged bis(cyclopentadienyl) ligand adopts a skewed orientation to accommodate the long Zr ... Zr separation of 3.611(1) Å. This compound crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P1 with refined lattice parameters ofa = 10.905(1) Å,b = 10.939(2) Å,c = 14.621(2) Å, = 106.32(1)°, = 91.25(1)°, = 111.25(1)°,V = 1545.1(8) ų, _calc. = 1.512g/cm³,Z=2. Full-matrix refinement converged with final discrepancy indices of R(F _o = 0.045 andR(F _o) = 0.079 with GOF= 1.60 for 4403 data withF _o > 3(F _o).This paper is dedicated to Professor Larry Dahl, a valued friend and mentor, on the occasion of his 65th birthday and in recognition of his significant fundamental contributions to the field of metal cluster chemistry. May the Goddess Fortuna continue to bring distinction and honor to him and his research endeavors.     

Mapping the Geometry of Metal Three‐Coordination Using Crystal Structure Data: Reaction Pathway for Ligand Addition to Linear HgII Species

Symmetry‐modified principal‐component analysis has been used to visualise the geometrical distortions of three‐coordinate metal centres observed in crystal structures retrieved from the Cambridge Structural Database. It is shown that compounds of Cu, Ag, Hg, Zn, and Au dominate the dataset, and exhibit distortions away from the trigonal planar archetype towards a) T‐shaped and b) Y‐shaped geometries. A small number of compounds, principally of Cu and Ag, also show distortions towards trigonal pyramidal geometries. The interconversions from Y‐shaped geometries, through the trigonal planar form to T‐shaped geometries are clearly mapped by the PC analysis. For Hg^II complexes, it is possible to interpret the transition from T‐shaped geometries to the trigonal planar form in terms of a reaction pathway for ligand addition to linear L₁? Hg^II? L₂ species.     

Comparative properties of siloxane vs phosphonate monolayers on a key titanium alloy

A direct comparison of surface loading, interface shear strength, and interface hydrolytic stability was made between a phosphonate and two siloxane monolayers formed on the native oxide surface of Ti-6Al-4V. Surface loading for the phosphonate was ca. four times greater (on a nanomole/area basis) than for the siloxanes; mechanical strengths per surface-bound molecule were comparable, but the hydrolytic stability (pH 7.5) of the siloxanes was poor. These results suggest that phosphonate monolayer interfaces are more desirable than comparable siloxane ones for applications where such interfaces contact even slightly alkaline water.     

Evolution of self-assembled silica-tetrapropylammonium nanoparticles at elevated temperatures

The time evolution of silica nanoparticles in solutions of tetrapropylammonium (TPA) has been studied using a combination of small-angle scattering, conductivity, and pH measurements to provide the first comprehensive analysis of nanoparticle structural and compositional changes at elevated temperatures. We have found that silica-TPA nanoparticles subjected to hydrothermal treatment (70-90 degrees C) grow via an Ostwald ripening mechanism with growth rates that depend on both pH and temperature. Small-angle X-ray (SAXS) and neutron (SANS) scattering confirm that the core-shell structure of the particles, initially present at room temperature, is maintained during heating, but an evolution toward sphericity is evidenced especially at high values of pH. SAXS absolute intensity calculations were utilized to calculate the changes in nanoparticle composition and concentration over time. These changes along with the conductivity and pH measurements and SANS contrast matching studies indicate that, upon heating, TPA becomes embedded in the core of nanoparticles giving rise to more zeolitic-looking nanomaterials.     

Synthesis and characterization of Di-π-cyclopentadienyl- metal pentasulfides of titanium(IV) and vanadium (IV):an operational test of the influence of an unpaired electron on the molecular geometry

Our preparation of Ti(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂ S₅ by the reaction of elemental sulfur with Ti(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂(CO)₂ in hexane and of V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅?$\text{1}\text{2}$ H₂O by the reacti of V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂ Cl₂ with Na₂S₅ in THF and structural analyses by single crystal X-ray diffraction (together with infrared, solution EPR, and temperaturedependent magnetic susceptibility measurements) represent an extension of our previous work on M(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂ (SC₆H₅)₂ (M = Ti, V). The crystallographic results provide further support of our previous conclusions that the Ballhausen—Dahl model is not valid for M(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂L₂ systems. The structuralfeatures of the chair-like titanium and vanadium pentasulfide molecules are compared to the corresponding phenylmercapto analogs and to the chair-like cyclohexasulfur molecule in rhombohedral sulfur. Ti(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅ was isolated as a mixture of monoclinic and orthorhombic Crystalline phases-which were both characterized by preliminary X-ray data. A complete Structural determination and refinement of the monoclinic phase, which contains two independent molecules in a cell of dimensions a 22.843(2), b 7.958(1), c 14.465(1) Å, β 90.074(4)° and symmetry P2₁/c, yielded R₁ 5.3 % and R₂ 5.9 % for 2168 independent diffractometry-collected data with I≥ 2.5o(I). V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅-$\text{1}\text{2}$ H₂O contains four V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅ molecules and two water molecules of hydration (of crystallographic site symmetry C₂-2) in onorthorhombic unit cell of symmetry P2₁2₁2 and of dimensions a 13.491(1), b 12.748(1), c 7.715(1) Å. Least-squares refinement of 750 diffractometry data with I≥2.0σ(I) gave R₁ 2.4% and R₂ 3.0% Both of these compounds were independently synthesized and Spectroscopically characterized by Köpf and co-workers, and-a Complete X-ray diffraction study was performed by Epstein and Bernal on a different monoclinic phase of Ti(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅ (isolated by-Köpf). An extraction of V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅ with re fluxing benzene under nitrogen atmosphere in a Soxhlet apparatus led to the formation of the previously reported [V₂ (h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅]_n compound which was characterized by physical measurements including a preliminary X-ray diffraction study.     

Stereoselective reductase-catalysed deoxygenation of sulfoxides in aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

Direct and indirect evidence, of unexpected stereoselective reductase-catalysed deoxygenations of sulfoxides, was found. The deoxygenations proceeded simultaneously, with the expected dioxygenase-catalysed asymmetric sulfoxidation of sulfides, during some biotransformations with the aerobic bacterium Pseudomonas putida UV4. Stereoselective reductase-catalysed asymmetric deoxygenation of racemic alkylaryl, dialkyl and phenolic sulfoxides was observed, without evidence of the reverse sulfoxidation reaction, using anaerobic bacterial strains. A purified dimethyl sulfoxide reductase, obtained from the intact cells of the anaerobic bacterium Citrobacter braakii DMSO 11, yielded, from the corresponding racemates, enantiopure alkylaryl sulfoxide and thiosulfinate samples.