Insights into the structure of cyclohexane from femtosecond degenerate four-wave mixing spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

In this paper, we report the use of femtosecond time-resolved degenerate four-wave mixing rotationally resolved spectroscopy to obtain very accurate structural information on the symmetric top cyclohexane. Apart from highlighting the versatility of this method in determining accurate structures of large and complex molecules without dipole moment, the present study also details the comparison of the experimentally determined rotational constant B(0) with that obtained from high-level ab initio calculations. The theoretical calculations, which were carried out at both the second-order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) and coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple substitutions [CCSD(T)] levels of theory, also take into account vibrational averaging effects. A detailed investigation of the vibrational averaging effects reveals that the corrections emerge from only the six highly symmetric A(1g) modes, a justification of which is provided by an analysis of these modes.     

Crucial role of three-center hydrogen bonding in a challenging chiral molecular recognition

The enantio-discrimination of beta-chiral primary ammonium ions is achieved by a rational approach that utilizes three-center (bifurcated) hydrogen bonding. The extraction experiments on various selected guests reveal that the bifurcated H-bonding plays a crucial role for the chiral discrimination. The X-ray data obtained for an inclusion complex substantiate such interactions. Using the bifurcated H-bonding, the chiral molecular recognition with our C(3)-symmetric tripodal oxazoline receptors is extended generally toward ammonium ions of alpha-, beta-, and alpha,beta-chiral amines. Simple molecular models, evoking the bifurcated H-bonding, explain the chiral discrimination modes.     

Reversible switching of high-speed air-liquid two-phase flows using electrowetting-assisted flow-pattern change

This work is the first demonstration of electrical modulation of surface energy to reversibly switch dynamic high-speed gas-liquid two-phase microfluidic flow patterns. Manipulation of dynamic two-phase systems with continuous high-speed flows is complex and interesting due to the multiple types of forces that need to be considered. Here, distinct stable flow patterns are formed through a multipronged approach: both surface tension forces generated by surface chemistry modulation as well as viscous and inertial forces produced by fluid flows are employed. The novel fluidic actuation mechanism provides insights into better understanding microscale two-phase flow dynamics and offers new opportunities for the development of two-phase biochemical microsystems that are mechanically simple and operational at high speeds.     

W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed endo-selective cyclization of allenyl silyl enol ethers: an efficient method for the cyclopentene annulation onto alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones

[reaction: see text] Indium-mediated allenylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones in the presence of tert-butyldimethylsilyl triflate and dimethyl sulfide gives 6-siloxy-1,2,5-trienes, which undergo W(CO)(5)(L)-catalyzed 5-endo cyclization to give the corresponding cyclopentene derivatives in good yield. Furthermore, this novel W(CO)(5)(L)-catalyzed cyclization of allenyl silyl enol ethers proceeds in a 6-endo manner when 5-siloxy-1,2,5-trienes are employed as a substrate. In these reactions, effective electrophilic activation of allenyl compounds for attack by silyl enol ethers is achieved using a catalytic amount of W(CO)(6).     

Isolation of the novel dirhodium(II/II) thiolate compound Rh(2)(eta(1)-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(mu-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(bpy)(2)

The reaction of the anticancer active compound [Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(2)(bpy)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)][BF(4)](2) (1) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) with NaC(6)H(5)S under anaerobic conditions yields Rh(2)(eta(1)-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(mu-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(bpy)(2).CH(3)OH (2), which was characterized by UV-visible, IR, and (1)H NMR spectroscopies as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 crystallizes as dark red platelets in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell parameters a = 20.398(4) A, b = 11.861(2) A, c = 17.417(4) A, beta = 108.98 degrees, V = 3984.9(14) A(3), Z = 4. The main structural features are the presence of a [Rh(2)](4+) core with a Rh-Rh distance of 2.549(2) A bridged by two benzene thiolate ligands in a butterfly-type arrangement. The axial positions of the [Rh(2)](4+) core are occupied by two terminal benzene thiolates. Cyclic voltammetric studies of 2 reveal that the compound exhibits an irreversible oxidation at +0.046 V in CH(3)CN, which is in accord with the fact that the compound readily oxidizes in the presence of O(2). The fact that this unusual dirhodium(II/II) thiolate compound is formed under these conditions is an important first step in understanding the metabolism of dirhodium anticancer active compounds with thiol-containing peptides and proteins.     

Phagocytosis of serum- and IgG-opsonized zymosan particles induces apoptosis through superoxide but not nitric oxide in macrophage J774A.1

Phagocytosis of serum- and IgG-opsonized zymosan (SOZ and IOZ, respectively) particles into J774A.1 macrophages induced apoptosis of the cells, accompanied by the expression of p21(WAF1), one of cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) inhibitors. Furthermore, phagocytosis of SOZ and IOZ particles into macophages induced superoxide formation. Tat-superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is readily transduced into the cells using Tat-domain, protected the cells from the apoptosis induced by phagocytosis of SOZ and IOZ particles. lipopolysaccharide (LPS) /interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) also caused the apoptosis of the cells. However, Tat-SOD could not protect the cells from LPS/IFN-gamma induced apoptosis, suggesting that apoptosis mechanisms involved are different from each other. In the present study, we determined the amounts of nitric oxide (NO) produced by SOZ, IOZ, and LPS/IFN-gamma, and found that SOZ and IOZ did not induce the generation of NO in macrophages, whereas LPS/ IFN-gamma did. The apoptosis due to phagocytosis was accompanied with the release of cytochrome c from mitochondrial membrane to cytosolic fraction. Furthermore, SOZ and IOZ induced the cleavage of procasapase-3 (35 kDa) to give rise to an active caspase-3 (20 kDa), which was blocked by Tat- SOD but not by 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO), a scavenger of NO. On the other hand, LPS/IFN-gamma caused the activation of procaspase-3, which was blocked by PTIO but not by Tat-SOD. Taken together, phagocytosis of SOZ and IOZ particles induced apoptosis through superoxide but not NO in macrophages, accompanied with the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-3.     

In situ Fe K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure of a nitrosyl adduct of iron phthalocyanine irreversibly adsorbed on a high area carbon electrode in an acidic electrolyte

Key aspects of the microenvironment surrounding the Fe center in the nitrosyl adduct of iron phthalocyanine, [Fe(Pc)(NO)], have been elucidated from the analysis of the Fe K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) of the material adsorbed on the surface of a high area carbon electrode recorded in situ, in 0.5 M H(2)SO(4). Statistical best fits to the EXAFS data place the Fe center in a five-coordinated square pyramidal configuration shifted away from the Pc plane toward the axially bound NO bent at an angle of ca. 40 degrees with respect to the normal to the Pc plane. This environment is analogous to that of Fe in the nitrosyl adduct of crystalline [Fe(TPP)], where TPP = meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato(2-), determined from X-ray diffraction.     

Novel titanium complexes of a multidentate dicarbollide ligand. Synthesis and structural characterization of a constrained geometry complex

The multidentate dicarbollide ligand nido-7,8-(NMe2CH2)2-7,8-C2B9H11 has been prepared, structurally characterized, and employed in the preparation of the novel mono- and trimetallic titanium complexes [eta5:eta1-(NMe2CH2)C2B9H9CH2NMe2]Ti(NMe2)2 and [eta5:eta1-[(NMe2CH2)C2B9H9CH2NMe2]Ti(NMe2)]2-mu3-O-Ti(NMe2)2.     

Hammett studies of enantiocontrol by PHOX ligands in Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions

Electronically modified PHOX ligands 3a-e were synthesized to probe the mechanism of the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation and amination reactions. Alkylation with dimethyl sodiomalonate produced only a small variation in the ee (89.3% to 93.4%), but amination with benzylamine gave a much wider variation in the ee (16.4% to 66.6%). Hammett analysis suggests that the substituents interact more significantly with phosphorus and supports a combined electronic and steric basis for enantioselection. [reaction: see text]     

Determination of pyrethrin and pyrethroid pesticides in urine and water matrixes by liquid chromatography with diode array detection

The following pyrethrin and pyrethroid pesticides were determined in urine and water matrixes by liquid chromatography with diode array detection (LC-DAD): pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, tetramethrin, baythroid, bifenthrin, fenvalerate, phenothrin, allethrin, resmethrin, cis-permethrin, and trans-permethrin. In addition, 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, a metabolite of various pyrethroids, was also successfully determined by the analytical method. The matrix extraction was simple, inexpensive, and fast, using only sodium chloride and acetonitrile. The acetonitrile extract was filtered and analyzed by LC-DAD. The method detection limits for the pyrethrin pesticides in 5 mL urine were determined to range from 0.002 to 0.04 microg/mL, depending on the individual pyrethrin. Recoveries from spiked tap water ranged from 77 to 96%; recoveries from urine ranged from 80 to 117%. This method is especially well-suited to clinical investigations, in which rapid analysis of forensic samples is often required.