Cyclic ions in the mass spectra of trimethylsilyl derivatives of substituted o-dihydroxybenzenes

The mass spectra of trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers/methyl esters of phenolic acids containing o-dihydroxybenzene groups have base peaks at [M?119]⁺ instead of the usual [M?15]⁺ and [M?31]⁺ that are characteristic of TMS/methyl esters of monohydroxyphenolic acids. These ions, formed by the loss of 31+88 u from the parent ion, possess a cyclic moiety as proven by substitution of deuterium atoms for hydrogen atoms in the TMS groups of the methyl esters of 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic (gallic), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic (protocatechuic) and β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propenoic (caffeic) acids. Although these cyclic ions are the base peaks in TMS-derivatized o-dihydroxyphenolic acid esters, similar ions represent intense peaks but not necessarily the base peak in other derivatized compounds such as 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, 1,2-dihydroxy-3-methyl- and 1,2-dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzenes and flavan-3-ols that possess o-dihydroxybenzene groups. Compounds possession m- or p-dihydroxybenzene groups do not form these cyclic ions; therefore, this procedure for derivatization and interpretation of mass spectra is valuable for the identification of compounds containing o-dihydroxybenzene groups in complex mixtures of isomeric compounds.     

Comparison of the heat- and pressure-induced helix-coil transition of two DNA copolymers

The helix-coil transition of poly[d(I-C)] and poly[d(A-T)] was studied as a function of hydrostatic pressure, temperature, and sodium ion concentration. These studies were undertaken in light of a recently published phase diagram for double stranded nucleic acids [Dubins et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 9254-9259]. The sign and magnitude of the volume change for the heat-induced helix-coil transition, DeltaV(T), of poly[d(I-C)] and poly[d(A-T)] were dependent on the helix-coil transition temperature, T(M), at atmospheric pressure. The sign of DeltaV(T) changed from negative to positive as T(M) was increased by increasing the sodium ion concentration. For poly[d(I-C)], DeltaV(T) = 0 cm(3) mol(-1), when the sodium ion concentration is such that the spectroscopically monitored T(M) = 55 degrees C at atmospheric pressure. For poly[d(A-T)], the value of DeltaV(T) = 0 under conditions such that T(M) = 47 degrees C at atmospheric pressure. Negative values of DeltaV(T) imply that the helical form is destabilized at high pressure. Under experimental conditions where the DeltaV(T) for the transition is negative, the transition could be caused by increasing the pressure under isothermal conditions. At temperatures below T(M) measured at atmospheric pressure the midpoint of the pressure-induced helix-coil transition, P(M), decreases with increasing temperature. The volume change of the pressure-induced transitions helix-coil transition, DeltaV(P), was calculated assuming a two-state model. The magnitude of DeltaV(P) (per cooperative length) was much larger than the volume change (per base pair) measured for the heat-induced transition, DeltaV(T), calculated using the Clapeyron equation. The ratio of these two volume changes was used to calculate the cooperative length for the pressure-induced transition. This parameter depends strongly on temperature, becoming greater closer to T(M) measured at atmospheric pressure. At temperatures approaching T(M) the magnitude of the cooperative length of the pressure-induced transition is approximately twice that observed for the heat-induced transition (N(T)). On the basis of the temperature dependence of the DeltaV(T) for the two polymers the coefficient of thermal expansion of the two polymers was found to be 0.17 and 0.16 cm(3) K(-1) mol(-1) for poly[d(I-C)] and poly[d(A-T)], respectively.     

Products of the addition of water molecules to Al3O3- clusters: structure, bonding, and electron binding energies in Al3O4H2-, Al3O5H4-, Al3O4H2, and Al3O5H4

Two stable products of reactions of water molecules with the Al3O3- cluster, Al3O4H2- and Al3O5H4-, are studied with electronic structure calculations. There are several minima with similar energies for both anions and the corresponding molecules. Dissociative absorption of a water molecule to produce an anionic cluster with hydroxide ions is thermodynamically favored over the formation of Al3O3-(H2O)n complexes. Vertical electron detachment energies of Al3O4H2- and Al3O5H4- calculated with ab initio electron propagator methods provide a quantitative interpretation of recent anion photoelectron spectra. Contrasts and similarities in these spectra may be explained in terms of the Dyson orbitals associated with each transition energy.     

Synthesis, structure, and complexation of a large 28-mer macrocycle containing two binding sites for either anions or metal ions

The "one-pot" synthesis and characterization of a large 28-mer macrocycle (H(4)L(2)) with oxamido units capable of complexing guest ions through oxygen or nitrogen donor atoms is reported. Single-crystal structure determination of H(8)L(2)(NO(3))(4) and (Cu(2)[H(2)L(2)](H(2)O)(2))(NO(3))(2) demonstrated that the macrocycle contains two sites capable of complexing two nitrate anions or two copper(II) ions, involving a large structural reorganization in the conformation of the macrocyclic framework on coordination of the copper(II) ions when compared to the nitrate. Electrochemical and magnetic susceptibility measurements on the dinuclear Cu(II) complex and the related mononuclear and trinuclear Cu(II) complexes derived from the related 14-mer macrocycle were carried out and illustrate the role of the oxamido groups in mediating metal-metal interaction and delocalization.     

Unexpected conversion of a polycyclic thiophene to a macrocyclic anhydride

Oxygenation of 2,5,9,12-tetra(tert-butyl)diacenaphtho[1,2-b:1′,2′-d]-thiophene (1, C₄₀H₄₄S) by peracids gave the cyclic sulfonic ester 4 (2,7,10,13-tetra(tert-butyl)diacenaphtho[1,2-c:1′,2′-e]oxathiin 5,5-dioxide, C₄₀H₄₄O₃S) which, when heated in nitrobenzene, is converted into a complex, macrocyclic anhydride 3 (C₈₀H₈₈O₃), which is derived from two molecules of 4. Further investigation found a likely intermediate in this reaction, 4,4′,7,7′-tetra(tert-butyl)-1,1′-biacenaphthylenylidene-2,2′-dione (5, C₄₀H₄₄O₂), apparently formed from 4 by additional oxidation. Anhydride 3 plausibly arises by Diels-Alder reaction of 4 and 5 followed by several ring fragmentations. The structures of 3, 4, and 5 were unambiguously established by X-ray crystallography.     

Toward the synthesis of reidispongiolide a: stereocontrolled synthesis of the C17-C22 and C23-C35 degradation fragments

[structure: see text] By relying on the asymmetric aldol reactions of chiral ketones, a highly stereocontrolled synthesis of each of the C(17)-C(22) and C(23)-C(35) degradation fragments of reidispongiolide A has been achieved. This permits a configurational assignment of the complete C(17)-C(36) region of this antimitotic macrolide, along with providing advanced intermediates for a projected total synthesis.     

Equilibria in complexes ofN-heterocyclic molecules,Part XXIV. The reaction of nucleophiles with tris-(2,2′-bipyrimidine)iron(II) ion and its ruthenium(II) analogue

Summary The reactions of [Fe(bipym)₃]²⁺ and [Ru(bipym)₃]²⁺ with hydroxide ion in aqueous solution have been followed. The [Ru(bipym)₃]²⁺ species undergoes nucleophilic attack at the ligand to yield [Ru(bipym)₂(pyrimidine)(OH)]⁺ and [HCO₂]^– ion, involving cleavage of one pyrimidyl ring. Intermediates can be observed in the reaction of [Fe(bipym)₃]²⁺ with HO^–, N₃ ^– and SCN^–. The kinetics of the first reaction have been followed and the results are compared with those known for the reactions of [Fe(bipy)₃]²⁺, [Fe(phen)₃]²⁺ and similar compounds.Part XXIII: P. A. Williams,Transition Met. Chem., 78/84.     

A hard sphere model for order-disorder transitions in colloidal dispersions

Use of a hard sphere model and the concept of an effective hard sphere diameter of a colloidal particle with its associated double layer is reported. This method allows rapid determination of the order-disorder transition in colloidal dispersions and yields reasonable estimates of the osmotic pressures compared with “exact” Monte Carlo calculations.     

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy method for determination of the backbone torsion angle psi in peptides with isolated uniformly labeled residues

We demonstrate a solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance technique, with the acronym ROCSA-LG, for the determination of backbone torsion angles psi in peptides with multiple, but isolated, uniformly labeled residues. The method correlates the 13C' chemical shift anisotropy and the 13Calpha-1Halpha heteronuclear dipolar tensors within a single uniformly labeled residue in a two-dimensional (2D) experiment. The technique requires the measurement of only five 2D spectra and is compatible with high-speed magic-angle spinning. Experimental results are presented for the 17-residue alpha-helical peptide MB(i+4)EK and for amyloid fibrils formed by the 15-residue peptide Abeta11-25.     

Capillary electrophoretic detection in apolipoprotein E genotyping

We describe the application of capillary electrophoresis to detect DNA fragments, obtained after amplifying a part of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Compared to conventional agarose slab gel electrophoresis (AGE), CE appears the method of choice with regard to resolution and sensitivity, to detect DNA fragments in the range of 20-100 base pairs. Especially discrimination between apoE2/E2 and apoE2/E3 genotypes is more reliable with CE than with AGE, this being of great clinical value in the diagnosis of familiary dysbetalipoproteinemia.