PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF TYPE I ACID-SOLUBLE CALF SKIN COLLAGEN: DEPENDENCE ON EXCITATION WAVELENGTH

Although previous studies have demonstrated that the predominant photochemistry of type I collagen under 254 nm irradiation may be attributed either to direct absorption by tyrosine/phenylalanine or to peptide bonds, direct collagen photochemistry via solar UV wavelengths is much more likely to involve several age- and tissue-related photolabile collagen fluorophores that absorb in the latter region. In this study, we compare and contrast results obtained from irradiation of a commercial preparation of acid-soluble calf skin type I collagen in solution with UVC (primarily 254 nm), UVA (335–400nm) and broad-band solar-simulating radiation (SSR; 290^1–00nm). Excitation spectroscopy and analysis of photochemically induced disappearance of fluorescence (fluorescence fading) indicates that this preparation has at least four photolabile fluorescent chromophores. In addition to tyrosine and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, our sample contains two other fluorophores. Chromophore I, with emission maximum at 360 nm, appears to be derived from interacting aromatic moieties in close mutual proximity. Chromophore II, with broad emission at430–435 nm, may be composed of one or more age-related molecules. Collagen fluorescence fading kinetics are sensitive to excitation wavelength and to conformation. Under UVC, chromophore I fluorescence disappears with second-order kinetics, indicating a reaction between two proximal like molecules. Adherence to second-order kinetics is abrogated by prior denaturation of the collagen sample. A new broad, weak fluorescence band at400–420 nm, attributable to dityrosine, forms under UVC, but not under solar radiation. This band is photolabile to UVA and UVB wavelengths. Amino acid analysis indicates significant destruction of aromatic amino acids under UVC, but not under UVA or SSR. When properly understood, collagen fluorescence fading phenomena may act as a sensitive molecular probe of structure, conformation and reactivity.     

A combined method of neutron activation analysis and radiometric measurements for <Superscript>234</Superscript>U and <Superscript>238</Superscript>U determination in soil samples of low uranium concentration

A method that combines the use of non-destructive neutron activation analysis and high-resolution α spectrometry has been developed for determination of the activities of ²³⁴U and ²³⁸U in geological samples of low uranium content. The ²³⁸U content is determined by k₀-based neutron activation analysis, whereas the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U relationship is measured by α spectrometry after isolation and electrodeposition of the uranium extracted from a lixiviation with 6 M HCl. The main advantage of the method is the simplicity of the chemical operations, including the fact that the steps destined to assure similar chemical state for the tracer and the uranium species present in the sample are not necessary. The method was applied to soil samples from sites of the North Peru Coast. Uranium concentration range 3–40 mg/kg and the isotopic composition correspond to natural uranium, with about 10% uncertainty.     

Pseudo Jahn-Teller origin of nonplanarity and rectangular-ring structure of tetrafluorocyclobutadiene

It is shown that the pseudo Jahn-Teller effect (PJTE) in combination with ab initio calculations explains the origin of instability of the planar configuration of tetrafluorocyclobutadiene, C(4)F(4), with respect to a puckered structure and square-to-rectangle distortion of the carbon ring, and rationalizes its difference from the planar-rectangular geometry of C(4)H(4) and nonplanar (puckered) structure of Si(4)H(4). The two types of instability and distortion of the high-symmetry D(4h) configuration in these systems emerge from the PJT coupling of the ground B(2g) state with the excited A(1g) term producing instability along the b(2g) coordinate (elongation of the carbon or silicon square ring), and with the excited E(g) term resulting in e(g) (puckering) distortion. A rhombic distortion b(1g) of the ring is also possible due to the coupling between excited A(1g) and B(1g) terms. For C(4)F(4), ab initio calculations of the energy profiles allowed us to evaluate the PJTE constants and to show that the two instabilities, square-to-tetragonal b(2g) and puckering e(g) coexist, thus explaining the origin of the observed geometry of this system in the ground state. The preferred cis-trans (e(g) type) puckering in C(4)F(4) versus trans-trans puckering (b(2u) distortion) in Si(4)H(4) follows from the differences in the energy gaps to their excited electronic E(g) and A(1u) terms causing different PJTE in these two cases.     

Self‐Assembled Tetragonal Prismatic Molecular Cage Highly Selective for Anionic π Guests

The metal‐directed supramolecular synthetic approach has paved the way for the development of functional nanosized molecules. In this work, we report the preparation of the new nanocapsule 3? (CF₃SO₃)₈ with a A₄B₂ tetragonal prismatic geometry, where A corresponds to the dipalladium hexaazamacrocyclic complex Pd‐1 , and B corresponds to the tetraanionic form of palladium 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)porphyrin ( 2 ). The large void space of the inner cavity and the supramolecular affinity for guest molecules towards porphyrin‐based hosts converts this nanoscale molecular 3D structure into a good candidate for host–guest chemistry. The interaction between this nanocage and different guest molecules has been studied by means of NMR, UV/Vis, ESI‐MS, and DOSY experiments, from which highly selective molecular recognition has been found for anionic, planar‐shaped π guests with association constants (K_a) higher than 10⁹ M ^?1, in front of non‐interacting aromatic neutral or cationic substrates. DFT theoretical calculations provided insights to further understand this strong interaction. Nanocage 3? (CF₃SO₃)₈ can not only strongly host one single molecule of M(dithiolene)₂ complexes (M=Au, Pt, Pd, and Ni), but also can finely tune their optical and redox properties. The very simple synthesis of both the supramolecular cage and the building blocks represents a step forward for the development of polyfunctional supramolecular nanovessels, which offer multiple applications as sensors or nanoreactors.     

Optimization of matrix solid-phase dispersion conditions for UV filters determination in biota samples

A low solvent consumption method for the determination of eight ultraviolet (UV) filters, displaying low to medium polarities, in freeze-dried samples of marine bivalves and fish is proposed. Matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used as sample preparation and determination techniques, respectively. This work describes the influence of several parameters (type and amount of dispersant and clean-up sorbents, as well as elution solvent) on the yield and the selectivity of the MSPD extraction. Under optimized conditions, samples (0.5?g) were ground with 2?g of Florisil in a mortar with a pestle and transferred into a polypropylene syringe, which contained 1?g of C18 as clean-up sorbent. Analytes were eluted with 5?mL of acetonitrile. This extract was concentrated to dryness, re-constituted with 1?mL of ethyl acetate and injected in the GC-MS system without any further clean-up. The global average recoveries, measured for three different biota samples, spiked at three different levels (between 50 and 1000?ng?g^?1), ranged from 80% to 101% with associated standard deviations below 10%. The inter-day precision of the method varied from 4% to 15% and the achieved LOQs (defined for a signal to noise ratio of 10) ranged from 4 to 28?ng?g^?1, referred to the freeze-dried matrix. Octocrylene (OCR) was found in some samples of fish and mussels at concentrations between 15 and 20?ng?g^?1, referred to dry mass.     

ORGANOPHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS AS POTENTIAL FUNGICIDES. PART I. N-(ω-GUANI-DINOALKYL)AMINOALKANEPHOSPHONIC ACIDS AND THEIR AMINOPHOSPHONIC PRECURSORS: PREPARATION,NMR SPECTROSCOPY,AND FAST ATOM BOMBARDMENT MASS SPECTROMETRY

Abstract

N-(ω-Aminoalkyl)- and N-(ω-guanidinoalkyl)-aminoalkanephosphonic acids have been prepared from α, ω-diaminoalkanes by reaction with chloromethanephosphonic acid (or an ester of a halogeno-alkanephosphonic acid), followed by treatment with S-methylisothiouronium chloride. Ethylene diamine yielded 1-phosphonomethyl-2-iminoimidazolidine. A number of 1:1 salts of the α, ω-diamines and chloromethanephosphonic acid are also reported. Doubly charged zwitterionic structures are assigned to both ω-amino and ω-guanidino compounds on the basis of ³¹P and ¹³C nmr data. Thus the addition of an excess of acid (D₂SO₄) causes the ³¹P chemical shift to move to higher field, from ca. 8 to 14 ppm, whilst ¹ Jpc increases from ca. 130 to 150 Hz. The ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of the terminal methylene groups in the polymethylene chain are unaffected by acidification.

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry gives rise to characteristic [M + H]⁺ ions, frequently as the base peak, and to fragmentations involving the loss of phosphorous acid, or the formation of ions resulting from carbon-nitrogen or carbon-carbon cleavage. The compounds show activity against a number of fungal pathogens and other microbial organisms.     

The synthesis of 6,6′-cyclo-6′-deoxyhexofuranosyluracils via a diazomethane-promoted ring-enlargement reaction

The protected 5′-oxo-6,5′-cyclouridine 13 reacts with diazomethane to afford mostly the spiro-epoxide 18 (79%), but it also undergoes ring-expansion to give the corresponding 5′-oxo-6,6′-cyclonucleoside 16. Under the conditions of the reaction, ketone 16 reacts further with diazomethane to give the enol ether 20 (12% overall), the isomeric 4-methoxy nucleoside 15 (2%), and the spiro-epoxide 19 (4.4%). Acid hydrolysis of the enol ether 20 , followed by reduction of the resulting ketone with sodium borohydride, affords a separable mixture of the 5′S (L-talo) and 5′R (D-allo) methylene-bridged cyclonucleosides 7 and 8 , respectively. From proton nmr measurements, it appears that the 6′-methylene groups of these cyclonucleosides project towards the 2′,3′-edge of the furanose ring.     

Anodic and Cathodic Platinum Dissolution Processes Involve Different Oxide Species

The degradation of Pt-containing oxygen reduction catalysts for fuel cell applications is strongly linked to the electrochemical surface oxidation and reduction of Pt. Here, we study the surface restructuring and Pt dissolution mechanisms during oxidation/reduction for the case of Pt(100) in 0.1 M HClO₄ by combining operando high-energy surface X-ray diffraction, online mass spectrometry, and density functional theory. Our atomic-scale structural studies reveal that anodic dissolution, detected during oxidation, and cathodic dissolution, observed during the subsequent reduction, are linked to two different oxide phases. Anodic dissolution occurs predominantly during nucleation and growth of the first, stripe-like oxide. Cathodic dissolution is linked to a second, amorphous Pt oxide phase that resembles bulk PtO₂ and starts to grow when the coverage of the stripe-like oxide saturates. In addition, we find the amount of surface restructuring after an oxidation/reduction cycle to be potential-independent after the stripe-like oxide has reached its saturation coverage.     

The preparation of monitors and comparators for k0-INAA using standard solutions

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The methodology adopted at the Laboratory of Analytical Techniques of Instituto Peruano de Energía Nuclear for preparation of monitors and...