Dendritic effect in polymer-supported catalysis of the intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction

A remarkable increase in catalytic activity and selectivity in the intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction is observed for Co complexes, immobilised on second- and third-generation dendron-functionalized polystyrene, as compared with their analogues on non-dendronized support.     

Formation of hexacoordinate complexes of PhCCSiF3 with 2,2'-bipyridine and with 1,10-phenanthroline through intermolecular silicon...nitrogen interactions

Bidentate intermolecular Si...N interactions were utilized to form new hypervalent complexes of trifluoro-phenylethynyl-silane with 2,2'-bipyridine and with 1,10-phenanthroline. X-ray structures obtained for these complexes display a somewhat distorted octahedral geometry about the silicon atom. Binding constants ranging from 170 to 1600 M(-1) at 25 degrees C in CDCl3 were measured for the formation of these complexes, suggesting that such hypervalent complexes of silicon could be used as new motifs in supramolecular chemistry.     

Simulations of remote mutants of dihydrofolate reductase reveal the nature of a network of residues coupled to hydride transfer

Recent experimental and theoretical studies have proposed that enzymes involve networks of coupled residues throughout the protein that participate in motions accompanying chemical barrier crossing. Here, we have examined portions of a proposed network in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) using quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations. The simulations use a hybrid quantum mechanics‐molecular mechanics approach with a recently developed semiempirical AM1‐SRP Hamiltonian that provides accurate results for this reaction. The simulations reproduce experimentally determined catalytic rates for the wild type and distant mutants of E. coli DHFR, underscoring the accuracy of the simulation protocol. Additionally, the simulations provide detailed insight into how residues remote from the active site affect the catalyzed chemistry, through changes in the thermally averaged properties along the reaction coordinate. The mutations do not greatly affect the structure of the transition state near the bond activation, but we observe differences somewhat removed from the point of C? H cleavage that affect the rate. The mutations have global effects on the thermally averaged structure that propagate throughout the enzyme and the current simulations highlight several interactions that appear to be particularly important. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Controlled migration of antifog additives from LLDPE compatibilized with LLDPE grafted maleic anhydride

This paper summarizes a study of controlled migration of an antifog (AF) additive; sorbitan monooleate (SMO), from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) films containing a compatibilizer, LLDPE grafted maleic anhydride (LLDPE‐g‐MA). LLDPE/LLDPE‐g‐MA/SMO blends were prepared by melt compounding. Bulk and surface properties of compression molded LLDPE films containing SMO and LLDPE‐g‐MA were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Thermal properties were investigated using a thermal gravimetric analyzer. Diffusion coefficient (D) was calculated, and AF properties were characterized using a “hot fog” test. Compression molded films were characterized for their morphology using high‐resolution scanning electron microscopy, and rheological properties were measured using a parallel‐plate rotational rheometer. It was found that the LLDPE/LLDPE‐g‐MA/SMO systems are characterized by a slower SMO migration rate, a lower diffusion coefficient, and lower contact angle values compared with LLDPE/SMO blends. These results are well correlated with results of a hot fog test. Morphological studies revealed a very fine dispersion of SMO in the LLDPE films, when 3 phr LLDPE‐g‐MA was combined with 1 phr SMO. Thermal analysis results show that the incorporation of 3 phr LLDPE‐g‐MA and 1 phr SMO significantly increases the decomposition temperature of the blend at T > 400°C. At high shear rates, the LLDPE blends show that the AF and the compatibilizer have a lubrication effect on LLDPE. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanistic Insight into the Stereochemical Control of Lactide Polymerization by Salan–Aluminum Catalysts

Alkyl aluminum complexes of chiral salan ligands assembled around the 2,2′‐bipyrrolidine core form as single diastereomers that have identical configurations of the N donors. Active catalysts for the polymerization of lactide were formed upon the addition of benzyl alcohol. Polymeryl exchange between enantiomorphous aluminum species had a dramatic effect on the tacticity of the poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in the polymerization of racemic lactide (rac‐LA): The enantiomerically pure catalyst of the nonsubstituted salan ligand led to isotactic PLA, and the racemic catalyst exhibited lower stereocontrol. The enantiomerically pure catalyst of the chloro‐substituted salan ligand led to PLA with a slight tendency toward heterotacticity, whereas the racemic catalyst led to PLA of almost perfect heterotacticity following an insertion/auto‐inhibition/exchange mechanism.     

Repulsive interaction can be a key design element of molecular rotary motors

Low-barrier molecular rotary motors having rotaxane architecture can be constructed using a cucurbituril host and a polyyne guest serving as stator and rotator, respectively. The repulsive interaction between these components is supported by molecular mechanics calculations with model systems and experimentally verified by X-ray crystallography with several synthetic host-guest complexes, all suggesting that the diyne rod floats at the center of the macrocyclic host with no apparent van der Waals contacts between them. Further support for these interactions is suggested by microcalorimetry measurements.     

The Structure of New Host Molecules that form Channel Inclusion Compounds

1,3-Benzenediamine,N,N′-bis(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl) and 1,3,5-Triazine,2,2′-[2-methyl-1,3-phenylenebis(oxy)] bis(4,6-dichloro) were synthesized as host molecules. The inclusion compound of 1,3-Benzenediamine,N,N′-bis(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl) crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system in space group C2/c. The host molecule occupies the space group 2-fold special position and packed in the crystal lattice in such a manner as to leave channels running along the c axis of a rectangular cross-section. It crystallizes with two molecules of acetone that are hydrogen bonded to the amino nitrogen atoms. Molecules of 1,3,5-Triazine,2,2′-[2-methyl-1,3-phenylene bis(oxy)]bis(4,6-dichloro) are packed in the crystal in such a manner as to leave channels of a trapezoid cross-section that are running along the a axis. Guest molecules such as metanol, ethanol, and ethyl acetate can be used to fill the channels. The crystal structures of two inclusion compounds are described.