Trehalose-based cyclodextrin analogs: cyclotrehalans (CTs)

A new concept for the de novo synthesis of artificial glyconanocavities is presented. The use of alternating α,α′-trehalose building blocks and (thio)urea segments allows the efficient synthesis of a new family of cyclooligosaccharides, namely cyclotrehalans (CTs), featuring a convex-shaped cavity with an apolar environment. CTs are designed to exhibit molecular inclusion abilities similar to that of cyclodextrins (CDs). Contrary to CDs, CTs expose the monosaccharide β-face to the inner cavity, while the (thio)urea tethers provides some conformational adaptability. High-yielding syntheses of a series of CTs and a preliminary evaluation of their inclusion properties are reported.     

Rapid determination of aliphatic amines in water samples by pressure-assisted monolithic octadecylsilica capillary electrochromatography-mass spectrometry

A pressure-assisted capillary chromatography-mass spectrometry method based on the use of a monolithic octadecylsilica (ODS) capillary is proposed for the determination of aliphatic amines. A 25 mM citric acid buffer containing 10% methanol is used as running electrolyte. Separation is achieved by simultaneously applying a capillary electrophoresis (CE) voltage of 13 kV and an overimposed pressure of 8 bar. The use of pressure is required to ensure stable electrospray conditions. Analysis times are reduced by using a capillary column consisting of a 30 cm long monolithic silica capillary column bound with ODS and a fused-silica capillary column also 30 cm long. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of low-molecular-weight aliphatic amines in tap and river water. The analysis of real samples requires cleanup and preconcentration, which can be performed automatically by inserting a minicolumn in the replenishment system of the commercial instrument.     

Contributions to the determination of histamine rate by measuring out the histamine-orthophthalaldehyde complex in the absorption and fluorescence

Histamine is an important compound from a physiological point of view, but it is toxic since the absorption of low amounts of histamine can cause abdominal pains accompanied with vomiting. Why we have developed a new method for histamine analysis in order to improve Lerke and Bell method. From the absorption spectra, we showed that the stoichiometry of the complex histamine-orthophthalaldehyde (OPA) is 1:1. From the emission spectra, it was observed that the complex fluorescence is inhibited in acidic medium. In alkaline medium, an exaltation of fluorescence was observed, but the complex histamine-OPA was unstable. Nevertheless, kinetic study showed that good linear correlations between the fluorescence maxima of the formed complex and the histamine concentration could be obtained in this alkaline medium.     

Chemisorption of atomic hydrogen on rhodium: An ab initio cluster-model approach

Interaction of atomic hydrogen with cluster models simulating the Rh(111) surface has been studied at the ab initio SCF level using relativistic non-empirical pseudopotentials and moderately large basis sets. From the bonding parameters, it is seen that chemisorption on the threefold open position is five times more favoured than on the threefold eclipsed one, and the bonding picture is rather different for both active sites. Since two different kinds of adsorbed hydrogen atoms should exist according to various experimental techniques, the present work adds further evidence to the existence of these two types of adsorption and reports some structural parameters which can help to a more detailed characterization in the near future.     

Analogs of propranolol. Synthesis of 3-alkylamino-1-(3-benzo[b]thienyloxy)-2-propanols

The synthesis by two alternative routes of 1-(3-benzo[b]thienyloxy)-3-isopropylamino-2-propanol hydrochloride ( 1a HCl), a thiophenic isoster of Propranolol, and related compounds, is reported. The protecting and enolizing properties of the 2-methoxycarbonyl group on benzo[b]thiophene-3-one, along with its facile removal, are utilized in the first route. In the second one, conversion of 3-bromobenzo[b]thiophene in 1-(3-benzo[b]thienyloxy)-2,3-o-isopropylidenepropane is the key step. On the other hand, hydrolysis of 1-(3-benzo[b]furanyloxy)-2,3-o-isopropylidenepropane to the corresponding diol, in order to obtain a furanic isoster of Propranolol (17a ), was unsuccessful.     

Antiparallel triple helices. Structural characteristics and stabilization by 8-amino derivatives

The structural, dynamical, and recognition properties of antiparallel DNA triplexes formed by the antiparallel d(G#G.C), d(A#A.T), and d(T#A.T) motifs (the pound sign and dot mean reverse-Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds, respectively) are studied by means of "state of the art" molecular dynamics simulations. Once the characteristics of the helix are defined, molecular dynamics and thermodynamic integration calculations are used to determine the expected stabilization of the antiparallel triplex caused by the introduction of 8-aminopurines. Finally, oligonucleotides containing 8-aminopurine derivatives are synthesized and tested experimentally using several approaches in a variety of systems. A very large stabilization of the triplex is found experimentally, as predicted by simulations. These results open the possibility for the use of oligonucleotides carrying 8-aminopurines to bind single-stranded nucleic acids by formation of antiparallel triplexes.     

The electrophilic reactions of pentacyanonitrosylferrate(II) with hydrazine and substituted derivatives. Catalytic reduction of nitrite and theoretical prediction of eta(1)-, eta(2)-N(2)O bound intermediates

The electrophilic reactivity of the pentacyanonitrosylferrate(II) ion, [Fe(CN)(5)NO](2)(-), toward hydrazine (Hz) and substituted hydrazines (MeHz, 1,1-Me(2)Hz, and 1,2-Me(2)Hz) has been studied by means of stoichiometric and kinetic experiments (pH 6-10). The reaction of Hz led to N(2)O and NH(3), with similar paths for MeHz and 1,1-Me(2)Hz, which form the corresponding amines. A parallel path has been found for MeHz, leading to N(2)O, N(2), and MeOH. The reaction of 1,2-Me(2)Hz follows a different route, characterized by azomethane formation (MeNNMe), full reduction of nitrosyl to NH(3), and intermediate detection of [Fe(CN)(5)NO](3)(-). In the above reactions, [Fe(CN)(5)H(2)O](3)(-) was always a product, allowing the system to proceed catalytically for nitrite reduction, an issue relevant in relation to the behavior of the nitrite and nitric oxide reductase enzymes. The mechanism comprises initial reversible adduct formation through the binding of the nucleophile to the N-atom of nitrosyl. The adducts decompose through OH(-) attack giving the final products, without intermediate detection. Rate constants for the adduct-formation steps (k = 0.43 M(-)(1) s(-)(1), 25 degrees C for Hz) decrease with methylation by about an order of magnitude. Among the different systems studied, one-, two-, and multielectron reductions of bound NO(+) are analyzed comparatively, with consideration of the role of NO, HNO (nitroxyl), and hydroxylamine as bound intermediates. A DFT study (B3LYP) of the reaction profile allows one to characterize intermediates in the potential hypersurface. These are the initial adducts, as well as their decomposition products, the eta(1)- and eta(2)-linkage isomers of N(2)O.     

Performance of SuSi: a method for generating atomistic models of amorphous polymers based on a random search of energy minima

The performance of a recently developed method to generate representative atomistic models of amorphous polymers has been investigated. This method, which is denoted SuSi, can be defined as a random generator of energy minima. The effects produced by different parameters used to define the size of the system and the characteristics of the generation algorithm have been examined. Calculations have been performed on poly(L,D-lactic) acid (rho = 1.25 g/cm3) and nylon 6 (rho = 1.084 g/cm(3)), which are important commercial polymers.     

The influence of cosolvent polarity on the flow properties of hydroalcoholic gels: empirical models

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cosolvent polarity on the rheological flow properties of aqueous and hydroalcoholic gels obtained from the Carbopol Ultrez 10 base and used for topical applications. Specifically, we have examined the effect of pH (range 4.0--7.0) on the consistency and flow properties of dispersed systems in water and mixtures--15 : 85% v/v of methanol : water, ethanol : water, n-propanol : water and n-butanol : water--at a constant polymer concentration of 0.3% w/w. The gels, which had decreasing polarity values in the jellifying medium, showed qualitatively similar flow behavior, characteristic of pseudoplastic systems, and all of the flow curves were adjusted to the Ostwald model. Sigmoidal dose response functions were calculated to describe the flow and consistency indexes as a function of pH. As a result, the influence of alcohol polarity on the polymer network has been assessed meaningfully using the empirical parameters obtained: maximum consistency index value (k(max)), pH value required for 50% development of polymer network (pH(50)), and asymptotic flow index value (n(min)) for the fully structured gels.     

Synthesis of gamma,delta-unsaturated and delta,epsilon-unsaturated alpha-amino acids from fragmentation of gamma- and delta-lactones

A noncoded amino acid of cyclomarin A (1) was synthesized in a racemic fashion. The method employs a six-membered ring template to control the relative stereochemistry and introduction of the functional groups. Ultimately, Pd-catalyzed fragmentation of the lactone provided gamma,delta-unsaturated and delta,epsilon-unsaturated alpha-amino acids. A Pd-catalyzed ring opening of a gamma-lactone is also reported.