A molecular dynamics study of the pentacyclo-undecane cage amino acid tripeptide

In this paper, we report on the conformational profile of the pentacyclo-undecane (PCU) cage tripeptide carried out by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using water as an explicit solvent. The MD solution phase studies carried on the model peptide analogues (A)=Ac–Ala–Ala–Ala–NHMe; (B)=Ac–Cage–Cage–Cage–NHMe; (C)=Ac–Ala–Cage–Ala–NHMe and (D)=Ac–Ala–Pro–Ala–NHMe, are used as a complimentary technique to the corresponding gas phase simulated annealing (SA) study previously carried out in our laboratory. No significant structural changes were observed over the MD trajectories. However, the results reported here provide further evidence that the (PCU) cage amino acid exhibits C_7eq, C_7aq, _R and _L conformations, and the theoretical results suggest that the PCU cage amino acid is a strong β-turn inducer. These results support the prediction that when the PCU cage residues are in the (i) and (i+2) positions, the β-turn can be extended in either direction to form anti-parallel β-pleated sheets, thereby forming the basis of the mechanism for the folding back of the chain in a cross-β-turn structure.     

Selective cleavage of acetals with ZnBr2 in dichloromethane

A selective cleavage of acetals of 1,2- and 1,3-diols has been achieved under mild conditions using ZnBr₂ in dichloromethane at room temperature. Acetal types cleavable by this procedure include benzylidene, isopropylidene and cyclohexylidene acetals. This method is compatible with several other types of hydroxyl protecting groups such as Bn, Bz, TBDPS, TIPS and TBDMS.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Conductivity of α-Keggin-type Nanoparticles, Co(en)_3PMo_(12)O_(40)·8H_2O with Optical Activity

IntroductionChirality is ubiquitous in the nature.Chiralcompounds have many applications in the areas ofmedicine,catalysis and materials,etc. Polyox-ometallates are inorganic polymers,which have at-tracted much interest since they have electri-cal[1_ 3 ] ,magnetic[4] ,optical properties[5_ 7] ,andsome characters as liquid crystals[8,9] .In this workwe report theα- Keggin structural polyoxometallatenanoparticles with optical activities.The opticalactivities of the samples are [α]13 D =+ 1 7…     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of (3α)-6β,7β-dihydroxy- and 6β-hydroxy-8-alkyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-3-spiro-5′-imidazoline-2′,4′-diones

The synthesis of 6β-hydroxy- and 6β,7β-dihydroxy-8-alkyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-3-spiro-5′-hydantoins was stereoselectively achieved by Bucherer-Bergs reaction of the corresponding ketones. An α configuration on C₃ was proposed for all hydantoins on the basis of spectral data.     

Optimisation of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Systems for Complexation of Naproxen : Beta-Cyclodextrin

Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂)offers several attractive scenarios for thepharmaceutical processing as an alternativeto aqueous and organic solvents. In thiswork naproxen, a widely used non steroidalanti-inflammatory drug with analgesic andanti-inflammatory properties, was chosenas a model drug. Its complexation with cyclodextrinsimproves the rate and extent of dissolutionof the drug, increase its rate of absorption and mayreduce the unpleasant side-effects of the drug.The interest in using this supercritical technologyled us to develop an experimental unit for the useof supercritical CO₂ as a processing medium forthe complexation of naproxen with beta cyclodextrin (CD).     

Pyrylium-containing polymers as sensory materials for the colorimetric sensing of cyanide in water

A sensory polymeric material for the colorimetric sensing of cyanide in water has been developed based on the reactivity of this anion with the pyrylium cation.     

Preliminary study on dual fluorescence behavior of porphyrin

It is well known that porphyrin derivatives play a key role in the primary process of photo-synthesis[1], in which porphyrins directly absorb the sunlight or indirectly acquire excitation en-ergy from light-harvesting antenna system to reach their excited state, and then donate electrons to quinone acceptors to yield a series of charge-separated species. In general, only first singlet ex-cited state of porphyrins is involved in energy transfer process[2]. However, highly excited state (S2 stat…     

西印度蔗螟聚集信息素次要组份合成方法的改进

2-甲基-4-庚醇和2-甲基-4-辛醇是西印度蔗螟(Metamasiushemipterus)聚集信息素的次要组份，本文以天然产物(S)-亮氨酸为原料合成出了2-甲基-4-庚醇及2-甲基-4-辛醇的所有对映异构体，其关键步骤是由(2S)-4-甲基-1,2-戊二醇合成出(2S)和(2R)-4-甲基-1,2-环氧戊烷两种重要中间体，目标产物光学纯度可达95%以上。     

Influence of the preparation procedure on the properties of polyaniline based magnetic composites

A versatile process for the preparation of composite films consisting of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles embedded in a polyaniline (PANI) matrix is reported. Spectroscopic properties of polyaniline matrix (PANI-EB), polyaniline protonated with camphor sulfonic acid (PANI-CSA_0.5) PANI-ES and PANI/Fe₃O₄-CSA_0.5 composites were studied, both in the state of the solutions of m-cresol and in thin films processed from the same solvents. The results of these studies indicate that m-cresol can be used for PANI/Fe₃O₄ composite preparation. Such films show both reasonably high electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability. A controlled application of a magnetic field during the casting process resulted in the formation of the materials with an unusual combination of magnetic and transport properties. The obtained films show the behavior that can be explained by the presence of both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. The superparamagnetic contribution, if any, is very small. Application of the external magnetic field during fabrication of the composites stimulates creation of the aggregates of magnetic particles which, although keeps conductivity at a relatively high level, leads to a small decrease of the conductivity value.     

Density functional theory study of the mechanism of the proline-catalyzed intermolecular aldol reaction

Transition structures associated with the C-C bond-formation step of the proline-catalyzed intermolecular aldol reaction between acetone and isobutyraldehyde have been studies using density functional theory methods at the B3LYP/6-31G** computational level. A continuum model has been selected to represent solvent effects. For this step, which is the stereocontrolling and rate-determining step, four reactive channels corresponding to the syn and anti arrangement of the active methylene of the enamine relative to the carboxylic acid group of l-proline and the re and si attack modes to both faces of the aldehyde carbonyl group have been analyzed. The B3LYP/6-31G** energies are in good agreement with experiment, allowing us to explain the origin of the catalysis and stereoselectivity for these proline-catalyzed aldol reactions. Received: 2 April 2002 / Accepted: 18 July 2002 / Published online: 11 October 2002 Acknowledgements. This work was supported by research funds provided by the Ministerio de Educación y Cultura of the Spanish Government by DGICYT (project PB98–1429). All the calculations were performed on a Cray–Silicon Graphics Origin 2000 of the Servicio de Informática de la Universidad de Valencia. We are most indebted to this center for providing us with computer capabilities. Correspondence to: L. R. Domingo e-mail: domingo@utopia.uv.es