Hole transfer in DNA: DNA as a scaffold for hole transfer between two organic molecules

Hole transfer process in ODNs conjugated with two organic molecules, pyrene (Py) and phenothiazine (Ptz) was investigated with the pulse radiolysis measurements. Monitoring the transient absorption of Py⁺ and Ptz⁺, it was shown that the hole transfer rate was dependent on the distance and sequence between Py and Ptz.     

Kinetic stabilization of the [1.1]paracyclophane system: isolation and X-ray structural analysis of a [1.1]paracyclophane derivative and its interconversion with the transannular adduct

Intentionally designed kinetic stabilization of the [1.1]paracyclophane skeleton has been achieved by multiple substitution of the aromatic rings with trimethylsilylmethyl and N,N-dimethyl-carbamoyl groups, which serve to shield the proximate bridgehead carbon atoms sterically from access by other reagents. The bis(Dewar benzene) precursor (1a) has been prepared in essentially the same manner as previous derivatives--starting from the photocycloaddition of 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-butyne to octa-hydroindacene-1,5-dione--except for a few critical modifications described in the text. Substituted [1.1]paracyclophane (2a), photochemically generated from the precursor, is indefinitely stable at 50 degrees C and suffers decomposition only by 8 % after 2 h at 100 degrees C in degassed n-decane, demonstrating its greatly improved kinetic stability compared to previous [1.1]paracyclophanes. Since 2a undergoes efficient photochemical transformation into the transannular addition product 3a, irradiation of la tends to produce a mixture of products consisting mainly of 3a. Compound 3a, however, reverts thermally to 2a in a process of half life 40 min at 55 degrees C; the activation parameters for this process are deltaH(not equal to)= 21.1 +/- 0.8 kcalmol(-1) and deltaS(not equal to) = -10.5 +/- 2.6 cal K(-1)mol(-1). Thus, on heating 3a in benzene and cooling the resultant solution, 2a is obtained as orange-red crystals. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 2a reveals benzene rings bent to the highest degree ever reported for a paracyclophane, with their face-to-face arrangement in unusually close proximity. The shortest nonbonding interatomic distance is 2.376 A; less than the sum of the van der Waals radii by more than 1.0A. The generation of related substituted [1.1]paracyclophanes and their kinetic stabilities are also reported.     

Gas separation membranes plasma-polymerized from perfluoromethylcyclohexane/methane mixture

Plasma-polymerizations of perfluoromethylcyclohexane (PFMCH)/methane (CH₄) mixture were investigated by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and ESCA; and gas transport characteristics of the plasma-films formed were studied. The addition of CH₄ molecules to PFMCH accelerated defluorination to form plasma-polymers poor in fluorocarbon units. The surface energy of the plasma-polymers increased with increasing the CH₄ concentration. The oxygen and nitrogen permeation coefficients (P_O2 and P_N2) and the P_O2/P_N2 ratio for the polymer films formed from the PFMCH/CH₄ mixture depended on the CH₄ concentration. The small CH₄ addition was effective in improvement of the P_O2 value and of the P_O2/P_N2 ratio, but the much addition was ineffective. The oxygen transport through the plasma-polymers was discussed.     

Facile S-alkyl thiocarbamate synthesis by a novel DBU-assisted carbonylation of amines with carbon monoxide and sulfur

A novel DBU-assisted carbonylation of amines with carbon monoxide and sulfur has been developed for the synthesis of S-alkyl thiocarbamates. In the presence of DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene), S-alkyl thiocarbamates are synthesized in excellent yields from amines, carbon monoxide, sulfur, and alkyl halides under mild conditions (1 atm, 20°C). In the absence of DBU, however, no formation of S-alkyl thiocarbamate is observed. The present DBU-assisted carbonylation can also be applied to new synthetic methods for benthiocarb and orthobencarb (herbicides) and carbamoyl chlorides.     

Kinetics of transient end-to-end contact of single-stranded DNAs

The formation of the pyrene (Py) dimer radical cation (Py(2)(*+)) was used to measure the kinetics of the intrastrand end-to-end contact rates of single-stranded DNAs (ssDNAs) in the 10 nanoseconds to the tens of microseconds time range. ssDNAs labeled with Py at both ends with the lengths of 3, 6, and 9 mer were synthesized, and the two-photon ionization method was employed to generate a Py(*+), which enables the measurements of the end-to-end contact rates from 10 ns. The formation rate of Py(2)(*+) depended on the length and the sequence of the ssDNAs, and about 1 order of magnitude faster rates were observed for the T-rich ssDNAs compared to those for the corresponding length of A-rich ssDNAs, showing that ssDNA made from adenines is much more rigid than that composed of thymidines. As for the T-rich ssDNAs, the formation of Py(2)(*+) attributed to the misfolded structures was also observed, which is consistent with the configurational diffusion model suggested by Ansari and co-workers.     

Three new quassinoids,ailantinol E,F, and G,from Ailanthus altissima

Three new quassinoids, ailantinol E (1), ailantinol F (2), and ailantinol G (3), and related compounds were isolated from Ailanthus altissima grown in Taiwan. Their structures were elucidated from spectral evidence. Each new quassinoid was evaluated for its antitumor promoting effects against Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation introduced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in Raji cells. The new quassinoids were found to show potent activity without showing any cytotoxicity. The screening for inhibitors against nitric oxide donor action was also conducted using the new quassinoids and some standard samples.     

Differences in the electrorheological response of a particle suspension under direct current and alternating current electric fields

We have observed an unusual reduction of shear stress with increasing shear rate under direct current electric fields, for an electrorheological fluid composed of sulfonated poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) particles dispersed in silicone oil. At all shear rates, the shear stress under the electric field is larger than that in the absence of the field, indicating that there is still some field-induced agglomeration of the particles. In contrast, the behavior under alternating current electric fields is the Bingham-fluid-type response commonly observed with electrorheological fluids. It is suggested that the conventional dipole–dipole interaction approach based on simplified microstructural models would be unable to explain these phenomena. Received: 27 November 2000 Accepted: 22 May 2001