Spreads, arcs, and multiple wavelength codes

We present several new families of multiple wavelength (2-dimensional) optical orthogonal codes (2D-OOCs) with ideal auto-correlation λ_a=0 (codes with at most one pulse per wavelength). We also provide a construction which yields multiple weight codes. All of our constructions produce codes that are either optimal with respect to the Johnson bound (J-optimal), or are asymptotically optimal and maximal. The constructions are based on certain pointsets in finite projective spaces of dimension k over GF(q) denoted PG(k,q).     

Stability of some versions of the Prékopa–Leindler inequality

Two consequences of the stability version of the one dimensional Prékopa–Leindler inequality are presented. One is the stability version of the Blaschke–Santaló inequality, and the other is a stability version of the Prékopa– Leindler inequality for even functions in higher dimensions, where a recent stability version of the Brunn–Minkowski inequality is also used in an essential way.     

Self-contained sequence representation: bridging the gap between bioinformatics and cheminformatics

The wide application of next-generation sequencing has presented a new hurdle to bioinformatics for managing the fast-growing sequence data. The management of biomacromolecules at the chemistry level imposes an even greater challenge in cheminformatics because of the lack of a good chemical representation of biopolymers. Here we introduce the self-contained sequence representation (SCSR). SCSR combines the best features of bioinformatics and cheminformatics notations. SCSR is the first general, extensible, and comprehensive representation of biopolymers in a compressed format that retains chemistry detail. The SCSR-based high-performance exact structure and substructure searching methods (NEMA key and SSS) offer new ways to search biopolymers that complement bioinformatics approaches. The widely used chemical structure file format (molfile) has been enhanced to support SCSR. SCSR offers a solid framework for future development of new methods and systems for managing and handling sequences at the chemistry level. SCSR lays the foundation for the integration of bioinformatics and cheminformatics.     

A sensitive assay for the quantification of morphine and its active metabolites in human plasma and dried blood spots using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Opioids such as morphine are the cornerstone of pain treatment. The challenge of measuring the concentrations of morphine and its active metabolites in order to assess human pharmacokinetics and monitor therapeutic drugs in children requires assays with high sensitivity in small blood volumes. We developed and validated a semi-automated LC-MS/MS assay for the simultaneous quantification of morphine and its active metabolites morphine 3β-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine 6β-glucuronide (M6G) in human plasma and in dried blood spots (DBS). Reconstitution in water (DBS only) and addition of a protein precipitation solution containing the internal standards were the only manual steps. Morphine and its metabolites were separated on a Kinetex 2.6-μm PFP analytical column using an acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid gradient. The analytes were detected in the positive multiple reaction mode. In plasma, the assay had the following performance characteristics: range of reliable response of 0.25–1000 ng/mL (r ² > 0.99) for morphine, 1–1,000 ng/mL (r ² > 0.99) for M3G, and 2.5–1,000 ng/mL for M6G. In DBS, the assay had a range of reliable response of 1–1,000 ng/mL (r ² > 0.99) for morphine and M3G, and of 2.5–1,000 ng/mL for M6G. For inter-day accuracy and precision for morphine, M3G and M6G were within 15% of the nominal values in both plasma and DBS. There was no carryover, ion suppression, or matrix interferences. The assay fulfilled all predefined acceptance criteria, and its sensitivity using DBS samples was adequate for the measurement of pediatric pharmacokinetic samples using a small blood of only 20–50 μL.     

Bichromophoric rhodamine-iridium(III) sensory system: modulation of the energy-transfer process through a selective sensing behavior

A newly designed bichromophoric rhodamine-iridium(III) system was found to show color/electronic absorption spectral changes and modulation of the energy-transfer process from rhodamine 6G to the iridium(III) luminophore upon selective Hg(II) ion binding.     

Reactions of phosphine oxides with bromophosphoranimines; synthesis and unusual rearrangements of O-donor stabilized phosphoranimine cations

Reaction of phosphine oxides R(3)P═O [R = Me (1a), Et (1c), (i)Pr (1d) and Ph (1e)], with the bromophosphoranimines BrPR'R'P═NSiMe(3) [R' = R' = Me (2a); R' = Me, R' = Ph (2b); R' = R' = OCH(2)CF(3) (2c)] in the presence or absence of AgOTf (OTf = CF(3)SO(3)) resulted in a rearrangement reaction to give the salts [R(3)P═N═PR'R'O-SiMe(3)]X (X = Br or OTf) ([4]X). Reaction of phosphine oxide 1a with the phosphoranimine BrPMe(2)═NSiPh(3) (5) with a sterically encumbered silyl group also resulted in the analogous rearranged product [Me(3)P═N═PMe(2)O-SiPh(3)]X ([8]X) but at a significantly slower rate. In contrast, the direct reaction of the bulky tert-butyl substituted phosphine oxide, (t)Bu(3)P═O (1b) with 2a or 2c in the presence of AgOTf yielded the phosphine oxide-stabilized phosphoranimine cations [(t)Bu(3)P═O·PR'(2)═NSiMe(3)](+) ([3](+), R' = Me (d), OCH(2)CF(3) (e)). A mechanism is proposed for the unexpected formation of [4](+) in which the formation of the donor-stabilized adduct [3](+) occurs as the first step.     

Palladium(II) complexes of readily functionalized bidentate 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole "click" ligands: a synthetic, structural, spectroscopic, and computational study

The Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-cycloaddition of organic azides with terminal alkynes, the CuAAC "click" reaction is currently receiving considerable attention as a mild, modular method for the generation of functionalized ligand scaffolds. Herein we show that mild one-pot "click" methods can be used to readily and rapidly synthesize a family of functionalized bidentate 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole ligands, containing electrochemically, photochemically, and biologically active functional groups in good to excellent yields (47-94%). The new ligands have been fully characterized by elemental analysis, HR-ESI-MS, IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR and in three cases by X-ray crystallography. Furthermore we have demonstrated that this family of functionalized "click" ligands readily form bis-bidentate Pd(II) complexes. Solution studies, X-ray crystallography, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the Pd(II) complexes formed with the 2-(1-R-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine series of ligands are more stable than those formed with the [4-R-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl]pyridine "click" ligands.     

Coordination polymers of hexacyanotrimethylenecyclopropanediide and its monoanionic radical: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

The first examples of polymeric complexes that contain the polynitrile dianion hexacyanotrimethylenecyclopropanediide (HCTMCP(2-)) were isolated and their magnetic properties have been explored. Complexes of the form (n-TBA)(2)[M(HCTMCP)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (1) (M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Cd(II)) possess (4,4) sheet structures with large cavities that contain the tetra-n-butylammonium (n-TBA) countercations. Synthesis using sodium as the countercation yields a family of products with the general form [M(S)(4)M(S)(2)(HCTMCP)(2)] (S = EtOH, M = Fe(II) (2); S = MeOH, M = Co(II) or Zn(II) (3)). These complexes adopt a variety of two-dimensional (2D) structures. The complex [Mn(3)(HCTMCP)(2)(H(2)O)(12)](HCTMCP)·6(H(2)O) (4) contains cationic (6,3) sheets with the counteranion and solvent molecules encapsulated within the hexagonal windows. Complexes 1-4 display weak antiferromagnetic coupling in all cases. The first example of a complex that contains the CN-coordinated monoanionic radical HCTMCP (?-), [Cu(HCTMCP)(MeCN)(2)] (5) is described. This one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer, containing tetrahedral Cu(I) centers, displays medium strength antiferromagnetic coupling that is mediated through π-interactions between the radical anions on adjacent chains.     

Predictable and site-selective functionalization of poly(hetero)arene compounds by palladium catalysis

The challenge of achieving selective and predictable functionalizations at C-H bonds with complex poly(hetero)aromatic substrates was addressed by two different approaches. Site-selectivity can be obtained by applying various reaction conditions that are (hetero)arene specific to substrates that contain indoles, pyridine N-oxide, and polyfluorinated benzenes. An experimental classification of electron-rich heteroarenes based on their reactivity toward palladium-catalyzed C-H functionalization was established, the result of which correlated well with the order of reactivity predicted by the DFT-calculated concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) pathway. Model substrates containing two reactive heteroarenes were then reacted under general reaction conditions to demonstrate the applicability this reactivity chart in predicting the regioselectivity of the palladium-catalyzed direct arylation and benzylation reactions.     

Selective modifications of hydrophobic vitamin B12 derivatives at c-and d-positions

The acid-sensitivity of vitamin B(12) derived mono- and diamides was studied. It was found that the use of reductive ring-opening of the lactone moiety deactivated undesired decomposition of c-mono- and c,d-diamides under acidic conditions. As a result, reactions gave respectively c- or d-acids which were further functionalized via coupling with amino acids. Though mono- and diamides exhibited acid sensitivity, they were used for the preparation of several highly functionalized molecules showing their stability under various reaction conditions.