Electronic structure of the Mn4OxCa cluster in the S0 and S2 states of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II based on pulse 55Mn-ENDOR and EPR spectroscopy

The heart of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II is a Mn4OxCa cluster that cycles through five different oxidation states (S0 to S4) during the light-driven water-splitting reaction cycle. In this study we interpret the recently obtained 55Mn hyperfine coupling constants of the S0 and S2 states of the OEC [Kulik et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 2392-2393] on the basis of Y-shaped spin-coupling schemes with up to four nonzero exchange coupling constants, J. This analysis rules out the presence of one or more Mn(II) ions in S0 in methanol (3%) containing samples and thereby establishes that the oxidation states of the manganese ions in S0 and S2 are, at 4 K, Mn4(III, III, III, IV) and Mn4(III, IV, IV, IV), respectively. By applying a "structure filter" that is based on the recently reported single-crystal EXAFS data on the Mn4OxCa cluster [Yano et al. Science 2006, 314, 821-825] we (i) show that this new structural model is fully consistent with EPR and 55Mn-ENDOR data, (ii) assign the Mn oxidation states to the individual Mn ions, and (iii) propose that the known shortening of one 2.85 A Mn-Mn distance in S0 to 2.75 A in S1 [Robblee et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 7459-7471] corresponds to a deprotonation of a mu-hydroxo bridge between MnA and MnB, i.e., between the outer Mn and its neighboring Mn of the mu3-oxo bridged moiety of the cluster. We summarize our results in a molecular model for the S0 --> S1 and S1 --> S2 transitions.     

A Degenerate Bifurcation Structure in the Dynamics of Coupled Oscillators with Essential Stiffness Nonlinearities

We study the degenerate bifurcations of the nonlinear normal modes(NNMs) of an unforced system consisting of a linear oscillator weaklycoupled to a nonlinear one that possesses essential stiffnessnonlinearity. By defining the small coupling parameter , we study thedynamics of this system at the limit 0. The degeneracy in the dynamics ismanifested by a 'bifurcation from infinity' where a bifurcation point isgenerated at high energies, as perturbation of a state of infiniteenergy. Another (nondegenerate) bifurcation point is generated close tothe point of exact 1:1 internal resonance between the linear andnonlinear oscillators. The degenerate bifurcation structure can bedirectly attributed to the high degeneracy of the uncoupled system inthe limit 0, whose linearized structure possesses a double zero, and aconjugate pair of purely imaginary eigenvalues. First we construct localanalytical approximations to the NNMs in the neighborhoods of thebifurcation points and at other energy ranges of the system. Then, we`connect' the local approximations by global approximants, and identifyglobal branches of NNMs where unstable and stable mode and inverse modelocalization between the linear and nonlinear oscillators take place fordecreasing energy.     

Highly Efficient Phase Boundary Biocatalysis with Enzymogel Nanoparticles

The enzymogel nanoparticle made of a magnetic core and polymer brush shell demonstrates a novel type of remote controlled phase‐boundary biocatalysis that involves remotely directed binding to and engulfing insoluble substrates, high mobility, and stability of the catalytic centers. The mobile enzymes reside in the polymer brush scaffold and shuttle between the enzymogel interior and surface of the engulfed substrate in the bioconversion process. Biocatalytic activity of the mobile enzymes is preserved in the enzymogel while the brush‐like architecture favors the efficient interfacial interaction when the enzymogel spreads over the substrate and extends substantially the reaction area as compared with rigid particles.     

Polymer Dynamics in a Polymer-Solid Interphase: Molecular Dynamics Simulations of 1,4-Polybutadiene At a Graphite Surface

A chemically realistic model of 1,4-polybutadiene confined by graphite walls in a thin film geometry was studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The chemically realistic approach allows for a quantitative determination of a variety of experimentally accessible relaxation functions (e.g., dielectric, NMR, or neutron scattering responses). The simulations yield these experimental observables. Additionally, the simulations can be resolved as a function of distance to the solid interface on a much finer scale than experimentally possible, providing a detailed mechanistic picture of the segmental and large scale motions of polymers in the interfacial region between bulk polymer melts and solid walls. Extending the study of 1,4-polybutadiene on graphite to temperatures close to the glass transition temperature, we also address the question to what extent growing length scales associated with the glass transition influence the melt dynamics in the interphase. It was found that there is an interplay of this intrinsic slowing down with the adsorption/desorption kinetics of the chains close to the wall. It is argued that the monomer density changes near the wall can overcome the effect of rotational barriers only in a region of about 2 nm next to the wall.     

Molecular clips based on diphenylglycoluril and benzocrown ethers: promising complexing agents for the alkali metal cations

The interaction of new molecular clips containing diphenylglycoluril and benzocrown ethers moieties with alkali metals ions was studied. Stability constants were determined by spectrophotometric titrations with chloride salts in methanol. Complex stability and cation binding selectivity were shown to be dependent on the size of the crown ether moiety. The “sandwich-type” 1:1 (clip to cation) complexes and the “classical” 1:2 complexes were found. Their ratio varies depending on the molecular clips nature and on the cation type. It was found an unexpected selectivity of the molecular clip with benzo-15-crown-5 moieties toward K⁺ and Rb⁺ cations. The molecular structure of the clip complex with benzo-15-crown-5 fragments and sodium picrate was determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure and solution-state structure were proven to be similar.     

An efficient,one-pot synthesis of N-isatinylmethylthioacetic acid and its derivatives as potential anticancer agents

A convenient, one-pot synthesis of N-isatinylmethylthioacetic acid and several of its derivatives, as potential anticancer agents, by reactions of N-(hydroxymethyl)isatins with Bunte salts in TFA is described. The reactions involve attack of these salts on the S(II) atom by C-electrophilic species generated from hydroxy derivatives.     

Ionic liquid-promoted [3+2]-cycloaddition reactions of nitroformonitrile oxide generated by the cycloreversion of dinitrofuroxan

A new approach to the synthesis of 3-nitroisoxazoles and 3-nitroisoxazolines based on the [3+2]-cycloaddition of nitroformonitrile oxide (NFNO), generated by the cycloreversion of dinitrofuroxan (DNFO), to acetylene and ethylene derivatives, under ionic liquid catalysis is developed. The approach is of a general nature and applicable to cycloaddition reactions with other dipolarophiles.     

Restricted partition functions as Bernoulli and Eulerian polynomials of higher order

Explicit expressions for restricted partition function W(s,d^m) and its quasiperiodic components W_j(s,d^m) (called Sylvester waves) for a set of positive integers d^m = {d₁, d₂, ..., d_m} are derived. The formulas are represented in a form of a finite sum over Bernoulli and Eulerian polynomials of higher order with periodic coefficients. A novel recursive relation for the Sylvester waves is established. Application to counting algebraically independent homogeneous polynomial invariants of finite groups is discussed. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification Primary—11P81; Secondary—11B68, 11B37 The research was supported in part (LGF) by the Gileadi Fellowship program of the Ministry of Absorption of the State of Israel.