Spontaneous Vesicle Formation in Aqueous Mixtures of Cationic Surfactants and Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide

Spontaneous vesicle formation was observed in aqueous mixtures of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide and single-tailed cationic surfactants. The influences of pH, addition of long-chain alcohols, variation of hydrocarbon chain length, and head group size of the cationic surfactants were investigated systematically. It was found that 30-50% hydrolyzed degree of polyacrylamide and cationic surfactants with 10 or 12 methylene groups are suitable for vesicle formation in the mixed aqueous systems at pH 9.2. Addition of long-chain alcohols was found to be helpful for vesicle formation in some cases. The vesicle stability was also investigated at various temperatures and amounts of ethanol addition. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Two novel dicoumaro-p-menthanes from Gerbera piloselloides (L.) CASS

Two new type dicoumarins (dicoumaro-p-menthanes), named dibothrioclinins I (1) and II (2) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Gerbera piloselloides (L.) CASS., collected in Yunnan Province, China. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D ((1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, DEPT and NOE) and 2D ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, HMBC) NMR spectral analyses. The relative structures of the two compounds were established by NOE difference spectroscopy and further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

A reliable ab initio potential energy surface and vibrational states for the ground electronic state of HgH2(X1Sigma+g)

A three-dimensional global potential energy surface for the ground (X (1)Sigma(+)(g))electronic state of HgH(2) is constructed from more than 13,00 ab initio points. These points are generated using an internally contracted multireference configuration interaction method with the Davidson correction and a large basis set. Low-lying vibrational energy levels of HgH(2), HHgD, and HgD(2) calculated using the Lanczos algorithm are found to be in good agreement with the available experimental band origins. The majority of the vibrational energy levels up to 9000 cm(-1) are assigned with normal mode quantum numbers. Our results indicate a gradual transition for the stretching vibrations from the normal mode regime at low energies to the local mode regime near 9000 and 8000 cm(-1) for HgH(2) and HgD(2), respectively, as evidenced by a decreasing energy gap between the (0,0,n(3)) and (1,0,n(3)-1) vibrational states and bifurcation of the corresponding wave functions.     

Infrared and electronic spectra of copper (II) complex of maleonitriledithiolate and 4,4'-dimethyl-2, 2'-bipyridine and their theoretical studies

The molecular structure and binding, as well as infrared and electronic spectroscopic properties for the title complex Cu(mnt)(dmbpy)(mnt(2-)=maleonitriledithiolate, dmbpy=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) were studied in this paper. With semi-empirical PM3 and non-empirical DFT (B3LYP/6-311G*) methods, the molecular geometry of the complex was optimized and corresponding vibrational spectra in the gaseous state were obtained. The calculated results derived from DFT were more reasonable than those from PM3. The point group of Cu(mnt)(dmbpy) in isolated gaseous state was C(2), in which Cu(II) adopted a distorted tetrahedral geometry and the dihedral angle between the N(2)Cu and S(2)Cu planes was about 29.814 degrees. And a complete assignment to the IR spectra of such a complicated molecule was exhibited. With ZINDO/S method an electronic spectrum was calculated. The results showed that the calculated values generally agreed with the observed ones. And a detailed explain was made on its electronic spectra.     

Novel synthesis of 2-oxo-3-butynoates by copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of terminal alkynes and monooxalyl chloride

A general and efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of terminal alkynes and monooxalyl chloride for the synthesis of 2-oxo-3-butynoates and 2-oxo-3-butynoamides was developed. Readily available starting materials, the mild reaction conditions, wide functional group tolerance, and the obviation of stoichiometric organolithium or magnesium reagents combine to highlight this reaction.     

A new serratane-type triterpene from Lycopodium phlegmaria

A new serratane-type triterpene, lycophlegmarin (1), has been isolated from Lycopodium phlegmaria L. Four known related triterpenoids were also found from the title plant. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical method. Lycophlegmarin exhibited modest growth-inhibitory activity in vitro against human hepatoma cells BEL 7402.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of bicyclic lactone derivatives via tungsten-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of epoxides with a tethered alkynyl group

In the presence of BF3*Et2O, alkynyltungsten complexes underwent [3 + 2] cycloaddition with tethered epoxides to give bicyclic -lactones efficiently. Only one diastereomeric product was formed despite the presence of three stereogenic centers. A mechanism is proposed that involves formation of a tungsten-vinylidenium species via an SN2 attack of the epoxide carbon by an alkynyltungsten group to give a tungsten-enol ether species via counterattack at the central tungsten-vinylidenium carbon by the OBF3- terminus. Most of the tungsten enol ether species were too unstable for isolation and underwent hydrolysis to give only cis-fused -bicyclic lactones. This cyclization works for both cis- and trans-epoxides and tolerates various functional groups. In the case of trans-phenyl epoxide, the reaction led to an addition product via a 6-endo attack of epoxide by the tungsten fragment. This method provides a simple enantiospecific synthesis of complex bicyclic lactones if a chiral epoxide is used in the cyclization. It is also applicable to the one-pot synthesis of bicyclic unsaturated gamma-lactones if a suitable alkynyltungsten functionality is used.     

Influence of crystallization conditions on the crystalline transformation behavior of nylon 10 14

Three kinds of nylon 10 14 crystals with different perfections were prepared under various crystallization conditions. The Brill transition behavior of these nylon 10 14 crystals was investigated by variable-temperature X-ray diffraction. It was found that the crystallization conditions influence the Brill transition temperature greatly. The Brill transition temperature of the lamellar crystals grown from dilute solution is so high that no Brill transition temperature can be observed before melting. However, for crystals postannealed at 125 °C, the Brill transition temperature is as low as 130 °C. The results show that the Brill transition behavior of nylons is strongly dependent on the crystallization conditions, for example, the perfections of the crystals.     

Synthesis of C-nucleosides designed to participate in triplex formation with native DNA: specific recognition of an A:T base pair in DNA

[structure: see text] We have previously described a system of 2-aminoquinoline- and 2-aminoquinazoline-based C-deoxynucleosides (TRIPsides) that are designed to be incorporated into oligomers that can specifically bind in the major groove via Hoogsteen base pairing to any sequence of native DNA. The four TRIPsides are termed antiGC, antiCG, antiTA, and antiAT with respect to the Watson-Crick base pair targets that they bind. The first three TRIPsides have been prepared, characterized, and shown to form stable and sequence-specific triplexes. In the present study, we describe the preparation of two molecules, 2-amino-4-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)quinazoline (7) and 2-amino-6-fluoro-4-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)quinoline (14), that can serve as the remaining antiAT TRIPside. The phosphoramidites of 7 and 14 were prepared, but only the latter was successfully incorporated into DNA oligomers. It is demonstrated using UV-visible melting experiments that 14 forms sequence-specific intramolecular triplets with A:T base pairs at physiological pH.     

Interaction of tetrandrine with human serum albumin: a fluorescence quenching study.

The interaction of tetrandrine with human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by measuring fluorescence quenching spectra, synchronous fluorescence spectra and ultra-violet spectra. The fluorescence quenching spectra of HSA in the presence of tetrandrine showed that tetrandrine quenched the fluorescence of HSA. The quenching constants of tetrandrine on HSA were determined using the Stern-Volmer equation. Static quenching and non-radiation energy transfer were the two main reasons leading to the fluorescence quenching of HSA by tetrandrine. According to the F?rster theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the binding distances (r) and the binding constants (K(A)) were obtained. The thermodynamic parameters obtained in this study revealed that the interaction between tetrandrine and HSA was mainly driven by a hydrophobic force. The conformational changes of HSA were investigated by synchronous spectrum studies.