Interaction of giant extracellular Glossoscolex paulistus hemoglobin (HbGp) with zwitterionic surfactant N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (HPS): effects of oligomeric dissociation

The present work focuses on the interaction between the zwitterionic surfactant N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (HPS) and the giant extracellular hemoglobin of Glossoscolex paulistus (HbGp). Electronic optical absorption, fluorescence emission and circular dichroism spectroscopy techniques, together with Gel-filtration chromatography, were used in order to evaluate the oligomeric dissociation as well as the autoxidation of HbGp as a function of the interaction with HPS. A peculiar behavior was observed for the HPS–HbGp interaction: a complex ferric species formation equilibrium was promoted, as a consequence of the autoxidation and oligomeric dissociation processes. At pH 7.0, HPS is more effective up to 1 mM while at pH 9.0 the surfactant effect is more intense above 1 mM. Furthermore, the interaction of HPS with HbGp was clearly less intense than the interaction of this hemoglobin with cationic (CTAC) and anionic (SDS) surfactants. Probably, this lower interaction with HPS is due to two factors: (i) the lower electrostatic attraction between the HPS surfactant and the protein surface ionic sites when compared to the electrostatic interaction between HbGp and cationic and anionic surfactants, and (ii) the low cmc of HPS, which probably reduces the interaction of the surfactant in the monomeric form with the protein. The present work emphasizes the importance of the electrostatic contribution in the interaction between ionic surfactants and HbGp. Furthermore, in the whole HPS concentration range used in this study, no folding and autoxidation decrease induced by this surfactant were observed. This is quite different from the literature data on the interaction between surfactants and tetrameric hemoglobins, that supports the occurrence of this behavior for the intracellular hemoglobins at low surfactant concentration range. Spectroscopic data are discussed and compared with the literature in order to improve the understanding of hemoglobin–surfactant interaction as well as the acid isoelectric point (pI) influence of the giant extracellular hemoglobins on their structure–activity relationship.     

Seven-membered ring boronates at trans-diol moieties of carbohydrates

MS and ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹B NMR results are presented revealing the formation of cyclic seven-membered boronate structures at trans-1,2-diol moieties of carbohydrates providing new opportunities for the activation, protection and analysis of glucopyranose-based oligomers and polymers such as cellulose or starch. ‘Coordination-induced shifts’ in ¹³C NMR spectra were identified for the esterification by boronic acids of carbohydrates, which can be applied for further studies.     

Reversible Optical Writing and Data Storage in an Anthracene‐Loaded Metal–Organic Framework

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) enable the design of host–guest systems with specific properties. In this work, we show how the confinement of anthracene in a well‐chosen MOF host leads to reversible yellow‐to‐purple photoswitching of the fluorescence emission. This behavior has not been observed before for anthracene, either in pure form or adsorbed in other porous hosts. The photoresponse of the host–guest system is caused by the photodimerization of anthracene, which is greatly facilitated by the pore geometry, connectivity, and volume as well as the structural flexibility of the MOF host. The photoswitching behavior was used to fabricate photopatternable and erasable surfaces that, in combination with data encryption and decryption, hold promise in product authentication and secure communication applications.     

Selective dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes with specific chiral indices by poly(N-decyl-2,7-carbazole)

Physico-chemical methods to sort single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by chiral index are presently lacking but are required for in-depth experimental analysis and also for potential future applications of specific species. Here we report the unexpected selectivity of poly(N-decyl-2,7-carbazole) to almost exclusively disperse semiconducting SWNTs with differences of their chiral indices (n - m) ≥ 2 in toluene. The observed selectivity complements perfectly the dispersing features of the fluorene analogue poly(9,9-dialkyl-2,7-fluorene), which disperses semiconducting SWNTs with (n - m) ≤ 2 in toluene. The dispersed samples are further purified by density gradient centrifugation and analyzed by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy. All-atom molecular modeling with decamer model compounds of the polymers and (10,2) and (7,6) SWNTs suggests differences in the π-π stacking interaction as origin of the selectivity. We observe energetically favored complexes between the (10,2) SWNT and the carbazole decamer and between the (7,6) SWNT and the fluorene decamer, respectively. These findings demonstrate that subtle structural changes of polymers lead to selective solvation of different families of carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, chemical screening of closely related polymers may pave the way toward simple, low-cost, and index-specific isolation of SWNTs.     

Synthesis of allyl and alkyl vinyl ethers using an in situ prepared air-stable palladium catalyst. Efficient transfer vinylation of primary,secondary, and tertiary alcohols

An air-stable palladium catalyst formed in situ from commercially available components efficiently catalyzed the transfer vinylation between butyl vinyl ether and various allyl and alkyl alcohols to give the corresponding allyl and alkyl vinyl ethers in 61-98% yield in a single step.     

Détermination de l'énergie de conjugaison des acides naphtoǐques

The present paper deals with the experimental and theoretical determination of energies of conjugation of organic molecules.A computation process has been applied, first to simple molecules comprising an hydrocarbon (styrene), an oxygen function (benzaldehyde) and a nitrogen function (aniline). The results are compared with those obtained from the literature.The application of this computation process to naphthoic acids permits the determination of energies of conjugation and isomerization of these molecules.     

Horminon,Taxochinon und weitere Royleanone aus 2 abessinischen Plectranthus-Spezies (Labiatae)

Horminone, taxoquinone and other royleanones, obtained from two Abyssinian Plectranthus species (Labiatae). From the coloured glands on the leaves of two botanically unclassified Plectranthus sp. from Abyssinia, a series of royleanones has been isolated, namely royleanone ( 1 ) and 6,7-dehydroroyleanone ( 2 ) from one species, and 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, horminone ( 3 ), taxoquinone ( 4 ), 6β, 7α-dihydroxyroyleanone ( 5 ), 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone ( 6 ) and 7-oxoroyleanone ( 7 ) respectively, from the other.     

The Crystal and Molecular Structures of Two Acid-Catalysed Rearrangement Products of Taxochinon

The structures of two acid catalysed rearrangement products of taxochinone ( 1 ) have been determined by X-ray analysis. One of the products turned out to be a 20 (10→9) abeo-abietane ( 2 ), the other an optically inactive phenalenone ( 3 ). Crystals of the former compound, C₂₀H₂₆O₃, belong to space group P2₁2₁2₁ with four molecules per cell and the structure was refined with 879 significant reflexions to R = 0.032. Crystals of the latter compound, C₂₀H₂₂O₂, belong to space group P2₁/c with 12 molecules per cell and the structure was refined with 1823 significant reflexions to R = 0.058.     

Action d'organolithiens sur la méthyl-2 quinoxaline. Etude de la réactivité des adduits

The action of organolithium reagents such as phenyllithium or n-bulyllithium on 2-methylquinoxaline gave lithiation of the methyl group which upon reaction with electtropholesphiles produce side chain alkenyl derivatives. On the other hand organolithium reagents react with the quinoxaline azomethine bond to give I-lithio-2-alkyl)or ary-1)-3 methylquinoxalines which can be further loithiated on the methyl group to give 2-alkyl(or aryl)-3-alkenylquinoxaline derivatives. The adducts can be condensed with clectrophiles such as benzonitrile or methlyl benzoate but only methyl benzoate leads to N condensed derivatives. Furthermore substituted 1,2,3,4-terahydroqinoxalines are available via the above lithio intermediates.