Unexpected reactivity of PdCl(2) and PtCl(2) complexes of the unsaturated diphosphine o-Me(2)TTF(PPh(2))(2) toward chloride abstraction with thallium triflate

Attempted thallium triflate abstraction of chloride anions from the MCl(2) complexes of the unsaturated chelating diphosphines o-dimethyl-bis(diphenylphosphino)tetrathiafulvalene (P2) (M = Pd, Pt) and cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene (dppen) (M = Pd) affords, surprisingly, a Tl(OTf) adduct in the case of (P2)PdCl(2) and (P2)PtCl(2), with no chloride abstraction, and a dicationic bis(palladium) bis(triflate) salt in the case of (cis-dppen)PdCl(2), in which only one Cl anion was removed. The crystal structures of these complexes were determined by X-ray analysis, which established the formulations (P2)MCl(2).Tl(OTf) (M = Pd, Pt) and [(dppen)PdCl](2)(OTf)(2), respectively. These compounds can be seen as possible intermediates in the general chloride abstraction process between (P-P)MCl(2) (M = Pd, Pt) and thallium triflate.     

Electron pair localization function: a practical tool to visualize electron localization in molecules from quantum Monte Carlo data

In this work we introduce an electron localization function describing the pairing of electrons in a molecular system. This function, called "electron pair localization function," is constructed to be particularly simple to evaluate within a quantum Monte Carlo framework. Two major advantages of this function are the following: (i) the simplicity and generality of its definition; and (ii) the possibility of calculating it with quantum Monte Carlo at various levels of accuracy (Hartree-Fock, multiconfigurational wave functions, valence bond, density functional theory, variational Monte Carlo with explicitly correlated trial wave functions, fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo, etc). A number of applications of the electron pair localization function to simple atomic and molecular systems are presented and systematic comparisons with the more standard electron localization function of Becke and Edgecombe are done. Results illustrate that the electron pair localization function is a simple and practical tool for visualizing electronic localization in molecular systems.     

Synthesis and reactivity of silyl ruthenium complexes: the importance of trans effects in C-H activation,Si-C bond formation,and dehydrogenative coupling of silanes

A series of octahedral ruthenium silyl hydride complexes, cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiR(3))H (SiR(3) = SiMe(3), 1a; SiMe(2)CH(2)SiMe(3), 1b; SiEt(3), 1c; SiMe(2)H, 1d), has been synthesized by the reaction of hydrosilanes with (PMe(3))(3)Ru(eta(2)-CH(2)PMe(2))H (5), cis-(PMe(3))(4)RuMe(2) (6), or (PMe(3))(4)RuH(2) (9). Reaction with 6 proceeds via an intermediate product, cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiR(3))Me (SiR(3) = SiMe(3), 7a; SiMe(2)CH(2)SiMe(3), 7b). Alternatively, 1 and 7 have been synthesized via a fast hydrosilane exchange with another cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiR(3))H or cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiR(3))Me, which occurs at a rate approaching the NMR time scale. Compounds 1a, 1b, 1d, and 7a adopt octahedral geometries in solution and the solid state with mutually cis silyl and hydride (or silyl and methyl) ligands. The longest Ru-P distance within a complex is always trans to Si, reflecting the strong trans influence of silicon. The aptitude of phosphine dissociation in these complexes has been probed in reactions of 1a, 1c, and 7a with PMe(3)-d(9) and CO. The dissociation is regioselective in the position trans to a silyl ligand (trans effect of Si), and the rate approaches the NMR time scale. A slower secondary process introduces PMe(3)-d(9) and CO in the other octahedral positions, most likely via nondissociative isomerization. The trans effect and trans influence in 7a are so strong that an equilibrium concentration of dissociated phosphine is detectable (approximately 5%) in solution of pure 7a. Compounds 1a-c also react with dihydrogen via regioselective dissociation of phosphine from the site trans to Si, but the final product, fac-(PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiR(3))H(3) (SiR(3) = SiMe(3), 4a; SiMe(2)CH(2)SiMe(3), 4b; SiEt(3), 4c), features hydrides cis to Si. Alternatively, 4a-c have been synthesized by photolysis of (PMe(3))(4)RuH(2) in the presence of a hydrosilane or by exchange of fac-(PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiR(3))H(3) with another HSiR(3). The reverse manifold - HH elimination from 4a and trapping with PMe(3) or PMe(3)-d(9) - is also regioselective (1a-d(9)() is predominantly produced with PMe(3)-d(9) trans to Si), but is very unfavorable. At 70 degrees C, a slower but irreversible SiH elimination also occurs and furnishes (PMe(3))(4)RuH(2). The structure of 4a exhibits a tetrahedral P(3)Si environment around the metal with the three hydrides adjacent to silicon and capping the P(2)Si faces. Although strong Si...HRu interactions are not indicated in the structure or by IR, the HSi distances (2.13-2.23(5) A) suggest some degree of nonclassical SiH bonding in the H(3)SiR(3) fragment. Thermolysis of 1a in C(6)D(6) at 45-55 degrees C leads to an intermolecular CD activation of C(6)D(6). Extensive H/D exchange into the hydride, SiMe(3), and PMe(3) ligands is observed, followed by much slower formation of cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(D)(Ph-d(5)). In an even slower intramolecular CH activation process, (PMe(3))(3)Ru(eta(2)-CH(2)PMe(2))H (5) is also produced. The structure of intermediates, mechanisms, and aptitudes for PMe(3) dissociation and addition/elimination of H-H, Si-H, C-Si, and C-H bonds in these systems are discussed with a special emphasis on the trans effect and trans influence of silicon and ramifications for SiC coupling catalysis.     

Two-stage Off-Gel isoelectric focusing: protein followed by peptide fractionation and application to proteome analysis of human plasma

This paper presents the recently introduced Off-Gel electrophoresis (OGE) technology as a versatile tool to reproducibly fractionate intact proteins and peptides into discrete liquid fractions. The coupling of two stages of OGE, i.e., the separation of intact proteins in a first-stage followed by fractionation of peptides derived from each protein fraction after proteolysis in a second stage, results in an array of 15 x 15 fractions that are directly amenable to additional peptide fractionation like reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPC). The analysis of all second-stage peptide fractions from only the first-stage protein fraction representing pH 5.0 -5.15 by on-line reverse-phase LC-tandem mass spectrometry resulted in the identification of 53 proteins (337 peptides), of which 10 were on different immunoglobulin (Ig) chains, with an input of only 1.5 mg human blood plasma proteins. Increasing the protein load to approximately 12 mg increased the number of identified proteins in the same protein fraction to 73 proteins (449 peptides), of which 15 were Ig-related. Immunodepletion of six of the most abundant proteins (albumin, transferrin, haptoglobin, IgG, IgA, and alpha-1-antitrypsin) prior to first-stage OGE with an input of 1.5 mg of protein (equivalent to approximately 10 mg nondepleted plasma) resulted in the identification of 81 proteins (660 peptides), of which three were still Ig fragments. The pI-based separation of peptides appears to be nonuniform based on the theoretically determined pI values of identified peptides. This observation specifically accounts for the neutral zone (pI 5-8) and can be accounted for by the physicochemical properties of the peptides given by their amino acid composition. The power of OGE separation of proteins and peptides is discussed with a focus on the use of the knowledge about the pI of proteins and peptides that assist the validation of correct identifications together with the retention time of peptides on RPC.     

Electropolymerization of Pd(II) complexes containing phosphinoterthiophene ligands

A series of Pd complexes of 3'-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1a, dppterth) in which the metal is coordinated in three different modes have been prepared and electropolymerized, resulting in the formation of conductive thin films. In [Pd2(mu-Cl2)(dppterth-P,C3)2] (3a) the metal is P,C-coordinated, in [PdCl2(dppterth-P)2] (4a) the coordination is monodentate via the phosphine, and in [Pd(dppterth-P,C3)(dppterth-P,S1)][PF6] (5a) both P,C- and P,S-coordination modes are found. In 5a, the coordinated thiophene is hemilabile and may be displaced by reaction with more strongly coordinating ligands such as isocyanides. To probe the effect of blocking the alpha-position of the terthienyl moiety with methyl groups, 3'-diphenylphosphino-5-methyl-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1b, Me-dppterth) and 3'-diphenylphosphino-5,5' '-dimethyl-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1c, Me2-dppterth) were prepared, and the corresponding series of Pd complexes was synthesized. One of these complexes, [Pd(Me2-dppterth-P,C3)(Me2-dppterth-P,S1)][PF6] (5c), has been crystallographically characterized. The electropolymerized films prepared from 5a react with isonitriles, and shifts in the absorption spectra of the electropolymerized materials are observed upon reaction. A Pd complex has also been prepared from 5-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (2, 5dppterth), and this complex has been electropolymerized. All the electropolymerized thin films have been characterized using EDX analysis, which demonstrates good correspondence with the elemental analysis of the respective monomers, and the maximum conductivities of the films are near 10(-4) S x cm(-1). Comparing the electropolymerization behavior of the complexes, along with their electrochemical and spectroscopic data, allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the involvement of pi-delocalization and the metal group in the conductivity of the materials.     

The reactant state for substrate-activated turnover of acetylthiocholine by butyrylcholinesterase is a tetrahedral intermediate

Secondary beta-deuterium kinetic isotope effects have been measured as a function of substrate concentration for recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetyl-L3-thiocholine (L = 1H or 2H). The isotope effect on V/K is inverse, D3V/K = 0.93 +/- 0.03, which is consistent with conversion of the sp2 hybridized carbonyl carbon of the scissile ester bond of the E + A reactant state to a quasi-tetrahedral structure in the acylation transition state. In contrast, the isotope effect on Vmax under conditions of substrate activation is markedly normal, D3(betaVmax) = 1.29 +/- 0.06, an observation that is consistent with accumulation of a tetrahedral intermediate as the reactant state for catalytic turnover. Generally, tetrahedral intermediates for nonenzymatic ester hydrolyses are high-energy steady-state intermediates. Apparently, butyrylcholinesterase displays an unusual ability to stabilize such intermediates. Hence, the catalytic power of cholinesterases can largely be understood in terms of their ability to stabilize tetrahedral intermediates in the multistep reaction mechanism.     

Mapping the influence of molecular structure on rates of electron transfer using direct measurements of the electron spin-spin exchange interaction

The spin-spin exchange interaction, 2J, in a radical ion pair produced by a photoinduced electron transfer reaction can provide a direct measure of the electronic coupling matrix element, V, for the subsequent charge recombination reaction. We have developed a series of dyad and triad donor-acceptor molecules in which 2J is measured directly as a function of incremental changes in their structures. In the dyads the chromophoric electron donors 4-(N-pyrrolidinyl)- and 4-(N-piperidinyl)naphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide, 5ANI and 6ANI, respectively, and a naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NI) acceptor are linked to the meta positions of a phenyl spacer to yield 5ANI-Ph-NI and 6ANI-Ph-NI. In the triads the same structure is used, except that the piperidine in 6ANI is replaced by a piperazine in which a para-X-phenyl, where X = H, F, Cl, MeO, and Me(2)N, is attached to the N' nitrogen to form a para-X-aniline (XAn) donor to give XAn-6ANI-Ph-NI. Photoexcitation yields the respective 5ANI(+)-Ph-NI(-), 6ANI(+)-Ph-NI(-), and XAn(+)-6ANI-Ph-NI(-) singlet radical ion pair states, which undergo subsequent radical pair intersystem crossing followed by charge recombination to yield (3)NI. The radical ion pair distances within the dyads are about 11-12 A, whereas those in the triads are about approximately 16-19 A. The degree of delocalization of charge (and spin) density onto the aniline, and therefore the average distance between the radical ion pairs, is modulated by the para substituent. The (3)NI yields monitored spectroscopically exhibit resonances as a function of magnetic field, which directly yield 2J for the radical ion pairs. A plot of ln 2J versus r(DA), the distance between the centroids of the spin distributions of the two radicals that comprise the pair, yields a slope of -0.5 +/- 0.1. Since both 2J and k(CR), the rate of radical ion pair recombination, are directly proportional to V(2), the observed distance dependence of 2J shows directly that the recombination rates in these molecules obey an exponential distance dependence with beta = 0.5 +/- 0.1 A(-)(1). This technique is very sensitive to small changes in the electronic interaction between the two radicals and can be used to probe subtle structural differences between radical ion pairs produced from photoinduced electron transfer reactions.     

A completeness theorem for a nonlinear multiparameter eigenvalue problem

In this paper we study the linked nonlinear multiparameter system

$\text{y}{}_{\mathrm{r}}{}^{\mathrm{n}}\text{(X}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{) + M}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{Y}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{+}\text{∑}\text{s=1}\text{k}\text{λ}{}_{\mathrm{s}}\text{(a}{}_{\mathrm{rs}}\text{(X}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{) + P}{}_{\mathrm{rs}}\text{) Y}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{(X}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{) = 0, r = l,…, k}$

, where x_r? [a_r, b_r], y_r is subject to Sturm-Liouville boundary conditions, and the continuous functions a_rs satisfy ¦ $\text{A ¦ (x) =}\text{det}\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{rs}}\text{(x}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{) > 0}$. Conditions on the polynomial operators M_r, P_rs are produced which guarantee a sequence of eigenfunctions for this problem yⁿ(x) = Π_r=1^ky_rⁿ(x_r), n ? 1, which form a basis in $\text{L}{}^2\text{([a, b], ¦ A ¦)}$. Here [a, b] = [a₁, b₁ × … × [a_k, b_k].     

Viability of the antigen determines whether DNA or urocanic acid act as initiator molecules for UV-induced suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity

UV radiation suppresses the immune response, and UV-induced immune suppression contributes to UV-induced photocarcinogenesis. For UV-induced immune suppression to occur, electromagnetic energy (i.e. UV radiation) must be converted to a biological signal. Two photoreceptors have been identified in the skin that serves this purpose, epidermal DNA and trans-urocanic acid (UCA). Although compelling evidence exists to support a role for each pathway (UV-induced DNA damage or photoisomerization of UCA) in UV-induced immune suppression, it is not clear what determines which photoreceptor pathway is activated. To address this question, we injected UV-irradiated mice with a monoclonal antibody with specificity for cis-UCA or applied liposomes containing DNA repair enzymes to the skin of UV-irradiated mice. The effect that each had on UV-induced suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity was measured. We asked whether the light source used (FS-40 sunlamps vs solar-simulated UV radiation) altered whichever pathway of immune suppression was activated. Different doses of UV radiation and the viability of the antigen were also considered. Neither the dose of UV nor the light source had any influence on determining which pathway was activated. Rather, we found that the viability of the antigen was the critical determinant. When live antigens were used, UV-induced immune suppression was blocked with monoclonal anti-cis-UCA but not with T4 endonuclease V-containing liposomes. The reverse was observed when formalin-fixed or killed antigens were used. Our findings indicate that antigen viability dictates which photoreceptor pathway predominates after UV exposure.     

An MO study of regioselective amine addition to ortho-quinones relevant to melanogenesis

Energy profiles for alternative intramolecular cyclisations of 4-(aminoalkyl)-ortho-quinones have been calculated using the AM1 method and ab initio energies of the transition states are determined. In all the cases cyclisation at position 5 occurs via a significantly lower energy transition state than cyclisation at position 3. This is consistent with experimental observations. Optimal trajectories for attack have been determined from a study of the reactions of methylamine with 4-methyl-ortho-quinone. For cyclisation of aminoalkyl derivatives deviation from the optimal direction is less for reaction at position 5 but constraint on angle of attack only partially accounts for the regioselectivity. Intrinsic differences in the electronic energies of the alternative transition states are the main contributor to regioselectivity. The relative energies of transition states can be modified by variation of the substituent at position 4. The calculations suggest that seven-membered ring formation may occur via a boat transition state and steric hindrance in the seven-membered transition states may account for the experimentally observed influence of N-substituents on the mode of reaction.