Aqueous solutions that model the cytosol: studies on polarity, chemical reactivity and enzyme kinetics

Concentrated solutions of a series of organic compounds have been prepared and the effects of these solutes on the properties of the solvent system assessed as a function of their concentration and nature. Polarity, as measured by Reichardt's E(T)(30) probe, exhibits a linear variation with both solute and water concentration for simple solutes. Non-linear behaviour was also observed and is associated with preferential solvation or binding of the E(T)(30) probe molecule by the added solute. The observed trends in polarity are mirrored in the effects of these solutes on chemical reactivity and enzyme kinetics. Environmental effects on the kinetics of hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl dichloroacetate, the hydronium-ion catalysed hydrolysis of 2-(4-nitrophenoxy)-tetrahydropyran, the acyl transfer reaction between 4-nitrophenyl acetate and TRIS, the Diels-Alder reaction between 1,4-naphthoquinone and cyclopentadiene and the trypsin-catalysed hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate are reported and discussed in terms of the properties of the solutes and the mechanistic requirements of these reactions. Linear correlations were observed between the logarithms of the rate constants for the acetal hydrolysis, acyl transfer and Diels-Alder reactions with water concentration. Since the latter varies linearly with E(T)(30), this indicates a linear free energy relationship between solution polarity and chemical reactivity.     

New Triterpenoidal Saponins from Gypsophila repens

Six new triterpene glycosides, repensosides A–F ( 1 – 6 , resp.), were isolated from the roots of Gypsophila repens L. Their structures, established by extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic experiments as well as MS analyses, were found to be based on gypsogenic acid (or gypsogenin) as aglycone, with three to nine branched or unbranched sugar moieties.     

Non-catalyzed oscillation reaction in the aniline-KBrO3?H2SO4 system. II. Reaction products and their oscillating behavior

By means of thin-layer and gas chromatography the reaction products have been determined in the oscillation system of aniline, KBrO₃ and H₂SO₄. These products include: 2-bromoaniline, 4-bromoaniline, 2,4-dibromoaniline, 2,4,6-tribromoaniline, 1,4-benzoquinone, 2-bromo-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone and a brominated oxidation product. The brominated aniline derivatives do not exhibit an oscillating behavior, and the addition of these substances to an oscillating mixture damps the course of other oscillations.

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, KBrO₃ H₂SO₄. : 2-, 4-, 2,4-, 2,4,6-, 1,4-, 2--1,4-, 2,6--1,4- . , , , .

     

Investigation of the colour reaction of phenols with MBTH,II: Properties of the isolated products of the reaction with phenol, 2,6-dimethylphenol and 4-methylphenol

The following model compounds for the study of the oxidative coupling reactions of 2-hydrazono-3-methylbenzothiazoline (MBTH) with phenolic compounds were prepared: thep-coupling products of the reagent with phenol and 2,6-xylenol and theo-coupling product withp-cresol. The proposed structure of the dyes was confirmed. In strongly polar and ionic media the azobetaine form of the products predominates, and in non-polar media the azine structure. The principal physico-chemical properties of the products were determined and the results contributed to formulation of the course of the coupling reaction, and to optimization of the conditions for determination of small amounts of phenolic substances. The violeto-coupling product is less stable than the redp-coupling products, and intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded six-membered ring is assumed to exist in the structure. In acid medium the dyes are mainly monoprotonated, and partly diprotonated in concentrated sulphuric acid medium. The products are stable up to about pH 11. These properties make extraction into low-polarity solvents possible. The dye derived from 2,6-xylenol andp-cresol has not hitherto been prepared. The principal spectral characteristics, _max(), of the products in ethanol medium are: 499 nm (4.7 × 10⁴ 1·mole^–1 cm^–1) for the phenol derivative, 486 nm (5.0 × 10⁴) for the 2,6-xylenol product, and _max 540 nm for thep-cresol product.Part I: Mikrochim. Acta [Wien]1977,I, 241     

Fast‐Geomimicking using Chemistry in Supercritical Water

Herein we introduce a powerful and fast method to produce nanominerals using a bottom up approach. The supercritical hydrothermal flow synthesis is exploited to produce model nanominerals by mimicking natural environments at high temperatures under pressure. This innovative concept is demonstrated with the talc synthesis; this represents a major technical breakthrough since it allows decreasing the mineral‐synthesis time from tens of hours to tens of seconds. Through this example, we show these nanominerals exhibit new crystal‐chemistry signals and new properties. This approach provides a means to reproduce the early stages of formation of minerals in different natural environments from sedimentary environments (low temperature and pressure) to hydrothermal/metamorphic environments (high temperature and high pressure).     

Nanoscale Biodegradable Organic–Inorganic Hybrids for Efficient Cell Penetration and Drug Delivery

We report a comprehensive study on novel, highly efficient, and biodegradable hybrid molecular transporters. To this end, we designed a series of cell‐penetrating, cube‐octameric silsesquioxanes (COSS), and investigated cellular uptake by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. A COSS with dense spatial arrangement of guanidinium groups displayed fast uptake kinetics and cell permeation at nanomolar concentrations in living HeLa cells. Efficient uptake was also observed in bacteria, yeasts, and archaea. The COSS‐based carrier was significantly more potent than cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) and displayed low toxicity. It efficiently delivered a covalently attached cytotoxic drug, doxorubicin, to living tumor cells. As the uptake of fluorescently labeled carrier remained in the presence of serum, the system could be considered particularly attractive for the in vivo delivery of therapeutics.     

Deconvolution of distinct lithology chemistry through oversampling with the Mars Science Laboratory Alpha Particle X‐Ray Spectrometer

The Alpha Particle X‐Ray Spectrometer (APXS) determines the chemical composition of Martian rocks and soils on‐board both active National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) rovers using X‐ray emission spectroscopy through complementary particle‐induced X‐ray emission (PIXE) and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) excitation methods. A single APXS spectrum represents the sum of the signals from within the instrument's field of view (FOV). In the past, features smaller than the FOV have been investigated through repeated measurements with stepwise lateral offsets. These lateral offsets allow for empirically extracting, through elemental correlations, distinct compositions of different features. Here, we present a novel analytical method for deconvolving the endmember chemistry of visually distinct components through oversampling and the integrated analysis of the elemental data and supporting images. We discuss specifically the method's application to three targets investigated by the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity during its traverse, as well as the added information that can be gained from this method in the future. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pilot study of methods and equipment for in-home noise level measurements

Knowledge of the auditory and non-auditory effects of noise has increased dramatically over the past decade, but indoor noise exposure measurement methods have not advanced appreciably, despite the introduction of applicable new technologies. This study evaluated various conventional and smart devices for exposure assessment in the National Children’s Study. Three devices were tested: a sound level meter (SLM), a dosimeter, and a smart device with a noise measurement application installed. Instrument performance was evaluated in a series of semi-controlled tests in office environments over 96-h periods, followed by measurements made continuously in two rooms (a child’s bedroom and a most used room) in nine participating homes over a 7-day period with subsequent computation of a range of noise metrics. The SLMs and dosimeters yielded similar A-weighted average noise levels. Levels measured by the smart devices often differed substantially (showing both positive and negative bias, depending on the metric) from those measured via SLM and dosimeter, and demonstrated attenuation in some frequency bands in spectral analysis compared to SLM results. Virtually all measurements exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s 45 dBA day–night limit for indoor residential exposures. The measurement protocol developed here can be employed in homes, demonstrates the possibility of measuring long-term noise exposures in homes with technologies beyond traditional SLMs, and highlights potential pitfalls associated with measurements made by smart devices.     

A Highly Stable Nonhysteretic {Cu2(tebpz) MOF+water} Molecular Spring

A molecular spring formed by a hydrophobic metal–organic framework Cu₂(tebpz) (tebpz=3,3′,5,5′‐tetraethyl‐4,4′‐bipyrazolate) and water is presented. This nanoporous heterogeneous lyophobic system (HLS) has exceptional properties compared to numerous reported systems of such type in terms of stability, efficiency, and operating pressure. Mechanical and thermal energetic characteristics as well as stability of the system are discussed and compared in detail with those of other previously reported HLS.