Electronic structure of friedel crafts catalysts BF3+HF

SCF MO LCAO calculations using two different gaussian basis sets have been performed for the species HF, F^?, BF₃, BF ₄ ^? and HBF₄ with geometry optimization. Differences in electrophilicity and proton donating capability of HF due to the formation of the adduct with BF₃ are evidenced and discussed.     

The Orienteering Problem with Time Windows

The orienteering problem with time windows, denoted by OPTW, belongs to a class of routeing and scheduling problems that arise in physical distribution. It may be modelled as a problem on a graph. It considers a set of nodes (customers), each with an associated profit and service duration (time window), and a set of arcs, each with an associated travel time. The objective of the problem is to construct an acyclic path beginning at a specified origin and ending at a specified destination that maximizes the total profit while observing time window constraints on all nodes and not exceeding a designated time limit. The problem is classified as NP-hard and, thus, an exact algorithm that executes in reasonable computational time is unlikely to exist. Since the problem is highly-constrained, we were able to develop a heuristic (referred to as the ‘tree’ heuristic) based upon an exhaustive search of the feasible solution space. The tree heuristic systematically generates a list of feasible paths and then selects the most profitable path from the list. In comparison with an insertion heuristic, the tree heuristic was found to produce improved values of total profit for heavily-constrained, modest-sized problems with reasonable computational effort.     

Novel 17 substituted pregnadiene derivatives as 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors and their binding affinity for the androgen receptor

The in vitro antiandrogenic activity of four new progesterone derivatives: 4, 5, 6 and 7 (8 is a known compound) was determined. These compounds were evaluated as 5alpha-reductase inhibitors as well as by their capacity to bind to the androgen receptor in gonadectomized hamster prostate. The IC(50) value was determined using increasing concentrations of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the presence of [(3)H]T and the microsomal fraction of the hamster prostate containing the 5alpha-reductase enzyme. In this paper we also demonstrated the effect of increasing concentrations of the novel steroids upon [(3)H]DHT binding to the androgen receptors from hamster prostate which produces competition for the androgen receptor sites. The in vitro studies showed that steroids 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 had an inhibitory activity for the 5alpha-reductase with IC(50) of: 4 (0.17 microM), 5 (0.19 microM), 6 (1 microM), 7 (4.2 microM), and 8 (2.7 microM). On the other hand, the IC(50) value for compounds 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and DHT showed the following order of affinity for the androgen receptor: 6>7>5>DHT. Surprisingly compounds 4 and 8 did not bind to the androgen receptor. The overall data indicate that all synthesized compounds are inhibitors for the enzyme 5alpha-reductase present in the hamster prostate. In contrast, compounds 5, 6 and 7, which have a cyclohexyl group in the side chain showed a high affinity for the androgen receptor.     

Acetobacter cellulosic biofilms search for new modulators of cellulogenesis and native membrane treatments

Since natural substances like pseudoxanthins exert a positive effect on the cellulogenic ability ofAcetobacter xylinum when producing cellulosic pellicles suitable for skin burn therapy, new defined and complex modulators were sought. Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ (4 mM) were strongly stimulatory. Na⁺ had no effect and K⁺ was inhibitory. Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (0.12 g/L) ensured the same nitrogen supply as the same concentration of yeast extract as measured by cellomembrane dry wt./yield albeit higher yeast extract supplies produced thicker membranes. Corn steep liquor (CSL) was also progressively beneficial from 0.125 to 0.5 mL/L, and this yield could be further improved by the combination of CSL with a tea infusion (source of caffeine). Uridine (precursor for UDP-Glc, sugar donor in cellulose biosynthesis), guanine, guanosine, and its butirylated derivatives (precursors for the positive modulator of cellulose synthetase, di-cGMP) resulted in only moderate stimulation. Sodium phytate and betaine were also slightly stimulatory. The fibrilar product from a newAcetobacter isolate (Ax-M) was characterized as cellulose by comparison with the solid-state¹³C-NMR of algal cellulose. Its X-ray diffractogram was a confirmatory analysis. After incorporation of tamarind xyloglucan to previously air-dried cellulosic pellicles, diffractometry displayed only slight differences. Mercerized (5M NaOH) fresh cellulosic biofilms underwent drastic size reduction (3.5-fold), turning compact nut still flexible if maintained wet.     

Formation of the 7-Oxa-1,4,10-triazatricyclo[8.2.2(5,12)]tetradecane-2,14-dione Ring System: Misrouted Synthesis of a Peptidomimetic

An attempted synthesis of the tricyclic peptidomimetic 1, designed to imitate a beta-turn tripeptide in tendamistat, afforded instead the 6,6,8-ring system of 2. The key step in the synthesis entailed acylation of the hindered alpha,alpha'-disubstituted morpholine 4.2, which was approached by acylative ring opening of the 3,6-oxazabicyclo[4.2.0]octane 4.3. However, transannular rather than exocyclic cleavage occurred, giving the 1,6-oxazacyclooctane isomer 4.5. Subsequent ring closures to form the bi- and tricyclic intermediates 7.3 and 8.5 were difficult because of the strain being built into the ring systems. After completion of the synthesis, the structures of the intermediates and final product were elucidated by NMR, with three-bond, heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation experiments providing unambiguous evidence for the ring connectivity, and by molecular modeling, which allowed assignment of the stereochemistry. Compound 2 is a modest inhibitor of the target enzyme alpha-amylase (K(i) = 170 &mgr;M in 5% DMSO/water), binding with similar affinity to the tripeptide Ac-Trp-Arg-Tyr-OMe. Although the side-chain attachment points in the ring system of 2 correspond closely to the relative Calpha-positions in tendamistat (rmsd = 0.24 ?), the alignment of the Calpha-Cbeta bonds is poor, illustrating the importance of side-chain orientation in a peptidomimetic.     

Theoretical investigations on the solvation process

The conformation energies for monohydrated associates M · H₂O, where M stands for oxirane, aziridine, oxaziridine and cyclopropene, have been obtained by using an electrostatic method, tested in a preceding paper, which relies on SCF molecular potentials calculated exactly. Stable associates have been found in the heterogroup region as well as near the bent bonds (single or double).A discussion is made on the errors in calculating thermodynamic properties for such associates in gas phase by using a priori calculations. As a numerical example the free energy change in the association process is compared for two monohydrated associates of aziridine.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Konformationsenergien für Anlagerungsverbindung M · H₂O, wobei M für Oxiran, Aziridin, Oxaziridin und Cyclopropen steht, werden mit einer elektrostatischen Methode berechnet. Dieses Verfahren wurde in einer vorhergehenden Veröffentlichung getestet und beruht auf exakt berechneten SCF-Molekülpotentialen. Stabile Anlagerungsverbindungen wurden für Konformationen gefunden, bei denen das Wassermolekül in der Nähe der Heterogruppe oder der gezogenen Einfach- oder Doppelbindung liegt. Die Fehler bei der Berechnung thermodynamischer Eigenschaften für derartige Anlagerungsverbindungen in der Gasphase werden abgeschätzt. Als ein numerisches Beispiel wird die Differenz der freien Energie bei der Anlagerung für zwei Anlagerungsverbindungen von Aziridin und Molekül Wasser verglichen.

     

Supramolecular Cationic Tetraruthenated Porphyrin Induces Single-Strand Breaks and 8-Oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine Formation in DNA in the Presence of Light

Abstract— The aim of this investigation is the evaluation of DNA interaction of with tetraruthenated porphyrin (TRP) and of DNA damage in the presence of light. Direct-fluorescence and electronic absorption measurements after incubation of DNA with TRP indicate strong binding between pBR322 DNA or calf thymus DNA with the modified porphyrin. Exposure of pBR322 DNA to TRP (up to 3 μ M ) and light leads to single-strand break formation as determined by the conversion of the supercoiled form (form I) of the plasmid into the nicked circular form (form II). Oxidative DNA base damage was evaluated by the detection of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) after irradiation of calf thymus DNA in the presence of the TRP. The data demonstrated a dose and time dependence with each type of DNA damage. These data indicate (1) a specificity of the binding mode and (2) type I and II photoinduced mechanisms leading to strand scission activity and 8-oxodGuo formation. Accordingly, singlet molecular oxygen formation, after TRP excitation, was confirmed by near-infrared emission. From these investigations a potential application of TRP in photodynamic therapy is proposed.