Design,synthesis and structural diversity in coordination polymers

The fundamental precept of crystal engineering is that all the information necessary for the design of a network is already stored in the molecular building blocks used. Coordination polymers represent an example of how crystal engineering has become a paradigm for the synthesis of new architectures and compositions. We report herein ten structures that are supramolecular isomers of one another. The structures are prepared from the same building blocks under mild reaction conditions. The modularity of coordination polymers imparts structural diversity that otherwise would not be possible.     

A novel titanium tetrachloride-induced rearrangement of an enantiopure 4-naphthyldioxolane. The possible role of titanium in the umpolung of tosyloxy and chlorine

The rearrangement of (2′S,4′R,5′S)-2-(2′,5′-dimethyl-1′,3′-dioxolan-4′-yl)-4,5,7-trimethoxynaphthalen-1-yl 4″-methylbenzenesulfonate with titanium(IV) chloride affords (1R,3S,4R)-10-chloro-6,7,9-trimethoxy-1,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-c]pyran in good yield. This transformation is characterized by two unusual aromatic substitution reactions in that, in one, tosyloxy is lost and, in the other, aromatic chlorination occurs with titanium(IV) chloride as the source of chlorine.     

O(4)-Alkyl-2'-deoxythymidine cross-linked DNA to probe recognition and repair by O(6)-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferases

DNA duplexes containing a directly opposed O(4)-2'-deoxythymidine-alkyl-O(4)-2'-deoxythymidine (O(4)-dT-alkyl-O(4)-dT) interstrand cross-link (ICL) have been prepared by the synthesis of cross-linked nucleoside dimers which were converted to phosphoramidites to produce site specific ICL. ICL duplexes containing alkyl chains of four and seven methylene groups were prepared and characterized by mass spectrometry and nuclease digests. Thermal denaturation experiments revealed four and seven methylene containing ICL increased the T(m) of the duplex with respect to the non-cross-linked control with an observed decrease in enthalpy based on thermodynamic analysis of the denaturation curves. Circular dichroism experiments on the ICL duplexes indicated minimal difference from B-form DNA structure. These ICL were used for DNA repair studies with O(6)-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) proteins from human (hAGT) and E. coli (Ada-C and OGT), whose purpose is to remove O(6)-alkylguanine and in some cases O(4)-alkylthymine lesions. It has been previously shown that hAGT can repair O(6)-2'-deoxyguanosine-alkyl-O(6)-2'-deoxyguanosine ICL. The O(4)-dT-alkyl-O(4)-dT ICL prepared in this study were found to evade repair by hAGT, OGT and Ada-C. Electromobility shift assay (EMSA) results indicated that the absence of any repair by hAGT was not a result of binding. OGT was the only AGT to show activity in the repair of oligonucleotides containing the mono-adducts O(4)-butyl-4-ol-2'-deoxythymidine and O(4)-heptyl-7-ol-2'-deoxythymidine. Binding experiments conducted with hAGT demonstrated that the protein bound O(4)-alkylthymine lesions with similar affinities to O(6)-methylguanine, which hAGT repairs efficiently, suggesting the lack of O(4)-alkylthymine repair by hAGT is not a function of recognition.     

Regioselective Acylation of Ginsenosides by Novozyme 435 to Generate Molecular Diversity

Ginsenosides are major bioactive constituents of ginseng (Panax spp.; Araliaceae), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. In order to increase the molecular diversity and broaden the potential usage of ginsenosides, ginsenosides Rd ( 1 ), Rg3 ( 2 ), (20R)‐Rg3 ( 3 ), Rh2 ( 4 ), Re ( 5 ), Rh1 ( 8 ), Rg2 ( 9 ), gypenoside XVII ( 6 ), and pseudoginsenoside F11 ( 7 ) were regioselectively acylated with vinyl acetate, catalyzed by Novozyme 435 (lipase B from Candida antarctica), in organic solvents to afford different mono‐acetyl ginsenosides. Ginsenoside Rd ( 1 ) was also acylated with vinyl decanoate or vinyl cinnamate to generate 1b and 1c , respectively. Acylation of glucosylated ginsenosides ( 1 – 4, 6, 8 ) occurred at the primary 6‐OH function of the terminal glucose (Glc) moiety of the sugar at C(3) or C(20) of the dammarane‐type aglycone. In contrast, ginsenosides 5, 7 , and 9 , containing mixed sugar moieties, resulted in acylation of both the rhamnose (Rha) and the glucose (Glc) moieties. In the case of ginsenoside Re ( 5 ) and pseudoginsenoside F11 ( 7 ), acylation at the secondary 4‐OH function of the terminal Rha moiety, attached at C(3) of the aglycone, is preferred. The structures of all acylated products were determined by extensive MALDI‐TOF‐MS and NMR analyses.     

Synthesis,X-ray crystal structure and cation binding properties of a tetrahomodioxacalix[4]arene tetraester

Treatment ofp-t-butyltetrahomodioxacalix[4]arene with ethyl bromoacetate yields a tetraester derivative (4) whose crystal and molecular structure have been determined and whose ion binding properties have been assessed by phase transfer and stability constant measurements. Colorless transparent triclinic crystals (obtained from methoxyethanol) C₆₂H₈₄O₁₄,a = 10.347(2),b = 11.583(2),c = 13.448(3) Å, = 72.04(2), = 86.50(2)°, = 81.23(2)°, space group ,Z = 1, MoK radiation = 0.70930 Å. Refinement was carried out using 2221 reflections withI > 1.5(I). The complexation properties resemble those of calix[6]arene hexaester (6), although weaker, with a preference for the larger alkali cations. Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺; though not extracted, are more strongly complexed than alkali cations. Eu³⁺ is better complexed than Na⁺.Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82106 (22 pages) and at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, University Chemical Laboratory, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 9EW, U.K.     

Rapid determination of moisture/solids and fat in dairy products by microwave and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis

A peer-verified method is presented for the determination of percent moisture/solids and fat in dairy products by microwave drying and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The method involves determining the moisture/solids content of dairy samples by microwave drying and using the dried sample to determine the fat content by NMR analysis. Both the submitting and peer laboratories analyzed various dairy products by using a CEM SMART system (moisture) and the SMART Trac (fat). The samples included milks, creams, ice cream mix, sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, and mozzarella, Swiss, and cheddar cheeses. These samples represented a range of products that processors deal with in daily plant operations. The results were compared with moisture/solids and fat values derived from AOAC-approved methods.     

Characterization of the mycotoxin fumonisin B1: comparison of thermospray, fast-atom bombardment and electrospray mass spectrometry.

The utility of thermospray mass spectrometry (TSMS), fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS), and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) for the analysis of Fumonisin B1 is investigated. In addition, the analysis of two different standards of Fumonisin B1 as well as an inoculated corn culture extract that contained Fumonisin B1 is reported. The results of these efforts show that ESMS, as well as FABMS and a combination of FAB and tandem mass spectrometry (FABMS/MS), provide useful data for the characterization of Fumonisin B1. The detection limit was 50 pg for Fumonisin B1 when analyzed by full scan FABMS, and 5 pg when analyzed by single-reaction monitoring FABMS/MS.     

The importance of steric bulk and acidity in solvolysis. The mechanism of solvolysis of 1-adamantyl bromide

Product selectivities from solvolysis of 1-adamantyl bromide in several binary protic solvents are revealing about the relative importance of solvent acidity and bulk     

Spatially resolved gas phase composition measurements in supersonic flows using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy

We used a tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer to follow the condensation of D(2)O in a supersonic Laval nozzle. We measured both the concentration of the condensible vapor and the spectroscopic temperature as a function of position and compared the results to those inferred from static pressure measurements. Upstream and in the early stages of condensation, the quantitative agreement between the different experimental techniques is good. Far downstream, the spectroscopic results predict a lower gas phase concentration, a higher condensate mass fraction, and a higher temperature than the pressure measurements. The difference between the two measurement techniques is consistent with a slight compression of the boundary layers along the nozzle walls during condensation.