Physicochemical characterization of cholesterol-beta cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

Study and characterization of molecular complexes between cholesterol and beta cyclodextrin has been done using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹³C NMR). Whatever the value of the molar ratio cholesterol/βCD used during the preparation, the same compound is always obtained. Corresponding to a molar ratio 1/3 (cholesterol/βCD), this compound is a stable hydrate which, contrary toβCD, contains at room temperature a large amount of molecules of water. It can be dehydrated under low pressure but the thermal degradation occurs at 200°C (250°C forβCD). This implies that cholesterol is strongly bounded toβCD.     

The phase diagram of the AgNO3−KNO3 system determined by differential scanning calorimetry

The phase diagram for the AgNO₃?KNO₃ system has been determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Eutectic point has been found at 391 K andX _Ag=0.580 mole fraction AgNO₃. The DSC curves indicate the existence of an intermermediate compound (AgNO₃·KNO₃) in the KNO₃-rich region of the phase diagram. This compound was identified in the solid phase by X-ray diffraction. The melting and the crystallization processes were followed with the aid of a hot stage microscope, too.     

Shape-tunable polymer nodules grown from liposomes via ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A new inisurf (acting as surfactant and initiator) molecule for ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) was synthesized and used in aqueous solution in order to control the size and shape of polymer nodules grown from liposomes. Nodules were observed to grow in size with conversion of monomer, and depending on the monomer used, they adopted either a spherical or comet-like shape. Here, we investigate polymer production from a liposome surface. We use a hydrophobic derivative of the Grubbs catalyst positioned at the liposome surface to allow for ROMP of monomers dissolved in the aqueous outer phase. We obtain nodules of polymer that can grow up to tens of micrometers, unveiling new efficient possibilities of polymerization from a membrane in an aqueous solution.     

Measurements of Temperatures and Electron Number Density in an Argon–Nitrogen Plasma Jet Generated by a dc Torch-Operation Close to Supersonic Threshold

An investigation of the plasma jet generated by a dc argon–nitrogen plasma torch, operated in association with a controlled-pressure chamber, is presented. The purpose of this article is to describe a study of the properties of a subsonic plasma jet under such operating conditions, when its transition to supersonic flow regime is nearly complete. The goal is that of performing plasma diagnostics not only in the initial region of the jet but also in the downstream region where the plasma emission is weak. For this purpose two different diagnostic methods are used. The first approach is based on non-intrusive optical emission spectroscopy, which yields both excitation and rotational temperatures as well as electron number density fields. The zone investigated by this method extends from the torch exit to about 10 nozzle diameters downstream. The second approach consisted of the use of the intrusive enthalpy probe technique for the measurement of the plasma gas temperature, mainly in the tail region of the plasma jet. In the present work, the effects of axial and radial distances across the jet, on the temperature and electron density profiles are discussed for subsonic flow conditions. Interesting features revealed are the data shown for the various diagnostic methods, which either disagree or overlap with each other. Finally, our results show the need for involving non-equilibrium models for the argon–nitrogen plasma due to the presence of significant differences between the temperatures of light and heavy particles.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of the antituberculosis marine sponge metabolite (+)-puupehenone. The arenol oxidative activation route

[formula: see text] The total synthesis of the marine sesquiterpene quinone (+)-puupehenone, a promising new antituberculosis agent, was achieved in 10 steps starting from commercially available (+)-sclareolide. The key feature of this synthesis is the construction of the heterocycle via an intramolecular attack of the terpenoid-derived C-8 oxygen function onto an oxidatively activated 1,2-dihydroxyphenyl unit.     

On the nature of the transition state in catechol O-methyltransferase. A complementary study based on molecular dynamics and potential energy surface explorations

The way in which enzymes influence the rate of chemical processes is still a question of debate. The protein promotes the catalysis of biochemical processes by lowering the free energy barrier in comparison with the reference uncatalyzed reaction in solution. In this article we are reporting static and dynamic aspects of the enzyme catalysis in a bimolecular reaction, namely a methyl transfer from S-adenosylmethionine to the hydroxylate oxygen of a substituted catechol catalyzed by catechol O-methyltransferase. From QM/MM optimizations, we will first analyze the participation of the environment on the transition vector. The study of molecular dynamics trajectories will allow us to estimate the transmission coefficient from a previously localized transition state as the maximum in the potential of mean force profile. The analysis of the reactive and nonreactive trajectories in the enzyme environment and in solution will also allow studying the geometrical and electronic changes, with special attention to the chemical system movements and the coupling with the environment. The main result, coming from both analyses, is the approximation of the magnesium cation to the nucleophilic and the hydroxyl group of the catecholate as a result of a general movement of the protein, stabilizing in this way the transition state. Consequently, the free energy barrier of the enzyme reaction is dramatically decreased with respect to the reaction in solution.     

Giant vesicles formed by gentle hydration and electroformation: a comparison by fluorescence microscopy

Giant unilamellar vesicles (diameter of a few tens of micrometers) are commonly produced by hydration of a dried lipidic film. After addition of the aqueous solution, two major protocols are used: (i) the gentle hydration method where the vesicles spontaneously form and (ii) the electroformation method where an ac electric field is applied. Electroformation is known to improve the rate of unilamellarity of the vesicles though it imposes more restricting conditions for the lipidic composition of the vesicles. Here we further characterize these methods by using fluorescence microscopy. It enables not only a sensitive detection of the defects but also an evaluation of the quantity of lipids in these defects. A classification of the defects is proposed and statistics of their relative importance in regard to both methods and lipid composition are presented: it shows for example that 80% of the vesicles obtained by electroformation from 98% 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine are devoid of significant defects against only 40% of the vesicles with the gentle hydration method. It is also shown that the presence of too many negatively charged lipids does not favor the formation of unilamellar vesicles with both methods. For the gentle hydration, we checked if the negatively charged lipids were inserted in the vesicles membrane in the same proportion as that of the lipid mixture from which they are formed. The constant incorporation of a negatively charged labeled lipid despite an increasing presence of negatively charged 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-l-serine] tends to confirm that the composition of vesicles is indeed close to that of the initial mixture.     

Electron diffraction studies of the molecular structures of iron(II) chloride and iron(II) bromide. Evidence on the structure of dimeric species Fe2Br4

An expression for the extreme values of mean-square amplitudes of vibrations in polyatomic molecules has been derived which permits estimation of the mean-square amplitude without solving the vibrational problem. This expression can be improved for the stretching and scissoring modes when the assignment of frequencies is known. In turn, the corresponding vibrational frequency may be estimated from the experimental value of the mean-square amplitude. The mean-square amplitudes of the butadiene-1,3 molecule are considered as an example.     

Réactions des céténes et du dicéténe avec les germyl- et silylphosphines

Ketenes add to germyl- and silylphosphines R₃MPEt₂ with opening of the carbonyl group and formation of phosphorylated alkenoxygermanes or -silanes

(R′H, Ph). These adducts are thermally stable and only the addition derivative of diphenylketene and Me₃SiPEt₂ exhibits metallotropic isomerization to a C-derivative after prolonged heating. Hydrolysis of these addition compounds is a new approach to the acylphosphines R₂CH-CO-PEt₂. Diketene also reacts with germyl- and silylphosphines with acyloxygen bond cleavage and formation of metallated and phosphorylated ketoenolates of the type

. These derivatives isomerize either partially (MSi) or completely (MGe) into R₃MOC(CH₃)CHCOPEt₂. Their hydrolysis constitutes a new method of synthesis of the phosphorylated β-diketone

. The ketoenolates from the addition reaction of the hydrosilylphosphine, Me₂Si(H)PEt₂, cyclize readily after partial isomerization by the intramolecular addition SiH to CO, to give phosphorylated siladioxane and siladioxene. The conformation of these heterocyclic compounds has been studied.