Synthesis and Properties of First Bis(fluoreno)crownophanes

Alkylation of 2,7-dihydroxy-9H-fluoren-9-one with 2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethanol, 2-[2-(2-chloroethoxy)-ethoxy]ethanol, and 2-{2-[2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethanol in dimethylformamide in the presence of potassium carbonate gave 78–80% of the corresponding diols which were treated with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in a dioxanechloroform mixture in the presence of triethylamine at 0– 5°C (30 h). The resulting bis(p-toluene-sulfonates) were brought into condensation with 2,7-dihydroxy-9H-fluoren-9-one in a very dilute solution in dimethylformamide containing anhydrous potassium carbonate at 80–85°C. Appropriate treatment of the reaction mixture, followed by chromatographic purification afforded 53–27% of the first representatives of a new class of cyclophanes, bis(oxofluoreno)crownophanes. Raising the temperature to 95–105°C resulted in an appreciable decrease of the product yield. The yield of the target products did not increase on replacement of potassium carbonate by cesium carbonate.__________Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2005, pp. 144–149.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lyapunov, Kirichenko, Kulygina, Luk’yanenko.     

Prompt gamma activation analysis using a chopped neutron beam

A beam chopper has been developed at the cold neutron PGAA facility of the Budapest Research Reactor. In the open phase of the chopper the usual prompt gamma-spectrum is recorded, while in the decay phase short-lived decay lines can be collected with good counting statistics on an extremely low baseline. A series of elements has been measured with the chopped beam technique to assess the capabilities of the new technique. An archaeological sample was also examined, to demonstrate how spectral interferences can be resolved.     

A scaled quantum mechanical force field for the sulfuryl halides. I. The symmetric halides SO2X2 (X=F, Cl, Br)

Force fields and vibrational wavenumbers were calculated for the molecules SO2X2 (X=F, Cl, Br) using DFT techniques. The previously available experimental data and assignments for SO2F2 and SO2Cl2 were compared with the theoretical results and revised, and new low temperature infrared and Raman data were obtained for SO2Cl2. These data were subsequently used in the definition of scaled quantum mechanics force fields for such molecules. Adjusted wavenumbers were also predicted for the still unknown SO2Br2. A comparison is made with results published for the VO2X2- anions.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of the mononuclear zinc-beta-lactamase from Bacillus cereus complexed with benzylpenicillin and a quantum chemical study of the reaction mechanism

Herein, we present results from MD simulations of the Michaelis complex formed between the B. cereus zinc-beta-lactamase enzyme and benzylpenicillin. The structural and dynamical effects induced by substrate-binding, the specific role of the conserved residues, and the near attack conformers of the Michaelis complex are discussed. Quantum chemical methods (HF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G*) are also applied to study the hydrolysis reaction of N-methylazetidinone catalyzed by a monozinc system consisting of the side chains of the histidine residues (His86, His88, and His149) complexed with Zn-OH and the side chains of Asp90 and His210. From this model system, we built molecular-mechanics representations of the prereactive complex and transition state configurations docked into the active site. Linear-scaling semiempirical calculations coupled with a continuum solvent model were then performed on these static models. We propose that the experimental rate data for the B. cereus enzyme is compatible with a one-step mechanism for the hydrolysis of beta-lactam substrates in which His210 acts as a proton donor.     

Thermal properties of cyanatocopper(II) complexes with pyridine,bipyridine and phenanthroline

The thermal properties of cyanatocopper complexes with pyridine, bipyridine and phenanthroline are described in this paper. It was found that the thermal stabilities of the complexes were found to increase in the order pybipy2(NCS)₂ (L=pyridine and its methyl derivates) which are composed of the liberation of ligandsL and redox reactions of thiocyanate ligands with the central Cu(II) atom [1, 2]. The decomposition temperature of thiocyanate ligands depends on the properties of the ligandsL present in the coordination sphere. An analogous course of thermal decomposition was also observed for [Cu(bipy)₂(NCX)](NCX) (X=S or Se) [3]. For the phenanthroline complexes [Cu(phen)₂(NCX)₂] (X=S or Se) the thermal stability was found to increase significantly (by about 140C) and the decomposition stoichiometry was also changed [3].The present paper contains the results of thermoanalytical studies on bipyridine and phenanthroline cyanatocopper complexes, and a comparison of the thermal properties of pyridine cyanato and isothiocyanatocopper complexes.     

Enzyme catalysis in organic solvents: a promising field for optical biosensing

The ability of enzymes to work in non-aqueous media offers new and almost unexploited possibilities for the development of new optical biosensors. The advantages of performing biocatalytic reactions in non-aqueous media are discussed in relation to their possible application in optical biosensor design. Attention is focused on the factors that influence enzymatic catalysis in organic solvents, including the role of enzyme-associated water, criteria for solvent selection and the alteration of enzyme specificity. Recent examples of relevant applications and future prospects of organic-phase optical biosensing are discussed.     

Determination of dissolved manganese in natural waters by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry

A procedure based on differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry on the graphite electrode is described for the determination of dissolved manganese in natural waters buffered at pH about 6.5 with acetate solution. In order to avoid interference of iron(II) the addition of fluoride is used. The limit of detection is 3 g/l for a deposition time of 6 min. Acidification and UV-irradiation are recommended for samples containing dissolved organic matter. Results of manganese determination in table mineral waters are reported and the possibility of manganese speciation is discussed.     

DNase activity ofMicrococcal endonuclease insolubilized on corn cob

The endonuclease from S. aureus has been immobilized on ground maize cob, previously activated with tosyl chloride. Pretreatment of the support on acid before tosylation yielded the best insoluble enzyme derivatives. The catalytic activity has been evaluated as percent of total hydrolysis attained in a batch reactor using DNA as a model substrate. The derivatives prepared are very resistant to high temperatures under conditions of catalysis (24 h at 45 degrees C). For these long reaction times, the extent of hydrolysis in the presence of small amounts of organic solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide at 2 percent) is larger than in plain buffer (Tris). This type of derivative could be very useful for the removal of nucleic acids from single-cell protein concentrates.     

Extraction of the (C4H9)4N+Co(II)SCN− ion-pair in chloroform and in isoamyl alcohol: Spectrophotometric determination of cobalt

When excesses of ammonium thiocyanate and tetrabutylammonium chloride are added to a cobalt(II) solution, a water-insoluble ion-pair is formed; this compound is soluble in chloroform, isoamyl alcohol, and other solvents. The variables which affect the extractions by these two solvents are studied in order to obtain the optimal conditions and two alternative extraction procedures are proposed. Thus, the separation of cobalt as a previous step for its spectrophotometric determination is studied.     

Intramolecular hydrogen abstraction. Iodosobenzene diacetate,an efficient and convenient reagent for alkoxy radical generation

Photolysis of several hydroxy compounds in presence of iodosobenzene diacetate and iodine leads to alkoxy radical derivatives which undergo intramolecular hydrogen abstraction to produce cyclic ethers in good yield.