Simultaneous photoconjugation of methylene blue and cis-Rh(phen)2Cl2+ to DNA via a synergistic effect

Irradiation of the red-light absorbing dye, methylene blue (MB), in the presence of the metal complex, cis-Rh(phen)2Cl2+ (BISPHEN), leads to irreversible photobinding of both reagents to DNA. Evidence from absorption and emission spectroscopy indicates that the dye is strongly complexed to the DNA at the concentrations used in the experiments and that this complex is unaffected by the presence of BISPHEN. The level of covalent binding is proportional to the absorbed light dose, with the quantum efficiency for covalent binding of BISPHEN to the DNA with 633 nm light equal to 3.5 x 10(-4). Electrospray ionization mass spectrum of a mixture of DNA fragments created by enzymatic degradation of DNA isolated following irradiation indicates that purine adducts are formed with both BISPHEN and the dye. In addition, UV-Vis and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses of the irradiated MB/BISPHEN/DNA mixture and isolated adducts show extensive conversion of the dye and metal complex to the corresponding N-demethylated and aquated derivatives, respectively. Triplet quenchers for MB, for example oxygen and benzoquinone, inhibit both the photoconjugation and the photochemistry of BISPHEN. A mechanism for the synergistic interaction is proposed that involves photoconjugation of both partners to the DNA following oxidation and reduction via electron transfer between 1MB*/DNA and 3MB*/BISPHEN.     

REALISIS: a medicinal chemistry-oriented reagent selection, library design, and profiling platform

REALISIS is a software system for reagent selection, library design, and profiling, developed to fit the workflow of bench chemists and medicinal chemists. Designed to be portable, the software offers a comprehensive graphical user interface and rapid, integrated functionalities required for reagent retrieval and filtering, product enumeration, and library profiling. REALISIS is component-based, consisting of four main modules: reagent searching; reagent filtering; library enumeration; and library profiling. Each module allows the chemist to access specific functionalities and diverse filtering and profiling mechanisms. By implementing the entire process of reagent selection, library design, and profiling and by integrating all the necessary functionalities for this process, REALISIS cuts the time required to design combinatorial and noncombinatorial libraries from several days to a few hours.     

Model Reactions for Photosynthesis—Photoinduced Charge and Energy Transfer between Covalently Linked Porphyrin and Quinone Units

Photosynthesis is one of the fascinating fields of current interdisciplinary research. It seems miraculous that nature, in the process of evolution, has managed to bring about the process of photosynthesis. The first step involves a charge separation at the reaction centers, which proceeds with 100% quantum yield from the photoexcited singlet state of the bacteriochlorophyll donor, despite the fact that the wasteful deactivation of the electron into the ground state should be highly favored. Biomimetic model compounds (that is, those which resemble the pigments nature has developed) have been constructed from porphyrins and quinones. These model systems have allowed the study of the factors contributing to the highly efficient charge separation. This report focuses on recent developments in the study of electron transfer in porphyrinoquinones. Some of the results of these investigations may not be not fully understood and are often the subject of controversial discussions.     

Preparation and structure of fluorite-type (Sr,Y)Cl2.05

Anion excess colorless fluorite-type strontium-yttrium chloride has been prepared. Single crystals of the SrY compound exhibit a primitive cubic lattice with a = 6.967(1)Å. Two mutually exclusive structural models for solutions, neither of which is exact, are discussed. The first is a vacancy model in which the extra charge which results from substitution of Y³⁺ for Sr²⁺ is balanced by the simultaneous removal of a Sr²⁺Cl^? ion pair. This model requires individual ion sites to be partially occupied and nonequivalent and is strongly suggestive of vacancy ordering. Refinement in space group P1, with sites refined independenty, led to R = 0.1096. The second model describes the structure in terms of a Willis cluster of defects and includes both anion vacancies and interstitial anions. Full-matrix least squares refinement in space group Fm3m, with positions analogous to those in UO_2.12 and (Ca,Y)F_2.10, converged at R = 0.0633 for the 114 face-centered parent structure reflections whose |F|;² > σ(F²). This second model is discussed in relation to a probable true solution which involves longrange order.     

Z/E PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF UROCANIC ACID*

The E ? Z photoisomerization of the title compound (UA) (a naturally occurring sunscreen) has been studied in aqueous solution. At a UA concentration of 6mM and using 313nm excitation, φ_E→z= 0.52, φ_Z→E= 0.47 and the photostationary state is 34% E. Under these conditions, loss of UA is minimal. Low energy triplet quenchers fail to impede the isomerization, but the reaction can be induced by several triplet sensitizers. The E_T for UA is estimated to be approximately 55 kcal/mol.     

Reissert compound studies. Cyclization of N-(ω-chloroalkanoyl)reissert compounds

Treatment of 2-(4-chlorobutanoyl)- and 2-(5-chloropentanoyl)-1, 2-dihydroisoquinaldonitrile with sodium hydride gave rise to tricyclic benzoquinolizone and azepino[1,2-α]isoquinoline derivatives. A similar reaction was observed in the quinoline series. Several reactions of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-4-oxo-11bH-benzo[α]quinolizine-11b-carbonitrile are reported.     

The complex of a bivalent derivative of galanthamine with torpedo acetylcholinesterase displays drastic deformation of the active-site gorge: implications for structure-based drug design

Bifunctional derivatives of the alkaloid galanthamine, designed to interact with both the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its peripheral cation binding site, have been assayed with Torpedo californica AChE (TcAChE), and the three-dimensional structures of their complexes with the enzyme have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Differences were noted between the IC(50) values obtained for TcAChE and those for Electrophorus electricus AChE. These differences are ascribed to sequence differences in one or two residues lining the active-site gorge of the enzyme. The binding of one of the inhibitors disrupts the native conformation of one wall of the gorge, formed by the loop Trp279-Phe290. It is proposed that flexibility of this loop may permit the binding of inhibitors such as galanthamine, which are too bulky to penetrate the narrow neck of the gorge formed by Tyr121 and Phe330 as seen in the crystal structure.     

Long-range through-bond photoactivated sigma bond cleavage in steroids. Intramolecular sensitized debromination

[structure: see text] The photolysis of 17alpha-bromo-3alpha-(triphenylsilyloxy)-5alpha-androstane (2; 3alphaTPSO/17alphaBr) and 17alpha-bromo-3alpha-(triphenysilyloxy)-5-androstan-6-one (3; 3alphaTPSO/6ketone/17alphaBr) is described. Irradiation of 2 with 266 nm light leads to debromination via intramolecular transfer of triplet excitation energy with a quantum efficiency of 0.0011. Photolysis of 3 with both 266 and 308 nm light leads to debromination with quantum efficiencies of ca. 0.0066. The debromination of 3 is attributed to activation via the ketone excited singlet state, with singlet energy transfer from C6 to C17 ca. 35% efficient and occurring with a rate constant of 1.4 x 10(8) s(-1).     

Synthesis and characterization of crosslinked polydiacetylene and its two-component interpenetrating polymer networks

The synthesis of crosslinked polydiacetylenes and its two-component interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) was carried out utilizing its polar and flexible substituent groups. Polydiacetylenes were crosslinked by the formation of allophanate linkages utilizing urethane groups in the substituent groups of the polydiacetylenes. Elemental analysis, DSC, TMA, solvent resistance, and IR spectra are presented as evidence for the formation of crosslinked polydiacetylenes. IPNs of polydiacetylenes and an epoxy resin (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) were synthesized by using simultaneous and sequential methods of synthesis. A study of phase morphology of the simultaneous and sequential IPNs was carried out using electron microscopy, TMA, and DSC.     

A high resolution mass spectrometric measurement system for a vacuum fusion apparatus

A high resolution mass spectrometric read-out system for a vacuum fusion apparatus is described. Rapid analyses are possible and the rate at which various gases are evolved can be monitored. Gas mixture assays are accomplished by scanning the nominal mass 28 peak. Serial measurements of CO⁺, N₂⁺ and C₂H₄⁺ are made. Thus detection and measurement of evolved hydrocarbons are possible. The results for silver and tin from a conventional vacuum fusion apparatus and the mass spectrometer apparatus are compared.