Heat capacity of methacetin in a temperature range of 6 to 300 K

Heat capacity of methacetin (N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-acetamide) has been measured in the temperature range 5.8–300 K. No anomalies in the C _p(T) dependence were observed. Thermodynamic functions were calculated. At 298.15 K, the values of entropy and enthalpy are equal to 243.1 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and 36360 J mol⁻¹, respectively. The heat capacity of methacetin in the temperature range 6–10 K is well fitted by Debye equation C _p = AT ³. The thermodynamic data obtained for methacetin are compared with those for the monoclinic and orthorhombic polymorphs of paracetamol.     

The Crystal Structure of Disodium Phosphonate,Na2HPO3

Anhydrous disodium phosphonate, Na₂HPO₃, was prepared by dehydration of its pentahydrate. The crystal structure of Na₂HPO₃ was solved from high resolution X‐ray powder diffraction data (P2₁/n; Z = 4; a = 9.6987(1), b = 6.9795(1), c = 5.0561(1) Å, β = 92.37(1)°; V = 341.97(1) ų). The crystal structure consists of two types of sodium‐oxygen polyhedra, which are connected via common edges and vertices forming layers perpendicular to [100]. These Na(1)‐ and Na(2)‐layers are interlinked via common edges, forming in a 3D‐framework. The resulting topology is providing oxygen arrangements that please the coordinative requirement of phosphorus(III).     

A neurosteroid analogue photolabeling reagent labels the colchicine-binding site on tubulin: a mass spectrometric analysis

Previous studies have shown that the neurosteroid analogue, 6-Azi-pregnanolone (6-AziP), photolabels voltage-dependent anion channels and proteins of approximately 55 kDa in rat brain membranes. The present study used two-dimensional electrophoresis and nanoelectrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry (nano-ESI-MS) to identify the 55 kDa proteins (isoelectric point 4.8) as isoforms of β-tubulin. This identification was confirmed by immunoblot and immunoprecipitation of photolabeled protein with anti-β-tubulin antibody and by the demonstration that 6-AziP photolabels purified bovine brain tubulin in a concentration-dependent pattern. To identify the photolabeling sites, purified bovine brain tubulin was photolabeled with 6-AziP, digested with trypsin, and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS (MALDI). A 6-AziP adduct of TAVCDIPPR(m/z?= 1287.77), a β-tubulin specific peptide, was detected by MALDI. High-resolution liquid chromatography-MS/MS analysis identified that 6-AziP was covalently bound to cysteine 354 (Cys-354), previously identified as a colchicine-binding site. 6-AziP photolabeling was inhibited by 2-methoxyestradiol, an endogenous derivative of estradiol thought to bind to the colchicine site. Structural modeling predicted that neurosteroids could dock in this colchicine site at the interface between α- and β-tubulin with the photolabeling group of 6-AziP positioned proximate to Cys-354.     

Dimerization mechanism of bis(triphenylphosphine)copper(I) tetrahydroborate: proton transfer via a dihydrogen bond

The mechanism of transition-metal tetrahydroborate dimerization was established for the first time on the example of (Ph(3)P)(2)Cu(η(2)-BH(4)) interaction with different proton donors [MeOH, CH(2)FCH(2)OH, CF(3)CH(2)OH, (CF(3))(2)CHOH, (CF(3))(3)CHOH, p-NO(2)C(6)H(4)OH, p-NO(2)C(6)H(4)N═NC(6)H(4)OH, p-NO(2)C(6)H(4)NH(2)] using the combination of experimental (IR, 190-300 K) and quantum-chemical (DFT/M06) methods. The formation of dihydrogen-bonded complexes as the first reaction step was established experimentally. Their structural, electronic, energetic, and spectroscopic features were thoroughly analyzed by means of quantum-chemical calculations. Bifurcate complexes involving both bridging and terminal hydride hydrogen atoms become thermodynamically preferred for strong proton donors. Their formation was found to be a prerequisite for the subsequent proton transfer and dimerization to occur. Reaction kinetics was studied at variable temperature, showing that proton transfer is the rate-determining step. This result is in agreement with the computed potential energy profile of (Ph(3)P)(2)Cu(η(2)-BH(4)) dimerization, yielding [{(Ph(3)P)(2)Cu}(2)(μ,η(4)-BH(4))](+).     

Synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of 4H-pyran-4-ylidene donor-based chromophores: the relevance of the location of a thiophene ring in the spacer

A series of new 4H-pyran-4-ylidene donor-based chromophores with a thiophene ring in the spacer has been synthesized. The linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of these compounds have been determined and compared with the results of computational calculations. The position of the thiophene ring proved essential to optimize the figure of merit μβ, with the best results obtained when the heterocyclic system was closer to the donor moiety.     

MALDI TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry as a new tool for amino acid analysis

This is the first report of an application of collisionally induced fragmentation of amino acids (AA) and their derivatives by MALDI TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry (MS). In this work, we collected the data on high-energy fragmentation reactions of a large group of protonated amino acids and their derivatives with the goal of determining which product ions are analyte specific and if yields of these fragment could be used for quantitative analysis. From 34 different amino acids (20 alpha-amino acids, beta-amino acids, homocysteine, GABA, and modified AA Met sulfone and sulfoxide, hydroxyproline, etc.) we observed that high yields of the target specific immonium ions and fragmentation patterns are most similar to EI or FAB CID on sector instruments. The major exceptions were two highly basic amino acids, Arg and Orn. It is noted that neither beta-, gamma-, nor delta-amino acids produce immonium ions. As might be predicted from high-energy CID work on peptides from the sectors and TOF/TOF, the presence of specific indicator ions in MALDI tandem MS allows distinguishing isomeric and isobaric amino acids. These indicator ions, in combination with careful control of data acquisition, ensure quantitative analysis of amino acids. We believe our data provide strong basis for the application of MALDI TOF/TOF MS/MS in qualitative and quantitative analysis of amino and organic acids, including application in clinical medicine.     

Pentafluorophenyl imidato palladium(II) complexes: catalysts for Suzuki cross-coupling reactions

Novel N-bonded imidato complexes of general formula [Pd(N-N)(C6F5)(imidate)](imidate = maleimidate, succinimidate or phthalimidate; N-N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bipy) or N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda)), [NBu4][Pd(C6F5)(H2O)(succinimidate)2] and [NBu4][Pd(C6F5)(L)(succinimidate)2](L = PPh3 or t-BuNC) have been synthesised. These complexes are air-, light- and moisture-stable. The crystal structures of [Pd(tmeda)(C6F5)(maleimidate)].H2O.0.5CHCl3, [NBu4][Pd(C6F5)(H2O)(succinimidate)2].H2O and [NBu4][Pd(C6F5)(t-BuNC)(succinimidate)2].2H2O have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Many of these new complexes are shown to be active phosphine-free palladium catalysts/precatalysts for the Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides and aryl chlorides with phenylboronic acid.     

Reactions of 4-substituted 5H-1,2,3-dithiazoles with primary and secondary amines: fast and convenient synthesis of 1,2,5-thiadiazoles, 2-iminothioacetamides and 2-oxoacetamides

The treatment of 5H-1,2,3-dithiazole-5-thiones 1 in chloroform under reflux and 5H-1,2,3-dithiazol-5-ones 2 in THF at room temperature with primary aliphatic amines and benzylamine afforded 1,2,5-thiadiazole-3(2H)-thiones 3 and 1,2,5-thiadiazol-3(2H)-ones 6, respectively. The structure of dithiazolone 3f was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The reaction of dithiazolone 2e bearing an electron-donating methyl group in the 4-position gave 2-oxoacetamide 7e in high yield. The reaction of thiones 1 with secondary aliphatic amines in DMSO yielded 2-iminothioacetamides 8 in moderate yields together with elemental sulfur. Interestingly, the treatment of dithiazolones 2 with secondary amines under the same conditions afforded 2-oxoacetamides 9—the products of the hydrolysis of corresponding imino derivatives 10, which was isolated as 10b. A general mechanism was proposed for the formation of the products.     

Towards a receptor-free immobilization and SERS detection of urinary tract infections causative pathogens

Based on molecular-specific surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy we were able to discriminate between rough and smooth strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis bacteria. For this purpose, bacteria have been immobilized through electrostatic forces by inducing a positive charge on the glass slide. This way, SERS spectra on bacterial biomass and also on single bacteria could be recorded in less than 2 h, by using concentrated silver nanoparticles as SERS-active substrate. Single-bacterium SERS spectral fingerprints showed to be sensitive to the presence of the O-antigen at strain level and to the microorganisms growth phase. By using principal component analysis (PCA) on the SERS spectra recorded from E. coli and P. mirabilis, these two uropathogens could be fairly discriminated.