Resonance Rayleigh scattering determination of trace amounts of Al in natural waters and biological samples based on the formation of an Al(III)-morin-surfactant complex

A novel method for the determination of trace amounts of Al(III) based on resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) has been developed. In the presence of some surfactants, Al(III) can react with morin and form an Al(III)-morin-surfactant complex, which results in the enhancement of RRS intensity and the appearance of the corresponding RRS spectral characteristics. Their maximum scatter peaks are at 476 nm for the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) system, 489 nm for the cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) system, 474 nm for the Triton X-100 system, and 473 nm for the Tween-20 system. The enhanced RRS intensity is directly proportional to the concentration of Al(III). The detection limits are in the range of (0.50-1.2)×10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ depending on the surfactant. The characteristics of RRS spectra of the complexes, the optimum conditions of these reactions and the influencing factors have been investigated. The method has high selectivity, and was successfully applied to the determination of Al(III) in natural and biological samples. Furthermore, according to different complexation capacity of Al(III)-morin-CTAB system under two pH conditions, speciation analysis of Al(III) in natural waters was explored. The labile monomeric Al fraction (mainly inorganic Al, Al_i) is determined at acidic pH and the total monomeric Al fraction (Al_a) is determined at alkaline pH. The results are in agreement with those obtained by Driscoll’s 8-hydroxyquinoline extraction-ion exchange method.     

Ultrafast time-resolved study of photophysical processes involved in the photodeprotection of p-hydroxyphenacyl caged phototrigger compounds

A combined femtosecond Kerr gated time-resolved fluorescence (fs-KTRF) and picosecond Kerr gated time-resolved resonance Raman (ps-KTR(3)) study is reported for two p-hydroxyphenacyl (pHP) caged phototriggers, HPDP and HPA, in neat acetonitrile and water/acetonitrile (1:1 by volume) solvents. Fs-KTRF spectroscopy was employed to characterize the spectral properties and dynamics of the singlet excited states, and the ps-KTR(3) was used to monitor the formation and subsequent reaction of triplet state. These results provide important evidence for elucidation of the initial steps for the pHP deprotection mechanism. An improved fs-KTRF setup was developed to extend its detectable spectral range down to the 270 nm UV region while still covering the visible region up to 600 nm. This combined with the advantage of KTRF in directly monitoring the temporal evolution of the overall fluorescence profile enables the first time-resolved observation of dual fluorescence for pHP phototriggers upon 267 nm excitation. The two emitting components were assigned to originate from the (1)pipi (S(3)) and (1)npi (S(1)) states, respectively. This was based on the lifetime, the spectral location, and how these varied with the type of solvent. By correlating the dynamics of the singlet decay with the triplet formation, a direct (1)npi --> (3)pipi ISC mechanism was found for these compounds with the ISC rate estimated to be approximately 5 x 10(11) s(-)(1) in both solvent systems. These photophysical processes were found to be little affected by the kind of leaving group indicating the common local pHP chromophore is largely responsible for the fluorescence and relevant deactivation processes. The triplet lifetime was found to be approximately 420 and 2130 ps for HPDP and HPA, respectively, in the mixed solvent compared to 150 and 137 ns, respectively, in neat MeCN. The solvent and leaving group dependent quenching of the triplet is believed to be associated with the pHP deprotection photochemistry and indicates that the triplet is the reactive precursor for pHP photorelease reactions for the compounds examined in this study.     

Synthesis, resolution and racemisation studies of new tridentate ligands for asymmetric catalysis

A method for the high-yielding preparation of two tridentate, isoquinoline-derived ligands, involving successive Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, is described. The first ligand could be resolved via molecular complexation with N-benzylcinchonidinium chloride, while the second was resolved by chromatographic separation of its epimeric camphorsulfonates. The barrier to rotation about the central biaryl axis was evaluated via racemisation studies, and the absolute configuration assigned by X-ray crystallography.     

Energetic preferences for alpha,beta versus beta,gamma unsaturation

Density functional theory has been applied at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level to examine the energetics of alpha,beta- versus beta,gamma-unsaturation for some common organic functional groups. Specifically, the relative stabilities of allyl-X (H2C=CHCH2X) and 1-propenyl-X (H3CCH=CHX) isomers have been computed for X = methyl, vinyl, phenyl, formyl, acetyl, methoxy, methylthio, methylsulfinyl, methylsulfonyl, sulfamoyl, and methoxysulfonyl, and the results are compared to available experimental data. The intrinsic preference of 3 kcal/mol for the 1-propenyl isomer when X = CH3 is exceeded by 2-4 kcal/mol for first-row conjugating groups, but it is not met for the sulfur-containing groups. In particular, alpha,beta-unsaturation is favored by less than 1 kcal/mol for the sulfone and sulfonamide analogues, while it is preferred by 8 kcal/mol for the vinyl-substituted case. Detailed structural results and torsional energy profiles are also reported.     

Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of bisphosphine ligands bearing o-N,N-dimethylanilinyl substituents: a hint of catalytic olefin hydration

Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of the potentially hexadentate P,N-donor ligand family Ar2P-X-PAr2 (X = (CH2)2 [dmape], cyclic-C5H8 [dmapcp]; Ar = o-N,N-dimethylanilinyl) are described. In CH2Cl2, the dmape complexes exist as equilibrium mixtures of MCl2(P,P'-dmape) and [MCl(P,P',N-dmape)]Cl isomers (M = Pd, Pt), governed by deltaH(o) = -19 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1) and deltaS(o) = -100 +/- 30 J mol(-1) K(-1) for M = Pt, and deltaH(o) = -11 +/- 7 kJ mol(-1) and deltaS(o) = -60 +/- 20 J mol(-1) K(-1) for M = Pd. The water-soluble dmapcp complexes exist solely in the [MCl(P,P',N-dmapcp)]Cl form, but the free and coordinated anilinyl rings in these complexes are in slow diastereoselective exchange. X-ray crystal structures for MCl2(P,P'-dmape) (M = Pd, Pt), and the [PdCl(P,P',N-dmape)]+ and [PtCl(P,P',N-dmapcp)]+ cations, are presented. Some of the complexes show marginal activity in water for the catalyzed hydration of maleic to malic acid, giving about 6-7% conversion in 24 h at 100 degrees C and substrate:catalyst loadings of 100:1. Attempts to synthesize a PdCl(P,P',N-dmapm)+ species led instead to isolation of [Pd(mu-Cl)(P,P'-dmapm)]2[PF6]2 (dmapm = Ar2PCH2Ar2).     

Atomic force microscopy imaging of hair: correlations between surface potential and wetting at the nanometer scale

We report investigations of hair surface potential under wetting at the nanometric scale by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface potential imaging was used to characterize the electrostatic properties of the hair samples. We found that the surface potential noticeably increases along the edges of the cuticles. These results are correlated with wetting behavior of different liquids performed using AFM in noncontact mode.     

Studies on Phase Behavior of Alkyl Polyglucoside Based on Microemulsions with Modified Fishlike Phase Diagram

The three-phase behavior in the quaternary system of an alkyl (C8/10^- or C12/14^-)polyglucoside / 1-butanol / n-octane / water has been studied at 40℃ with the modified fishlike phase diagram, which is presented by us for the first time. The mass fraction of 1-butanol in the hydrophile-lipophile balanced interfacial layer, A^S, the coordinates of the start point B and the end point E of the phase diagram, and the solubilities of alkyl polyglucoside and 1-butanol in n-octane phase were calculated. The solubilization of the microemulsion was also discussed.     

Preparation of [5,6]- and [6,6]-oxahomofullerene derivatives and their interconversion by Lewis acid assisted reactions of fullerene mixed peroxides

[60]Fullerene mixed peroxides C60(O)(OOtBu)4 exhibit chemo- and regioselective reactions under mild conditions. The epoxy moiety is opened by ferric chloride to form vicinal hydroxy chloride C60Cl(OH)(OOtBu)4. BF3 is also effective in opening the epoxy moiety. The O-O bond of the fullerene mixed peroxide is cleaved by aluminum chloride to form both [5,6]- and [6,6]-fullerene hemiketals (oxohomo[60]fullerenes). A Hock-type rearrangement is proposed for the formation of the hemiketals, in which a fullerene C-C bond is cleaved. Lewis acids and/or visible light can initiate isomerization of the hemiketal isomers. Single-crystal X-ray analysis and theoretical calculations confirmed the results.     

高效液相色谱分离与质谱稳定同位素稀释法联合测定地质样品中钐及钕

本文报道了用高效液相色谱分离,制取高纯度的Sm及Nd。再与质谱稳定同位素稀释法联合测定几种岩石矿物中的Sm与Nd。     

Carbohydrate-binding module O-mannosylation alters binding selectivity to cellulose and lignin

Improved understanding of the effect of protein glycosylation is expected to provide the foundation for the design of protein glycoengineering strategies. In this study, we examine the impact of O-glycosylation on the binding selectivity of a model Family 1 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), which has been shown to be one of the primary sub-domains responsible for non-productive lignin binding in multi-modular cellulases. Specifically, we examine the relationship between glycan structure and the binding specificity of the CBM to cellulose and lignin substrates. We find that the glycosylation pattern of the CBM exhibits a strong influence on the binding affinity and the selectivity between both cellulose and lignin. In addition, the large set of binding data collected allows us to examine the relationship between binding affinity and the correlation in motion between pairs of glycosylation sites. Our results suggest that glycoforms displaying highly correlated motion in their glycosylation sites tend to bind cellulose with high affinity and lignin with low affinity. Taken together, this work helps lay the groundwork for future exploitation of glycoengineering as a tool to improve the performance of industrial enzymes.

Improved understanding of the effect of protein glycosylation is expected to provide the foundation for the design of protein glycoengineering strategies.

The cell walls of terrestrial plants primarily comprise the polysaccharides cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin, as well as the heterogeneous aromatic polymer, lignin. In nature, carbohydrates derived from plant polysaccharides provide a massive carbon and energy source for biomass-degrading fungi, bacteria, and archaea, which together are the primary organisms that recycle plant matter and are a critical component of the global carbon cycle. Across the various environments in which these microbes break down lignocellulose, a few known enzymatic and chemical systems have evolved to deconstruct polysaccharides to soluble sugars.^1–6 These natural systems are, in several cases, being evaluated for industrial use to produce sugars for further conversion into renewable biofuels and chemicals.From an industrial perspective, overcoming biomass recalcitrance to cost-effectively produce soluble intermediates, including sugars for further upgrading remains the main challenge in biomass conversion. Lignin, the evolution of which in planta provided a significant advantage for terrestrial plants to mitigate microbial attack, is now widely recognized as a primary cause of biomass recalcitrance.⁷ Chemical and/or biological processing scenarios of lignocellulose have been evaluated⁸ and several approaches have been scaled to industrial biorefineries to date. Many biomass conversion technologies overcome recalcitrance by partially or wholly removing lignin from biomass using thermochemical pretreatment or fractionation. This approach enables easier polysaccharide access for carbohydrate-active enzymes and/or microbes. There are however, several biomass deconstruction approaches that employ enzymes or microbes with whole, unpretreated biomass.^9,10 In most realistic biomass conversion scenarios wherein enzymes or microbes are used to depolymerize polysaccharides, native or residual lignin remains.^11,12 It is important to note that lignin can bind and sequester carbohydrate-active enzymes, which in turn can affect conversion performance.¹³Therefore, efforts aimed at improving cellulose binding selectivity relative to lignin have emerged as major thrusts in cellulase studies.^14–25 Multiple reports in the past a few years have made exciting new contributions to our collective understanding of how fungal glycoside hydrolases, which are among the most well-characterized cellulolytic enzymes given their importance to cellulosic biofuels production, bind to lignin from various pretreatments.^15,17 Taken together, these studies have demonstrated that the Family 1 carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) often found in fungal cellulases are the most relevant sub-domains for non-productive binding to lignin,^15,17,20,26 likely due to the hydrophobic face of these CBMs that is known to be also responsible for cellulose binding (Fig. 1).²⁷Open in a separate windowFig. 1Model of glycosylated CBM binding the surface of a cellulose crystal. Glycans are shown in green with oxygen atoms in red, tyrosines known to be critical to binding shown in purple, and disulfide bonds Cys8–Cys25 and Cys19–Cys35 in yellow.Furthermore, several studies have been published recently using protein engineering of Family 1 CBMs to improve CBM binding selectivity to cellulose with respect to lignin. Of particular note, Strobel et al. screened a large library of point mutations in both the Family 1 CBM and the linker connecting the catalytic domain (CD) and CBM.^21,22 These studies demonstrated that several mutations in the CBM and one in the linker led to improved cellulose binding selectivity compared to lignin. The emerging picture is that the CBM-cellulose interaction, which occurs mainly as a result of stacking between the flat, hydrophobic CBM face (which is decorated with aromatic residues) and the hydrophobic crystal face of cellulose I, is also likely the main driving force in the CBM-lignin interaction given the strong potential for aromatic–aromatic and hydrophobic interactions.Alongside amino acid changes, modification of O-glycosylation has recently emerged as a potential tool in engineering fungal CBMs, which Harrison et al. demonstrated to be O-glycosylated.^28–31 In particular, we have revealed that the O-mannosylation of a Family 1 CBM of Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I (TrCel7A) can lead to significant enhancements in the binding affinity towards bacterial microcrystalline cellulose (BMCC).^30,32,33 This observation, together with the fact that glycans have the potential to form both hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions with other molecules, led us to hypothesize that glycosylation may have a unique role in the binding selectivity of Family 1 CBMs to cellulose relative to lignin and as such, glycoengineering may be exploited to improve the industrial performance of these enzymes. To test this hypothesis, in the present study, we systematically probed the effects of glycosylation on CBM binding affinity for a variety of lignocellulose-derived cellulose and lignin substrates and investigated routes to computationally predict the binding properties of different glycosylated CBMs.