Deprotonation-substitution reactions of cyclic methylphenylphosphazenes: synthesis and structures of nongeminal P-ethyl,P-phenyl cyclotriphosphazenes

The deprotonation-substitution reactions of both the cis and trans isomers of nongeminally substituted [(Me)(Ph)P=N](3) were investigated. Treatment of the trans isomer, 1, with 3 equiv of n-BuLi followed by 3 equiv of MeI gave only nongeminal trans-[(Et)(Ph)P=N](3), 3, while the same reaction sequence on cis-[(Me)(Ph)P=N](3), 2, gave a mixture of nongeminal di- and trisubstitution products, cis-Et(2)MePh(3)P(3)N(3), 4, and cis-Et(3)Ph(3)P(3)N(3), 5. These trimers were separated by column chromatography. No changes in the stereochemistry of the rings occurred during these reactions. Compound 4 was also prepared using 2 equiv of the reactants and was then converted to 5 by treatment with a single equivalent of BuLi and MeI. Thermal analysis of the new cyclic trimers indicates that ring-opening polymerization does not occur and that sublimation occurs at ca. 300 degrees C. The structures of 4 and 5, obtained by X-ray diffraction, illustrate the basketlike shape of these molecules with an aromatic bowl formed by the phenyl rings on the top rim, while the structure of 3 clearly shows the trans orientation of the substituents. Crystal data for trans-Et(3)Ph(3)P(3)N(3), 3, at 20 degrees C are as follows: C(24)H(30)N(3)P(3) monoclinic, a = 14.273(2) A, b = 9.370(2) A, c = 19.600(3) A, beta = 107.16(1) degrees, P2(1/n), Z = 4. Crystal data for cis-Et(2)MePh(3)P(3)N(3), 4, at 20 degrees C are as follows: C(23)H(28)N(3)P(3), triclinic, a = 10.276(2) A, b = 10.699(2) A, c = 11.925(2) A, alpha = 72.07(2) degrees, beta = 73.79(1) degrees, gamma = 85.87(1) degrees, P1, Z = 2. Crystal data for cis-Et(3)Ph(3)P(3)N(3), 5, at 20 degrees C are as follows: C(24)H(30)N(3)P(3) monoclinic, a = 29.488(2) A, b = 9.8391(1) A, c = 21.172(2) A, beta = 126.30(1) degrees, C2/c, Z = 8.     

DNA binding and photocleavage in vitro by new dirhodium(II) dppz complexes: correlation to cytotoxicity and photocytotoxicity

Two new dirhodium(II) complexes possessing the intercalating dppz ligand (dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine), cis-[Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(2)(dppz)(eta(1)-O(2)CCH(3))(CH(3)OH)](+) (1) and cis-[Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(2)(dppz)(2)](2+) (2), were synthesized and characterized as potential agents for photochemotherapy. Various techniques show that 1 binds to DNA through intercalation, although some aggregation of the complex on the DNA surface is also present. In contrast, 2 does not intercalate between the DNA bases; however, strong hypochromic behavior is observed in the presence of DNA, which can be attributed to intermolecular pi-stacking of 2 enhanced by the polyanion. The apparent DNA binding constants determined using optical titrations are compared to those from dialysis experiments. Both complexes photocleave pUC18 plasmid in vitro under irradiation with visible light (lambda(irr) >or= 395 nm, 15 min), resulting in the nicked, circular form. Greater photocleavage is observed for 1 relative to 2, which may be due to the ability of 1 to intercalate between the DNA bases. The cytotoxicity toward human skin cells (Hs-27) measured as the concentration at which 50% cell death is recorded, LC(50), was found to be 135 +/- 8 microM for 2 in the dark (30 min), which is significantly lower than those of 1 (LC(50) = 27 +/- 2 microM) and Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4) (LC(50) = 15 +/- 2 microM). Irradiation of cell cultures containing 1 and Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4) with visible light (400-700 nm, 30 min) has little effect on their cytotoxicity, with LC(50) values of 21 +/- 3 and 13 +/- 2 microM, respectively. Interestingly, a 3.4-fold increase in the toxicity of 2 is observed when the cell cultures are irradiated (400-700 nm, 30 min), resulting in LC(50) = 39 +/- 1 microM. The greater toxicity of 1 compared to 2 in the dark may be related to the ability of the former compound to intercalate between the DNA bases. The lower cytotoxicity of 2, together with its significantly greater photocytotoxicity, makes this complex a potential agent for photodynamic therapy (PDT). These results suggest that intercalation or strong DNA binding may not be a desirable property of a potential PDT agent.     

Acoustical analysis and model-based sound synthesis of the kantele

The five-string Finnish kantele is a traditional folk music instrument that has unique structural features, resulting in a sound of bright and reverberant timbre. This article presents an analysis of the sound generation principles in the kantele, based on measurements and analytical formulation. The most characteristic features of the unique timbre are caused by the bridgeless string termination around a tuning pin at one end and the knotted termination around a supporting bar at the other end. These result in prominent second-order nonlinearity and strong beating of harmonics, respectively. A computational model of the instrument is also formulated and the algorithm is made efficient for real-time synthesis to simulate these features of the instrument timbre.     

Oligomers of a polyester network

Oligomers of glycerol and succinic acid have been prepared by three different methods and characterised by solution ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy at 125.8 MHz. The first series of five oligomers was prepared by reacting glycerol with succinic anhydride; only one acid function of each succinic acid residue formed an ester by this means. They were readily distinguished as the shifts of their glycerol residues were dispersed over 16 ppm, and their shifts provided a guide to the assignment of shifts in the more elaborate oligomers. The second set of oligomers was prepared by treating glycerol with a small quantity of succinic acid, ester links being promoted by means of the reagent dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCDI). When we used 2 mol of DCCDI/mol of acid in the presence of an excess of glycerol, no free acid functions remained, and a new set of oligomers was obtained. Furthermore, within this set the proportion of ring molecules was enhanced by repeating the reaction under much more dilute conditions. In this way the shifts of two ring oligomers were recognized in the spectrum. A different set of oligomers again was obtained when the esterification was performed with 1 mol of DCCDI/mol of succininic acid. After the first generation of oligomers had been identified in the mixtures produced by these three experiments, the reactions continued to produce larger oligomers with new fine structure features in the spectra. Glycerol trisuccinate was prepared in a pure form and heated in a vacuum to eliminate succinic acid groups and allow the formation of oligomers with two and three branch points. The structures successively produced by this reaction were readily recognized. In all we were able to recognize the formation of component structures in at least 17 different oligomers. The shifts of the carbons of the glycerol residues are sensitive to the substitution pattern at that residue, to whether the succinic acid residue to which they are linked has reacted a second time, and in some cases the methine shift is sensitive to how the succinic acid residue attached to a neighboring methylene carbon has reacted. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.