Second‐harmonic response of a series of chiral polyesters: A joint experimental and theoretical study

A series of polyesters with π‐conjugated donor–acceptor segments was synthesized by the condensation of azobenzene‐4,4′‐dicarbonylchloride with 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐D‐sorbitol ([α] = + 42.5°) and biphenolic chromophores, bis(4‐hydroxyphenylazo)‐2,2′‐dinitrodiphenylmethane and bis(4‐hydroxyphenylazo)‐2,2′‐dinitrodiphenylsulfone. The polymers were characterized by spectral methods (IR, ultraviolet–visible, and NMR), thermal methods (thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry), wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, and polarimetry. The polymers containing isosorbide units were optically active and crystalline. They exhibited glass‐transition temperature values between 100 and 160 °C and were stable up to 400 °C. The second‐harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of the polymers was experimentally verified by a powder‐reflection technique with 2‐methyl‐4‐nitroaniline as a reference. The SHG efficiencies of the polymers were compared to those of the chromophores and explained as a function of the percentage of chiral composition. The hyperpolarizability β values were also determined by a two‐level model solvatochromic method and computational methods. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2868–2877, 2002     

Photoinitiation and electroinitiation in the polymerization of 2-vinylnaphthalene

The zinc chloride-catalyzed polymerization of 2-vinylnaphthalene (VN) with both photoinitiation and electronitiation methods was examined. Good yields were obtained with both methods, the electroinitiated process being somewhat faster. The mechanism for polymerization initiation was investigated through a detailed comparison of the kinetics. Both initiation methods show a similar response to increasing input energy and to change in salt to monomer mole ratio. Both methods indicate formation of a ZnCl₂–(2-VN)₂ complex as intermediate with the formation of the species being rate-determining. These results, together with other similar investigations, are then used to deduce a mechanism that involves the formation of an electronically excited donor–acceptor complex. It is argued that in certain salt-stabilized, electron-delocalized, aromatic systems, such excitation is possible in electroinitiation.     

Evidence for an unstable Bi(II) radical from Bi-O bond homolysis. Implications in the rate-determining step of the SOHIO process

The reaction of BiCl(3) with the lithium salt of o-di-tert-butylphenol under nitrogen forms organic oxidation products rather than the expected Bi(OAr)(3) complex, and bismuth disproportionation products. Likewise, the decomposition of Bi(III) aryloxides Bi(O-2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))(3) and ClBi(O-2,4,6-(t)Bu(3)C(6)H(2))(3) leads to corresponding organic oxidation products. These reactions can be explained by Bi-O bond homolysis to form unstable Bi(II) radicals, analogous to a fundamental step suggested to intervene in the SOHIO process.     

Development of an effective chiral auxiliary for hydroxyalkyl radicals

The development of an effective chiral auxiliary for hydroxyalkyl radicals is delineated. Both the 2-tetrahydropyranyl (THP) and tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl (GLU) auxiliaries resulted in diastereoselective radical additions to methyl acrylate at -78 degrees C (ds = 6/1 and 11/1, respectively). The developing stereochemistry at the radical center was completely under auxiliary control. Correlation experiments showed that the D-GLU auxiliary led to attack on the radical Si-face. The selectivity of these radical additions dropped-off considerably when the more reactive 2-nitropropene trap was employed. Computational studies suggested that the observed facial selectivity was due primarily to entropic factors in the transition state but that a smaller temperature-dependent enthalpic contribution was also involved. It was hypothesized that incorporation of a quaternary center at C-6 (THP numbering) would restore the facial selectivity with more reactive radical traps by restricting the orientations available to the incoming alkene. In the event, the trans-6-tert-butyltetrahydropyranyl (tBu-THP) auxiliary resulted in very good diastereoselection with 2-nitropropene (ds = 35/1 at -78 degrees C, 15/1 at 0 degrees C, and 8/1 at RT) as did the tri-O-benzyl-6,6-dimethyl-2-alpha-D-deoxyglucopyranosyl (diMe-GLU) auxiliary during additions to ethyl alpha-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate (ds = 10/1 at 0 degrees C). A protocol for recovery of the sugar-derived chiral auxiliaries was also established. This work sets the stage for the development of a novel approach to 1, 3, 5.(2n + 1) polyols based on iterative radical homologation as well as the application of these pyranosidic auxiliaries to other synthetically important reactions.     

BOVINE OCULAR SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: UV SENSITIVITY IN LYMPHOCYTES

Abstract— Increased sensitivity to UV light has been demonstrated in Phytohaemagglutinin stimulated lymphocytes from normal and tumour-bearing Hereford cattle when compared to lymphocytes from other breeds. Trypan blue exclusion and inhibition of DNA synthesis were used to determine cell viability. The results obtained from time course and radiation dose experiments demonstrate biphasic survival kinetics. This is indicative of at least two separate cell populations, exhibiting differentia! sensitivity to UV. The increased sensitivity to UV observed in Herefords may reflect a general sensitivity to UV or alternatively a different cellular constitution in the mitogen stimulated cultures. DNA repair synthesis, measured in the presence of hydroxyurea, was of similar levels in cell cultures from Herefords and one of the control breeds.     

On the nature of the fluorescent state of methylated indole derivatives

A quantitative study has been made of the solvent effects on the fluorescence properties of 1- and 3-methyl indole, with the aim of further understanding the origin of the unusually large Stokes shift in polar solvents. For the derivatives considered here the fluorescence transition probability is decreased in solvents of moderate and high polarities, and the spectrum shifts to the red. The data (in two-component, solute and solvent, systems) can be interpreted on the basis of the stabilisation, by solvent-solute relaxation, of a state with an increased charge-transfer character, relative to the initially excited state. Å consideration of the decay data for other indole derivatives suggests that this state has its origin in the ¹L₄ state (S₂ in non-polar media). Thus we conclude that the appropriate label of the fluorescent state of many substituted indoles in polar solvents is ¹L_a/CT. This is consistent with the observed solvent, temperature, time and substituent dependence of the decay kinetics of these derivatives.     

Effect of mixed organic solvents on atomic absorption spectrophotometry of refractory metals

The effect of various organic solvents on the absorption characteristics of vanadium was studied in fuel-rich oxy-acetylene and nitrous oxide-acetylene flames. The absorption of the 3183.9 Å line of vanadium was greatly enhanced by the use of various mixed organic solvents when fed to oxy-acetylene flames. In the case of the nitrous oxide-acetylene flame, the addition of diethylene glycol (about 8% in the final solution) and similar compounds to the aqueous solution of vanadium increased the absorption by about 50%. The observations and the possible role of the mixed organic solvents are discussed.     

Differential expression of the skeletal muscle proteome in mdx mice at different ages

The mdx mouse is the most commonly used animal model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a disease caused by the absence of dystrophin. Although much has been done to elucidate the structure and function of dystrophin and the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC), little is known about the cascade of molecular events triggered by the absence of dystrophin that lead to muscle degeneration. To study the molecular basis of DMD, we decided to systematically study the skeletal muscle proteome in mdx mice at different ages. By using two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis, we defined changes in the protein expression pattern between mdx and control muscles. Approximately 46 differentially expressed proteins from the cytosolic fraction of mdx hindlimb muscles at three months of age were detected by 2-D gel analysis, of which 24 were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization- mass spectrometry. Most of the proteins fell into five groups of functionally related proteins. These functional categories are (i) metabolism and energy production, (ii) serine protease inhibitor family, (iii) growth and differentiation, (iv) calcium homeostasis, and (v) cytoskeletal reorganization and biogenesis. The potential roles of the differentially expressed proteins are discussed in the context of the mdx phenotype. Finally, we analyzed alterations of protein expression in mdx mice at one and six months of age to determine how protein expression changes with disease progression.     

Probing the molecular-scale lipid bilayer response to shear flow using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics

A nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation of the response of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayers to a solvent shear flow is presented. Application of shear flow to planar, stationary DMPC bilayers results in a redistribution of the membrane density profile along the bilayer normal due to the alignment of the lipids in the direction of flow and an increase in average lipid chain length. An increase in the intermolecular and intramolecular order of the lipids in response to the shear flow is also observed. This study provides groundwork for understanding the mechanism of the full response of lipid bilayers to externally imposed solvent shear flows, beginning with the response in the absence of collective lipid motions such as undulations and bilayer flow.     

Infrared and Raman spectral interpretations of the ferroelectric phases of NaH3(SeO3)2 and NaD3(SeO3)2

The infrared and Raman spectra of NaH₃(SeO₃)₂ and NaD₃(SeO₃)₂ have been recorded from 24 to 300°K. The interpretation, assignments, and analysis of the spectral studies are presented on the paraelectric α phase (proton disordered), ferroelectric β phase (proton ordered) and ferroelectric γ phase (proton ordered). A discussion of a newly proposed proton-triggered phase transition mechanism and a possible origin of the hydrogen-bonded OH stretching region of KH₂PO₄-type ferroelectrics is given.