N.Br halogen bonding: one-dimensional infinite chains through the self-assembly of dibromotetrafluorobenzenes with dipyridyl derivatives

The N.Br halogen bonding drives the self-assembly of 1,4-dibromotetrafluorobenzene (1 a) and its 1,3 or 1,2 analogues (1 b,c, respectively) with dipyridyl derivatives 2 a,b. The isomeric supramolecular architectures 3 a-f are obtained as cocrystals that are stable in the air at room temperature. The solid-state features of these 1D infinite chains 3 have been fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray, Raman, and IR analyses. The occurrence of N.Br halogen bonding in solution has been detected with (19)F NMR spectroscopy. The N.Br halogen bonding is highly selective and directional and the geometry of the single strands of noncovalent copolymers 3 is programmed by the geometry of halogen-bonding donor and acceptor sites on the starting modules. The composition and topology of the instructed networks can be predicted with great accuracy. Experiments of competitive cocrystal formation established the strength of the N.Br interaction relative to other halogen bondings and the ability of different modules 1 to be involved in site-selective supramolecular syntheses.     

Study of conformational properties of a biologically active peptide of fibronectin by circular dichroism, NMR and molecular dynamics simulation

Circular dichroism (CD), and NMR spectra have been recorded and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed in water and water-trifluoroethanol (TFE) mixed solvent for a synthetic biologically active 13-amino-acid fragment of human fibronectin and two related peptides. The CD results are interpreted on the basis of statistical analyses of MD trajectories and of ensuing calculations of CD spectra based on Schellman's matrix method. It is observed that the peptide conformation is quite variable in water and loses its mobility with the addition of TFE. (1)H-NOE data were found to be consistent with the most abundant calculated conformation.     

Halide anions driven self-assembly of haloperfluoroarenes: Formation of one-dimensional non-covalent copolymers

The supramolecular organization in six solid assemblies involving iodo- and bromoperfluoroarene derivatives is described. Single crystal X-ray analyses show that the formation of the supramolecular architectures is controlled by I⁻?Br–Ar_F, I⁻?I–Ar_F, Br⁻?I–Ar_F, and Cl⁻?I–Ar_F halogen bondings thus proving the X⁻?X′–Ar_F supramolecular synthon, where X can be the same as or different from X′, is particularly robust. In five of the described architectures halide anions form two halogen bondings and form infinite chains wherein dihaloperfluoroarenes, which function as bidentate electron acceptors, and halide anions, which function as bidentate electron donors, alternate. This behaviour shows halide anions have a fair tendency to work as bidentate halogen bonding acceptors.     

Halogenation of the N-Terminus Tyrosine 10 Promotes Supramolecular Stabilization of the Amyloid-β Sequence 7–12

Here, we demonstrate that introduction of halogen atoms at the tyrosine 10 phenol ring of the DSGYEV sequence derived from the flexible amyloid-β N-terminus, promotes its self-assembly in the solid state. In particular, we report the crystal structures of two halogen-modified sequences, which we found to be stabilized in the solid state by halogen-mediated interactions. The structural study is corroborated by Non-Covalent Interaction (NCI) analysis. Our results prove that selective halogenation of an amino acid enhances the supramolecular organization of otherwise unstructured biologically-relevant sequences. This method may develop as a general strategy for stabilizing highly polymorphic peptide regions.     

Endocrine-disrupting pollutants properties affecting their bioactivity,remediation, and detection

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On the choice of the reference frame for beam section stiffness properties

This work discusses the choice of a reference frame for beam section stiffness properties. Established concepts as the center of elasticity, the center of stiffness and the center of compliance are discussed and contextualized. An interpretation of univocally defined generalized strain transformations is given in terms of minimization of appropriate norms of the stiffness and compliance matrices of the beam section that univocally define special reference points. Transformations of generalized strain perturbations that preserve the angular strain are sought. They are subsequently constrained to represent a change of reference point, and further restricted to lie in the plane of the section. Each transformation is univocally defined and given a clear mathematical and geometrical interpretation. It is recognized that transformations that decouple forces and linear strains from moments and angular strains cannot be described as a mere change of reference point.