Parallelism in computational chemistry

Summary An account is given of experience gained in implementing computational chemistry application software, including quantum chemistry and macromolecular refinement codes, on distributed memory parallel processors. In quantum chemistry we consider the coarse-grained implementation of Gaussian integral and derivative integral evaluation, the direct-SCF computation of an uncorrelated wavefunction, the 4-index transformation of two-electron integrals and the direct-CI calculation of correlated wavefunctions. In the refinement of macromolecular conformations, we describe domain decomposition techniques used in implementing general purpose molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics and free energy perturbation calculations. Attention is focused on performance figures obtained on the Intel iPSC/2 and iPSC/860 hypercubes, which are compared with those obtained on a Cray Y-MP/464 and Convex C-220 minisupercomputer. From this data we deduce the cost effectiveness of parallel processors in the field of computational chemistry.     

Scalable Hybrid Synthetic/Biocatalytic Route to Psilocybin

Psilocybin, the principal indole alkaloid of Psilocybe mushrooms, is currently undergoing clinical trials as a medication against treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder. The psilocybin supply for pharmaceutical purposes is met by synthetic chemistry. We replaced the problematic phosphorylation step during synthesis with the mushroom kinase PsiK. This enzyme was biochemically characterized and used to produce one gram of psilocybin from psilocin within 20 minutes. We also describe a pilot-scale protocol for recombinant PsiK that yielded 150 mg enzyme in active and soluble form. Our work consolidates the simplicity of tryptamine chemistry with the specificity and selectivity of enzymatic catalysis and helps provide access to an important drug at potentially reasonable cost.     

A new method of assessing the efficiency of second harmonic generation by small samples of organic crystals

The intensity of optical second harmonic generation was measured from pressed KCl disks containing low concentrations (1%) of non-linear optical (NLO) materials. Comparison of the signals at 532 nm, with the known second order NLO coefficients exhibited a monotonic relationship. An estimate was made of the effect of light scattering at 532 nm, on the results.     

Surface analysis in electrochemical studies

Surface analysis methods are becoming increasingly important in the understanding of electrochemical systems. They provide complimentary information to that provided by electrochemical studies.     

Observation of quantum coherence in mesoscopic molecular magnets

By applying a transverse magnetic field B( perpendicular) of sufficient strength to the uniaxial molecular magnets Fe8 and Mn12, the tunneling splitting Delta(t) of their S = +/-10 magnetic ground states can be made large compared to perturbations such as hyperfine and dipolar interactions. We present evidence for such a Delta(t) from magnetic specific heat data below 1 K that is consistent with coherent quantum mechanical tunneling in a "mesoscopic" system under such conditions.     

The phototoxicity of photodynamic therapy may be suppressed or enhanced by modulation of the cutaneous vasculature

In photodynamic therapy, the threshold for light induced toxicity depends on the drug concentration and the light dose. This study was aimed to show for vascular photosensitizers that the toxicity threshold on normal tissue may be predictably modified by modulation of the cutaneous vasculature. Albino rabbits were injected with 1.0 mg/kg of a vascular photosensitizer, benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring-A. The threshold light dose for toxicity to normal skin was determined at an absorption maximum of the drug (694 nm), 1 h after drug injection. The cutaneous vasculature was dilated by prior skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation or was constricted by iontophoretic application of epinephrine. Threshold toxicity was determined clinically and by assessing the effective concentration of hemoglobin in the skin by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Tissue samples that received threshold doses were investigated with light and electron microscopy. The toxicity threshold increased by 3.2+/-0.9 (mean+/-S.D.) following vasoconstriction and decreased by 3.6+/-0.8 following vasodilation, compared to control sites. Light and electron microscopy showed similar findings at threshold for both vasodilated and vasoconstricted sites. Therefore vascular modulation may be used to predictably enhance or suppress the level of phototoxicity of normal skin.     

Comparison of embedded cluster models to study zeolite catalysis: Proton transfer reactions in acidic chabazite

A number of cluster models used to study the interaction of NH₃ and NH⁻₄ with the Bronsted sites of the acidic zeolite, chabazite, are assessed by comparison with the results from full periodic Hartree-Fock calculations. Corrections to bare cluster models to take account of the electrostatic environment due to the periodic zeolite are found to agree well with periodic calculations, and appear to be more successful than a more sophisticated embedding procedure. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

不同岩蔷薇浸膏挥发性致香成分的SED-GC-MS分析研究

岩蔷薇(cistusladaniferusL.)又名赖百当(labdanum),属半日花科。利用其树脂分泌物及枝叶,通过蒸馏、浸提和萃取等方法,可制得岩蔷薇精油、浸膏、净油、油树脂等各种香原料品种。岩蔷薇的香原料制品是膏香类的极重要品种,主要应用于日化和食品行业,在烟草行业也多有应用。因香料烟香味的主要来源是类赖百当化合物的降解,故被归为烟草的五大类香味物质之一:赖百当类、双萜烯及其降解产物类。这类物质在香料烟中的含量较高,对形成香料烟的特殊香味风格具有重要意义,且在烟草中赖百当仅存在于香料烟中,烤烟、自肋烟中均不存在。赖百当类化合物是香料烟中特有的香气物质,主要成分是冷杉醇、赖百当烯二醇,经调制和醇化转化为多种降赖百当类化合物,其中降龙涎香醚、龙涎香内酯、脱氢龙涎香内酯等都具有强烈的龙涎香香气,对增进卷烟香气和吃味有很好作用。     

Cephalexin: a channel hydrate

The antibiotic cephalexin [systematic name: d ‐7‐(2‐amino‐2‐phenyl­acet­amido)‐3‐methyl‐8‐oxo‐5‐thia‐1‐aza­bi­cyclo­[4.2.0]oct‐2‐ene‐2‐carboxyl­ic acid] forms a range of isomorphic solvates, with the maximum hydration state of two water mol­ecules formed only at high relative humidities. The water content of the structure reported here (C₁₆H₁₇N₃O₄S·1.9H₂O) falls just short of this configuration, having three independent cephalexin mol­ecules, one of which is disordered, and 5.72 observed water mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The facile nature of the cephalexin solvation/desolvation process is found to be facilitated by a complex channel structure, which allows free movement of solvent in the crystallographic a and b directions.