Binding of gaseous Fe(III)-heme cation to model biological molecules: Direct association and ligand transfer reactions

The binding of a variety of ligands with Fe(III)-heme(+) ion, prosthetic group of heme proteins, has been studied in the gas phase by ESI-FT-ICR mass spectrometry. The ligands have been selected among substrate molecules of heme proteins (e.g., NO, nitroso compounds) or among model compounds acting for the functional groups that are present in the protein backbone (e.g., amines, thioethers, nitriles, ketones, amides, etc.). Both the kinetic and the thermodynamic features of the addition reactions are reported. Fe(III)-heme(+) ions react faster with lone pair donor ligands as the reaction becomes increasingly thermodynamically favored (higher heme cation basicity of the ligand, HCB, namely -DeltaG degrees for the ligand addition reaction). In turn HCBs correlate in general with the gas phase basicity toward the proton of the various ligands. A ligand addition equilibrium is established with weaker ligands, methanol, acetonitrile and acetone, yielding absolute HCB values, whereas ligand transfer equilibriums allowed a scale of relative (and absolute) HCBs to be constructed. NO displays exceptional binding properties towards Fe(III)-heme(+), unrelated to the low gas phase basicity toward the proton of this molecule, which is clearly the basis for the paramount role of heme proteins in NO binding and regulation.     

Laser induced double-resonance ionic fluorescence in an inductively coupled plasma

Two pulsed dye lasers pumped by an excimer laser are simultaneously directed into the analytical zone of an inductively coupled argon plasma. When the two beams are tuned to the appropriate ionic transitions, highly excited ionic levels can be efficiently populated in saturated conditions, the resulting fluorescence being then spectrally isolated with a monochromator and measured. A theoretical outline of this technique, variously called double-resonance fluorescence or two-step fluorescence, is given. The experimental results obtained with the alkaline-earth metals Ca, Sr, Ba and Mg show that the technique does provide excellent sensitivity, freedom from scattering problems and unprecedented spectral selectivity. The laser characteristics, the time overlap between the pulses and the spectral characteristics of the transitions used are discussed. Finally, ionic fluorescence in the plasma is the most suitable analytical application of such double-resonance technique since its use in flame atomic fluorescence suffers from the strong depletion of the excited levels due to collisionally assisted ionization.     

Cyclodextrin-based Nanosponges for Drug Delivery

Nanosponges were prepared from β-cyclodextrins as nanoporous materials for possible use as carriers for drug delivery. The structure of β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges was principally investigated by FT-IR, DSC and RX analyses. Sizes, morphology and toxicity were also examined. The capacity of the nanosponges to incorporate molecules within their structure was evaluated using drugs with different structures and solubilities. The nanosponges were found capable of carrying both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs and of improving the solubility of poorly water-soluble molecules.     

A reusable, insoluble polymer-bound bis(oxazoline) (IPB-box) for highly enantioselective heterogeneous cyclopropanation reactions

A reusable, insoluble polystyrene-supported bis(oxazoline) was developed, affording e.e.s > 90% in the heterogeneous enantioselective cyclopropanation of styrene and 1,1-disubstituted alkenes with ethyl diazoacetate.     

Valence bond treatment of systems involving orbital degeneracy

A semiempirical valence-bond treatment including polar structures has been developed. Explicit formulas are given for the calculation of energy matrix elements and of charge and spin densities. The method has been applied to benzyl and allyl radicals and to butadiene.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde ein semiempirisches Valence-Bond-Verfahren einschlie\lich Polar-Strukturen ent-wickelt. Explizite Formeln werden für die Berechnung von Energiematrixelementen und für die Ladungs- und Spin-Dichte angegeben. Die Methode wurde auf das Benzyl- und das Allyl-Radikal und auf Butadien angewendet.

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Résumé On a dévelopé un traitment semi-empirique de la méthode des orbitals de valence avec inclusion des structures polaires. On donne des formules explicitées pour le calcul des éléments matriciels de l'énergie et des densités de charge et de spin. On a appliqué la méthode aux radicaux benzylique et allylique et à la molecule du butadiène.

     

Ion chromatographic determination of sulfide and cyanide in real matrices by using pulsed amperometric detection on a silver electrode

The determination of free sulfide and cyanide by pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) at a silver-working electrode was improved through a deep de-oxygenation (at least 10 min) of both standard and real solutions containing the two analytes and adopting a two-potential waveform able to eliminate Ag working electrode fouling. The waveform stepped around the oxidation of Ag in the presence of 0.1-0.4 M hydroxyl ion, from -0.1 to 0.1 V versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE). The eluent composition (0.4 M NaOH plus 7.5 mM oxalate solution) allowed a very good column efficiency and selectivity. The presence of a polysulfide species was hypothesized in sulfide solutions that had not been de-oxygenated and aged. The polysulfide eluted just before sulfide and was confirmed by a chemical test with SO3(2-) producing the elimination of the polysulfide peak. Detection limits, according to the Hubaux-Vos method, were 1.0 and 2.0 microg/l for S2- and CN , respectively. We demonstrated good performance of the optimized method by repeatedly injecting standard solutions and by analyzing different real matrices. The method exhibited very good accuracy and repeatability (10 microg/l and a 500 microl injection loop, had a repeatability better than 3% for sulfide and 100 microg/l had a repeatability better than 1% for cyanide). The two-potential waveform ensured long-term stability of the electrode surface that required no manual polishing procedure for at least 1 month (20 analysis per day).     

Valence bond treatment of systems involving orbital degeneracy

Ground and excited electronic states of the allyl cation and anion, the butadiene radical cation and anion, and of the pentadienyl cation and anion have been calculated by a semiempirical valence bond method. The results of such calculations are in essential agreement with the known properties of such systems. A comparison of the results of the valence bond treatment with those expected on the basis of the qualitative resonance theory yields serious discrepancies which show up the limitations inherent in the latter formalism.

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Zusammenfassung Der Grundzustand und die elektronisch angeregten Zustände der folgenden Systeme wurden mittels einer semiempirischen Valence-Bond-Methode berechnet: Allyl Kation und Anion, Butadien Radikal Kation und Anion, Pentadienyl Kation und Anion. Die Ergebnisse stehen in vernünftiger Übereinstimmung mit den bekannten experimentellen Daten. Ein Vergleich der Resultate, die mittels der Valence-Bond-Methode erhalten werden, mit jenen, die man aufgrund der qualitativen Resonanz-Theorie erwarten würde, ergibt wesentliche Unterschiede, die auf die Grenzen hinweisen, die dem letztgenannten Formalismus eigen sind.

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Résumé L'état fondamental et les états électroniques excités du cation et de l'anion allyl, du cation radical et de l'anion radical du butadiène et du cation et de l'anion pentadiényl ont été calculés par la méthode semiempirique valence bond. Les résultats de ces calculs correspondent raisonnablement aux données expérimentales connues pour ces systèmes. Une comparaison des résultats théoriques avec les prédictions de la théorie de résonance donne des différences qui démontrent les limites de ce formalisme qualitatif.

     

The orthogonality problem in valence bond calculations

The energy of the π-electron system in benzene has been obtained by means of valence bond calculations using orthogonal and nonorthogonal basis orbitals at different levels of configuration interaction, which shows the influence of the orthogonalization procedures.     

Interpretation of electronic spectra of aromatic hydrocarbons by the “molecules in molecules” method

The molecules in molecules method has been applied to five groups of hydrocarbon molecules or ions. Energy, polarisation and intensity of electronic transitions have been compared with experimental data and previous theoretical results. The results show that the method is applicable even when there is relevant conjugation between the fragments.

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Zusammenfassung Die molecules in molecules-Methode wurde auf fünf Gruppen von Kohlenwasserstoff-Molekülen angewandt. Energie, Polarisation und Intensität von elektronischen Übergängen wurden mit experimentellen und theoretischen Resultaten verglichen. Die Resultate beweisen, daß die Methode anwendbar ist, auch wenn eine wesentliche Konjugation zwischen den Fragmenten besteht.

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Resumé La méthode molecules in molecules a té appliquée à cinq groupes de molécules ou ions d'hydrocarbures. On a comparé les energies, la polarisation et l'intensité des transitions électroniques avec les données experimentales et les données théoriques qu'on avait précedemment calculées. Les résultats indiquent que la méthode est appliquable, même lorsqu'on a une conjugation assez importante entre les fragments.