Fast and Reliable Automated Synthesis of RNA and Partially 2′-O- Protected Precursors (`Caged RNA') Based on Two Novel,Orthogonal 2′-O-Protecting Groups,Preliminary Communication

Two sets of RNA phosphoramidites, carrying the (fluoride-labile) 2′-O-[(triisopropylsilyl)oxy]methyl (=tom) group and the (photolabile) [(R)-1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethoxy]methyl (=(R)-npeom) group, were prepared (see 1 – 4 and 5 – 8 , resp.). The two protecting groups were completely orthogonal to each other. Three ribozyme-substrate constructs, protected each by a (R)-npeom group, were synthesized; on photolysis, efficient cleavage of this remaining protecting group occurred (Scheme 3). It could be demonstrated that the presence of one (R)-npeom group within a RNA strand has only a minor influence on the pairing properties of corresponding duplexes.     

(NH4)4Na2[V10O28]·10H2O

Tetra­ammonium disodium decavanadate decahydrate crystallizes in the triclinic system in space group P. The structure contains typical centrosymmetric OV₆ double octahedra and centrosymmetric pairs of edge‐shared NaO₆ double octahedra forming a layered structure. In contrast to other monovalent cationic decavanadates, the NaO₆ double octahedra are integrated in the layer.     

Total synthesis of calystegine A7

A straightforward chiral pool synthesis for the glycosidase inhibitor calystegine A₇ (isolated from Lycium chinense) from methyl α-d-glucopyranoside is described. Keysteps of this synthesis include a ultrasound assisted Zn-mediated tandem ring opening reaction followed by a Grubbs' catalyst mediated ring closure metathesis.     

Stick-slip of the three-phase line in measurements of dynamic contact angles

Contact angles of a series of n-alkanes (i.e., n-heptane to n-hexadecane) are studied on two functionalized maleimide copolymers (i.e., poly(ethene-alt-N-(4-(perfluoroheptylcarbonyl)aminobutyl)maleimide) (ETMF) and poly(octadecene-alt-N-(4-(perfluoroheptylcarbonyl)aminobutyl)maleimide) (ODMF)). On the homogeneous ETMF films, all liquids show a smooth motion of the three-phase line. In contrast, on ODMF surfaces that are found to consist of mainly fluorocarbons and small patches of hydrocarbons, short-chain n-alkanes show a stick-slip pattern. By increasing the chain length of the probe liquids, stick-slip is reduced significantly. The phenomenon is discussed in the framework of the Cassie equation. It is found that the upper limit of contact angles in the stick-slip pattern is given by the advancing angle that would be obtained on the pure fluorocarbon surface, whereas the lower limit of the stick-slip pattern is given by the Cassie angle.     

Richardson–Lucy deconvolution of reflection electron energy loss spectra

A procedure for deconvolving the energy spread introduced by the primary beam and the analyzer in a reflection electron energy loss spectrum (REELS) has been developed. The procedure is based on the Richardson–Lucy (RL) algorithm. The approach has been successfully tested on experimental spectra by comparison with spectra with an inherent high‐energy resolution. As a typical result, it was found that the effective energy resolution of spectra with a full width half maximum (FWHM) of the elastic peak of ～1.5 eV in the raw experimental data can be reduced to ～0.7 eV in the deconvoluted spectra. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of semidilute suspensions of non-Brownian fibers in shear flow

Particle-level simulations are performed to study semidilute suspensions of monodispersed non-Brownian fibers in shear flow, with a Newtonian fluid medium. The incompressible three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are used to describe the motion of the medium, while fibers are modeled as chains of fiber segments, interacting with the fluid through viscous drag forces. The two-way coupling between the solids and the fluid phase is taken into account by enforcing momentum conservation. The model includes long-range and short-range hydrodynamic fiber-fiber interactions, as well as mechanical interactions. The simulations rendered the time-dependent fiber orientation distribution, whose time average was found to agree with experimental data in the literature. The viscosity and first normal stress difference was calculated from the orientation distribution using the slender body theory of Batchelor [J. Fluid Mech. 46, 813 (1971)], with corrections for the finite fiber aspect ratios. The viscosity was also obtained from direct computation of the shear stresses of the suspension for comparison. These two types of predictions compared well in the semidilute regime. At higher concentrations, however, a discrepancy was seen, most likely due to mechanical interactions, which are only accounted for in the direct computation method. The simulated viscosity determined directly from shear stresses was in fair agreement with experimental data found in the literature. The first normal stress difference was found to be proportional to the square of the volume concentration of fibers in the semidilute regime. As concentrations approached the concentrated regime, the first normal stress difference became proportional to volume concentration. It was also found that the coefficient of friction has a strong influence on the tendency for flocculation as well as the apparent viscosity of the suspension in the semidilute regime.     

Phosphino-Phosphination Reactions: Frustrated Lewis Pair Reactivity of Phosphino-Phosphonium Cations with Alkynes

The phosphino-phosphonium cations of the form [R₃PPR′₂]⁺ are labile and provide access to the constituent Lewis acidic and Lewis basic fragments. This permits frustrated Lewis pair-type addition reactions to alkynes, affording unprecedented phosphino-phosphination reactions and giving cations of the form [cis-R₃PCHC(R′′)PR′₂]⁺. This reactivity is further adapted to prepare several examples of a rare class of dissymmetric cis-olefin-linked bidentate phosphines.     

Enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on cyclodextrins: application for the determination of R-baclofen in its pharmaceutical formulation

Two enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes based on α- and γ-cyclodextrins were proposed for the assay of R-baclofen. The slopes of the electrodes were 59.50 and 51.00 mV/pR-baclofen for α- and γ-cyclodextrin-based electrodes, respectively. The detection limits of the proposed electrodes were 7 × 10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹ for α-cyclodextrin-based electrode and 1.44 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol l⁻¹ for γ-cyclodextrin-based electrode. The enantioselectivity was determined over S-baclofen. The proposed electrodes can be employed for the assay of R-baclofen raw materials and its pharmaceutical formulation, Norton-Baclofen^® tablets. The surfaces of the electrodes are stable and easily renewable by polishing on alumina paper.     

Xanthophyll-cycle dependence of the energy transfer between carotenoid dark states and chlorophylls in NPQ mutants of living plants and in LHC II

The Car S₁ → Chl energy transfer efficiency, Φ_Transfer, in xanthophyll-cycle mutants of living plants and LHC II was investigated by selective Car S₁ two-photon excitation. Before high-light illumination Φ_Transfer, of the violaxanthin deficient mutant npq2 is 30% smaller than the corresponding value for wild type plants. For the zeaxanthin deficient mutant, npq1, Φ_Transfer is 30% larger. Wild type Arabidopsis thaliana is the only variant which is capable of a light-dependent decrease of up to 40% and complete recovery to the original Φ_Transfer values. In contrast, Φ_Transfer remains constant during dark adaptation in both mutants. Surprisingly, changes in Φ_Transfer of LHC II preparations were less than 5% only, when substituting violaxanthin by zeaxanthin.