Nickel oxidation states of F(430) cofactor in methyl-coenzyme M reductase

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy and variable-temperature variable-field MCD are used in combination with density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations to characterize the so-called ox1-silent, red1, and ox1 forms of the Ni-containing cofactor F430 in methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR). Previous studies concluded that the ox1 state, which is the precursor of the key reactive red1 state of MCR, is a Ni(I) species that derives from one-electron reduction of the Ni(II)-containing ox1-silent state. However, our absorption and MCD data provide compelling evidence that ox1 is actually a Ni(II) species. In support of this proposal, our DFT and TD-DFT calculations indicate that addition of an electron to the ox1-silent state leads to formation of a hydrocorphin anion radical rather than a Ni(I) center. These results and biochemical evidence suggest that ox1 is more oxidized than red1, which prompted us to test a new model for ox1 in which the ox1-silent species is oxidized by one electron to form a thiyl radical derived from coenzyme M that couples antiferromagnetically to the Ni(II) ion. This alternative ox1 model, formally corresponding to a Ni(III)/thiolate resonance form but with predicted S = 1/2 EPR parameters reminiscent of a Ni(I) (3dx2-y2)1 species, rationalizes the requirement for reduction of ox1 to yield the red1 species and the seemingly incongruent EPR and electronic spectra of the ox1 state.     

Measurement of cell migration on surface-bound fibronectin gradients

A novel technique for the quantitative observation of cell migration along linear gradient substrates functionalized with adhesive proteins is presented. Gradients of the cell adhesion molecule fibronectin are generated by the cross diffusion of functionalizable alkanethiols on gold and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance. Two distinct migration assays are described that characterize the movement of either sparsely populated noncontacting cells or a confluent monolayer of cells into free space. The drift speed of bovine aortic endothelial cells is measured and shown to increase along a fibronectin gradient when compared to a uniform control substrate using both assays. The results of these experiments establish reproducible conditions for studies of cell migration on gradients of surface-bound ligands.     

Low-energy paths for the unimolecular decomposition of CH3OH: a G2M/statistical theory study

The potential energy surface (PES) of the CH3OH system has been characterized by ab initio molecular orbital theory calculations at the G2M level of theory. The mechanisms for the decomposition of CH3OH and the related bimolecular reactions, CH3 + OH and 1CH2 + H2O, have been elucidated. The rate constants for these processes have been calculated using variational RRKM theory and compared with available experimental data. The total decomposition rate constants of CH3OH at the high- and low-pressure limits can be represented by k infinity = 1.56 x 10(16) exp(-44,310/T) s-1 and kAr0 = 1.60 x 10(36) T-12.2 exp(-48,140/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively, covering the temperature range 1000-3000 K, in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. Our results indicate that the product branching ratios are strongly pressure dependent, with the production of CH3 + OH and 1CH2 + H2O dominant under high (P > 10(3) Torr) and low (P < 1 atm) pressures, respectively. For the bimolecular reaction of CH3 and OH, the total rate constant and the yields of 1CH2 + H2O and H2 + HCOH at lower pressures (P < 5 Torr) could be reasonably accounted for by the theory. For the reaction of 1CH2 with H2O, both the yield of CH3 + OH and the total rate constant could also be satisfactorily predicted theoretically. The production of 3CH2 + H2O by the singlet to triplet surface crossing, predicted to occur at 4.3 kcal mol-1 above the H2C...OH2 van der Waals complex (which lies 82.7 kcal mol-1 above CH3OH), was neglected in our calculations.     

Strategies for the anchoring of metal complexes, clusters, and colloids inside nanoporous alumina membranes

Two complementary strategies are presented for the anchoring of molecular palladium complexes, of cobalt or platinum clusters or of gold colloids inside the nanopores of alumina membranes. The first consists in the one step condensation of an alkoxysilyl functional group carried by the metal complex with the hydroxy groups covering the surface of the membrane pores. Thus, using the short-bite alkoxysilyl-functionalized diphosphane ligands (Ph2P)2N(CH2)3Si(OMe)3 (1) and (Ph2P)2N(CH2)4SiMe2(OMe)] (2) derived from (Ph2P)2NH (dppa) (dppa bis(diphenylphosphanyl)amine), the palladium complexes [Pd(dmba)(kappa2-P,P-(Ph2P)2N(CH2)3Si(OMe)3)] Cl (3) and [Pd(dmba)[kappa2-P,P-(Ph2P)2N(CH2)4SiMe2(OMe)]]Cl (4) (dmba-H = dimethylbenzylamine). respectively, were tethered to the pore walls. After controlled thermal treatment. confined and highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles were formed and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This method could not be applied to the cobalt cluster [Co4(CO)8(mu-dppa)[mu-P,P-(Ph2P)2N(CH2)4SiMe2(OMe)]] (7) owing to its too limited solubility. However, its anchoring was achieved by using the second method which consisted of first derivatizing the pore walls with 1 or 2. The covalent attachment of the diphosphane ligands provides a molecular anchor that allows subsequent reaction with the cluster [Co4(CO)10(mu-dppa)] 6 to generate anchored 7 and this step was monitored by UV/Vis spectroscopy. In addition, the presence of carbonyl ligands in the cluster provides for the first time a very sensitive spectroscopic probe in the IR region which confirms both cluster incorporation and the retaining of its molecular nature inside the membrane. The presence of the bridging dppa ligand in 6 provides additional stabilization and accounts for the selectivity of the procedure. Using this method, platinum clusters (diameter ca. 2 nm) and gold colloids (diameter ca. 13 nm) were immobilized after passing their solution through the functionalized membrane pores. The resulting membranes were characterized by TEM which demonstrated the efficiency of the complexation and showed the high dispersion of the metal loading. The successful application of these methods has demonstrated that nanoporous alumina membranes are not only unique supports to incorporate metal complexes, clusters, or colloids but can also be regarded as functional matrices or microreactors, thus opening new fields for applications.     

Salvinicins A and B, new neoclerodane diterpenes from Salvia divinorum

[reaction: see text] Two new neoclerodane diterpenes, salvinicins A (4) and B (5), were isolated from the dried leaves of Salvia divinorum. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques, including (1)H and (13)C NMR, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC. The absolute stereochemistry of these compounds was assigned on the basis of single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis of salvinicin A (4) and a 3,4-dichlorobenzoate derivative of salvinorin B.     

Intermolecular multiple quantum coherences at high magnetic field: the nonlinear regime

Experiments have been carried at magnetic-field strengths of 9.4, 14.1, and 17.6 T to explore the evolution of intermolecular multiple quantum coherences in the nonlinear regime where the system evolves for times that are much greater than the characteristic time of action of the long-range dipolar field, tau(d). The results show the expected Bessel function form of the recorded signal as a function of time of evolution, with evident zeros and sign changes. As expected, the rate of signal evolution increases at higher-field strengths as a result of the increased equilibrium magnetization. A numerical method for calculating the evolution of magnetization under the action of the distant dipolar field, relaxation, and diffusion that is based on Fourier analysis of the magnetization distribution has been applied to the correlated two-dimensional spectroscopy revamped by asymmetric z-gradient echo detection sequence in the nonlinear regime and shown to produce results that are in good agreement with experimental data acquired at different magnetic fields and rates of spatial modulation. Experiments and simulations have also been used to explore the evolution of magnetization in a mixture of two interacting spin species in the nonlinear regime.     

Infrared dichroism measurements on the alkyl chain packing of an ionic detergent intercalated between silicate layers

 Microcrystals of the metal silicate hydrate ilerite orient macroscopically on the surface of a ATR-crystals and thus, are accessible for infrared linear dichroism measurements. We present first results which indicate that the alkyl chain packing and the orientation of the polar group of dodecyltrimethylammoniumbromide (DTAB) intercalated between silicate layers can be determined in terms of infrared order parameters. The properties of DTAB can be modulated by the relative humidity of the surrounding atmosphere and by temperature. Upon heating DTAB undergoes a phase transition from a paraffin-like solid to a fluid phase. The former is characterized by the orthorhombic perpendicular packing of the frozen alkyl chains with tilted long axes. The interactions between the ionic groups of the surfactant and that of the host matrix stabilize the lamellar arrangement of DTAB in the crystalline and in the fluid phases. Received: 14 January 1998 Accepted: 27 July 1998     

Miniaturized sensor module for in-situ control of waters

A new sensor module is developed for the in-situ control of waters, especially surface waters. Complex miniaturized sensor technology is used for the determination of the parameters pO₂, pH, pNO₃, pCl, pPO₄, pNH₃ or pNH₄ and conductivity. Miniaturization of sensors results in small sample volumes and small volumes of calibration solution required. Results of testing this sensor module are described. The special features of this apparatus are its compact construction and its optimum functioning capability under flow conditions.     

Study of the Reactions of Platinum Macrocyclic Complex Ions with Free Radicals Formed by Pulse Radiolysis of Aqueous Media

The near-diffusion-controlled reactions of hydroxyl radical, hydrated electron, and hydrogen atom with platinum macrocyclic complex ions in aqueous media have been studied using pulse radiolysis in conjunction with UV-visible absorption and conductivity detection. The hydrated electron and hydrogen atom react with trans-[Pt(cyclam)(Cl)(2)](2+) where cyclam is 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane to yield platinum(III) transients that exhibit intense absorption peaks in the 280-300 nm region; however in the case of the H-atom, the reaction involves a competition between chloride abstraction and a minor process, suggested to be attack on the organic ligand. The platinum(III) products are kinetically labile toward loss of chloro ligands, but these reactions are reversible in the presence of added KCl. The reactions of hydroxyl radical with [Pt(cyclam)](2+) and with [Pt(tmc)](2+), where tmc is 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, lead to platinum(III) intermediates absorbing in the 250-300 nm region. Depending on the presence or absence of added KCl and on the pH, the platinum(III) cyclam systems can react to form a product(s) exhibiting absorption peaks near 330 and 455 nm, and this species is proposed to be a long-lived amidoplatinum(III) complex. In support of this proposal is the observation that the tmc system does not give rise to a similar visible-absorbing product. The interrelations of the cyclam-based transients through acid-base, chloro-substitution and water-elimination processes are discussed.     

A direct transformation of bicyclic keto esters to N-formimidoyl thienamycin

A convenient direct transformation of $\text{p}$-nitrobenzyl 6-(1′-hydroxyethyl)-1-azabicyclo-(3.2.0)heptane-3,7-dione-2-carboxylate to $\text{N}$-formimidoyl thienamycin utilizing the silylated derivative of $\text{N}$-formimidoyl cysteamine is described.