Controlling the self-assembly of a deoxiguaninosine on mica

We report a tapping mode scanning force microscopy investigation on the growth from solutions of a lipophilic deoxiguanosine derivative on the basal plane of a muscovite mica surface. By varying the chemical composition of the substrate surface it is possible to drive the self-assembly towards either layered thin films, which are very likely to consist of guanosine quartets, or nanoribbons, comprising hydrogen bonded networks. Both these two architectures, which are peculiar to the guanine base itself, are of notable importance for the fabrication of molecular nanowires. Moreover, the first arrangement provides evidence that the guanosine is able to behave as ionophore, thus, suggesting its utilization in the development of solid-state ion selective sensors.     

Conformational and photophysical studies on porphyrin-containing donor-bridge-acceptor compounds. Charge separation in micellar nanoreactors

Photophysical studies with semi-rigid, 1, and flexible, 2, donor-bridge-acceptor (D-b-A2+) molecules with D a porphyrin and A2+ a methyl viologen moiety, were performed in neat polar solvents as well as included in surfactant (DTAB) aqueous and in reverse AOT/n-alkane micelles. The micelles acted as nanoreactors for the photoinduced electron transfer reaction upon laser excitation. In spite of the longer lifetime of the charge separated (CS) state in the semi-rigid tetrad 1(ca. 200 ns vs. ca. 100 ns for the flexible dyad 2), the CS formation quantum yield, for example in acetonitrile, was lower for the former (phi(CS) = 0.13) than for the latter (0.58). Comparison of the time-resolved fluorescence data in neat solvent and in the micelles yielded the phi(CS) values in the dilute micellar solutions. Application of laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy at various temperatures to 1 dissolved in a polar organic solvent (benzonitrile, BZN) included in aqueous DTAB nanoreactors afforded structural volume changes for the production in hundreds of ps of the CS state upon excitation of a polar molecule. The contraction during CS formation upon excitation of the collapsed conformer in BZN is attributed to the entering of solvent into the open molecular cavity. The opening upon formation of the CS state due to photoinduced electron transfer in the 1 collapsed conformation arises from the repulsion of the two positively charged ends in this state, as previously calculated. Inclusion of 1 in reverse AOT micelles in various n-alkanes also led to a contraction upon excitation, but the data had much more error due to the limited range of variability of the ratio of thermoelastic parameters. The data obtained with the more flexible "supermolecule" 2 showed the predicted large conformation flexibility of these molecules.     

Lewis acid promoted aldol additions of α-thiosilylketeneacetals to α-alkoxy aldehydes: diastereoselective synthesis of syn-α-methylene-β-hydroxy-∂-alkoxy esters.

MgBr₂ mediated addition of Methyl α-methylthio propionate silylketene acetal to α and α,β-alkoxy aldehydes is highly 3,4 $\text{syn}$-selective (18:1). $\text{syn}$-α- methylene-β- hydroxy-?-alkoxy esters (6) and (8) are synthesized.     

Interaction between zigzag single-wall carbon nanotubes and polymers: a density-functional study

Density-functional all-electrons calculations within local-density approximation show that the two isoelectronic polymers poly(para-phenylene) and poly(para-borazylene) weakly interact with zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes. The analysis of the electronic properties of the joint systems, both with the polymer inside and outside the nanotubes, reveals a physisorption process with small changes in band structures and densities of states with respect to the constituents. We evaluate the potential barrier arising between polymers and nanotubes. Finally, we remark a generic selectivity of poly(para-phenylene) with respect to the electronic behavior of nanotubes, leading to a change in the density of states of metallic tubules.     

The influence of the brewing process on the formation of biogenic amines in beers

Biogenic amines, as dabsyl derivatives, were determined in beer samples, intermediate products, and raw materials (malt and maize) by HPLC. A procedure for the extraction of the amines from malt and maize with diluted hydrochloric acid was optimised by combining a Response Surface Methodology with a Simultaneous Decision Making Approach. The results of the analysis indicate that, in brewing, technology and hygiene are the decisive factors that determine the amine concentrations in the final product.     

Establishing the synthetic origin of amphetamines by 2H NMR spectroscopy

Nine samples of N-acetyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (N-acetyl-MDA), prepared according to the most common synthetic procedures, are submitted to (2)H NMR spectroscopy. The relative deuterium content at the various sites of the molecule is shown to depend on its synthetic history. The technique provides a chemical fingerprint of N-acetyl-MDAs and it can be used to trace back the precursor materials and the synthetic pathways employed in the preparation of the samples.     

Characterization and quantitation of mixtures of alkyl ether sulfates and carboxylic acids by capillary electrophoresis with indirect photometric detection

The separation, characterization, and determination of mixtures of alkyl ether sulfates (AES) and fatty acids (C10-C16) in background electrolytes (BGEs) containing acetonitrile (ACN)-water mixtures is addressed. Due to inhibition of the ionization of the carboxylate groups, the migration time and the resolution between the fatty acids decreased when the water content of the BGE was reduced, but efficiency and resolution between the AES oligomers improved. The migration times increased and resolution improved by substituting 5% ACN by an equivalent amount of dioxane. A complete separation of the two surfactant classes, up to the AES oligomers with 8 ethylene oxide units (EOs) with respect to C10, with excellent resolution between the AES oligomers, while preserving a satisfactory resolution between the fatty acids, was achieved with a BGE containing 5 mM trimethoxybenzoic acid, 7 mM dipentylamine, 85% ACN, 5% dioxane, and 10% water. The two surfactant classes were increasingly resolved by further reducing the water content of the BGE. Thus, C2 (acetate) was resolved from the AES oligomers up to 7 EOs using 90% ACN and 5% dioxane, but the resolution between the heavier fatty acids was poor with this BGE. Identification of the AES oligomers was eased by the excellent regularity of the successive migration times; thus, within each AES subclass or series of oligomers with the same number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, the migration times decreased following a mild curve as the number of EOs increased. The way how the data obtained by indirect photometry (corrected peak areas that are proportional to the molar concentrations) should be managed to avoid systematic error when the calibration curve is constructed using an AES standard with an oligomer distribution different from that of the samples is discussed and equations are given. Decyl sulfate was successfully used as internal standard. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were of ca. 2 microM for individual AES oligomers.     

Effect of the parent ligand on the photophysical properties of closely-coupled, binuclear ruthenium(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridine) complexes

The photophysical properties of closely-coupled, binuclear complexes formed by connecting two ruthenium(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridine) complexes via an alkynylene group differ significantly from those of the relevant mononuclear complex. In particular, the energy of the first triplet excited state is lowered relative to the parent complex, because of the presence of the alkynylene substituent, while the triplet lifetime is prolonged, in part, because of extended electron delocalization. We now report that the triplet lifetime is also affected by the nature of the spectator 2,2'-bipyridyl ligands. Thus, replacing the parent 2,2'-bipyridine ligands with the corresponding 4,4'-dinitro-substituted ligands serves to decrease the luminescence yield and lifetime. With the corresponding carboxylate ester, the luminescence yield and lifetime are increased. Perdeuteration of the parent 2,2'-bipyridine ligands also leads to a modest increase in the luminescence yield. Such observations are indicative of electronic coupling between the various metal-to-ligand, charge-transfer excited triplet states. Temperature dependence studies confirm that these excited states are closely spaced and thermally accessible at ambient temperature. For some of the binuclear complexes, the quantum yield for formation of the lowest-energy triplet state is significantly less than unity.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of 6H-2,7,7-trimethyl-4-(o,p-R-phenylamino)-7,8-dihydrofuro[3,2-c]azepines

The preparation of nine novel 6H-2,7,7-trimethyl-4(o-,p-R-phenylamino)-7,8-dihydrofuro[3,2-c]-azepines with possible pharmacological activity is described. The structure of all products was corroborated by ir, ¹H-nmr and ms.     

Solution and X-Ray Crystal Structures of the Di- and Tetra-allyl Ether of tert- utylcalix[4]arene

The di- and tetra-allyl ethers of tert-butylcalix[4]arene 1 and 2 have been prepared by alkylation of tert-butylcalix[4]arene with allyl bromide and K₂CO₃ using different reaction times. Solution ¹H NMR measurement of the di-allyl ether 1 and X-ray crystal structures of the complexes of 1 with chloroform (1a) or methanol (1b) indicate the cone conformation of 1 in which intramolecular hydrogen bonding can be maximized. The crystalline state conformers 1a and 1b are distorted in different grades depending on the solvent. While methanol is incorporated in the macrocycle, chloroform molecules do not occupy the cage. The solution ¹H NMR spectra of tetra-allyl ether 2 show the co-existence of the cone and partial cone conformation. The partial cone conformer of 2 was investigated by X-ray crystallography. In this compound hydrogen bonding is not existent. The conformer distribution is likely affected by steric and template effects.