Configurational Isomerism in Polyoxovanadates

A water‐soluble derivative of the polyoxovanadate {V₁₅E₆O₄₂} (E=semimetal) archetype enables the study of cluster shell rearrangements driven by supramolecular interactions. A reaction unique to E=Sb, induced exclusively by ligand metathesis in peripheral [Ni(ethylenediamine)₃]²⁺ counterions, results in the formation of the metastable α₁* configurational isomer of the {V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂} cluster type. Contrary to all other polyoxovanadate shell architectures, this isomer comprises an inward‐oriented vanadyl group and is ca. 50 and 12 kJ mol^?1 higher in energy than the previously isolated α and β isomers, respectively. We discuss this unexpected reaction in light of supramolecular Sb?O???V and Sb?O???Sb contacts manifested in {V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂}₂ dimers detected in the solid state. ESI MS experiments confirm the stability of these dimers also in solution and in the gas phase. DFT calculations indicate that other, as of yet elusive isomers of {V₁₄Sb₈}, might be accessible as well.     

Calculation of sequence‐dependent free energies of hydration of dipeptides formed by alanine and glycine

The relative free energies of hydration of the dipeptides glycylalanine and alanyl‐glycine in their naturally occurring form have been calculated both for the zwitterionic and protonated species. Emphasis was laid on comparisons between the conventional cutoff method and the Particle Mesh Ewald method to account for possible differences in electrostatic contributions to the free energy. Furthermore, the convergence behavior of the total free energy and its individual contributions were examined. The results, obtained by means of the thermodynamic integration technique as implemented in the free energy module of the AMBER program suite, suggest that in aqueous solution glycylalanine is more stable than alanylglycine by 2.7 kcal/mol in the zwitterionic form and by 3.5 kcal/mol in the protonated form. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 846–860, 2001     

Synthesis of Isotope Enriched (CN3H6)2[57Fe(CN)5NO] starting from 57Fe

A high‐yield, mmolar‐scale synthesis of pure guanidinium nitroprusside, (CN₃H₆)₂[⁽⁵⁷⁾Fe(CN)₅NO] (GNP) from iron metal is described. The iron metal contained pieces of 95.3% ⁵⁷Fe together with normal iron so that an isotope enrichment in ⁵⁷Fe of 25% was achieved. Single‐crystals of GNP could be grown in cubic shape and dimensions of about 3 × 4 × 4 mm³. The purity of the GNP product and the intermediates K₄[⁽⁵⁷⁾Fe(CN)₆] · 3 H₂O and Na₂[⁽⁵⁷⁾Fe(CN)₅NO] · 2 H₂O was ascertained by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy as well as ¹³C, ¹⁴N and ⁵⁷Fe NMR spectroscopy. The ⁵⁷Fe NMR chemical shift for [⁽⁵⁷⁾Fe(CN)₅NO]^2– in GNP was detected at +2004.0 ppm [vs Fe(CO)₅].     

INHIBITION OF NUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS IN CELLS EXPOSED TO 200 MICROMETER RADIATION FROM THE FREE ELECTRON LASER

Vertebrate tissue culture cells were exposed to 200 um wavelength radiation (1CO W/cm²) from a free electron laser (FEL) of the electrostatic generator type. Cell cultures demonstrated no morphological alterations but a statistically significant (P .05) proportion of the cells exhibited inhibition of DNA synthesis. This study demonstrates the first biological effects of the FEL and the feasibility of performing biological investigations with this device.     

Nucleosides and nucleotides. Part 25.. Synthesis of a protected 1-(2′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-1 H-benzimidazole 3′-phosphate

1-(2′-Deoxy-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-′-D -ribofuranosyl)-1 H-benzimidazole 3′-[(p-chlorophenyl)(2-cyanoethyl) phosphate] ( 6 ) has been synthesized from 1-(β-D -ribofuranosyl)-1H-benzimidazole ( 3b ) using regiospecific 2′-deoxygenation. The latter compound was obtained by glycosylation of benzimidazole with the D -ribose derivative 2 leading exclusively of the β-D -anomer.     

Syntheses of bile pigments. Part 15. First unequivocal assignment of the absolute configuration of an urobilinoid bile pigment by X-ray diffraction analysis of its synthetic precursor

(?)-(4S,16S)-8, 12-bis[de(2-carboxyethyl)]mesourobilin-IIIα hydrochloride ( 8 ) has been synthesized from the enantiomerically pure 1,4,5,10-tetrahydro-1-oxodipyrrin-9-carboxylic-acid precursor 6a whose absolute configuration was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis of the N-[(S)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl] carboxamide 7b . The present results prove unequivocally that an (S,S)-configurated urobilin chromophore displays a negative Cotton effect in the VIS absorption range. However, the helicity of the inherently dissymmetric chromophore remains undetermined.