Nickel(II)-Mediated Reversible Thiolate/Disulfide Conversion as a Mimic for a Key Step of the Catalytic Cycle of Methyl-Coenzyme M Reductase

According to the well-accepted mechanism, methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) involves Ni-mediated thiolate-to-disulfide conversion that sustains its catalytic cycle of methane formation in the energy saving pathways of methanotrophic microbes. Model complexes that illustrate Ni-ion mediated reversible thiolate/disulfide transformation are unknown. In this paper we report the synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic properties and redox interconversions of a set of Ni^II complexes comprising a tridentate N₂S donor thiol and its analogous N₄S₂ donor disulfide ligands. These complexes demonstrate reversible Ni^II-thiolate/Ni^II-disulfide (both bound and unbound disulfide-S to Ni^II) transformations via thiyl and disulfide monoradical anions that resemble a primary step of MCR's catalytic cycle.     

Heterogeneity of polyelectrolyte diffusion in polyelectrolyte-protein coacervates: a 1H pulsed field gradient NMR study

Proton pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR was used to study the diffusion of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) in coacervates formed from this polycation and the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA). Application of high (up to 30 T/m) magnetic field gradients in PFG NMR measurements allowed probing the diffusion of PDADMAC on a length scale of displacements as small as 100 nm in coacervates formed at different pH's and ionic strengths, i.e., conditions of varying protein-polycation interaction energy. Studies were carried out for a broad range of diffusion times and corresponding values of the mean square displacements. Several ensembles of PDADMAC polycations with different diffusivities were observed in the measured range of diffusion times. The existence of these ensembles and the pattern of their changes with increasing diffusion time support the hypothesis about the microscopic heterogeneity of PDADMAC-BSA coacervates and also provide evidence for the dynamic disintegration and reformation of dense domains.     

On the Control of Magnetic Anisotropy through an External Electric Field

The effect of an external electric field on the magnetic anisotropy of a single‐molecule magnet has been investigated, for the first time, with the help of DFT. The application of an electric field can alter the magnetic anisotropy from “easy‐plane” to “easy‐axis” type. Excitation analysis performed through time‐dependent DFT predicts that the external electric field facilitates metal to π‐acceptor ligand charge transfer, leading to uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and concomitant spin Hall effect in a single molecule.     

A Raman study of multiferroic LuMnO3

Magnetic and dielectric measurements confirm the multiferroic nature of LuMnO₃. Raman spectra of LuMnO₃ have been recorded in the 77–800 K range covering both the antiferromagnetic transition at 90 K and the ferroelectric–paraelectric transition at 750 K. The changes in the phonon modes frequencies and band-widths indicate the presence of phonon–spin coupling in the antiferromagnetically ordered phase. The ferroelectric–paraelectric transition is accompanied by the broadening and disappearance of many of the phonon modes. Some of the phonon modes also show anomalies at the ferroelectric transition.     

Garratt–Braverman cyclization on basic alumina: a green protocol with improved selectivity

A green protocol (compared to the existing methodology) for carrying out Garratt–Braverman cyclization has been developed. The method involves stirring a pre-absorbed bispropargyl sulfone/ether/sulfonamide over basic alumina. The reaction with sulfones was over within 10–15 min at room temperature whereas for the ether/sulfonamide the reaction took 6–8 h at 130 °C. The products, aryl naphthalene derivatives, are obtained by simple filtration through Celite, in excellent yields.     

Helical Hairpin Structure of a Potent Antimicrobial Peptide MSI‐594 in Lipopolysaccharide Micelles by NMR Spectroscopy

Essential understanding : Elucidation of structural requirements and interactions of antimicrobial peptides with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are essential to understand the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides. The highly active antimicrobial peptide MSI‐594 (see figure for electrostatic potential surface) acquires a novel helical hairpin structure in complex with LPS. The structure and interactions of MSI‐594 with LPS presented here provide important insights into the mechanism of outer membrane permeabilization by antimicrobial peptides.

     

Benzopyrans. Part 42. Reactions of 4‐Oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carbaldehyde with some active methylene compounds in the presence of ammonia

The title aldehyde 1 in the presence of ammonia gives the pyridine derivatives 9‐11 respectively with acetylacetone, diethyl malonate and ethyl cyanoacetate, and ethyl (or methyl)‐l‐benzopyrano[4,3‐b]pyri‐dine‐3‐carboxylate 22 (or 23 ) with ethyl (or methyl) acetoacetate. Acetylacetone pretreated with ammonia condenses with 1 giving the fused pyridine 24 . Ammonia converts the ester 6 to the pyridine 13 or 14 . Chromic acid oxidation of 22 and 23 affords the coumarinopyridines 25 and 26 , respectively.