DFT calculations of hyperfine coupling constants of organic π radicals and comparison with empirical equations and experiment

Density functional theory calculations (UB3LYP/EPR‐III) for a series of radicals and radical ions were performed to check the internal consistency of the method and its implications to the theoretical concepts of electron paramagnetic resonance such as π–σ spin polarization, hyperconjugation and phenyl hyperconjugation. In the second part, experimental data for seven radicals (43 hyperfine coupling constants) are compared with calculations, yielding a correlation of r² = 0.97. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Q.E.COSY: determining sign and size of small deuterium residual quadrupolar couplings using an extended E.COSY principle

Residual quadrupolar couplings contain important structural information comparable with residual dipolar couplings. However, the measurement of sign and size of especially small residual quadrupolar couplings is difficult. Here, we present an extension of the E.COSY principle to spin systems consisting of a Spin 1 coupled to a spin ½ nucleus, which allows the determination of the sign of the quadrupolar coupling of the Spin 1 nucleus relative to the heteronuclear coupling between the spins. The so‐called Q.E.COSY approach is demonstrated with its sign‐sensitivity using variable angle NMR, stretched gels and liquid crystalline phases applied to various CD and CD₃ groups. Especially the sign‐sensitive measurement of residual quadrupolar couplings that remain unresolved in conventional deuterium 1D spectra is shown. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tris(tert‐butyl)­phosphine sulfide,a phosphine sulfide with three bulky substituents

The title compound, C₁₂H₂₇PS, has crystallographic C₃ symmetry. The bond angles at phospho­rus are tetrahedral [C—P—S 109.31 (12)° and C—P—C 109.63 (12)°] and the P—C bond length is 1.899 (4) Å. The shortest intermolecular contacts exist between methyl H atoms and the S atom (3.09, 3.12 and 3.28 Å). A survey of various phosphine sulfides containing three equal ligands (Me₃PS, Et₃PS, Cy₃PS, ^tBu₃PS, etc.) shows the influence of substituents with different steric demand on the geometry at phospho­rus and on the P—C bond length.     

Tetrahydrofuran Calpha-tetrasubstituted amino acids: two consecutive beta-turns in a crystalline linear tripeptide

The synthesis of tetrahydrofuran Calpha-tetrasubstituted amino acids (TAAs) and their effect on the conformation in small peptides are reported. The synthesis starts from the protein amino acid methionine, which is protected at the C and N terminus and converted into the corresponding sulfonium salt by alkylation. Simple base treatment in the presence of an aryl aldehyde leads to the formation of tetrahydrofuran tetrasubstituted Calpha-amino acids in a highly diastereoselective (trans/cis ratio up to 97:3) reaction with moderate to good yields (35-78%) depending on the aldehyde used. Palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions allow a subsequent further functionalization of the TAA. The R,S,S-TAA-Ala dipeptide amide adopts a beta-turn type I conformation, whereas its S,R,S isomer does not. The R,S,S-Gly-TAA-Ala tripeptide amide shows in the solid state and in solution a conformation of two consecutive beta-turn type III structures, stabilized by i+3-->i intramolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis and binding properties of guanidinium biscarboxylates

Abstract  

The ammonium ion binding site of the enzyme glutaminase HisF inspired us to design guanidinium biscarboxylates as potential self-organized ionophores in molecular recognition. The syntheses of the title compounds based on aliphatic and aromatic building blocks, along with a general method for the preparation of δ-aminoethoxyacetic acids, are presented in this work. Investigation of the binding properties of the title compounds in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methanol solution revealed no ammonium ion affinity, but interaction of the guanidinium moiety with acetate ions.     

Dynamic response of gold nanoparticle chemiresistors to organic analytes in aqueous solution

We investigate the response dynamics of 1-hexanethiol-functionalized gold nanoparticle chemiresistors exposed to the analyte octane in aqueous solution. The dynamic response is studied as a function of the analyte-water flow velocity, the thickness of the gold nanoparticle film and the analyte concentration. A theoretical model for analyte limited mass-transport is used to model the analyte diffusion into the film, the partitioning of the analyte into the 1-hexanethiol capping layers and the subsequent swelling of the film. The degree of swelling is then used to calculate the increase of the electron tunnel resistance between adjacent nanoparticles which determines the resistance change of the film. In particular, the effect of the nonlinear relationship between resistance and swelling on the dynamic response is investigated at high analyte concentration. Good agreement between experiment and the theoretical model is achieved.