Solid-state electrode with a Cu(I)-based membrane hydrophobised by PTFE for the measurement of Cu2+ and I?

The preparation of CuI + Ag₂S and Cu₂[HgI₄] + Ag₂S membranes hydrophobised by PTFE is described. The pressed membranes mounted in a multi-purpose all-solid-state electrode body have been examined as electrochemical sensors for Cu²⁺ and I^– ions. For the electrode with (CuI + Ag₂S + PTFE)-membrane experimental slopes of 29 mV(pCu)^–1 and 62 mV(pI)^–1 were obtained, in good agreement with the theoretical values. For practical measurement in solutions where both Cu²⁺ and I^– can be present, the investigated electrode offers certain advantages in comparison with a commercial Cu-ISE.     

Full multinuclear resonance analysis of 4-amino-1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10-octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane

The complete assignment of 19F, 1H and 13C NMR spectra for a monosubstituted octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane derivative is described for the first time. The unambiguous assignments were achieved through the combination of 19F--1H HOESY, 1H COSY and 19F COSY techniques and then further confirmed employing a complementary approach using a Karplus-dependent 3JCF interaction. Interesting aspects of the coupling patterns for various JHH, JHF, JCF and JFF interactions are also discussed.     

Thioacetylacetone: structural and vibrational assignments.

Thioacetylacetone and its variously deuterated isotopomers have been investigated using electronic and vibrational spectroscopy combined with quantum chemical calculations. Thioacetylacetone is known for its photochromic properties, but the structures of the initial and final forms have been the subject of a long debate. Analysis of the IR spectra recorded in low-temperature argon and xenon matrices, room-temperature solutions, and in the gas phase has allowed us to establish the nature of the photochromic species and of its precursor. Similar to the case of another beta-thioxoketone, monothiodibenzoylmethane, the photo-product has been assigned to the nonchelated SH exo-rotamer of the (Z)-enethiol tautomeric form, whereas the dominant ground-state species corresponds to the chelated (Z)-enol tautomeric form. Detailed vibrational assignments have been proposed for both forms based on quantum chemical calculations and polarization experiments. In the case of the chelated (Z)-enol species prevailing in the ground state, a second-order perturbative anharmonic analysis at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level indicated strong anharmonic effects associated with the intramolecular hydrogen bond, leading to a shift of more than 600 cm-1 of the wavenumber of the OH-stretching vibration. A small fraction of the SH endo-rotameric chelated (Z)-enethiol form was also detected under unperturbed conditions. The (Z)-enethiol form can be converted into the (Z)-enol form by irradiation at 290 nm.     

Evaluation of cellulase preparations for hydrolysis of hardwood substrates

Seven cellulase preparations from Penicillium and Trichoderma spp. were evaluated for their ability to hydrolyze the cellulose fraction of hardwoods (yellow poplar and red maple) pretreated by organosolv extraction, as well as model cellulosic substrates such as filter paper. There was no significant correlation among hydrolytic performance on pretreated hardwood, based on glucose release, and filter paper activity. However, performance on pretreated hardwood showed significant correlations to the levels of endogenous β-glucosidase and xylanase activities in the cellulase preparation. Accordingly, differences in performance were reduced or eliminated following supplementation with a crude β-glucosidase preparation containing both activities. These results complement a previous investigation using softwoods pretreated by either organosolv extraction or steam explosion. Cellulase preparations that performed best on hardwood also showed superior performance on the softwood substrates.     

Transannular reactions of two parallel 1,3-butadiynes: syntheses,structures, and reactions of 1-azacyclotetradeca-3,5,10,12-tetrayne derivatives

The synthesis of 1-alkyl and 1-aryl-1-azacyclotetradeca-3,5,10,12-tetraynes was achieved in a stepwise approach. The key intermediate was 1,13-dibromotrideca-2,4,9,11-tetrayne (18). Reaction with methyl- (19 a), ethyl- (19 b), isopropyl- (19 c), n-butyl- (19 d), and tert-butylamine (19 e) as well as aniline (19 f) and p-methoxyaniline (19 g) gave the corresponding 14-membered tetraynes 20 a-20 g. The ring inversion process of 20 b was studied by variable temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy. From these measurements a value of 10.6 kcal mol(-1) was calculated for DeltaG(not equal). X-ray investigations on single crystals of 20 b, 20 c, and 20 f revealed the axial position for the substituent at each nitrogen atom. For 20 b we encountered the chair conformation, for 20 c both chair and boat conformations, and for 20 f the boat conformation in the solid state. The reaction of 20 c with concentrated HCl in ethanol yielded 2,10-dichloro-6-isopropyl-6-azatricyclo[9.3.0.0(4,8)]tetradeca-1(11),2,4(8),9-tetraene (25 c). Compound 25 c was oxidized by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) to 27 c. The structure of the latter was confirmed by X-ray investigations. The reaction of 20 c in aqueous HCl lead to the formation of 10-chloro-2-isopropyl-1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-benzo[g]isoquinolin-9-one (37 c). The structure of 37 c was verified by X-ray studies on single crystals.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-1-(Indanyloxymethyl) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-1-(4-Hydroxybut-2-enyloxymethyl) Analogues of the HIV Drugs Emivirine and GCA-186

Summary. A series of Emivirine and GCA-186 analogues substituted at N-1 with indan-1-yloxymethyl (6a–6c) and indan-2-yloxymethyl (6d–6f) were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding bis(indanyloxy)methans with uracils having 5-ethyl or 5-isopropyl and 6-benzyl or 6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl) substituents. A route to the corresponding N-1 substituted 4-hydroxybut-2-enyloxymethyl analogue was also devised. All newly synthesized compounds showed potent activity against wild-type HIV-1, the most active compound being 5-ethyl-1-(indan-1-yloxymethyl)-6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil (6b), which was 50-fold more active than Emivirine.Present address: Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, EgyptA research center funded by The Danish National Research Foundation for studies on nucleic acid chemical biology     

The application of "click chemistry" for the decoration of 2(1H)-pyrazinone scaffold: generation of templates

The "click chemistry" approach has been explored on the 2-(1H)-pyrazinone scaffold for the generation of pharmacologically interesting heterocyclic moieties. Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition has been evaluated as the key step for the construction of the 1,2,3-triazole ring at the C-3 position of 2-(1H)-pyrazinones. Two different pathways have been successfully evaluated: (1) via C-C or C-O linkage of the acetylenic part to the C-3 position of the 2-(1H)-pyrazinone scaffold or (2) via azide introduction in the C-3 position. The subsequent application of "click chemistry" resulted in the formation of hitherto unknown skeletons. Microwave irradiation has successfully been applied in different steps of the sequence.     

On assignment of fundamental vibrational modes of hypophosphite anion and its deuterated analogue

Results of ab initio and density functional theory calculations on the structure and vibrational frequencies of hypophosphite anion indicate earlier experimental assignments of the fundamental vibrational modes are correct while the recent reassignments of several modes proposed by Bickley et al. are inconsistent with the calculated results.