A molecular approach to self-assembly of trimethylsilylacetylene derivatives on gold

We recently discovered that a linear multifunctional trimethylsilylacetylene (TMSA) compound forms long-range and highly stable self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on reconstructed Au(111). To better understand the interactions governing self-assembly in this new system, we synthesized a series of homologue organosilanes and performed scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements at the Au(111)/n-tetradecane interface. The four TMSA-terminated linear silanes that we synthesized self-assemble in similar ways on gold, with the molecules standing upright on the surface. In contrast, compounds with a slightly modified terminal group but the same polyunsaturated linear chain above the TMSA head do not self-assemble. In particular, substituting a methyl group of TMSA with a more bulky one prevents self-assembly. Removing the C triple bond C triple bond of TMSA or substituting the Si atom by a C atom also hinders self-assembly. Finally, substituting one methyl group of TMSA by a hydrogen atom induces self-assembly but in a different geometry, with the molecules lying flat on the gold surface in a quasi-epitaxy mode. Our molecular approach demonstrates the key role played by the TMSA head in self-assembly, its origin being twofold: 1) the TMSA layers are commensurate to the Au(111) adlattice along the <112> direction, and 2) the C triple bond C triple bond of TMSA activates the Si atom and induces the creation of a surface Si-Au chemical bond. The highly stable TMSA-based SAMs appear then as promising materials for applications in surface modification.     

Macrocyclic DNA‐Mismatch‐Binding Ligands: Structural Determinants of Selectivity

A collection of 15 homodimeric and 5 heterodimeric macrocyclic bisintercalators was prepared by one‐ or two‐step condensation of aromatic dialdehydes with aliphatic diamines; notably, the heterodimeric scaffolds were synthesized for the first time. The binding of these macrocycles to DNA duplexes containing a mispaired thymine residue (TX), as well as to the fully paired control (TA), was investigated by thermal denaturation and fluorescent‐intercalator‐displacement experiments. The bisnaphthalene derivatives, in particular, the 2,7‐disubstituted ones, have the highest selectivity for the TX mismatches, as these macrocycles show no apparent binding to the fully paired DNA. By contrast, other macrocyclic ligands, as well as seven conventional DNA binders, show lesser or no selectivity for the mismatch sites. The study demonstrates that the topology of the ligands plays a crucial role in determining the mismatch‐binding affinity and selectivity of the macrocyclic bisintercalators.     

Regioselectivite de la cycloaddition dipolaire-1,3 : Reactions de dibenzo-2,3:6,7 heptafulvenes avec quelques dipoles

The addition of several 1,3-dipoles, viz. diazoalkanes, parachloro-benzonitrile oxide and azomethine ylides, to 2,3:6,7-dibenzo-heptafulvenes, occurs exclusively at the endocyclic double bond, leading respectively to pyrazolines, isoxazolines and pyrrolidines. This regiospecificity is due to steric factors which are conveniently discussed using Sustmann's variation perturbation theory.     

Continuous functions on the plane regular after one blowing-up

We study rational functions admitting a continuous extension to the real affine space. First of all, we focus on the regularity of such functions exhibiting some nice properties of their partial derivatives. Afterwards, since these functions correspond to rational functions which become regular after some blowings-up, we work on the plane where it suffices to blow-up points and then we can count the number of stages of blowings-up necessary. In the latest parts of the paper, we investigate the ring of rational continuous functions on the plane regular after one stage of blowings-up. In particular, we prove a Positivstellensatz without denominator in this ring.     

Virtual Poincaré polynomial of the link of a real algebraic variety

The link of an affine real algebraic variety at a point is defined to be the intersection of the variety with a small sphere centred at the point. The Euler characteristic of the link leads to local topological characterisation of real algebraic varieties in law dimensions. We prove in the paper that not only the Euler characteristic, but also the stronger virtual Poincaré polynomial is well-defined for the link at a point of an affine algebraic variety.     

Locking the free-rotation of a prochiral star-shaped guest molecule inside a two-dimensional nanoporous network by introduction of chlorine atoms

Two star-shaped triazatrinaphthylene (TrisK) derivatives form highly-organized nanoporous honeycomb networks when adsorbed at the n-tetradecane/HOPG interface. STM reveals that replacing three H-atoms by three Cl-atoms in the chemical structure of the TrisK skeleton results in locking the free-rotation of the guest molecules inside the pore of the host network as a result of symmetry breaking.     

Chemical Imaging of RNA-Tau Amyloid Fibrils at the Nanoscale Using Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

In the presence of cofactors, tau protein can form amyloid deposits in the brain which are implicated in many neurodegenerative disorders. Heparin, lipids, and RNA are used to recreate tau aggregates in vitro from recombinant protein. However, the mechanism of interaction of these cofactors and the interactions between cofactors and tau are poorly understood. Herein, we use tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) to visualize the spatial distribution of adenine, protein secondary structure, and amino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine) in single polyadenosine (polyA)-induced tau fibrils with nanoscale spatial resolution (<10–20 nm). Based on reference unenhanced and surface-enhanced Raman spectra, we show that the polyA anionic cofactor is incorporated in the fibril structure and seems to be superficial to the β-sheet core, but nonetheless enveloped within the random-coiled fuzzy coat. TERS images also prove the colocalization of positively charged arginine, lysine, and histidine amino acids and negatively charged polyA, which constitutes an important step forward to better comprehend the action of RNA cofactors in the mechanism of formation of toxic tau fibrils. TERS appears as a powerful technique for the identification of cofactors in individual tau fibrils and their mode of interaction.     

Cationic Pentaheteroaryls as Selective G‐Quadruplex Ligands by Solvent‐Free Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis

We report herein a solvent‐free and microwaved‐assisted synthesis of several water soluble acyclic pentaheteroaryls containing 1,2,4‐oxadiazole moieties ( 1 – 7 ). Their binding interactions with DNA quadruplex structures were thoroughly investigated by FRET melting, fluorescent intercalator displacement assay (G4‐FID) and CD spectroscopy. Among the G‐quadruplexes considered, attention was focused on telomeric repeats together with the proto‐oncogenic c‐kit sequences and the c‐myc oncogene promoter. Compound 1 , and to a lesser extent 2 and 5 , preferentially stabilise an antiparallel structure of the telomeric DNA motif, and exhibit an opposite binding behaviour to structurally related polyoxazole ( TOxaPy ), and do not bind duplex DNA. The efficiency and selectivity of the binding process was remarkably controlled by the structure of the solubilising moieties.