Microstructure and Defect Characterization of Nanostructured Ni3Al

 Nanostructured Ni₃Al was produced by the inert gas condensation and in situ compaction technique and characterized by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction, and density measurements. The defect structure was investigated using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). It is shown that in some samples besides the cubic also the martensitic phase can be present. The defect structure can be divided into three major components: vacancy-like defects in the grain boundaries and nano-voids with a size of 1 nm as seen with PALS, and large pores with sizes up to 8 nm as seen with HRTEM. Furthermore, it is shown that an increasing compaction temperature leads to significantly smaller nano-voids.     

High-speed microwave-promoted hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 2(1H)-pyrazinones in ionic liquid doped solvents

Inter- and intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reactions in a series of functionalized 2(1H)-pyrazinones were investigated under controlled microwave irradiation. The cycloaddition reactions were efficiently performed in sealed tubes, utilizing either a combination of 1,2-dichloroethane and a thermally stable ionic liquid, or 1,2-dichlorobenzene as reaction medium. In all cases, a significant rate-enhancement using microwave flash heating as compared to thermal heating was observed.     

Development of a gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry based method for the quantification of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in adipose tissue

A combined gas chromatographic mass spectrometric (GC/MS/MS) method for the determination of seven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and seven marker polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in adipose tissue has been developed. Adipose tissue was melted and filtered through anhydrous sodium sulphate to obtain pure fat. Clean-up was performed using a glass column containing acidified silica, deactivated alumina and anhydrous sodium sulphate. Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) 155 and Mirex were added as internal standards for PBDEs and PCBs, respectively. Injection standards, PBB 103 and PCB 143, for PBDEs and PCBs, respectively, were added before analysis with GC/MS/MS. The developed GC/MS/MS method has the advantage of being more selective than single MS methods because matrix effects are largely eliminated. Validation of this method was conducted according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Decision limits for PBDEs and PCBs ranged from 0.06-0.15 ng g(-1) and from 0.35-1.22 ng g(-1), respectively. Detection capabilities were all between 0.23-0.55 ng g(-1) for PBDEs and between 0.98-2.29 ng g(-1) for PCBs. Precision, recovery, bias and selectivity were tested, with satisfactory results.     

Probing macromolecular adsorbed layer structure and history dependence via the interfacial cavity function

Adsorbed layers of proteins and other macromolecules often relax structurally more slowly than they form, rendering layer growth an out-of-equilibrium process. We show here how the interfacial cavity function, Phi (the average Boltzmann factor for a single probe molecule), may be determined, using kinetic data available from optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy, and used as a continuous, in situ measure of history dependent adsorbed layer structure. The increase of Phi observed with residence time for fibronectin and lysozyme layers suggests post-adsorption clustering on a time scale longer than that predicted by a surface diffusion model.     

Domino "[3+3]-cyclization-homo-Michael" reactions of 1,3-bissilyl enol ethers with 1,1-diacylcyclopropanes

The Lewis acid mediated domino "[3+3]-cyclization-homo-Michael" reaction of 1,3-bissilyl enol ethers with 1,1-diacylcyclopropanes allows an efficient one-pot synthesis of functionalized salicylates containing a halogenated side chain. A great variety of substitution patterns could be realized by variation of the starting materials and of the Lewis acid. The mechanism of the domino process was studied.     

Evaluation of automated nano-electrospray mass spectrometry in the determination of non-covalent protein-ligand complexes

The use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for studying non-covalent interactions between macromolecules and ligands is well established. ESI-MS can be a useful tool for the determination of dissociation constants between molecules in the gas phase. We validate this method by studying the binding of the catalytic domain of cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I) from Trichoderma reesei to the disaccharide inhibitor cellobiose. The method was further applied to study two newly synthesized cellobiose derivatives (m-iodobenzyl 2-deoxy-2-azido-beta-cellobioside and p-benzyloxybenzyl beta-cellobioside). In a titration experiment, peak areas of different charge states of the free enzyme and the complex were summed in order to determine the dissociation constant. For cellobiose and m-iodobenzyl 2-deoxy-2-azido-beta-cellobioside, the calculated values are in good agreement with those reported from either displacement titration or equilibrium binding experiments in solution. Due to non-specific binding, the dissociation constant of p-benzyloxybenzyl beta-cellobioside does not correspond with the solution-based value. Our results indicate the need for careful interpretation of data sets when using nanoESI to study non-covalent interactions.     

A microwave-assisted click chemistry synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles via a copper(I)-catalyzed three-component reaction

A microwave-assisted three-component reaction was used to prepare a series of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles from corresponding alkyl halides, sodium azide, and alkynes. This procedure eliminates the need to handle organic azides, as they are generated in situ, making this already powerful click process even more user-friendly and safe.     

On the role of the conserved aspartate in the hydrolysis of the phosphocysteine intermediate of the low molecular weight tyrosine phosphatase

The usual rate-determining step in the catalytic mechanism of the low molecular weight tyrosine phosphatases involves the hydrolysis of a phosphocysteine intermediate. To explain this hydrolysis, general base-catalyzed attack of water by the anion of a conserved aspartic acid has sometimes been invoked. However, experimental measurements of solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects for this enzyme do not reveal a rate-limiting proton transfer accompanying dephosphorylation. Moreover, base activation of water is difficult to reconcile with the known gas-phase proton affinities and solution phase pK(a)'s of aspartic acid and water. Alternatively, hydrolysis could proceed by a direct nucleophilic attack by a water molecule. To understand the hydrolysis mechanism, we have used high-level density functional methods of quantum chemistry combined with continuum electrostatics models of the protein and the solvent. Our calculations do not support a catalytic activation of water by the aspartate. Instead, they indicate that the water oxygen directly attacks the phosphorus, with the aspartate residue acting as a H-bond acceptor. In the transition state, the water protons are still bound to the oxygen. Beyond the transition state, the barrier to proton transfer to the base is greatly diminished; the aspartate can abstract a proton only after the transition state, a result consistent with experimental solvent isotope effects for this enzyme and with established precedents for phosphomonoester hydrolysis.     

Solid-supported solution-phase synthesis of 4-amino-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-benzazepine-3-ones

Starting from Boc-o-aminomethylphenylalanine, a solution-phase parallel synthesis of 2,4-substituted 4-amino-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-benzazepine-3-ones is described. This heterocycle has two nitrogen functions, which are differentiated and can be selectively substituted. The sources of diversity are aldehydes for the R(1) position and carboxylic acids, sulfonyl chlorides, or isocyanates for the R(2) position. High-throughput synthesis and purification of this multistep synthetic sequence was accomplished using polymer-bound reagents and scavengers and liquid-liquid extraction protocols, and a small library of compounds was prepared. Polymer-bound cyanoborohydride was found to work well for the reductive amination. Scavenging of excess of amine was performed by polymer-bound benzaldehyde, and cyclization was performed in the presence of polymer-bound coupling reagent 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC). After Boc-deprotection, the second nitrogen can be acylated using carboxylic acids, sulfonylated or converted to a urea. The acylation is again performed by polymer-bound EDC. Excellent yields and purities were obtained.     

Synthesis, structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterization of high oxidation state diruthenium complexes containing four identical unsymmetrical bridging ligands

Six Ru2(6+) derivatives of the form Ru2(L)4(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(2), where L = 2-Fap, 2,3-F(2)ap, 2,4-F(2)ap, 2,5-F(2)ap, 3,4-F(2)ap, or 2,4,6-F(3)ap, are synthesized and characterized as to their electrochemical, spectroscopic, and/or structural properties. These compounds are synthesized from a reaction between LiC[triple bond]CC6H5 and Ru2(L)4Cl. Two of the investigated complexes exist in a (4,0) isomeric form while four adopt a (3,1) geometric conformation. These two series of geometric isomers are compared with previously characterized (4,0) Ru2(ap)4(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(2), (4,0) Ru2(F5ap)4(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(2), and (3,1) Ru2(F5ap)4(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(2). The overall data on the nine compounds thus provide an opportunity to systematically examine how the electrochemical and structural properties of these Ru2(6+) complexes vary with respect to isomer type and electronic properties of the bridging ligands.