The structure of 11,12-bis[spiro(cyclopropyl)]-1,4,4a,5,8,8a,9a,10a-octahydro-1,4∶5,8-dimethano-9,10-anthraquinone

In the solid state the 21 Diels-Alder adduct between spiro[4.2]hepta-1,3-diene and p-benzoquinone has a planar cyclohexadione ring with a center of symmetry. Both planar and boat conformations have been observed in similar systems, and the relative stability of the two conformers is of interest. The adduct in the gas phase should contain a mirror plane perpendicular to the cyclohexadione ring; however, a data set collected on a crystal in a capillary resulted in a structure where some bond lengths related by this mirror plane differed by more than 4 in the solid state. Molecular mechanics, MOPAC, and the Cambridge Structural Data Base were used to investigate the factors influencing the conformation of the cyclohexadione ring and the asymmetry across the noncrystallographic mirror plane. The energy differences between the planar and nonplanar ring system is small, and the conformation is determined by crystal packing. No reason for the bond length asymmetry could be found, and a recollection of data on a crystal exposed to the environment led to a structure with statistically equivalent bond lengths.     

Side Methyl Groups Control the Conformation and Contribute to Symmetry Breaking of Isoprenoid Chromophores

Ab initio DFT computations reveal that the essential structural and photophysical features of the conjugated π‐electron system of retinal and carotenoids are dictated by “innocent” methyl substituents. These methyl groups shape the conformation and symmetry of the isoprenoid chromophores by causing a sigmoidal distortion of the polyene skeleton and increasing its flexibility, which facilitates fitting to their binding pockets in proteins. Comparison of in vacuo conformations of the chromophores with their native (protein‐bound) conformations showed, surprisingly, that the peripheral groups and interactions with the protein environment are much less significant than the methyl side groups in tuning their structural features. The methyl side groups also contribute to a loss of symmetry elements specific to linear polyenes. In effect, the symmetry‐imposed restrictions on the chromophore electronic properties are disabled, which is of tremendous relevance to their photophysics. This is evidenced by their non‐negligible permanent dipole moments and by the simulated and experimentally measured circular dichroism spectra, which necessarily reflect the chirality of the conjugated π‐electron system.     

Nepetanudone, a dimer of the α-pyrone 5,9-dehydronepetalactone

The title compound C₂₀H₂₄O₄ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2, with a = 10.245(3), b = 17.103(3), c = 9.879(3) Å, D _c = 1.260 g cm ^–3, and Z = 4. Nepetanudone is postulated to be formed by a [4+4] cycloaddition of two 5,9-dehydronepetalactone moieties to give an asymmetric dimer in which each pair of atoms is magnetically nonequivalent. The compound was recovered from extracts of Nepeta nuda ssp. albiflora.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and stable isotope records of paleoenvironmental conditions during peat formation

EPR spectroscopy was performed on four peat cores (1-2.5 m depth) collected from Yellowstone National Park (USA), Scotland (UK) and Lower Silesia (Poland) to study peat formation process. The stable free radicals identified in all investigated samples are semiquinone type and g-parameters range from 2.0030 to 2.0048. The highest g-values are characteristic of upper well-aerated peat layers and gradually decrease with depth. The lowest g-values are typical of relatively old fens and bogs where anaerobic conditions are expected and carbonization processes are advanced. The decrease in g-parameter value is connected with conjugation of semiquinone units with gradually augmented polyaromatic units in the peat substance. Generally the radical concentration increases with depth (0.05-5x10(17) spins/gram). However the g-values, line width parameters, and spin concentrations exhibit strong variations in some peat layers. Variation of these parameters observed for certain peat horizons correlate with the variation of carbon stable isotopic composition. For the old well-conserved peat deposits (e.g. Scotland/UK, approximately 5600 BP), variation of EPR parameters may be used to study paleo redox conditions.     

The Role of Singlet Oxygen in Photoreactivity and Phototoxicity of Curcumin

Curcumin is a plant-derived yellow-orange compound widely used as a spice, dye and food additive. It is also believed to have therapeutic effects against different disorders. On the other hand, there are data showing its phototoxicity against bacteria, fungi and various mammalian cells. Since the mechanism of its phototoxic action is not fully understood, we investigated here the phototoxic potential of curcumin in liposomal model membranes and in HaCaT cells. First, detection of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) luminescence proved that curcumin generates ¹O₂ upon blue light irradiation in organic solvent and in liposomes. Then, HPLC-EC(Hg) measurements revealed that liposomal and cellular cholesterol is oxidized by ¹O₂ photogenerated by curcumin. Enrichment of liposome membranes with curcumin significantly increased the oxygen photo-consumption rate compared to the control liposomes as determined by EPR oximetry. Cytotoxicity measurements, mitochondrial membrane potential analyses and protein hydroperoxides detection confirmed strong phototoxic effects of curcumin in irradiated HaCaT cells. These data show that since curcumin is advertised as a valuable dietary supplement, or a component of cosmetics for topical use, caution should be recommended especially when skin is exposed to light.     

Relativistic model core potential study of the Au+ Xe system

A computational study of the Au(+)Xe ionic system has been performed using newly developed coupled-cluster methods and relativistic model core potentials, with extra basis functions optimized to afford superior polarizabilities. Potential energy curves for the dissociation of Au(+)Xe were studied at different levels of theory, and molecular properties (bond length and harmonic vibrational frequency) were calculated. Wave functions were analyzed using the natural bond orbital method. The nature of bonding in this system is discussed.     

Properties of polyethylene glycol supported tetraarylporphyrin in aqueous solution and its interaction with liposomal membranes

5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin was functionalized by covalent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains of various molecular weights, 350, 2000, and 5000 Da. The properties of PEG-functionalized tetraarylporphyrins in aqueous solution and their interactions with liposomes have been studied. Electronic absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence quenching were used to monitor aggregation of porphyrin chromophores and behavior of the attached PEG chains in the aqueous solution. The tendency for aggregation of porphyrin chromophores in aqueous solution and the efficiency of fluorescence quenching by KI decrease with increasing length of PEG chain linked to the porphyrin ring. The experimental results indicate that polymer clusters are present in aqueous solution of all pegylated porphyrins. The interactions between the pegylated porphyrins and phosphatidylcholine liposomes in the aqueous solution were studied using the fluorescence methods. The apparent binding constants of porphyrin chromophores to liposomes were determined. The degree of binding was found to be dependent on the molecular weight of the attached polymer.