Stabilization energies of the hydrogen-bonded and stacked structures of nucleic acid base pairs in the crystal geometries of CG, AT, and AC DNA steps and in the NMR geometry of the 5'-d(GCGAAGC)-3' hairpin: Complete basis set calculations at the MP2 and CCSD(T) levels

Stabilization energies of the H-bonded and stacked structures of a DNA base pair were studied in the crystal structures of adenine-thymine, cytosine-guanine, and adenine-cytosine steps as well as in the 5'-d(GCGAAGC)-3' hairpin (utilizing the NMR geometry). Stabilization energies were determined as the sum of the complete basis set (CBS) limit of MP2 stabilization energies and the Delta E(CCSD(T)) - Delta E(MP2) correction term evaluated with the 6-31G*(0.25) basis set. The CBS limit was determined by a two-point extrapolation using the aug-cc-pVXZ basis sets for X = D and T. While the H-bonding energies are comparable to those of base pairs in a crystal and a vacuum, the stacking energies are considerably smaller in a crystal. Despite this, the stacking is still important and accounts for a significant part of the overall stabilization. It contributes equally to the stability of DNA as does H-bonding for AT-rich DNAs, while in the case of GC-rich DNAs it forms about one-third of the total stabilization. Interstrand stacking reaches surprisingly large values, well comparable to the intrastrand ones, and thus contributes significantly to the overall stabilization. The hairpin structure is characterized by significant stacking, and both guanine...cytosine pairs possess stacking energies larger than 11.5 kcal/mol. A high portion of stabilization in the studied hairpin comes from stacking (similar to that found for AT-rich DNAs) despite the fact that it contains two GC Watson-Crick pairs having very large H-bonding stabilization. The DFT/B3LYP/6-31G** method yields satisfactory values of interaction energies for H-bonded structures, while it fails completely for stacking.     

Advanced oxidation processes for decolorization of aqueous solution containing acid red G azo dye

Some investigations concerning the decolorization of Acid Red G azo dye by photooxidation with hydrogen peroxide were performed. The influences of pH, oxidant concentration, and the presence of Fe²⁺ or other metal ions (Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺) as potential catalysts, were investigated. The best results were obtained in the presence of ferrous ions in acid and neutral media. The other ions are not as effective as Fe²⁺ for dye decolorization. Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions have a catalytic action, at low concentration, within a wide range of pH. Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions have no catalytic effect in photooxidation with hydrogen peroxide at acid Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions have no catalytic effect in photooxidation with hydrogen peroxide at acid pH values, but show a weak action in alkaline media.     

Nucleophilic addition of bifunctional sulfimidosulfides to platinum(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">IV</Emphasis>)-coordinated nitriles

Reactions of the platinum(IV) nitrile complexes [PtCl₄(RCN)₂] (R = Me, CH₂Ph, Ph) with 1,2- and 1,4-PhS(=NH)C₆H₄SPh in CH₂Cl₂ afforded addition products of sulfimides and coordinated nitriles, viz., the [PtCl₄{NH=C(R)N=S(Ph)(C₆H₄SPh)}₂] complexes. The latter were isolated in 75—90% yields and characterized by elemental analysis, positive-ion FAB mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and ¹H and ¹³C¹H NMR spectroscopy. The temperature dependence of the ¹H NMR spectra of the model [PtCl₄{NH=C(R)N=SPh₂}₂] complexes (R = Me, Et) in CD₂Cl₂ studied in a temperature range from +40 to -70 °C demonstrated that E—Z isomerization of the ligands is a dynamic process in a range from +40 to -10 °C. The activation free energy of this process was calculated.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1618–1622, August, 2004.     

Antiferromagnetic coupling in [Mn<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>(O<Subscript>2</Subscript>CMe)<Subscript>6</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-phenyl nitronyl

The synthesis of [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CMe)₆(p-CO₂-phenyl nitronyl nitroxide)₁₀(H₂O)₄]· 4H₂O, (1), by direct replacement of some of the acetate groups in [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CMe)₁₆(H₂O)₄] · 4H₂O · 2MeCO₂H, (2), with the organic radical p-HO₂C-phenyl nitronyl nitroxide, (3), is reported. E.p.r. spectra show exchange narrowing in (1) due to coupling between the manganese ions and radicals. The isotropic hyperfine splitting constant from the manganese ions is a = 96 Oe at 5.5K. The magnetic susceptibility indicates antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the manganese ions and the radicals with the Weiss constant = -25 K. The spin was determined to be S = 6 from magnetization data in the 2--30 K temperature range at 50 kOe, suggesting a mixture of ground state with excited states.     

Action of HCl on 3-hydroxypyrazolo(iso)quinolines to give 1-chloropyrazoles: evidence for an addition–elimination mechanism by ab initio calculations in gas phase and water

 Addition–elimination reactions involving a nucleophile and a remote leaving group [S^H _N(AE)^tele] are well-known under basic conditions, especially amongst electron-poor six-membered heterocycles, but are less commonly encountered for five-membered heterocycles and are rare under acidic conditions. Concentrated HCl converts 1-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c] isoquinoline and 1-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline into 3-chloro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinoline and 3-chloro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline, respectively. However, apparently neither the isomeric 1-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c](iso)-quinolines nor the parent 1-hydroxypyrazole undergo this reaction. Additionally, all these systems are refractory under basic conditions. We present a plausible mechanism for the reaction, involving the 3-addition of Cl^- to the diprotonated heterocycle, followed by the elimination of water. Calculations of the initial transition states and intermediates, using optimisation at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p), including thermochemistry [HF/6-31+G(d)], and single-point Poisson–Boltzmann self-consistent reaction field determination of the free energy of solvation (Jaguar Poisson–Boltzmann self-consistent reaction field), support this mechanism and reproduce the observed order of reactivity, the addition step being 2–4 kcal less favourable for the isomeric 1-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-c](iso)quinolines and provide a rationalisation for the role of strong acid. Received: 27 June 2002 / Accepted: 6 September 2002 / Published online: 14 February 2003     

Quantification of monohydroxy-PAH metabolites in urine by solid-phase extraction with isotope dilution-GC–MS

For measurement of biomarkers from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, an analytical method is described quantifying hydroxylated PAH (OH-PAH) in urine samples. This method determined monohydroxy metabolites of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[c]phenanthrene, and benz[a]anthracene. The sample preparation consisted of enzymatic hydrolysis, solid-phase extraction and derivatization with a silylating reagent. Five carbon-13 labeled standards were used for isotope dilution. Analytes were separated by gas chromatography (GC) and quantified with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). This method produced good recoveries (41-70%), linearity, and specificity. Data were corrected for blank levels from the naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene metabolites. Method detection limits ranged from 2 ng L(-1) for 1-hydroxypyrene to 43.5 ng L(-1) for 1-hydroxynaphthalene. Using quality control charts from two urine pools, the method can be readily applied to biomonitoring PAH exposure.     

Lanthanum chromites partially substituted by calcium,strontium and barium synthesized by urea combustion

Because of their electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties rare earth and transition metal mixed oxides are important compounds. Lanthanum chromites have been extensively used as solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnect materials. In this work, lanthanum chromites partially substituted by alkaline earth metals were synthesized by the urea combustion process. TG and DSC techniques were used to evaluate the presence of the organic material in the powder after reaction on the hot plate. The powders were calcinated at 900°C and characterized by XRD and SEM. The results show that the particles have nanometric dimensions and the perovskite structure was formed.     

Novel method for bulk resistance evaluation in conductivity measurement for high-purity water

A major issue with the electrolytic conductivity measurement for pure water is the lack of standard or reference methods. A primary method traceable to SI and suitable for pure-water conductivity measurement was developed at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany, as the base for the calibration method for the conductivity measuring devices at the low conductivity level. This paper provides a novel method to calculate the bulk resistance of pure water using impedance measured at a single frequency, which is one of the key procedures for the primary methods.     

Syntheses and characterization of three hybrid materials based on polymeric copper complexes and saturated Keggin polyoxoanions

Three novel heteropolytungstates, [Cu(phen)₂]₄[α-SiW₁₂O₄₀] (1), [Cu₄(4,4′-bpy)₃(2,2′-bpy)₄][α-SiW₁₂O₄₀] · H₂O (2) and [Cu(4,4′-bpy)(4,4′-Hbpy)_0.5]₂[PW₁₂O₄₀] (3) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine, 2,2′-bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, TG analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound (1) exhibits interesting chiral layer constructed from interperpendicular helical chains running along a crystallographic 2₁ axis in the c and a directions. Furthermore, the chiral layers are connected by the [α-SiW₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ anions via hydrogen bonding interactions to form a 3D superamolecular structure. The [Cu₄(4,4′-bpy)₃(2,2′-bpy)₄]⁴⁺ coordinated complexes in compound (2) are packed together via the aromatic π–π stacking interactions and exhibit an interesting 3D sandglasslike “host” network with 1D channels, in which [α-SiW₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ anions “guests” reside. Compound (3) has a unique 2D superamolecular network, which is composed of cationic Cu^I coordination polymer chains and discrete [PW₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ polyoxoanions as linkers. It is noteworthy that the monprotonated 4,4′-bpy ligands of (3) act as arms and connect the adjacent 2D network, generating a 3D interpenetrating superamolecular structure.     

Syntheses and properties of mixed dinuclear copper(II) complexes with heterocyclic dithiocarbamates and a cyclic octadentate tertiary amine

Five new Cu^II complexes of general formula [Cu₂(Rdtc)tpmc](ClO₄)₃, (1)–(5), where tpmc and Rdtc ^– refer to N,N,N,N-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-teraazacyclotetradecane and piperidine- (Pipdtc), 4-morpholine- (Morphdtc), 4-thiomorpholine- (Timdtc), piperazine- (Pzdtc) or N-methylpiperazine- (N-Mepzdtc) dithiocarbamates, respectively, have been prepared. Elemental analyses, conductometric and magnetic measurements, u.v./vis, i.r., e.p.r. and mass spectroscopy have been employed to characterize them. The complexes adopt an exo coordination of Cu^II ions and tpmc. The dithiocarbamate ion joins both the sulphur and the copper atoms acting as a bridging ligand The presence of different heteroatoms in the piperidine ring influences the (C=N) and (C=S) vibrations which decrease in the order of the complexes: Pipdtc>N-Mepipdtc>Pzdtc>Morphdtc>Timdtc ligands. Attention has been paid to the detailed mechanism of the mass spectral fragmentation of the complexes. The g _eff factors of the complexes have been also estimated by e.p.r. spectra. Finally, the complexes obtained demonstrate microbiologycal activity against some bacteria.