Description of structures in terms of polyhedrapacking

The structures of alloys can be described in terms of polyhedrapacking. We studiedall structure types found in the binary systemsT ⁵ orT ⁶ withB ³ orB ⁴ (T ⁵: V, Nb, Ta;T ⁶: Cr, Mo, W;B ³: Al, Ga, In, Tl;B ⁴: Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) elements. Most of the structures examined until now could be built up with one or two polyhedra, only in a few cases more than two polyhedra are required. It is found that there are two types: a three-dimensional distribution of discrete polyhedra sharing corners, edges or faces and a layer-like distribution. This model proved valid for all structure types studied. Classification of the structures according to their polyhedrapacking criteria is introduced (Table 1). Table 2 includes the coordination numbers of all atoms in the studied structures.     

Crotomacrine, a new clerodane diterpene from the fruits of Croton macrostachyus

A new clerodane diterpene, crotomacrine 1, together with the known crotepoxide were isolated from the fruits of Croton macrostachyus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral evidence.     

Properties of block and graft copolymers of polybutadiene with small complexed poly(4-vinylpyridine) segments

Various diblocks, triblocks and a graft copolymer of butadiene with 4-vinylpyridine short blocks have been prepared. They were complexed with ZnCl₂ to give ionomer-like materials. For all copolymers, the T_g of the elastomeric block (?84°C to ?91°C) was unchanged by complexation. For all diblocks and triblocks with short blocks (DP _n ～ 3) the storage modulus was only slightly increased by comparison with uncomplexed materials. For the graft copolymer even with short blocks the material is less sensitive to temperature after complexation. For triblocks, when the DP _n of the vinylpyridine blocks was high enough (15 units), complexes were associated in multiplets of large size and the elastomeric properties were retained up to 200°C.     

Polyelectrolyte multilayers and degradable polymer layers as multicompartment films

Polyelectrolyte multilayers are now a well established concept with numerous potential applications in particular as biomaterial coatings. To timely control the biological activity of cells in contact with a substrate, multicompartment films made of different polyelectrolyte multilayers deposited sequentially on the solid substrate constitute a promising new approach. In a first paper (Langmuir 2004, 20, 7298) we showed that such multicompartment films can be designed by alternating exponentially growing polyelectrolyte multilayers acting as reservoirs and linearly growing ones acting as barriers. In the present study, we first demonstrate however that these barriers composed of synthetic polyelectrolytes are not degraded despite the presence of phagocytic cells. We propose an alternative approach where exponentially growing poly(L-lysine)/hyaluronic acid (PLL/HA) multilayers, used as reservoirs, are alternated with biodegradable polymer layers consisting in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and acting as barriers for PLL chains that diffuse within the PLL/HA reservoirs. We first show that these PLGA layers can be deposited alternatively with PLL/HA multilayers leading to polyelectrolyte multilayer/hydrolyzable polymeric layer films and acting as a reservoirs/barriers system. Bone marrow cells seeded on these films ending by a PLL/HA reservoir rapidly degrade it and internalize the PLL chains confined in this reservoir. Then the cells degraded locally the PLGA barrier and internalize the PLL localized in a lower (PLL/HA) compartment after 5 days of seeding. By changing the thickness of the PLGA layer, we hope to be able to tune the time delay of degradation. Such mixed architectures made of polyelectrolyte multilayers and hydrolyzable polymeric layers could act as coatings allowing us to induce a time scheduled cascade of biological activities. We are currently working on the use of comparable films with compartments filled by proteins or peptides and in which the degradation of the barriers results from a hydrolysis over tunable time scales.     

Layer by layer buildup of polysaccharide films: physical chemistry and cellular adhesion aspects

The formation ofpolysaccharide films based on the alternate deposition of chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronan (HA) was investigated by several techniques. The multilayer buildup takes place in two stages: during the first stage, the surface is covered by isolated islets that grow and coalesce as the construction goes on. After several deposition steps, a continuous film is formed and the second stage of the buildup process takes place. The whole process is characterized by an exponential increase of the mass and thickness of the film with the number of deposition steps. This exponential growth mechanism is related to the ability of the polycation to diffuse "in" and "out" of the whole film at each deposition step. Using confocal laser microscopy and fluorescently labeled CHI, we show that such a diffusion behavior, already observed with poly(L-lysine) as a polycation, is also found with CHI, a polycation presenting a large persistence length. We also analyze the effect of the molecular weight (MW) of the diffusing polyelectrolyte (CHI) on the buildup process and observe a faster growth for low MW chitosan. The influence of the salt concentration during buildup is also investigated. Whereas the CHI/HA films grow rapidly at high salt concentration (0.15 M NaCl) with the formation of a uniform film after only a few deposition steps, it is very difficult to build the film at 10(-4) M NaCl. In this latter case, the deposited mass increases linearly with the number of deposition steps and the first deposition stage, where the surface is covered by islets, lasts at least up to 50 bilayer deposition steps. However, even at these low salt concentrations and in the islet configuration, CHI chains seem to diffuse in and out of the CHI/HA complexes. The linear mass increase of the film with the number of deposition steps despite the CHI diffusion is explained by a partial redissolution of the CHI/HA complexes forming the film during different steps of the buildup process. Finally, the uniform films built at high salt concentrations were also found to be chondrocyte resistant and, more interestingly, bacterial resistant. Therefore, the (CHI/HA) films may be used as an antimicrobial coating.     

Revised analysis of the structure of the v1 band of methane

The CARS spectrum of the v₁ band of ₁₂CH₄ at a pressure of 14 mbar was recorded using cw excitation in the cavity of a ring argon ion laser. The analysis of the intensity profile of the obarred spectrum led to the detection of inconsistencies with the hitherto proposed calculated positions of transitions with J = 7 to J = 10 and to a relocation of the corresponding lines.     

Radical Cation States of 2,3,5,6,7,8-Hexamethylidenebicyclo [2.2.2]octane

The photoelectron spectrum of the title compound is reported and assigned by correlation with the photoelectron spectra of related molecules.     

Stereochimie de la deprotonation et de la reaction d'aldolisation des dithioesters

Cis lithium thioenolates are preferentially formed by deprotonation of dithiopropanoates with lithium diisopropylamide in tetrahydro-furan at -78°C. The cis selectivity observed, is unproved by increasing the alkylthio group size or by the ability of this group to chelate the lithium cation. When more bulkier bases such as lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperi-dide or lithium hexamethyldisilazane are used, the selectivity is lowered. This lowering of selectivity is suppressed when the deprotonation is performed in presence of 12-crown-4. Addition of hexamethyl phosphoramide to the base does not invert the selectivity as it uas reported for the deprotonation of esters ; a rather better cis selectivity is reached in the case of methoxymethyl dithiopropanoate. These original results are well understood in terms of an open transition state model. Preformed lithium thioenolates are reacted uith a variety of aldehydes and afford stereo-specifically syn aldols. The influence of hexamethylphosphoramide and reaction time is also examined.     

Prostaglandin D2 synthase and its post-translational modifications in neurological disorders

Prostaglandin D2 synthase (PGDS) (beta-trace protein) is a highly abundant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glycoprotein. A number of studies have been performed to determine the potential value of this protein for the diagnosis of various neurological disorders. The measurement of total PGDS levels in CSF has proved marginally useful for this purpose, but promising results were obtained while investigating changes in the posttranslational modifications (PTM) pattern. Using 2-DE analysis, we previously showed that PGDS is differentially expressed in ante- and post mortem CSF samples. In the present study, we examined whether the PGDS isoforms may help to distinguish stroke and neurodegenerative disease patients from healthy subjects. The pattern of PGDS PTM was analyzed in CSF from patients with various neurological disorders (n = 44) using IEF/immunoblotting techniques. Strong alterations of this pattern were detected in patients with different forms of degenerative dementia. These findings are consistent with PGDS being altered in some neurological diseases and provide new opportunities for clinical applications.     

Sodium-23 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

With the availability of Fourier transform spectrometers, ²³Na-NMR spectroscopy has become an important tool. It affords direct insight into solvation and ion pairing phenomena, both in organic and in bio-inorganic systems. Monitoring the chemical shifts and linewidths of ²³Na signals gives access to binding constants, reorientational correlation times and the microdynamics of the sodium coordination shell. The binding of other cations can also be studied by ²³Na-NMR spectroscopy, in competition experiments.