Electrochemical Synthesis and Characterisation of Alternating Tripyridyl–Dipyrrole Molecular Strands with Multiple Nitrogen‐Based Donor–Acceptor Binding Sites

Synthesis of alternating pyridine–pyrrole molecular strands composed of two electron‐rich pyrrole units (donors) sandwiched between three pyridinic cores (acceptors) is described. The envisioned strategy was a smooth electrosynthesis process involving ring contraction of corresponding tripyridyl–dipyridazine precursors. 2,6‐Bis[6‐(pyridazin‐3‐yl)]pyridine ligands 2 a – c bearing pyridine residues at the terminal positions were prepared in suitable quantities by a Negishi metal cross‐coupling procedure. The yields of heterocyclic coupling between 2‐pyridyl zinc bromide reagents 12 a – c and 2,6‐bis(6‐trifluoromethanesulfonylpyridazin‐3‐yl)pyridine increased from 68 to 95 % following introduction of electron‐donating methyl groups on the metallated halogenopyridine units. Favorable conditions for preparative electrochemical reduction of tripyridyl–dipyridazines 2 b , c were established in THF/acetate buffer (pH 4.6)/acetonitrile to give the targeted 2,6‐bis[5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyrrol‐2‐yl]pyridines 1 b and 1 c in good yields. The absorption behavior of the donor–acceptor tripyridyl–dipyrrole ligands was evaluated and compared to theoretical calculations. Highly fluorescent properties of these chromophores were found (ν_em≈2×10⁴ cm^?1 in MeOH and CH₂Cl₂), and both pyrrolic ligands exhibit a remarkable quantum yield in CH₂Cl₂ (?_f=0.10). Structural studies in the solid state established the preferred cis conformation of the dipyrrolic ligands, which adopting a planar arrangement with an embedded molecule of water having a complexation energy exceeding 10 kcal mol^?1. The ability of the tripyridyl–dipyrrole to complex two copper(II) ions in a pentacoordinate square was investigated.     

Optimization of Sample Preparation for Metabolomics Exploration of Urine,Feces, Blood and Saliva in Humans Using Combined NMR and UHPLC-HRMS Platforms

Currently, most clinical studies in metabolomics only consider a single type of sample such as urine, plasma, or feces and use a single analytical platform, either NMR or MS. Although some studies have already investigated metabolomics data from multiple fluids, the information is limited to a unique analytical platform. On the other hand, clinical studies investigating the human metabolome that combine multi-analytical platforms have focused on a single biofluid. Combining data from multiple sample types for one patient using a multimodal analytical approach (NMR and MS) should extend the metabolome coverage. Pre-analytical and analytical phases are time consuming. These steps need to be improved in order to move into clinical studies that deal with a large number of patient samples. Our study describes a standard operating procedure for biological specimens (urine, blood, saliva, and feces) using multiple platforms (¹H-NMR, RP-UHPLC-MS, and HILIC-UHPLC-MS). Each sample type follows a unique sample preparation procedure for analysis on a multi-platform basis. Our method was evaluated for its robustness and was able to generate a representative metabolic map.     

Enzymatic generation of the antimetabolite gamma,gamma-dichloroaminobutyrate by NRPS and mononuclear iron halogenase action in a streptomycete

Four adjacent open reading frames, cytC1-C4, were cloned from a cytotrienin-producing strain of a Streptomyces sp. by using primers derived from the conserved region of a gene encoding a nonheme iron halogenase, CmaB, in coronamic acid biosynthesis. CytC1-3 were active after expression in Escherichia coli, and CytC4 was active after expression in Pseudomonas putida. CytC1, a relatively promiscuous adenylation enzyme, installs the aminoacyl moieties on the phosphopantetheinyl arm of the holo carrier protein CytC2. CytC3 is a nonheme iron halogenase that will generate both gamma-chloro- and gamma,gamma-dichloroaminobutyryl-S-CytC2 from aminobutyryl-S-CytC2. CytC4, a thioesterase, hydrolytically releases the dichloroaminobutyrate, a known streptomycete antibiotic. Thus, this short four-protein pathway is likely the biosynthetic source of this amino acid antimetabolite. This four-enzyme system analogously converts the proS-methyl group of valine to the dichloromethyl product regio- and stereospecifically.     

One- and two-photon ionization of DNA single and double helices studied by laser flash photolysis at 266 nm

The ionization of the DNA single and double helices (dA)20, (dT)20, (dAdT)10(dAdT)10 and (dA)20(dT)20, induced by nanosecond pulses at 266 nm, is studied by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The variation of the hydrated electron concentration with the absorbed laser intensity shows that, in addition to two-photon ionization, one-photon ionization takes place for (dAdT)10(dAdT)10, (dA)20(dT)20 and (dA)20 but not for (dT)20. The spectra of all adenine-containing oligomers at the microsecond time-scale correspond to the adenine deprotonated radical formed in concentrations comparable to that of the hydrated electron. The quantum yield for one-photon ionization of the oligomers (ca. 10(-3)) is higher by at least 1 order of magnitude than that of dAMP, showing clearly that organization of the bases in single and double helices leads to an important lowering of the ionization potential. The propensity of (dAdT)10(dAdT)10, containing alternating adenine-thymine sequences, to undergo one-photon ionization is lower than that of (dA)20(dT)20 and (dA)20, containing adenine runs. Pairing of the (dA)20 with the complementary strand leads to a decrease of quantum yield for one photon ionization by about a factor of 2.     

Sr4PbPt4O11, the first platinum oxide containing Pt2 ions

We report the synthesis and crystal structure of the new compound Sr₄PbPt₄O₁₁, containing platinum in highly unusual square pyramidal coordination. The crystals were obtained in molten lead oxide. The structure was solved by X-ray single crystal diffraction techniques on a twinned sample, the final R factors are R=0.0260 and wR=0.0262. The symmetry is triclinic, space group P1¯, with , , , α=90.421(3)°, β=89.773(8)°, γ=90.140(9)° and Z=2. The structure is built from dumbell-shaped Pt₂O₉ entities formed by a dinuclear metal-metal bonded Pt₂⁶⁺ ion with asymmetric environments of the two Pt atoms, classical PtO₄ square plane and unusual PtO₅ square pyramid. Successive Pt₂O₉ entities deduced from 90° rotations are connected through the oxygens of the PtO₄ basal squares to form [Pt₄O₁₀⁸⁻]_∞ columns further connected through Pb²⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the peculiar platinum coordination environment.     

Variable temperature STM study of Co deposition on a dodecanethiol self assembled monolayer

The present scanning tunneling microscopy study reports on the growth processes of Co vapor-deposited on a dodecanethiol (DDT) self-assembled monolayer (SAM)/Au(111). We observe strongly modified surface and depth diffusions of Co adatoms depending on the growth temperature. Co deposited at 300 K shows an extremely incomplete regime of condensation on the organic layer. Besides, Co penetrates the DDT monolayer and resides at the DDT/Au(111) interface as 2D clusters. This phenomenon takes place through defects in the SAM which are transient channels. In contrast, Co deposited at 50 K shows a complete condensation and nucleates on defects of the SAM layer as 3D islands sitting most likely on top of the DDTs. These results are of interest in the growing field of organic spintronics where the quality of the organic/ferromagnetic interface is a key issue.     

Amidase activity and thermal stability of human thrombin

Previous studies of amidase activity of human α-thrombin have yielded variable results and the decrease of this activity as a function of time and temperature has never been quantified. As this protease is an efficient tool in biochemistry and biotechnology thanks to its extreme selectivity, amidase activity and stability of thrombin were investigated with the synthetic substrate Tos-Gly-Pro-Arg-pNa. Enzyme activity as a function of temperature showed an optimum peak at 45‡C. The pH dependence of the activity showed a maximum around 9.5. The addition of NaCl promoted an increase of the activity. Stability of thrombin decreased rapidly when increasing the temperature from 25–45‡C and when diluting the enyzme. The presence of glycerol and ethylene glycol promoted a small increase of thrombin half life, whereas polyethylene glycol had a more pronounced positive effect even at very low concentrations.