Viscoelastic properties of single poly(ethylene glycol) molecules.

The viscoelastic properties of single poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) molecules were measured by analysis of thermally and magnetically driven oscillations of an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever/molecule system. The molecular and monomer stiffness and friction of the PEG polymer were derived using a simple harmonic oscillator (SHO) model. Excellent agreement between the values of these two parameters obtained by the two approaches indicates the validity of the SHO model under the experimental regimes and the excellent reproducibility of the techniques. A sharp minimum in the monomeric friction is seen at around 180 pN applied force which we propose is due to a force induced change in the shape of the energy landscape describing the conformational transition of PEG from a helical to a planar state, which in turn affects the timescale of the transition and therefore modifies the measured internal friction. A knowledge of the viscoelastic response of PEG monomers is particularly important since PEG is widely used as a linker molecule for tethering groups of interest to the AFM tip in force spectroscopy experiments, and we show here that care must be exercised because of the force-dependent viscoelastic properties of these linkers.     

Elektronenreiche übergangsmetallkomplexe : II. Nitril-phosphan-molybdändicarbonyle: Farbe und solvatochromie

Complexes of aromatic or α,β-unsaturated nitriles YCN of the type (YCN)₂(PR₃)₂Mo(CO)₂ and (YCN)(PR₃)₃Mo(CO)₂ are new chromophores. Their intense electronic absorption band in the visible spectrum is strongly influenced by substituents and solvent polarity. Acceptor properties of nitriles are discussed on the basis of CNDO-calculations. CT-character and solvato-chromism can be interpreted in terms of the back-bonding ability of the nitriles in electron-rich metal complexes.     

First investigation of non-classical dihydrogen bonding between an early transition-metal hydride and alcohols: IR, NMR, and DFT approach

The interaction of [NbCp(2)H(3)] with fluorinated alcohols to give dihydrogen-bonded complexes was studied by a combination of IR, NMR and DFT methods. IR spectra were examined in the range from 200-295 K, affording a clear picture of dihydrogen-bond formation when [NbCp(2)H(3)]/HOR(f) mixtures (HOR(f) = hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) or perfluoro-tert-butanol (PFTB)) were quickly cooled to 200 K. Through examination of the OH region, the dihydrogen-bond energetics were determined to be 4.5+/-0.3 kcal mol(-1) for TFE (TFE = trifluoroethanol) and 5.7+/-0.3 kcal mol(-1) for HFIP. (1)H NMR studies of solutions of [NbCp(2)H(2)(B)H(A)] and HFIP in [D(8)]toluene revealed high-field shifts of the hydrides H(A) and H(B), characteristic of dihydrogen-bond formation, upon addition of alcohol. The magnitude of signal shifts and T(1) relaxation time measurements show preferential coordination of the alcohol to the central hydride H(A), but are also consistent with a bifurcated character of the dihydrogen bonding. Estimations of hydride-proton distances based on T(1) data are in good accord with the results of DFT calculations. DFT calculations for the interaction of [NbCp(2)H(3)] with a series of non-fluorinated (MeOH, CH(3)COOH) and fluorinated (CF(3)OH, TFE, HFIP, PFTB and CF(3)COOH) proton donors of different strengths showed dihydrogen-bond formation, with binding energies ranging from -5.7 to -12.3 kcal mol(-1), depending on the proton donor strength. Coordination of proton donors occurs both to the central and to the lateral hydrides of [NbCp(2)H(3)], the former interaction being of bifurcated type and energetically slightly more favourable. In the case of the strong acid H(3)O(+), the proton transfer occurs without any barrier, and no dihydrogen-bonded intermediates are found. Proton transfer to [NbCp(2)H(3)] gives bis(dihydrogen) [NbCp(2)(eta(2)-H(2))(2)](+) and dihydride(dihydrogen) complexes [NbCp(2)(H)(2)(eta(2)-H(2))](+) (with lateral hydrides and central dihydrogen), the former product being slightly more stable. When two molecules of TFA were included in the calculations, in addition to the dihydrogen-bonded adduct, an ionic pair formed by the cationic bis(dihydrogen) complex [NbCp(2)(eta(2)-H(2))(2)](+) and the homoconjugated anion pair (CF(3)COO...H...OOCCF(3))(-) was found as a minimum. It is very likely that these ionic pairs may be intermediates in the H/D exchange between the hydride ligands and the OD group observed with the more acidic alcohols in the NMR studies.     

Molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations and cone angles of phosphine ligands

Molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations were performed on 54 conformations of 18 phosphines (PH₃; PH_3−nR_n, where n = 1,…3, and R = Me and Et, n = 1 or 2 and R =ⁱPr, and n = 1 and R =^tBu, PMe₂Et, PMeEt₂, and PPhMe₂, and PPh₂R where R = Me, Et, ⁱPr, ^tBu and Ph). The results are compared to those previously obtained from MINDO/3 and MNDO calculations, and to experimental data. Single conformer cone angles and weighted average cone angles were calculated from MM2 optimized geometries employing Tolman's general definition, and they are compared to Tolman's values, MINDO/3 results, and T.L. Brown's E_R values. Of the cone angle definitions used, the weighted average values are suggested as the best single representation of phosphine ligand sizes. The steric parameters (cone angle and E_R values) alone, and in conjunction with electronic parameters, are correlated with experimental data.     

Disposable multichannel immunosensors for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid using acetylcholinesterase as an enzyme label

An improved version of the disposable multichannel immunochemical biosensor for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) based on a screen-printed amperometric transducer and monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against 2,4-D is reported. Entrapment within a thin Nafion film was used for the direct immobilization of MAb at the electrode surface. The amount of the tracer (2,4-D conjugated to acetylcholinesterase) bound in a competitive immunochemical reaction was determined amperometrically using acetylthiocholine iodide as substrate. The measuring procedure (times of incubation with tracer and substrate, pH, tracer concentration) was optimized. The sensor was able to detect less than 0.01 μg/L of free 2,4-D in water. One analysis (8 samples) was completed in 30 min (20 min for immunochemical reaction, 5 min incubation with substrate, 5 min measurement). The performance of the immunosensor (two configurations) was evaluated on real samples (tap water) with added 2,4-D. The determined amounts (mean values 0.097 to 0.105 and 0.89 to 1.13) corresponded well with the added contents of 2,4-D (0.100 and 1.00 μg/L, respectively).     

Diels-Alder reactions of pyridinone o-quinodimethanes generated from substituted sulfolene[3,4-c]pyridin-4(1H)-ones

1-Benzyl-3-(bromomethyl)-2(1H)-pyrazinone was converted to [3,4-c] sulfolene pyridinone 8a and further (1- or 3-) substituted derivatives having a dienophilic side chain on the sulfolene ring. Thermolytic extrusion of sulfur dioxide from o-QDM precursor 8 led to generation of 3,4-dimethylene-2(1H)-pyrazinone 9, which was reacted in situ with various dienophiles. Thermolysis of the substituted precursors resulted in intramolecular cycloaddition of the corresponding o-QDM intermediates     

Dioxomolybdenum(VI) Complexes with New Enantiomerically Pure Amino Diol Ligands

(R)-Phenylglycinol is shown to be an efficient building block for the synthesis of chiral amino diols in pure diastereomeric form by epoxide ring-opening reactions. The reaction with rac-trans-stilbene oxide gives [HOCH(2)-(R)-PhCH]NH[(S)-PhCH-(R)-PhCHOH] [2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-HNO(2)H(2)] in 32% yield, which can be methylated at nitrogen to give enantiomerically pure [HOCH(2)-(R)-PhCH]NCH(3)[(S)-PhCH-(R)-PhCHOH] [2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-MeNO(2)H(2)]. These amino diol ligands have been used to prepare chiral dioxomolybdenyl complexes of the formula N(R)-2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-(HNO(2))MoO(2) (1) and N(R)-2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-(MeNO(2))MoO(2) (2). The absolute configuration at each stereocenter in the Mo(VI) complexes has been established by (1)H NOESY spectroscopy. The configuration determined for 1 has been confirmed by an X-ray analysis. Crystal data: orthorhombic P2(1)2(1)2(1), a =7.620(3), b = 13.589(2), c = 20.339(3) ?, Z = 4, R = 0.0336. The structure consists of a polymeric chain of N(R)-2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-(HNO(2))MoO(2) molecules connected through unsymmetrical Mo=O --> Mo bridges. Each metal center is coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry by a cis dioxo unit and by two trans alkoxo atoms. The coordination polyhedron is completed by a nitrogen atom and by a bridging oxo oxygen atom from an adjacent molecule. Compound 2 catalyzes the oxidation of PPh(3) to OPPh(3) by DMSO through a mechanism that involves the intermediacy of a Mo(IV) species.     

Templating S100A9 amyloids on Aβ fibrillar surfaces revealed by charge detection mass spectrometry,microscopy, kinetic and microfluidic analyses

The mechanism of amyloid co-aggregation and its nucleation process are not fully understood in spite of extensive studies. Deciphering the interactions between proinflammatory S100A9 protein and Aβ₄₂ peptide in Alzheimer''s disease is fundamental since inflammation plays a central role in the disease onset. Here we use innovative charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) together with biophysical techniques to provide mechanistic insight into the co-aggregation process and differentiate amyloid complexes at a single particle level. Combination of mass and charge distributions of amyloids together with reconstruction of the differences between them and detailed microscopy reveals that co-aggregation involves templating of S100A9 fibrils on the surface of Aβ₄₂ amyloids. Kinetic analysis further corroborates that the surfaces available for the Aβ₄₂ secondary nucleation are diminished due to the coating by S100A9 amyloids, while the binding of S100A9 to Aβ₄₂ fibrils is validated by a microfluidic assay. We demonstrate that synergy between CDMS, microscopy, kinetic and microfluidic analyses opens new directions in interdisciplinary research.

Templating mechanism of S100A9 amyloids on Aβ fibrillar surfaces during amyloid co-aggregation process was revealed by synergy of biophysical methods including charge detection mass spectrometry, microscopy, kinetic and microfluidic analyses.     

The fluorobasicities of ReF7 and IF7 as measured by the enthalpy change ΔH°(EF7(g) → EF6+(g) + F−(g))

Iridium hexafluoride oxidizes ReF₆ (via an ReF₆⁺ salt) and at room temperatures IrF₆, ReF₆, ReF₇ and (IrF₅)₄ are each present in the equilibrium mixture. From these and related findings: ΔH°(ReF₆ → ReF₆⁺ + e^?) 1092 ± 27 kj mole^?1(261 ± 6 kcal mole^?1), and thermodynamic data are selected to yield ΔH°(ReF_7(g) → ReF₆⁺_(g) + F^?_(g))=893 ± 33 kj mole^?1(213 ± 8 kcal mole^?1). From observations on the stability of IF₆⁺BF₄^? and the lattice enthalpy evaluation for the salt, ΔH°(IF_7(g) → IF₆⁺_(g) + F^?_(g))= 870 ± 24 kj mole^?1(208 ± 6 kcal mole^?1).     

EVIDENCE FOR A MAGNESIUM DEPENDENT ATPase IN BOVINE ROD OUTER SEGMENT DISK MEMBRANES*†

Abstract—In the presence of Mg²⁺ and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a rapid. light-induced, light-scattering transient is observed from bovine rod outer segments (ROS). This light-scattering transient we have labelled 'A'. Ca²⁺ cannot replace Mg²⁺. nor can guanosine triphosphate (GTP) replace ATP. 'A' is observed at ATP concentrations as low as a few μM.
The half-time of 'A', 60 ms at 20° and 20 ms at 37°, is consistent with a process possibly involved in visual transduction.
'A' has the action spectrum of rhodopsin bleaching and its amplitude is strictly proportional to the fraction of rhodopsin bleached per flash. 'A' can be regenerated by 11- cis retinal.
Inhibition studics with ATP analogues, which cannot be hydrolysed and fail to evoke an 'A' response, reveal that an ATP hydrolysis process has to precede illumination in order for 'A' to occur.
On the basis of the above findings. it is proposed that there is a Mg²⁺ dependent ATPase in ROS that allows the disk membrane to assume a new membrane state which, upon illumination, is altered. giving rise to the structural phenomenon monitored as light-scattering transient 'A'.