Time-effective and reliable solid-state structure evaluation of selected peracetylated β-maltose derivatives by means of grid search,genetic algorithm and DFT calculations

Efficient solid-state structure evaluation of β-maltose octaacetate (1), methyl β-maltoside heptaacetate (2), and ethyl 1-thio-β-maltoside heptaacetate (3) was performed. The search for the best conformers for 1–3 was conducted in three consecutive steps: grid search, genetic algorithm refinement and DFT study. The use of a genetic algorithm caused a spectacular time shortening of the calculations. The obtained theoretical conformation for 1 resembled its XRD refinement almost perfectly. Although XRD analysis was impossible to perform for 2 and 3 (they form improper crystals), their reliable conformations were obtained. It was proved by the use of ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy.     

Reliable evaluation of molecular structure of methyl 3-O-nitro-α-d-glucopyranoside and its intermediates by means of solid-state NMR spectroscopy and DFT optimization in the absence of appropriate crystallographic data

In this paper the comparative structural analysis of a series of compounds (methyl α-d-glucopyranoside, methyl 4,6-O-ethylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside (2), methyl 2,3-di-O-nitro-4,6-O-ethylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside and methyl 3-O-nitro-4,6-O-ethylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside) by way of synthesis leading to methyl 3-O-nitro-α-d-glucopyranoside (5) is reported. The title compound (5) is a novel d-glucosidic mononitrate having potential biological activity against cardiovascular diseases. The structural analysis was supported by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. In the case of 2 and 5, XRD analysis could not be performed due to the fact that 2 is highly hygroscopic and 5 forms improper crystals. However, the molecular structures of 2 and 5 were obtained on the basis of experimental (existing XRD data for similar compounds) and theoretical (DFT optimization) approaches. This showed of very good agreement with the ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectral data.     

Synthesis,Solid‐State NMR Characterization,and Application for Hydrogenation Reactions of a Novel Wilkinson’s‐Type Immobilized Catalyst

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were chosen as a solid support material for the immobilization of a new Wilkinson’s‐type catalyst. In a first step, polymer molecules (poly(triphenylphosphine)ethylene (PTPPE); 4‐diphenylphosphine styrene as monomer) were grafted onto the silica nanoparticles by surface‐initiated photoinferter‐mediated polymerization (SI‐PIMP). The catalyst was then created by binding rhodium (Rh) to the polymer side chains, with RhCl₃ ? x H₂O as a precursor. The triphenylphosphine units and rhodium as Rh^I provide an environment to form Wilkinson’s catalyst‐like structures. Employing multinuclear (³¹P, ²⁹Si, and ¹³C) solid‐state NMR spectroscopy (SSNMR), the structure of the catalyst bound to the polymer and the intermediates of the grafting reaction have been characterized. Finally, first applications of this catalyst in hydrogenation reactions employing para‐enriched hydrogen gas (PHIP experiments) and an assessment of its leaching properties are presented.     

Thermotropic Properties and Molecular Packing of Discotic Tristriazolotriazines with Rigid Substituents

Tristriazolotriazines with a threefold dialkoxyaryl substitution have been prepared by Huisgen reaction of cyanuric chloride and the corresponding tetrazoles. Although these dyes show a negative or inverted solvatochromism of the UV/Vis absorption, their fluorescence is strongly positive solvatochromic. These discotic fluorophores are also emissive in their solid state and in their broad liquid‐crystalline mesophase. The structural study indicates that the thermotropic properties and organization of these systems can be well tuned by the steric demand of the aryl groups. Depending on the substituents, the compounds showed either a pure crystalline phase or a highly complex helical superstructure with a characteristic liquid‐crystalline phase at elevated temperatures. Changing the steric demand of the attached aryls allowed controlling the discs arrangement within the columnar helix, which is of great importance for the molecular orbital overlap.     

Enhanced Water Splitting at Thin Film Tungsten Trioxide Photoanodes Bearing Plasmonic Gold–Polyoxometalate Particles

Tungsten trioxide (WO₃) is one of a few stable semiconductor materials liable to produce solar fuel by photoelectrochemical water splitting. To enhance its visible light conversion efficiency, we incorporated plasmonic gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) derivatized with polyoxometalate (H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀) species into WO₃. The combined plasmonic and catalytic effect of Au NPs anchored to the WO₃ surface resulted in a large increase of water photooxidation currents. Shielding the Au NPs with polyoxometalates appears to be an effective means to avoid formation of recombination centers at the photoanode surface.     

Improvement of derivatized amino acid detection sensitivity in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography by means of acid-induced pH-mediated stacking technique

Derivatization is a frequently used sample preparation procedure applicable to the enhancement of analyte detection sensitivity. Amino acids mostly require derivatization prior to electrophoretic or chromatographic analysis, especially if spectrophotometric detection is used. This study presents an on-line preconcentration technique for derivatized amino acids. The sensitivity of the method was improved by the utilization of the proposed acid-induced pH-mediated stacking mechanism. The method is demonstrated by preconcentration of amino acids labeled with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Use of optimized conditions for a large sample volume injection (40 s, 13.8 kPa) followed by electrokinetic injection of 0.1 M HCl (20 s, 10 kV) gave a 20- to 30-fold enhancement of sensitivity. The significance of the sweeping mechanism and pseudo-isotachophoresis for the on-line sample focusing and the influence of parameters on the preconcentration process were discussed. The applicability of the elaborated method was demonstrated using human urine samples.     

Application of NRTL activity coefficient model to describe the kinetics of gas adsorption

The Non-Random Two-Liquid activity coefficient model is applied to describe the kinetics of pure gas adsorption on energetically heterogeneous solid surfaces. The surface energetic heterogeneity has been represented by the Gaussian-like function of the adsorption energy distribution. Two different kinetic isotherms have been presented. One of them, determined by using the statistical rate theory, has been critically discussed. The applicability of the presented approach has been demonstrated by a quantitative analysis of two sets of experimental data previously reported in the literature.      

A Functional Role for Aβ in Metal Homeostasis? N‐Truncation and High‐Affinity Copper Binding

Accumulation of the β‐amyloid (Aβ) peptide in extracellular senile plaques rich in copper and zinc is a defining pathological feature of Alzheimer′s disease (AD). The Aβ1–x (x=16/28/40/42) peptides have been the primary focus of Cu^II binding studies for more than 15 years; however, the N‐truncated Aβ4–42 peptide is a major Aβ isoform detected in both healthy and diseased brains, and it contains a novel N‐terminal FRH sequence. Proteins with His at the third position are known to bind Cu^II avidly, with conditional log K values at pH 7.4 in the range of 11.0–14.6, which is much higher than that determined for Aβ1–x peptides. By using Aβ4–16 as a model, it was demonstrated that its FRH sequence stoichiometrically binds Cu^II with a conditional K_d value of 3×10⁻¹⁴ M at pH 7.4, and that both Aβ4–16 and Aβ4–42 possess negligible redox activity. Combined with the predominance of Aβ4–42 in the brain, our results suggest a physiological role for this isoform in metal homeostasis within the central nervous system.     

Thio Analogs of Pyrimidine Bases: Synthesis And Spectroscopic Study of New Potentially Biologically Active Disulfides of N,O-(N,N- or O,O-)-Di- and N,N,O-Tri-(o-, m-, and p-)bromobenzyl-2-thiouracils

Nine new disulfides of N,O-(N,N- or O,O-)-di- and N,N,O-tri-(o-, m- and p-)bromobenzyl-2-thiouracils have been prepared. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic (FT-IR, UV-Vis, ¹H NMR) and elemental analyses. Estimation of pharmacotherapeutic potential has been made for synthesized compounds on the basis of Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS).