Manganese,cobalt and nickel complexes with a novel 17-membered macrocycle containing an N5 donor set

Summary The synthesis of a new macrocycle containing phenanthroline and pyridine subunits is described. The reaction of 2,9-bis(hydrazone)-1,10-phenanthroline with 2,6-bis-(bromomethyl) pyridine in the presence of Mn^II, Co^II or Ni^II ion templates leads to the isolation, in high yield, of the seven-coordinate complexes [M(L³)Br₂] (L³ = 4,5, 6,7,8,9-phenanthrolino-14,15,16-pyridino-1,2,5,8,11,12,15 heptaazacycloheptadecane,2,10-diene). The compounds were characterized by physical measurements, which indicated that in all the complexes the ligand is acting as a pentadentate N₅ chelating agent.     

Synthesis of proline-modified analogues of the neuroprotective agent glycyl-l-prolyl-glutamic acid (GPE)

The synthesis of ten proline-modified analogues of the neuroprotective tripeptide GPE is described. Five of the analogues incorporate a proline residue with a hydrophobic group at C-2 and two further analogues have this side chain locked into a spirolactam ring system. The pyrrolidine ring was also modified by replacing the γ-CH₂ group with sulfur and/or incorporation of two methyl groups at C-5.     

Buffers for the Physiological pH Range: Thermodynamics of the Second Dissociation of N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic Acid From 5 to 55°C

The second acidic dissociation constants pK ₂ of the ampholyte N-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-N-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (HEPPSO) have been determined at seven temperatures from 5 to 55°C from emf measurements utilizing hydrogen and silver–silver chloride cells without liquid junction. The thermodynamic quantities, G°, H°,S°, and C _p ^o have been calculated from the temperature coefficient of pK ₂. At 25°C, the pK ₂ = 8.042 and at 37°C, pK ₂ = 7.876; hence, buffer solutions of HEPPSO and NaHEPPSOate are important for pH control in the region close to that of clinical fluids (blood serum). Conventional pH values from 5 to 55°C as well as those obtained from liquid junction correction at 25 and 37°C have been reported for three buffer solutions with the compositions (molality scale): (1) equimolal mixture of HEPPSO (0.04 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.04 m) + NaCl (0.12 m); (2) HEPPSO (0.08 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.08 m); and (3) HEPPSO (0.08 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.08 m) + NaCl (0.08 m).     

Application of NMR SHAPES screening to an RNA target

Several NMR screening techniques have been developed in recent years to aid in the identification of lead drug compounds. These NMR methods have traditionally been used for protein targets, and here we examine their applicability for an RNA target. We used the SHAPES compound library to test three different NMR screening methodologies: the saturation transfer difference (STD), the 2D trNOESY, and the WaterLOGSY experiments. We found that the WaterLOGSY experiment was the most sensitive method for our RNA target, the P4P6 domain of the Tetrahymena thermophila Group I intron. Using the WaterLOGSY experiment, we found that 23 of the 112 SHAPES compounds interact with P4P6. To identify which of these 23 hits bind through nonspecific interactions, we counterscreened with a linear duplex RNA control and identified one of the SHAPES compounds as interacting with P4P6 specifically. We thus demonstrated that the WaterLOGSY experiment in combination with the SHAPES compound library can be used to efficiently find RNA binding lead compounds.     

Conformational analysis—XXVIII : Four-component equilibria in 1,3-dioxanes. Ring deformations and the chair-twist free energy difference

Four-component equilibria in substituted 1,3-dioxanes were applied to the determination of conformational energies not accessible by conventional equilibration, with the following conclusions: 1. The difference in free energy between the chair and twist forms of 2,2,trans - 4,6 - tetramethyl - 1,3 -dioxane is 7·4 kcal/mol. 2. Equatorial Me substituents at C-4,6 exert a palpable buttressing effect on the corresponding axial substituents. 3. Equatorial substituents at C-2 exert a similar buttressing effect on the geminal axial substituent. 4. The effect of equatorial t-Bu substitution or gem-dimethyl substitution at C-5 on conformational energy seems to be of minor importance. The more complex effects of equatorial 4-t-Bu substitution are discussed.     

Potent and selective structure-based dibenzofuran inhibitors of transthyretin amyloidogenesis: kinetic stabilization of the native state

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidogenesis requires rate-limiting tetramer dissociation and partial monomer denaturation to produce a misassembly competent species. This process has been followed by turbidity to identify transthyretin amyloidogenesis inhibitors including dibenzofuran-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (1). An X-ray cocrystal structure of TTR.1(2) reveals that it only utilizes the outer portion of the two thyroxine binding pockets to bind to and inhibit TTR amyloidogenesis. Herein, structure-based design was employed to append aryl substituents at C1 of the dibenzofuran ring to complement the unused inner portion of the thyroxine binding pockets. Twenty-eight amyloidogenesis inhibitors of increased potency and dramatically increased plasma TTR binding selectivity resulted. These function by imposing kinetic stabilization on the native tetrameric structure of TTR, creating a barrier that is insurmountable under physiological conditions. Since kinetic stabilization of the TTR native state by interallelic trans suppression is known to ameliorate disease, there is reason to be optimistic that the dibenzofuran-based inhibitors will do the same. Preventing the onset of amyloidogenesis is the most conservative strategy to intervene clinically, as it remains unclear which of the TTR misassembly intermediates results in toxicity. The exceptional binding selectivity enables these inhibitors to occupy the thyroxine binding site(s) in a complex biological fluid such as blood plasma, required for inhibition of amyloidogenesis in humans. It is now established that the dibenzofuran-based amyloidogenesis inhibitors have high selectivity, affinity, and efficacy and are thus excellent candidates for further pharmacologic evaluation.     

The Potential Energies of Cohesion of a Crystalline Organic Enantiomer and the Racemate; on the Energy for the Liquid Racemate [1]

The cohesion potential energy of the crystal of one enantiomer of ethyl 3-cyano-3-(3,4-dimethyloxyphenyl)-2,2,4-trimethylpentanoate, −47.7 ± 0.1 kJ mol⁻¹ (0–90°C), was found out from the heat of sublimation (123.2 ± 5.1 kJ mol⁻¹, 78.6°C) and the kinetic energies for the gas phase and the crystal. It was found that the entropy function of Debye’s theory of solids mathematically agreed with the vibrational entropy of the gas (variationally obtained), allowing to disclose the vibrational energy using the Debye energy function (E _vib 835.0 kJ mol⁻¹ (78.6°C), E ⁰ included). E _kin for the crystal (771.1 kJ mol⁻¹ (78.6°C)) was obtained by Debye’s theory with the experimental heat capacity. The cohesion energy represented a moderate part of the sublimation energy. The cohesion energy of the racemic crystal, −44.2 kJ mol⁻¹, was obtained by the heat of formation of the crystal in the solid state (3.0 kJ mol⁻¹, 83.3°C) and E _kin for the crystal (by Debye’s theory). The decrease in cohesion on formation of the crystal accounted for the energy of formation. The change in potential energy on liquefaction of the racemate from the gas state was disclosed obtaining added-up E _{vib + rot} for the liquid in the way as to E _vib for the gas, the Debye entropy function being increasedly suited for the liquid (E _{vib + rot} 763.4 kJ mol⁻¹ (115.4°C)). Positive ΔE _pot, 13.0 kJ mol⁻¹, arised from the increase in electronic energy (Δ _l ν_mean − 154.3 cm⁻¹, by the dielectric nature of the liquid), added to the cohesion energy.     

The intersection marker method for 3D interface tracking of deformable surfaces in finite volumes

Currently, the majority of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes use the finite volume method to spatially discretise the computational domain, sometimes as an array of cubic control volumes. The Finite volume method works well with single‐phase flow simulations, but two‐phase flow simulations are more challenging because of the need to track the surface interface traversing and deforming within the 3D grid. Surface area and volume fraction details of each interface cell must be accurately accounted for, in order to calculate for the momentum exchange and rates of heat and mass transfer across the interface. To attain a higher accuracy in two‐phase flow CFD calculations, the intersection marker (ISM) method is developed. The ISM method is a hybrid Lagrangian–Eulerian front‐tracking algorithm that can model an arbitrary 3D surface within an array of cubic control volumes. The ISM method has a cell‐by‐cell remeshing capability that is volume conservative and is suitable for the tracking of complex interface deformation in transient two‐phase CFD simulations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Insight into industrial PLA aging process by complementary use of rheology,HPLC, and MALDI

Nowadays, there is a growing availability of biodegradable industrial materials intended to food contact applications whose service life behavior needs to be further investigated. This article is focused on the degradation of two materials based on polylactic acid. The correlation between the rate of degradation and the amount of trapped degradation products was investigated applying three characterization techniques in parallel, namely rheology, high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). The rate of degradation was studied through the evaluation of their rheological properties and calculation of the number of average molecular weights, and weight‐average molecular weights. Water‐soluble oligomers and lactic acid were quantified by HPLC‐ultraviolet. Changes in cyclic and linear oligomers were monitored by MALDI‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Specimens of 4‐mm thickness of each biopolymer were subjected to hydrolysis in deionized water up to 6 months at two temperatures, simulating service conditions of food packaging. The diminution in viscosity and consequently in molecular weight distribution (20–60%) showed the degradation of the molecular structure of both polylactic acids. The chain scission was followed through the increasing values of lactic acid and hydrolyzed oligomers (twofold to eightfold), and the predominant signal of the linear oligomers over the cyclic ones with aging. Rheology, HPLC, and MALDI showed to be complementary tools to better understand the changes in the molecular structure. The obtained results showed the necessity of adding suitable stabilizers for each particular food packaging application. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isolation and Crystallographic Characterization of Two,Nonisolated Pentagon Endohedral Fullerenes: Ho3N@C2(22010)-C78 and Tb3N@C2(22010)-C78

Purified samples of Ho₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ and Tb₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ have been isolated by two distinct processes from the rich array of fullerenes and endohedral fullerenes present in carbon soot from graphite rods doped with Ho₂O₃ or Tb₄O₇. Crystallographic analysis of the endohedral fullerenes as cocrystals with Ni(OEP) (in which OEP is the dianion of octaethylporphyrin) shows that both molecules contain the chiral C₂(22010)-C₇₈ cage. This cage does not obey the isolated pentagon rule (IPR) but has two sites where two pentagons share a common C−C bond. These pentalene units bind two of the metal ions, whereas the third metal resides near a hexagon of the cage. Inside the cages, the Ho₃N or Tb₃N unit is planar. Ho₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ and Tb₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ use the same cage previously found for Gd₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ rather than the IPR-obeying cage found in Sc₃N@D_3h-C₇₈.