Snapshots of dioxygen activation by copper: the structure of a 1:1 Cu/O(2) adduct and its use in syntheses of asymmetric Bis(mu-oxo) complexes

The X-ray structure of a 1:1 Cu/O(2) adduct revealed side-on (eta(2)) O(2) coordination. Density functional calculations corroborated the structure, indicated a significant contribution of a Cu(III)-(O(2)(2-)) resonance form, and provided insights into the key bonding interactions. Reaction of a 1:1 adduct supported by a slightly different beta-diketiminate ligand with Cu(I) reagents resulted in the formation of novel asymmetric bis(mu-oxo) complexes that were identified by EPR, UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopy, as well as by an X-ray structure in one instance.     

Perturbation theory for the radial distribution function for simple polar fluids

The radial distribution function for a fluid whose molecules interact according to the Stockmayer potential was calculated by means of thermodynamic perturbation theory using two different approximations for the perturbation term and was compared with computer simulation results. The approximation based on the Percus-Yevick equation was found to be in much better agreement with the simulations than was the “simplified superposition approximation” to the perturbation term.     

Anharmonicity in rotational and vibrational excitation of H2 by Li+ collisions

Integral cross sections for pure rotational and vibrational-rotational excitation of H₂(X¹Σ⁺_g) by Li⁺(¹S) impact are computed by close-coupling methods at 0.2, 0.6, and 1.2 eV in the c.m. system using vibrational functions that are numerical solutions of the one-dimensional radial Schrödinger equation for harmonic, Morse, and adiabatically corrected Kolos-Wolniewicz (KW) potential functions. Comparison of results employing KW and Morse functions shows excellent agreement for all transitions studied. Findings using harmonic oscillator functions, however, differ noticeably from KW and Morse values for vibrational (0 → 1) and very large rotational (Δj = 10) transitions, but are satisfactory for lower order (0 → 2, 4, 6, 8) rotational transitions.     

Synthesis of reduced complex oxides of molybdenum by fused salt electrolysis

Fused salt electrolysis has been used to prepare a number of reduced oxides of molybdenum with lanthanum, neodymium, and yttrium in single crystal or oriented polycrystalline form. The average valence of molybdenum in the various compounds ranged from 5.67 to 3.50. Previously unreported compounds include La₅Mo₄O₁₆ (triclinica = 5.64 Å,b = 20.7 0Å,c = 5.64 Å, α = 86.55°, β = 90.0°, γ = 93.45°); La₂Mo₂O₇ (orthorhombic,a = 12.19 Å,b = 6.05 Å,c = 3.87 Å); LaMo₂O₅ (hexagonal,a = 8.378 Å,c = 19.26 Å). In addition, single crystal specimens have been prepared of Y₂MoO₅,Ln₅Mo₃O₁₆(Ln =La, Nd) and metal atom cluster compounds of theA₂Mo₃O₈ type (A = Mg, Co, Ni, Zn).     

Identification of a minimal subset of receptor conformations for improved multiple conformation docking and two-step scoring

Docking and scoring are critical issues in virtual drug screening methods. Fast and reliable methods are required for the prediction of binding affinity especially when applied to a large library of compounds. The implementation of receptor flexibility and refinement of scoring functions for this purpose are extremely challenging in terms of computational speed. Here we propose a knowledge-based multiple-conformation docking method that efficiently accommodates receptor flexibility thus permitting reliable virtual screening of large compound libraries. Starting with a small number of active compounds, a preliminary docking operation is conducted on a large ensemble of receptor conformations to select the minimal subset of receptor conformations that provides a strong correlation between the experimental binding affinity (e.g., Ki, IC50) and the docking score. Only this subset is used for subsequent multiple-conformation docking of the entire data set of library (test) compounds. In conjunction with the multiple-conformation docking procedure, a two-step scoring scheme is employed by which the optimal scoring geometries obtained from the multiple-conformation docking are re-scored by a molecular mechanics energy function including desolvation terms. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, we applied this integrated approach to the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) system for which published binding affinity data were available for a series of structurally diverse chemicals. The statistical correlation between docking scores and experimental values was significantly improved from those of single-conformation dockings. This approach led to substantial enrichment of the virtual screening conducted on mixtures of active and inactive ERalpha compounds.     

A chemical inhibitor reveals the role of Raf kinase inhibitor protein in cell migration

Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is a modulator of cell signaling that functions as an endogenous inhibitor of multiple kinases. We demonstrate here a positive role for RKIP in the regulation of cell locomotion. We discovered that RKIP is the relevant cellular target of locostatin, a cell migration inhibitor. Locostatin abrogates RKIP's ability to bind and inhibit Raf-1 kinase, and it acts by disrupting a protein-protein interaction, an uncommon mode of action for a small molecule. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of RKIP expression also reduces cell migration rate. Overexpression of RKIP converts epithelial cells to a highly migratory fibroblast-like phenotype, with dramatic reduction in the sensitivity of cells to locostatin. RKIP is therefore the compound's valid target and a key regulator of cell motility.     

Post-source decay in the analysis of polystyrene by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Various secondary series are observed in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectra of polystyrene. The number and positions of the series depend on the choice of matrix and added cation. For a given treatment, series observed in linear mode are not necessarily observed in reflectron mode, and vice versa. Post-source decay analysis was used to determine that the secondary series arise at least in part from formation and decay of adducts of polystyrene with matrix species. There is some treatment-to-treatment variation, but adduct formation and decay were observed for all tested treatments. The multiplicity of secondary series makes it unclear whether post-source decay occurs for the main series (polystyrene + cation)⁺ ions under the conditions normally used for polystyrene analysis. Such ions do undergo post-source decay at laser fluences greater than normally used. Although only polystyrene was investigated in this work, other polymers may also produce adduct and decay series in MALDI analysis. Their presence can mask the presence of minor components in a sample, but at least as observed here, do not have a strong influence on molecular mass determinations.     

The correlation of vibrational broadening of core lines in x-ray photoelectron spectra with valence bond resonance structures

When core ionization of an atom in a molecule causes significant changes in bond orders, the core-hole ion is formed in a strained configuration. This strain causes vibrational broadening of the core line. The core-hole ion can be represented as an ordinary chemical species by applying the equivalent cores approximation. Then simple rules of classical valence bond theory can be used to predict changes in the weighting of resonance structures and corresponding changes in bond orders. Thus qualitative changes in relative linewidths can be predicted.     

The role of kinetic energy in chemical binding

The wavefunctions and various partitions of the energy are examined for a variety of small molecules (H₂, H₃, H₄, HeH, HeH₂, He₂, LiH, and BH) in order to isolate the factors crucial for bond formation. We find that a natural partition of the energy leads to the conclusion that the crucial factor is the exchange, or nonclassical, part of the kinetic energy, T ^x. The change in T ^xupon pushing the atoms towards one another is the dominant term in the binding energy; it is negative when the resulting molecule is stable and positive when it is unstable. We show that T ^x is related to the interference kinetic energy considered by Ruedenberg.

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Zusammenfassung Die Wellenfunktionen und verschiedene Zerlegungen der Energie werden für eine Reihe kleiner Moleküle untersucht (H₂, H₃, H₄, HeH, HeH₂, He₂, LiH und BH), um die Faktoren zu finden, die für die Bindungsbildung ausschlaggebend sind. Die natürliche Zerlegung der Energie läßt die Folgerung zu, daß der bestimmende Faktor der Austauschanteil T ^x(oder nichtklassische Anteil) der kinetischen Energie ist. Die Änderung von T ^xbeim Zusammenführen der Atome ist der dominierende Term für die Bindungsenergie; er ist negativ, wenn das resultierende Molekül stabil ist, und positiv, falls es instabil ist. Es wird gezeigt, daß T ^x im Zusammenhang zum Wechselwirkungsanteil der kinetischen Energie nach Ruedenberg steht.

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Partially supported by a grant (GP-15423) from the National Science Foundation. This paper is based on a portion of the PhD thesis (California Institute of Technology, 1970) by CWW.

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National Science Foundation Predoctoral Trainee.

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Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellow.

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Contribution No. 3917.     

Teaching Operational Research Technique

Good technique, i.e. competence in carrying out operational research, is as vital for the practitioner to acquire as competence in the traditional ‘techniques’. It is suggested that universities should teach students how to conduct simple projects prior to alerting them to more sophisticated methodological issues.As an aid to this task, the traditional five or six parts of an operational research project are broken down and extended into 39 steps, and regrouped into three phases. Also, five skills are identified as being conceptually essential to "good" operational research, which students can develop through tackling suitable case studies.