Spin-crossover dendrimers: generation number-dependent cooperativity for thermal spin transition

Poly(benzyl ether) dendrons having a focal triazole unit (Gntrz: trz = triazole; n = generation number = 0-2) were found to react with (MeSO(3))(2)Fe to form dendritic coordination polymers ([Fe(Gntrz)(3)](MeSO(3))(2).2H(2)O) that undergo the thermal spin transition. When the generation number of the dendritic unit was larger (n = 0 --> 1 --> 2), the average degree of polymerization (D(p) = 20 --> 10 --> 3) and spin-crossover temperature (T(c) = 335 --> 315 --> 300 K) of the resulting polymer were lower. However, the abruptness of the spin transition was not monotonically dependent on the generation number; (G1trz)Fe exhibited an abrupt spin transition with a temperature width of only 10 K, while the smallest and largest members of the (Gntrz)Fe family both displayed a rather broad spin-transition temperature width (30 (n = 0) and 50 K (n = 2)). X-ray diffraction and calorimetric analyses indicated the presence of a discotic columnar core-shell assembly with a crystal lattice best occupied by a C(3)(v)() symmetric array of medium-sized (G1trz)Fe.     

Mechanism of the reaction of N-p-tosylsulphilimine and related compounds with thiophenolate ion

The reaction of alkyl aryl N-p-tosylsulphilimines with thiophenolate ion was found to afford quantitatively the sulphide that arises by an S_N2 like reaction on the carbon atom adjacent to the tri-valent sulphur atom. This reaction was also found to proceed smoothly with such compounds as sulphoxides and sulphones and sulphoxmanes. The kinetic study on the reaction between aryl methyl N-p-tosylsulphilimine with thiophenolate ion in DMF reveals that the reaction is of second order, namely, first order with respect to each thiophenolate ion and the sulphilimine. The enthalpy and entropy of activation for the reaction are ΔH^≠ = ?17· kcal/mol and ΔS^≠ = ?5·7 eu respectively. The effect of substituents in the reaction, p-XC₆H₄⁺(^?SO₂C₆H₄Y-p)CH₃ + p-ZC₆H₄SK is nicely correl with Hammett σ values giving ?_x = + 2·4, ?_y = + 1·2 and ?_z = ?1·8 respectively. Meanwhile, a marked steric retardation by a bulky alkyl group in alkyl phenyl N-p-tosylsulphilimine is observed. Furthermore, from the stereochemical study of the reaction using an optically active sec-octyl phenyl N-p-tosylsulphilimine with thiophenolate ion it is concluded that the reaction proceeds via a typical S_N2 process on α-carbon atom attached to the tri-valent sulphur atom.     

Infrared spectroscopic study on the reaction mechanism of CO hydrogenation over Pd/CeO2

In situ infrared spectroscopy was applied to elucidate the reaction mechanism of CO hydrogenation over Pd/CeO₂. Instead of direct dissociation of CO, a new reaction pathway is proposed for methane formation, involving geminal dicarbonyl intermediates and (HCO)₂(a) intermediates, which may be located on the surface of Pd covered with thin layers of reduced ceria (SMST effect). Transformation of methane formation sites into methanol formation ones by the oxidation with water vapor formed during the CO-H₂ reaction is proposed, which may be located on the Pd (111) planes adjacent to ceria support.     

Characteristics of the Watson-Crick type hydrogen-bonded DNA base pairs: An ab initio molecular orbital study

Characteristics of the Watson-Crick-type hydrogen-bonded base pairs, thymine-adenine and cytosineguanine, are presented. These were established using an ab initio molecular orbital method. Base–base interactions are revealed to have dominant roles in the structures of nucleic acids and also in their functions. The most stable conformations in Watson-Crick-type base pairs are almost in accord with the structure observed in fiber X-ray diffraction study. Explanations are given of the origin of the sequencedependent local structures which differ from one base pair to the next, as observed in single-crystal X-ray analyses. In the case of the thymine-adenine base pair, it is shown that various geometrical parameters having almost the same stability are available. According to the propeller twist, the instability is not large enough for a base pair to be twisted readily.     

Cooperativity in chiroptical sensing with dendritic zinc porphyrins

Zinc porphyrin-appended dendrimers, 12PZn, 18PZn, 24PZn, and 36PZn, containing 12, 18, 24, and 36 zinc porphyrin units, respectively, were synthesized using zinc porphyrin dyad (2PZn) and triad (3PZn) as precursors. Although these dye-functionalized dendrimers all serve as chiroptical sensors for an asymmetric bipyridine (RR- and SS-Py2), the sensing capability is highly dependent on the structure of the dendritic scaffold. 2PZn, which is chiroptically silent toward Py2, turns cooperative and displays a large ICD (induced circular dichroism) response in the visible region when incorporated into 12PZn. Judging from the extents of contribution of each zinc porphyrin unit to the CD amplitudes ([Deltaepsilonmax]), the cooperativity in 24PZn (112 M-1 cm-1) is lower than that in 12PZn (196 M-1 cm-1) and much lower in dendron 4PZn (59 M-1 cm-1). In contrast, 3PZn, which is ICD-active toward Py2, hardly shows such an enhanced cooperativity when incorporated into 18PZn and 36PZn and dendron 6PZn, as well. Absorption spectroscopy suggests some unique conformational characteristics of the zinc porphyrin units in highly cooperative 12PZn.     

Spin‐Crossover Physical Gels: A Quick Thermoreversible Response Assisted by Dynamic Self‐Organization

Iron(II) triazolate coordination polymers with lipophilic sulfonate counterions with alkyl chains of different lengths have been synthesized. In hydrocarbon solvents, these polymers formed a physical gel and showed a thermoreversible spin transition upon the sol–gel phase transition. The formation of a hydrogen‐bonding network between the triazolate moieties and sulfonate ions, bridged by water molecules, was found to play an important role in the spin‐crossover event. The spin‐transition temperature was tuned over a wide range by adding a small amount of 1‐octanol, a scavenger for hydrogen‐bonding interactions. This additive was essential for the iron(II) species to adopt a low‐spin state. Compared with nongelling references in aromatic solvents, the spin‐crossover physical gels are characterized by their quick thermal response, which is due to a rapid restoration of the hydrogen‐bonding network, possibly because of a dynamic structural ordering through an enhanced lipophilic interaction of the self‐assembling components in hydrocarbon solvents.     

Screening for genetic mutations. A review

A point mutation of a nucleotide within a single gene can have a profound effect on a specific organ and/or the entire human body. DNA sequences associated with human diseases may differ from the corresponding normal sequences by single nucleotide mutations or by large alterations such as deletions, insertions, duplications, or translocations of DNA segments or entire chromosomes. As a result of the heterogeneity of DNA alterations and genetic mutations, various screening approaches are required to detect these alterations. However, methods which facilitate the detection of large mutations in the genome are typically insensitive to point mutations, whereas methods which detect point mutations are not appropriate to detect large alterations within the genome. Since there is no single perfect method to screen for unknown mutations, combinations of these methods may be necessary for accurate genetic diagnosis. The applications of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to genomic screening have made rapid and accurate genetical diagnosis possible. Furthermore, recent developments in the technology of DNA microarrays have opened the way for high throughput sequence analysis by hybridization, which shows great potential in both molecular biology and medicine in the near future.     

Antitumor Potential of Annona muricata Linn. An Edible and Medicinal Plant in Mexico: In Vitro,In Vivo,and Toxicological Studies

Annona muricata (Am) is a plant used in traditional Mexican medicine to treat cancer. In this study, ethanol extracts of Am collected in Acapulco and Tecpan from Guerrero state were evaluated orally on Balb/c mice inoculated with 4T1 cells, for cytotoxic activity (CA) on 4T1 cells, in brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA), and for acute oral toxicity in mice. In addition, ethanol extracts were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection. Results showed that the extracts collected in December in Acapulco (AcDe) and Tecpan (TeDe) exhibited the most significant antitumor and cytotoxic activity. In the BSLA, the most important effect was observed in the extracts from Acapulco and Tecpan collected in June (AcJu) and August (TeAg), respectively. The samples from Acapulco (AcJu, and AcAg) and Tecpan (TeJu and TeAg) showed the highest toxicity. The analysis of the extracts, AcDe and TeDe, by HPLC revealed that flavonoids, rutin, narcissin, and nicotinflorin were the major components. These findings suggest that extracts from Am collected in Acapulco and Tecpan in the month of December may be an important source to obtain flavonoid glycosides with anticancer potential specifically against breast cancer. This also supports the use of Am to treat cancer in Mexican traditional medicine.