Ab initio studies on polymers. VI. Torsional potential in regular polyethylene chains

Ab initio crystal orbital calculations have been performed on regular polyethylene chains applying basis sets of minimal and double-zeta quality. Relative stabilities of periodic all-trans, all-gauche, and alternating trans–gauche conformers have been evaluated, including extensive geometry optimization. Potential curves for a simultaneous rotation around C? C single bonds from the all-trans to the all-gauche conformation have been computed applying the rigid-rotor approximation, the flexible-rotor approximation, and an additional reoptimization of C? C distances. A rigid-rotor potential curve from the all-trans to the alternating trans-gauche conformation has been computed as well. Results obtained are compared with ab initio calculations on butane and pentane and with semiempirical and empirical force-field studies on polyethylene.     

Banana-shaped molecules peculiarly oriented in a magnetic field: (2)H NMR spectroscopy and quantum mechanical calculations.

The orientational properties of the banana-shaped liquid crystal 4-chloro-1,3-phenylenebis{4-[4'-(10-undecenyloxy)]benzoyloxy} benzoate (ClPbis11BB) are reported in the nematic phase under the effect of an external magnetic field. A new hypothesis, which states that the central ring of the aromatic core is oriented perpendicularly to the external magnetic field, is proposed. In support of this hypothesis, a series of studies based on (2)H NMR spectroscopy, both in the bulk and in solution, are discussed. (2)H NMR measurements on three selectively deuterium-labelled isotopomers are presented, together with DFT results from B3LYP/cc-pvDz calculations performed on the aromatic core. The rather flat shape of the investigated intramolecular energy surface allows for several different conformations to be populated, the computed magnetic susceptibilities of which are consistent with the proposed hypothesis of peculiar orientation of banana-shaped molecules. Moreover, the orientation of the magnetic susceptibility tensor is shown to be strongly dependent on the internal conformation of the banana-shaped molecules.     

The use of emulsions for the determination of methylmercury and inorganic mercury in fish-eggs oil by cold vapor generation in a flow injection system with atomic absorption spectrometric detection

An on-line time based injection system used in conjunction with cold vapor generation atomic absorption spectrometry and microwave-aided oxidation with potassium persulfate has been developed for the determination of the different mercury species in fish-eggs oil samples. A three-phase surfactant-oil-water emulsion produced an advantageous flow when a peristaltic pump was used to introduce the highly viscous sample into the system. The optimum proportion of the oil-water mixture ratio was 2:3 v/v with a Tween 20 surfactant concentration in the emulsion of 0.008% v/v. Inorganic mercury was determined after reduction with sodium borohydride while total mercury was determined after an oxidation step with persulfate prior to the reduction step to elemental mercury with the same reducing agent. The difference between total and inorganic mercury determined the organomercury content in samples. A linear calibration graph was obtained in the range 0.1-20 micrograms l-1 of Hg2+ by injecting 0.7 ml of samples. The detection limits based on 3 sigma of the blank signals were 0.11 and 0.12 microgram l-1 for total and inorganic mercury, respectively. The relative standard deviation of ten independent measurements were 2.8 and 2.2% for 10 micrograms l-1 and 8.8 and 9.0% for 0.1 microgram l-1 amounts of total and inorganic mercury, respectively. The recoveries of 0.3, 0.6 and 8 micrograms l-1 of inorganic and organic mercury added to fish-eggs oil samples ranged from 93.0 to 94.8% and from 100 to 106%, respectively. Good agreement with those values obtained for total mercury content in real samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was also obtained, differences between mean values were < 7%. With the proposed procedure, 22 proteropterous catfish-eggs oil samples from the northwestern coast of Venezuela were measured; while the organic mercury lay in the range 2.0 and 3.3 micrograms l-1, inorganic mercury was not detected.     

Stereoselective synthesis of unnatural α-amino acid derivatives through photoredox catalysis

A protocol for stereoselective C-radical addition to a chiral glyoxylate-derived N-sulfinyl imine was developed through visible light-promoted photoredox catalysis, providing a convenient method for the synthesis of unnatural α-amino acids. The developed protocol allows the use of ubiquitous carboxylic acids as radical precursors without prior derivatization. The protocol utilizes near-stoichiometric amounts of the imine and the acid radical precursor in combination with a catalytic amount of an organic acridinium-based photocatalyst. Alternative mechanisms for the developed transformation are discussed and corroborated by experimental and computational studies.

A protocol for stereoselective C-radical addition to a chiral glyoxylate-derived N-sulfinyl imine was developed through visible light-promoted photoredox catalysis, providing a convenient method for the synthesis of unnatural α-amino acids.     

Modelling and mutation studies on the histamine H1-receptor agonist binding site reveal different binding modes for H1-agonists: Asp116 (TM3) has a constitutive role in receptor stimulation

Summary A modelling study has been carried out, investigating the binding of histamine (Hist), 2-methylhistamine (2-MeHist) and 2-phenylhistamine (2-PhHist) at two postulated agonistic binding sites on transmembrane domain 5 (TM5) of the histamine H₁-receptor. For this purpose a conformational analysis study was performed on three particular residues of TM5, i.e., Lys²⁰⁰, Thr²⁰³ and Asn²⁰⁷, for which a functional role in binding has been proposed. The most favourable results were obtained for the interaction between Hist and the Lys²⁰⁰/Asn²⁰⁷ pair. Therefore, Lys²⁰⁰ was subsequently mutated and converted to an alanine, resulting in a 50-fold decrease of H₁-receptor stimulation by histamine. Altogether, the data suggest that the Lys²⁰⁰/Asn²⁰⁷ pair is important for activation of the H₁-receptor by histamine. In contrast, analogues of 2-PhHist seem to belong to a distinct subclass of histamine agonists and an alternative mode of binding is proposed in which the 2-phenyl ring binds to the same receptor location as one of the aromatic rings of classical histamine H₁-antagonists. Subsequently, the binding modes of the agonists Hist, 2-MeHist and 2-PhHist and the H₁-antagonist cyproheptadine were evaluated in three different seven--helical models of the H₁-receptor built in homology with bacteriorhodopsin, but using three different alignments. Our findings suggest that the position of the carboxylate group of Asp¹¹⁶ (TM3) within the receptor pocket depends on whether an agonist or an antagonist binds to the protein; a conformational change of this aspartate residue upon agonist binding is expected to play an essential role in receptor stimulation.Abbreviations 2-MeHist 2-methylhistamine - 2-PEA 2-pyridyl-ethylamine - 2-PhHist 2-phenylhistamine - CHO Chinese hamster ovary - E_int interaction energy - E_str strain energy - GES global energy structure - gpH₁R guinea pig H₁-receptor - GPCR G-protein coupled receptor - Hist histamine - N proximal nitrogen - N tele nitrogen - TM transmembrane domain - WT wild type     

A new approach for the synthesis of fused pyrroles. The synthesis of acyl substituted pyrrolo[1,2-x]azines

N-Acetonyl- and N-phenacyl quaternary salts of α-methyl substituted heterocycles 16, 17, 21, 23 and 26 were converted with DMFDMA into the corresponding 3-acylpyrrolo[1,2-a]pyridine 18 , 7-benzoylpyrrolo-[1,2-c]pyrimidine 22 , and 6-benzoylpyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivatives 24 and 27 . A concurrent reaction produced methyl and phenyl substituted pyrrolo[1,2-x]azines 19, 20, 25 and 28 .     

Negatively charged hyperbranched polyether-based polyelectrolytes

The preparation of carboxylated hyperbranched polyglycerols of narrow polydispersity was achieved by modification (78–90%) of the hydroxyl end groups via Michael addition of acrylonitrile, followed by hydrolysis. High conversion could only be achieved for low molecular weight starting materials (520 and 1,030 g mol⁻¹). The solution properties of the resulting materials were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), showing the formation of large aggregates with size depending on the pH value. After deposition on a negatively charged mica surface, the structures observed by atomic force microscope (AFM) show the coexistence of aggregates and single macromolecules. Most interesting, in the case of the lower molecular weight sample (PG 520 g mol⁻¹), extended and ordered terrace structures were formed, which are unprecedented for hyperbranched polymers and are of interest for surface modification in general.     

LETTUCE SEED GERMINATION: EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE AND OF REPEATED FAR-RED TREATMENT IN RELATION TO PHYTOCHROME

Abstract— At 37°C the active form of phytochrome in lettuce seed cannot function to promote subsequent germination. This effect of high temperature is distinct from thermal acceleration of dark reversion from the active form of phytochrome to the inactive form, and may be due to reversible denaturation of phytochrome.
Repeated brief irradiations with far-red light inhibit subsequent germination in the whole seed, whereas a similar irradiation regime results in a strong enhancement of the development of growth potential (ability to expand against an externally-imposed osmotic restraint) in the excised axial portion of the seed. A possible explanation for these two opposing results, in volving two different pigment systems with effective loci in different parts of the seed, is suggested.     

Umsetzung von Metall- und Metalloidverbindungen mit mehrfunktionellen Molekülen,XIX. Synthese von Amidoborazinen

Reaction of Metal and Metalloid Compounds with Polyfunctional Molecules. XIX. Synthesis of Amidoborazines By reaction of 2-chloro-1,3,4,5,6-pentamethylborazin with silylated carbonic acid amides and thioamides resp. the corresponding amidoborazines are obtained. By reaction of lithiated hexamethyldisilazane with 2-chloro-1,3,4,5,6-pentamethylborazine, the 2-hexamethyldisilazanyl-1,3,4,5,6-pentamethylborazine is formed. ¹H, ¹¹B, and ¹⁹F n.m.r. spectra, mass spectra and characteristic i.r. group frequencies are reported.