Synthesis of imidazoles as novel emivirine and S‐DABO analogues

5‐Alkyl‐4‐benzyl‐1,3‐dihydroimidazol‐2‐ones ( 3a‐d ) and 5‐alkyl‐4‐benzyl‐1,3‐dihydroimidazole‐2‐thiones (7a‐d) were prepared via Dakin West reaction on DL‐phenylalanine with the appropriate aliphatic acid anhydrides followed by hydrolysis and reaction with potassium cyanate or potassium thiocyanate. Compounds 3a‐d were alkylated with ethoxymethyl chloride to give the alkylated imidazoles 5a‐d which were considered analogues of Emivirine with deletion of carbonyl group at the 4‐position. Alkylation of 7a‐d afforded the corresponding S‐alkylated derivatives 8a‐p which in a similar way were considered analogues of S‐DABO. However all the imidazole derivatives were devoid of activity against HIV.     

Transition from a Bloch-Wilson to a free-electron density of states in Zn(n)- clusters

We present photoelectron spectroscopy studies on Zn(n) (-) in the size range of n=3-117. We show that zinc clusters exhibit a distinct transition in their electronic structure as a function of size. At small sizes (up to n=18) the clusters follow the Bloch-Wilson picture of the development of a metal from closed-shell atoms, exhibiting a gradual decrease of the gap between the fully occupied s band and the empty p band. For large sizes (n approximately or > 32) the band overlap allows the valence electrons to fully delocalize. This leads to an almost perfect free-electron density of states, as is demonstrated by discussing the spectra in the light of standard free-electron models and by comparison to the results obtained on sodium clusters.     

Electronic spectra of dithieno analogues of phenanthrene

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of some dithieno analogues of phenanthrene: benzo [2,1-b;3,4-b′] dithiophene (I) benzo [1,2-b;4,3-b′] dithiophene (II), benzo [1,2-c;3,4-c′] dithiophene (III) and benzo [1,2-b;3,4-b′] dithiophene (IV) are reported. For I–III the spectra corresponding to two different transition moment directions could be obtained from low-temperature linear dichroism spectra. The results compare well with theoretical energies, oscillator strengths, moment directions and MCD B-terms which were obtained from semi-empirical quantum mechanical calculations in the π-electron approximation.     

Elasticity and viscosity measurements of monomolecular propyl stearate films at air-water interfaces using laser light scattering techniques

Measurements of propyl stearate monolayers were made using a new laser light scattering apparatus. Thermal capillary waves in the frequency range 7–16 kHz were studied. For the first time the film elasticity and viscosity have been determined from light scattering measurements. The determined elasticity differs at most by a factor of 4 from the elasticity obtained from the equilibrium π-A-isotherm. The viscosity values are of the order of 1 · 10⁻⁷ kg/sec and increase with increasing film density.     

muFKBP38: a novel murine immunophilin homolog differentially expressed in Schwannoma cells and central nervous system neurons in vivo

To better understand the process of multistage carcinogenesis in Schwann cells, we have attempted to isolate novel candidate genes involved in neoplastic progression of mouse malignant Schwannoma cells. The semi-differentiated Schwannoma cell line 56-24 and the less differentiated Schwannoma cell line 64-39 were established from peripheral nerve sheath tumors arising in transgenic mice of the MBP/SV40 large T strain Tg29. By using the chemical cross-linking subtraction technique, we have cloned a novel murine cDNA that detects pronounced expression in 56-24 cells but not in 64-39 cells. The longest open reading frame of the cDNA predicts a peptide showing 95% amino acid sequence homology to the recorded sequence of the human immunophilin homolog huFKBPr38, one of a family of proteins that are thought to interface with a wide range of intracellular signal transduction systems. The predicted open reading frame of the corresponding gene, named muFKBP38, encodes a 38 kDa protein that harbors an FK-binding protein (FKBP) domain that is 36% identical to that of muFKBP52, a three-unit tetratricopeptide repeat and a consensus leucine-zipper repeat. Although muFKBP38 mRNA was detected in both neurons and glial cells, pronounced expression of the immunophilin homolog appeared in various classes of neurons associated with the hippocampal formation, as shown by in situ hybridization analysis of adult mouse brains. Taken together, these data indicate that muFKBP38 is (i) a novel potential marker for semi-differentiated Schwannomas, (ii) may form homomultimers and/or interact with other proteins, and (iii) may have a role in neurons associated with memory function.     

Resolution of seven-coordinate complexes

The crystal structures of [Pr(dbm)3H2O] (1), [Sm(dbm)3H2O] (2), and [Er(dbm)3H2O] (3) have been determined (dbm=dibenzoylmethane). They display seven-coordinate propeller-shaped molecules, which are chiral and crystallize as conglomerates in space group R3. Analysis of the crystal structures reveals supramolecular interactions, including formation of a quadruple helix, which explain how stereochemical information can be transferred between stacks of molecules. A method to quantify the ee in bulk samples of stereochemically labile compounds by using solid-state CD spectroscopy is described. Using this method, it has been shown that compounds 1-3 undergo total spontaneous resolution directly after synthesis, forming a microcrystalline reaction product that is essentially enantiopure. The resolution of bulk quantities of seven-coordinate complexes (without chiral or polydentate ligands) is thus reported for the first time. Because the crystallization starts without seeding, the overall preparation may be regarded as absolute asymmetric synthesis.     

Probing the glycosidic linkage: UV and IR ion-dip spectroscopy of a lactoside

The beta(1-->4) glycosidic linkage found in lactose is a prevalent structural motif in many carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. Using UV and IR ion-dip spectroscopies to probe benzyl lactoside isolated in the gas phase, we find that the disaccharide unit adopts only a single, rigid structure. Its fully resolved infrared ion-dip spectrum is in excellent agreement with that of the global minimum structure computed ab initio. This has glycosidic torsion angles of phi(H) (H1-C1-O-C4') approximately 180 degrees and psi(H) (C1-O-C4'-H4') approximately 0 degrees which correspond to a rotation of approximately 150 degrees about the glycosidic bond compared to the accepted solution-phase conformation. We discuss the biological implications of this discovery and the generality of the strategies employed in making it.     

Chiroptical detection during liquid chromatography,part 5: On-line measurement of circular dichroism spectra Δε(λ) during stops of chromatographic flow

Summary A procedure is described which serves to measure circular dichrograms () on line during stops of flow in liquid chromatography. Since the concentration of substrate in the spectrometer cell during the stop is not known, the differential absorption coefficients are calculated from the experimental differential absorbances A by means of UV absorption (i. e. photomultiplier voltage) data. Verifications of the procedure are obtained by its application to three substrates (Table 1), the () spectra of which were known. The present on-line technique is compared with a corresponding off-line method.The N,N-dimethylthiobenzamides1 and2 as well as the 9,10-phenanthrenequinone7 consist of interconvertible enantiomers because their planar states are destabilized by steric overcrowding of groups. The unknown dichrograms () of1, 2 and7 are obtained (Figs. 2 and 4) and discussed with reference to the helicities of these molecules.In memory of the late Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Günther Snatzke.     

On-line coupling of supercritical fluid extraction with high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of explosives in vapour phases

An investigation into the selectivity of an iminodiacetic acid (IDA) modified silica gel column for transition and heavy metal ions using non-chelating inorganic eluents has been carried out. A number of eluent parameters were investigated to determine the exact retention mechanism taking place and to control selectivity. The parameters studied were eluent ionic strength and the nature of the inorganic salt used, eluent pH and eluent temperature. The results obtained showed how despite certain metal ions exhibiting similar stability constants with the bonded IDA groups, careful control of each of the above parameters, in particular eluent chloride ion concentration and eluent temperature, could result in large changes in selectivity. Optimal conditions for the isocratic and gradient separation of Mg(II), Ca(II), Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) were determined. An isocratic method using a 0.035 M KCl, 0.065 M KNO3 (pH 2.5) eluent was successfully applied to the determination of Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) at concentrations between 20 and 121 microg/l in a freshwater certified reference material (NIST 1640).