Synthesis of bis(diethyldithiocarbamato)manganese(II) and tris(diethyldithiocarbamato)manganese(III)

An ideal undergraduate introduction to the challenges of synthesis and characterization of air-sensitive compounds is accomplished in the preparation of bis(diethyldithiocarbamato)manganese(II). This economical experiment employs a glovebag, low-cost and low-toxicity chemicals, and is completed in one undergraduate laboratory period. For comparison purposes, the synthesis and characterization of air-stable tris(diethyldithiocarbamato)manganese(III) is also described.     

Inclusive 2(3He,t) reaction at 2 GeV

The inclusive ²(³He,t) reaction has been studied at 2 GeV for energy transfers up to 500 MeV and scattering angles from 0.25⁰ up to 4⁰. Data are well reproduced by a model based on a coupled-channel approach for describing the NN and N( systems. The effect of final state interaction is important in the low energy part of the spectra. In the delta region, the cross-section is very sensitive to the effects of (-N interaction and (N M NN process. The latter has also a large influence well below the pion threshold. The calculation underestimates the experimental cross-section between the quasi-elastic and the delta peaks; this is possibly due to projectile excitation or purely mesonic exchange currents.     

The DP5 probability,quantification and visualisation of structural uncertainty in single molecules

Whenever a new molecule is made, a chemist will justify the proposed structure by analysing the NMR spectra. The widely-used DP4 algorithm will choose the best match from a series of possibilities, but draws no conclusions from a single candidate structure. Here we present the DP5 probability, a step-change in the quantification of molecular uncertainty: given one structure and one ¹³C NMR spectra, DP5 gives the probability of the structure being correct. We show the DP5 probability can rapidly differentiate between structure proposals indistinguishable by NMR to an expert chemist. We also show in a number of challenging examples the DP5 probability may prevent incorrect structures being published and later reassigned. DP5 will prove extremely valuable in fields such as discovery-driven automated chemical synthesis and drug development. Alongside the DP4-AI package, DP5 can help guide synthetic chemists when resolving the most subtle structural uncertainty. The DP5 system is available at https://github.com/Goodman-lab/DP5.

Whenever a new molecule is made, a chemist will justify the proposed structure by analysing the NMR spectra.     

Regiospecific and stereoselective syntheses of (+/-)-reserpine and (-)-reserpine

Full details of three approaches to an entirely regio- and stereoselective synthesis of the well-known target reserpine are described, culminating in a total synthesis which efficiently meets these requirements.     

Formation of a high coverage (3 x 3) NO phase on Pd(111) at elevated pressures: interplay between kinetic and thermodynamic accessibility

Using in situ polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, a new high-coverage monomeric NO adsorption state on Pd(111) was observed and proposed to have a (3 x 3)-7NO structure. Formation of this high coverage NO phase was found to take place only at elevated pressure and temperature conditions showing that some of the accessible thermodynamic equilibrium states at elevated temperatures and pressures are thermodynamically unfavorable or kinetically hindered at lower temperatures and pressures. Our results emphasize the danger of extrapolating results from traditional surface science experiments performed under ultrahigh vacuum to elevated temperature and pressure conditions encountered in heterogeneous catalysis.     

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of guanidinoglycosides

The new guanidinylation reagent N,N'-diBoc-N'-triflylguanidine was used to efficiently convert multiamine-containing glycosides including kanamycin A and B, tobramycin, paromomycin, and neomycin B to the corresponding fully guanidinylated analogues (guanidinoglycosides). This transformation occurs in the presence of H(2)O under mild conditions. Guanidinotobramycin and guanidinoneomycin B were found to inhibit the replication of the HIV virus with activities approximately 100 times greater than the parent aminoglycosides.     

Inhibition of lymphocyte mitogenesis by an arachidonic acid hydroperoxide

Incubation of murine spleen cells with the oxidation product of soybean lipoxidase-treated arachidonic acid results in profound inhibition of induction of proliferation and maturation of these cells. The active entity was shown to be the 15-hydroperoxide of arachidonic acid (15-HPAA). Inhibition of the enzymes of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway fails to disturb this effect, indicating that 15-HPAA is not a substrate for this series of enzymes. 15-HPAA produced in this manner interfered with RNA synthesis, DNA synthesis, and blastogenesis, while failing to exert cytotoxic effects on the cells themselves. A variety of lymphocyte subpopulations, distinguished by their responsiveness to a diverse group of mitogens, were all equally inhibited by the addition of 15-HPAA to culture. Addition of this agent even as late as 24 h after initiation of culture resulted in profound inhibition of the proliferative and differentiative responses of splenic B cells to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Exposure of cells to 15-HPAA for 10-30 min was adequate to initiate inhibition, an event that exhibited marked temperature dependence. The effects of pre-incubation with 15-HPAA could not be reversed in its absence in recovery periods of up to 6 h prior to addition of LPS. The implications of these data with reference to cellular activation mechanisms are discussed.