Isomerisation in the chemistry of platinacyclobutane complexes

The platinacyclobutane complexes PtCl₂L₂(C₃H₅Me)], L  pyridine, CD₃CN, or tetrahydrofuran, exist as mixtures of isomers containing P$\text{tCH}{}_2\text{CHMeC}$H₂ or P$\text{tCHMeCH}{}_2\text{CH}{}_2$ groups in rapid equilibrium. Decomposition occurs in some cases to give [PtCl₂L(CH₃CH₂CHCH₂)]. Stereospecific skeletal isomerisation also occurs in metallocyclobutanes containing the groups P$\text{tCHRCHRC}$H₂  P$\text{tCHRCH}{}_2\text{C}$HR, when R  aryl further decomposition gives ν-allylplatinum complexes.     

Isothermal degradation of poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole

The isothermal degradation of poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole in vacuo has been studied. Measurement of the increase in pressure with time, coupled with infrared analysis, was used to determine the distribution of the degradation products. Processes A and B with different second-order rate laws were determined to be significant in the temperature range of 550–700°C. Process A leads to the formation of equimolar quantities of hydrogen and ammonia and has an activation energy of 68 kcal/mole. Process B leads to the production of HCN, NH₃, and H₂ in the ratio of 1:1:2.5 and has an activation energy of 77 kcal/mole. The activation energies and the rate laws are consistent with a mechanism in which the initial degradation step is the bimolecular reaction of two aromatic rings.     

Polymers for DNA delivery

Nucleic acid delivery has many applications in basic science, biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine. One of the main applications is DNA or RNA delivery for gene therapy purposes. Gene therapy, an approach for treatment or prevention of diseases associated with defective gene expression, involves the insertion of a therapeutic gene into cells, followed by expression and production of the required proteins. This approach enables replacement of damaged genes or expression inhibition of undesired genes. Following two decades of research, there are two major methods for delivery of genes. The first method, considered the dominant approach, utilizes viral vectors and is generally an efficient tool of transfection. Attempts, however, to resolve drawbacks related with viral vectors (e.g., high risk of mutagenicity, immunogenicity, low production yield, limited gene size, etc.), led to the development of an alternative method, which makes use of non-viral vectors. This review describes non-viral gene delivery vectors, termed "self-assembled" systems, and are based on cationic molecules, which form spontaneous complexes with negatively charged nucleic acids. It introduces the most important cationic polymers used for gene delivery. A transition from in vitro to in vivo gene delivery is also presented, with an emphasis on the obstacles to achieve successful transfection in vivo.     

Overlapping spheres multiple scattering Xα calculations of the ionization potentials and electron affinities of nitrogen oxides

The ionization potentials and electron affinities of a series of nitrogen oxygen compounds have been calculated by the overlapping spheres MS Xα method to assess its applicability on a series for which good experimental data is available. The results for the ionization potentials were satisfactory although a straightforward matching of calculated and experimental IP's without consideration of other criterion would have led to some misassignments. The results for the electron affinities are in excellent agreement with experiment.     

On the synthesis of the N2F+5 cation. A critical comment on the paper by Toy and Stringham.

Toy and Stringham recently reported [1] the synthesis of N₂F⁺₅ (CF₃)₃CO^-, a salt containing the novel pentafluorohydrazinium cation. This cation would be of significant academic and practical interest [2] since it would constitute the first known example of a substituted NF⁺₄ cation, i.e. an NF⁺₄ cation in which a fluorine ligand is replaced by an NF₂ group. According to the authors of [1], N₂F⁺₅(CF₃)₃CO^- was formed in a very unusual reaction involving the transfer of a fluorine cation from (CF₃)₃COF to N₂F₄ according to:

     

Synthese und Röntgenstrukturanalyse des 8π-Elektronenringsystems S4N4O2Sn2(CH3)6 und des magnetische Verhalten von S4N4O2 und S8N8O4

Synthesis and X-Ray Structure Analysis of the 8π-Electron-Ring-System S₄N₄O₂Sn₂(CH₃)₆ and the Magnetic Properties of S₄N₄O₂ and S₈N₈O₄ S₄N₄O₂ reacts with N[Sn(CH₃)₃]₃ in a molar ratio of 1:1 to an eight-membered trimethyltin-substituted 8π-electron skeleton, S₄N₄O₂Sn₂(CH₃)₆. In contrast to known 6π-electronsystems this compound has tin atoms which are tetracoordinated. This was demonstrated on the basis of an x-ray analysis. S₄N₄O₂Sn₂(CH₃)₆ · 1/2 C₆H₆ crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c with a = 1396.0(4), b = 1190.3(4), c = 1256.7(3) pm, and β = 103.46(2)°. It was shown that the ability of coordination at the tin atom depends on the electron density. The magnetic properties of S₄N₄O₂ and S₈N₈O₄ were investigated by the Faraday method. The high diamagnetism in these ring compounds is caused by the π-electrons.     

Direct detection of the biradicals generated in the Norrish type II reaction

The biradicals generated in the Norrish type II reaction from the triplet manifold have been observed using laser flash photolysis techniques. The spectra and extinction coefficients closely resemble those of typical ketyl radicals. Typical lifetimes are in the 40–100 ns range depending on the solvent. Their interaction with oxygen is essentially diffusion controlled.     

Determination of the spin sublevel origin of radiative and non-radiative decay routes of phosphorescing benzene derived from precision lifetime measurements

The increase in the phosphorescence lifetime as temperature is lowered has been quantitatively determined in the 2–30 K range. Applying the Boltzmann population expression yields the information that virtually none of the radiative decay originates from the lowest spin sublevel (A_2g).     

Über Pterinchemie. Mitteilung. Die Kristallstruktur von 5,6,7-Trimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterindihydrochlorid-monohydrat

The crystal structure of 5,6,7-trimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterine-dihydrochloride-monohydrate The crystal structure of the title compound has been determined by X-ray analysis (direct methods) and refined with 947 structure amplitudes to R = 0.026. The crystal system is orthorhombic, space group Pna2₁, with unit cell dimensions a = 14.081, b = 14.623, c = 6.773 Å. The molecule is protonated at the N(1)- and N(5)-position. The tetrahydropyrazine ring exists in a conformation in which C(6) deviates markedly from the mean plane of the other five atoms. The CH₃-groups at N(5) and C(6) possess a trans configuration with a pseudoaxial and an axial conformation respectively. The CH₃-groups at C(6) and C(7) in return possess the cis configuration, whereby the CH₃-group at C(7) occupies an equatorial conformation.     

Random peptide synthesis using immobilized enzymes in high concentrations of organic solvents

Trypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and carboxypeptidase B were separately immobilized on controlled pore glass and reacted with a dipeptide substrate in high concentrations of either acetone or 1-propanol. Hydrolytic activity was demonstrated and evidence for the possible synthesis of peptide polymer is presented. Directed synthesis using amino acids and blocked amino acids as substrates was not successful.