Relative binding affinities of alkali metal cations to

The binding affinity and selectivity of a new ionophore, [1(8)]starand (1), toward alkali metal cations in methanol were examined through NMR titration experiments and free energy perturbation (FEP) and molecular dynamics simulations. The preference was determined to be K(+) > Rb(+) > Cs(+) > Na(+) > Li(+) in both FEP simulations and NMR experiments. The FEP simulation results were able to predict the relative binding free energies with errors less than 0.13 kcal/mol, except for the case between Li(+) and Na(+). The cation selectivity was rationalized by analyzing the radial distribution functions of the M-O and M-C distances of free metal cations in methanol and those of metal-ionophore complexes in methanol.     

Immobilizing a Fluorescent Dye Offers Potential to Investigate the Glass/Resin Interface

Silane coupling agents are commonly applied to glass fibers to promote fiber/resin adhesion and enhance durability in composite parts. In this study, a coupling agent multilayer on glass was doped with trace levels of the dimethylaminonitrostilbene (DMANS) fluorophore. The fluorophore was immobilized on the glass surface by tethering the molecule to a triethoxy silane coupling agent, creating the DMANS/silane coupling agent molecule (DMSCA). DMSCA was then diluted with commonly used coupling agents and grafted to a glass microscope coverslip to create a model composite interface. A 53-nm blue shift in fluorescence from the immobilized DMSCA can be followed during cure of an epoxy resin overlayer, giving this technique potential to monitor the properties of the fiber/resin interface during composite processing. Contact angle measurements on these coupling agent layers were similar in the presence or absence of the DMSCA molecule, suggesting that trace levels of the fluorescent probe did not affect the structure of the layer. The immobilized DMSCA molecule behaved similarly to the DMANS precursor in solution. Both showed longer wavelength fluorescence in more polar environments. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Stabilities in field electron emissions from noble‐metal covered W nano‐tips: apex structure dependence

We observed field emission microscopy (FEM) patterns of noble‐metal (NM) covered W nano‐tips with three different apex structures fabricated by field evaporation. Each of the three tips was terminated with a single atom, three atoms or ten atoms. We investigated the temporal changes in the FEM of these tips to discuss the stabilities in the spatial distributions of the field emission (FE) beams. The single‐atom tip showed two characteristics that were superior to the others. First, the beams emitted from the single‐atom tip were the most collimated among the three tips (the semi‐cone angle of 1.0° , FWHM). Second, adsorption of residual gas had little influence on FE from the single‐atom tip, while the other tips were easily contaminated even at ultra high vacuum, resulting in the emission fluctuation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rigid versus flexible: how important is ligand "preorganization" for metal ion recognition by lower rim-functionalized calix[4]arenes?

For an assessment of the outcomes from use of an appropriately "preorganized" calixarene-based ionophore versus its conformationally mobile prototype, solvent extraction propensities of flexible calix[4]arene di-[N-(X-sulfonyl)carboxamides] for alkali, alkaline earth metal cations, Pb2+, Ag+ and Hg2+ are compared with those for seven new rigid analogs fixed in the cone, partial cone and 1,3-alternate conformations. For each of the metal ions, the preferred calix[4]arene conformation was determined from the NMR spectra for the metal salt of the flexible ligand. Except for Ag+, flexible calix[4]arene di-[N-(X-sulfonyl)carboxamides] were found to provide greater metal ion extraction efficiency and better selectivity than the corresponding "preorganized" ionophores.     

Construction of triangular metallomacrocycles: [M3(1,2-bis(2,2':6',2''-terpyridin-4-yl-ethynyl)benzene)3][M = Ru(II), Fe(II), 2Ru(II)Fe(II)

Complexation of a predesigned (1,2-bis(2,2':6',2'-terpyridin-4-yl-ethynyl)benzene) ligand possessing a 60 degrees angle between two terpyridines with transition metals [Fe(II) and Ru(II)] afforded the self-assembled, triangular metallomacrocycles.     

Cross-correlated relaxation enhanced 1H[bond]13C NMR spectroscopy of methyl groups in very high molecular weight proteins and protein complexes

A comparison of HSQC and HMQC pulse schemes for recording (1)H[bond](13)C correlation maps of protonated methyl groups in highly deuterated proteins is presented. It is shown that HMQC correlation maps can be as much as a factor of 3 more sensitive than their HSQC counterparts and that the sensitivity gains result from a TROSY effect that involves cancellation of intra-methyl dipolar relaxation interactions. (1)H[bond](13)C correlation spectra are recorded on U-[(15)N,(2)H], Ile delta 1-[(13)C,(1)H] samples of (i) malate synthase G, a 723 residue protein, at 37 and 5 degrees C, and of (ii) the protease ClpP, comprising 14 identical subunits, each with 193 residues (305 kDa), at 5 degrees C. The high quality of HMQC spectra obtained in short measuring times strongly suggests that methyl groups will be useful probes of structure and dynamics in supramolecular complexes.     

Allylic interactions in organometallics: probing Electronic structure in (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2R,R = CH3, η1-C3H5, η1-C5H5.

The He(I) photoelectron spectra of (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂R, where R = CH₃, η¹-C₃H₅ and η¹-C₅H₅, have been recorded. The lowest lying ion states result from ionization of molecular orbitals with large Fe 3d character; these move to lower anergy when R places double bonds in an allylic relationship to the metal atom. The cyclic voltammetric oxidation potential correlates well with the energies of the lowest ion states. A significant interaction between olefin π orbitals and the allylic metal center is proposed.     

On an estimate for Bloch and Doob norm and covering problem in Doob's class

For any fixed 0 < π ? 2π, let D(π) be the family of all holomorphic functions in the unit disk Δ which satisfy (i)f(0) = 0 and (ii) $\text{lim inf}{}_{\mathrm{z\; \to \; \pi ¦f(z)¦\; ?\; 1}}$, for all π lying on some arc A_f ? ?Δ with arclength $\text{¦A}{}_{\mathrm{f}}\text{¦ ? π}$. We show that for each 0 < ε < 1, there is a π₀ > 0 such that for any f?D(π) with π < π₀, the Bloch and Doob norm respectively satisfy

$\text{6f6}{}_{\mathrm{B}}\text{=}\text{sup}\text{z?Δ}\text{|f′(z)| (1?|z|}{}^2\text{) > 2(1 ? ε)}\text{log}\text{1+}\text{cos}\text{(}\text{p}\text{2}\text{1?}\text{cos}\text{(}\text{p}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$

$\text{6f6}{}_{\mathrm{D}}\text{=}\text{sup}\text{z?Δ}\text{|f′(z)| (1?|z|) > (1 ? ε)}\text{log}\text{1}\text{1?}\text{cos}\text{(}\text{p}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$

These two estimates do not hold with ε = 0.     

Synthesis and Molecular Recognition of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer with Ibuprofen as Template

Ibuprofen and ketoprofen are chemically similar non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs widely used in the treatment of arthritis. Using a molecular imprinting technique, a simple and rapid method was developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of ibuprofen and ketoprofen. Molecular imprinting introduces artificial binding sites into a synthetic polymer matrix, allowing it to exhibit selective rebinding of template molecules. Imprinted polymers can be regarded as an HPLC stationary phase, important for pharmaceutical analysis. Most molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthesized by free radical polymerization of functional monomers, resulting in an excess of crosslinking monomers. In this study, MIPs have been prepared with a ibuprofen template, which can form intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were used as the functional monomer and cross‐linker, respectively. Bulk polymerization was carried out at 4 °C under UV radiation. The resulting MIP was ground into 25?44 μm particles, which were slurry‐packed into analytical columns. Template molecules were removed by methanol‐acetic acid (9:1, v/v). We evaluated the template binding performance of the MIP using HPLC, with ultraviolet (UV) detection at 234 nm. Chromatographic resolution of ibuprofen and ketoprofen on the MIPs were appraised using buffer/acetonitrile (45/55, v/v) as the mobile phase. Results show that the MIPs prepared using ibuprofen as the template had a significant molecular imprinting effect. The method was successfully applied to the separation and analysis of ibuprofen and ketoprofen in pharmaceuticals.