PHOTOACTIVE TERTHIOPHENES: THE INFLUENCE OF SERUM ON ANTI-HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) ACTIVITIES

Abstract-A number of carboxylic acid derivatives of the photoactive terthiophene, α-terthienyl, were found to possess impressive UVA-dependent activity against the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV-1; but only when assayed in the absence of serum, indicating that the latter contained interfering components. Good antiviral activity required a high rate of singlet oxygen production, in accordance with previous observations on thiophenes.     

Detection of environmental chemicals by SPR assay using branched cyclodextrin as sensor ligand

We obtained the association constants Ka of estrogen (E2) and environmental chemicals by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay using the immobilized mono-6-O-α-maltosyl-β-CD (G₂βCD) compared with the immobilized β-CD and the immobilized estrogen receptor (ER). The association behavior of G₂βCD was shown as a ER model compound. The calibration curve was determined by the initial rate of association depending on the various concentrations, and the minimum detectable concentrations in the order of parts per billion were calculated. The SPR assay has advantages that the pre-treatment of the sample is not necessary and the immobilized ligand is stable and useful for the repeated measurement.     

Saccharide-branched Cyclodextrins as Targeting Drug Carriers

A synthetic series of heptakis-galactose-branched cyclodextrins (termed CDs) having a longer spacer arm using two amino-caproic acids as an enlarging unit were prepared. Starting with heptakis-amino-β-CD or heptakis-amino-caproic-amide-β-CD, treated with galactosyl-glucono-amide-caproic acid, the new compounds heptakis (Gal-cap1)-CD (4) or heptakis (Gal-cap2)-CD (5) were obtained. The longer galactose spacer arm extremely favors the PNA association. The effect of branch length on K with PNA was enhanced up to 138-fold 3 as well as with DXR enhanced up to 81-fold. Hexakis (Gal-cap2)-CD (6) was prepared and the association constants with rat liver cells were observed to be 2.5 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹. A multi-high mannose type oligosaccharide branched CD (7) showed a large association constant with DXR up to 1.1 × 10⁹ M⁻¹. The two-dimensional map for the association constants of newly synthesized oligosaccharide-branched CDs toward lectin or liver cells versus the association constants toward a drug (doxorubicin) suggested a method of finding a better targeting drug carrier. The structural effect of the oligosaccharide-CDs showed that the number and length of the branch were dominant factors in designing for enhanced dual recognition.     

A mathematical model for pollution in a river and its remediation by aeration

We present a simple mathematical model for river pollution and investigate the effect of aeration on the degradation of pollutant. The model consists of a pair of coupled reaction–diffusion–advection equations for the pollutant and dissolved oxygen concentrations, respectively. The coupling of these equations occurs because of reactions between oxygen and pollutant to produce harmless compounds. Here we consider the steady-state case in one spatial dimension. For simplified cases the model is solved analytically. We also present a numerical approach to the solution in the general case. The extension to the transient spatial model is relatively straightforward. The study is motivated by the crucial problem of water pollution in many countries and specifically within the Tha Chin River in Thailand. For such real situations, simple models can provide decision support for planning restrictions to be imposed on farming and urban practices.     

1,21‐Henicosanediol

In the molecular structure of the title compound, C₂₁H₄₄O₂, the hydro­carbon skeleton has an all‐trans conformation. One of the terminal hydroxyl groups is also trans with respect to the skeleton, while the other is gauche. In the crystal structure, the mol­ecules lie parallel to the b axis, forming layers with a thickness of b/2. The packing is similar to that in the smectic A phase of liquid crystals. These features are similar to those of the homologues with an odd number of C atoms, but different from those with an even number.     

A note on chordal bound graphs and posets

We study relations between induced subgraphs and (n,m)-subposets. Using properties of (n,m)-subposets, we consider a characterization of chordal double bound graphs in terms of forbidden subposets. Furthermore, we deal with properties of a poset whose double bound graph is isomorphic to its upper bound graph or its comparability graph, etc.     

On double bound graphs and forbidden subposets

For a poset P=(X,≤_P), the double bound graph (DB-graph) of P is the graph DB(P)=(X,E_DB(P)), where xy∈E_DB(P) if and only if x≠y and there exist n,m∈X such that n≤_Px,y≤_Pm. We obtain that for a subposet Q of a poset P,Q is an (n, m)-subposet of P if and only if DB(Q) is an induced subgraph DB(P). Using this result, we show some characterizations of split double bound graphs, threshold double bound graphs and difference double bound graphs in terms of (n, m)-subposets and double canonical posets.     

Copolymerization of vinylsilanes with styrene

New vinylsilanes (M₂), i. e. phenylvinylsilane (I), allylmethylsilane (II), allylphenylsilane (III), and p-vinylphenylmethylsilane (IV), were prepared and copolymerized with styrene (M₁). The monomer reactivity ratios were r₁ = 5.7 and r₂ = 0, r₁ = 36 and r₂ = 0, r₁ = 29 and r₂ = 0₁, and r₁ = 0.91 and r₂ = 1.1, respectively. From the results of infrared and NMR spectra it was indicated that the vinylsilanes participated in copolymerization in the form of a vinyl type of polymerization and not in the form of a hydrogen-transfer type of polymerization. The reaction of copolymer with alcohols and methyl methacrylate and appropriate catalysts was investigated.     

Trifluoromethylation of aliphatic halides with trifluoromethyl copper

A solution of trifluoromethyl copper complex in hexamethylphosphoric triamide was found to be useful for trifluoromethylation of aliphatic halides.