A Photoelectron-spectroscopic investigation of the Homoconjugative Interaction between π- and Walsh-Orbitals in endo- and exo-Cyclopropano-norbornene

Photoelectron spectra of endo- and exo-cyclopropano-norbornene ( = endo- and exo-tricyclo[3.2.1.0^2.4]octa-6-ene) show that a significant homoconjugation exists between the π-orbital of the double bond and the symmetric Walsh-es-orbital of the cyclopropane ring in the exo-isomer, whereas the interaction is negligeable in the endo-derivative.     

Non planéité de cyclopenténones substituées analyse conformationnelle par résonance magnétique nucléaire

The stereochemistry of substituted cyclopent-2-en-1-ones was studied by NMR. The existence of non-planar rings is indicated and conformational analysis, based principally upon examination of the coupling constants enables the conformational population to be estimated; trans dihalogeno derivatives, for example, occur predominantly in the diaxial form.     

Thermodynamische Untersuchungen zur Chelatbildung zwischen Aminoterephthalsäure-N,N-diessigsäure und 3 d- bzw. Erdalkalimetallionen. Eine Betrachtung zum Einfluß einer koordinativ inaktiven Carboxylgruppe auf die komplexe Bindung von Metallionen durch Aminopolycarbonsäuren

N-(2-Carboxyphenyl)iminodiacetic acid (H₃A) and N-(2,5-dicarboxyphenyl)iminodiacetic acid (H₄B) are tetradentate ligands and form complexes of the composition MA- and MB^2? with M^II ions. These compounds differ by the additional charge of the second carboxylic group only, which is fixed to the benzene nucleus and which is unable for coordination for steric reasons. Using an anisothermal calorimeter ΔH values for the formation of the complexes MA- and MB^2? in aqueous solution have been measured at an ionic strength 0.1 m KNO₃. From these data, and from the stability constants of the complexes, entropy changes ΔS have been calculated. In all cases investigated (M^m+ = H⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺) the ΔH values are more negative for the complexes MA^m-3 than for complexes MB^m-4, whereas the ΔS values are greater for complexes MB^m-4. Using a simple model for the molecules of the complexes MB^m-4 and empirically determined dielectric constants of the medium between the central ions and the noncoordinated ionized carboxylic group, the electrostatic attraction between these charges was calculated. Basing on these results the influence of the noncoordinated carboxylic group on the central atom by the mesomeric and inductive effect is discussed.     

Theoretical investigations of Fe porphyrins. V. Low-lying electronic states of bisammineporphinatoiron(III)

Ab initio CI calculations are reported on the lowest doublet, quartet, and sextet states of [Fe^III(P)(NH₃)₂]⁺. The low-spin ground state is calculated as (d_xy² (d_π)³ with d_xy(d_π)⁴ higher by 0.15 eV. The near-ir bands at ～1 eV observed in low-spin ferriheme proteins are attributed to (π → d_π) transitions. The lowest high-spin state is ⁶A_1g, and the near-ir transitions of the high-spin ferriheme proteins observed at ～1.2 eV are attributed to higher ⁶[tripsextet] excited states [i.e., ring triplet, metal sextet]. The 30-ps “triplet” transient populated with low quantum yield observed in laser-flash studies on Fe^III(TPP)CI [TPP = tetrapbenylporphyrin] may be an ¹[tripsextet] state.     

Protein biosensors based on biofunctionalized conical gold nanotubes

There is increasing interest in the concept of using nanopores as the sensing elements in biosensors. The nanopore most often used is the alpha-hemolysin protein channel, and the sensor consists of a single channel embedded within a lipid bilayer membrane. An ionic current is passed through the channel, and analyte species are detected as transient blocks in this current associated with translocation of the analyte through the channel-stochastic sensing. While this is an extremely promising sensing paradigm, it would be advantageous to eliminate the very fragile lipid bilayer membrane and perhaps to replace the biological nanopore with an abiotic equivalent. We describe here a new family of protein biosensors that are based on conically shaped gold nanotubes embedded within a mechanical and chemically robust polymeric membrane. While these sensors also function by passing an ion current through the nanotube, the sensing paradigm is different from the previous devices in that a transient change in the current is not observed. Instead, the protein analyte binds to a biochemical molecular-recognition agent at the mouth of the conical nanotube, resulting in complete blockage of the ion current. Three different molecular-recognition agents, and correspondingly three different protein analytes, were investigated: (i) biotin/streptavidin, (ii) protein-G/immunoglobulin, and (iii) an antibody to the protein ricin with ricin as the analyte.     

Photon-induced dissociation with a four-sector tandem mass spectrometer

The feasibility of using photodissociation of protonated peptide molecules to sequence specific fragment ions with a 193-nm pulsed laser beam in a magnetic deflection tandem mass spectrometer of EBEB configuration was demonstrated. Although the short pulse (15 ns) and low repetition rate (100 Hz) of the excimer laser permitted the irradiation of only ～ 0.02% of the (M + H)⁺ ions exiting MS-1, a photon-induced decomposition spectrum of the heptapeptide angiotensio III (M _r 930.5) was produced that was practically the same (but with better signal-to-noise ratio) as that generated by collision-activated dissociation at the same low duty cycle. Because of the low and pulsed fragment ion currents, an array detector was used to record the spectra. A dependence between laser power and abundance of fragment ions was observed (increased power increases the relative abundance of ions of low mass). Laser power was varied from 6 to 80 mJ. Formation of fragment ions from a large peptide (melittin, M, 2844.75) was also observed. The results permit the design of modifications that may increase the fragment ion yield to 10% or higher, which would make photon-induced decomposition a useful method for magnetic deflection mass spectrometers.     

Sequentially photocleavable protecting groups in solid-phase synthesis

[reaction: see text] A sequential solid-phase peptide synthesis was developed using both photolabile linker and protecting groups. The chromatic sequential lability between a tert-butyl ketone-derived linker (sensitive to irradiation at 305 nm) and a nitroveratryloxycarbonyl (NVOC) group (sensitive at 360 nm) was exploited to prepare Leu-Enkephalin in a 55% overall yield. This new strategy allows the preparation of peptides in essentially neutral medium, by avoiding the use of common deprotection reagents such as trifluoroacetic acid or piperidine.     

Tuning the band gap in hybrid tin iodide perovskite semiconductors using structural templating

Structural distortions within the extensive family of organic/inorganic hybrid tin iodide perovskite semiconductors are correlated with their experimental exciton energies and calculated band gaps. The extent of the in- and out-of-plane angular distortion of the SnI4(2-) perovskite sheets is largely determined by the relative charge density and steric requirements of the organic cations. Variation of the in-plane Sn-I-Sn bond angle was demonstrated to have the greatest impact on the tuning of the band gap, and the equatorial Sn-I bond distances have a significant secondary influence. Extended Hückel tight-binding band calculations are employed to decipher the crystal orbital origins of the structural effects that fine-tune the band structure. The calculations suggest that it may be possible to tune the band gap by as much as 1 eV using the templating influence of the organic cation.     

Critical micelle concentrations for alkyltrimethylammonium bromides in water from 25 to 160°C

Critical micelle concentrations were determined by conductance measurements for decyl-, dodecyl-, tetradecyl- and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide in water at 25, 60, 95, 130, and 160°C. The results are discussed in terms of the equilibrium model and the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann model for micelle formation. The free energies of transferring a methylene group from water to the oil-like interior of the micelle are found to be –781 at 25°C, –796 at 60°C, –819 at 95°C, –815 at 130°C, and –787 at 160°C cal-mol^–1.     

Total synthesis of the marine alkaloid halitulin

The structure of the strongly cytotoxic marine alkaloid halitulin (1) has been confirmed by total synthesis and its absolute configuration determined as (15S). The synthesis follows a strategy previously reported by one of us and uses an efficient preparation of the quinoline-7,8-diol unit by modified Baeyer-Villiger and Skraup reactions. The O-benzyl protecting groups were removed in the last step of the synthesis by transfer hydrogenolysis without concomitant reduction of the quinoline ring. The method can be applied for the synthesis of halitulin analogues.