A highly porous flexible Metal-Organic Framework with corundum topology

A flexible Metal-Organic Framework Zn(4)O(BenzTB)(3/2) (DUT-13) was obtained by combination of a tetratopic linker and Zn(4)O(6+) as connector. The material has a corundum topology and shows the highest pore volume among flexible MOFs.     

Conserved Tyr223(5.58) plays different roles in the activation and G-protein interaction of rhodopsin

Rhodopsin, a seven transmembrane helix (TM) receptor, binds its ligand 11-cis-retinal via a protonated Schiff base. Coupling to the G-protein transducin (G(t)) occurs after light-induced cis/trans-retinal isomerization, which leads through photoproducts into a sequence of metarhodopsin (Meta) states: Meta I ? Meta IIa ? Meta IIb ? Meta IIbH(+). The structural changes behind this three-step activation scheme are mediated by microswitch domains consisting of conserved amino acids. Here we focus on Tyr223(5.58) as part of the Y(5.58)X(7)K(R)(5.66) motif. Mutation to Ala, Phe, or Glu results in specific impairments of G(t)-activation measured by intrinsic G(t) fluorescence. UV-vis/FTIR spectroscopy of rhodopsin and its complex with a C-terminal G(t)α peptide allows the assignment of these deficiencies to specific steps in the activation path. Effects of mutation occur already in Meta I but do not directly influence deprotonation of the Schiff base during formation of Meta IIa. Absence of the whole phenol ring (Y223A) allows the activating motion of TM6 in Meta IIb but impairs the coupling to G(t). When only the hydroxyl group is lacking (Y223F), Meta IIb does not accumulate, but the activity toward G(t) remains substantial. From the FTIR features of Meta IIbH(+) we conclude that proton uptake to Glu134(3.49) is mandatory for Tyr223(5.58) to engage in the interaction with the key player Arg135(3.50) predicted by X-ray analysis. This polar interaction is partially recovered in Y223E, explaining its relatively high activity. Only the phenol side chain of tyrosine provides all characteristics for accumulation of the active state and G-protein activation.     

Electronic structure of sub-10 nm colloidal silica nanoparticles measured by in situ photoelectron spectroscopy at the aqueous-solid interface

X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been extended to colloidal nanoparticles in aqueous solution using a liquid microjet in combination with synchrotron radiation, which allowed for depth-dependent measurements. Two distinct electronic structures are evident in the Si 2p photoelectron spectrum of 7 nm SiO(2)-nanoparticles at pH 10. A core-shell model is proposed where only the outermost layer of SiO(2) nanoparticles, which is mainly composed of deprotonated silanol groups, >Si-O(-), interacts with the solution. The core of the nanoparticles is not affected by the solvation process and retains the same electronic structure as measured in vacuum. Future opportunities of this new experiment are also highlighted.     

Synthesis and Thermal Transformations of 1-Polyfluoro-Alkyl-2-Trialkylsilylethyl Esters of Phosphorus Acids

Abstract

We have studied the phosphorylation of 1-polyfluorólkyl-2-trialkylsilylethanols (I) with phosphorus acids chlorides.     

Alternativ-Liganden. XXII. Rhodium(I)-Komplexe mit Donor/Akzeptor-Liganden des Typs Me2PCH2CH2SiXnMe3−(X = F,Cl, OMe)

Alternative Ligands. XXII. Rhodium(I) complexes with Donor/Acceptor Ligands of the Typs Me₂PCH₂CH₂SiX_nMe_3?n(X = F, Cl, OMe) Donor/acceptor ligand of the type Me₂PCH₂SiX_nMe_3?n react with [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ ( 1 ) to give the mononuclear complexes RhCl(CO)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiX_nMe_3?n)₂ ( 2-6 , Table 1) with planar geometry of the donor atoms, one exception being Me₂PCH₂CH₂CH₂SiCl₃, yielding the crystalline Rh^III-complex RhCl₂(CO)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiCl₂)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiCl₃) ( 7 ) by oxidative addition of one of the SiCl bonds to the Rh¹ precursor. Structures with Rh → Si interaction between the basic central atoms and the acceptor group SiX_nMe_3?n could be detected in the isolated products neither spectroscopically nor by X-ray diffraction of the two representatives RhCl(CO)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiF₃)₂ ( 2 ) and RhCl(CO)[PMe₂CH₂CH₂siF₃]₂ ( 2 ) and RhCl(CO) [PMe₂CH₂CH₂Si(OMe₃]₂ ( 6 ). The presence of such acid/base adducts in the reaction mixture is indicated for the more acidic acceptor groups SiX_nMe_3?n byv_co values near 1990cm^?1, (see Table 3). The complex RhCl(CO)PMe₃)(PMe₂CH₂CH₂SiF₃ ( 8 ) is obtained by the reaction of RhCl(CO)(PMe₃)₂ ( 9 ) with Me₂PCH₂SiF₃ and has been identified spectroscopically in a mixture with 2 and 9 .     

IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROTON ACCEPTOR OF SCHIFF BASE DEPROTONATION IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN: A FOURIER-TRANSFORM-INFRARED STUDY OF THE MUTANT ASP85 → GLU IN ITS NATURAL LIPID ENVIRONMENT

Abstract— In order to assign the proton acceptor for Schiff base deprotonation in bacteriorhodopsin to a specific Asp residue, the photoreaction of the Asp85 → Glu mutant, as expressed in Halobacterium sp . GRB, was investigated by static low-temperature and time-resolved infrared difference spec-troscopy. Measurements were also performed on the mutant protein labeled with [4-¹³C]Asp which allowed discrimination between Asp and Glu residues. 14,15-di¹³C-retinal was incorporated to distinguish amide-II absorbance changes from changes of the ethylenic mode of the chromophore. In agreement with earlier UV-VIS measurements, our data show that from both the 540 and 610 nm species present in a pH-dependent equilibrium, intermediates similar to K and L can be formed. The 14 ms time-resolved spectrum of the 540 nm species shows that a glutamic acid becomes protonated in the M-like intermediate, whereas the comparable difference spectrum of the 610 nm species demonstrates that in the initial state a glutamic acid is already protonated. In conjunction with earlier observations of protonation of an Asp residue in wild-type M, the data provide direct evidence that the proton acceptor in the deprotonation reaction of the Schiff base is Asp85.     

Influence of operational parameters on retention of ultra-high molecular weight polystyrenes in thermal field-flow fractionation

Summary The influence of various parameters (concentration of the injected polymer solution, flow rate, temperature gradient, relaxation conditions) on the retention and shape of the fractogram of ultra-high molecular weight polystyrenes in thermal field-flow fractionation was investigated. Under the operating conditions adopted, reproducible oscillations in the peak shape are observed for molecular weights larger than a few millions, especially at relatively high polymer concentration. They are attributed to some hydrodynamic instabilities. The retention of ultra-high molecular weight polystyrenes at high flow rate is strongly dependent on the initial relaxation period. All of the investigated operational variables have a complex effect on the resulting shape of the fractogram. Consequently, the confirmation of the shear-induced focusing of macromolecules across the channel thickness requires further study. Experiments on reinjection of fractions collected after an initial high speed pass through the separation system leads to the conclusion that shear degradation of the ultra-high molecular weight polymers did not occur under the investigated experimental conditions even at the highest flow rates.     

Regioselective palladium-catalyzed alkylation of allylic halides with benzylic grignard reagents. Two-step synthesis of abietane terpenes and tetracyclic polyprenoid compounds

A highly regioselective palladium-catalyzed alpha-alkylation of allylic bromides 1a,c-e and chloride 1b with substituted and unsubstituted benzylic Grignard reagents is reported. The resulting all-trans polyenehomobenzene derivatives were obtained in excellent yields and regioselectivity. These products were easily converted to abietane-type diterpenes (10-12) and tetracyclic polyprenoid compounds (13, 14) through a Lewis acid-promoted cascade polyene cyclization reaction.