Carbon Dioxide Fixation and Sulfate Sequestration by a Supramolecular Trigonal Bipyramid

The subcomponent self‐assembly of a bent dialdehyde ligand and different cationic and anionic templates led to the formation of two new metallosupramolecular architectures: a Fe^II₄L₆ molecular rectangle was isolated following reaction of the ligand with iron(II) tetrafluoroborate, and a M₅L₆ trigonal bipyramidal structure was constructed from either zinc(II) tetrafluoroborate or cadmium(II) trifluoromethanesulfonate. The spatially constrained arrangement of the three equatorial metal ions in the M₅L₆ structures was found to induce small‐molecule transformations. Atmospheric carbon dioxide was fixed as carbonate and bound to the equatorial metal centers in both the Zn₅L₆ and Cd₅L₆ assemblies, and sulfur dioxide was hydrated and bound as the sulfite dianion in the Zn₅L₆ structure. Subsequent in situ oxidation of the sulfite dianion resulted in a sulfate dianion bound within the supramolecular pocket.     

Linked Supramolecular Building Blocks for Enhanced Cluster Formation

Methylene‐bridged calix[4]arenes have emerged as extremely versatile ligand supports in the formation of new polymetallic clusters possessing fascinating magnetic properties. Metal ion binding rules established for this building block allow one to partially rationalise the complex assembly process. The ability to covalently link calix[4]arenes at the methylene bridge provides significantly improved control over the introduction of different metal centres to resulting cluster motifs. Clusters assembled from bis‐calix[4]arenes and transition metal ions or 3d‐4f combinations display characteristic features of the analogous calix[4]arene supported clusters, thereby demonstrating an enhanced and rational approach towards the targeted synthesis of complex and challenging structures.     

Facile Interchange of 3d and 4f Ions in Single‐Molecule Magnets: Stepwise Assembly of [Mn4], [Mn3Ln] and [Mn2Ln2] Cages within Calix[4]arene Scaffolds

The central Mn^II ions in a series of calix[4]arene‐stabilised butterflies can be sequentially replaced with Ln^III ions, maintaining the structural integrity of the molecule but transforming its magnetic properties. The replacement of Mn^II for Gd^III allows for the examination of the transferability of spin‐Hamiltonian parameters within the family as well as permitting their reliable determination. The introduction of the 4f ions results in weaker intramolecular magnetic exchange, an increase in the number of low‐lying excited states, and an increase in magnetisation relaxation, highlighting the importance of exchange over single‐ion anisotropy for the observation of SMM behaviour in this family of complexes. The presence of the [TM^II/III(TBC[4])(OH)(solvent)] metalloligand (TM=transition metal, TBC=p‐tBu‐calix[4]arene) suggests that magnetic calix[n]arene building blocks can be employed to encapsulate a range of different “guests” within structurally robust “hosts”.     

Mapping a Noncovalent Protein–Peptide Interface by Top-Down FTICR Mass Spectrometry Using Electron Capture Dissociation

Noncovalent protein–ligand and protein–protein complexes are readily detected using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS). Furthermore, recent reports have demonstrated that careful use of electron capture dissociation (ECD) fragmentation allows covalent backbone bonds of protein complexes to be dissociated without disruption of noncovalent protein–ligand interactions. In this way the site of protein–ligand interfaces can be identified. To date, protein–ligand complexes, which have proven tractable to this technique, have been mediated by ionic electrostatic interactions, i.e., ion pair interactions or salt bridging. Here we extend this methodology by applying ECD to study a protein–peptide complex that contains no electrostatics interactions. We analyzed the complex between the 21 kDa p53-inhibitor protein anterior gradient-2 and its hexapeptide binding ligand (PTTIYY). ECD fragmentation of the 1:1 complex occurs with retention of protein–peptide binding and analysis of the resulting fragments allows the binding interface to be localized to a C-terminal region between residues 109 and 175. These finding are supported by a solution-phase competition assay, which implicates the region between residues 108 and 122 within AGR2 as the PTTIYY binding interface. Our study expands previous findings by demonstrating that top-down ECD mass spectrometry can be used to determine directly the sites of peptide–protein interfaces. This highlights the growing potential of using ECD and related top-down fragmentation techniques for interrogation of protein–protein interfaces.     

A bag-like model for kinematic corrections to structure functions

Within a hadron bag valence quarks have a distribution of momenta, which, at low energies allows the kinematic scaling violations in deep inelastic scattering to be calculated. Using a simple model for this distribution we can succesfully account for the data between 2 and 6 (GeV/c)². At higher momenta, “non-kinematic” effects are required.