3D Motions of Iron in Six‐Coordinate {FeNO}7 Hemes by Nuclear Resonance Vibration Spectroscopy

The vibrational spectrum of a six‐coordinate nitrosyl iron porphyrinate, monoclinic [Fe(TpFPP)(1‐MeIm)(NO)] (TpFPP=tetra‐para‐fluorophenylporphyrin; 1‐MeIm=1‐methylimidazole), has been studied by oriented single‐crystal nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS). The crystal was oriented to give spectra perpendicular to the porphyrin plane and two in‐plane spectra perpendicular or parallel to the projection of the FeNO plane. These enable assignment of the FeNO bending and stretching modes. The measurements reveal that the two in‐plane spectra have substantial differences that result from the strongly bonded axial NO ligand. The direction of the in‐plane iron motion is found to be largely parallel and perpendicular to the projection of the bent FeNO on the porphyrin plane. The out‐of‐plane Fe‐N‐O stretching and bending modes are strongly mixed with each other, as well as with porphyrin ligand modes. The stretch is mixed with v₅₀ as was also observed for dioxygen complexes. The frequency of the assigned stretching mode of eight Fe‐X‐O (X=N, C, and O) complexes is correlated with the Fe?XO bond lengths. The nature of highest frequency band at ≈560 cm^?1 has also been examined in two additional new derivatives. Previously assigned as the Fe?NO stretch (by resonance Raman), it is better described as the bend, as the motion of the central nitrogen atom of the FeNO group is very large. There is significant mixing of this mode. The results emphasize the importance of mode mixing; the extent of mixing must be related to the peripheral phenyl substituents.     

Catalytic Performance of Cobalt(II) Polyethylene Catalysts with Sterically Hindered Dibenzopyranyl Substituents Studied by Experimental and MLR Methods

Given the great importance of cobalt catalysts supported by benchmark bis(imino)pyridine in the (oligo)polymerization, a series of dibenzopyran-incorporated symmetrical 2,6-bis(imino) pyridyl cobalt complexes (Co1–Co5) are designed and prepared using a one-pot template approach. The structures of the resulting complexes are well characterized by a number of techniques. After activation with either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified MAO (MMAO), the complexes Co1–Co4 are highly active for ethylene polymerization with a maximum activity of up to 7.36 × 10⁶ g (PE) mol⁻¹ (Co) h⁻¹ and produced highly linear polyethylene with narrow molecular weight distributions, while Co5 is completely inactive under the standard conditions. Particularly, complex Co3 affords polyethylene with high molecular weights of 85.02 and 79.85 kg mol⁻¹ in the presence of MAO and MMAO, respectively. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy revealed the existence of vinyl end groups in the resulting polyethylene, highlighting the predominant involvement of the β-H elimination reaction in the chain-termination process. To investigate the mechanism underlying the variation of catalytic activities as a function of substituents, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was performed, showing the key role of open cone angle (θ) and effective net charge (Q) on catalytic activity.     

Tri-partite complex for axonal transport drug delivery achieves pharmacological effect

Background

Targeted delivery of pharmaceutical agents into selected populations of CNS (Central Nervous System) neurons is an extremely compelling goal. Currently, systemic methods are generally used for delivery of pain medications, anti-virals for treatment of dermatomal infections, anti-spasmodics, and neuroprotectants. Systemic side effects or undesirable effects on parts of the CNS that are not involved in the pathology limit efficacy and limit clinical utility for many classes of pharmaceuticals. Axonal transport from the periphery offers a possible selective route, but there has been little progress towards design of agents that can accomplish targeted delivery via this intraneural route. To achieve this goal, we developed a tripartite molecular construction concept involving an axonal transport facilitator molecule, a polymer linker, and a large number of drug molecules conjugated to the linker, then sought to evaluate its neurobiology and pharmacological behavior.

Results

We developed chemical synthesis methodologies for assembling these tripartite complexes using a variety of axonal transport facilitators including nerve growth factor, wheat germ agglutinin, and synthetic facilitators derived from phage display work. Loading of up to 100 drug molecules per complex was achieved. Conjugation methods were used that allowed the drugs to be released in active form inside the cell body after transport. Intramuscular and intradermal injection proved effective for introducing pharmacologically effective doses into selected populations of CNS neurons. Pharmacological efficacy with gabapentin in a paw withdrawal latency model revealed a ten fold increase in half life and a 300 fold decrease in necessary dose relative to systemic administration for gabapentin when the drug was delivered by axonal transport using the tripartite vehicle.

Conclusion

Specific targeting of selected subpopulations of CNS neurons for drug delivery by axonal transport holds great promise. The data shown here provide a basic framework for the intraneural pharmacology of this tripartite complex. The pharmacologically efficacious drug delivery demonstrated here verify the fundamental feasibility of using axonal transport for targeted drug delivery.     

Evidence for electronic phase separation between orbital orderings in SmVO3

We report evidence for phase coexistence of orbital orderings of different symmetry in SmVO3 by high resolution x-ray powder diffraction. The phase coexistence is triggered by an antiferromagnetic ordering of the vanadium spins near 130 K, below an initial orbital ordering near 200 K. The phase coexistence is the result of the intermediate ionic size of samarium coupled to exchange striction at the vanadium spin ordering.     

New perspectives on iron-ligand vibrations of oxyheme complexes

We report our studies of the vibrational dynamics of iron for three imidazole-ligated oxyheme derivatives that mimic the active sites of histidine-ligated heme proteins complexed with dioxygen. The experimental vibrational data are obtained from nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) measurements conducted on both powder samples and oriented single crystals, and which includes several in-plane (ip) and out-of-plane (oop) measurements. Vibrational spectral assignments have been made through a combination of the oriented sample spectra and predictions based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The two Fe-O(2) modes that have been previously observed by resonance Raman spectroscopy in heme proteins are clearly shown to be very strongly mixed and are not simply either a bending or stretching mode. In addition, a third Fe-O(2) mode, not previously reported, has been identified. The long-sought Fe-Im stretch, not observed in resonance Raman spectra, has been identified and compared with the frequencies observed for the analogous CO and NO species. The studies also suggest that the in-plane iron motion is anisotropic and is controlled by the orientation of the Fe-O(2) group and not sensitive to the in-plane Fe-N(p) bonds and/or imidazole orientations.     

Detection of volatile organic compounds indicative of human presence in the air

Volatile organic compounds were collected and analyzed from a variety of indoor and outdoor air samples to test whether human‐derived compounds can be readily detected in the air and if they can be associated with human occupancy or presence. Compounds were captured with thermal desorption tubes and then analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Isoprene, a major volatile organic compound in exhaled breath, was shown to be the best indicator of human presence. Acetone, another major breath‐borne compound, was higher in unoccupied or minimally occupied areas than in human‐occupied areas, indicating that its majority may be derived from exogenous sources. The association of endogenous skin‐derived compounds with human occupancy was not significant. In contrast, numerous compounds that are found in foods and consumer products were detected at elevated levels in the occupied areas. Our results revealed that isoprene and many exogenous volatile organic compounds consumed by humans are emitted at levels sufficient for detection in the air, which may be indicative of human presence.