Formation,growth mechanism and packing sequences of binary alloy cluster anions from laser ablation of mixtures of lead and transition metals

By using laser ablation of the mixtures of a transition metal (M: Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd, Ag) plus lead, M/Pb binary cluster anions were observed except for Zn, and the number of transition metal atoms contained in the binary clusters is at most 4. This behavior is different from that reported previously for M/Ge binary clusters. The experiments indicate that it is also very difficult to form Al/Pb clusters. The distribution patterns of M/Pb binary alloy cluster anions are remarkably similar to those of pure Pb clusters, consistent with a formation mechanism in which transition metal atoms are sequentially attached to [M(x-1)Pb(y)](-) clusters and thus form [M(x)Pb(y)](-) clusters by a simple condensation process. As the number of transition metal atoms increases, the intensities of binary clusters gradually decrease. It is proposed that [MPb(4)](-) and [MPb(5)](-) cluster anions might be the unit building blocks of M/Pb binary cluster anions, and the layer packing sequences for magic clusters are predicted on this basis. The [M(x)Pb(y)](-) binary clusters containing 13 atoms (x + y = 13; x not equal 0) are proposed to have an icosahedral structure.     

Luminescence behavior of a water soluble calix[4]arene derivative complex with terbium ion(III) in gelation solution

The complexation luminescence behavior of a water soluble calix[4]arene derivative, 5,11,17,23-tetra-sulfonate-25,26,27,28-tetra-carboxymethoxycalix[4]arene (L) with lanthanoid ion (Tb(3+)) has been investigated in gelation solution at 25 degrees C by using UV-vis and fluorescence spectra. The results obtained indicated that the water soluble calix[4]arene derivative can form an efficient energy transfer complex with terbium ion(III). The fluorescence of L x Tb(3+)complex is partially quenched by gelatin in gelation solution. The quenching intensity is related to the concentration and the hydrolysis degree of gelatin. Absorption and fluorescence spectra analysis show that the -COO(-) groups on gelatin have a definite binding ability to Tb(3+), and then, gelatin could compete binding with calix[4]arene derivative upon complexation with Tb(3+), leading to the relative fluorescence quenching of the formation complex of terbium(III) ion with calix[4]arene derivative.     

Proteome analyses using accurate mass and elution time peptide tags with capillary LC time-of-flight mass spectrometry

We describe the application of capillary liquid chromatography (LC) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometric instrumentation for the rapid characterization of microbial proteomes. Previously (Lipton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2002, 99, 11049) the peptides from a series of growth conditions of Deinococcus radiodurans have been characterized using capillary LC MS/MS and accurate mass measurements which are captured as an accurate mass and time (AMT) tag database. Using this AMT tag database, detected peptides can be assigned using measurements obtained on a TOF due to the additional use of elution time data as a constraint. When peptide matches are obtained using AMT tags (i.e., using both constraints) unique matches of a mass spectral peak occurs 88% of the time. Not only are AMT tag matches unique in most cases, the coverage of the proteome is high; approximately 3500 unique peptide AMT tags are found on average per capillary LC run. From the results of the AMT tag database search, approximately 900 ORFs detected using LC-TOFMS, with approximately 500 ORFs covered by at least two AMT tags. These results indicate that AMT database searches with modest mass and elution time criteria can provide proteomic information for approximately one thousand proteins in a single run of <3 h. The advantage of this method over using MS/MS based techniques is the large number of identifications that occur in a single experiment as well as the basis for improved quantitation. For MS/MS experiments, the number of peptide identifications is severely restricted because of the time required to dissociate the peptides individually. These results demonstrate the utility of the AMT tag approach using capillary LC-TOF MS instruments, and also show that AMT tags developed using other instrumentation can be effectively utilized.     

Polyketide chain length control by chain length factor

Bacterial aromatic polyketides are pharmacologically important natural products. A critical parameter that dictates product structure is the carbon chain length of the polyketide backbone. Systematic manipulation of polyketide chain length represents a major unmet challenge in natural product biosynthesis. Polyketide chain elongation is catalyzed by a heterodimeric ketosynthase. In contrast to homodimeric ketosynthases found in fatty acid synthases, the active site cysteine is absent from the one subunit of this heterodimer. The precise role of this catalytically silent subunit has been debated over the past decade. We demonstrate here that this subunit is the primary determinant of polyketide chain length, thereby validating its designation as chain length factor. Using structure-based mutagenesis, we identified key residues in the chain length factor that could be manipulated to convert an octaketide synthase into a decaketide synthase and vice versa. These results should lead to novel strategies for the engineered biosynthesis of hitherto unidentified polyketide scaffolds.     

Synthesis, biochemical properties and molecular modelling studies of organometallic specific estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), the ferrocifens and hydroxyferrocifens: evidence for an antiproliferative effect of hydroxyferrocifens on both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent breast cancer cell lines

A series of ferrocene derivatives based upon the structure of the antiestrogenic drug tamoxifen or of its active metabolite hydroxytamoxifen has been prepared and named by analogy ferrocifens and hydroxyferrocifens. This series includes 1-[4-(O(CH(2))(n)NMe(2))phenyl]-1-phenyl-2-ferrocenyl-but-1-ene and 1-[4-(-O(CH(2))(n)NMe(2))phenyl]-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-ferrocenyl-but-1-ene, with n=2, 3, 5 and 8, and 1-[4-(-O(CH(2))(2)NMe(2))phenyl]-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-ferrocenylethene. Most of these molecules have been synthesised by McMurry cross-coupling of the appropriate ketones, except for the ethene complexes, which were prepared by a four-step reaction sequence starting from the ferrocenylacetic acid. All these compounds were obtained as mixtures of Z and E isomers. The isomers were separated in the cases of the ferrocenyl derivatives of tamoxifen and hydroxytamoxifen (n=2). No isomerisation of the Z and E isomers occurred in DMSO after one day, while a 50:50 mixture of the isomers was obtained within one hour in chloroform. The X-ray structure of (E)-1-[4-(-O(CH(2))(2)NMe(2))phenyl]-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-ferrocenyl-but-1-ene has been determined. The relative binding affinity (RBA) values of the hydroxyferrocifens for the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) was good to moderate, with values decreasing progressively with the length of the basic chain. The RBA values found for the estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) are equal to or slightly less than those found for the alpha form. The lipophilicity of the hydroxyferrocifens are superior to the values found for estradiol and increase with lengthening of the chain. The antiproliferative effects of the four hydroxyferrocifens with n=2, 3, 5 and 8 were studied on four breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, MDA-MB231, RTx6 and TD5) possessing different levels of ERalpha. On MCF7 cells containing high levels of ERalpha, hydroxyferrocifens behave as antiestrogens. At a molarity of 1 microM the effect is close to that of hydroxytamoxifen (used for reference) when n=2 or 5, more marked when n=3, and weaker when n=8. Ferrocene alone has no effect. For the MDA-MB231 cells, classed as a hormone-independent breast cancer cell line, on the other hand, the hydroxyferrocifens show remarkable antiproliferative behaviour while the hydroxytamoxifen is completely inactive. Hydroxyferrocifens therefore show the unique property of being active both on hormone-dependent and on hormone-independent breast cancer cell lines. The molecular modelling study provides some clues for understanding of the antagonist effect of these molecules, while an additional cytotoxic effect due to the vectorised ferrocenyl unit is revealed in some occasions.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel triazole derivatives as antifungal agents

A series of 1-(benzylamino)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-l-yl)propan-2-ols compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their antifungal activities in vitro.The results showed that compounds 6A and 6B exhibited good antifungal activity.Compound 6A8 showed the strongest antifungal activity,which was significantly higher than that of the lead compounds and positive-control drugs Fluconazole and Itraconazole.In particular,the antifungal activity of compound 6A8 against Candida albicans and Candida krusei(MIC80 both at 0.00097μg/mL) was 515 and 64 times that of Fluconazole,respectively.The structure-activity relationships of the synthesized compounds were discussed,and the docking model of the target compounds with fungal lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) was analyzed.     

含非典型性生色团的发光聚合物

发光聚合物一般是由具有大p电子系统的共轭基元作为发光单元, 通过共价键连接而成的高分子. 近年来, 研究者发现: 另一类仅含有脂肪胺、羰基、酯基、酰胺等传统意义上的助色团的聚合物在适当条件下也能发射强的荧光. 树枝状聚酰胺胺(PAMAM)和超支化聚酰胺胺(hb-PAMAM)是最早和最广泛被研究的含非典型性荧光生色团的聚合物. 最近, 这类聚合物被扩展到含有叔胺基元的聚氨酯、聚醚酰胺、聚脲体系. 这些体系的生色团被认定为其结构中的叔胺基元, 叔胺的氧化是荧光产生的根源. 同时, 也有文献报道马来酸酐与醋酸乙烯酯交替共聚物、异丁烯与顺丁烯二酸酐共聚物、聚多糖动态高分子、聚酰腙以及通过RAFT试剂制备的含聚三硫碳酸酯的多嵌段共聚物等也可以发射荧光. 这些聚合物的一个共同特点是结构中不含叔胺基元, 而仅含羰基和酯基, 其发光机理通常用多个羰基聚集效应或羰基和苯环之间的相互作用来解释.     

Systhesis of double-hydrophilic core-shell type multiarm star copolymer polyethylenimine-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Multiarm star block copolymers hyperbranched polyethylenimine-b-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HPEI-b-PHEMA) with average 28 PHEMA arms have been prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of HEMA in a mixed solvent of methanol and water using a core-first strategy. The hyperbranched macroinitiator employed was prepared on the basis of well-defined hyperbranched polyethylenimine with Mw/Mn of 1.04 by amidation with 2-bromo-isobutyryl bromide. The polymerization condition was optimized to prepare star copolymers with narrow dispersity, and the variables included the volume ratio of methanol to water, the molar ratio of initiating site to CuCl and the molar ratio of [CuCl]:[CuBr2]. Under the optimized polymerization condition, the lowest Mw/Mn value of the obtained star copolymers was around 1.3. Kinetic analysis showed that an induction period existed in the polymerization of HEMA. After this induction period, a linear dependence of ln([M]0/[M]t) on time was observed. The obtained HPEI-b-PHEMA could adsorb hydrophilic molecules. The comparison with the star copolymer with hydrophobic core and hydrophilic PHEMA shell verified that both the hydrophilic core and shell could host the hydrophilic guests, but the amidated HPEI core was more effective than the PHEMA shell.     

高温氟化盐对熔盐堆用材料的腐蚀行为研究进展

氟化物熔盐在熔盐堆(MSR)中可用作为核燃料载体和冷却剂,其独特热物理化学性质能极大提高MSR的传热效率。但MSR高温和强腐蚀条件对材料的选择使用要求非常苛刻,特别是氟化物熔盐在高温下对结构材料的腐蚀直接关系到MSR的安全运行和使用寿命,成为制约MSR应用发展的关键。本文综述了LiF-NaF-KF(Flinak)和LiF-BeF2(Flibe)熔盐与金属合金材料、碳材料及陶瓷材料腐蚀行为方面的研究进展,对材料在不同条件下腐蚀行为的机理进行了分析。研究发现,应用于MSR的高镍基合金及石墨材料存在着高温腐蚀性及机械性能差等弱点。未来新型高镍基合金、C/C复合材料及新型陶瓷材料(SiC及其复合材料、其他陶瓷材料)有望在氟化物熔盐体系中获得应用,并最终解决MSR用材料的困惑,实现MSR快速工业化发展。     

高耐热PLLA/PDLA共混物的热性能和结晶结构研究

通过熔融共混法制备了一系列等比例聚左旋乳酸(PLLA)/聚右旋乳酸(PDLA)共混试样,采用差示扫描量热法(DSC)、核磁共振(13C-NMR)及广角X射线衍射(WAXD)等方法对共混产物进行了表征和研究分析.结果表明,等比例PLLA和PDLA熔融共混生成了立构复合物(stereocomplex,sc),同时部分均聚物发生酯交换反应,生成了立体嵌段物(stereoblock,sb),从而在DSC升温曲线上sc晶体处出现特殊的熔融双峰现象;随着熔融共混温度升高,sc晶体的生成率和结晶度逐渐下降;聚乳酸立构复合物的加工稳定性较好,二次加工后,sc晶体熔点基本不变,生成率和结晶度提高;由于sc晶体的存在,PLLA/PDLA共混物的耐热性能提高,退火热处理后耐热性能得到进一步提高.这对于开发高耐热聚乳酸及其加工应用具有重要的应用价值.