A Reversible DNA Logic Gate Platform Operated by One‐ and Two‐Photon Excitations

We demonstrate the use of two different wavelength ranges of excitation light as inputs to remotely trigger the responses of the self‐assembled DNA devices (D‐OR). As an important feature of this device, the dependence of the readout fluorescent signals on the two external inputs, UV excitation for 1 min and/or near infrared irradiation (NIR) at 800 nm fs laser pulses, can mimic function of signal communication in OR logic gates. Their operations could be reset easily to its initial state. Furthermore, these DNA devices exhibit efficient cellular uptake, low cytotoxicity, and high bio‐stability in different cell lines. They are considered as the first example of a photo‐responsive DNA logic gate system, as well as a biocompatible, multi‐wavelength excited system in response to UV and NIR. This is an important step to explore the concept of photo‐responsive DNA‐based systems as versatile tools in DNA computing, display devices, optical communication, and biology.     

Novel intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction of unsaturated beta-keto esters

[reaction: see text] Fused cyclopropane beta-keto esters are versatile intermediates for the synthesis of many biologically active natural products. Here we report a new intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction of unsaturated beta-keto esters. In the presence of I(2), Et(3)N, and Lewis acids such as Mg(ClO(4))(2) and Yb(OTf)(3), beta-keto esters 1 bearing various olefin substituents were transformed to fused cyclopropanes 2 in a highly stereospecific manner with moderate to good yields. The mechanism of the reaction was also investigated.     

Determination of surfactant concentration using micellar enhanced fluorescence and flow injection titration

Flow injection titration was used for the determination of anionic, cationic, nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants. The procedure was based on the micellar-enhanced fluorescence of 1,8-anilino-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS). Samples were injected into a carrier stream of phosphate buffer and 1.0 mol l⁻¹ NaCl. The sample then passed through a mixing chamber which generated the exponential peak shape needed for the titration as well as diluted the sample in the carrier stream to control the pH and ionic strength of the sample. The peak width was linearly related to the logarithm of the surfactant concentration. The minimum detectable concentration was governed by the critical micelle concentration for anionic, zwitterionic and nonionic surfactants, but below the critical micelle concentration for cationic surfactants. The linear range extended for 1.5 orders of magnitude. Reproducibility ranged from 12% at the lower end of the calibration range to 1.1% at higher concentrations. For SDS recoveries of 82–108% were achieved in matrices as concentrated as 1 mol l⁻¹ in NaCl or Na₂SO₄.     

A stereospecific synthesis of vitamin A from 2,2,6-trimethyl-cyclohexanone.

An efficient synthesis of all-(E) vitamin A acetate from 2,2,6-trimethyl-cyclohexanone has been achieved via the intermediacy of 1-(9-acetoxy-3, 7-dimethyl-nona-3,5,7-trien-1-ynyl)-2,2,6-trimethyl-cyclohexanol ( 25 ), readily prepared in high yield by allylic rearrangement of tertiary propenols with glacial acetic acid. The key step in the synthesis is the transformation of 25 to the unsaturated ketone 27 (9-acetoxy-3,7-dimethyl-1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohex-1-enyl)-nona-3,5,7-trien- 2-one) using a novel vanadium(V)-catalysed rearrangement reaction. The carbonyl in 27 affords the means for the essential isomerization of the adjacent double bond to the (E) isomer and the product is readily transformed into the polyene by reduction and elimination. An overall yield of 18–31% of vitamin A acetate from 2,2,6-trimethyl-cyclohexanone has been realized.     

Experimental validation of theoretical potassium and sodium cation affinities of amides by mass spectrometric kinetic method measurements

In this study the theoretical Gaussian-2 K(+)/Na(+) binding affinities (enthalpies) at 0 K (in kJ mol(-1)) for six amides in the order: formamide (109.2/138.5) < N-methylformamide (117.7/148.6) < acetamide (118.7/149.5) < N,N-dimethylformamide (123.9/156.4) < N-methylacetamide (125.6/157.7) < N,N-dimethylacetamide (129.2/162.6), reported previously (Siu et al., J. Chem. Phys. 2001; 114: 7045-7051), were validated experimentally by mass spectrometric kinetic method measurements. By monitoring the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of K(+)/Na(+)-bound heterodimers of the amides, the relative affinities were shown to be accurate to within +/-2 kJ mol(-1). With these six theoretical K(+)/Na(+) binding affinities as reference values, the absolute K(+)/Na(+) affinities of imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, pyridazine and 1,2-dimethoxyethane were determined by the extended kinetic method, and found to be consistent (to within +/-9 kJ mol(-1)) with literature experimental values obtained by threshold-CID, equilibrium high-pressure mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance/ligand-exchange equilibrium methods. A self-consistent resolution is proposed for the inconsistencies in the relative order of K(+)/Na(+) affinities of amides reported in the literature. These two sets of validated K(+) and Na(+) affinity values are useful as reference values in kinetic method measurements of K(+)/Na(+) affinity of model biological ligands, such as the K(+) affinities of aliphatic amino acids.