Supramolecular switches based on the guanine-cytosine (GC) Watson-Crick pair: effect of neutral and ionic substituents

We have theoretically analyzed Watson-Crick guanine-cytosine (GC) base pairs in which purine-C8 and/or pyrimidine-C6 positions carry a substituent X = NH(-), NH(2), NH(3) (+) (N series), O(-), OH, or OH(2) (+) (O series), using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of density functional theory at the BP86/TZ2P level. The purpose is to study the effects on structure and hydrogen-bond strength if X= H is substituted by an anionic, neutral, or cationic substituent. We found that replacing X = H by a neutral substituent has relatively small effects. Introducing a charged substituent, on the other hand, led to substantial and characteristic changes in hydrogen-bond lengths, strengths, and hydrogen-bonding mechanism. In general, introducing an anionic substituent reduces the hydrogen-bond-donating and increases the hydrogen-bond-accepting capabilities of a DNA base, and vice versa for a cationic substituent. Thus, along both the N and O series of substituents, the geometric shape and bond strength of our DNA base pair can be chemically switched between three states, thus yielding a chemically controlled supramolecular switch. Interestingly, the orbital-interaction component in some of these hydrogen bonds was found to contribute to more than 49 % of the attractive interactions and is thus virtually equal in magnitude to the electrostatic component, which provides the other (somewhat less than) 51 % of the attraction.     

Preferential mode of cyclization of tetrahydrofuran amino acids containing peptides: some theoretical insights

Theoretical insights have been provided for the observed preference of cyclodimerization over intramolecular cyclization reactions in linear tripeptides containing “2,5‐cis” (2S,5R)‐tetrahydrofuran amino acid as well as in those containing “2,5‐trans” (2S,5S)‐tetrahydrofuran amino acid, using quantum chemical methods. The geometries of species involved as well as the feasibility of cyclization reactions are studied at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level of theory in gas phase as well as in solvent phase. Thermodynamic data from Hessian calculations favor the intermolecular cyclization. Analysis of optimized geometries reveals the existence of additional stabilizing hydrogen bonding interactions in intermolecularly cyclized products. The existence of these second‐order interactions is substantiated by topological (atoms in molecules (AIM)) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses. Such interactions are absent in the intramolecular cyclization products. Further justification for the presence of stabilizing interactions in intermolecularly cyclized products comes from the molecular electrostatic potentials and electron density surfaces. Kinetic control favoring the intermolecularly cyclized products due to additional entropy of activation in the intramolecular case is surmised. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of the first diorganotin(IV) complexes containing mixed arylazobenzoic acids and having skew trapezoidal bipyramidal geometry

Three diorganotin(IV) complexes of the type, [R₂Sn(L^aH)(L^bH)] (R = ⁿBu or Me and, L^aH and L^bH are two different 5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]-2-hydroxybenzoate residues; a: aryl = 4′-Cl-(held constant) and b: aryl = 4′-Me or 4′-Br) have been prepared either by reacting ⁿBu₂SnO, L^aHH′ and L^bHH′ (1:1:1) in anhydrous toluene or by reacting Me₂SnCl₂, L^aHNa and L^bHNa (1:1:1) in anhydrous methanol. The products were characterized by microanalysis, IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) and ^119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopy. A full characterization of the structures of the complexes [ⁿBu₂Sn(L^aH)(L^bH)] (1 and 2) and [Me₂Sn(L^aH)(L^bH)] (3) in the solid state were accomplished by single crystal X-ray crystallography. These complexes were found to adopt the usual dicarboxylato structural type with a skew-trapezoidal bipyramidal arrangement around the tin atom.     

Synthesis and characterization of tribenzyltin(IV) and dibenzyltin(IV) complexes of 2-{[(2Z)-3-hydroxy-1-methyl- 2-butenylidene]amino}acetic acid: Crystal structure of tribenzyl{2-{[(2Z)-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-butenylidene] amino}acetato}tin(IV)

Reactions of equimolar quantities of potassium 2-{[(2Z)-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-butenylidene]amino}acetate, with R _n SnX_4?n (R: benzyl– and n=2 or 3) in methanol yielded products of compositions LHSn(PhCH₂)₃ and LSn(PhCH₂)₂, respectively. The complexes were characterized by microanalysis, IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) and ^119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopy. A full characterization of the structure of the complex, tribenzyl{2-{[(2Z)-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-butenylidene]amino}acetato}tin(IV), was carried out by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The compound exists as centrosymmetric dimers in which two ligand molecules bridge the two tin centres. Each of the tin atoms in the dimeric unit is five coordinate in an approximately trigonal bipyramidal configuration, with carbon atoms in the equatorial positions and oxygen atoms arranged axially.     

Pyranocarbazoles from Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. as antimicrobial agents

The bioassay guided fractionation of methanolic extract of Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. leaves resulted in the isolation of seven pyranocarbazoles. These were evaluated against four bacterial strains and ten Candida sp. including two matched pair of fluconazole sensitive/resistant clinical isolates. Out of seven, three i.e. Koenine (mk279), Koenigine (mk309) and Mahanine (mk347) exhibited significant antibacterial activity MIC90 3.12–12.5 μg/mL against bacterial strains Streptococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia compared with standard drug Kanamycin MIC90 12.5 μg/mL. However, only mk309 was found active against variety of Candida species MIC90 12.5–100 μg/mL. It was observed that hydroxylation at C-6 and C-7 positions in the studied pyranocarbazoles activate the bioactivity. Simultaneously, decrease in Log P value compares with ?H and ?O?CH3 substituted derivatives. The study is focused on selective antifungal and antibacterial activity of pyranocarbazoles on bacterial strains S. aureus, K. pneumonia and variety of Candida species with structure activity relationship observations.     

Changing liquid crystalline phase with field

Since 1888, the liquid crystal display (LCD) industry is facing a fierce competition due to serious limitations such as poor contrast ratio and response time. Although some new materials have offered new applications and opened new markets for LCDs, materials with improved contrast ratio are highly desirable in LCD industry to sustain in the current market. This work reports a new behaviour in nano-material-doped liquid-crystal composite which is suitable for eradicating limitations of contrast ratio. Here, a high concentration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is doped in liquid crystal (LC) materials wherein the CNTs form aggregates in the LC composition. In these heavily doped samples, the phase change takes place with application of bias. This reversible process improves the contrast ratio as the material oscillates between crystalline and LC phases with field.     

Ti(III)-mediated radical cyclization of β-aminoacrylate containing epoxy alcohol moieties: synthesis of highly substituted azacycles

Ti(III)-mediated radical cyclization of β-aminoacrylate containing 2,3-epoxy alcohol moieties led to the formation of highly substituted piperidine and pyrrolidine rings. The pyrrolidine ring system was then transformed into an indolizidine framework present in many natural products.     

Quantitative studies of pyrocarbon‐coated materials using synchrotron radiation

Phase‐contrast imaging provides enhanced image contrast and is important for non‐destructive evaluation of structural materials. In this paper, experimental results on in‐line phase‐contrast imaging using a synchrotron source (ELETTRA, Italy) for objects required in material science applications are discussed. Experiments have been carried out on two types of samples, pyrocarbon‐coated zirconia and pyrocarbon‐coated alumina microspheres. These have applications in both reactor and industrial fields. The phase‐contrast imaging technique is found to be very useful in visualizing and determining the coating thickness of pyrocarbon on zirconia and alumina microspheres. The experiments were carried out at X‐ray energies of 16, 18 and 20 keV and different object‐to‐detector distances. The results describe the contrast values and signal‐to‐noise ratio for both samples. A comprehensive study was carried out to determine the thickness of the pyrocarbon coating on zirconia and alumina microspheres of diameter 500 µm. The advantages of phase‐contrast images are discussed in terms of contrast and resolution, and a comparison is made with absorption images. The results show considerable improvement in contrast with phase‐contrast imaging as compared with absorption radiography.