Molecular constants of substituted ethylene-type molecules: IV. Inertia defects and rotational constants of vinyl halides and their deuterated derivatives

The inertia defects of some vinyl halides and their deuterated derivatives have been calculated on the basis of the general formulation developed by Oka and Morino. The initial sets of Urey-Bradley force constants, based on published data, were adjusted by a least squares procedure until they reproduced the fundamental vibrational frequencies satisfactorily. The Coriolis coupling constants which satisfy the sum rules derived were evaluated and used to calculate the inertia defect in the ground vibrational state. The theoretical values of the inertia defect are used to determine the rotational constant A which cannot otherwise be accurately determined from an “a” type transition.     

On a new partitioning of the Hamiltonian in many-body calculation of pair-correlation energies in closed-shell systems

We introduce here a new partitioning of the Hamiltonian in calculating pair-correlation energies using many-body perturbation theory, by which we are able to eliminate the off-diagonal particle–hole (p–h) ladders exactly to all orders in the perturbation expansion. In this formulation, the particle states turn out to be different for each distinct pair of hole states in the correlation energy calculation. We have also included the contributions of the diagonal particle–particle (p–p) and hole–hole ladders exactly to all orders. The effect of the off-diagonal p–p ladders has been estimated for each pair by computing the third-, foruth- and fifth-order energies. For highly symmetric systems the present partitioning yields in general symmetry-broken orbitals. Here one may use an average kind of partitioning for all the partners of the degenerate sets, which restores the symmetry and at the same time ensures cancellation of the p–h ladders exactly at the lowest order and approximately at the higher orders. Results are presented for a selection of 6π-electron conjugated systems. The correlation energy for each pair is in excellent agreement with that obtained from a partial CI calculation involving all double excitations from this pair. The advantages of implementing the present scheme in larger systems has been discussed.     

Effects of thioamide substitutions on the conformation and stability of alpha- and 3(10)-helices

Thiopeptides, formed by replacing the amide oxygen atom with a sp(2) sulfur atom, are useful in protein engineering and drug design because they confer resistance to enzymatic degradation and are predicted to be more rigid. This report describes our free molecular dynamics simulations with explicit water and free energy calculations on the effects of thio substitutions on the conformation of alpha-helices, 3(10)-helices, and their relative stability. The most prominent structural effect of thio substitution is the increase in the hydrogen bond distance from 2.1 A for normal peptides to 2.7 A for thiopeptides. To accommodate for the longer C[double bond]S...H-N hydrogen bond, the (phi, psi) dihedral angles of the alpha-helix changed from (-66 degrees, -42 degrees) to (-68 degrees, -38 degrees), and the rise per turn increased from 5.5 to 6.3 A. For 3(10)-helices, the (phi, psi) dihedral angles (-60 degrees, -20 degrees) and rise per turn (6.0 A) changed to (-66 degrees, -12 degrees) and 6.8 A, respectively. In terms of relative stability, the most prominent change upon thio substitution is the decrease in the free energy difference, Delta A(alpha --> 3(10)), from 14 to 3.5 kcal/mol. Therefore, normal peptides are less likely to form 3(10)-helix than are thiopeptides. Component analysis of the Delta A(alpha --> 3(10)) reviews that the entropy advantage of the 3(10)-helix for both Ac-Ala(10)-NHMe and Act-Alat(10)-NHMe is attributed to the 3(10)-helix being more flexible than the alpha-helix. Interestingly, upon thio substitution, this differential flexibility is even more apparent because the alpha-helix conformation of Act-Alat(10)-NHMe becomes more rigid due to the bulkier sulfur atom.     

Michael addition reactions between chiral equivalents of a nucleophilic glycine and (S)- or (R)-3-[(E)-enoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones as a general method for efficient preparation of beta-substituted pyroglutamic acids. Case of topographically controlled stereoselectivity

This paper describes a systematic study of addition reactions between the chiral Ni(II) complex of the Schiff base of glycine with (S)-o-[N-(N-benzylprolyl)amino]benzophenone and (S)- or (R)-3-[(E)-enoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones as a general and synthetically efficient approach to beta-substituted pyroglutamic acids and relevant compounds. These reactions were shown to occur at room temperature in the presence of nonchelating organic bases and, most notably, with very high (>98% diastereomeric excess (de)) stereoselectivity at both newly formed stereogenic centers. The stereochemical outcome of the reactions was found to be overwhelmingly controlled by the stereochemical preferences of the Michael acceptors, and the chirality of the glycine complex influenced only the reaction rate. Thus, in the reactions of both the (S)-configured Ni(II) complex and the Michael acceptors, the reaction rates were exceptionally high, allowing preparation of the corresponding products with virtually quantitative (>98%) chemical and stereochemical yields. In contrast, reactions of the (S)-configured Ni(II) complex and (R)-configured Michael acceptors proceeded at noticeably lower rates, but the addition products were obtained in high diastereo- and enantiomeric purity. To rationalize the remarkably high and robust stereoselectivity observed in these reactions, we consider an enzyme-substrate-like mode of interaction involving a topographical match or mismatch of two geometric figures. Excellent chemical and stereochemical yields, combined with the simplicity and operational convenience of the experimental procedures, render the present method of immediate use for preparing various beta-substituted pyroglutamic acids and related compounds.     

Determination of Pt in urine of tram drivers by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) used in automotive catalytic converters are partly emitted into the air during use and can enter the human respiratory system. Due to the increasing use of automotive catalytic converters, the importance of this problem cannot be overlooked.The goal of this investigation was to determine the concentration of Pt in the urine of individuals occupationally exposed to urban air with heavy traffic. Sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF–ICP–MS) was used for determination of Pt in the urine of tram drivers. 38 and 34 subjects were investigated in Vienna and Budapest, respectively. Samples were taken from the tram drivers both before and after the shift.The results for Pt were compared to those from a previous study performed by our team. The comparison showed that the concentration medians were 4 times higher than the previous ones. Moreover, the values in Budapest were about twice as high as those from Vienna. A partly significant change could be observed between the two sets of data: before, and after the shift.     

Identification of the function of gene lndM2 encoding a bifunctional oxygenase-reductase involved in the biosynthesis of the antitumor antibiotic landomycin E by Streptomyces globisporus 1912 supports the originally assigned structure for landomycinone

The angucycline antibiotic family of the landomycins displays potent antitumor activity. To elucidate early post polyketide synthase (PKS) tailoring steps of the landomycin E biosynthetic pathway in Streptomyces globisporus 1912, the mutant S. globisporus M12 was prepared through gene replacement experiment of lndM2. It encodes an enzyme with putative oxygenase and reductase domains, according to sequencing of the gene and its counterpart lanM2 from S. cyanogenus S136 landomycin A biosynthetic gene cluster. The isolation of the novel shunt products 11-hydroxytetrangomycin and 4-hydroxytetrangomycin along with the well-known angucyclines tetrangomycin and tetrangulol from the culture of S. globisporus M12 provides evidence for the involvement of lndM2 in the early biosynthetic pathway of the landomycins, in particular in the formation of the alicyclic 6-hydroxy function of the landomycin aglycon. We therefore propose LndM2 to be responsible for both hydroxylation of the 6-position and its subsequent reduction. These reactions are necessary before the glycosylation reactions can occur. The results are in agreement with the originally published structure of landomycin but do not support the recently suggested revised structure.     

The Role of Carnitine Acyltransferases in the Maintenance of Cell Function

Summary. Carnitine acyltransferases catalyse equilibria between acyl-CoA esters and the respective acylcarnitines. Therefore, they act not only as pathway enzymes, but also as modulators of acyl-CoA concentrations within individual sub-cellular compartments. Because acyl-CoA esters are potent biologically active metabolites, carnitine acyltransferase activities are potentially able to affect a diverse range of physiological processes, ranging from insulin secretion, to appetite control, and insulin sensitivity of tissues. The distinctive subcellular distributions of the different types of carnitine acyltransferases also enables them to participate in the transfer of acyl moieties across intracellular membranes, and of particular acylcarnitine esters across the plasma membrane and into the plasma. Pharmacological strategies that make use of these properties to improve cell function are discussed.     

Assembly and Dissociation of Α-Cyclodextrin [2]Pseudorotaxanes with α,ω-Bis(N-(N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine)alkane Threads

A series of novel bischelate bridging ligands, CH₃NH(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)(CH₂) _n N(CH₃)(CH₂)₂NHCH₃ (n = 9, 10, 11, and 12) were synthesized as hydrochloride salts and characterized by elemental analyses, electrospray mass spectrometry, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. These ligands form [2]pseudorotaxanes with α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and the stability constants have been determined from ¹H NMR titrations in D₂O. The kinetics and mechanism of the assembly and dissociation of a [2]pseudorotaxane in which α-CD has been threaded by the CH₃NH₂(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)(CH₂)₁₂N(CH₃)(CH₂)₂NH₂CH ₃ ²⁺ ligand were determined in aqueous solution using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. A weak inclusion of the dimethylethylenediamine end group precedes the passage of the α-CD onto the hydrophobic dodecamethylene chain.     

Synthesis,Conformation, and Metabolism of a Selenium Bilirubin

Summary. A symmetrical C(10)-selena-bilirubin analog, 8,12-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-7,13-dimethyl-2,3,17,18-tetraethyl-10-selenabiladiene-ac-1,19(21H,24H)-dione was synthesized from 8-(2-carboxyethyl)-2,3-diethyl-7-methyl-(10H)-dipyrrin-1-one in one step by reaction with diselenyl dichloride. The selena-rubin exhibited UV-vis and NMR spectroscopic properties similar to those of the parent mesobilirubin, and like bilirubin and mesobilirubin, it adopts an intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded conformation, shaped like a ridge-tile but with a steeper pitch. The longer C–Se bond lengths (2.2Å) and smaller bond angles at C–Se–C (88°), as compared to C–CH₂–C (1.5Å, 106°), lead to an interplanar angle between the two dipyrrinones of only 72°, which is considerably less than that of bilirubin (100°) and close to that (74°) of its 10-thia-rubin analog. Despite the conformational distortion, the sensitivity of Se toward oxidation and the typically weak C–Se bond, the selena-rubin is metabolized in normal rats, like bilirubin, to acyl glucuronides, which are secreted into bile. In mutant (Gunn) rats lacking bilirubin glucuronosyl transferase (UGT1A1), glucuronide or other metabolites of the selena-rubin were not detected in bile, demonstrating the importance of hepatic glucuronidation for its biliary excretion.