Ab initio MO Calculations of benzene + TCNE and naphthalene + TCNE complexes with STO-3G π-split basis set

Ab initio SCF MO calculations have been carried out on benzene + TCNE (tetracyanoethylene) and naphthalene + TCNE complexes with the STO -3G, STO -3G π-split (STO -3G for π orbitals and a split basis for π orbitals), and 4–31G basis sets. The interaction energy, gross charges, dipole moment, and the electron density in the middle plane of the complexes have also been evaluated. The STO -3G π-split basis set is appropriate for the calculation of large π–π stacking complexes from two points of view, production of reliable results and ease of computations. The approximation scheme based on the semiorthogonalized orgitals is revealed to be very efficient to save CPU time and storage in such calculations. The stable conformation and the charge-transfer interaction of the two complexes are discussed on the basis of the calculated quantities.     

Pyrimidines. XIII. Novel pyrimidine to pyrimidine transformation reactions

Novel pyrimidine to pyrimidine transformation reactions are described. 1,3-Dimethyl-(or diethyl)-uracil(1) are converted into isocytosine, 2-thiouracil or uracil derivatives by treatment with guanidine, thiourea or urea, respectively. The latter two cases require base catalysis. The effects of some substituents at C-5 and C-6 of 1,3-dialkylated uracils (1a → 1e) on this transformation were examined and a plausible mechanism is offered for their reaction. The utility of this reaction is exemplified by the facile two-step conversion of pseudouridine into the anlileukemic agent, pseudoisocytidine, in good overall yield.     

Synthetic alpha-mannosyl ceramide as a potent stimulant for an NKT cell repertoire bearing the invariant Valpha19-Jalpha26 TCR alpha chain

A NKT cell repertoire is characterized by the expression of the Valpha19-Jalpha26 invariant TCR alpha chain (Valpha19 NKT cell). This repertoire, as well as a well-established Valpha14-Jalpha281 invariant TCR alpha(+) NKT cell subset (Valpha14 NKT cell), has been suggested to have important roles in the regulation of the immune system and, thus, is a major therapeutic target. Here, we attempted to find specific antigens for Valpha19 NKT cells. Valpha19 as well as Valpha14 NKT cells exhibited reactivity to alpha-galactosyl ceramide (alpha-GalCer). Thus, a series of monoglycosyl ceramides with an axially oriented glycosidic linkage between the sugar and ceramide moiety were synthesized and their antigenicity to Valpha19 NKT cells was determined by measuring their immune responses in culture with glycolipids. Comprehensive examinations revealed substantial antigenic activity for Valpha19 NKT cells by alpha-mannosyl ceramide.     

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of (mu-hydroxo or mu-oxo)(mu-peroxo)diiron(III) complexes: models for peroxo intermediates of non-heme diiron proteins

(mu-Hydroxo or oxo)(mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complexes having a tetradentate tripodal ligand (L) containing a carboxylate sidearm [Fe2(mu-OH or mu-O)(mu-O2)(L)2]n+ were synthesized as models for peroxo-intermediates of non-heme diiron proteins and characterized by various physicochemical measurements including X-ray analysis, which provide fundamental structural and spectroscopic insights into the peroxodiiron(III) complexes.     

Effect of compression on interaction between 1,4-dihydropyridine compounds and lactose monohydrate

Manidipine dihydrochloride or benidipine hydrochloride will change to hydrate form in part, when differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurement is carried out together with lactose monohydrate. This interaction was accelerated by compressing their mixture. It can be suggested that the interaction may cause by the disruption of crystal structure of lactose monohydrate due to compression to set free of water molecules. A new DSC peak at 170 degrees C, which was not observed in each component, appeared in DSC measurement of a mixture. This will be based on hydrate formed by the interaction, i.e., movement of water molecules. The profile of the plotting of the DSC peak area ratio before and after compression against the compression force changed by the molar ratio of lactose monohydrate in a mixture. In the case of low molar ratio of lactose monohydrate, profiles for manidipine dihydrochloride and benidipine hydrochloride differed from each other. This will be because manidipine dihydrochloride is stickier than benidipine hydrochloride. The profile for manidipine dihydrochloride became more gradual and showed lag compression force region when the amount of addition of the lubricant, magnesium stearate in a mixture increased. The endothermic peak area at 170 degrees C for manidipine dihydrochloride was larger than that for benidipine hydrochloride. It should be suggested that benidipine hydrochloride is easier to be transformed to its hydrate than manidipine dihydrochloride.     

Dynamics of order formation by colloidal adsorption onto a substrate studied with Brownian dynamics

Colloidal adsorption and spontaneous ordering of adsorbed particles on a substrate was simulated using a three-dimensional simulation model for colloidal dispersion system with an adsorptive surface under a specified bulk concentration, where the particle-particle and particle-substrate interactions were modeled on the DLVO theory. The key process for order formation is considered to be the adsorption of a particle that induces the transition from incomplete order to perfect order, and is found to involve a stochastic nature due to an energy barrier which must be overcome for the system to reach ordered state. Also, a model was developed to predict the energy barrier for order formation based on direct observation of the key process. Further, a model to describe the stochastic nature of the process was developed and its quantitative validity was demonstrated. Through the examination of the key process, it is concluded that the mechanism of the order formation is composed of two successive processes and the rate-determining step varies depending on the ionic strength.     

Carrier generation process on photoconductive polymer films as studied by magnetic field effects on the charge-transfer fluorescence and photocurrent

We have studied the magnetic field effects (MFEs) on the charge-transfer fluorescence and transient photocurrent of a 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene-doped poly(N-vinylcarbazole) film, which reflect the recombination and escape yields of the carriers, respectively. The recombination yield dependence of the external magnetic field (B) clearly shows two types of the MFEs, growth with increasing B due to the hyperfine mechanism (HFM) and a negative dip due to the level-crossing mechanism (LCM). On the other hand, the escape yield indicates complementary MFEs with a sharp decrease in yield with increasing B and then a positive dip. Simultaneous observation of the HFM- and LCM-MFEs proves the stepwise hole-hopping mechanism rather the long-range hole-jumping one. The quantitative analysis of the recombination and escape MFEs is performed using the stochastic Liouville equations (SLE) for a one-dimensional lattice model in which the stepwise hole hops take place between the nearest neighbor carbazole units with spin conservation. The SLE analysis provides the recombination and hole transfer rate constants of 7.0 x 10(7) and 4.5 x 10(8) s(-1), respectively. The boundary site number for the ion pairs in the one-dimensional model is estimated by the best fit to the experimental results. The interionic distance of the boundary ion pair in the one-dimensional model including eight sites agrees with the thermalization distance in the Onsager model. Hence, it is concluded that the elementary processes in the Onsager model applied to molecular amorphous solids are the stepwise hole hops rather than a long-range hole jump.     

Absolute stereochemistry of citrinadins a and B from marine-derived fungus

[Structure: see text]. Citrinadin A (2) is a pentacyclic indolinone alkaloid isolated from the cultured broth of a fungus, Penicillium citrinum, which was separated from a marine red alga. The absolute stereochemistry of the pentacyclic core in 2 and its new congener, citrinadin B (1), was elucidated by analysis of the ROESY spectrum for the chlorohydrin derivative (3) of 1 as well as comparison of the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra for 1 and 2 with those of known spirooxiindole alkaloids. On the other hand, the absolute configuration at C-21 bearing an epoxide ring was assigned as S by comparison of the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of 1 with those of model compounds 2S- and 2R-2,3-epoxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one (4a and 4b, respectively).     

Structural studies of the carbon monoxide complex of [NiFe]hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F: suggestion for the initial activation site for dihydrogen

The carbon monoxide complex of [NiFe]hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F has been characterized by X-ray crystallography and absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopy. Nine crystal structures of the [NiFe]hydrogenase in the CO-bound and CO-liberated forms were determined at 1.2-1.4 A resolution. The exogenously added CO was assigned to be bound to the Ni atom at the Ni-Fe active site. The CO was not replaced with H(2) in the dark at 100 K, but was liberated by illumination with a strong white light. The Ni-C distances and Ni-C-O angles were about 1.77 A and 160 degrees, respectively, except for one case (1.72 A and 135 degrees ), in which an additional electron density peak between the CO and Sgamma(Cys546) was recognized. Distinct changes were observed in the electron density distribution of the Ni and Sgamma(Cys546) atoms between the CO-bound and CO-liberated structures for all the crystals tested. The novel structural features found near the Ni and Sgamma(Cys546) atoms suggest that these two atoms at the Ni-Fe active site play a role during the initial H(2)-binding process. Anaerobic addition of CO to dithionite-reduced [NiFe]hydrogenase led to a new absorption band at about 470 nm ( approximately 3000 M(-1)cm(-1)). Resonance Raman spectra (excitation at 476.5 nm) of the CO complex revealed CO-isotope-sensitive bands at 375/393 and 430 cm(-1) (368 and 413 cm(-1) for (13)C(18)O). The frequencies and relative intensities of the CO-related Raman bands indicated that the exogenous CO is bound to the Ni atom with a bent Ni-C-O structure in solution, in agreement with the refined structure determined by X-ray crystallography.