Temperature-dependent intermolecular force measurement of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) grafted surface with protein

We have investigated the temperature dependence of the intermolecular force between poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) grafted surface and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) using atomic force microscopy at the nanonewton scale. These observations show that the interaction force is nearly zero below the phase transition temperature of PNiPAM and that it increases steeply during the phase transition. Since the PNiPAM chains are grafted onto the aminosilane (gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane)-treated silicon wafer, we measured the force-distance curve of BSA-immobilized tips for the bare and the aminosilane-treated silicon wafer. These surfaces show no temperature dependence and their values are different from those of the PNiPAM-grafted surfaces at 30 degrees C. The results indicate that the measured adhesion force is between the PNiPAM-grafted surface and the BSA-immobilized tip. Our studies on the intermolecular force between other surfaces (CH(3)- and COOH-terminated self-assembled monolayers) and the BSA-immobilized tip indicate that the variation in the intermolecular force between the PNiPAM surface and BSA with temperature can be attributed to the changes in the properties of the PNiPAM chains. From consideration of the PNiPAM phase transition mechanism, it is speculated that the intermolecular force between the PNiPAM-grafted surface and BSA would be affected by changes in the arrangement of the bound water molecules around the PNiPAM chain and by changes in the conformation (i.e., in the chain mobility) of the PNiPAM chain during the phase transition.     

Liquid Chromatographic Resolution of Racemic α-Hydroxycarboxylic Acids on Ligand Exchange Chiral Stationary Phases

Two ligand exchange chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on (S)-leucinol derivative, sodium N-((S)-1-hydroxymethyl-3-methylbutyl)-N-undecylaminoacetate, and (R)-phenylglycinol derivative, sodium N-((R)-2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)-N-undecylaminoacetate, covalently bonded to silica gel have been successfully applied in the resolution of nine -hydroxycarboxylic acids. The latter was more effective than the former, the separation factors () being 1.05 to 2.12 while the resolution factors (R_S) varying from 0.18 to 5.29 on the latter. The chromatographic resolution behaviors were dependent on the type and the content of organic modifier and the content of CuSO₄ in aqueous mobile phase and the column temperature. A possible chiral recognition mechanism was also proposed based on the chromatographic resolution behaviors.     

Ring-opening polymerization of 1-(p-substituted phenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropanes by Ziegler–Natta catalysts

1-(p-Substituted phenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropanes such as 1-phenyl-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_a), 1-(p-chlorophenyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_b), 1-(p-anisyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_c), and 1-(p-tolyl)-2-vinylcyclopropane (I_d) were prepared and polymerized radically, cationically and with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. I_a and I_b polymerized exclusively in 1,5-fashion with radical initiators. However, I_c and I_d polymerized in 1,5-fashion only with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. All polymers were soluble in ordinary organic solvent and solution-cast films were clear and flexible, showing T_g values in the range of 39–71°C. Spectral data indicated that the double bonds of the polymer chains were in trans form in all cases. The difference between the polymerizabilities of different monomers are interpreted in terms of electronic properties of substituents.     

Brønsted acid catalysis of photosensitized cycloadditions

Catalysis is central to contemporary synthetic chemistry. There has been a recent recognition that the rates of photochemical reactions can be profoundly impacted by the use of Lewis acid catalysts and co-catalysts. Herein, we show that Brønsted acids can also modulate the reactivity of excited-state organic reactions. Brønsted acids dramatically increase the rate of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-sensitized [2 + 2] photocycloadditions between C-cinnamoyl imidazoles and a range of electron-rich alkene reaction partners. A combination of experimental and computational studies supports a mechanism in which the Brønsted acid co-catalyst accelerates triplet energy transfer from the excited-state [Ru*(bpy)₃]²⁺ chromophore to the Brønsted acid activated C-cinnamoyl imidazole. Computational evidence further suggests the importance of driving force as well as geometrical reorganization, in which the protonation of the imidazole decreases the reorganization penalty during the energy transfer event.

Brønsted acids can catalyze triplet energy transfer reactions, and DFT computations suggest the unexpected importance of reorganization energy for catalysis.     

Silver-catalyzed imination of sulfoxides and sulfides

[reaction: see text] Silver salts in the presence of a chelating ligand efficiently catalyze the stereospecific imination of sulfoxides and sulfides with sulfonylamides and PhI(OAc)(2) to afford sulfoximines and sulfilimines, respectively, in good yields.     

Copper-mediated cross-coupling reactions of N-unsubstituted sulfoximines and aryl halides

[reaction: see text] Copper-mediated cross-coupling reactions of sulfoximines with aryl iodides and aryl bromides provide N-arylated sulfoximines in high yields. The method is complementary to the known palladium-catalyzed N-arylation and allows the preparation of N-arylated sulfoximines, which have previously been inaccessible.     

Fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayer films comprising nanoblended layers

Polyelectrolyte multilayer thin films were prepared via the alternate deposition of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and a blend of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS). When the pH of the blend solution was 3.5, the presence of PAA in this solution significantly increased the total film thickness. With only 10 wt % PAA in the blend adsorption solution, a large increase in film thickness was observed (92 nm cf. 18 nm). It was also demonstrated that the total amount of PSS adsorbed was enhanced by the presence of PAA in the blend solution, showing that the blend solution composition influenced that of the multilayer films. Thin films prepared with nanoblended layers also showed improved pH stability, because they exhibited reduced film rearrangement upon exposure to acidic conditions (pH = 2.5).     

Homogeneous fluorescent derivatization of large proteins

A method of homogeneously derivatizing large proteins for highly sensitive analysis is described. Homogeneity of the derivative was realized by tagging all the free amino groups of proteins. With this method, alpha-chymotrypsinogen A, ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin were derivatized with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC). Prior to the derivatization, all the proteins were reduced and alkylated. After reacting the resulting unfolded proteins with excessive amounts of AQC, the samples were analyzed with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) to determine the derivatization degree. The results indicated that all three proteins had been, or had almost been, fully derivatized. HPLC and CE were used for characterizing these protein derivatives. Under the optimized fluorescence detection conditions, the detectability of the tagged proteins was 2400-6200 times better than that detected at UV 280 nm, 170-300 times better than detected at UV 214 nm, and 150-420 times better than measured with their native fluorescence.     

Coordination reaction of cobaloxime with 4-vinylpyridine-styrene copolymer

The equilibrium constants of the coordination reaction of chlorodimethylformamide·cobaloxime with 4-vinylpyridine–styrene copolymers (PPS) were determined. The constants for PPS, which contain 20–50% 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) unit, measured about 1.3 × 10⁵ liter/mole larger than those in the pyridine system (6.8 × 10⁴ liter/mole). When the polymer ligand is 4VP homopolymer or contains less than 20% 4VP unit, K values are lower. The rate constants (k_f) of the coordination reactions of the cobaloxime with polymer ligands were also measured in dimethylformamide (DMF) and benzene. In DMF k_f decreased with an increase in 4VP unit content of the polymer ligand; in benzene it was increased by the 4VP fraction. These results can be explained by the variation in conformation of the polymer chain in each solvent. The effect of the polymer chain on complexation was discussed on the basis of the kinetic data.     

Palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of sulfoximines

[reaction: see text] Palladium-catalyzed alpha-arylation of N-benzoyl sulfoximine ethyl ester with various aryl bromides leads to alpha-arylated products that can easily be hydrolyzed, giving the corresponding N-protected benzyl phenyl sulfoximines. In this manner, new sulfoximine derivatives are accessible that have so far been difficult to prepare in enantiopure form.