Dip-pen nanolithography in tapping mode

Dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) is becoming a popular nano-patterning technique for depositing materials onto a substrate using the probe of an atomic force microscope (AFM). Here, we demonstrate the deposition of a short synthetic peptide by DPN using the Tapping Mode of AFM rather than the commonly used contact mode. DPN in Tapping Mode requires drive amplitude modifications for deposition, yet allows for gentle imaging of the deposited material and enables deposition on soft surfaces.     

The reaction of N-aminophthalimide with isothiocyanates

N-Aminophthalimide ( I ) reacted in refluxing isopropyl alcohol with a number of isothiocyanates to give the related 1:1 addition products, N-(3-substitutedthioureido)phthalimides III. On the other hand, heating I directly with an excess of neat arylisothiocyanates produced the N-arylphthalimides IV. As shown for IIIa, the 1:1 addition products are conveniently deblocked by the Ing-Manske procedure to yield the 4-substituted thiosemicarbazide.     

Phenol methylation over CrPO4 and CrPO4?AlPO4 catalysts

The vapor-phase catalytic alkylation of phenol with methanol and dimethyl carbonate on a series of differently prepared CrPO₄ (Cr/P=1) and CrPO₄-AlPO₄ (CrAIP) catalysts, has been studied at different temperatures (473–673 K). The reaction is first order in phenol, giving a mixture of O- and C-alkylated products (C-alkylation taking place preferentially at theortho-position). Moreover, dimethyl carbonate is a better methylating agent than methanol.     

Synthesis of Glycosylrifamycins,a new type of semisynthetic rifamycins

Glycosylrifamycins, a new type of semisynthetic rifamycin derivatives, can be easily obtained by reaction of 3-(2-aminoethylthio)rifamycin SV ( 2 ) with a glycosyl compound carrying a coupling group, such as isothicyanate or carboxy. We prepared O-acetylated and free glucopyranosyl and arabinopyranosyl derivatives of rifamycin S and SV (see 3–10 ). Additionally, derivatives with D -saccharo-1,4-lactone and with shikimic acid were obtained (see 11–15 ). Glycosylrifamycins show an interesting inhibitory power on Gram-positive bacteria (Table).     

Enhancing selectivity in oxidation catalysis with sol-gel nanocomposites

Valuable organic compounds such as alpha-hydroxy acids are easily synthesised with relevant selectivity enhancement using a sol-gel hydrophobized nanostructured silica matrix doped with the organocatalyst TEMPO: A materials science based synthetic route which cannot be achieved via classical homogeneous synthesis.     

Cellulose synthesis in maize: isolation and expression analysis of the cellulose synthase (CesA) gene family

Stalk lodging in maize results in significant yield losses. We have determined that cellulose per unit length of the stalk is the primary determinant of internodal strength. An increase in cellulose concentration in the wall might allow simultaneous improvements in stalk strength and harvest index. Cellulose formation in plants can be perturbed by mutations in the genes involved in cellulose synthesis, post-synthetic cellulose alteration or deposition, N-glycosylation, and some other genes with as yet unknown functions. We have isolated 12 members of the cellulose synthase (CesA) gene family from maize. The genes involved in primary wall formation appear to have duplicated relatively independently in dicots and monocots. The deduced amino acid sequences of three of the maize genes, ZmCesA10–12, cluster with the Arabidopsis CesA sequences that have been shown to be involved in secondary wall formation. Based on their expression patterns across multiple tissues, these three genes appear to be coordinately expressed. The remaining genes show overlapping expression to varying degrees with ZmCesA1, 7, and 8 forming one group, ZmCesA3 and 5 a second group, and ZmCesA2 and 6 exhibiting independent expression of any other gene. This suggests that the varying levels of coexpression may just be incidental except in the case of ZmCesA10–12, which may interact with each other to form a functional enzyme complex. Isolation of the expressed CesA genes from maize and their association with primary or secondary wall formation has made it possible to test their respective roles in cellulose synthesis through mutational genetics or transgenic approaches. This information would be useful in improving stalk strength.     

Single-crystal 2H NMR of deuterated 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid included in hydrogenated urea channels

The intergrowth of 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid and urea give infinite hydrogen-bonded chains of the guest included in the hexagonal urea host. A deuterium high-resolution solid-state NMR study of the selectively deuterated intergrowth compound 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid/hydrogenated urea at variable temperature in the range 90 < or = T < or = 300 K was performed on a single crystal. The analysis of the second moment as a function of temperature is shown to be compatible with the known phase transition occurring near T(c) = 203 K. Moreover, the spectra indicate that the orientational disorder is strong, and is compared to an axial uniform disorder. For this purpose, the general equation for the second moment of a system with uniform two-dimensional axial orientational disorder is given, and a method to take into account the non-uniform excitation of the pulse sequence is proposed.     

Characterization of three agave species by gas chromatography and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Steam distillation (SD) extraction-solid-phase microextraction coupled to GC-MS was developed for the determination of terpenes and Bligh-Dyer extraction-derivatization coupled with GC for the determination of fatty acids such as ethyl esters were used. It was found that the three different Agave species have the same profile of fatty acids; the quantity of these compounds is different in each Agave variety. On the other hand, different terpenes were identified in the three Agave plants studied: nine in A. salmiana, eight in A. angustifolia and 32 in A. tequilana Weber var. azul.     

Counterion Exchange Selectivity in Detergent–Polymer Aggregates

In aqueous solution, the interaction between sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) results in the formation of small aggregates or clusters of SDS attached to the PEG polymer chain. Selectivity coefficients for exchange of two monovalent (N-methyl-4-cyanopyridinium cation and Tl⁺) and two divalent (methylviologen cation and Cu²⁺) counterions at the surface of SDS–PEG clusters, determined employing photophysical techniques, are similar, but not identical, to those for exchange at the surface of SDS micelles in the absence of PEG. The principal factor affecting ion exchange selectivity in SDS–PEG clusters does not appear to be aggregate size or surface charge density but rather the presence of poly(oxyethylene) subunits at the aggregate surface.