Effect of pressure on the proton transfer rate from a photoacid to a solvent. 4. Photoacids in methanol

The pressure dependence of the excited-state proton dissociation rate constant of four photoacids, 2-naphthol-6,8-disulfonate (2N68DS), 10-hydroxycamptothecin (10-CPT), 5-cyano-2-naphthol (5CN2), and 5,8-dicyano-2-naphthol (DCN2), are studied in methanol. The results are compared with the results of the pressure dependence study we recently conducted for several photoacids in water, ethanol, and propanol. The pressure dependence is explained using an approximate stepwise two-coordinate proton transfer model. The increase in rate, as a function of pressure, manifests a strong dependence of proton tunneling on the distance which decreases with an increase of pressure between the two oxygen atoms involved in the process. The decrease in the proton transfer rate with increasing pressure reflects the dependence of the reaction on the solvent relaxation rate. We found that, for the relatively weak photoacids 2N68DS, 10-CPT, and 5CN2, the proton transfer rate constant increases by a factor of about 5-8 at a pressure of about 1.5 GPa. For a strong photoacid like DCN2, the rate increase was only by a factor of 2.     

Balancing kinetic and thermodynamic control: the mechanism of carbocation cyclization by squalene cyclase

Molecular dynamics simulations with a combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) potential have been carried out to investigate the squalene-to-hopene carbocation cyclization mechanism in squalene-hopene cyclase (SHC). The present study is based on free energy simulations by constructing the free energy surface for the cyclization steps along the reaction pathway. The picture that emerges for the carbocation cyclization cascade is a delicate balance of thermodynamic and kinetic control that ultimately favors the formation of the final hopanoids carbon skeleton. A key finding is that the five- to six-membered ring expansion process is not a viable reaction pathway for either C- or D-ring formation in the cyclization reaction. The only significant intermediate is the A/B-bicyclic cyclohexyl cation (III), from which two asynchronous concerted reaction pathways lead to, respectively, the 6,6,6,5-tetracyclic carbon skeleton and the 6,6,6,6,5-pentacyclic hopanoids. Experimentally, these two products are observed to have 1% and 99% yields, respectively, in the wild-type enzyme. We conclude that the product distribution in the wild-type enzyme is dictated by kinetic control of these two reaction pathways.     

X-ray structure and circular dichroism of pure rotamers of bis[guanosine-5'-monophosphate(-1)](N,N,N',N'-tetramethylcyclohexyl-1,2-diamine)platinum(II) complexes that have R,R and S,S configurations at the asymmetric diamine

The use of a sterically hindered diamine ligand (Me(4)DACH) has allowed for the first time, the isolation and characterization, both in the solid state (X-ray crystallography) and in solution (circular dichroism), of pure DeltaHT rotamers of [Pt(Me(4)dach)(5'-GMP)(2)] (compounds 1 and 2 for R,R and S,S configurations of the Me(4)DACH ligand, respectively). Comparison of the CD spectra obtained for each rotamer, which differ only in the chirality of the Me(4)DACH ligand (R,R or S,S) or in the chirality of the HT conformation (Delta or Lambda), allowed us to conclude that, in the 200-350 nm range, the contributions to the overall CD spectrum that stem from diamine chirality and diamine-induced chirality of platinum d--d transitions or from sugar chirality are negligible relative to the exciton chiral coupling that occurs for pi-pi* transitions of the cis guanines. Accurate molecular structures of 1.10 D(2)O and 2.14 D(2)O (conventional crystallographic agreement indexes R(1) convergent to 2.07 % and 2.18 %, respectively) revealed that the crystallized rotamers have a DeltaHT conformation that is in agreement with all previously reported X-ray structures of [Pt(diamine)(nucleos(t)ide)(2)] complexes. This conformation allows the 5'-phosphate to be located in proximity to the Me(4)DACH ligand so that (P)O...HC(N) hydrogen-bond interactions exists in both complexes. For both structures, the canting of the guanine planes on the coordination plane is right-handed (R; canting angle (Phi) of 80.9 degrees and 73.2 degrees, respectively); this indicates that the canting direction is driven by the HT conformation chirality (Delta for both compounds) and not by the chirality of the carrier ligand (different for the two compounds). Density functional theory analysis of the conformational space as a function of Phi indicated a good agreement between the computed and experimental structures. The increase in energy for Phi values below 65 degrees and 55 degrees (for 1 and 2, respectively) is mainly due to the short intramolecular contacts between C(8)H and the cis N-Me groups on the same side of the platinum coordination plane.     

Analysis of oxosteroids by nano-electrospray mass spectrometry of their oximes

A method for the analysis of neutral oxosteroids by electrospray mass spectrometry is described. The oxosteroids are converted into their oximes by treatment with hydroxyammonium chloride in aqueous methanol. Intense peaks corresponding to protonated oxime molecules are observed in nano-electrospray mass spectra. The detection limits for the oximes of progesterone, pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone were 2.5, 5 and 25 pg/microL, respectively, approximately 20 times lower than for the underivatised steroids. The signal intensities were proportional to the concentration of the steroids in the range of 500 to 2.5 pg/microL. Fragmentation by collision-induced dissociation (CID) was studied using oximes of 28 model steroids carrying an oxo group at C-3, C-17 or C-20. Some of the steroid oximes were labelled with deuterium or (15)N. Fragment ions were observed which yielded useful structural information. Upon CID, protonated oximes of 3-oxo-Delta(4)-steroids produced abundant ions by cleavage through the B-ring and by loss of the side chain, while protonated oximes of saturated 3-oxosteroids did not give abundant ions by cleavage through the B-ring. Protonated oximes of 20-oxosteroids unsubstituted at C-21, C-17 or C-16 produced a characteristic ion at m/z 86 containing the side chain, C-16 and C-17. Protonated oximes of steroids containing only a 17-oxo group gave fewer ions of diagnostic value. Coupled with the selective isolation of steroid oximes from a biological matrix this method of derivatisation and CID may be used for the analysis of neutral oxosteroids in biological samples.     

Optimization of chromatographic parameters for the determination of biogenic amines in wines by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A method suitable for the determination of eight biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine, tryptamine, cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine and spermine) in wines has been developed. The method involves derivatization of the amines by treatment with dabsyl chloride, after which the derivates were analysed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with gradient elution and spectrophotometric detection at 446 nm. Different variables affecting separation were optimized. Validation of the method included calibration experiments, the addition of standards amines for the determination of recovery and repeatability tests. Good linearity of the responses was obtained up to 500 microg l(-1), except for putrescine (up to 2100 microg l(-1)). The detection limits ranged between 10 and 60 microg l(-1) for standard solutions. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of five Spanish wines.     

Practical asymmetric synthesis of (S)-MA20565, a wide-spectrum agricultural fungicide

A practical asymmetric synthesis of a wide-spectrum agricultural fungicide, (S)-MA20565 (1), is described. The convergent synthesis was achieved starting from commercially available 3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (7) in 44% overall yield through five steps and 2-bromobenzaldehyde (9) in 48% overall yield through four steps, respectively. (S)-O-[1-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)ethyl]hydroxylamine (2), a key intermediate of 1, was prepared via ruthenium(II)-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)ethanone (6) followed by chlorination using methanesulfonyl chloride and oxyamination using potassium acetohydroxamate with high level of stereocontrol.     

Speciation analysis of aluminium(III) in natural waters and biological fluids by complexing with various catechols followed by differential pulse voltammetry detection

The biological effects of aluminium have received much attention in recent years. Speciation of Al is of basic relevance as it concerns its reactivity and bioavailability. A differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) procedure is proposed for speciation analysis of Al(III) in natural waters and biological fluids using six catechols (L-dopa, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, caffeic acid and o-benzenediol) as electroactive ligands. The decrease of the DPV anodic peak current for each catechol ligand is linear with the increase of Al concentration. This speciation analysis idea is based on the measurement of the complexation capacity, namely, different affinities of Al(III) for catechols and organic ligands under two pH conditions. The labile monomeric Al fraction (mainly inorganic aluminium) is determined at pH 4.6, while the total monomeric Al fraction is determined at pH 8.5. The principle for Al(III) speciation analysis by an electrochemical method is discussed. This sensitive and simple fractionation method is successfully applied to the speciation analysis of Al in natural waters and the results agree well with those of Driscoll's method. The speciation analysis of Al in biological fluids is also explored and the results are compared with those obtained by ultrafiltration and dialysis. Compared with other speciation protocols the electrochemical method possesses some remarkable advantages: rapidity, high sensitivity, cheap instrumentation and a simple operation procedure.     

Flow injection chemiluminescence determination of polyhydroxy phenols using luminol-ferricyanide/ferrocyanide system

It was found that the weak chemiluminescence produced from the reaction of polyhydroxy phenols with luminol in alkaline solution could be strongly enhanced by ferricyanide and ferrocyanide. Based on this found, a new flow injection chemiluminescence method is proposed for the determination of four polyhydroxy phenols: pyrogallol, phlorglucinol, quinol and resorcinol. The detection limits of the method are 0.03 μg ml⁻¹ pyrogallol, 0.03 μg ml⁻¹ phlorglucinol, 0.04 μg ml⁻¹ quinol, and 0.02 μg ml⁻¹ resorcinol. The possible mechanism of CL reactions is also discussed briefly.     

Sexual attraction in the silkworm moth: structure of the pheromone-binding-protein-bombykol complex

BACKGROUND: Insects use volatile organic molecules to communicate messages with remarkable sensitivity and specificity. In one of the most studied systems, female silkworm moths (Bombyx mori) attract male mates with the pheromone bombykol, a volatile 16-carbon alcohol. In the male moth's antennae, a pheromone-binding protein conveys bombykol to a membrane-bound receptor on a nerve cell. The structure of the pheromone-binding protein, its binding and recognition of bombykol, and its full role in signal transduction are not known. RESULTS: The three-dimensional structure of the B. mori pheromone-binding protein with bound bombykol has been determined by X-ray diffraction at 1.8 A resolution. CONCLUSIONS: The pheromone binding protein of B. mori has six helices, and bombykol binds in a completely enclosed hydrophobic cavity formed by four antiparallel helices. Bombykol is bound in this cavity through numerous hydrophobic interactions, and sequence alignments suggest critical residues for specific pheromone binding.     

The photoreactions of recombinant phytochrome from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis: a low-temperature UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopic study

The interconvertible photoreactions of recombinant phytochrome from Synechocystis reconstituted with phycocyanobilin were investigated by light-induced optical and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) difference spectroscopy at low temperatures for the first time. The photochemistry was found to be deferred below -100 degrees C for the transformation of red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pr)-->far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr), and no formation of an intermediate similar to the photoproduct of phytochrome A obtained at -140 degrees C (lumi-R) was observed. Two intermediates could be stabilized below -40 degrees C and between -40 and -20 degrees C, and were denoted as meta-Ra and meta-Rc, respectively. Above -20 degrees C Pfr was obtained. In the reverse reaction two intermediates could be stabilized below -60 degrees C (lumi-F) and between -60 and -40 degrees C (meta-F). The FT-IR difference spectra of the late Pr-->Pfr photoreaction show great similarities to the spectra obtained from oat phytochrome A suggesting similar conformation of the chromophore and interactions with its protein environment, whereas deviations in the spectra of meta-Ra were observed. A large band around 1700 cm-1 in the difference spectra between the intermediates and Pr which is tentatively assigned to the C19=O group of the prosthetic group indicates the Z,E isomerization around the C15=C16-methine bridge of the chromophore during the formation of meta-Ra. In the difference spectra of the parent states only small differences are observed in this region suggesting that the frequency of the carbonyl group is similar in Pr and Pfr. Since the FT-IR difference spectra between lumi-F and Pfr show great similarities to the spectra of the parent states, it is assumed that during the formation of lumi-F the chromophore largely returns into the primary Pr conformation. The FT-IR spectra recorded in a medium of 2H2O generally show a downshift of the significant bands due to the isotope effect. The appearance of a characteristic band around 935 cm-1 in all 2H2O spectra suggests an assignment to an N-2H bending vibration of the chromophore.