Molecule-Responsive Fluorescent Sensors of α-Helix Peptides Bearing α-Cyclodextrin, Pyrene and Nitrobenzene Units in Their Side Chains

-Helix peptides bearing one unit of -cyclodextrin (-CD), one unit of pyrene and one unit of nitrobenzene (NB) in their side chains have been designed and synthesized as novel molecule-responsive devices.In both the CD-peptides, -PR17 and -PL17, the NB unit is separated from the CD unit by two turns of the helix. Two reference peptides (PL17, and -P17,) have also been synthesized. The circular dichroism studies in the peptide absorption region (200–250 nm)of -PR17 and -PL17 suggestthat the CD-peptides form stable-helixstructures (83–77%), which was destabilized by accommodating guest molecules (e.g., n-pentanol) into the CD cavity. It suggests that formation of intramolecular host–guest(CD–NB) complex stabilized thehelical structure and exogenous guest molecule excluded the appending NB moiety from inside to outside of the CD cavity, thereby causing destabilization of the helical structure and increasing the random coil content. The ICD spectra of the peptides in the pyrene and nitrobenzene absorption region (250–40 nm) suggest that NB forms inclusion complex with CD. The fluorescence studies revealed that the fluorescence of the pyrene unit is quenched by the NB unit in -PR17 and -PL17. The fluorescence intensity increases with increasing guest concentration for the CD-peptides.This guest-responsiveenhancement in the fluorescence intensity can be explained in terms of increased distance between the pyrene and NB moieties, which is caused by exclusion of the NB moiety from the CD cavity by guest accommodation. Using the guest-responsive fluorescence quenching properties of the CD-peptides, we have obtained binding constants for various short chain alkanols. -PL17 has higher binding affinity to the guest molecules than its isomer, -PR17, indicating that the location of functional groups on the peptide scaffold is important in molecule detection.     

Preparation of Saccharide-Silica Composites by a Sol-Gel Method and the Application for Optical Resolution of Metal Chelate Compounds

A novel organic-inorganic composite was prepared by a sol-gel process using hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) reacted with a saccharide. During the process, ethoxy groups of the TEOS were replaced with hydroxyl groups of the saccharide and, consequently, saccharide molecules were combined with silica through their hydroxyl groups. Samples obtained under different reaction conditions were used for optical resolution of a metal chelate compound. The resolution ability of the composites was affected by the amount of water added for hydrolysis and of the saccharide. In particular, the amount of water drastically influenced the optical resolution performance. Composites obtained at the lower H2O/TEOS ratio gave the metal chelate compound a higher optical rotation. Three types of composites with the same composition were prepared by kneading, impregnation and by the sol-gel method, and were compared. The sol-gel composite showed the best optical resolution ability. It was concluded that the optical resolution ability was closely related to dispersibility of saccharide in the silica matrix.     

Recognition of guests bearing donor and acceptor hydrogen bonding groups by heteroditopic calix[4]arene receptors

The synthesis of new hosts specifically designed for the recognition of neutral guests bearing donor-acceptor hydrogen bonding groups is described. These hosts are characterized by the presence of two distinct binding region in close proximity: the rigid π-donor cavity and the H-bond donor N-methylene-N′-phenylureido group inserted onto the upper rim of the calix[4]arene skeleton. The binding abilities of these receptors were investigated toward a series of neutral ditopic organic molecules in CDCl₃ solution by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The results obtained show that rigidity of the calix[4]arene apolar cavity is the control element in determining efficiency. In fact, compared with the more rigid 2, host 10, where the rigidity of the cone structure is maintained by hydrogen bonding of the OH of the lower rim, a decrease of efficiency of almost one order of magnitude was observed. The cooperative effect of the two binding region of host 2 was verified with different classes of ditopic guests. Good efficiency in the recognition of urea derivatives and dimethylsulfoxide was achieved.     

三维主体分子的合成及阴离子识别研究进展

生物功能体系的模拟是生物有机化学和超分子化学发展的前沿领域之一。本文简要论述新型大二环．大三环、笼型环番以及其它三维主体分子的合成及对阴离子选择性识别作用的研究新进展。     

Molecular Recognition and Crystal Energy Landscapes: An X‐ray and Computational Study of Caffeine and Other Methylxanthines

We introduce a new approach to crystal‐packing analysis, based on the study of mutual recognition modes of entire molecules or of molecular moieties, rather than a search for selected atom–atom contacts, and on the study of crystal energy landscapes over many computer‐generated polymorphs, rather than a quest for the one most stable crystal structure. The computational tools for this task are a polymorph generator and the PIXEL density sums method for the calculation of intermolecular energies. From this perspective, the molecular recognition, crystal packing, and solid‐state phase behavior of caffeine and several methylxanthines (purine‐2,6‐diones) have been analyzed. Many possible crystal structures for anhydrous caffeine have been generated by computer simulation, and the most stable among them is a thermodynamic, ordered equivalent of the disordered phase, revealed by powder X‐ray crystallography. Molecular recognition energies between two caffeine molecules or between caffeine and water have been calculated, and the results reveal the largely predominant mode to be the stacking of parallel caffeine molecules, an intermediately favorable caffeine–water interaction, and many other equivalent energy minima for lateral interactions of much less stabilization power. This last indetermination helps to explain why caffeine does not crystallize easily into an ordered anhydrous structure. In contrast, the mono‐ and dimethylxanthines (theophylline, theobromine, and the 1,7‐isomer, for which we present a single‐crystal X‐ray study and a lattice energy landscape) do crystallize in anhydrous form thanks to the formation of lateral hydrogen bonds.     

Drying dissipative patterns of colloidal crystals of silica spheres in organic solvents

Drying dissipative structural patterns formed in the course of drying colloidal crystals of silica spheres (110 nm in diameter) in water, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, 1-propyl alcohol, diethyl ether, and in the mixtures of ethyl alcohol with the other solvents above have been studied on a cover glass. The macroscopic broad rings were formed in the outside edges of the dried film for all the solvents examined. Furthermore, much distinct broad rings appeared in the inner area when the solvents were ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, and their mixtures. Profiles of the thickness of the dried films were sensitive to the organic solvents and explained well with changes in the surface tensions, boiling points, and viscosities of the solvents. The macroscopic and microscopic spoke-like crack patterns formed. The drying area (or the drying time) increased (or decreased) as the surface tension of the solvent decreased. However, the absolute values of these drying parameters are determined also by the boiling points of the solvents. Importance of the fundamental properties of the solvents is supported in addition to the characteristics of colloidal particles in the drying dissipative pattern formation.     

计算机模式识别法对甲状腺机能亢进症微量元素谱的研究

据Mahlanobis距离判别法，利用计算机多元统计判别程序，对14例甲亢思者和21例健康人的血清中锌、铁、铜、锰、镁和锶等元素浓度差异进行分类判别研究。选择锌、铁、钙、锶作判别特征参量时，患者和健康人的分类准确率为100％，服碘前与服碘后的甲亢患者分类准确率为92.7％，分类研究指出，甲亢患者血清中的铁和锶浓度高于健康人，经服碘治疗后，患者血清中上述元素浓度降低与健康人相近。     

Visual recognition of melamine in milk via selective metallo-hydrogel formation

A novel protocol allowing convenient and highly selective visual recognition of melamine in raw milk via selective metallo-hydrogel formation at a concentration as low as 10 ppm without any tedious pretreatment has been developed.     

New chemosensor for larger guests based on modified cyclodextrin bearing seven hydrophobic chains each with a hydrophilic end group

A new chemosensor for larger guests was prepared. The new chemosensor bears hydrophobic units at the primary hydroxy side and a dansyl unit at the secondary hydroxy side of β-cyclodextrin. Due to the hydrophobic units, the new chemosensor is sensitive to large or slender guests such as SDS and insensitive to 1-adamantanol, which is a good guest for the natural β-CD.     

Crystal Structures of 1,5,9,18,22,26-Hexaaza[11.11]-p-cyclophane Adducts; Two-dimensional Supramolecular Networks

Two newly identified supramolecular structures arise from self-assembly of the macrocyclic 1,5,9,18,22,26- hexaaza[11.11]-p-cyclophane salts with o-nitrophenol (C₂₈H₅₀N₆)⁴⁺·4(C₆H₄NO₂O)⁻ (1) and with HCl (C₂₈H₅₂N₆)⁶⁺·6Cl^-·4H₂O (2). In both cases two-dimensional supramolecular sheets are formed.