Investigation on the formation and decay of the N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine radical cation using various oxidants and reductants by stopped-flow spectrophotometry

N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) is an aromatic amine that undergoes oxidation by various oxidizing agents such as Ce⁴⁺, MnO⁻₄, Cr₂O²⁻₇; HSO⁻₅, S₂O⁻₈, H₂O₂, Cl₂, Br₂ and I₂, thereby serving as a reducing substrate. One-electron oxidation of TMB results in a radical cation (TMB^˙+), and on further oxidation leads to the product dication (TMB⁺⁺) were monitored by stopped-flow spectrophotometer at the absorption wavelength of TMB^˙+(λ_max; 460 nm). ESR data was also provided to confirm the formation of radical cation. The rates of both the formation and decay of TMB^˙+ have been followed by a total second-order kinetics, a first-order dependence each on [TMB] (or) [TMB^˙+] and [oxidant]. The kinetic and transition state parameters have been evaluated for the effects of pH and temperature on the formation and decay of TMB^˙+ and discussed with suitable reaction mechanisms. Also, the rate constants for the reactions of the radical cation with various reducing agents such as sulfite (SO²⁻₃), thiosulfate (S₂O²⁻₃), dithionite (S₂O²⁻₄) and disulfite (S₂O²⁻₅) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C, AH₂ were determined. Besides these, this article also explains how TMB acts as a better electron relay than unsubstituted benzidine, even though both of them undergo one-electron oxidation and are used in the chemical routes to solar energy conversions. The observed rate constants for electron transfer were correlated theoretically using Marcus theory. The observed and calculated rate constants have good correlation.     

A structure-based design approach for the identification of novel inhibitors: application to an alanine racemase

We report a new structure-based strategy for the identification of novel inhibitors. This approach has been applied to Bacillus stearothermophilus alanine racemase (AlaR), an enzyme implicated in the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall. The enzyme catalyzes the racemization of l- and d-alanine using pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP) as a cofactor. The restriction of AlaR to bacteria and some fungi and the absolute requirement for d-alanine in peptidoglycan biosynthesis make alanine racemase a suitable target for drug design. Unfortunately, known inhibitors of alanine racemase are not specific and inhibit the activity of other PLP-dependent enzymes, leading to neurological and other side effects.This article describes the development of a receptor-based pharmacophore model for AlaR, taking into account receptor flexibility (i.e. a `dynamic' pharmacophore model). In order to accomplish this, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the full AlaR dimer from Bacillus stearothermophilus (PDB entry, 1sft) with a d-alanine molecule in one active site and the non-covalent inhibitor, propionate, in the second active site of this homodimer. The basic strategy followed in this study was to utilize conformations of the protein obtained during MD simulations to generate a dynamic pharmacophore model using the property mapping capability of the LigBuilder program. Compounds from the Available Chemicals Directory that fit the pharmacophore model were identified and have been submitted for experimental testing.The approach described here can be used as a valuable tool for the design of novel inhibitors of other biomolecular targets.     

Electron transfer (oxidation) of complexes between bifunctional phenols and DMSO in non-polar surroundings

Pulse-radiolysis reactions were performed to study the effect of hydrogen bonding to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the oxidation of dihydroxy benzene and biphenyl diols to phenoxyl radicals. It was observed that with DMSO as the hydrogen-bond acceptor, the oxidation process proceeds via proton-coupled electron transfer in the case of hydroquinone. For resorcinol, DMSO acts in a similar way as in the case of hydroquinone. For other biphenols, viz., 2,2′- and 4,4′-biphenyl diols, it was found that DMSO had no effect on the electron transfer. The results are explained based on the ionization potential and structure of the phenol derivatives which probably depends on the rotation of the OH bond causing different electron distribution in the transient conformation.     

一类新型的双β-氨基醇的合成及催化硼烷对芳酮的不对称还原反应

以L-半胱氨酸盐酸盐出发，经与二卤代烷偶联，成酯和格氏反应制得三种双手性β-氨基醇，1,2-双[R-2-氨基-3-羟基-3,3-二苯基丙硫基]乙烷(4a)，1,3-双[R-2-氨基-3-羟基-3,3-二苯基丙硫基]丙烷(4b)，1,4-双[R-2-氨基-3-羟基-3,3-二苯基丙硫基]丁烷(4c)。将此类双手性β-氨基醇与硼烷在THF溶液中反应，in situ制备双手性恶唑硼烷催化硼烷对芳酮的不对称还原，产物苯乙醇的光学收率达72.8%、α-溴代苯乙醇的光学收率达91.4%。     

p-硝基氯苯与α氰基乙酸乙酯-α-碳负离子的电子转移反应动力学研究: 非链式的自由基机理

在p-硝基氯苯(1)与α-氰基乙酰乙酯-α-碳负离子(2)的反应过程中, 测得了反应中间体p-硝基氯苯负离子自由基(3)的ESR谱。用ESR场/频联锁技术测定了(3)的ESR吸收强度-时间曲线, 当[1]《[2]时, 其结果与连续一级反应动力学相吻合。测得了从2向1的电子转移和3的分解反应速率常数和活化参数, 反应产物为α-氰基-α-(p-硝基苯基)乙酸乙酯和微量的硝基苯。为该反应提出了非链式的电子转移-负离子自由基分解-自由基偶合机理。     

One-electron redox reactions of troxerutin in aqueous solutions

The oxidation of flavonoids is of great interest because of their action as antioxidants with the ability to scavenge radicals by means of electron-transfer processes. The redox reactions of the flavonoid derivative troxerutin, (2-[3,4-bis-(2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl]-3[[6-deoxy-α-L-manno-pyranosyl)-β-(D-glucopyranosyl]-oxy]-5-hydroxy-7-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-4H-1-benzo-pyran-4-one), were investigated over a wide range of conditions, using pulse radiolysis and cyclic voltammetry. The oxidation mechanism proceeds in sequential steps. One-electron redox potentials for troxerutin were found to be +1.196, +0.846 and −0.634 V vs. NHE.     

富勒烯(C60／C70)与N，N，N’，N’-四-(对甲苯基)-4，4’-二胺-1，1’-二苯硒醚(TPDASe)间光诱导电子转移过程的激光光解研究

富勒烯(C60／C70)与N，N，N’，N’-四-(对甲苯基)-4，4’-二胺-1，1’-二 苯硒醚(TPDASe)间在激光光诱导条件下，发生了分子间的电子转移过程．在可见- 近红外区(600-1200nm)，观测到了TPDASe阳离子自由基、富勒烯(C60／C70)激发三 线态和阴离子自由基，在苯腈溶液中，观测瞬态谱测定了电子从TPDASe转移到富勒 烯(C60／C70)激发三线态的量子转化产率(Φet^T)和电子转移常数(Ket)．     

[Co(C~5H~5)~2]~n.[M(dmit)~2](M=Ni,Pd;n=0,1,2)型配合物的合成及表征

二茂金属[M'(C~5H~5)~2]^1^+的盐与(NBu~4)~n[M(dmit)~2](M=Ni, Pd; N=1,2)反应, 当M'=Fe, Ni; n=1时, 分别得到了导电配合物[Ni(dmit)~2]和[Pd(dmit)~2]; 当M'=Co, n=1,2时, 分别得到的是电荷几乎不转移的4个盐[Co(C~5H~5)~2]~n[Ni(dmit)~2]和[Co(C~5H~5)~2]~n[Pd(dmit)~2]。用ESCA、Raman谱及循环伏安图讨论了上述化合物形成时的电荷转移量。尽管[M(dmit)~2]的室温电导率相当大, 但其电导率随温度的变化曲线表明它们属于半导体。EHCO能带计算给出[Ni(dmit)~2]的能隙0.112eV, 与实测的电导活化能相当接近。     

CuO-Ag2O/γ-Al2O3催化剂的TPR特性及氧化活性研究

采用程序升温还原技术(TPR)研究CuO-Ag2O/γ-Al2O3双组分及其单组分催化剂的还原特性以及热处理温度对其还原性能的影响。发现不同负载量的Cuo-Ag2O/γ-Al2O3催化剂的还原特性有明显差异, 反映出催化剂表面存在着不同种类的铜物种。Ag2O的存在, 使催化剂的TPR峰位与单组分CuO/γ-Al2O3的TPR曲线产生明显差异, 还原峰发生位移, 随Ag2O添加量的增加, 位移增大。对苯的完全氧化反应结果表明, 催化剂的氧化活性次序为:CuO-Ag2O/γ-Al2O3>CuO/γ-Al2O3>Ag2O/γ-Al2O3。热处理温度升高, 使催化剂表面铜物种分散状态及其还原性能发生变化。从500~900℃, 存在一个使铜物种达到最佳分散态的温度。讨论了负载于γ-Al2O3载体上的CuO-Ag2O双组分及其单组分催化剂在还原过程中金属与载体, 金属与金属间的相互作用以及热处理温度对其还原性能的影响。