A two-stage approach to automatic determination of 1H NMR coupling constants

(1)H NMR scalar coupling constants are a rich source of information on molecular structure, but their extraction from spectra can be less than straightforward. Previous approaches to J extraction include methods proposed by Hoye, Golotvin, and the 'modified J-doubling' method. Here we describe the ACCA method, currently implemented in the NMR package MestReC, which allows a high degree of automation in the extraction of coupling patterns even in the case of complex multiplets with sublinewidth splitting. The new approach is illustrated by application to strychnine, for which it has detected previously unreported couplings.     

The Reactivity of Cr‐Te Superlattice Reactants and of Co‐deposited Cr‐Te Films: Studies with in‐situ X‐ray Diffractometry

The reactivity of a Cr‐Te multilayer film consisting of 326 Cr/Te double‐layers with about 88(3) at% Te was investigated with in‐situ X‐ray diffraction. The occurrence of a superstructure reflection caused by the multilayer system is observed. During the annealing procedure between 80 and 90 °C the layer‐by‐layer arrangement is destroyed and elemental Te crystallizes. After 6 h isothermal annealing at 140 °C CrTe₃ starts to crystallize. The amount and the crystal size of CrTe₃ increase with raising temperature and Te is consumed during the growth process. At 220 °C the formation of crystalline Cr₂Te₃ is observed and between 220 and 260 °C CrTe₃ is completely decomposed into Cr₂Te₃. The two Cr tellurides grow as highly textured materials. The size of CrTe₃ crystals is significantly larger than that of Cr₂Te₃. For a co‐deposited Cr‐Te film with composition 77(3) at% Te the tri‐telluride and elemental Te crystallize simultaneously. The texture of CrTe₃ is less pronounced and different reflections of the tri‐telluride occur besides the (h00)‐reflections. Up to 160 °C a pronounced increase of the crystallite size is observed and the crystals are significantly larger than those obtained with the multifilm sample. At 130 °C the crystallization kinetics seem to be controlled by nucleation.     

Predicting the shape and structure of face-centered cubic gold nanocrystals smaller than 3 nm.

Although a number of computational studies have examined the relative stability of icosahedral and decahedral gold clusters from 1 to 3 nm in size, few studies have focussed on the variety of face-centered cubic (fcc) nanoparticles in this size regime. In most cases small fcc gold particles are assumed to adopt the truncated octahedral shape, but in light of the fact that the shape and structure of gold nanoparticles is known to vary, the relative stability of fcc polyhedra may change with size. Presented here are results of first-principles calculations investigating the preferred shape of gold particles less than 3 nm in size. Our results indicate that the equilibrium shape of fcc gold nanoparticles less than 1 nm is the cuboctahedron, but this shape rapidly becomes energetically unstable with respect to the truncated octahedron, octahedron and truncated cube shapes as the size increases.     

Delocalization corrections to the strictly localized molecular orbitals: A linearized SCF approximation

An explicit formula is derived for calculating the delocalization corrections (tails) to be added to the strictly localized bond orbitals. It was obtained by solving analytically the SCF problem for the interbond interactions in a linearized approximation. The model calculations at the CNDO/2 level show that this simple approach is sufficient to account for the molecular conformations.     

Analytical assays based on detecting conformational changes of single molecules.

One common strategy for the detection of biomolecules is labeling either the target itself or an antibody that binds to it. Herein, a different approach, based on detecting the conformational change of a probe molecule induced by binding of the target is discussed. That is, what is being detected is not the presence of the target or the probe, but the conformational change of the probe. Recently, a single-molecule sensor has been developed that exploits this mechanism to detect hybridization of a single DNA oligomer to a DNA probe, as well as specific binding of a single protein to a DNA probe. Biomolecular recognition often involves large conformational changes of the molecules involved, and therefore this strategy may be applicable to other assays.     

Determination of Nonsteroidal Anti‐inflammatory Drugs in Serum by Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemical Detection

A simple and rapid method has been developed for the analysis of four nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in serum using microchip capillary electrophoresis with pulsed amperometric detection. The selected NSAIDs (salicylic acid, acetaminophen, diflunisal, and diclofenac) are among the most commonly used drugs to treat fever, inflammation, and pain. Used above the therapeutic levels, these drugs can cause a wide variety of adverse effects and their fast analysis could have a significant impact in treatment and recovery of the patients. Several conditions, including separation potential, pH, and concentration of the electrolyte solution were studied to optimize the separation and detection. In this study, salicylic acid, acetaminophen, diflunisal, and diclofenac were separated in less than 2 minutes using a 5 mM borate buffer at pH 11.5 and a separation potential of +1200 V. Linear relationships were obtained between the concentration and peak current in the 0.5–15.3 μg/mL range and detection limits around 0.26 μg/mL. After 30 consecutive injections, the stability of both the response and migration time of the analytes showed relative related deviations of less than 4.6% and 1.0%, respectively. The potential of this method was verified by spiking a bovine serum sample with the four NSAIDs and analyzing the recovery ratio.     

Solubility Enhancement of Low Soluble Biologically Active Compounds by β-Cyclodextrin and Dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin

The solubility enhancement of triflumizole by complexation with -cyclodextrin and with dimethyl--cyclodextrin is compared with respect to the different physico-chemical properties of the host molecules. Although the inclusion reaction constants are rather similar for both complexation reactions, a completely different temperature dependence of the host-guest interaction is observed, which indicates a change of the reaction mechanisms. Moreover, the influence of ethanol as cosolvent is studied.     

Search of ligands for the amyloidogenic protein beta2-microglobulin by capillary electrophoresis and other techniques

Beta2-microglobulin (beta2-m) is a small amyloidogenic protein normally present on the surface of most nucleated cells and responsible for dialysis-related amyloidosis, which represents a severe complication of long-term hemodialysis. A therapeutic approach for this amyloidosis could be based on the stabilization of beta2-m through the binding to a small molecule, and consequent inhibition of protein misfolding and amyloid fibril formation. A few compounds have been described to weakly bind beta2-m, including the drug suramin. The lack of a binding site for nonpolypeptidic ligands on the beta2-m structure makes it difficult for both the identification of functional groups responsible for the binding and the search of hits to be optimized. The characterization of the binding properties of suramin for beta2-m by using three different techniques (surface plasmon resonance, affinity CE (ACE), ultrafiltration) is here described and the results obtained are compared. The common features of the chemical structures of the compounds known to bind the protein led us to select 200 sulfonated/suramin-like molecules from a wider chemical library on the basis of similarity rules, so as to possibly single out some interesting hits and to gain more information on the functional groups involved in the binding. The development of screening methods to test the compounds by using ultrafiltration and ACE is described.     

Synthesis of macrocyclic aliphatic disulfide oligomers from dithiols by oxidative coupling with oxygen using a copper‐amine catalyst

A new effective method is provided for the synthesis of macrocyclic aliphatic disulfide oligomers by catalytic oxidation of aliphatic dithiols with oxygen in the presence of a copper‐amine catalyst. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reactions of 1,2,4-Triazines with Nucleophiles. 6. Use of SNH Methodology for the Direct Introduction of Cyclic Diketone Residue into the 1,2,4-Triazine Ring FORENAME = D. N.

3-R-6-Phenyl-1,2,4-triazine 4-oxides react with cyclic -diketones (dimethylbarbituric acid, dimedone, and indan) in both acidic (substrate activation) and basic conditions (nucleophile activation) with formation of ^H-adducts, intermediates in the nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen (S_N ^H) in 3-R-5-Nu-4-hydroxy-6-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazines. Oxidative aromatisation of these intermediates or auto-aromatisation of acylated (benzoyl chloride) at the NOH -adducts with elimination of benzoic acid gave the corresponding substituted 1,2,4-triazine 4-oxides or 1,2,4-triazines.