Intramolecular and liquid structure of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol by X-ray diffraction

Intramolecular and liquid structure of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) have been investigated by x-ray diffraction at 25°C. The structural parameters for the skeleton of the molecules in the liquid phase are similar to those in the gas phase. The conformers of TFE molecules in the liquid phase are discussed. The O...O distance at about 284 pm and additional F...O one at about 302 pm were found to be characteristic for the first neighbor interactions. Various models (dimers and trimers) have been examined for analyzing the first neighbor structure. The liquid structure was explained in terms of small clusters consisting of two to three molecules rather than of a more extended polymeric network.Central Research Institute for Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, P. O. Box 17, H-1525, Hungary.     

Crystal structure of a tetrabromo derivative of cyclopropyldihydroarglabin and its antifungal activity

A tetrabromo derivative of arglabin was synthesized stereoselectively. The molecular structure of the new compound was established using PMR and 13C NMR spectra and an x-ray structure analysis. Its antifungal activity was demonstrated. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 253–254, May–June, 2006.     

Fluorescence Analysis in Microarray Technology

Fluorescence has been the preferred choice for data quantification in biomedical microarray formats since their earliest days. As much as the formats have grown and evolved over the years, the methods in optical analysis have become ever more sophisticated and complex in order to produce more and better output. This review will provide an insight into the most common methods and the state-of-the-art of all areas in microarray fluorescence analysis. Starting with an overview on microarray formats with a focus on their demands on the readout, the most common and useful organic fluorescent stains are discussed before proceeding on to other approaches; the use of semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots), polymer and silica nanoparticles and fluorescent proteins. Ways to enhance the intrinsically low signal on biochips have become increasingly important as they offer a sound approach towards the detection of low concentration sample content. The three main categories are presented: amplification using DNA, enzymes, and dendrimers. As much diversity as on the microarrays themselves can be found at the detection device. Standard optical microarray detectors, and non-standard methods using fluorescence anisotropy, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed.     

Macromolecular crystallography research at Trombay

Neutron diffraction studies of hydrogen positions in small molecules of biological interest at Trombay have provided valuable information that has been used in protein and enzyme structure model-building and in developing hydrogen bond potential functions. The new R-5 reactor is expected to provide higher neutron fluxes and also make possible smallangle neutron scattering studies of large biomolecules and bio-aggregates. In the last few years infrastructure facilities have also been established for macromolecular x-ray crystallography research. Meanwhile, the refinement of carbonic hydrases’ and lysozyme structures have been carried out and interesting results obtained on protein dynamics and structure-function relationships. Some interesting presynaptic toxin phospholipases have also been taken up for study.     

1,1,4,4-Tetranitrobutane-2,3-diol and its derivatives. 5. Reaction of 1,1,4,4-tetranitrobutane-2,3-diol with formaldehyde; synthesis and crystal structure of 4,4-dinitro-2,3-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran

1,1,4,4-Tetranitrobutane-2,3-diol reacts with formaldehyde, forming 2,2-dinitropropane-1,3-diol or a cyclic ether — 4,4-dinitro-2,3-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran — as a function of the reaction conditions.Institute of Chemical Physics, Chernogolovka, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2755–2759, December, 1992.     

Unraveling the mystery of efficacy in Chinese medicine formula: New approaches and technologies for research on pharmacodynamic substances

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the key to unlock treasures of Chinese civilization. TCM and its compound play a beneficial role in medical activities to cure diseases, especially in major public health events such as novel coronavirus epidemics across the globe. The chemical composition in Chinese medicine formula is complex and diverse, but their effective substances resemble “mystery boxes”. Revealing their active ingredients and their mechanisms of action has become focal point and difficulty of research for herbalists. Although the existing research methods are numerous and constantly updated iteratively, there is remain a lack of prospective reviews. Hence, this paper provides a comprehensive account of existing new approaches and technologies based on previous studies with an in vitro to in vivo perspective. In addition, the bottlenecks of studies on Chinese medicine formula effective substances are also revealed. Especially, we look ahead to new perspectives, technologies and applications for its future development. This work reviews based on new perspectives to open horizons for the future research. Consequently, herbal compounding pharmaceutical substances study should carry on the essence of TCM while pursuing innovations in the field.     

Real‐time lock‐in energy loss imaging with a novel high‐speed image processing CCD video camera

We have developed a high‐speed image processing CCD video camera for real‐time energy‐loss imaging using a conventional electron microscope with an energy‐loss imaging facility. As an initial demonstration of real‐time lock‐in energy‐loss imaging, a background‐subtracted energy‐loss image was observed by attaching the high‐speed image processing CCD video camera to an analytical electron microscope equipped with a floating‐type energy‐loss imaging analyser. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

共振光散射成像检测5,10,15,20-四(对三甲基氨基苯)卟吩诱导的DNA超螺旋聚集体

A resonance light scattering （RLS） imaging method was proposed based on imaging and measuring the RLS features of single suprahelical species of DNA, and its appfication to DNA assay was also investigated. In acidic medium, porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrakis（p-phenyltlimethylaminium） （PTPTMA）, could stack along the molecular surface of DNA with the mode of long-range assembly to induce the formation of suprahelical species of DNA, resulting in strong RLS signals in the range of 450-510 nm. Under the excitation of 488 nm fight beam of argon ion laser source, single suprahelical species could be observed with the aid of a common microscope due to the strong scattered fight emitted by the suprahelical species. By capturing the RLS images of the single suprahelical species with a cooled charge coupled device （CCD） camera, and analyzing the RLS data, herein an RLS imaging method of DNA was proposed based on the linear relationship between the counts of suprahelical species in the detection focus plane and the concentration of DNA in nanograms. When 1.8 μmol/L PTPTMA was employed, both calf thymus DNA （ct DNA） and fish sperm DNA （fs DNA） in the range of 25-1100 ng/mL could be detected with the limits of detection lower than 25 ng/mL （3a）. Four synthetic samples were detected satisfactorily with relative standard deviations less than 5.1%.     

Derivatives of the closo-dodecaborate anion and their application in medicine

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the possibilities and characteristic features of the application of various polyhedral boron compounds, viz., the closo-decaborate anion [B₁₀H₁₀]^2–, the closo-dodecaborate anion [B₁₂H₁₂]^2–, the carba-closo-dodecaborate anion [CB₁₁H₁₂]^–, carboranes C₂B₁₀H₁₂, and the bis(dicarbollide) complexes [M(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]^– (M = Fe, Co, or Ni), in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for cancer. The requirements on compounds used in BNCT are formulated and the advantages of the application of the closo-dodecaborate anion are considered. The data on the synthesis of various derivatives of the closo-dodecaborate anion, which either already found use in BNCT or are most promising in this field, are summarized. The possibilities of the application of agents derived from the closo-dodecaborate anion in medical diagnostics are discussed.     

Crystal structures of the organic metals (ET)2[Hg(SCN)Cl2] and (ET)2[Hg(SCN)2Br]

The compositions and structures of two new organic metals based on ET [where ET = bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene], viz., (ET)₂[Hg(SCN)Cl₂], with a metal-dielectric transition temperature (T_m-d) of 35°K, and (ET)₂[Hg(SCN)₂Br], with T_m-d = 140°K, were established by x-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structures of the investigated compounds are similar to the structure of the previously studied organic metal (ET)₂[Hg(SCN)₂Cl] with T_m-d = 50°K. The principal crystallographic data for (ET)₂[Hg(SCN)Cl₂] are as follows: a = 36.64(1), b = 8.300(4), c = 11.798(1) Å, = 89.91(3)°, V = 3588.1(9) ų, space group Cc, Z = 4, d_calc = 2.05 g/cm³. The principal crystallographic data for (ET)₂[Hg(SCN)₂Br] are as follows: a = 37.088(14), b = 8.338(3), c = 11.738(5) Å, = 89.71(3)°, V = 3629.6(8) ų, space group C2/c, Z = 8, d_calc = 2.15 g/cm³. A characteristic feature of the crystal structure of the investigated compounds is alternation of the anion and cation layers along the a axis of the crystal. In the cation layer of the k type the ET are interconnected by shortened S...S intermolecular contacts (3.39–3.58 Å). The [Hg(SCN)_3–nX_n]^– anions (X = Cl, Br; n = 1, 2) form polymeric chains with one or two bridged SCN groups. A tendency for a decrease in the metal-dielectric transition temperature with a decrease in the volume of the anion is detected in the (ET)₂[Hg(SCN)_3–nX_n] salts, where X = Cl and Br, and n = 1 and 2.Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2323–2331, October, 1992.