Temperature dependence of structure and dynamics of the hydrated Ca2+ ion according to ab initio quantum mechanical charge field and classical molecular dynamics

Simulations using ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics (QMCF MD) and classical molecular dynamics using two‐body and three‐body potentials were performed to investigate the hydration of the Ca²⁺ ion at different temperatures. Results from the simulations demonstrate significant effects of temperature on solution dynamics and the corresponding composition and structure of hydrated Ca²⁺. Substantial increase in ligand exchange events was observed in going from 273.15 K to 368.15 K, resulting in a redistribution of coordination numbers to lower values. The effect of temperature is also visible in a red‐shift of the ion‐oxygen stretching frequencies, reflecting weakened ligand binding. Even the moderate increase from ambient to body temperature leads to significant changes in the properties of Ca²⁺ in aqueous environment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of the dolabellaauricularia peptide dolastatin 18

A previously synthesized unit of dolastatin 10 (1), dolaphenine (Doe, 3), was converted in four steps to tripeptide 10. Subsequent condensation with carboxylic acid 11 (four steps from Meldrum's acid) provided a practical synthesis of the cancer cell growth inhibitor dolastatin 18 (2, Dhex-(S)-Leu-(R)-N-Me-Phe-Doe). The synthesis of dolastatin 18 (2) confirmed the R stereochemistry of the N-Me-Phe unit as originally assigned and unusual among amino acid components of the sea hare Dolabella auricularia. An X-ray crystal structure determination of dolastatin 18 was also completed.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of urea in water-soluble urea-formaldehyde fertilizer products and in aqueous urea solutions: collaborative study

Water soluble urea-formaldehyde (UF) fertilizers, manufactured by complex reaction of urea and formaldehyde, typically contain varying amounts of unreacted urea. A liquid chromatography method for the analysis of urea in these products, and in aqueous urea solutions, was collaboratively studied. An amine chromatography column was used to separate the unreacted urea from numerous UF reaction products present in these liquid fertilizers. Unreacted urea was determined by using external urea standards with UV detection at 195 nm. The standards and test samples were prepared in the mobile phase of 85% (v/v) acetonitrile in water. Ten laboratories analyzed 5 different UF-based commercial products containing unreacted urea in the range of 6 to 17% by weight, and 5 different concentrations of urea in water equivalent to commercial products of that nature. The aqueous urea solutions contained 2-20% urea (w/w). The range of s(R) values for the 5 UF-based commercial fertilizers was 0.49-1.02 and the %RSD(R) was 1.94-6.14. The s(R) range for the 5 urea solutions was 0.10 to 0.79 and the %RSD(R) range was 2.54 to 4.88. The average recovery of urea from the aqueous urea solutions was 96-103%. Therefore, this method is capable of monitoring urea nitrogen manufacturers' label claims and total nitrogen claims in those cases where urea is the sole source of plant food nitrogen. Based on the collaborative study data, the authors recommend this method be approved for AOAC Official First Action status.     

Erzeugung von sieben- und sechsring-alkinen durch photolyse und thermolyse von cyclopropenonen

A six-membered and two seven-membered cycloalkynes, namely 1 – 3, are generated by matrix photolyses of the corresponding cyclopropenones 4 – 6 at about 15 K and characterized by spectroscopic means and in two cases by identification of the trimerization products 9 and 10.     

Synthese und eigenschaften von ortho-verbrückten diarylcyclopropenonen

A series of ortho-bridged diaryl cyclopropenones is prepared by straightforward synthetic pathways. The spectroscopic and chemical properties of the new cyclopropenones are reported.     

Hydrated germanium (II): Irregular structural and dynamical properties revealed by a quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics study

Structural and dynamical properties of Ge (II) in aqueous solution have been investigated using the novel ab initio quantum mechanical charge field (QMCF) molecular dynamics (MD) formalism. The first and second hydration shells were treated by ab initio quantum mechanics at restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) level using the cc‐pVDZ‐PP basis set for Ge (II) and Dunning double‐ζ plus polarization basis sets for O and H. Besides ligand exchange processes and mean ligand residence times to observe dynamics, tilt‐ and theta‐angle distributions along with an advanced structural parameter, namely radial and angular distribution functions (RAD) for different regions were also evaluated. The combined radial and angular distribution depicted through surface plot and contour map is presented to provide a detailed insight into the density distribution of water molecules around the Ge²⁺ ion. A strongly distorted hydration structure with two trigonal pyramidal substructures within the first hydration shell is observed, which demonstrates the lone‐pair influence and provides a new basis for the interpretation of the catalytic and pharmacological properties of germanium coordination compounds. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Transversality for equivariant exact 1-forms and gauge theory on 3-manifolds

An equivariant jet transversality framework is developed for the study of critical sets of invariant functions on G manifolds. Techniques are developed to extend transversality results to the infinite dimensional Fredholm setting. As an application, the generic structure of the SU(4) perturbed flat moduli space of an integral homology three-sphere is described, as well as the generic structure of the parameterized moduli space for a path of perturbations. A similar analysis of the U(3) moduli space for rational homology three-spheres is also carried out.