Enhancing the Water Stability of Al‐MIL‐101‐NH2 via Postsynthetic Modification

The resistance of metal–organic frameworks towards water is a very critical issue concerning their practical use. Recently, it was shown for microporous MOFs that the water stability could be increased by introducing hydrophobic pendant groups. Here, we demonstrate a remarkable stabilisation of the mesoporous MOF Al‐MIL‐101‐NH₂ by postsynthetic modification with phenyl isocyanate. In this process 86 % of the amino groups were converted into phenylurea units. As a consequence, the long‐term stability of Al‐MIL‐101‐URPh in liquid water could be extended beyond a week. In water saturated atmospheres Al‐MIL‐101‐URPh decomposed at least 12‐times slower than the unfunctionalised analogue. To study the underlying processes both materials were characterised by Ar, N₂ and H₂O sorption measurements, powder X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and chemical analysis as well as solid‐state NMR and IR spectroscopy. Postsynthetic modification decreased the BET equivalent surface area from 3363 to 1555 m² g^?1 for Al‐MIL‐101‐URPh and reduced the mean diameters of the mesopores by 0.6 nm without degrading the structure significantly and reducing thermal stability. In spite of similar water uptake capacities, the relative humidity‐dependent uptake of Al‐MIL‐101‐URPh is slowed and occurs at higher relative humidity values. In combination with ¹H‐²⁷Al D ‐HMQC NMR spectroscopy experiments this favours a shielding mechanism of the Al clusters by the pendant phenyl groups and rules out pore blocking.     

The Ups and Downs of Percent (and Some Interesting Connections)

Percent is a standardized ratio comparison that is often used to describe relative amounts of increase and decrease. In this paper, the nonsymmetric relationship between percent of increase and percent of decrease is explored in several ways. Beginning with a simple graphical representation of the relationship, the functional relationship is developed, with relative decrease expressed as a function of relative increase. Once expressed in the form f(x) = 100x/(100 + x), an immediate connection is made to two other topics commonly found within the study of rates—the work problem and the harmonic mean. Finally, successive percents of increase or decrease are shown to be everyday applications of the geometric mean. This deeper look at a common mathematical concept has uncovered rich structural relationships between topics that are often isolated in the curriculum.     

Temporary attachment of carbohydrates to cyclopeptide templates: a new strategy for single-bead analysis of multivalent neoglycopeptides

Employing a cleavable carbohydrate–peptide linker, a new strategy for single-bead analysis of multivalent cyclic neoglycopeptides based on Edman degradation is described. Edman degradation of glycopeptides is hampered by the acid lability of the glycosidic bond and potential incompatibilities of phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) derivatives of glycosylated amino acids with PTH derivatives of the proteinogenic amino acids. To overcome this problem, carbohydrates are detached from the cyclopeptide templates before single-bead analysis, allowing for micro sequencing under routine conditions. With this strategy, application of multivalent cyclic neoglycopeptides in split-mix libraries with a subsequent screening process becomes possible for the first time.     

Aufbau und Zunderverhalten von Niob-Bor-Silicium-Legierungen

Zusammenfassung Der Aufbau des Dreistoffes Niob-Bor-Silicium wird bei 1600° C mit Hilfe röntgenographischer und mikroskopischer Methoden ermittelt. Die T 2-Phase sowie die ternäre D 8₈-Phase besitzen einen ausgedehnten homogenen Bereich. Während Silicium in T 2 durch Bor bis annähernd Nb₅SiB₂ substituiert wird, besteht beim D 8₈-Typ eine Gitterauffüllung gemäß Nb₅Si₃B. Oxydationsversuche im Bereich von 400 bis 1200° C zeigen vor allem die Selektivität, indem Nb–Mk bzw. die Nb-Boride bevorzugt in Pentoxyd übergehen. Silicium übt einen stabilisierenden Einfluß auch auf das Bestehen von -Nb₂O₅ aus. -Nb₂O₅ tritt als Mischphase mit Anionendefekt auf, wodurch die sogenannte scharfe und diffuse Form erklärt wird. Die Umwandlungstemperatur - wird teilweise erheblich oberhalb der vonGoldschmidt angegebenen beobachtet. Die -Form wird als M-Modifikation nachBrauer identifiziert und relativ häufig nachgewiesen. Die -Form erweist sich alsBrauersche H-Modifikation und entsteht offensichtlich stufenweise (fast kontinuierlich) aus -Nb-Oxyd. Auf die Anionendefekt-Bildung wird nachdrücklich hingewiesen.Mit 3 Abbildungen     

On the choice of active space orbitals in MCSCF calculations

We describe a procedure which may be used to aid selection of the active space in multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) calculations for general chemical systems. Starting from a restricted Hartree-Fock calculation, we define a hierarchy of interacting virtual orbitals for every occupied orbital. The most strongly interacting orbitals are then taken to constitute the active space in a configuration interaction (CI) calculation. The natural orbital occupation numbers obtained from the CI calculation are then used to choose the active space to be used in a subsequent MCSCF calculation. We illustrate our method on a number of systems (Li₂, B₂, C₂, carbonyl oxide and the transition state for oxidation of H₂S by dioxirane). In all these cases, ‘intuitive’ active spaces are inadequate, as are active spaces derived from the natural orbitals of unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations.     

Germacrene A is a product of the aristolochene synthase-mediated conversion of farnesylpyrophosphate to aristolochene

The biosynthesis of several sesquiterpenes has been proposed to proceed via germacrene A. However, to date, the production of germacrene A has not been proven directly for any of the sesquiterpene synthases for which it was postulated as an intermediate. We demonstrate here for the first time that significant amounts of germacrene A (7.5% of the total amount of products) are indeed released from wild-type aristolochene synthase (AS) from Penicillium roqueforti. Germacrene A was identified through direct GC-MS comparison to an authentic sample and through production of beta-elemene in a thermal Cope rearrangement. AS also produced a small amount of valencene through deprotonation of C6 rather than C8 in the final step of the reaction. On the basis of the X-ray structure of AS, Tyr 92 was postulated to be the active-site acid responsible for protonation of germacrene A (Caruthers, J. M.; Kang, I.; Rynkiewicz, M. J.; Cane, D. E.; Christianson, D. W. J. Biol. Chem. 2000, 275, 25533-25539). The CD spectra of a mutant protein, ASY92F, in which Tyr 92 was replaced by Phe, and of AS were very similar. ASY92F was approximately 0.1% as active as nonmutated recombinant AS. The steady-state kinetic parameters were measured as 0.138 min(-1) and 0.189 mM for k(cat) and K(M), respectively. Similar to a mutant protein of 5-epi-aristolochene (Rising, K. A.; Starks, C. M.; Noel, J. P.; Chappell, J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 1861-1866), the mutant released significant amounts of germacrene A (approximately 29%). ASY92F also produced various amounts of a further five hydrocarbons of molecular weight 204, valencene, beta-(E)-farnesene, alpha- and beta-selinene, and selina-4,11-diene.     

Comment: 2004's fastest organic and biomolecular chemistry!

In January 2003, the Royal Society of Chemistry launched Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry (OBC)--a journal promising to provide high quality research from all aspects of synthetic, physical and biomolecular organic chemistry. The journal was set to build upon the foundations laid down by its predecessor publications (J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1 and J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2) as well as complement the subject coverage already published in prestigious general chemistry journals such as Chemical Communications and Chemical Society Reviews. Nearly two years on, just how is the programme developing and what can the community expect to see from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)?     

Synthesen von Heterocyclen, 62. Mitt.: Über Reaktionen mit Betain

Zusammenfassung Beim Erhitzen von Betain mit Phenylisocyanat (12) auf 140–160° entsteht Diphenylimidazolidin-dion-(2,4) (I).

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Diphenylimidazolidine-dion-2,4 (I) was obtained by the reaction of betaine with phenylisocyanate (12) at 140–160°.

     

Neue Reagentien zum papierchromatographischen Nachweis von Aminosäuren, 3. Mitt.: Reaktionen des 1,8-Trimethylenchinisatins mit primären Aminoverbindungen

Zusammenfassung 1,8-Trimethylenchinisatin-hydrat (TMCH) reagiert mit Aminosäuren zum farblosen Bis-(2-oxo-4-hydroxy-1,8-trimethylen-1,2-dihydro-3-chinolinyl)-amin (2). Da2 bei der Dehydrierung in das Farbsalz5 übergeht, welches eine dem Ruhemann-Purpur analoge Struktur aufweist, ergeben sich neuartige Aspekte zur Deutung des Mechanismus der Ninhydrin-Reaktion.

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1.8-Trimethylenequinisatin hydrate (TMCH) reacts with amino acids yielding the colorless bis-(2-oxo-4-hydroxy-1.8-trimethylene-1.2-dihydro-3-quinolyl)-amine (2). Upon dehydrogenation of2 the dye salt5 is obtained. Because of the close relationship between5 and Ruhemann's purple a re-interpretation of the mechanism of the ninhydrin reaction could be made.