FT-IR study on solvent effects in building blocks of bioactive compounds. V

3-Hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl pyrrolidin-2-ones, easily prepared from the Baylis–Hillman adduct 1-ethyl-4-methyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylenebutanedioate, are useful intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive compounds. In order to understand the mechanism involved in this reaction, vibrational and Montecarlo molecular mechanics conformational analysis on 1-ethyl-4-methyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylenebutanedioate were carried out, confirming the existence of a low energy intramolecular H-bonded five-member ring.     

Synthesis and conformational investigation of tetrapeptide analogues of the fragment B23-B26 of insulin

Tetrapeptides containing one of a set of four different α,α-dialkyl glycines at the C-terminus were synthesized by conventional methods in solution and their conformational behavior investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy in connection with molecular mechanics calculations. The results were consistent with conformations stabilized by a γ-turn in the case of compounds with alkyl groups larger than methyl, while the corresponding Aib derivative did not exhibit intramolecular hydrogen bonding.     

Annealing behavior of gel‐spun polyethylene fibers at temperatures lower than needed for significant shrinkage

The annealing at 373 K of ultrastrong, gel‐spun polyethylene (PE) has been studied. At this temperature, the fibers show no significant shrinkage. Still, a significant decrease in the mechanical properties is observed. The fibers have been analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). During the annealing, the glass transition of the intermediate phase is exceeded, as shown by DSC. When split for structure analysis by AFM, the annealed fibers undergo plastic deformation around the base fibrils instead of brittle fracture. The quasi‐isothermal TMDSC experiments are compared to the minor structural changes seen with SAXS and AFM. The loss of performance of the PE fibers at 373 K is suggested to be caused by the oriented intermediate phase, and not by major changes in the structure or morphology. The overall metastable, semicrystalline structure is shown by TMDSC to posses local regions that can melt reversibly. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 403–417, 2003     

Rotational spectra, conformational structures, and dipole moments of thiodiglycol by jet-cooled FTMW and ab initio calculations

The rotational spectra of three low-energy conformers of thiodiglycol (TDG) (HOCH₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂OH) have been measured in a molecular beam using a pulsed-nozzle Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. To determine the likely conformational structures with ab initio approach, conformational structures of 2-(ethylthio)ethanol (HOEES) (CH₃CH₂SCH₂CH₂OH) were used as starting points together with the consideration of possible intramolecular hydrogen bonding in TDG. Three lower-energy conformers have been found for TDG at the MP2=Full/6311G** level and ab initio results agree nicely with experimentally determined rotational constants. In addition, Stark measurements were performed for two of the three conformers for dipole moment determinations, adding to our confidence of the conformational structure matches between experimental observations and ab initio calculations. Of the three lower-energy conformers, one displays a compact folded-like structure with strong hydrogen bonding between the two hydroxyl groups and the central sulfide atom. Two other conformers have relatively open chain-like structures with hydrogen bonding between each of the hydroxyl groups to the central sulfur atom, of which one has pure b-type dipole moment according to the ab initio results.     

生物小分子与铜锌超氧化物歧化酶相互作用的波谱学研究及其应用

本工作以ESR和NMR为主要手段,并结合其它生化方法,考察了氨基酸、核酸碱基、糖等生命基本物质,和抗坏血酸等生命必需物质与钢锌超氧化物歧化酶的相互作用,实验观测到氨基酸、核酸碱基和抗坏血酸在水溶液中可以与酶中的Cu²⁺作用而使其脱离活性部位,以小分子络合物形式游离在溶液中,同时使酶失活,脱离活性部位的Cu²⁺的比例和酶的失活程度取决于小分子配体的加入量及其与Cu²⁺的络合能力。此外,首次尝试使用ESR方法,并借助氨基酸与酶的作用,考察了铜锌超氧化物歧化酶在盐酸胍变性和热变性过程中的构象变化行为,结果表明这一方法是直观而有效的。     

Laser spectroscopy of high spin isomers – a review

This review summarizes the experimental data on charge radii differences among ground state and high spin isomeric states determined by high-resolution laser spectroscopic methods. A comparison is presented between radii changes obtained from the isomeric shifts in the atomic spectra and from the quadrupole moments of both ground and isomeric states under the assumption that the radii changes are determined by the difference of the quadrupole deformations. Special attention is paid to isomers arising from the break-up of nucleon pairs and isomers of odd–odd nuclei. The characteristic features of the radii changes for isomeric states of different origin are discussed.     

Calculated elastic constants of dilute alloys based on bcc metals

The elastic constants of dilute alloys based on bcc metals have been calculated using the Green’s function method obtaining explicit expressions for change in elastic constants in terms oft-matrix. The crystal impurity problem is discussed within an impurity model containing central and non-central force constant changes extended up to second neighbours of the impurity. The effect of volume change on elastic constants and a contribution from electron pressure term are considered. Numerical results for changes in three elastic moduli have been presented for a number of dilute alloys based on Mo, Nb, W, Ta and V.     

遗传算法在构象搜寻中的应用

遗传算法是一种模仿自然进化进程的新颖的启发式优化方法。通过它，人们可以在计算机上对所需的各种问题实施进化操作，最终产生理想的结果。遗传算法现已被广泛于计算机辅助设计、工程设计、系统模拟等领域并取得了极大的成功。本文拟对遗传算法在对大、中、小分子的构象搜寻中的应用作一较全面的综述。     

Ab initio calculations on large molecules using molecular fragments. Characterization of the zwitterion of glycine

The ab initio molecular fragment approach is applied to a characterization study of the ground state of the zwitterion of glycine. Included among the properties studied are the — conformational energy surface, the electronic structure, and the magnitude and direction of the dipole moment. The results of the present study are compared to the results of other theoretical and experimental studies.This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the University of Kansas, and the Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.NSF Trainee (1969-1972).Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (1971–1973).     

Local elevation: A method for improving the searching properties of molecular dynamics simulation

Summary The concept of memory has been introduced into a molecular dynamics algorithm. This was done so as to persuade a molecular system to visit new areas of conformational space rather than be confined to a small number of low-energy regions. The method is demonstrated on a simple model system and the 11-residue cyclic peptide cyclosporin A. For comparison, calculations were also performed using simulated temperature annealing and a potential energy annealing scheme. Although the method can only be applied to systems with a small number of degrees of freedom, it offers the chance to generate a multitude of different low-energy structures, where other methods only give a single one or few. This is clearly important in problems such as drug design, where one is interested in the conformational spread of a system.