Unnatural multidentate metal ligating α-amino acids

A family of penta- and hexadentate metal ligating α-amino acids, suitably protected for Fmoc solid-phase chemistry, has been prepared. These residues incorporate the mono-amides of ethanolaminetriacetic acid, ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as side chains. Side chains are tethered varying distances (n) from the Cα-carbon to allow metal binding events to occur at distinct distances from the peptide backbone. These residues are designed to allow the facile installation of metal chelates along a peptide backbone.     

Hydration of complexes of 18-crown-6 with potassium nitrate or potassium picrate in the polymer phase

Adsorption of water vapor by granular polymer based on dibenzo-18-crown-6 and containing potassium nitrate or potassium picrate in the polymer phase was studied by the isopiestic method at 298 K. The adsorption of water vapor is described by isotherms corresponding (according to BDDT classification) to polymolecular absorption with a high adsorptive potential. In terms of the Aranovich model of polymolecular absorption, the monolayer capacity and differential heat of adsorption were calculated, and the stoichiometry of hydration of the potassium nitrate and potassium picrate complexes with immobilized crown ether was estimated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1940–1942, October, 1998.     

Sample preparation for metalloprotein analysis: A case study using horse chestnuts

In the present work, 11 different procedures for protein and metalloprotein extraction from horse chestnuts (Aescullus hippocastanum L.) in natura were tested. After each extraction, total protein was determined and, after protein separation through sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), those metals belonging to the protein structure were mapped by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF). After mapping the elements (Cr, Fe and Mn) in the protein bands (ca. 33 and 23.7 kDa), their concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS).

Good results were obtained for protein extraction using a combination of grinding and sonication. However, this strategy was not suitable to preserve metal ions in the protein structure. In fact, there was 42% decrease on Mn concentration using this procedure, compared to that performed with sample agitation in water (taken as reference). On the other hand, when grinding and agitation with an extracting buffer was used, there was a 530% increase of Mn concentration, when compared to the reference procedure.

These results indicate agreement between metal identification and determination in proteins as well as the great influence of the extraction procedure (i.e., the sample preparation step) for preserving metals in the protein structures.     

Gel permeation chromatographic analysis of polyurethane prepolymer synthesis kinetics II. The effects of stoichiometry and type of diisocyanate

The kinetics of formation of polyurethane prepolymers is studied by an analytical technique which involves reactive quenching of the isocyanate, separation of the oligomeric species by GPC, and measurement by UV absorbance of the quenched moieties. The precision of the kinetic parameters and the ratios of the oligomers are determined. The effect of changes in reactant stoichiometry on the ratio of oligomers is measured and compared to the value predicted by an equation from Flory. Toluene diisocyanate is shown to give fewer high oligomers than predicted, while methylene diphenylene diisocyanate gives nearly the predicted values. Tetramethylxylene diisocyanate gives more high oligomers than predicted, an unexpected but possibly important result. Catalyst is shown to increase the reaction rate of the last by more than 200 times. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Spectrophotometric study of the complexation of iodine with 1,7-diaza-15-crown-5 in chloroform solution

The complex formation reaction between iodine and 1,7-diaza-15-crown-5 (DA15C5) has been studied spectrophotometrically in chloroform at 25°C. The resulting 1:2 (DA15C5:I₂) molecular complex was formulated as (DA15C5...;I⁺)I ₃ ^– . The spectrophotometric results, as well as the conductivity measurements, revealed that the gradual release of triiodide ion from its contact ion paired form in the molecular complex into the solution is the rate determining step of the reaction. The rate constant was calculated ask=(8.8±0.2)×10^–3 min^–1. The formation constant of the molecular complex was evaluated from the computer fitting of the absorbance-mole ratio data as logK _f=6.89±0.09.     

The complexation of 2,3-anthracenedicarboxylate by β- and γ-cyclodextrins in mixed solvent systems as studied by induced circular dichroism. The role of cosolvent hydrophobicity

The complexation of 2,3-anthracenedicarboxylate (ADC) by- and-cyclodextrins in water containing an organic solvent has been studied by induced circular dichroism. It has been shown that an increase of organic solvent ratio causes the degradation of the 1:1 ADC:-CD complex and the liberation of one guest molecule from the 2:1 ADC:-CD complex in water. The higher the hydrophobicity of the cosolvent, the weaker the complexation of ADC by-CD.     

Binary and Ternary Complexes Between Lauryl Hexaoxyethylene, Benzoate and Cyclodextrin. Part II. β-CD

The characterization of binary and ternary complexes of benzoate, lauryl hexaoxyethylene (C₁₂E₆) and -CD is presented. The complexation equilibrium was characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, titration microcalorimetry, capillary electrophoresis, and 2D ROESY ¹H-NMR. Results suggested that -CD forms one complex with C₁₂E₆in the stoichiometric ratio of -CD : C₁₂E₆1.5 : 1, with a stability constant 1.3 × 10⁵ M^-1.5. The 2-D ROESY ¹H-NMR spectrum indicated that C₁₂E₆is included inside the -CD cavity. The primary binding site of C₁₂E₆ is on the lauryl subunit of this molecule. Analogous to a previously reported study of -CD, the combination of -CD and C₁₂E₆precipitated from the solution. Addition of benzoate seemed to dissolve the precipitate and nearly doubled the apparent stability constant of the complex. Results from the various techniques supported formation of ternary complexes between -CD, C₁₂E₆, and benzoate.     

Calorimetric titration experiment modelled by equilibrium of 2:1 and 1:1 complexes

The analysis of the calorimetric continuous titration experiment is presented. The proposed method is basing on the collection of larger number of experimental data points than could be obtained from the classical isothermal titration calorimetry experiment. After the deconvolution procedure resulting in the correction for the calorimeter time response the pure power effect signal could be obtained. The collected data enable the detailed analysis of the closely populated 2:1 and 1:1 weak complexes.     

Preparation of epitaxial La0.6Ca0.4Mn1−xFexO3 (x = 0, 0.2) thin films: Variation of the oxygen content

Perovskite thin films with a nominal composition of La_0.6Ca_0.4Mn_1−xFe_xO₃ (x = 0, 0.2) were deposited by pulsed reactive crossed beam laser ablation. The film properties, such as electrical conductivity and magnetoresistance are studied as a function of the oxygen content and substrate type. The oxygen content of the thin films was determined by Rutherford Backscattering and controlled by varying the background gas pressure, pressure of the gas pulse and by using alternatively O₂ and N₂O as the gas pulse.

LaAlO₃ and SrTiO₃ were used as substrates at deposition temperature of 650 °C. The grown films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction in order to optimize the growth conditions, i.e. to obtain epitaxial thin films. Thin films doped with 20% Fe were grown under the same experimental conditions as the undoped LCMO films and the effect of the doping on the structural and transport properties of the thin films has been investigated.

The temperature of the metal–insulator transition was measured as a function of the oxygen content and substrate type.     

Insights into the photophysics,protonation and Cu2+ ion coordination behaviour of anthracene-9,10-dione-based chemosensors

Carboxylic acid–diamine-based Cu²⁺ chromogenic sensors (3 and 4) exhibited colour switching from red to blue with good sensitivity and selectivity towards Cu²⁺ among other physiologically important alkali, alkaline earth and heavy metal ions. This colour-switching phenomenon arises due to selective deprotonation of aryl amine NH by Cu²⁺. Significantly, chemosensor 3 (λ_max 492 nm) shows multiple modes of complexation towards Cu²⁺. It is very much evident from the appearance of blue colour (λ_max 615 nm) at pH >7.0 and yellow colour (λ_max 465 nm) at pH < 4.0. In addition, chemosensor 3 exhibits a unique logic gate system that involves ‘INHIBIT’ and ‘TRANSFER’ logic gates.