Topochemical investigations of peptide systems

The basic principles of the topochemical approach to the investigation of the structure-function relation in peptide systems are formulated. This approach makes use of the new possibility of transforming natural peptides, consisting in the modification of the molecule as a whole and utilization of the resultant analogs to elucidate the boundaries of the stereoelectronic complementarity of the biologically active peptide to the corresponding receptor. In particular, on the example of depsipeptide antibiotics and their topochemical analogs the fruitfulness of using such compounds as tools in elucidating the physicochemical basis of functioning of biological membranes is shown. The topochemical principle has also been applied in preparing specific competitive inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes, whose study may shed light on the nature of the forces binding the substrate to the contact site of the corresponding enzyme.     

Topochemical Conversion of a Hydrogen-Bonded Three-Dimensional Network into a Covalently Bonded Framework

Thermal dehydration promotes the topochemical conversion of the hydrogen-bonded dimeric complex [{Zn(sala)(H₂O)₂}₂]⋅2 H₂O (H₂(sala)=N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-L -alanine) to generate covalent [{Zn(sala)}_n]. X-ray crystallography reveals that hydrogen bonding plays a key role in this process (see the partial structure on the right).     

From Disymmetric Molecules to Chiral Polymers: A New Twist for Supramolecular Synthesis?

A new branch of crystal engineering appears to have borne fruit: A noncovalently bonded network consisting of the complex illustrated as a stick model on the right is converted directly into a coordination polymer with a similar molecular architecture. The implications of the new work extend beyond the boundaries of coordination chemistry since the same strategy should work equally well in organic and organometallic systems.     

Structural Classification and General Principles for the Design of Spherical Molecular Hosts

Cryptands, carcerands, polyoxometalates, and molecular capsules are cagelike hosts that complex guests through encapsulation. Following the discovery of a nanometer scale supramolecular shell-like spheroid, these and other shell-like hosts were structurally classified. Their frameworks may be catalogued according to principles of solid geometry. This has led to the identification of hosts that have not yet been synthesized or discovered (such as the cuboctahedron shown; X=O, S) and should lead to the design of additional container assemblies.     

Tuning Dihydrogen Bonds: Enhanced Solid-State Reactivity in a Dihydrogen-Bonded System with Exceptionally Short H⋅⋅⋅H Distances

Topochemical assembly of a covalent material can be achieved with the complex LiBH₄⋅TEA (TEA=triethanolamine; section of structure shown), a dihydrogen-bonded system which has very short H⋅⋅⋅H contacts and high solid-state reactivity due to acidity enhancement in the OH groups by Li⁺ ion complexation.     

共聚焦显微拉曼光谱在木质纤维细胞壁预处理中的应用进展

在能源紧缺和环境恶化的双重压力下,利用农林生物质替代化石资源生产生物燃料、生物基化学品和材料逐步发展成为世界范围内的研究热点,而细胞壁中纤维素、半纤维素、木质素以及其他少量组分的空间分布不均一性和化学结构复杂性构成了天然抗降解屏障,严重阻碍生物质的转化效率,因此需要对木质纤维原料进行预处理,以期破坏细胞壁的宏观壁垒,实现生物质的低成本高效转化。在此过程中,全面了解木质纤维细胞壁的化学组成、结构特性及其在生物质转化过程中的解构机理是高效利用农林生物质的重要前提。由于拉曼光谱具有样品制备要求低、灵敏度高、且能在原位状态下对样品进行定性、定量分析等特点,使得拉曼光谱成为研究木质细胞壁结构的有力工具。尤其与显微技术相结合时,可以同时获得木质纤维细胞壁主要组分的微区分布与超分子结构信息,实现生物质转化过程中化学组分动态变化的可视化研究。首先介绍了拉曼光谱成像的工作原理,并对纤维素、半纤维素和木质素的拉曼特征信号进行了归属。其次,总结了近几年拉曼光谱在生物质转化领域内的应用与研究进展,综述了拉曼光谱在未处理状态下以及稀酸、水热、稀碱等不同预处理过程中的分析方法,对细胞壁主要组分的分布进行表征,以揭示预处理过程中各组分的溶出过程及迁移规律,为在细胞及亚细胞水平探究预处理诱导细胞壁主要组分动态溶解机制提供了有效路径。此外,针对检测中收集的光谱数量过多、分析难等问题,文章重点介绍了主成分聚类分析法和顶点成分分析法两种拉曼数据分析方法,用于提取特征信息并对光谱进行分类研究,以深入探究特定组分的空间分布和分子结构。最后,根据上述分析展望了拉曼光谱在生物质转化领域的研究趋势,为相关研究提供技术参考。     

The oxidative polymerization of aniline as topochemical process. The statistical analysis of grain growth

The films of polyaniline (PANI) on the glass slides with granular morphology were prepared by oxidative polymerization with ammonium peroxydisulfate in strong acidic conditions. The kinetics of polymerization was monitored recording of scanning electron microscopy images of deposit PANI films on glass slides. Statistical analysis of the PANI grain size was successfully applied for characterization of the polymerization process. It was shown that oxidative PANI polymerization could be described as a topochemical process. This allowed us explaining the existence of three phase of process (induction period, acceleration stage and decay) and finding the kinetics parameters of these stages. The model of phenazine nucleates was used to described induction stage. It was shown that phenazine nucleation process can be described kinetically as zero-order reaction. The acceleration stage of PANI polymerization was connected with increase of PANI grain surface during reaction and the mechanism of this acceleration was discussed. The decay stage of process was attributed with formation fuse loose PANI film with reduced available interphase surface for polymerization process.     

Nucleic Acid Nanostructures and Topology

Knots, polyhedra, and Borromean rings with specific structural and topological features can be made from DNA. Biotechnologists have been exploiting the programmability of DNA intermolecular associations for a quarter of a century. These operations have now been applied successfully to branched DNA species to produce complex target structures (for example, the cube shown in the picture) and a nanomechanical device. The assembly of two-dimensional crystals with programmed topographic characteristics demonstrates the simplicity of translating design into surface structures.     

Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Topochemical Synthesis of a Collagen-inspired Covalent Helical Polymer

There is much demand for crystalline covalent helical polymers. Inspired by the helical structure of collagen, we synthesized a covalent helical polymer wherein the repeating dipeptide Gly-Pro units are connected by triazole linkages. We synthesized an azide and alkyne-modified dipeptide monomer made up of the repeating amino acid sequence of collagen. In its crystals, the monomer molecules aligned in head-to-tail fashion with proximally placed azide and alkyne forming supramolecular helices. At 60 °C, the monomer underwent single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) topochemical azide-alkyne cycloaddition polymerization, yielding a covalent helical polymer as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis. Compared to the monomer crystals, the polymer single-crystals were very strong and showed three-fold increase in Young's modulus, which is higher than collagen, many synthetic polymers and other materials. The crystals of this covalent helical polymer could bear loads as high as 1.5 million times of their own weight without deformation. These crystals could also withstand high compression force and did not disintegrate even at an applied force of 98 kN. Such light-weight strong materials are in demand for various technological applications.     

现代固态有机化学之父——Gerhard M.J.Schmidt

本文主要介绍了GerhardM.J.Schmidt教授的生平、代表性的科研工作及其意义、影响和应用,从中展现出他的优秀品质、治学精神、杰出成就以及影响力。Schmidt教授少年早慧,求学艰辛,天赋独特,痴迷科学,为科学事业奋斗终身,在多个领域都有着卓越的成就,其中以固态有机化学领域最具代表性。他在科研的同时还担任诸多行政职务,为魏茨曼研究所、以色列乃至全世界的科学发展做了许多贡献。