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Tetrahydrothiophene and Tetrahydrofuran, Computational and X-ray Studies in the Crystalline Phase
(2015)
Calculations at various levels of theory with different methods and respective evaluations confirm that the twist conformation (C-2) is preferred for tetrahydrothiophene (THT) in the gas phase. In the crystalline phase, achieved by a laser assisted crystallization device, THT has C-1 symmetry (slightly distorted C-2 symmetry) in the chiral space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). This is obviously a packing effect caused by the nonsymmetrical arrangement of neighboring molecules. The distortion from C-2 symmetry costs very little energy as confirmed by computational methods in the gas phase. Only one enantiomer of the chiral THT is found in the cell which requires spontaneous crystallization, which results in a racemic mixture of crystals, or a racemization occurs prior to/during nucleation or in the embryonic state. The racemization happens by a mechanism that can be described as a partial pseudo rotation within a five-membered mono-heterocycle with a C-2-C-S-C-2' transition (C-2 and C-2' are enantiomers) maintaining the heteroatom residing within the symmetry elements. While THT has the molecular symmetry of the gas phase almost also in the crystalline phase, THF has an envelope conformation (CS). This was also established by calculations at various levels of theory which agrees well with the previously experimentally found conformation by electron diffraction. However, in the X-ray crystal structure, previously determined by Luger & Buschmann, THF has C-2 symmetry in the centrosymmetric space group C2/c with the oxygen atom situated on the crystallographic C-2 polar axis, requesting a racemic crystal for the twisted conformers of the enantiomers. No solid-state phase transitions were detected within the experimental ranges for THT and THF. Following the stabilization by molecular clustering, and ending at the crystal lattice, we stepwise increased the number of molecules by calculation of the respective monomers, dimers, trimers, and tetramers for THF and THT. The starting point was taken from the arrangements as found in the respective crystal structures. Both conformational enantiomers are equal in energy. In such cases, a crystal may contain either a racemate of conformers or one of the conformational enantiomers only. The first case is observed in THF, the latter one in THT. It is quite likely that the selection of one enantiomeric conformer of THT from an equilibrium of conformers at the early stage of nucleation (embryonic stage) is responsible for the spontaneous crystallization. In order to check if THF could form a polymorph with the molecular packing of THT and vice versa, we first calculated THF and THT in their respective crystal lattices as determined by X-ray diffraction. Exchanging the compounds in the THT and THF crystal lattices (i.e., replacing O against S and vice versa) results in significantly worse lattice energies indicating that such a polymorph is not a probable option.
The protein corona, which forms on the nanoparticle's surface in most biological media, determines the nanoparticle's physicochemical characteristics. The formation of the protein corona has a significant impact on the biodistribution and clearance of nanoparticles in vivo. Therefore, the ability to influence the formation of the protein corona is essential to most biomedical applications, including drug delivery and imaging. In this study, we investigate the protein adsorption on nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic radius of 30 nm and a coating of thermoresponsive poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) in serum. Using multiangle dynamic light scattering (DLS) we demonstrate that heating of the nanoparticles above their phase separation temperature induces the formation of agglomerates, with a hydrodynamic radius of 1 mu m. In serum, noticeably stronger agglomeration occurs at lower temperatures compared to serum-free conditions. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) revealed a high packing density of agglomerates when serum was not present. In contrast, in the presence of serum, agglomerated nanoparticles were loosely packed, indicating that proteins are intercalated between them. Moreover, an increase in protein content is observed upon heating, confirming that protein adsorption is induced by the alteration of the surface during phase separation. After cooling and switching the surface back, most of the agglomerates were dissolved and the main fraction returned to the original size of approximately 30 nm as shown by asymmetrical flow-field flow fractionation (AF-FFF) and DLS. Furthermore, the amounts of adsorbed proteins are similar before and after heating the nanoparticles to above their phase-separation temperature. Overall, our results demonstrate that the thermoresponsivity of the polymer coating enables turning the corona formation on nanoparticles on and off in situ. As the local heating of body areas can be easily done in vivo, the thermoresponsive coating could potentially be used to induce the agglomeration of nanopartides and proteins and the accumulation of nanoparticles in a targeted body region.
Tandem Claisen Rearrangement/6-endo Cyclization Approach to Allylated and Prenylated Chromones
(2015)
Allyl, dimethylallyl and prenyl ethers derived from o-acyl-phenols reacted upon microwave irradiation to form C-allylated or -prenylated chromone derivatives, depending on the substitution pattern of the arene and the allyl substituent. The reaction proceeds through a tandem Claisen rearrangement and 6-endo-trig or 6-endo-dig cyclization sequence. For prenyl ethers, the tandem sequence can be extended by a Cope rearrangement to furnish 6-prenylchromones. The method is potentially useful for the synthesis of natural products and drugs.
Magnaldehydes B and E along with their 4'-methylated derivatives are naturally occurring 2,4'-biphenols that have been isolated from the Magnoliaceae. Herein, these natural products have been synthesized from a common intermediate, which was obtained by a microwave-promoted, hetero-geneously catalyzed, and protecting-group-free Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction in an aqueous medium. These reaction conditions were also successfully applied to a one-step synthesis of the slime mold metabolite dictyobiphenyl B.
Synthesis and Optical Properties of alpha,beta-Unsaturated Ketones Bearing a Benzofuran Moiety
(2015)
Five pi-expanded alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones have been prepared from a strongly electron-rich benzofuran derivative via Knoevenagel reaction and aldol condensation. The incorporation of two 6-didodecylaminobenzofuran-2-yl groups at the periphery of D-pi-A and D-pi-A-pi-D molecules resulted in dyes with excellent solubility in the majority of organic solvents. In contrast to the majority of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, these dyes emit relatively strongly in the red region with a fluorescence quantum yield up to 40%. They also display strong solvatofluorochromism with emission shifting from 570 nm in toluene to 670 nm in CHCl3. Depending on the chemical structure, they two-photon cross-sections (sigma(2)) are up to 1700 GM (1 GM=10(50) cm(4)s photon(-1)).
3-Methyl-3-silatetrahydropyran 1 was synthesized and its molecular structure and conformational behavior was studied by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED), FTIR, low temperature H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, and by theoretical calculations (DFT, MP2). Two conformers; 1-ax and 1-eq; were located on the potential energy Surface. In the gas phase; a slight predominance of the axial conformer was determined, with the ratio 1-ax:1-eq = 54(9):46(9) (from GED) or 53:47 or 61;39 (from IR). In solution, LT NMR spectroscopy at 103 K gives the ratio 1-ax:1-eq = 35:65 (-Delta G(103)degrees = 0.13 kcal/mol). Simulation of solvent effects using the PCM continuum model or by calculation of the corresponding solvent-solute complexes allowed us to rationalize the experimentally observed opposite conformational predominance of the conformers of 3-methyl-3-silatettahydropyran in the gas phase and in solution. Comparative analysis of the effect of heteroatom in 1-hetero-3-methyl-3-silacyclohexanes on the structure, stereoelectronic interactions, and relative energies of the conformers is done.
Swelling of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers: The Relation Between, Surface and Bulk Characteristics
(2015)
The odd even effect, i.e., the influence of the outermost layer of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) on their swelling behavior, is investigated. For that purpose poly(styrene sodium sulfonate) (PSS)/poly(diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) polyelectrolyte multilayers are studied in air with 1% relative humidity (RH), 30% RH, 95% RH, and in liquid water by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray reflectometry (XRR). Since the total amount of water uptake in swollen PEMs is divided into two fractions, the void water and the swelling water, a correct evaluation of the odd even effect is only possible if both fractions are examined separately. In order to allow measuring samples over a larger thickness regime the investigation of a larger amount of samples is required. Therefore, the concept of separating void water from swelling water using neutron reflectometry is for the first time transferred to ellipsometry. The subsequent analysis of swelling water, void water, and roughness revealed the existence of two types of odd even effects: an odd even effect which addresses only the surface of the PEM (surface-odd even effect) and an odd even effect which addresses also the bulk of the PEM (bulk-odd even effect). The appearance of both effects is dependent on the environment; the surface-odd even effect is only detectable in humid air while the bulk-odd even effect is only detectable in liquid water. The bulk-odd even effect is related to the osmotic pressure between the PEM and the surrounding water. A correlation between the amount of void water and both odd even effects is not found. The amount of void water is independent of the terminated layer and the thickness of PEMs.
In situ X-ray diffraction studies of structural evolution of colloidal crystal films formed by polystyrene spherical particles upon incremental heating are reported. The Bragg peak parameters, such as peak position, integrated intensity, and radial and azimuthal widths were analyzed as a function of temperature. A quantitative study of colloidal crystal lattice distortions and mosaic spread as a function of temperature was carried out using Williamson-Hall plots based on mosaic block model. The temperature dependence of the diameter of polystyrene particles was obtained from the analysis of Bragg peaks, and the form factor contribution extracted from the diffraction patterns. Four stages of structural evolution in a colloidal crystal upon heating were identified. Based on this analysis, a model of the heating and melting process in the colloidal crystal film is suggested.
Molecular structure and conformational behavior of 3-isopropoxy-3-methyl-3-oxasilinane is studied by low temperature C-13 NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations (DFT, MP2). Two conformers, 1-ROax and 1-ROeq, were found experimentally and located on the potential energy surface. LT C-13 NMR spectroscopy gives almost equal population of the two conformers at 98 K with Delta G(98K)degrees=0.02 kcal/mol in favor of 1-ROax and Delta G(98K)(#)=4.5 kcal/mol. The corresponding DFT calculated values (Delta G(98K)degrees=0.03 kcal/mol, Delta G(98K)(#)=5.1 kcal/mol) are in excellent agreement with the experiment. Detailed DFT and MP2 calculations of the solvent effect on the conformational equilibrium were performed and highlighted the leveling out of the two conformers when transferred from gas to solution. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Spatio-temporal control of cellular uptake achieved by photoswitchable cell-penetrating peptides
(2015)
The selective uptake of compounds into specific cells of interest is a major objective in cell biology and drug delivery. By incorporation of a novel, thermostable azobenzene moiety we generated peptides that can be switched optically between an inactive state and an active, cell-penetrating state with excellent spatio-temporal control.
A series of three dialkyl phosphate resins with a Merrifield resin support was used to extract platinum from acidic media. In column operations total capacities of 85-130 mg/g were gained. The presence of palladium and rhodium results in the order: Pt(IV) > Pd(II) >> Rh(III). From a leach liquor gained from spent automotive catalysts metals forming anionic chloro complexes are co-extracted only to a small extent. However, in order to separate and enrich platinum a selective back-extraction can be done with a sodium thiocyanate solution. A second elution step with acidic thiourea leads to a mixed solution of palladium and rhodium.
The simulation of the optical properties of supramolecular aggregates requires the development of methods, which are able to treat a large number of coupled chromophores interacting with the environment. Since it is currently not possible to treat large systems by quantum chemistry, the Frenkel exciton model is a valuable alternative. In this work we show how the Frenkel exciton model can be extended in order to explain the excitonic spectra of a specific double-walled tubular dye aggregate explicitly taking into account dispersive energy shifts of ground and excited states due to van der Waals interaction with all surrounding molecules. The experimentally observed splitting is well explained by the site-dependent energy shift of molecules placed at the inner or outer side of the double-walled tube, respectively. Therefore we can conclude that inclusion of the site-dependent dispersive effect in the theoretical description of optical properties of nanoscaled dye aggregates is mandatory.
The simulation of the optical properties of supramolecular aggregates requires the development of methods, which are able to treat a large number of coupled chromophores interacting with the environment. Since it is currently not possible to treat large systems by quantum chemistry, the Frenkel exciton model is a valuable alternative. In this work we show how the Frenkel exciton model can be extended in order to explain the excitonic spectra of a specific double-walled tubular dye aggregate explicitly taking into account dispersive energy shifts of ground and excited states due to van der Waals interaction with all surrounding molecules. The experimentally observed splitting is well explained by the site-dependent energy shift of molecules placed at the inner or outer side of the double-walled tube, respectively. Therefore we can conclude that inclusion of the site-dependent dispersive effect in the theoretical description of optical properties of nanoscaled dye aggregates is mandatory.
In living cells, there are always a plethora of processes taking place at the same time. Their precise regulation is the basis of cellular functions, since small failures can lead to severe dysfunctions. For a comprehensive understanding of intracellular homeostasis, simultaneous multiparameter detection is a versatile tool for revealing the spatial and temporal interactions of intracellular parameters. Here, a recently developed time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) board was evaluated for simultaneous fluorescence and phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM/PLIM). Therefore, the metabolic activity in insect salivary glands was investigated by recording ns-decaying intrinsic cellular fluorescence, mainly related to oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and the mu s-decaying phosphorescence of the oxygen-sensitive ruthenium-complex Kr341. Due to dopamine stimulation, the metabolic activity of salivary glands increased, causing a higher pericellular oxygen consumption and a resulting increase in Kr341 phosphorescence decay time. Furthermore, FAD fluorescence decay time decreased, presumably due to protein binding, thus inducing a quenching of FAD fluorescence decay time. Through application of the metabolic drugs antimycin and FCCP, the recorded signals could be assigned to a mitochondrial origin. The dopamine-induced changes could be observed in sequential FLIM and PLIM recordings, as well as in simultaneous FLIM/PLIM recordings using an intermediate TCSPC timing resolution.
In living cells, there are always a plethora of processes taking place at the same time. Their precise regulation is the basis of cellular functions, since small failures can lead to severe dysfunctions. For a comprehensive understanding of intracellular homeostasis, simultaneous multiparameter detection is a versatile tool for revealing the spatial and temporal interactions of intracellular parameters. Here, a recently developed time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) board was evaluated for simultaneous fluorescence and phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM/PLIM). Therefore, the metabolic activity in insect salivary glands was investigated by recording ns-decaying intrinsic cellular fluorescence, mainly related to oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and the μs-decaying phosphorescence of the oxygen-sensitive ruthenium-complex Kr341. Due to dopamine stimulation, the metabolic activity of salivary glands increased, causing a higher pericellular oxygen consumption and a resulting increase in Kr341 phosphorescence decay time. Furthermore, FAD fluorescence decay time decreased, presumably due to protein binding, thus inducing a quenching of FAD fluorescence decay time. Through application of the metabolic drugs antimycin and FCCP, the recorded signals could be assigned to a mitochondrial origin. The dopamine-induced changes could be observed in sequential FLIM and PLIM recordings, as well as in simultaneous FLIM/PLIM recordings using an intermediate TCSPC timing resolution.
Conformationally fixed carbohydrate analogues are promising small-molecule inhibitors for hydrolases like O-GlcNAcase (OGA); however, their synthesis usually requires many steps. Herein we describe cycloadditions of dichloroketene to various glycals and subsequent Beckmann rearrangements, which offer an easy and stereoselective entry to glycosamine derivatives in good yields. The reactions are applicable for hexoses, pentoses, and disaccharides, and transformations to the corresponding imidates proceed smoothly. First biological tests reveal that such imidates indeed inhibit human OGA.
Shape-Memory Capability of Copolyetheresterurethane Microparticles Prepared via Electrospraying
(2015)
Multifunctional thermo-responsive and degradable microparticles exhibiting a shapememory effect (SME) have attracted widespread interest in biomedicine as switchable delivery vehicles or microactuators. In this work almost spherical solid microparticles with an average diameter of 3.9 +/- 0.9 mm are prepared via electrospraying of a copolyetheresterurethane named PDC, which is composed of crystallizable oligo(p-dioxanone) (OPDO) hard and oligo(e-caprolactone) (OCL) switching segments. The PDC microparticles are programmed via compression at different pressures and their shapememory capability is explored by off-line and online heating experiments. When a low programming pressure of 0.2 MPa is applied a pronounced thermally-induced shape-memory effect is achieved with a shape recovery ratio about 80%, while a high programming pressure of 100 MPa resulted in a weak shape-memory performance. Finally, it is demonstrated that an array of PDC microparticles deposited on a polypropylene (PP) substrate can be successfully programmed into a smart temporary film, which disintegrates upon heating to 60 degrees C.
The present study deals with the adsorption performance of fixed bed columns using powdered sulphoxide modified poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (d(10) < 13 mu m, d(50) < 30 mu m, d(90) < 50 mu m) for the separation of platinum and ruthenium from hydrochloric acidic solutions containing both metals (c(Pt) = 20 mg/L, c(Ru) = 10 mg/L). The influence of hydrochloric acid concentration, temperature, flow rate, flow direction, redox potential and bed height on the breakthrough characteristics was examined. Platinum was separately adsorbed mainly induced by hydrochloric acid concentration and redox potential keeping platinum as Pt-IV and ruthenium as Ru-III. Ruthenium was separately adsorbed to 90% essentially induced by hydrochloric acid concentration, temperature and redox potential keeping platinum as Pt-IV and ruthenium predominantly as Ru-IV. Experimental data at optimised separation conditions were fitted to different kinetic models (Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, Bohart-Adams, Wolborska) to characterise the fixed bed column behaviour. Adsorption of both metals was well described by Thomas and Yoon-Nelson model with correlation coefficients R-2 >= 0.95 whereas Bohart-Adams and Wolborska model were less suitable. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Femtosecond-laser pulse driven non-adiabatic spectroscopy and dynamics in molecular and condensed phase systems continue to be a challenge for theoretical modelling. One of the main obstacles is the "curse of dimensionality" encountered in non-adiabatic, exact wavepacket propagation. A possible route towards treating complex molecular systems is via semiclassical surface-hopping schemes, in particular if they account not only for non-adiabatic post-excitation dynamics but also for the initial optical excitation. One such approach, based on initial condition filtering, will be put forward in what follows. As a simple test case which can be compared with exact wavepacket dynamics, we investigate the influence of the different parameters determining the shape of a laser pulse (e.g., its finite width and a possible chirp) on the predissociation dynamics of a NaI molecule, upon photoexcitation of the A(0(+)) state. The finite-pulse effects are mapped into the initial conditions for semiclassical surface-hopping simulations. The simulated surface-hopping diabatic populations are in qualitative agreement with the quantum mechanical results, especially concerning the subpicosend photoinduced dynamics, the main deviations being the relative delay of the non-adiabatic transitions in the semiclassical picture. Likewise, these differences in the time-dependent electronic populations calculated via the semiclassical and the quantum methods are found to have a mild influence on the overall probability density distribution. As a result, the branching ratios between the bound and the dissociative reaction channels and the time-evolution of the molecular wavepacket predicted by the semiclassical method agree with those computed using quantum wavepacket propagation. Implications for more challenging molecular systems are given. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.
In order to understand the timing of leaf wax synthesis in higher plants, we analysed the variability in leaf wax n-alkane concentration, composition (expressed as average chain length (ACL)), and delta H-2(wax) values as well as plant source water delta H-2 values (xylem and leaf water) in the evergreen tree Quercus agrifolia over a period of 9 months, beginning with leaf flush. We identified three distinct periods of leaf development with the first month following leaf flush being characterized by de novo synthesis and possibly removal of n-alkanes. During the following 3 months, n-alkane concentrations increased sevenfold and delta H-2(wax) and ACL values increased, suggesting this period was the major leaf wax n-alkane formation period. During the remaining 4 months of the experiment, stable values suggest cessation of leaf wax n-alkane formation. We find that n-alkane synthesis in Q. agrifolia takes place over 4 months, substantially longer than that observed for deciduous trees.