Theoretical conformational studies on unsaturated aldehydes. II. 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals

Conformational analyses (using the PCILO method) and structural analyses (using the Hartree-Fock method with the STO-3G and 3-21G basis sets) have been performed on the six 4-hydroxy-s-trans-2-alkenals from 4-hydroxy-2-butenal to 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. This series of molecules were found to be very similar both structurally and electronically, not only to each other but also to the fives-trans-2-alkenals studied previously.Regional Workshop of the National Foundation for Cancer Research     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> Hartree-Fock calculations on linear and second-order nonlinear optical properties of new acridine-benzothiazolylamine chromophores

The calculation of optimized molecular structure and molecular hyperpolarizability of four new acridine-benzothiazolylamine chromophores (1–4) [2-nitro-6-(piperid-1-yl) acridine (1), 6-(benzothiazol-2-yl-amino)-2-nitro-acridine (2), 6-(6-ethylcarboxylate-benzothiazol-2-yl-amino)-2-nitroacridine (3), 6-(6-(β-hydroxyethyl-benzothiazol-2-yl-amino)-2-nitroacridine (4)] have been investigated using ab initio methods. Ab initio optimization were performed at the Hartree–Fock level using STO-3G basis set. The first hyperpolarizabilities have been calculated at the Hartree–Fock method with 6–31G and 6–311G basis sets using Gaussian 98W. In general, the first hyperpolarizability is dependent on the choice of method and basis set. To understand this phenomenon in the context of molecular orbital picture, we examined the frontier molecular orbital energies of all the molecules by using HF/6–31G, 6–311G levels. The polarizability, anisotropy of polarizability and ground state dipole moment of all the molecules have also been calculated. These acridine-benzothiazolylamine chromophores display significant second–order molecular nonlinearity, β (60.2–137.0 × 10⁻³⁰ esu) and provide the basis for future design of efficient nonlinear optical materials having the acridine-benzothiazolylamine core.     

Metabolic Conversion of Castasterone and Brassinolide into Their Glucosides in Higher Plants

Castasterone (CS) and brassinolide (BL) were administered to mung bean (Vigna radiata) explants, Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, and cultured Catharanthus roseus cells, and the glucosylated metabolites were analyzed using LC/MS/MS. In mung bean and C. roseus, CS-2-O-glucoside (CS-2G), -3-O-glucoside (CS-3G), -22-O-glucoside (CS-22G), and -23-O-glucoside (CS-23G) were identified as metabolites of CS, whereas BL-2G, BL-3G, and BL-23G were identified as metabolites of BL. In A. thaliana, CS and BL were converted into their respective 2-O- and 23-O-glucosides. Of the metabolites identified with BL and CS administration, BL-23G was the predominant metabolite in mung bean and A. thaliana, whereas the 3-O-glucoside of BL was abundant in C. roseus. This is the first report of the metabolic conversion of CS into CS-2G, CS-3G, CS-22G, and CS-23G, and of BL into BL-2G and BL-3G. Our results indicate that the glucosylation profiles of BL and CS vary with plant species, and that the glucosylation of CS is rather limited quantitatively, compared with that of BL.     

Preliminary evaluation of urinary estrone-3-glucuronide (E1-3G)LIA measurement for monitoring induction of ovulation in an in vitro fertilization programme (FIVET)

This study compares urinary E1-3G and serum E2 measurements in monitoring ovulation induction in an in vitro fertilization programme (FIVET). We used an RIA kit, ESTR.CTK2 (Sorin, Italy), for the daily determination of serum E2, and an LA kit, Fertilux (Bouty, Milan), for the determination of E1-3G in early morning urine samples using a timed and measured volume urine collection procedure. A significant correlation was found between serum E2 as measured by RIA and urinary E1-3G as measured by LIA. Considering the RIA disadvantages (the short half-life of the reagents, the hazards of handling radioactive materials, the inconvenience of frequent venepuncture for the patients) the LIA measurement seems to be a useful method in a FIVET programme.     

北细辛不同部位内生真菌的多样性与抑菌活性

为探讨北细辛(Asarum heterotropoides)不同部位可培养内生真菌种群结构的差异,采用植物组织平板分离法分离北细辛根、根状茎、越冬芽三个部位内生真菌,结合形态学和分子生物学方法鉴定菌株,并系统分析和比较其种类和多样性。从北细辛三个部位共分离得到117株内生真菌,其中97株归属于6纲6目8科9属17种。相似性和多样性分析表明,北细辛不同部位内生真菌的组成结构上存在差异,根部内生真菌的多样性指数最高,越冬芽最低。采用菌饼法检测其抑菌活性,G 3-3、G 4-10-1、G 2-2-1、GZJ 2-12-2对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)有抑制作用,G 3-3、G 2-2-1、GZJ 2-12-2、GZJ 1-6、G 3-8对枯草芽胞杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)有抑制作用。GZJ 2-12-2对金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌(Escherichia coli)、枯草芽胞杆菌均有抑制作用。     

The reaction of the aminoboranylidene-iminoborane isomerization: a CASSCF direct dynamics study

The barrier and the potential-energy surface of the isomerization from aminoboranylidene (BNH₂) to iminoborane (HBNH) have been studied using complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) with the 6−31+G(d, p) basis set and higher-level energy methods. The rate constants of the isomerization reaction are reported by employing the direct ab initio dynamics method. The geometries of all the stationary points were optimized using the B3LYP and CCSD methods with the cc-pVTZ and cc-pVQZ basis sets. The information along the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) was also calculated at the CASSCF/6−31+G (d,p) level of theory. The energies were refined at the G3, G3MP2, G3MP2B3, CBS-Q, CBS-QB3, and two high-level (HL) methods based on the geometries optimized using CASSCF/6-31+G(d,p). The rate constants were evaluated using conventional transition-state theory (TST), canonical variational transition-state theory (CVT), and canonical variational transition-state theory with small curvature tunneling correction (CVT/SCT) and conventional transition-state theory with Eckart tunneling correction (TST/Eckart). According to the calculated results, we conclude that the tunneling effect is very important to this isomerization reaction.     

A B3LYP and MP2 theoretical investigation into host-guest interaction between calix[4]arene and Li+ or Na+

The DFT-B3LYP and MP2 methods with 6-311G** and 6-311++G** basis sets have been applied to study the complexation energies of the host-guest complexes between the cone calix[4]arene and Li⁺ or Na⁺ on the B3LYP optimized geometries. A comparison of the complexation energies obtained from the MP2(full) with those from MP2(fc) method is also carried out. The result shows that it is essential to introduce the diffuse basis set into the geometry optimizations and complexation energy calculations of the alkali-metal cation-π interaction complexes of calix[4]arene, and the D _e values show a maximum of 21.13 kJ mol⁻¹ (14.45% of relative error) between the MP2(full)/6-311++G** and MP2(fc)/6-311++G** method. For Li⁺ cation, the complexation is mainly energetically stabilized by the lower rim/cation (namely O–Li⁺) interaction. However, binding energies and NBO analyses confirm that Na⁺ cation prefers to enter the calix[4]arene cavity and the cation-π interaction is predominant, which contradicts the previous low-level theoretical studies. Furthermore, the complexation with Li⁺ is preferred over that with Na⁺ by at least 12.70 kJ mol⁻¹ at MP2(full)/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-311++G** level.      

Regioselective monoacylation of 2-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid by a polymer catalyst in N,N-dimethylformamide

6-O-Dodecanoyl-2-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid (6-sDode-AA-2G) was synthesized from 2-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-l-ascorbic acid and lauric anhydride with a polymer catalyst, poly(4-vinylpyridine), in N,N-dimethylformamide without the introduction of protecting groups. The optimum reaction conditions enabled 6-sDode-AA-2G to be synthesized in a yield of 49.7%. The yield and the regioselectivity in this method were far superior to those in our previous method by using an enzyme. The polymer catalyst could be recycled more than five times without any significant activity loss.     

鸭儿芹的化学成分及对Hep G2细胞毒性

该研究采用大孔树脂(D101)、硅胶、羟丙基葡聚糖凝胶(Sephadex LH-20)和十八烷基硅烷键合硅胶(ODS)等色谱方法,对鸭儿芹的化学成分进行了分离纯化,根据理化性质、质谱和核磁共振波谱数据,并参考相关文献综合分析化合物结构,进而采用噻唑蓝(MTT)法,对鸭儿芹化合物抗Hep G2细胞活性进行筛选。结果表明:共从鸭儿芹中分离鉴定了7个化合物,分别为p-(acetylamino)phenol(1),辛酸甲酯(2),丁酸异戊酯(3),N,N-二甲基-苯并咪唑-2胺(4),5-羟基-1-(4-羟基-3-甲氧苯基)庚3酮(5),3,5二丁基六氢吡咯里嗪(6),(S)-4-(1-hydroxyallyl)phenyl acetate(7)。其中,化合物6对细胞具有抑制作用,抑制率达到89.1%。该研究结果表明化合物1-7均为首次从鸭儿芹中分离得到,其中化合物6对Hep G2细胞的生长具有抑制作用,且具有剂量依赖性。     

研究报告: 基于遗传算法的计算机辅助策略优化孕酮适配体

目的 本研究致力于优化孕酮（progesterone，P4）适配体的亲和力和选择性。方法 基于遗传算法（genetic algorithm，GA）的计算机辅助优化策略（in silico maturation，ISM），进行了4轮GA操作（含交叉变异、单点突变和双点突变操作），构建了初始文库和G1、G2、G3代ssDNA作为新的候选适配体库，采用分子对接对候选适配体进行筛选和分析，并使用迭代策略不断优化适配体。此外，还提出了一种较为准确预测ssDNA三级结构的方法，首先使用Mfold预测二级结构，继而使用RNAComposer建立与ssDNA相对应的RNA三级结构，输出的PDB文件使用Discovery Studio将RNA修改为DNA，最后使用Molecular Operating Environment对结构进行能量最小化处理。结果 到G2代，在局部搜索空间对P4S-0进行优化，筛选出P4G1-14、P4G2-20、P4G1-6、P4G1-7和P4G2-14这5条适配体作为P4的最佳候选适配体。采用AuNPs比色法初步验证优化后适配体的亲和力，继而构建了基于适配体结构开关的荧光法测定适配体的解离常数（equilibrium dissociation constant，K_D），并以此方法对适配体的选择性（对双酚A、雌二醇、睾酮和皮质醇）进行了评估。结论 通过ISM优化后的适配体，对P4的亲和力较原适配体有了较大提升，仍保留着识别结构类似分子的选择性。     

Molecular structure,vibrational spectra and HOMO,LUMO analysis of 4-piperidone by density functional theory and ab initio Hartree–Fock calculations

Vibrational frequencies and geometrical parameters of 4-piperidone (4-PID) in the ground state have been calculated by using the Hartree–Fock (HF) and density functional methods (B3LYP) with 6-311++G(d,p) and 6-311+G(3df,2p) basis sets. These methods are proposed as a tool to be applied in the structural characterisation of 4-PID (C₅H₉NO). The title molecule has C _s point group symmetry, thus providing useful support in the interpretation of experimental IR and Raman data. The DFT-B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) calculations have been found more reliable than the ab initio HF/6-311++G(d,p) calculations for the vibrational study of 4-PID. The calculated highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies show that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. The theoretical spectrograms for FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of the title molecule have been constructed.     

Surface plasmon resonance immunosensor for detection of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Legionella pneumophila</Emphasis>

An immunosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) onto a protein G layer by self-assembly technique was developed for detection ofLegionella pneumophila. The protein G layer by self-assembly technique was fabricated on a gold (Au) surface by adsorbing the 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and an activation process for the chemical binding of the free amine (-NH₂) of protein G and 11-(MUA) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC) in series. The formation of the protein G layer by self-assembly technique on the Au substrate and the binding of the antibody and antigen in series were confirmed by SPR spectroscopy. The surface topographies of the fabricated thin films on an Au substrate were also analyzed by using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Consequently, an immunosensor for the detection ofL. pneumophila using SPR was developed with a detection limit of up to 10² CFU per mL.     

Theoretical potential scans and vibrational spectra of vinyl selenonyl halides CH2=CH–SeO2X (X is F, Cl and Br)

The structure and conformational stability of vinyl selenonyl fluoride, chloride and bromide CH₂=CH–SeO₂X (X is F, Cl and Br) were investigated using density functional B3LYP/6-311+G** and ab initio MP2/6-311+G** calculations. From the calculations the molecules were predicted to exist only in the non-planar gauche conformation with the vinyl C=C group almost eclipsing one of the selenonyl Se=O bonds as a result of conjugation between the two moieties. Single-minimum potential scans were calculated at the DFT level for the molecules. The vibrational frequencies were computed using B3LYP/6-311+G**. Normal coordinate calculations were then carried out and potential energy distributions were calculated for the three molecules in the gauche conformation.Figure Potential function for the asymmetric torsion in vinyl selenonyl fluoride (dotted line), chloride (dashed line) and bromide (solid line) as determined at the DFT-B3LYP/6-311+G** level     

A Comparative Semiempirical, Ab initio and DFT Study of Decarbonylation of Cyclic Ketones Part 1: Thermal Fragmentation of Cyclopropanone

Calculations using different quantum mechanical methods including semiempirical (MNDO,AM1 and PM3), ab initio (RHF and MP2 calculations using the 6-311G and 6-311++G^** basis sets), and density functional theory (LSDA, BP, MIXBP and B3LYP, i.e., B3LYP/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-31G*) have been performed on the thermal fragmentation of cyclopropanone to ethylene and carbon monoxide. All RHF calculations predict a concerted single step mechanism for this conversion. The estimated activation energies vary from 34.4 to 54.6 kcal·mol^-1, mainly localized around 37±2 kcal·mol^-1, depending on the method. Whereas the calculated RHF reaction energies also varied from 14.5 to -33.3 kcal·mol^-1, the B3LYP/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-31G* method predicts the experimental value (-17.7 kcal·mol^-1) within experimental uncertainties. Remarkably, semiempirical AM1 and PM3 methods and simple DFT calculations, LSDA, predict comparable results to the more advanced methods. UHF ab initio calculations predict the same single step mechanism, whereas a multistep biradical mechanism with an unrealistically low activation energy is favored by the semiempirical methods. Structures of the activated complex of the single step mechanism, estimated by different methods, are very similar and consistent with a nonlinear cheletropic [_2s + _2a] reaction, as predicted by the orbital symmetry rules and earlier EHT calculations.Electronic Supplementary Material available.     

Ab initio and DFT study on the electrophilic addition reaction of bromine to tetracyclo[5.3.0.02,6.03,10]deca–4,8–diene

The electronic and geometric structures of tetracyclo[5.3.0.0^2,6.0^3,10]deca-4,8-diene (hypostrophene) have been investigated by ab initio and DFT/B3LYP methods using the 6-31G* and 6-311G* basis sets. The double bonds of hypostrophene are endo-pyramidalized. The cationic intermediates and products formed in the addition reaction have been investigated using the HF/6-311G*, HF/6-311G**, and B3LYP/6-311G* methods. The bridged bromonium cation was more stable than the U-type cation. Considering that the bridged cation does not isomerize to the less stable U-type cation, it is not possible for the U-type product to be obtained in the reaction. The bridged bromonium cation transformed into the more stable N-type cation and the N-type product was obtained via this cation. The thermodynamic stability of the exo, exo and exo, endo isomers of the N-type dibromide molecule were almost identical. The N-type product was 16.6 kcal mol⁻¹ more stable than the U-type product. Figure General energy diagram of the hypostrophene–bromine (HS–Br₂) system (kcal mol⁻¹) (MP2/6-311G*//HF/6-311G*)     

Antioxidant Properties of 2-O-β-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic Acid

The antioxidant activity of a provitamin C agent, 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG), was compared to that of 2-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G) and ascorbic acid (AA) using four in vitro methods, 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assay, 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS^?+)-scavenging assay, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, and 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced erythrocyte hemolysis inhibition assay. AA-2βG slowly and continuously scavenged DPPH radicals and ABTS^?+ in roughly the same reaction profiles as AA-2G, whereas AA quenched these radicals immediately. In the ORAC assay and the hemolysis inhibition assay, AA-2βG showed similar overall activities to AA-2G and to AA, although the reactivity of AA-2βG against the peroxyl radical generated in both assays was lower than that of AA-2G and AA. These data indicate that AA-2βG had roughly the same radical-scavenging properties as AA-2G, and a comprehensive in vitro antioxidant activity of AA-2βG appeared to be comparable not only to that of AA-2G but also to that of AA.     

Studies on molecular structure and tautomerism of a vitamin B<Subscript>6</Subscript> analog with density functional theory

This work presents a computational study on the molecular structure and tautomeric equilibria of a novel Schiff base L derived from pyridoxal (PL) and o-phenylenediamine by using the density functional method B3LYP with basis sets 6-31 G(d,p), 6-31++G(d,p), 6-311 G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p). The optimized geometrical parameters obtained by B3LYP/6-31 G(d,p) method showed the best agreement with the experimental values. Tautomeric stability study of L inferred that the enolimine form is more stable than its ketoenamine form in both gas phase and solution. However, protonation of the pyridoxal nitrogen atom (LH) have accelerated the formation of ketoenamine form, and therefore, both ketoenamine and enolimine forms could be present in acidic media.     

Gambierdiscus (Gonyaulacales,Dinophyceae) diversity in Vietnamese waters with description of G. vietnamensis sp. nov.

Viet Nam has a coastline of 3200 km with thousands of islands providing diverse habitats for benthic harmful algal species including species of Gambierdiscus. Some of these species produce ciguatera toxins, which may accumulate in large carnivore fish potentially posing major threats to public health. This study reports five species of Gambierdiscus from Vietnamese waters, notably G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carpenteri, G. pacificus, and G. vietnamensis sp. nov. All species are identified morphologically by LM and SEM, and identifications are supported by molecular analyses of nuclear rDNA (D1–D3 and D8–D10 domains of LSU, SSU, and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region) based on cultured material collected during 2010–2021. Statistical analyses of morphometric measurements may be used to differentiate some species if a sufficiently large number of cells are examined. Gambierdiscus vietnamensis sp. nov. is morphologically similar to other strongly reticulated species, such as G. belizeanus and possibly G. pacificus; the latter species is morphologically indistinguishable from G. vietnamensis sp. nov., but they are genetically distinct, and molecular analysis is deemed necessary for proper identification of the new species. This study also revealed that strains denoted G. pacificus from Hainan Island (China) should be included in G. vietnamensis sp. nov.     

Terpenoids with Cytotoxic Activity from Roots of Ardisia crispa

Three new terpenoids, ardisiacrispins G-I ( 1 , 4 and 8 ), and eight known compounds, cyclamiretin A ( 2 ), psychotrianoside G ( 3 ), 3-hydroxy-β-damascone ( 5 ), megastigmane ( 6 ), corchoionol C ( 7 ), zingiberoside B ( 9 ), angelicoidenol ( 10 ), trans-linalool-3,6-oxide-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 11 ) were isolated from the roots of Ardisia crispa. The chemical structures of all isolated compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, such as HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Ardisiacrispin G ( 1 ) represents the oleanolic-type scaffold featuring a rare 15,16- epoxy system. All compounds were evaluated for the cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines (U87 MG and HepG2) in vitro. Compounds 1 , 8 and 9 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 7.6±1.1 to 28.8±3.2 μM.