A DFT study of addition reaction between fragment ion (CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>) units and fullerene (C<Subscript>60</Subscript>) molecule

The theoretical study of the interaction between CH₂ and fullerene (C₆₀) suggests the existence of an addition reaction mechanism; this feature is studied by applying an analysis of electronic properties. Several different effects are evident in this interaction as a consequence of the particular electronic transfer which occurs during the procedure. The addition or insertion of the methylene group results in a process, where the inclusion of CH₂ into a fullerene bond produces the formation of several geometric deformations. A simulation of these procedures was carried out, taking advantage of the dynamic semi-classical Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Dynamic aspects were analyzed at different speeds, for the interaction between the CH₂ group and the two bonds: CC (6, 6) and CC (6, 5) respectively on the fullerene (C₆₀) rings. All calculations which involved electrons employed DFT as well as exchange and functional correlation. The results indicate a tendency for the CH₂ fragment to attack the CC (6, 5) bond.     

Synthesis and characterization of tetrairon-tungsten cluster complex containing a μ4, η-carbonyl ligand

Reaction of [(PPh₂C₅H₄)Cp₃Fe₄(CO)₄] (1) with (CO)₄W(CH₃CN)₂ at ambient temperature affords [(CO)₄W(PPh₂C₅H₄)Cp₃Fe₄(CO)₄] (2) as the major product, together with a small amount of [(CO)₅W(PPh₂C₅H₄)Cp₃Fe₄(CO)₄] (3). Compound 3 can be obtained in good yield by treating (CO)₅W(CH₃CN) with equal molar of 1, and reaction of 3 with Me₃NO in acetonitrile solvent produces 2 exclusively. The crystal structures of 2 and 3 have been determined by an X-ray diffraction study. Compound 2 contains an interesting μ₄, η²-CO ligand, where two electrons donated by the carbon atom are involved to bridge a Fe₃ face and two electrons from oxygen are donated to the tungsten(0) atom.     

A molecular orbital study of the conformation of barbiturates

The all-valence electrons molecular orbital method PCILO (Perturbative Configuration Interaction using Localized Orbitals) is applied to the study of the conformational and electronic properties of barbiturates. The results indicate the preference for specific conformations which correspond to a tendency for at least a partial folding of the aliphatic substituents towards the barbituric ring, and the eclipsing by the cyclic substituents of the bonds ending at C₅. The theoretical results agree with available experimental data from X-ray crystallography. On the other hand, the substituents at C₅ exert a negligible influence on the charge distribution in the barbituric ring. This situation agrees with the hypothesis that the factors responsible for the pharmacological activity of these drugs reside probably essentially in the electronic properties of the barbituric ring system (perhaps in its ability to hydrogen-bond with adenine), the role of the substituents at C₅ being mainly to favor the transfer of the drug to its receptors and the establishment of an appropriate contact with it.     

Electronic and steric substituent effects on the fluorescence emission of 2-pyrazoline derivatives

A series of substituted 2-pyrazolines were synthesized, and the steric and electronic effects of substituents on the C₃- and C₅-positions of the heterocyclic ring on their fluorescent ability were investigated. Two different conjugative intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and intramolecular charge transfer through space (spiro-conjugation) affect the fluorescence intensity of these compounds. The extent of the ICT process and spiro-conjugation depends on the electronic nature of the additional substitution and its position on the attached aryl rings. In addition, the effects of the concentration and the solvent polarity on the fluorescence emission were studied. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to gain insight into the geometric, electronic, and spectroscopic properties of the pyrazoline derivatives. The results of both experimental and computational studies explain the effects of the geometrical orientation of the C₃- and C₅-aryl rings toward the heterocyclic ring and also the electronic nature of their additional substitutions on the fluorescence intensity.     

Insertion reactions of SnCl2 into Pt-Cl bonds in pentahalophenylplatinate(II) complexes

Several pentahalophenylplatinate complexes with Pt-Sn metal-metal bonds have been synthesized by facile insertion of SnCl₂ into Pt-Cl bonds of the starting platinum substrates. The complexes have been characterized spectroscopically and, in the case of (NBu₄)₂[trans-Pt(SnCl₃)₂(C₆F₅)₂] and (NBu₄)₂[trans-Pt₂(μ-Cl)₂(SnCl₃)₂(C₆F₅)₂], the structures have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The reactivity of these derivatives towards neutral ligands has been explored. The electronic spectra of some selected derivatives have also been examined.     

Lanthanide- and aromatic solvent-induced shift effects on proton resonances in C-4-methylated steroids and tetracyclic triterpenoids

Lanthanide-induced shifts (LIS) with Eu (dpm)₃ and aromatic solvent induced shifts (ASIS) with C₄H₄, C₅H₅N₁ and C₆F₆ of PMR signals were examined for a series of C-4-methylated steroids and tetracyclic triterpenoids having a hydroxyl, carbonyl or acetoxyl group at position C-3. The magnitude and/or direction of the LIS (or ASIS) of corresponding protons were extensively influenced by the nature of the C-3-functional groups. The possible geometries of Eu (dpm)₃-substrate complexes were also discussed on the basis of the LIS data. The above two techniques in the PMR spectroscopy provided the confirmatory evidence for the structural and stereochemical determination of steroids and triterpenoids.     

Decreased 5-HT2C receptor binding in the cerebral cortex and brain stem during pancreatic regeneration in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of central 5-HT_2C receptor binding in rat model of pancreatic regeneration using 60–70% pancreatectomy. The 5-HT and 5-HT_2C receptor kinetics were studied in cerebral cortex and brain stem of sham operated, 72 h pancreatectomised and 7 days pancreatectomised rats. Scatchard analysis with [³H] mesulergine in cerebral cortex showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in maximal binding (B_max) without any change in K_d in 72 h pancreatectomised rats compared with sham. The decreased B_max reversed to sham level by 7 days after pancreatectomy. In brain stem, Scatchard analysis showed a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in B_max with a significant increase (p < 0.01) in K_d. Competition analysis in brain stem showed a shift in affinity towards a low affinity. These parameters were reversed to sham level by 7 days after pancreatectomy. Thus the results suggest that 5-HT through the 5-HT_2C receptor in the brain has a functional regulatory role in the pancreatic regeneration.     

Hydrogen bonds in galactopyranoside and glucopyranoside: a density functional theory study

Density functional theory calculations on two glycosides, namely, n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (C₈O-β-Glc) and n-octyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (C₈O-β-Gal) were performed for geometry optimization at the B3LYP/6-31G level. Both molecules are stereoisomers (epimers) differing only in the orientation of the hydroxyl group at the C4 position. Thus it is interesting to investigate electronically the effect of the direction (axial/equatorial) of the hydroxyl group at the C4 position. The structure parameters of X-H???Y intramolecular hydrogen bonds were analyzed, while the nature of these bonds and the intramolecular interactions were considered using the atoms in molecules (AIM) approach. Natural bond orbital analysis (NBO) was used to determine bond orders, charge and lone pair electrons on each atom and effective non-bonding interactions. We have also reported electronic energy and dipole moment in gas and solution phases. Further, the electronic properties such as the highest occupied molecular orbital, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, ionization energy, electron affinity, electronic chemical potential, chemical hardness, softness and electrophilicity index, are also presented here for both C₈O-β-Glc and C₈O-β-Gal. These results show that, while C₈O-β-Glc possess– only one hydrogen bond, C₈O-β-Gal has two intramolecular hydrogen bonds, which further confirms the anomalous stability of the latter in self-assembly phenomena.     

Computational study of enantioselective interaction between C<Subscript>60</Subscript> fullerene and its derivatives with L-histidine

The mechanism of the enantioselective binding of L-histidine with C₆₀ fullerene and its derivatives, (1,2-methanofullerene C₆₀)-61-carboxylic acid, diethyl (1,2-methanofullerene C₆₀)-61-61-dicarboxylate and tert-butyl (1,2-methanofullerene C₆₀)-61-carboxylate based chiral selectors was studied by quantum chemical calculations. All the molecules were fully optimized at RHF/6-31G* basis set. Relative energies between the different complexes were subsequently estimated with single-point electronic energies computed using Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2). Stability and feasibility of all the generated structures were supported by their respective energy minima and fundamental frequencies. It was observed that interaction of fullerene derivatives with L-histidine is due to the existence of hydrogen bonding forces during the complex formation. The intermolecular forces, flow of atomic charges, binding energy, hardness, dipole moment and localization of electrostatic potential are in agreement with enantioselective interaction of L-histidine with C₆₀ fullerene and its derivatives. It is found that theoretical evaluation to be consistent with the experimental data.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of two novel lanthanide (III) complexes of acetophenonylcarboxymethyl sulphoxide

A novel ligand containing multiple coordinating groups (sulfinyl, carboxyl and carbonyl groups), acetophenonylcarboxymethyl sulphoxide, was synthesized. Its corresponding two lanthanide (III) binary complexes were synthesized and characterized by element analysis, molar conductivity, FT‐IR, TG‐DTA and UV spectroscopy. Results showed that the composition of these complexes was REL₃L^‐ (ClO₄)₂·3H₂O (RE = Eu (III), Tb (III); L = C₆H₅COCH₂SOCH₂COOH; L^‐ = C₆H₅COCH₂SOCH₂COO^‐). FT‐IR results indicated that acetophenonylcarboxymethyl sulphoxide was bonded with an RE (III) ion by an oxygen atom of the sulfinyl and carboxyl groups and not by an oxygen atom of the carbonyl group due to high steric hinderance. Fluorescent spectra showed that the Tb (III) complex had excellent luminescence as a result of a transfer of energy from the ligand to the excitation state energy level (⁵D₄) of Tb (III). The Eu (III) complex displayed weak luminescence, attributed to low energy transfer efficiency between the triplet state energy level of its ligand and the excited state (⁵D₀) of Eu (III). As a result, the Tb (III) complex displayed a good antenna effect for luminescence. The fluorescence decay curves of Eu (III) and Tb (III) complexes were also measured. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chiroptical structure‐property relations in cyclo[18]carbon and its in silico hydrogenation products

The anisotropy of the optical activity of cyclo[18]carbon (C₁₈), fully hydrogenated C₁₈ (C₁₈H₃₆), and 26 hydrogenated compounds of intermediate composition, C₁₈H_2n, n = 1,2…17, were computed. These compounds were selected because they resemble loops of wire. The maximum gyration for acetylenic and cumulenic subgroups of compounds was linearly proportional to the product of the geometric area over which the charge can circulate, multiplied by the largest separation between carbon atoms on opposing sides of the loops. These geometric quantities can be likened to transition magnetic dipole moments and transition electric dipole moments, respectively, that can be generated in electronic excitations and which contribute in the main to nonresonant optical activity. The correlation between a computed geometric product of distance and area, and a quantum chemical property, establishes that chiroptical structure‐activity relationships can be well established for judiciously chosen series of comparatively large compounds.     

Mechanism of the gas phase reactions of the C5H5Ni and C5H5Co ions with substituted pyridines. A combined experimental and theoretical study

Different products have been observed in the reactions of C₅H₅Co⁺ and C₅H₅Ni⁺ ions with halogen-substituted pyridines (XPy) that have been studied by ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) techniques. In particular, an addition product C₅H₅M(XPy)⁺ and a product ion C₅H₄M(Py)⁺ corresponding to a loss of a HX molecule (X = F, Cl, Br) have been detected. The relative yield of these products is determined by the nature of the metal and by the nature and position of the halogen on the pyridine ring. A computational study at the DFT level on model-systems formed by 2-fluoro and 2-bromopyridine reacting either with the C₅H₅Ni⁺ or the C₅H₅Co⁺ ion has been carried out. This study shows the existence of a general mechanistic pattern. The rate-determining step of this mechanism is the migration of the halogen from the pyridine ring to the metal. A final hydrogen abstraction step carried out by the halogen leads to the expulsion of a HX molecule. The existence of avoided crossings between surfaces of different multiplicities (ground and first excited state) allows the system to follow lower energy reaction pathways. The barrier determined for the reactions involving 2-bromopyridine is significantly lower than that found for 2-fluoropyridine. This is mainly due to the poor migrating/leaving character and low polarizability of fluorine compared to that of bromine.     

Transmembrane proton translocation by cytochrome c oxidase

Respiratory heme-copper oxidases are integral membrane proteins that catalyze the reduction of molecular oxygen to water using electrons donated by either quinol (quinol oxidases) or cytochrome c (cytochrome c oxidases, CcOs). Even though the X-ray crystal structures of several heme-copper oxidases and results from functional studies have provided significant insights into the mechanisms of O₂-reduction and, electron and proton transfer, the design of the proton-pumping machinery is not known. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the identity of the structural elements involved in proton transfer in CcO. Furthermore, we discuss the order and timing of electron-transfer reactions in CcO during O₂ reduction and how these reactions might be energetically coupled to proton pumping across the membrane.     

Novel characteristics of cassava,Manihot esculenta Crantz,a reputed C3-C4 intermediate photosynthesis species

The cassava plant, Manihot esculenta, grows exceptionally well in low fertility and drought prone environments, but the mechanisms that allow this growth are unknown. Earlier, and sometimes contradictory, work speculated about the presence of a C₄-type photosynthesis in cassava leaves. In the present work we found no evidence for a C₄ metabolism in mature attached cassava leaves as indicated i) by the low, 2 to 8%, incorporation of ¹⁴CO₂ into C₄ organic acids in short time periods, 10 s, and the lack of ¹⁴C transfer from C₄ acids to other compounds in ¹²CO₂, ii) by the lack of C₄ enzyme activity changes during leaf development and the inability to detect C₄ acid decarboxylases, and iii) by leaf CO₂ compensation values between 49 and 65 l of CO₂ 1^–1 and by other infrared gas exchange photosynthetic measurements. It is concluded that the leaf biochemistry of cassava follows the C₃ pathway of photosynthesis with no indication of a C₃-C₄ mechanism.However, cassava leaves exhibit several novel characteristics. Attached leaves have the ability to effectively partition carbon into sucrose with nearly 45% of the label in sucrose in about one min of ¹⁴CO₂ photosynthesis, contrasting with 34% in soybean (C₃) and 25% in pigweed (C₄). Cassava leaves displayed a strong preference for the synthesis of sucrose versus starch. Field grown cassava leaves exhibited high rates of photosynthesis and curvilinear responses to increasing sunlight irradiances with a tendency to saturate only at high irradiances, above 1500 mol m^–2 s^–1. Morphologically, the cassava leaf has papillose epidermal cells on its lower mesophyll surface that form fence-like arrangements encircling guard cells. It is proposed that the active synthesis of sugars has osmotic functions in the cassava plant and that the papillose epidermal cells function to maintain a healthy leaf water status in various environments.Abbreviations ADP adenosine diphosphate - Asp aspartate - BSA bovine serum albumin - CoA coenzyme A - DTT dithiothreitol - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - FBP fructose-1,6-biphosphate - Gly glycine - HEPES N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethansulfonic acid - Mal malate - NAD nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (oxidized form) - NADH nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form) - NADP nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (oxidized form) - PAR photosynthetic active radiation (400–700 nm) - PEP phosphenolpyruvate carboxylase - p-FBPase plastid fructose-1,6-biphosphatase - PGA 3-phosphoglyceric acid - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone - Rubisco ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - RuBP ribulose-1,5-biphosphate - Ser serine - sugar-P sugar-phosphates     

Inhibition of C4 photosynthesis by (benzamidooxy)acetic acid

(Benzamidooxy)acetic acid (common name benzadox) which has herbicidal properties was evaluated as a potential inhibitor of photosynthesis in C₄ plants. Among enzymes of the C₄ pathway, it was a relatively strong inhibitor of alanine aminotransferase in in vitro experiments at concentrations of 5mM. In benzadox treated leaves of Panicum miliaceum, a NAD-malic enzyme type C₄ species, there was strong inhibition of both alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and of photosynthetic O₂ evolution within one hour. Consistent with the inhibition of these enzymes of the C₄ cycle, the pool sizes of metabolites of the cycle was altered: the aspartate level was increased two fold, while the levels of other metabolites such as pyruvate, alanine, oxalacetate and malate were decreased. Kinetic studies with partially purified alanine aminotransferase showed that benzadox is a competitive inhibitor with respect to alanine and a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to 2-oxoglutarate. Comparisons between the structures and inhibitory actions of benzadox and (aminooxy)acetic acid, the latter a potent inhibitor of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, suggest that in vivo, benzadox may exert its effect through metabolism to (aminooxy)acetic acid.Abbreviations benzadox (benzamidooxy)acetic acid - DTE dithioerythritol This research was supported in part by gift funds from Monsanto Agricultural Products Company. St. Louis, Missouri, and by NSF Grant PCM-8107953.     

Studies on a heterologous complex formed by human butyrylcholinesterase

An electrophoretic band with butyrylcholinesterase activity was detected in 71 CHE2 C5+ and 378 CHE2 C5– individuals and was named C_4/5 in view of its similar mobility to either C₄ or C₅, depending on the pH of the agar gel used. The present data suggest that C_4/5 is a heterologous complex of butyrylcholinesterase. Although the C_4/5 band may have the same mobility as C₅, depending on the conditions of electrophoresis, our hypothesis is that these two bands result from the association of BChE with different molecules.     

Light/dark modulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in C3 and C4 species

In this report, the effects of light on the activity and allosteric properties of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase were examined in newly matured leaves of several C₃ and C₄ species. Illumination of previously darkened leaves increased the enzyme activity 1.1 to 1.3 fold in C₃ species and 1.4 to 2.3 fold in C₄ species, when assayed under suboptimal conditions (pH 7) without allosteric effectors. The sensitivities of PEP carboxylase to the allosteric effectors malate and glucose-6-phosphate were markedly different between C₃ and C₄ species. In the presence of 5 mM malate, the activity of the enzyme extracted from illuminated leaves was 3 to 10 fold higher than that from darkened leaves in C₄ species due to reduced malate inhibition of the enzyme from illuminated leaves, whereas it increased only slightly in C₃ species. The Ki(malate) for the enzyme increased about 3 fold by illumination in C₄ species, but increased only slightly in C₃ species. Also, the addition of the positive effector glucose-6-phosphate provided much greater protection against malate inhibition of the enzyme from C₄ species than C₃ species. Feeding nitrate to excised leaves of nitrogen deficient plants enhanced the degree of light activation of PEP carboxylase in the C₄ species maize, but had little or no effect in the C₃ species wheat. These results suggest that post-translational modification by light affects the activity and allosteric properties of PEP carboxylase to a much greater extend in C₄ than in C₃ species.     

C4 Species and their Response to Large-Scale Longitudinal Climate Variables Along the Northeast China Transect (NECT)

Natural occurrence of C₄ species, life forms, and their longitudinal distribution patterns along the Northeast China Transect (NECT) were studied. Six vegetation regions experiencing similar irradiation regimes, but differing in longitude, precipitation, and altitude were selected along the NECT from 108 to 131 °E, around altitude of 43.5 °N. Seventy C₄ species were identified in 41 genera and 13 families. 84 % of the total C₄ species were found in four families: Gramineae (38 species), Chenopodiaceae (11 species), Cyperaceae (5 species), and Amaranthaceae (5 species). C₄ grasses make up 54 % of the total identified C₄ species along the NECT and form the leading C₄ family in meadow, steppe, and desert along the NECT. C₄ Chenopodiaceae species make up about 16 % of the C₄ species and become less important, particularly in the meadow and the eastern end of the NECT. 57 % of the total C₄ species are therophytes and 37 % are hemicryptophytes, which is consistent with floristic composition and land utilization. In general, the number of C₄ species decreased significantly from the west to the east or from dry to moist areas along the NECT, and was remarkably correlated with annual precipitation (r ²= 0.677) and aridity (r ²= 0.912), except for salinized meadow region. The proportion of C₄ species from all the six vegetation regions was considerably correlated with these two climatic parameters (r ²= 0.626 or 0.706, respectively). These findings suggest that the natural occurrence of C₄ species varies significantly along the large-scale longitudinal gradient of the NECT. The notable relationship of C₄ species number and proportion in the flora with variations in annual precipitation and aridity suggest that these two climatic parameters are the main factors controlling the longitudinal distribution patterns of C₄ species along the NECT.     

Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibition activity of some new carbacylamidophosphate deriviatives

Eight newly synthesized carbacylamidophosphates with the general formula RC(O)NHP(O)Cl₂ with R = pCl–C₆H₄ 1a, pBr–C₆H₄ 2a, C₆H₅ 3a, and pMe–C₆H₄ 4a and RC(O)NHP(O)(NC₄H₈O)₂ R = pCl–C₆H₄ 1b, pBr–C₆H₄ 2b, C₆H₅ 3b, pMe–C₆H₄ 4b, were selected to compare the inhibition kinetic parameters, IC₅₀, K_i, k_p and K_D, on human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and bovine serum butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), Also, the in vivo inhibition potency of compound 2a, 2b and 3a, were studied. The data demonstrates that compound 2a and compound 2b are the potent sensitive as AChE and BuChE inhibitors respectively, and the inhibition of hAChE is about 10-fold greater than that of BuChE.