Second-order rate constants (kN) have been measured spectrophotometrically for reactions of 3,4-dinitrophenyl 2-thiophenecarboxylate (2) with a series of alicyclic secondary amines in 80 mol % $H_2O$/20 mol % dimethyl sulfoxide at 25.0 ${^{\circ}C}$. The Brønsted-type plot exhibits a downward curvature for the aminolysis of 2. The curved Brønsted-type plot is similar to that reported for the corresponding reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl 2- thiophenecarboxylate (1). The reactions of 1 and 2 have been suggested to proceed through the same mechanism, i.e., through a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate ($T^{\pm}$) with a change in the rate-determining step. Substrate 2 is less reactive than 1 toward weakly basic amines (e.g., $pK_a$ < 10.4) but becomes more reactive as the basicity of amines increases further. Dissection of kN into the microscopic rate constants has revealed that the reaction of 2 results in a smaller $k_2/k_{-1}$ ratio but larger $k_1$ than the corresponding reaction of 1. Steric hindrance exerted by the ortho-nitro group has been suggested to be responsible for the smaller $k_1$ value found for the reactions of 1.

Tetrabutylammonium Fluorodichloroplumbate(II), N$(C_4H_9)_4$[$PbCl_2F$], TBAFDiCP and Tetrabutylammonium Fluorodiiodoplumbate(II), [$(C_4H_9)_4$N][$PbI_2F$], TBAFDiIP are the first examples of fluoroplumbate salts that have been prepared from the reaction of $(C_4H_9)_4$NF with $PbCl_2$ and $PbI_2$ respectively using either $CH_3CN$ solvent. These new compound characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV/Visible, $^1H$ NMR, and $^{19}F$ NMR techniques.

The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of structurally novel N-cyanopyrazolidine and N-cyanohexahydropyridazine derivatives as cathepsin inhibitors are described. In vitro assay reveals that several compounds exhibit highly potent and selective profiles against cathepsins K or S.

The synthesis of a new series of 1$\beta$-methylcarbapenems having spiro[2,4]heptane moieties is described. Their in vitro antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were tested and the effect of substituents at the pyrrolidine ring was investigated. Most of the compounds were found to be more active compared to imipenem against Gram-negative bacteria. A particular compound (IIIc) having 7-oxo-5- azaspiro[2,4]heptane moiety showed the most potent antibacterial activity.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B is the superfamily of PTPs and a negative regulator of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been proposed as a strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Recently, it has been reported that amentoflavone, a biflavonoid extracted from Selaginella tamariscina, inhibited PTP1B. In the present study, docking model between amentoflavone and PTP1B was determined using automated docking study. Based on this docking model and the interactions between the known inhibitors and PTP1B, we determined multiple pharmacophore maps which consisted of five features, two hydrogen bonding acceptors, two hydrogen bonding donors, and one lipophilic. Using receptor-oriented pharmacophore-based in silico screening, we searched the biflavonoid database including 40 naturally occurring biflavonoids. From these results, it can be proposed that two biflavonoids, sumaflavone and tetrahydroamentoflavone can be potent allosteric inhibitors, and the linkage at 5',8''-position of two flavones and a hydroxyl group at 4'-position are the critical factors for their allosteric inhibition. This study will be helpful to understand the mechanism of allosteric inhibition of PTP1B by biflavonoids and give insights to develop potent inhibitors of PTP1B.

Dumbbell-shaped aromatic amphiphilic molecules consisting of a dodeca-p-phenylene as a rigid segment and oligoether dendrons as a flexible chains were synthesized, characterized, and their aggregation behavior was investigated in the bulk and at the air-water interface. In contrast to the molecule 2 which shows a nematic liquid crystalline state, molecule 1 based on shorter dendritic chains was observed to self-assemble into a 3-D primitive orthorhombic supercrystal. And molecule 1 at the air-water interface was observed to reorganize from circular plates to ring structures by lateral compressions.

A novel platinum aminoalkoxide complex, Pt$(dmamp)_2$ has been prepared by the reaction of cis-$(py)_2PtI_2$ with two equivalents of Na(dmamp) (dmamp = 1-dimethylamino-2-methyl-2-propanolate). Single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis shows that the Pt(dmamp)2 complex keeps a square planar geometry with each two nitrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms having trans configuration. Platinum films have been deposited on TaN/ Ta/Si substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using Pt$(dmamp)_2$. As-deposited platinum thin films did not contain any appreciable amounts of impurities except a little carbon. As the deposition temperature was increased, the films resistivity and deposition rate increased. The electrical resistivity (13.6 $\mu\Omega$cm) of Pt film deposited at 400 ${^{\circ}C}$ is a little higher than the bulk value (10.5 $\mu\Omega$cm) at 293 K. The chemical composition, crystalline structure, and morphology of the deposited films were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy.

$TiO_2$ nanopowders were synthesized by new sol-gel combustion hybrid method using acetylene black as a fuel. The dried gels exhibited autocatalytic combustion behaviour. $TiO_2$ nanopowders with an anatase structure and a narrow size distribution were obtained at 400-600 ${^{\circ}C}$. Their crystal structures were examined by powder Xray diffraction (XRD) and their morphology and crystal size were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystal size of the nanopowders was found to be in the range of 15-20 nm. $TiO_2$ powders synthesized at 500 ${^{\circ}C}$ and 600 ${^{\circ}C}$ were applied to a dye solar cell. An efficiency of 5.2% for the conversion of solar energy to electricity ($J_{sc}$ = 11.79 mA/$cm^2$, $V_{oc}$ = 0.73 V, and FF = 0.58) was obtained for an AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW/$cm^2$) using the $TiO_2$ nanopowder synthesized by the sol-gel combustion hybrid method at 500 ${^{\circ}C}$.

Pyrazine derivatives bind to b-RAF receptor which is important in cancer therapy. The ligand-receptor interactions have been studied by comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and molecular docking methods. Applying conventional ligand-based alignment schemes for the whole set was not successful. However, QM and DFT results suggested that some ligands have electrostatic interaction while others have steric interactions. On the basis of these results, we divided the dataset into two subsets. Electrostatic effect was found to be important in one set while steric effect for the other. Best docking modes were obtained for each subset based on the available crystal structure. These receptor-guided CoMFA models propose an interesting possibility which is difficult to obtain otherwise. i.e., in one binding mode the electrostatic interaction plays a key role for one subset ($q^2$ = 0.46, $r^2$ = 0.98), while in another binding mode steric effect is important with another subset ($q^2$ = 0.43, $r^2$ = 0.74).

Comparative molecular simulations were performed to establish molecular interaction and inhibitory effect of flavonoid myricetin on formation of amyloid fibris. For computational comparison, the conformational stability of myricetin with amyloid $\beta$ -peptide (A$\beta$ ) and $\beta$ -amyloid fibrils (fA$\beta$) were traced with multiple molecular dynamics simulations (MD) using the CHARMM program from Monte Carlo docked structures. Simulations showed that the inhibition by myricetin involves binding of the flavonoid to fA$\beta$ rather than A$\beta$ . Even in MD simulations over 5 ns at 300 K, myricetin/fA$\beta$ complex remained stable in compact conformation for multiple trajectories. In contrast, myricetin/A$\beta$ complex mostly turned into the dissociated conformation during the MD simulations at 300 K. These multiple MD simulations provide a theoretical basis for the higher inhibitory effect of myricetin on fibrillogenesis of fA$\beta$ relative to A$\beta$ . Significant binding between myricetin and fA$\beta$ observed from the computational simulations clearly reflects the previous experimental results in which only fA$\beta$ had bound to the myricetin molecules.

Results of intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence studies on choline oxidase revealed that the enzyme at high alkaline pH values has more accessible hydrophobic patches relative to acidic pH. Fluorescence quenching studies with acrylamide confirm these changes. The quenching constants were also determined at different pH(s) by using the Stern-Volmer equation. CD studies showed that at higher pH a transition from $\alpha$-helix to $\beta$- structure was appeared while at lower pH the content of $\alpha$-helix structure was increased. Furthermore, analysis of the spectral data using chemometric method gave evidence for existence of intermediate components at very high pH(s). Results of thermal denaturation evaluated that the enzyme has the most instability at higher pH(s). Altogether low and high pH values caused significant alteration on secondary and tertiary structures of choline oxidase via inducing of an intermediate.

We have investigated the photophysics of the acetone radical cation in the vacuum ultraviolet energy region by multiphoton ionization combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry in a cluster beam. We have found that the loss of methyl radical from the acetone radical cations is remarkably suppressed at 10.5 eV when they are solvated by a few neutral acetone molecules. The cluster ion mass spectra obtained by nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses reveal that there are intermolecular processes, occurring in several tens of picoseconds, which are responsible for the survival of the acetone cations in clusters. This remarkable solvation effect on the yield of the methyl radical loss from the acetone cation can be rationalized by the intracluster vibrational energy redistribution and the self-catalyzed enolization which compete with the methyl radical loss process.

An instrument was developed for the simultaneous determination of gas- and aerosol-phase nitrous acid (HONO). Gaseous HONO (HONO(g)) was sampled by a diffusion scrubber and particulate nitrite ($NO_2\;^-$(p)) was collected by a particle growth chamber. The collected samples were analyzed in time-sharing manner, based on the peroxynitrite-induced luminol chemiluminescence. The automated system was found to be sensitive with 13 pptv of detection limit, fast with 4 min. of sampling frequency, and simple and affordable to construct and operate. The system was optimized by adjusting the experimental parameters. The system was applied to the field measurement of gas- and particle-phase HONO during the springtime of 2004 in Gwangju, South Korea. HONO(g) concentrations varied diurnally from 200 pptv around 3 P.M. to 800 pptv at 5 A.M. The variation of $NO_2\;^-$(p) was not significant with the maximum of 240 pptv at 11 P.M. and the minimum of 170 pptv at 4 P.M., not displaying distinct characteristics.

Porphyrins generally bind DNA in two different ways with respect to the mixing ratio; monomeric binding at a low mixing ratio and outside stacking at a high mixing ratio. In the present study, CTDNA binding property of a planar structured porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridin-4-yl-phenyl)porphyrin (referred to as B-TMPyP) was investigated using absorption, CD, LD, and $LD^r$ spectroscopies. B-TMPyP produced a bisignate CD band, even at the lowest mixing ratio, indicating that B-TMPyP may not have a monomeric binding mode. From the observations of the spectral changes to the absorption, CD, and LD spectra in mixing ratio dependent titrations, B-TMPyP seems to have a quite different stacking type compared to that for the binding of $H_2$TMPyP. Moreover, B-TMPyP produced a CD band of opposite shape in the Soret band region. A qualitative explanation for the observed optical differences is also given.

A polymeric micelle, based on the poly(benzyl-L-histidine)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (polyBz-His-b-PEG) diblock copolymer, was designed as a tumor-specific targeting carrier. The micelles (particle size: 67-80 nm, critical micelle concentration (CMC); 2-3 $\mu$g/mL) were formed from the diafilteration method at pH 7.4, as a result of self-assembly of the polyBz-His block at the core and PEG block on the shell. Removing benzyl (Bz) group from polyBz-His block provided pH-sensitivity of the micellar core; the micelles were physically destabilized in the pH range of pH 7.4-5.5, depending on the content of the His group free from Bz group. The ionization of His group at a slightly acidic pH promoted the deformation of the interior core. These pHdependent physical changes of the micelles provide the mechanism for pH-triggering anticancer drug (e.g., doxorubicin: DOX) release from the micelle in response to the tumor’s extracellular pH range (pH 7.2-6.5).

Using a one-pot reaction technique, monodisperse $\gamma-Fe_2O_3$ nanoparticles were prepared by thermal decomposition of Fe$(CO)_5$ in the presence of a long alkyl chain terminated dendron surfactant. The size of the particles is controlled by adjusting the concentration of the dendron ligands in the reaction solution. Spherical, 2 nm sized nanoparticles were obtained with a 3:1 ratio of dendrons to Fe$(CO)_5$, while 4.6 nm sized particles were formed with a 1:3 ratio. Superparamagetic properties of 2 nm, 4 nm, and 4.6 nm sized particles were measured using a SQUID magnetometer.

A molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) using (+)catechin ((+)C) as a template and acrylamide (AM) as a functional monomer was prepared. Acetonitrile was used as the porogen with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinker and 2,2'-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as the initiator. The adsorption isotherms in the MIP were measured and the parameters of the equilibrium isotherms were estimated by linear and nonlinear regression analyses. The linear equation for original concentration and adsorpted concentrations was then expressed, and the adsorption equilibrium data were correlated into Langmuir, Freundlich, quadratic, and Langmuir Extension isotherm models. The mixture compounds of (+)C and epicatechin (EC) show competitive adsorption on specific binding sites of the (+)catechin-MIP. The adsorption concentrations of (+)C, epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), on the (+)catechin-molecular imprinted polymer were compared. Through the analysis, the (+)catechin-molecular imprinted polymer showed higher adsorption ability than blank polymer which was synthesized molecular imprinted polymer without (+)catechin. Furthermore, the competitive Langmuir isotherms were applied to the mixture compounds of (+)C and EC.

The probe diffusion and friction constants of methyl yellow (MY) in liquid n-alkanes of increasing chain length were calculated by equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at temperatures of 318, 418, 518 and 618 K. Lennard-Jones particles with masses of 225 and 114 g/mol are modeled for MY. We observed that the diffusion constant of the probe molecule follows a power law dependence on the molecular weight of nalkanes, DMY${\sim}M^{-\gamma}$ well. As the molecular weight of n-alkanes increases, the exponent $\gamma$ shows sharp transitions near n-dotriacontane ($C_{32}$) for the large probe molecule (MY2) at low temperatures of 318 and 418 K. For the small probe molecule (MY1) $D_{MY1}$ in $C_{12}$ to C80 at all the temperatures are always larger than Dself of n-alkanes and longer chain n-alkanes offer a reduced friction relative to the shorter chain n-alkanes, but this reduction in the microscopic friction for MY1 is not large enough to cause a transition in the power law exponent in the log-log plot of DMY1 vs M of n-alkane. For the large probe molecule (MY2) at high temperatures, the situation is very similar to that for MY1. At low temperatures and at low molecular weights of n-alkanes, $D_{MY2}$ are smaller than $D_{self}$ of n-alkanes due to the relatively large molecular size of MY2, and MY2 experiences the full shear viscosity of the medium. As the molecular weight of n-alkane increases, $D_{self}$ of n-alkanes decreases much faster than $D_{MY2}$ and at the higher molecular weights of n-alkane, MY2 diffuses faster than the solvent fluctuations. Therefore there is a large reduction of friction in longer chains compared to the shorter chains, which enhances the diffusion of MY2. The calculated friction constants of MY1 and MY2 in liquid n-alkanes supported these observations. We deem that this is the origin of the so-called“solventoligomer”transition.

Although the use of Cu(II) salts as catalysts without reductants is limited in the cycloaddition of acetylenes with azides, the catalytic system employing average 10 nm CuO(II) nanoparticles in the absence of reductants shows good catalytic activity to form 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles even in wet THF as well as water. It is also noticeable that CuO(II) nanoparticle catalysts can be recycled with consistent activity. A range of alkynes and azides were subject to the optimized CuO(II) nanoparticle-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction conditions to afford the desired products in good yields.