No description available.

No / The conformational propensities of amino acids are an amalgamation of sequence effects, environmental effects and underlying intrinsic behavior. Many have attempted to investigate neighboring residue effects to aid in our understanding of protein folding and improve structure prediction efforts, especially with respect to difficult to characterize states, such as disordered or unfolded states. Host-guest peptide series are a useful tool in examining the propensities of the amino acids free from the surrounding protein structure. Here, we compare the distributions of the backbone dihedral angles (φ/ψ) of the 20 proteogenic amino acids in two different sequence contexts using the AAXAA and GGXGG host-guest pentapeptide series. We further examine their intrinsic behaviors across three environmental contexts: water at 298 K, water at 498 K, and 8 M urea at 298 K. The GGXGG systems provide the intrinsic amino acid propensities devoid of any conformational context. The alanine residues in the AAXAA series enforce backbone chirality, thereby providing a model of the intrinsic behavior of amino acids in a protein chain. Our results show modest differences in φ/ψ distributions due to the steric constraints of the Ala side chains, the magnitudes of which are dependent on the denaturing conditions. One of the strongest factors modulating φ/ψ distributions was the protonation of titratable side chains, and the largest differences observed were in the amino acid propensities for the rarely sampled αL region. / NIH

Production of efficiently synthesizable, strongly associating crown ether-based cryptands is desired for pseudorotaxane complexation of bipyridinium guests to produce suprapolymers and supramolecularly-linked block copolymers. Cryptands based on bis(meta-phenylene)-32-crown-10 (BMP32C10) were synthesized. The functionality of phenylenemethanol-BMP32C10 cryptand III-3 (Ka = 2.0 x 104 M-1) did not negatively affect binding strength, although the strength of complexation is marginal to achieve the desired suprapolymers. The cryptand dimethylpyridyl-BMP32C10 IV-2 was synthesized in an attempt to improve over the binding ability of the pyridyl-BMP32C10 cryptand IV-1; instead, interesting host design insights were discovered as binding strengths were reduced over 1000-fold. The crystal structure of IV-2 shows acyl-aryl conjugation which limits the host's ability to accept guests. Synthesis of larger cis-di(carbomethoxybenzo)-3n-crown-n crown ethers was explored using the high concentration, template technique previously reported for cDB24C8 diester. cDB30C10 diester (V-1c) was produced in 93% yield; the desired pyridyl-cDB30C10 cryptand V-12 binds paraquat strongly (Ka = 1-2x105 M-1) and diquat stronger than any other host (Ka = 1.9x106 M-1), both in 1:1 fashions; association constants were measured by ITC. X-ray crystallography of the complexes shows the cryptand's para arm is too far away to interact with paraquat and the host has numerous bifurcated interactions with diquat, explaining the difference in binding strengths. Syntheses of the regioisomers of cDB27C9 diester was also explored; the cyclization yields (cDB27C9S, VI-2: 59% and cDB27C9L, VI-3: 44%) are lower, likely due to poor attack angles due to mismatched arm length in cyclization, than the equivalent length ethyleneoxy-armed cDB24C8 and cDB30C10. Modeling of the cryptand isomers, pyridyl-cDB27C9S and pyridyl-cDB27C9L, showed that the former should improve para arm interaction with paraquat, but should be sterically hindered for diquat and the latter should have a highly flexible, poorly preorganized interaction with either type of guest. ITC, MS, and crystallography data supported the predictions. Derivatization of the pyridyl-cDB30C10 cryptand V-12 was explored using chelidamic acid (VII-1). Schemes yielding alcohol, alkyl halide, alkyne, and TEMPO functionality were followed, but failed. Currently, functionalized cryptand derivatives have not been achieved, future directions are proposed. / Ph. D.

The exploitation of the relationship between the chemical and physical properties of materials is the hallmark of advancing science throughout the world. The basic understanding of how and why molecules react and interact with each other in different environments allows for the discovery and implementation of new materials and devices that not only advance the state of human life but continually change the planet. The work described in this dissertation generally falls under three diverse categories: functionalization of fullerenes, investigation of host/guest interactions in solution, and the synthesis and characterization of ion containing polymers. The separation and functionalization of fullerenes is a recent and exciting area of research. The separation methods outlined are intended to increase the availability of endohedral metallofullerenes by decreasing their cost of production. Functionalized fullerene species were achieved through Bingel and Prato reactions to provide materials with novel functional groups. These materials may be further utilized in photovoltaic or other organic electronic devices. The characterization of noncovalent interactions between different molecules in solution is the focus of supramolecular chemistry. Isothermal Titration Calorimetry stands out as one of the best, among the many methods used to elucidate the characteristics of these systems. The binding of bis- imidazolium and paraquat guests with macrocyclic host molecules has been explored in this work. The measurements of the association constants for these systems will aid in the ongoing synthesis of new host/guest systems. Ion containing polymers were synthesized and characterized for their use in electroactive devices. Imidazolium containing polymers with bulky anions were synthesized on low glass transition polymer chains. These materials had enhanced ion conductivity and may eventually be used in electronic actuator materials. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Synthesis of cyclodextrin derivatives for practical applications Abstract The first part of this PhD thesis is focused on the synthesis of a series of monosubstituted tetraalkylammonium cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives. The emphasis was placed on the possible applicability of the synthetic process to multigram or even industrial scale. Monotosylation of the native cyclodextrins (-, -, -) on the primary side of the macrocycle afforded the starting materials. Derivatives with one cationic group were prepared by the reaction with aqueous trimethylamine. The reaction of the mono-Ts-CD with neat N,N,N'-trimethylethane-1,2-diamine or N,N,N'-trimethylpropane-1,3-diamine and subsequent methylation led to derivatives with the substituent bearing two cationic groups (PEMEDA- and PEMPDA-β-CD). Analogs bearing a moiety with three tetraalkylammonium sites were synthesized by reaction of mono-Ts-CD with bis(3-aminopropyl)amine with subsequent methylation. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of mono-6- azido--CD with diaminoacetylenes followed by methylation led to analogs with a avariable distance of the charged substituent from the CD core. Majority of the presented reactions are straightforward, relatively high-yielding and the workup does not require chromatographic steps. The second part of the work is dealing with the...

This thesis investigates the design and synthesis of macrocycles and examines their ion-pair recognition, anion recognition and interpenetrative assembly capabilities. Chapter One introduces the field of supramolecular chemistry. Key concepts in host–guest complexation and self-assembly are outlined, with particular emphasis on the design of host systems for anion and ion-pair recognition. Chapter Two details the synthesis and binding properties of a heteroditopic 1,2,3-triazole- containing macrocycle that exhibits cooperative ion-pair recognition. Solution and solid-state evidence shows that the triazole motif simultaneously binds anions and cations. The exten- sion of this work towards the formation of interlocked structures containing an expanded heteroditopic macrocycle and threading components is explored. Chapter Three discusses the design and syntheses of series of electron-deficient macrocycles based on imidazolium, pyridinium and triazole. These are investigated for anion binding ability and assembly of interpenetrative assemblies with electron-rich threading components. Chapter Four describes research into the formation of interpenetrative assemblies using neutral components. Their design is based around aromatic donor–acceptor interactions and halogen bonding. Chapter Five presents some conclusions from the research undertaken. Chapter Six provides titration protocols, Job plot approximations, experimental procedures and characterisation of the compounds described in this thesis. Appendix details additional X-ray crystallographic data.

No description available.

The recently discovered cucurbit[n]uril are a range of macrocyclic hosts which have enormous potential in industrial, medical and academic applications. Cucurbit[n]uril have a rigid repeating structure of methylene bridged glycouril, which give cucurbit[n]uril their gourd like shape of a cavity with two carbonyl fringed portals. In this thesis the host-guest binding abilities of three cucurbit[n]uril (n = 6, 7, 8) have been examined for a range of potential guests. These guests ranged from simple alkyl amines through globular alkyl and carboranyl amines to bipyridyl systems. In total 45 guest molecules where examined. Most of the guests examined where either cationically charged, capable of hydrogen binding, contained a substantial molecular dipole, or a combination of these. Furthermore, all of the potential guests examined had some solubility in an acidified aqueous sodium sulfate solution within which the host-guest properties were examined. It was generally found that the larger guests did have selectivity for the larger hosts. However, when the host became too large weaker complexes would form and for the range of materials examined here cucurbit[7]uril was found to be the 'best' host system. In one example, p-xylene diamine, a 2:1 complex with cucurbit[8]uril was observed. While not the focus of this work a new rapid purification method was developed for the cucurbit[n]uril using different metal ions to either solubilise or precipitate the different cucurbit[n]uril. In the second part of this work these same guest molecules where used as potential templates in the synthesis of cucurbit[n]uril. Surprisingly the guests that bound strongly to an individual host did not seem to template the cucurbit[n]uril synthesis at all. Rather these strong binders inhibited the reaction such that little or no cucurbit[n]uril formed under the reaction conditions studied. However, several examples provided excellent template results. Indeed the results indicate that guests which bound with intermediate rates of exchange are the best templates and using templates under these conditions we have been able to produce cucurbit[7]uril as 46% by mass of the total cucurbit[n]uril product. This is the highest yield ever recorded for cucurbit[7]uril and it is the first example of cucurbit[7]uril being the major product of this condensation reaction. In an another example cucurbit[8]uril formed 18% of the product an increase of 150% over the standard reaction conditions. While studying both the template reactions and the host-guest binding properties of the cucurbit[n]uril a new supramolecular form, an 'inverse rotaxane' was discovered. Inverse rotaxanes are not held in place by large blocking groups, rather the molecular structure encapsulated by the cucurbit[n]uril host prevents decomplexation of the axle.

The fast development of the tourism industry has created both positive and negative impacts on host communities. Reacting to these impacts, host residents hold various attitudes towards tourism and tourists. It has come to common agreement that a supportive host community plays a vital role in the successful and long-term development of community tourism. In order to explain the antecedents of community attitudes towards tourism, researchers have investigated the topic from both the extrinsic perspective (such as stage-based models) and the intrinsic perspective (such as the Social Exchange Theory). Nevertheless, there are still several important research gaps and deficiencies within the existing literature. First, the influence of psychological factors (personality) on attitudes towards tourism is somewhat neglected. Second, when examining the relationship between community attitudes towards tourism and the influential factors, the majority of previous studies do not distinguish the orthogonal dimensions of attitudes (such as positive dimension and negative dimension). Third, the existing literature has not addressed the issue of whether specific attitudes towards tourism will lead to a corresponding behaviour when interacting with tourists, and what other factors are determinant in host-guest interactive behaviour. Aiming to address such research gaps and deficiencies, this study has a major objective of developing a theoretical model (encompassing attitude element) to understand the antecedents of host-guest interaction. A quantitative approach was employed for the entire project. A self-administrated questionnaire survey was used to collect primary data. A total of 878 useful questionnaires were returned for analyses. Stratification sampling methods were utilized in communities where population database was accessible, while random sampling methods were used in other communities. The findings from this study confirmed the two major hypotheses in terms of community attitudes towards tourism. First, there was a significant relationship between an individual's personality and his/her attitudes towards tourism. Residents being high on Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Agreeableness traits and low on the Neuroticism trait tended to be more positive towards tourism than their counterparts. Second, while some factors were found to be influential on both positive and negative dimensions of attitudes towards tourism, others only demonstrated influences on one dimension. The Resident-Tourist Interaction Model developed in this study provided a comprehensive theoretical framework in modelling and predicting host residents' interactive behaviour towards tourists. Drawing on the evaluation results of three leading behavioural theories belonging to the school of cognition, the Model identified attitudinal, volitional, social, motivating and habitual factors for the prediction of resident-tourist interactive behaviour. Motivating factor (intention) was the critical and immediate element for action, which, in turn, was best predicted by subjective norms. External factors (gender, age and personality traits) only moderated the predictive power of the Model by less than two percent. The Model was valid and reliable for the current data. The present study advanced resident-tourist interactive behavioural study by establishing a sound theoretical framework. It also consolidated the body of knowledge in understanding community attitudes towards tourism. Findings from this study have significant practical implications for community tourism planning and management.