The thesis entitled “Exploring Intermolecular Space by Charge Density Analysis in Molecular Crystals” consists of five chapters. A short introductory note highlights the importance of intermolecular interactions and presents the current status of charge density analysis to obtain insights into such interactions. Charge density analysis of crystalline materials by using high resolution X-ray diffraction data has become routine and enables derivation of reliable one electron properties associated with the electron density. The results obtained from single crystal X-ray diffraction data at low temperature have been compared with periodic theoretical calculations using B3LYP/6-31G** methods to unequivocally establish the nature of weak interactions. Chapter 1 describes the quantitative analysis of Cl∙∙∙Cl intermolecular interactions in compounds 2-chloro-3-quinolinyl methanol, 2-chloro-3-hydroxypyridine and 2-chloro-3-chloromethyl-8-methylquinoline, which are corresponding to type I (trans and cis) and type II (L) geometries of Cl∙∙∙Cl interactions respectively. The 3D static deformation density plots from charge density analysis unequivocally suggest that both ‘cis’ and ‘trans’ type I geometries show decreased repulsion whereas type II geometry is attractive based on the nature of “polar flattening” of the electron density around the Cl atom. The topological features derived at bond critical point (BCP) of Cl∙∙∙Cl interactions also support the observed results. Chapter 2 discusses hetero-halogen (Cl∙∙∙F) and homo-halogen (F∙∙∙F) intermolecular interactions involving “organic fluorine” in compounds 2-chloro-4-fluorobenzoic acid and 4-flurobenzamide respectively. Charge density distributions show polar flattening effects at both atoms Cl and F, however the extent of polarization is small on F in comparison with that of the Cl atom. 3D static deformation density plots depict δ+ ∙∙∙δ− interactions for Cl∙∙∙F intermolecular interactions while F∙∙∙F interactions show small decreased repulsion features. The topological properties of F∙∙∙F interactions bring out the similarity between F∙∙∙F and Cl∙∙∙Cl interactions. Chapter 3 describes the nature of C−Cl∙∙∙O=C halogen bond in 2, 5-dichloro-1, 4-benzoquinone, a molecule specifically chosen to depict this interaction dominantly. The topological values at bond critical point, three dimensional static deformation density features and electrostatic potential isosurfaces unequivocally establish the attractive nature of C−Cl∙∙∙O=C halogen bond in the crystalline lattice. Chapter 4 discusses the generation of multi-component systems (for example cocrystals and salts) of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Two systems associated with nicotinamide, one with salicylic acid and the other with oxalic acid as coformers resulting in 1:1 molecular complexes have been analyzed. The charge density analysis, particularly at the proton transfer region clearly bring out the differences between cocrystal and salt thus providing insights into the continuum in the proton transfer pathways in molecular crystals. Chapter 5 describes a new methodology [supramolecular synthon based fragment approach (SBFA)] concerning transferability of experimental charge density multipole parameters and building a database using well defined supramolecular synthons. The modularity and robustness of supramolecular synthons are used to transfer experimental charge density multipole parameters of synthons derived from a high resolution X-ray diffraction study to target molecules possessing these synthons as fragments in the crystalline lattice. The synthesized charge density and derived topological properties on target molecules using routine single crystal diffraction data are comparable with both experimental and theoretical charge density results. SBFA thus is expected to provide an additional database which can be applied to include intermolecular interactions space in the modeling directly unlike the available ones such as ELMAM, INVARIOM and UBDB. Further, SBFA approach can be extended to the determination and synthesis of charge density properties in macromolecules such as polypeptides, nucleic acids and proteins. APPENDIX contains reprints of the articles published which comprises of the work carried out in addition to the above five chapters.

The studies on cocrystals and salts presented in the the chapters clearly bring out the influence of intermolecular interactions as the main evaluators of the cocrystal-salt regime. The observations made in Chapter 2 indicate that in case if the cocrystal formation is through hydrogen bonds the location of the proton decides the nature of the complex in the energy landscape. The observation that the coformer controls the topology of intermolecular space as demonstrated in Chapter 3 provides insights into the importance of directionality rather than strength of intermolecular interactions. Indeed halogen bonding in cocrystals gain importance in this context.

The nature of interactions within a molecule, i.e. chemical bonding, is well understood today. However, our understanding about intermolecular interactions, which has great relevance in nature, is still evolving. Historically there are two types of intermolecular interactions, van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bonding. However, there has been an upsurge of interest in the halogen bonding and lithium bonding during the last decade. The main emphasis of our research is to understand these interactions in detail, in particular non-conventional hydrogen bond acceptors. In this work, weakly bound complexes are studied using Pulsed Nozzle Fourier Transform Microwave Spectrometer, which has been fabricated in our laboratory and various theoretical methods. FTMW spectroscopy in the supersonic beam provides accurate structural information about the near-equilibrium geometry of small dimers and trimers in isolation. The home-built Pulsed Nozzle Microwave spectrometer, having a spectral range of 2-26.5 GHz has been used to record the microwave spectrum of these complexes. The spectrometer consists of a Fabry-Perot cavity, electronic circuit and pumps. Fabry-Perot cavity is the interaction zone of the molecules and radiation. The electronic circuit is used for the polarization and detection of the signal. Mechanical and diffusion pumps are used to maintain the vacuum inside the cavity. The gas molecules of interest are then mixed with a carrier gas and pulsed supersonically inside the cavity through a nozzle of 0.8 mm diameter. The emission from the complexes formed during the expansion is detected by super-heterodyne detection technique and then Fourier transformed. The first chapter of the thesis gives a brief introduction to intermolecular interactions, hydrogen bonding, halogen bonding, lithium bonding and molecular 2 of clusters. The chapter also includes a brief introduction to rotational spectroscopy. The second chapter of the thesis discusses the experimental and theoretical methods. It includes a detailed discussion of the mechanical and electrical parts of the spectrometer and the software used, which is developed in Labview 7.1. The various theoretical methods (ab initio and DFT) and the basis sets are discussed along with Atoms In Molecules Theory and the criteria used to characterize hydrogen bond. In the third chapter, to understand the ability of saturated hydrocarbons to act as hydrogen bond donor and acceptor, interaction of CH4 with H2S is studied using rotational spectroscopy as well as theoretical methods such as ab initio and Atoms In Molecules theory. Three progressions were obtained for the CH4•••H2S complex using microwave spectroscopy. The progressions were independently fitted to a linear top Hamiltonian. Absence of J10 transition in Progression II confirms the presence of higher internal angular momentum state, m=1. This also confirms the internal rotation of the monomers in the complex. Progressions II and III have negative centrifugal distortion constants. Hence both the states are from some excited internal rotation/torsional motion with strong vibrational-rotational coupling. The moment of inertia obtained from the experimental rotational constant confirms the structure in which sulphur of H2S is close to CH4. This also supports the structure in which CH4 is the hydrogen bond donor, if such an interaction is present. AIM analysis and the potential energy barrier for internal rotation show orientational preference and hence hydrogen bonding. The ab initio results show that CH4•••HSH interaction is more favorable than CH3H•••SH2. Ab initio and AIM studies also gave a structure where there is direct interaction between C and S. This is interesting since the electronegativities of C and S are comparable. Experimentally obtained negative distortion constants for the other two states, confirm excited state rotational-vibrational coupling. The experimental data give a floppy structure having internal rotation. In the fourth chapter the complex chosen for investigation is benzene-ethylene. Experiments in condensed phase and theoretical works show evidence of - stacking in benzene dimer, but there is no gas phase spectroscopic evidence available for the same. The lack of permanent dipole moment in the -stacked geometry of benzene dimer is the hindrance in the experimental observation of the same using microwave spectroscopy. Substitution of one of the benzene with ethylene in the -stacked structure will result in a complex having permanent dipole moment. C6H6 C2H4 complex can have, in addition to -stacking, C-H/interaction. There could be a competition between C6H6 and C2H4, either of which can act as H-bond donor. Experiments show the evidence of C-H/interaction, where C2H4 is the hydrogen bond donor. To ascertain hydrogen bond interaction AIM analysis has been carried out. The results show C-H/interaction, where one of the C2H4 hydrogen interacts with the benzene. Even though the aim was to get the -stacked geometry, it could not be obtained. However theory and AIM supports the formation of -stacked complex. In the fifth chapter using theoretical methods the ability of radicals as acceptor of hydrogen, lithium and chlorine bonds are examined with CF3 radical as the model system. As hydrogen bonds are highly sensitive to the environment, the effect of substitution of hydrogen by fluorine is also analyzed. It is found that, even though CH3 and CF3 radicals are topologically different, they interact in a similar fashion. AIM analysis of CF3HY satisfies all the eight criteria proposed by Koch and Popelier for hydrogen bonding. Here the hydrogen bond formed is charge transfer assisted. The interaction energies of the complexes are inversely proportional to the dipole moment of hydrogen bond donors and are proportional to the charge transfer occurring in the complex. Interaction energies from ab initio calculations confirm complexation of CF3 radical with LiY(Y=F, Cl, Br) and ClF. AIM analysis of CF3LiY and CF3ClF complexes show a bond critical point between Li/Cl and the C of CF3 and the condition of mutual penetration is also met. In CF3LiY complexes the interaction energies and charge transferred are directly proportional to the dipole moment of the Li bond donor. In the sixth chapter in order to extend the concept of non-conventional hydrogen bond acceptors to transition metals, complexes of Fe (Fe(CO)5) with HX (X=F,Cl,Br) have been studied theoretically. DFT calculations show that the structure in which the hydrogen of HX interacting with Fe through the sixth co-ordination site is a stable geometry. AIM analysis shows the presence of a bond critical point between the iron and the hydrogen of HX and hence bond formation. Q obtained from NBO analysis shows that there is charge transfer from the organometallic system to the hydrogen bond donor. However the interaction energies of the complexes are proportional to the dipole moment of hydrogen bond donors and are inversely proportional to the charge transfer for these complexes. H-bonding leads to the stabilization of square pyramidal geometry. ‘Hydrogen bond radius’ of iron has also been defined. Studies on the interaction of Fe(CO)5 with ClF and ClH showed that Fe can also act as a chlorine bond acceptor. Seventh chapter provides the overall conclusion and also discusses future direction.

Le but de cette thèse est une revisite du potentiel SIBFA. Ceci inclut un travail et une réflexion sur la méthodologie de cette approche avec une implémentation proposant une utilisation plus large. De plus, une nouvelle calibration de champ de forces raffiné est permise aujourd’hui. En effet, la décomposition d’énergie intermoléculaire SAPT donne accès à toutes les composantes avec rigueur. La reproduction des résultats ab-initio par un potentiel analytique laisse entrevoir des applications prometteuses. Au-delà du coup de calcul considérablement réduit par rapport aux méthodes de chimie quantique, son intégration dans un code de dynamique moléculaire ouvre les portes à de nombreuses études encore plus prometteuses hors de portée de la chimie quantique. Enfin l’optimisation de ce code, avec une parallélisation bien étudiée, en feront un outil majeur de la biochimie. Dans une première partie, nous introduirons les notions et principes essentiels à la dynamique moléculaire. Un premier chapitre exposera la mécanique classique utilisé dans les programmes les plus distribués et utilisés. Un second chapitre introduira les méthodes permettant un meilleur traitement des interactions non-covalentes essentielles dans les études de complexes ligand-récepteur. Une seconde partie abordera de manière plus concrète la stratégie d’implémentation de SIBFA dans Tinker. Celle-ci s’organisera autour de trois chapitres, traitant chaque composante énergétique intermoléculaire. L’objectif de cette thèse est de proposer un socle solide autour du traitement des interactions non covalentes dans le cadre des champs de forces polarisables de dernières générations et de présenter le modèle d’eau hybride AMOEBA/SIBFA. / The purpose of this thesis is to revisit the potential of SIBFA (Sum of Interactions Between Fragments Ab initio computed) [...]

Intermolecular Interactions in Proteins - Abstract Mgr. Jiří Kysilka Non-covalent interactions are responsible for the protein folding and the molecular recognition during the protein interaction with other molecules, including various ligands, other proteins and solvent molecules. In order to understand these processes, exhibited by protein molecules, a proper description of non-covalent interactions is needful. Most methods that are computationally available for the systems of biological interest have difficulties handling with the dispersion term. In this thesis, a density functional theory / coupled clusters (DFT/CC) correction scheme is utilized for a set of small molecules, interacting with a graphitic surface. The results serve as a benchmark for the interaction of the functional groups of proteins with hydrophobic environment. In the following part of this thesis, the role of non-covalent interactions in proteins was studied for the processes of protein-protein interaction and protein hydration. Interaction interfaces has been localized in a set of 69 protein dimers and their composition has been characterized. Interfaces has been shown to prefer branched-chain hydrophobic amino acids (Ile, Leu, Val), aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr) and exclude the charged amino acids except of Arg. It was...

<p>One in eight woman develop breast cancer in the United States of America and is the most common type of cancer in the world. Breast cancer has the highest rate of death compared to any other form of cancer. Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal type of breast cancer, which is the most fatal of all breast cancer types. TNBC is onerous to treat since it lacks all the three most commonly targeted hormones and receptors. Current patients afflicted with TNBC are treated with platinum core chemotherapeutics, namely Cisplatin. Despite the anticancer effects shown by Cisplatin, TNBC attenuates its effect and develops a resistance eventually, which results in reoccurrence of TNBC after few years. Hence there is a demand for effective and alternative ways to treat TNBC. To inhibit the TNBC cell proliferation, blocking the key glycolytic enzyme Lactase Dehydrogenase B (LDHB) is studied and validated. Galloflavin (GF), a proven LDHB inhibitor is utilized in this series of studies and analysis. In addition, Electrochemotherapy, which involves the application of electrical pulses (EP) were utilized to enhance the uptake of GF. The combination of Electrochemotherapy (ECT) with LDHB is a novel way to treat TNBC to produce an alternative to traditional chemotherapy. EP+GF will be subjected onto TNBC cells at various concentrations and pulse parameters. The purpose of this study is to test the effect of alternative chemotherapeutic drug delivery methods for TNBC patients for decrease in mortality rate and improve quality of life. Results indicate TNBC cell viability is the least for EP+GF treatments and the maximum Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels and a maximum decrease in Glucose and Lactate uptake for EP+GF treatments relative to control. Immunoblotting studies indicate the inhibition of LDHB is the most on EP+GF treatments, indicating that this could be a novel modality to treat TNBC.<br></p>

L’objectif de ces travaux est d’analyser les propriétés rhéologiques de l’acétate de cellulose, un polymère biosourcé. Afin de faciliter la mise en œuvre de l’acétate de cellulose, il est usuel d’y incorporer des plastifiants. Dans le but de développer la transformation de ce polymère par des procédés industriels conventionnels, il est nécessaire d’obtenir davantage d’informations rhéologiques pour différentes conditions d’écoulement. Le comportement rhéologique particulier d’un acétate de cellulose plastifié de degré de substitution 2,45 a été étudié à l’aide de différentes mesures rhéologiques. Des mesures viscoélastiques dans le régime linéaire ont été menées et des comportements inattendus ont été mis en évidence. Par rapport à des polymères thermoplastiques conventionnels, la structure et les dynamiques des relaxations des chaînes macromoléculaires d’acétate de cellulose semblent être plus complexes que celles des polymères synthétiques communs. Ces observations ont été confirmées par des mesures dans le régime non linéaire. Les résultats suggèrent que le comportement viscoélastique des chaînes d’acétate de cellulose n’est pas contrôlé par des enchevêtrements mais plutôt par une autre longueur de corrélation définie par l’existence de points d’interactions fortes entre les chaînes nommés stickers. Ces interactions engendrent un comportement d’échelle inhabituel suivant le taux de plastifiant et la température. / This present work deals with the rheological properties of cellulose acetate which is a biobased polymer manufactured from cellulose. In order to facilitate its forming process, cellulose acetate is usually blended with plasticizers. As the conventional industrial processes need rheological information for different flow conditions, viscoelastic behaviour of a plasticized cellulose acetate with a degree of substitution of 2,45 was investigated by various rheology experiments. Measurements in the linear regime were carried out for various plasticizer contents and some unexpected behaviours have been highlighted. Compared to conventional thermoplastic polymers, the structure and dynamics of the macromolecular chains of cellulose acetate seem to be more complex than that of common synthetic polymers. This was confirmed by measurements in the nonlinear domain. The results suggests that the viscoelastic behaviour of cellulose acetate chains is not controlled by entanglements but rather by another correlation length related to strong interactions between chains, named stickers. These interactions confer to the polymer dynamics an unusual scaling behaviour depending on plasticizer content and temperature.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis reports an in-depth investigation of the intermolecular interaction motifs in secondary, primary and ammonium carboxylate salts. The investigation was conducted using the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), together with a systematic steric-specific experimental study. The tendency in the literature has been to analyse organic salt crystal structures in terms of hydrogen bonding patterns, almost ignoring cation-anion interactions. This study focuses on the cation-anion interactions in secondary, primary and ammonium carboxylate salts, which have a direct effect on the formation of specific structural motifs. The ideas of ring-stacking and ring-laddering, which arise from the tendency of cations and anions to arrange themselves so as to maximise electrostatic interactions, have been applied to ammonium carboxylate salts. An extensive survey of organic ammonium carboxylate salt structures in the CSD has been carried out. The structural motifs in ammonium carboxylates were investigated, and a set of predictive rules for the pattern of intermolecular interactions in these salts was developed. Using these results, the formation of ring-stacking or ring-laddering in primary ammonium carboxylate salts can be predicted. The results from the CSD survey are discussed in Chapter 3. An experimental study has been carried out, which complements the results obtained from the CSD survey. The experimental study formed 19 novel ammonium carboxylate salts, of which 2 formed hydrates and 2 co-crystals of salts. The experimental results confirm what was found in the CSD survey, and this is discussed in Chapter 4. This study has found that the principle of ring-stacking and ring-laddering can be applied in a general form to the crystal structures of organic ammonium carboxylate salts. The size of the cation and the anion in these salts has a significant effect on the formation of structural motifs in the solid state. Interactions between cation and anion substituents also play an important role in the formation of particular structural motifs in ammonium carboxylate salts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word die intermolekulêre interaksie motiewe in die sekondêre, primêre en ammonium karbosilaat soute in-diepte ondersoek. Die studie is gedoen met behulp van die Cambridge Strukturele Databasis (CSD), saam met ‟n sistematiese steriesspesifieke eksperimentele studie. Die neiging in die literatuur is om organiese sout kristal strukture in terme van waterstofbindings patrone te analiseer sonder om katioon-anioon interaksies in ag te neem. Die studie fokus juis op hierdie katioon-anioon interaksies tussen sekondêre, primêre en ammonium karbosilaat soute wat ‟n direkte effek het op die vorming van spesifieke strukturele motiewe naamlik „ring-stacking‟ en „ring-laddering‟ wat hul oorsprong kry vanaf die neiging van katione en anione om hulself op so ‟n wyse te rangskik sodat die elektrostatiese interaksies ‟n maksimum kan bereik, op die ammonium karboksilaat soute. ‟n Volledige ondersoek van ammonium karboksilaat soute in die CSD is gedoen. Die strukturele motiewe in ammonium karboksilaat is ondersoek, en ‟n stel reels wat die patrone van intermolekulêre interaksies in hierdie soute voorspelis ontwikkel. Hierdie resultate kan gebruik word om die vorming van „ring-stacking‟ en „ring-laddering‟ in primêre ammonium karbosilaat soute te voorspel. Die resultate van die CSD ondersoek word bespreek in Hoofstuk 3. ‟n Eksperimentele studie is uitgevoer en die resultate hiervan komplimenteer die resultate van die CSD ondersoek. In die eksperimentele studie is 19 nuwe ammonium karboksilaat soute gekristaliseer, waarvan 2 hidraat-soute en 2 ko-kristal-van-soute is. Die eksperimentele resultate bevestig die bevindings van die CSD ondersoek, en dit word bespreek in Hoofstuk 4. Hierdie studie het gevind dat die beginsel van „ring-stacking‟ en „ring-laddering‟ kan in „n algemene vorm in die kristal strukture van organiese ammonium karboksilaat soute toegepas word. Die grootte van die katioon en anion in hierdie soute het ‟n beduidende effek op die vorming van strukturele motiewe in die vaste toestand. Interaksie tussen die katioon en anioon substituente speel „n belangrike rol in die vorming van spesifieke motiewe in ammonium karbosilaat soute.

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The Keap1-Nrf2 pathway regulates a wide range of cytoprotective genes, and has been found to serve a protective and beneficial role in many body systems. There is limited information available, however, about its role in bone homeostasis. While Nrf2 activation has been suggested as an effective method of increasing bone mass and quality, there have been conflicting reports which associate Keap1 deficiency with detrimental phenotypes. As Keap1 deletion is a common method of Nrf2 activation, further study should address the impacts of various methods of regulating Nrf2 expression. Also, little research has been conducted on the specific pathways by which Nrf2 activation improves bone quality. In this study, the effects of alterations to Nrf2 activation levels were explored in two specific and varied scenarios. In the first experiment, moderate Nrf2 activation was achieved via partial deletion of its sequestering protein, Keap1, in an aging mouse model. The hypothesis tested here is that moderate Nrf2 activation improves bone quality by affecting bone metabolism and response to mechanical loading. The results of this first experiment suggest a subtle, sex-specific effect of moderate Nrf2 activation in aging mice which improves specific indices of bone quality to varying degrees, but does not affect loading-induced bone formation. It is likely that the overwhelming phenotypic impacts associated with aging or the systemic effects of global Keap1 deficiency may increase the difficulty in parsing out significant effects that can be attributed solely to Nrf2 activation. In the second experiment, a cell-specific knockout of Nrf2 in the osteocytes was achieved using a Cre/Lox breeding system. The hypothesis tested here is that osteocyte-specific deletion of Nrf2 impairs bone quality by affecting bone metabolism and response to mechanical loading. The results of this experiment suggest an important role of Nrf2 in osteocyte function which improves certain indices of bone quality, which impacts male and female bones in different 7 ways, but did not significantly impact loading-induced bone formation. Further studies should modify the method of Nrf2 activation in an effort to refine the animal model, allowing the effects of Nrf2 to be isolated from the potential systemic effects of Keap1 deletion. Future studies should also utilize other conditional knockout models to elucidate the effects of Nrf2 in other specific cell types.