Kinetic and Theoretical Studies on the Mechanism of Intramolecular Catalysis in Phenyl Ester Hydrolysis

Chemiluminescence of a Firefly Luciferin Analogue Reveals that Formation of the Key Intermediate Responsible for Excited State Generation Occurs on a Fully Concerted Step

The chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of eight different 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole-4-carboxylate esters with an organic superbase and oxygen was investigated through a kinetic and computational study. These esters are all analogues to the luciferin substrate involved in efficient firefly bioluminescence. The kinetic data obtained from CL emission and light absorption assays were used in the context of linear free energy relationships (LFER); we obtained the Hammett reaction constant ρ = +1.62 ± 0.09 and the Brønsted constant βlg = -0.39 ± 0.04. These observations from LFER, together with activation parameters obtained from Arrhenius plots, suggest that the formation of the high-energy intermediate (HEI) 1,2-dioxetanone occurs via a concerted mechanism during the rate-determining step of the reaction. Calculations performed using density functional theory support a late transition state for HEI formation within the reaction mechanism pathway, which was described considering geometric parameters, Wiberg bond indices from natural bond order analysis, and the atomic charges derived from the electrostatic potential.

Stereoelectronic power of oxygen in control of chemical reactivity: the anomeric effect is not alone

Although carbon is the central element of organic chemistry, oxygen is the central element of stereoelectronic control in organic chemistry. Generally, a molecule with a C-O bond has both a strong donor (a lone pair) and a strong acceptor (e.g., a σ*_C-O orbital), a combination that provides opportunities to influence chemical transformations at both ends of the electron demand spectrum. Oxygen is a stereoelectronic chameleon that adapts to the varying situations in radical, cationic, anionic, and metal-mediated transformations. Arguably, the most historically important stereoelectronic effect is the anomeric effect (AE), i.e., the axial preference of acceptor groups at the anomeric position of sugars. Although AE is generally attributed to hyperconjugative interactions of σ-acceptors with a lone pair at oxygen (negative hyperconjugation), recent literature reports suggested alternative explanations. In this context, it is timely to evaluate the fundamental connections between the AE and a broad variety of O-functional groups. Such connections illustrate the general role of hyperconjugation with oxygen lone pairs in reactivity. Lessons from the AE can be used as the conceptual framework for organizing disjointed observations into a logical body of knowledge. In contrast, neglect of hyperconjugation can be deeply misleading as it removes the stereoelectronic cornerstone on which, as we show in this review, the chemistry of organic oxygen functionalities is largely based. As negative hyperconjugation releases the "underutilized" stereoelectronic power of unshared electrons (the lone pairs) for the stabilization of a developing positive charge, the role of orbital interactions increases when the electronic demand is high and molecules distort from their equilibrium geometries. From this perspective, hyperconjugative anomeric interactions play a unique role in guiding reaction design. In this manuscript, we discuss the reactivity of organic O-functionalities, outline variations in the possible hyperconjugative patterns, and showcase the vast implications of AE for the structure and reactivity. On our journey through a variety of O-containing organic functional groups, from textbook to exotic, we will illustrate how this knowledge can predict chemical reactivity and unlock new useful synthetic transformations.

Superhydrophilic co-polymer coatings on denture surfaces reduce Candida albicans adhesion-An in vitro study

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to investigate denture-base-resin coatings prepared with a crosslinkable co-polymer containing sulfobetaine methacrylamide (SBMAm) and the relationship between their surface characteristics and the initial adhesion of Candida albicans (C. albicans).

METHODS

Acrylic resin discs were coated with co-polymers containing various concentrations of SBMAm and N,N'-(4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecadiamine) diacrylamide (JDA) as crosslinking agent. Uncoated discs were used as controls. An acquired pellicle was formed on each disc using artificial saliva, and the discs were immersed in a suspension of C. albicans (JCM2085) cells. After incubation, tetrazolium salt (XTT-reduction) and colony forming unit (CFU) assays were performed and the morphogenesis of C. albicans was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface roughness, film thickness, and the water contact angle of each disc surface were measured.

RESULTS

All coating groups showed significantly lower amounts of adhered C. albicans in the XTT-reduction and CFU assays than the control, confirmed by the SEM images. Many wrinkle structures were observed on the surfaces coated with co-polymers containing more than 30% SBMAm. There were no significant differences in surface roughness among all groups. The co-polymer films on the coated discs were less than 5.0 μm in thickness, and these surfaces exhibited significantly lower mean water contact angles than the control.

CONCLUSION

Crosslinkable co-polymers containing SBMAm can enhance the hydrophilicity of the surface of denture-base resins and reduce the initial adhesion of C. albicans.