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Biomedical subjects

Kristof Van Hecke

Publications and source records attributed to Kristof Van Hecke.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Visible-light-sensitized near-infrared luminescence from rare-earth complexes of the 9-hydroxyphenalen-1-one ligand.

The unique absorption properties of the 9-hydroxyphenalen-1-one (HPHN) ligand have been exploited to obtain visible-light-sensitizable rare-earth complexes in 1:3 and 1:4 metal-to-ligand ratios. In both stoichiometries (1:3, tris, Ln(PHN)3; 1:4, tetrakis, A[Ln(PHN)4], with Ln being a trivalent rare-earth ion and A being a monovalent cation), the complexes of Nd(III), Er(III), and Yb(III) show typical near-infrared luminescence upon excitation with visible light with wavelengths up to 475 nm. The X-ray crystal structures of the tris complexes show solvent coordination to the central rare-earth ion, whereas in the tetrakis complexes, the four PHN- ligands form a protective shield around the central ion, preventing small solvent molecules from coordinating to the rare-earth ion, at least in the solid state.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Exploration of triple-helical fragments: crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction of d(TGGCCTTAAGG).

The nonamer d(GCGAATTCG) and decamer d(GGCCAATTGG), containing one and two overhanging guanines, respectively, form G x GC triplets in their crystal packing. In order to introduce a third subsequent T x AT triplet, the decamer was further extended by one overhanging thymine residue. Two different crystal morphologies of the sequence d(TGGCCTTAAGG) were obtained by hanging-drop vapour diffusion and diffracted to 2.5 and 2.3 A resolution, respectively. However, both crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with similar unit-cell parameters. Therefore, the two data sets could be merged to a resolution of 2.4 A with unit-cell parameters a = 26.97, b = 41.12, c = 52.72 A.

Crystallization↗
PubMed2006

Task-specific ionic liquid for solubilizing metal oxides.

Protonated betaine bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide is an ionic liquid with the ability to dissolve large quantities of metal oxides. This metal-solubilizing power is selective. Soluble are oxides of the trivalent rare earths, uranium(VI) oxide, zinc(II) oxide, cadmium(II) oxide, mercury(II) oxide, nickel(II) oxide, copper(II) oxide, palladium(II) oxide, lead(II) oxide, manganese(II) oxide, and silver(I) oxide. Insoluble or very poorly soluble are iron(III), manganese(IV), and cobalt oxides, as well as aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide. The metals can be stripped from the ionic liquid by treatment of the ionic liquid with an acidic aqueous solution. After transfer of the metal ions to the aqueous phase, the ionic liquid can be recycled for reuse. Betainium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide forms one phase with water at high temperatures, whereas phase separation occurs below 55.5 degrees C (temperature switch behavior). The mixtures of the ionic liquid with water also show a pH-dependent phase behavior: two phases occur at low pH, whereas one phase is present under neutral or alkaline conditions. The structures, the energetics, and the charge distribution of the betaine cation and the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion, as well as the cation-anion pairs, were studied by density functional theory calculations.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2006

Selective synthesis of functionalized thia- and oxacalix[2]arene[2]pyrimidines.

Functionalized oxacalix[m]arene[n]pyrimidines have been synthesized by S(N)Ar on 4,6-dihalopyrimidine building blocks. Depending on the S(N)Ar conditions, either a mixture of oxacalix[n]arenes, ranging from oxacalix[4]- up to oxacalix[12]arene, could be prepared or the oxacalix[4]arene could be synthesized selectively in a high yield. The electrophilic (pyrimidine) and the nucleophilic components could both be varied, allowing the preparation of functionalized oxacalix[4]arenes. Moreover, the procedure also gives access to the analogous thiacalix[4]arenes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Incorporation of a disaccharide nucleoside into the backbone of double-stranded DNA: crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction.

Incorporation of a disaccharide nucleoside into double-stranded DNA can be considered as a chemical (non-enzymatic) alternative for site-specific cleavage of DNA. Crystals of the sequence d(CGCGAATT*CGCG), where * is an incorporated ribose, were obtained by hanging-drop vapour diffusion and diffracted to 2.6 A. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P222(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 41.52, b = 57.63, c = 81.39 A, indicating a new crystal packing motif for an oligonucleotide dodecamer sequence.

Crystallization↗
PubMed2005

Long-lived near-infrared luminescent lanthanide complexes of imidodiphosphinate "shell" ligands.

Near-infrared emitting complexes of Nd(III), Er(III), and Yb(III) based on hexacoordinate lanthanide ions with an aryl functionalized imidodiphosphinate ligand, tpip, have been synthesized and fully characterized. Three tpip ligands form a shell around the lanthanide with the ligand coordinating via the two oxygens leading to neutral complexes, Ln(tpip)3. In the X-ray crystal structures of Er(III) and Nd(III) complexes there is evidence of CH-pi interactions between the phenyl groups. Photophysical investigations of solution samples of the complexes demonstrate that all complexes exhibit relatively long luminescence lifetimes in nondeuteurated solvents. Luminescence studies of powder samples have also been recorded for examination of the properties of NIR complexes in the solid state for potential material applications. The results underline the effective shielding of the lanthanide by the twelve phenyl groups of the tpip ligands and the reduction of high-energy vibrations in close proximity to the lanthanide, both features important in the design of NIR emitting lanthanide complexes.

Diphosphonates↗
PubMed2005

Netropsin interactions in the minor groove of d(GGCCAATTGG) studied by a combination of resolution enhancement and ab initio calculations.

The structure of the complex between the minor groove binder netropsin and d(GGCCAATTGG) was determined via single-crystal X-ray techniques. The structure was refined to completion using refmac5.1.24, resulting in a residual R-factor of 20.0% (including 68 water molecules). Using crystal engineering and cryocooling techniques, the resolution could be enhanced to 1.75 A, resulting in an unambiguous determination of the drug conformation and orientation. As previously noticed, bifurcated hydrogen bonds are formed between the amide nitrogen atoms of the drug and the N3 and O2 atoms of A and T base pairs, respectively, clearly cataloging the structure to class I. As the bulky NH2 group on guanine was believed to prevent binding of the drug in the minor groove, the detailed nature of several of the amidinium and guanidinium end contacts were further investigated by ab initio quantum chemical methods.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Rare-earth quinolinates: infrared-emitting molecular materials with a rich structural chemistry.

Near-infrared-emitting rare-earth chelates based on 8-hydroxyquinoline have appeared frequently in recent literature, because they are promising candidates for active components in near-infrared-luminescent optical devices, such as optical amplifiers, organic light-emitting diodes, .... Unfortunately, the absence of a full structural investigation of these rare-earth quinolinates is hampering the further development of rare-earth quinolinate based materials, because the luminescence output cannot be related to the structural properties. After an elaborate structural elucidation of the rare-earth quinolinate chemistry we can conclude that basically three types of structures can be formed, depending on the reaction conditions: tris complexes, corresponding to a 1:3 metal-to-ligand ratio, tetrakis complexes, corresponding to a 1:4 metal-to-ligand ratio, and trimeric complexes, with a 3:8 metal-to-ligand ratio. The intensity of the emitted near-infrared luminescence of the erbium(III) complexes is highest for the tetrakis complexes of the dihalogenated 8-hydroxyquinolinates.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Exploration of the influence of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation on the structure of d[CACG(IDU)G].

The first antiviral nucleoside 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IDU) against herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 is a thymidine analogue, i.e. the C5 methyl group is replaced by an I atom. The structure of the self-complementary hexamer d[CACG(IDU)G] was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The orthorhombic crystals belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 18.16, b = 30.03, c = 41.99 A. Refinement in the resolution range 20-1.3 A converged with a final R1 = 0.167, including 43 water molecules and two cobalt hexammine complexes. The incorporation of a large I atom has only minor consequences for the overall structure as is noticed in the IDU.A base pairs, which are of the common Watson-Crick type. To contribute to the still puzzling mechanism of this historically important agent, details of base stacking, helical parameters, hydration etc. have been studied. A general scheme of cobalt hexammine-binding modes in Z-DNA is provided, revealing similar binding modes for the reported structure.

Cobalt↗