22 December 1952

Mr. Roger Hayward

920 Linda Vista

Pasadena 2, Calif.

Dear Roger:

Here is the information about the drawings that I need for the nucleic acid paper, in connection with the NFIP work.

The cylindrical coordinates for 20 atoms are given on the accompanying sheet. Here ρ is the radial distance from the axis of the cylinder (the axis of the helix), Ф is the azimuthal angle, and z is the coordinate in the direction of the axis. The coordinates are on a right-handed system, so that increasing z and increasing Ф generates a right-handed screw.

The first five coordinates, for P and four oxygen atoms, refer to the phosphate groups. The four oxygen atoms are at the corners of a tetrahedron, which is, however, not a regular tetrahedron. I think that so far as your drawings are concerned it would be satisfactory, however, to indicate the tetrahedron as a regular tetrahedron, without trying to take the relatively small distortions into consideration. The next three sets of coordinates for C_5', C_4', and C_3', represent three atoms which connect the upper right outer corner of an tetrahedron with the lower left outer corner of the tetrahedron that is in the layer above, and rotated 105° to the right.

I suggest that the first drawing indicate one helix, formed by one tetrahedron, the link to another tetrahedron in the layer above, that tetrahedron, the link to the tetrahedron in the layer above that, and so on. This helix is generated by taking the tetrahedron represented by the four oxygen atoms, the inner edge being formed by oxygen atoms with radius 2.00 A, and generating the next tetrahedron by translating the distance 3.40 A along the z axis and rotating through the angle 105°. This helical molecule executes seven turns in 24 tetrahedra. The pitch is 81.6 - that is, 24. x 3.40 A. I suggest that 24 - probably better 25 - tetrahedra be shown in outline, with arcs connecting them together, the arcs representing the atoms C_5', C_4', and C_3'. This would be just a diagrammatic representation. It might be worth while to show the axis of the molecule, as a straight line, and to draw a radius out from the axis to the center of the inner edge of each tetrahedron.

For the second figure, a representation of the three-chain structure should be drawn. This can consist of 25 tetrahedra and the connecting

Mr. Hayward 22/12/52

arcs, as in the first figure, and the same repeated after rotation through 120° and 240°. The molecule consists of three helical chains that are related to one another by the operations of a three-fold axis.

It would be good also to have a perspective drawing showing all 20 atoms, plus five more - the phosphate group to which the first phosphate group is connected by the chain of atoms C_5', C_4', and C_3'. In this drawing bonds should be shown connecting the atoms. The phosphorus atom is bonded to the four oxygen atoms that constitute the tetrahedron about it. Then O_III is bonded to C5'. The other bonds are C_5'-C_4', C_4'-C_3', C_3'-C_2', C_2'-C_1', C_1'-O_1', O_1'-C_4' (forming a five-membered ring), C_2'-O_2', C_1'-N₃, N₃-C₄, C₄-C₅, C₅-C₆, C₆-N₆, C₆-N₁, N₁-C₂, C₂-O₂, C₂-N₃. The other five atoms to be shown, the other phosphate tetrahedron, are obtained from the coordinate for the phosphorus and the surrounding four oxygen atoms by increasing z by 3.40 A and increasing by 105°. I think that it would be wise in this figure to show the helical axis, and perhaps the radii from the axis to the centers of the inner edges of the two tetrahedra.

Please telephone me if there is any question in your mind about the nature of this structure, or if you think that I have made some mistake in this description.

Sincerely yours,

Linus Pauling: W

22 December 1952

4, Pfeilgasse

Wien VIII

Dearest Parents,

Two days until your birthday, three days until Christmas. Tonight at midnight we leave by train for Eisenerz, in South Austria. My friend Mike Bennett has some friends there and we shall spend Christmas there. I hope it will be nice. The only way not to be unhappy is not to think.

We have been hitchhiking. Sort of rough, but not bad. An immense amount of snow in the Bavaria. Very, very beautiful. I must to go Garmisch. Probably not this year, but next. I am sort of in favour of returning to England the way we came, through Germany, and spend time in each city.

We arrived in Vienna a week ago late tonight. I have seen Die Hochjeit des Figaroes, Wiener Biut, Die Zauberflte, Don Giovani, Das Christelflein by Ilse Staeh and Hans Pfitznen, and two concerts by the Wiener Philharmoniker. I got most out of and enjoyed most Don Giovani of the operas. It is difficult to tell what is going on. I bought the texts and it is fun. Yesterday I heard a Beethoven concert in honor of his birth. A really superb performance. Rondino, E flat major, Oete & for winds, with Hans Kamesch, Karl Swoboda, Leopold Wlach, Fran Bartosek, Otto Schieder etc. And a wonderful fifth symphony. I like music more than opera.

Before leaving I bought some lovely lambs wool lined boots, really nice, and they keep my feet nice and warm. I hope to wear them for years here. And some long underwear and a duffle coat. It is heavy, but warm , and suitable for a roughing trip like this.

I live in a student house. Ninth floor. Special price Twenty cents a day.

Prices are about twice what they were two years ago. Wurst and cheese about 50 a pound. Tram 5. I think, though these Continental countries have all sorts of good things in store windows, They are not as well off as England, as far as most people go.

Could you please send me more or less accurate design drawings of those wire swimming pool chairs? Material diameter, lengths, bend angles, and radii of bends. I want to make a couple, and I shall send for covers through you when I get them the chairs. Also, M. Milne would like an address where to order them. Could you please tell me? I think it would be cheaper and easier to make them or have them made here.

Three shopping days left. And I have bought no presents, much less mailed them. Sent some toys to Linus Jr. A little broom to Petie. Damn.

It is certainly grand here. Hitchhiking is not really bad and is quite cheap. I can say this now. After a couple of hours in the snow it is not quite the same.

Happy birthday, darling Mamma. And Merry Christmas Daddy, Mamma, Linda, and Crellin.

I love you,

Peter