An E.P.R. study of peptides after U.V. irradiation

Abstract— Various peptides of Gly, Ala, Phe, Tyr, and Trp have been irradiated with U.V. light in the solid state or in frozen aqueous solution. The radicals produced were studied by E.P.R. spectroscopy at low temperature and at room temperature. Radicals seem to occur preferentially on Gly or Ala when in the C-terminal position and there is evidence for a photosensitization of these amino acids by aromatic amino acids.     

Crystal structures of synthetic analgetics. V. Dextromoramide.

The molecular and crystal structure of dextromoramide has been determined by X-ray methods. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P212121 with unit cell dimensions a = 9.720(4) A; b = 12.226(3) A; c = 18.381(3) A. The structure was determined by direct methods and the model refined to an R-value of 0.036 for 1788 observed reflections. The mean e.s.d.'s in bond lengths and angles are 0.004 A and 0.3, respectively. The morpholine moiety is nearly in antiposition relative to the quaternary carbon atom C6, the pertinent angle C6 - C7 - C9 - N2 being - 159.4. This conformation is similar to that previously reported for the bitartrate of the title compound. The pyrrolidine ring has the envelope conformation and the amide group is strictly planar. The conformation of some acyclic analgetics are discussed.     

Mass spectrometric determination of cadmium in i.a.e.a. fish solubles

The cadmium content of the I.A.E.A Fish Solubles [A-6 (1975)] was determined by the isotope dilution method. After dry-ashing and dissolution of the specimen, the cadmium was equilibrated with a known amount of ¹⁰³Cd spike, isolated by ion exchange, purified by dithizone extraction, and converted to the sulfide form in 1% H₃PO₄ solution. The CdS precipitate was loaded onto a baked single rhenium filament for mass spectrometric analysis. The ¹⁰³Cd/¹¹⁰Cd ratio was measured to compute the cadmium content of 0.278 ± 0.032 ppm (dry weight basis) in the Fish Solubles.     

Crystal structures of synthetic analgetics. IV. Dextropropoxyphene.

The molecular and cystal structure of dextropropoxyphene has been determined by X-ray methods. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P21, with unit cell dimensions a=9.257(2) A; b=9.048(3) A; c=12.074(7) A; beta=93.01(4)degrees. The phase problem was solved by direct methods and the model refined to an R-value of 0.038 for 1799 observed reflections. E.s.d's are, in average, 0.004 A and O.3 degrees in interatomic distances and angles, respectively. The propylamine chain in nearly fully extended, the dihedral angel C4-C5-C7-N being -174.2 degrees. The conformation of this side chain is similar to that in the hydrochloride of the title compound. Thus the proposed bioactive conformation is not preferred by propoxyphene in the crystalline state, as was the case for the free base of methadone.     

Selenium-Sulfur analogs. 6. Selenoisosteres of levamisole

A series of three new isosteres of levamisole was prepared by the substitution of the phenyl ring by the thienyl and selenienyl moieties and of the thiazole group by selenazole. The physiochemical properties and infrared spectra of the sulfur- and selenium-containing analogs were very similar. Differentiation was mostapparent in the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra where the α- and β-protons of the selenienyl compounds were shifted downfield relative to those of the corresponding thienyl compounds. With deuterated thiofluoroacetic acid as the solvent, a more rapid exchange was observed for the α-proton of the selenienyl ring of compounds 17 and 18 compared to that observed for compound 16 .     

Functionalization of polystyrene. III. Synthesis of polymeric thiol reagents

The synthesis of polymer-bound thiol reagents, supported on macroporous 4% divinylbenzene co-polymer (Amberlite XE-305), via three synthetic approaches is described: (i) Alkylation or acylation of XE-305 with 3-nitro-4-halogen-substituted benzyl chloride or benzoyl halide yielding 3-nitro-4-halobenzene-bound species, followed by substitution of the activated polymeric halogen atom with sulfur (see Scheme 1). (ii) Formation of a thiol ether by a direct substitution of an active polymeric halogen by reaction with benzylthiol, followed by chlorination, thiolation, and reduction (see Scheme 2). (iii) Attachment of a prepared tailor-made disulfide to aminomethyl function of a polymeric support, followed by reduction (see Scheme 3). The polymers were tested for their free-thiol content by 5, 5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (Ellman's reagent¹²) in DMF. Their thiolytic activity was investigated in the removal of 2-nitrophenylsulphenyl (Nps) group from Nps-protected amino acid (Scheme 4). Site-site interaction between the polymer-bound thiol with its activated halide precursor to yield polymeric sulfide during displacement reaction, and the interconversion of the polymeric thiols into polymeric disulfides at equilibrium or during reaction with Nps-amino acids, observed, and is attributed to the flexibility of the polymeric matrices.     

Thermoplasticization of wood. II. Cyanoethylation

Cyanoethylation was attempted to convert wood into thermoplastic material as a means to utilize low quality wood species as well as wood waste materials. Cyanoethylation reaction was conducted with control of the alkalinity of the reaction media, reaction temperature and time, and wood-to-acrylonitrile ratio. Cyanoethylated wood was purified and its nitrogen content and weight gain were determined. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to monitor the absorption peak of cyano group. Thermoproperties of cyanoethylated wood were analyzed by means of a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA). Reaction mechanisms and chemistry influencing the thermoproperties of cyanoethylated wood were discussed.     

Comment on "Adsorption of naphthalene on zeolite from aqueous solution" by C.F. Chang, C.Y. Chang, K.H. Chen, W.T. Tsai, J.L. Shie, Y.H. Chen

A paper contributes not only by its originality and creativity, but also by its continuity and development toward subsequent research. Referencing and quotation accuracy are an important part of a scientific article. This study presents a literature review concerning the precision of 50 first authors' publications, which originally cited Ho's pseudo-second-order kinetic expression paper in kinetics model for solute sorption on various sorbents. This model applies to a range of solid-liquid systems such as metal ions, dyestuffs, herbicides, oil, and organic substances in aqueous systems onto various sorbents. In addition, citations of Lagergren and Elovich rate equations are also discussed. This comment offers information for citing the original idea of Ho's pseudo-second-order kinetic expression and Lagergren's pseudo-first-order kinetic equation. It is also suggested that the cited paper should be accurately quoted.     

Enzymatic polyesterification in organic media. Enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of linear polyesters. I. Condensation polymerization of linear hydroxyesters. II. Ring-opening polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone

With the object to synthesize polyesters by enzymatic catalysis in organic media, two directions have been investigated: (1) the condensation polymerization of linear ω-hydroxyesters and (2) the ring-opening polymerization of lactones. The commercially-available crude porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL), suspended in organic solvents, was the preferred enzyme for the reactions. In order to determine the optimal conditions for the condensation polymerization, the bifunctional methyl 6-hydroxyhexanoate was used as a model compound to study the influence of the following parameters: type of the enzymecatalyst, kind of solvent, concentration, temperature, duration, size of the reaction mixture, and stirring. Film-forming polyesters with a degree of polymerization (DP) up to about 100 were obtained from linear aliphatic hydroxyesters in n-hexane at reflux temperature (69°C). Yet concurrently with the intermolecular condensation polymerization, macrolactones were also formed by intramolecular reaction. Two aromatic hydroxyesters did not react under these conditions. For the ring-opening polymerization of lactones the reaction of ?-caprolactone with methanol as the preferred nucleophile, was studied. Polyesters with a DP of up to 35 were obtained in n-hexane at temperatures between 25 and 40°C. The degrees of polymerization of the polyesters were determined by comparative analyses of the end groups in the ¹H-NMR spectra and by determination of molecular weights either by vapor phase osmometry, gel permeation chromatography, or intrinsic viscosity. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

E.S.R. investigation of helix inversion in induced cholesteric phases

The phenomenon of a reversible helix inversion in induced cholesteric mesophases caused by variation of the temperature has been investigated by E.S.R. spectroscopy using the nitroxide radical tempone as spin probe. Chiral esters of optically active (R)-(+)-2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl were added as dopants to the nematic mixture RO-TN 404. The inversion temperatures and the handedness of the helices were determined. In addition to the distortion parameter which is a measure of the helix pitch, order parameters and rotational correlation times of the spin probe were obtained from line-shape analyses.     

Strahlungschemie von Kohlenwasserstoffen. 17. Mitteilung. Hexan-NO

The influence of NO on the radiolysis of hexane at ?70°C has been studied. The results allow the following interpretations: The bimolecular part of the hydrogen production is in contrary to N₂O efficiently quenched by NO. This part involves non-thermal hydrogen atoms and has a G-value of about 1.4. All olefins are suppressed, probably in a secondary chain reaction with NO. The radical yield is drastically reduced by very low concentrations of NO, but by higher concentrations this decrease is slowed down. A reaction scheme proposed by BURRELL is able to explain these results.     

3 + 2]-cycloaddition of nonstabilized azomethine ylides. 10. An efficient strategy for the construction of x-Azatricyclo[m.n.0. 0

Various new structural entities related to x-azatricyclo[m.n.0. 0(a)()(,)(b)()]alkanes are constructed by the intramolecular [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition of nonstabilized cyclic azomethine ylides. The ylide is generated by the sequential double desilylation of N-alkyl alpha,alpha'-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclic amines using Ag(I)F as a one-electron oxidant.     

Tube-excited energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis. II. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of air particulate material.

The use of monoenergetic exciting radiation of molybdenum obtained with a secondary target set-up, a conventional water-cooled tungsten anode x-ray tube and a Si(Li) semiconductor detector permits many trace and minor constituents from chlorine to strontium to be determined in particulate material collected on cellulose filters. The method is rapid and economical compared to other multielement techniques. The use of one or more single-element thin-film standards to calibrate for the analysis of many elements appears to be possible, but some systematic errors must be prevented. Absorption of the fluorescent radiation is remedied by a simple correction method. The precision and the accuracy of the method were critically examined by independent analysis of a number of samples with instrumental neutron activation analysis and by interlaboratory comparisons on the same samples.     

Comparative gas chromatographic analysis of narcotics. II. Amphetamine sulphate.

Trace impurities in amphetamine sulphate were studied by a highly sensitive gas chromatographic method. The concentration of these impurities varied considerably between batches whereas the variations within the batches were usually very small. The method is used for the assignment of seizures of amphetamine sulphate to common sources, which in turn may permit chains of illicit distribution of this drug to be traced.     

Molecular mechanism of drug photosensitization. Part 3. Photohemolysis sensitized by diflunisal.

The lysis of red blood cells photosensitized by diflunisal (DFN) was investigated. Photohemolysis is inhibited by butylated hydroxyanisole and reduced glutathione, but is unaffected by mannitol and enhanced by sodium azide; the presence of oxygen markedly reduces the lysis which is accelerated in anaerobic conditions. These results contrast with those expected for a photodynamic mechanism. High lytic activity is observed for pre-irradiated solutions, mainly under anaerobic conditions. Direct irradiation of DFN in buffer solution at pH 7.4 leads to the formation, under anaerobic conditions, of compound 2'-(2',4'-difluoro-3'-carboxy-[1',1'-biphenyl]-4'-oxy)-4'- fluoro-4-hydroxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-carboxylic acid (PhP), whereas under aerobic conditions formation of PhP is accompanied by unidentified photo-oxidation products; only compound PhP displays strong lytic activity. The overall results for DFN-photosensitized hemolysis suggest a mechanism involving a concerted action of free radicals, superoxide anion, singlet oxygen and sensitizer photoproducts.     

Studies of aloe. III. Mechanism of cathartic effect. (2)

The mechanism of action of aloe-emodin-9-anthrone, a decomposition product of barbaloin, in causing a significant increase in the water content of the rat large intestine, was investigated. Aloe-emodin-9-anthrone inhibited rat colonic Na+, K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in vitro, and increased the paracellular permeability across the rat colonic mucosa in vivo. Therefore, it seemed that the increase in water content of the rat large intestine produced by aloe-emodin-9-anthrone was due to both inhibition of absorption and stimulation of secretion without stimulation of peristalsis. Furthermore, pretreatment with loperamide, an antidiarrheal agent, completely prevented the increase of paracellular permeability induced by aloe-emodin-9-anthrone but did not completely reduce the concomitant increase in residual fluid volume. These findings suggest that aloe-emodin-9-anthrone has multiple mechanisms of action involved in the increase of water content in the rat large intestine.     

Reactions of gaseous ions. I. Methane and ethylene

At elevated pressures in a mass spectrometer ion source reactions occur between certain ions and the neutral species present. We have studied the various secondary ions formed in methane and ethylene at elevated pressures and have determined the reactions by which they are formed and the rates of these reactions. The rates are all extremely fast. The reaction rates have been treated by classical collision theory and it has been shown that to a fair approximation the cross-sections and reaction rate constants can be predicted from a simple balance of rotational and polarization forces. [Reprinted from J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1957; 79: 2419.] Copyright 1957 by the American Chemical Society and reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.     

High-pressure reactions. III. Hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrile

Polyacrylonitrile prepared from γ-irradiated monomer was found to react readily with water over a pressure range of 5,130–34,200 atm. to yield polyacrylamide, while polymer prepared by conventional free-radical catalysts will not hydrolyze under the same conditions. Reaction rates at 85°C. were measured; hydrolysis was extremely rapid at higher temperatures. Results are presented to indicate the radical nature of the reaction. Addition of a free-radical source increases the amount of hydrolysis. Pressure has an effect on the properties of the resulting polyacrylamide.     

Electrochemotherapy of horses. A preliminary clinical report.

Sarcoids are skin spontaneous tumours detected in horses. It can be cured by chemotherapy by using cisplatin. A multisequence treatment must be performed. Problems are present due to the poor diffusion of the hydrophilic product in the tumours. Electropulsation is known to drastically enhance the effect of antitumoral drugs in vivo. Taking into account the very successful results of the group in Ljubljana (Slovenia), we started a research clinical program where electropulsation was applied after local cisplatin injection. The size of sarcoids is large (several centimeters). A specially designed set of wire contact electrodes was built. The distance between the electrodes was 0.9 cm and their length was 0.9 cm. The contact with the skin was obtained by a conductive paste. A PS15 Jouan Electropulsator was used to deliver eight pulses of 0.1 ms at a 1-Hz frequency with a 1.3-kV voltage. The animal was anesthesized. Intratumoral cisplatin injections were operated every 0.6 cm (0.2 ml at a 1-mg/ml concentration). Five minutes after the first drug injection, multiple electrotreatments were applied by moving the electrodes between the pulse applications. This allows the treatment of all the tumour surface. Several successive treatments were performed with a delay of 2 weeks between each. All lesions completely responded. The sarcoids disappear after only 2 or 3 electrochemotherapies. Objective responses were obtained in 100% of the treated lesions. All horses tolerated the treatment well. No adverse effect from the electric pulses was observed even in the case of a high number of pulses, or when several consecutive treatments were applied. No regrowth was observed in the 18 months follow-up period.