A Pair of Novel Heptentriol Stereoisomers from the Ascomycete Daldinia concentrica

A pair of novel heptentriol stereoisomers, hept‐6‐ene‐2,4,5‐triols 2 and 3 , were isolated from the culture broth of the ascomycete Daldinia concentrica (Bolton : Fries ) Cesati & De Notaris , besides three known compounds, i.e., 2,3‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one ( 1 ), 3,5‐dihydroxy‐2‐(1‐oxobutyl)‐cyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐one ( 4 ), and pyroglutamic acid (=5‐oxo‐L ‐proline; 5 ). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means, including 2D‐NMR (HMQC, HMBC, ¹H,¹H‐COSY).     

Effects of ultraviolet B on epidermal morphology, shedding, lipid peroxide, and antioxidant enzymes in Cope's rat snake (Elaphe taeniura)

Cope's rat snakes (Elaphe taeniura) favor to expose under sunlight in order to increase their body temperature simultaneously increasing the risk of skin damage by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation. We have investigated the effects of UVB irradiation on their skin. Results show that the UVB transmission of the keratinous layer was only 5.1+/-0.36%. The peak of epidermal damage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, a product of lipid peroxidation, simultaneously occurred 72-96, 48 or 24 h after exposure to 300, 500 and 800 mJ/cm2 of UVB radiation, respectively. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was inhibited by UVB and the lowest activity occurred 24, 48, 12 and 12 h after exposure to 110, 300, 500 and 800 mJ/cm2 of UVB, respectively. SOD activity recovered later to some extent but mostly remained below control level. After exposure to different doses of UVB radiation, catalase (CAT) activity was inhibited immediately, and then gradually recovered and even increased to peak levels above control level. The highest CAT levels accompanied the most serious damage of skin morphology. Later on, CAT activity decreased and recovered again close to or below control level, which was accompanied by shedding off the damaged epidermal complex. This indicated that the epidermal damage induced by UVB is closely related to lipid peroxidation, where CAT acts as a primary antioxidant enzyme. Moreover, the keratinous layer protects the viable cell layer against UVB damage as well.     

Probing the Effects of Reagent Gas Pressure and Ion Source Temperature for Dimethyl Ether Chemical Ionization of Tricyclic Antidepressants in an External Source Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

This study examines the reagent gas pressure and ion source temperature dependence for dimethyl ether chemical ionization (DME CI) mass spectra recorded with an external source ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS). Information for better controls of the reagent gas pressure in order to obtain fair CI spectra is provided. The origin of M^+? ions observed in DME CIMS is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the ion source temperature effect on the DME CI is also investigated.     

Synthesis of statistical glycidyl methacrylate‐n‐vinyl pyrrolidone copolymers and their reaction with naproxen

Free‐radical copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) with N‐vinylpyrrolidone (VPD) was carried out at 50 °C using 3.0 mol · L^?1 of N,N′‐dimethylformamide solution and 9.0 · 10^?3 mol · L^?1 of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The modification reaction of GMA‐VPD copolymers with a model bioactive carboxylic acid, 6‐methoxy‐α‐methyl‐2‐naphthaleneacetic acid (naproxen), was studied in the homogeneous phase using basic catalysts. The influence of the type of catalyst and the GMA content was evaluated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1192–1199, 2002     

Novel ene trimerization of 1-phenylcyclopropene

1-Phenylcyclopropene (1) was synthesized by treatment of 1,1,2-tribromo-2-phenylcyclopropane (2) with 2.5 equiv of methyllithium followed by protonation. Compound 1 underwent ene dimerization to form ene dimer 5 followed by ene reaction with monomer 1 (enophile) to give an ene trimer 6. Both of these two ene reactions derived endo transition states. In the meantime, the [2+2] adduct, trans-1,2-diphenylbicyclo[3.1.0.0(2,4)]hexane (7), was also formed. When the adduct 7 was heated at THF refluxing temperature, 1,2-diphenylcyclohexa-1,4-diene (8) was obtained. Compound 8 was treated with DDQ to yield o-diphenylbenzene.     

H2S-induced reorganization of mixed monolayer of carboxylic derivatives on silver surface

The structure of self-assembled monolayers ofp-terphenyl-4-carboxylic acid and the mixed monolayers of this acid with n-hexadecanoic acid on silver surface were studied by reflection-IR spectroscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurement, X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM), and atomic force microscopy. Exposure of the p-terphenyl-4-carboxylate monolayer to H2S vapor resulted in reorganization of the film structure into clusters of the corresponding free acids, in tens of nanometer dimension. Exposure of the mixed monolayer to H2S resulted in reorganization of the mixed monolayer film into phase-separated clusters of respective component molecules. The saturated aliphatic acid formed clusters of submicrometer size, whereas the p-terphenyl-4-carboxylic acid formed clusters of tens of nanometer size, presumably due to different surface mobility and/or intermolecular interaction of the two types of molecule. Restoration of the monolayer film from the clusters, driven by the reaction between the free acid molecules and the basic surface sites, proceeded at different speeds for the two types of molecules. The saturated acid monolayer was restored much faster than the p-terphenyl-4-carboxylic acid monolayer. A domain-separated monolayer in several micrometers scale was obtained. The process was imaged by tapping mode atomic force microscopy.     

Reaction of Pyrimidinonethione Derivatives: Synthesis of N‐Methyl‐2‐Hydrizinopyrimidine‐4‐One,Thiazolo[3,4‐b] N‐Methylpyrimidinone; 2‐(1‐Pyrazolonyl) N‐Methylpyrimidine‐4‐one and 2‐Hydrazino‐N‐Methyl Pyrimidine‐4‐One Derivatives

6‐Aryl‐5‐cyano‐4‐pyrimidinone‐2‐thion derivatives 1a‐c reacted with methyl iodide (1:2) to give the corresponding 2‐S,N‐dimethyl pyrimidine‐4‐one derivatives 2a‐c . Compounds 2a‐c were in turn, reacted with hydrazine hydrate to give the sulfur free reaction products 3a‐c . These reaction products were taken as the starting materials for the synthesis of several new heterocyclic derivatives. Reaction of 3a‐c with acetic anhydride and formic acid gave pyrimido triazines 4a‐c and 7a‐c , respectively. Their reactions with active methylene containing reagents gave the corresponding 2‐(1‐pyrazonyl)‐N‐methyl pyrimidine derivatives 9a‐c and 10a‐c , respectively. Their reactions with aromatic aldehydes afforded the corresponding 2‐hydrazono pyrimidine derivatives 11a‐c . The structure of these reactions products were established based on both elemental analysis and spectral data studies.     

Two New Cyclopeptides from Arenaria oreophila (Caryophyllaceae)

Two new cyclopeptides, named arenariphilin A ( 1 ) and arenariphilin B ( 2 ), were isolated from the whole plants of Arenaria oreophila. Their structures were determined as cyclo‐(Thr‐Gly) ( 1 ) and cyclo‐(Ser₁‐Gly ‐Ser₂‐Ile ‐Phe₁‐Phe₂) ( 2 ) on the basis of spectral data, especially by 2D‐NMR.     

Methylation of Chitosan with Iodomethane: Effect of Reaction Conditions on Chemoselectivity and Degree of Substitution

N,N,N‐trimethylchitosan (TMC) was prepared by reacting purified chitosan with iodomethane, in the presence of sodium hydroxide, water and sodium iodide, at room temperature. The reaction medium was N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. Different samples of TMC were obtained by adding to the reaction medium a fixed volume (5.5 mL) of aqueous NaOH solutions at different concentrations (15, 20, 30 and 40 wt.‐%) and carrying out the reactions for 9 or 24 h. The features observed in the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of these chitosan derivatives, in respect of the chemical shift, number and relative intensity of the signals, depended strongly on the excess of NaOH and H₃CI added to the reaction medium, but when the lowest excess was employed, the characteristics of the derivative were not affected by the reaction time to the same extent. The average degree of quaternization of these N‐methylated derivatives of chitosan ranged from 10.5% to 44.8%, according to the reaction conditions. Increasing the excess of NaOH, in reactions carried out for 9 h, resulted in TMC samples with progressively higher content of trimethylated sites however, the reaction yields were correspondingly lower and O‐alkylation was favored in these cases.

¹H NMR spectrum of sample [A_X]^24h dissolved in D₂O (C_p = 10 g/L).     

Activation of gold on titania: adsorption and reaction of SO(2) on Au/TiO(2)(110)

Synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission and first-principles density-functional slab calculations were used to study the interaction of gold with titania and the chemistry of SO(2) on Au/TiO(2)(110) surfaces. The deposition of Au nanoparticles on TiO(2)(110) produces a system with an extraordinary ability to adsorb and dissociate SO(2). In this respect, Au/TiO(2) is much more chemically active than metallic gold or stoichiometric titania. On Au(111) and rough polycrystalline surfaces of gold, SO(2) bonds weakly and desorbs intact at temperatures below 200 K. For the adsorption of SO(2) on TiO(2)(110) at 300 K, SO(4) is the only product (SO(2) + O(oxide) --> SO(4,ads)). In contrast, Au/TiO(2)(110) surfaces (theta;(Au) < or = 0.5 ML) fully dissociate the SO(2) molecule under identical reaction conditions. Interactions with titania electronically perturb gold, making it more chemically active. Furthermore, our experimental and theoretical results show quite clearly that not only gold is perturbed when gold and titania interact. The adsorbed gold, on its part, enhances the reactivity of titania by facilitating the migration of O vacancies from the bulk to the surface of the oxide. In general, the complex coupling of these phenomena must be taken into consideration when trying to explain the unusual chemical and catalytic activity of Au/TiO(2). In many situations, the oxide support can be much more than a simple spectator.