Der massenspektrometrische Verlust von Vinylalkohol aus 1-Amino-3-aryloxy-2-propanolen. 24. Mitteilung über das massenspektrometrische Verhalten von Stickstoffverbindungen

Loss of vinyl alcohol from 1-amino-3-aryloxy-2-propanols under electron impact Under electron impact compounds of type 1 (see Scheme 1) split off 44 mass units from the molecular ion. This unusual reaction was studied using derivatives and deuterium labelled compounds. It could be demonstrated that for this fragmentation reaction 16 is the important structural feature from which H₂(C3)?C(2)HOH (44 mass units) is lost. The preferred reaction mechanism involves a transition state in which four members of the side chain are involved (Scheme 2, mechanism 2).     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of heterocyclic nitriles

Chemoselective hydrolysis of heterocyclic nitriles can be achieved by an easy to use immobilized biocatalyst prepared from Rhodococcus sp. Pyrimidine-2-carbonitrile ( 2a ) and 3-chloropyridazine-4-carbonitrile ( 4a ) were converted into the corresponding amides while from 2-ethoxycarbonyl-4-pyridinecarbonitrile ( 1a ), 6-methylpyridazine-3-carbonitrile ( 3a ), 3-chloropyridazine-4-carbonitrile ( 4a ), 3-ethoxycarbonyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole-5-carbonitrile ( 8a ), indole-3-carbonitrile ( 9a ) and indole-3-ylacetonitrile ( 10a ) the acids were formed.     

Zur Chemie der Pyrrolpigmente, 54. Mitt.: Phytochrommodellstudien: Ein 2,3-Dihydrobilatrien-abc-3-Cholesterylderivat

The diastereomeric 2,3-Dihydrobilatrienes-abc derivatives (4Z, 9Z, 15Z)-7 and (4Z, 9Z, 15E)-7 bearing a cholesterylacetate moiety in position 3 of the chromophore are prepared. The reaction sequence contains an isomerisation step providing quantitative enantioselective formation of the chiral center in position 3. Configurations and conformations of the diastereomers are elucidated using¹H- and¹³C-NMR spectra, NOE-difference spectra, 2D-NMR experiments (NOESY) and arguments from UV-VIS and CD data. It is concluded that the hydrophobic interactions between chromophore and cholesteryl-fragment yield a compact conformation where the two substructures are in close contact with each other. On the other hand these interactions seem to be too weak to induce significant changes in the chemistry, absorption spectra and conformational characterics of the bile pigment chromophore. Therefore hydrophobic interactions between chromophor and apolar amino acid residues of the protein in phytochrome should be of minor relevance for determining spectroscopic shifts.

     

A new approach to β-amino acids: biotransformation of N-protected β-amino nitriles

A number of novel N-protected β-amino nitriles were prepared as substrates for two nitrile-converting microorganisms, Rhodococcus sp. R312 and Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540. The respective biotransformation products, β-amino acids, are known to be pharmacological very potent compounds.     

Characterization of SiO2 protective coatings on polycarbonate

SiO₂ protective coatings have been deposited on polycarbonate substrates by plasma ion assisted deposition. The influence of ion energy on the water permeability and the surface topography of the coatings was studied by infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Coatings deposited at sufficiently high ion energies show a barrier effect against moisture uptake and considerably reduced film roughness. Both effects are attributed to an increase of the packing densities of the coatings.     

Terminally Dimetallated N,N′‐Dimethylpiperazines with Doubly Spirocyclic Structures

Dilithiated N,N′‐dimethyl‐piperazine, LiCH₂N(CH₂CH₂)₂ NCH₂Li ( 2 ) was prepared by transmetallation of N,N′‐bis(trimethylstannylmethyl)‐piperazine ( 1 ) with ⁿBuLi and was isolated as a highly pyrophoric yellowish powder in high yield. Compound 2 was characterized by elemental analysis and was reacted as difunctional aminomethylating reagent with dialkyl‐earth metal chlorides, R₂MCl (M = Al, Ga; R = Me, ^tBu) which resulted in the formation of spirocyclic adducts of N,N′‐bis(dialkylmetallamethyl)‐piperazine and unreacted dialkylmetal chlorides, [(Me₂AlCl)Me₂AlCH₂N(CH₂CH₂)₂NCH₂AlMe₂(ClAlMe₂)] ( 3 ) and [(^tBu₂GaCl)^tBu₂GaCH₂N(CH₂CH₂)₂NCH₂Ga^tBu₂(ClGa^tBu₂)] ( 4 ) with five‐membered rings. Compounds 1 , 3 and 4 were identified by NMR‐spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn for 1 , ²⁷Al for 3 ), mass spectra (EI, for 1 ) and by crystal structure determinations.     

The effect of water or salt solution on thin hydrophobic films

Hydrophobic films of polystyrene synthesized in bulk (PS) and by emulsion polymerization in the presence of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (PS-CTAB) or the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (PS-SDS) were characterized by means of ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, and atomic force microscopy. Thin (approximately 65 nm) and thick (approximately 300 nm) films were spin-coated on hydrophilic silicon wafers. PS films presented scarcely tiny holes, while PS-CTAB and PS-SDS films presented holes and protuberances. The former were attributed to dewetting effects and the latter to surfactant clusters. The films were exposed to water or to a 0.1 mol/L NaCl solution for 24 h. Ex situ measurements evidenced strong topographic alterations after the exposure to the fluid. A model based on the diffusion of water (or electrolyte) molecules to the polymer/silcon dioxide interface through holes or defects on the film edges was proposed to explain the appearance of wrinkles and protuberances. In situ ellipsometric measurements were performed and compared with simulations, which considered either a water layer between a polymer and a silcon dioxide layer or an air layer between a polymer and water (medium). In the case of thin PS films, the ellipsometric angles evidenced a very thin (0.5-1.0 nm) air layer between water and the PS films. Upon increasing the PS film thickness, no air layer could be observed by ellipsometry. Regardless of the thickness, the ellipsometric data obtained for PS-CTAB and PS-SDS films did not indicate the presence of an air layer between them and the aqueous media. The dramatic changes in the topography of PS, PS-CTAB, and PS-SDS after immersion in salt solution were explained with proposed models. From a practical point of view, this study is particularly relevant because many hydrophobic polymers are used as substrates for biomedical purposes, where the physiological ionic strength is 0.15 mol/L NaCl.     

Trace analysis of heavy metals in high purity materials by helium-3 activation analysis

A method is described to determine traces of V, Fe, Ni, Zn, Nb and Mo in high purity matrices of niobium, tantalum and tungsten by non-destructive 14 MeV³He activation analysis. The influence of nuclear and γ-ray interferences in the determination of these elements is discussed.     

Styrene oxide DNA adducts: quantitative determination using <Superscript>31</Superscript>P monitoring

The reaction of styrene oxide, a potential carcinogen in humans, with DNA constituents has been used to develop an improved method for quantification of DNA adducts. To enable monitoring of DNA adducts caused by xenobiotics at physiological relevant levels, a robust, reliable and powerful method based on monitoring of phosphorus in nucleotides is described. An efficient enzymatic digestion step and a sample-preconcentration procedure are essential, and enable separation of alkylated nucleotides from the large excess of native nucleotides. The adducts are detected by means of the phosphorus signal measured at mass m/z=31 with an inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometer. Bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) serves as internal standard for quantification of the adducts. The absolute limit of detection, 45 fmol, corresponds to detection of three modified nucleotides among 10⁷ native nucleotides (the calculation is based on use of 50 g calf thymus DNA). An adduct formation ratio at the DNA of 3.6 adducts per 1000 nucleotides was measured, which is 75% lower than for reaction with monomeric 2-deoxy-nucleotides. In addition, a substantial amount of phosphate adducts were detected, but in DNA the rate of phosphate formation was lower than with monomeric nucleotides. Most probably these adducts escaped unnoticed when ³¹P-post-labelling was employed.     

Rearrangement of 4-(1-haloalkyl)- and 4-(2-haloalkyl)-2-azetidinones into methyl omega-alkylaminopentenoates via transient aziridines and azetidines

The synthesis of 4-(1-haloalkyl)-2-azetidinones and 4-(2-haloalkyl)-2-azetidinones was investigated with use of the Staudinger reaction between in situ generated ketenes and alpha-haloimines or beta-haloimines. This new class of functionalized 2-azetidinones was further evaluated for its potential use as intermediates in the synthesis of highly functionalized compounds. The reaction of 4-(1-haloalkyl)-2-azetidinones and 4-(2-haloalkyl)-2-azetidinones with sodium methoxide in methanol yielded ring-opened products, i.e., methyl 2-alkoxy-4-(alkylamino)pentenoate and methyl 5-(alkylamino)pentenoate, respectively. Further attention was paid in detail to the reaction mechanism involved in this peculiar transformation. It was proven that these reactions proceeded via intermediate aziridines or azetidines.