Diastereoselective cascade synthesis of azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes from acyclic precursors

The diastereoselective synthesis of azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes bearing different substituents on all positions of the cyclopropane ring has been achieved in moderate to good yields.     

The application of C-N.M.R. spectroscopy to the determination of the stereochemistry of Diels-Alder adducts

Long-range (³J) ¹³C-H coupling is a reliable probe to evaluate the stereochemistry of cycloaddition products. The method is best applied to carbonyl containing adducts but not restricted to them. Several structures have been revised and new ones evaluated.     

Fabrication of nanoscale metallic spirals using phospholipid microtubule organizational templates

We describe the fabrication of metallic Cu spiral/helical nanostructures prepared via selective electroless metallization of a phospholipid microtubule template. The metallization template is created through selective, sequential adsorption of the oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI), onto nanoscale seams naturally occurring on the microtubule surface. A negatively charged Pd(II) nanoparticle catalyst is bound to the terminal cationic PEI layer of the multilayer film and initiates selective template metallization to form the helical Cu nanostructures. Details of the process are presented, and a mechanism and factors affecting the control of the feature critical dimensions are discussed.     

Application of high-field NMR and cryogenic probe technologies in the structural elucidation of poecillastrin a,a new antitumor macrolide lactam from the sponge poecillastra species

Poecillastrin A (1), a new polyketide-derived macrolide lactam, was isolated from a deep-water collection of the marine sponge Poecillastra species. The structure of poecillastrin A (1) was assigned using NMR data acquired at 500 MHz with an inverse-detection cryogenic probe and at 800 MHz with a room-temperature probe.     

Mechanism for semiquinone formation in the oxygen negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The high toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) has led to the development of selective and highly sensitive quantitative methods for mass spectral analysis. Analytical selectivity has been demonstrated for the oxygen negative chemical ionization (ONCI) reaction of TCDD in an oxygen-rich plasma. While the reaction product (4,5-dichloro-1,2-benzoquinone anion) of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and oxygen is well known, the mechanism of its formation has not been studied thoroughly. In this report the results of a study involving the reaction of ¹⁸O₂ with 2,3,7,8-TCDD under high pressure and low pressure ONCI conditions are reported. A mechanism is proposed which is compatible with the observation that one ¹⁸O atom is incorporated into the product anion.     

Analysis of organomercury compounds in sediments by capillary GC with atomic fluorescence detection

Analysis of methyl- and ethylmercury (MM and EM) halides in biological and environmental samples is generally performed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Tedious sample work-up protocols and poor chromatographic response (using packed columns) have, however, shown the need for the development of new methods in this field. This paper reports a sensitive method, free from these deficiencies, for the determination of methyl- and ethylmercury. The organomercury compounds (MM and EM) are first released from the sample matrix, by the combined action of acidic potassium bromide and cupric ions, and then extracted into dichloromethane. The initial extracts are subjected to thiosulfate clean-up and the organomercury species are isolated as their chloride derivatives by addition of cupric chloride, and subsequent extraction into a small volume of organic solvent. Capillary GC coupled with atomic fluorescence detection provided excellent separation efficiencies for methyl- and ethylmercury and proved to be a very selective and sensitive technique. The absolute detection limit for both MM and EM was found to be 0.2 pg.     

The polymerization of 1,4-pentadiene to [3.3.1]bicyclo-linked chains

1, 4-Pentadiene has been polymerized by Ziegler-Natta catalysts to give amorphous polymers which are up to 64 wt.-% soluble. The polymers all have residual unsaturation which is substantially less than one double bond per mer, some as low as 0.1 double bond per mer. The polymerizations proceed by an unusual double inter-, double intramolecular cyclopolymerization mechanism leading to the formation of [3.3.1] bicyclic repeat units. Some main-chain (internal) unsaturation as well as pendant-group (external) unsaturation is observed. The latter results from incompletely cyclized 1,4-pentadiene units. The former is due to some concurrent isomerization of 1,4- to 1,3 pentadiene, which then copolymerizes with the 1,4 diene. The extent of isomerization varied with the catalyst system used. The soluble polymer fractions were brittle for internal unsaturations of less than about 0.05 double bond per mer and were viscous for higher values. The insoluble fractions were brittle and are believed to be lightly crosslinked.