Synthesis and characterization of crosslinked polydiacetylene and its two-component interpenetrating polymer networks

The synthesis of crosslinked polydiacetylenes and its two-component interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) was carried out utilizing its polar and flexible substituent groups. Polydiacetylenes were crosslinked by the formation of allophanate linkages utilizing urethane groups in the substituent groups of the polydiacetylenes. Elemental analysis, DSC, TMA, solvent resistance, and IR spectra are presented as evidence for the formation of crosslinked polydiacetylenes. IPNs of polydiacetylenes and an epoxy resin (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) were synthesized by using simultaneous and sequential methods of synthesis. A study of phase morphology of the simultaneous and sequential IPNs was carried out using electron microscopy, TMA, and DSC.     

A high resolution mass spectrometric measurement system for a vacuum fusion apparatus

A high resolution mass spectrometric read-out system for a vacuum fusion apparatus is described. Rapid analyses are possible and the rate at which various gases are evolved can be monitored. Gas mixture assays are accomplished by scanning the nominal mass 28 peak. Serial measurements of CO⁺, N₂⁺ and C₂H₄⁺ are made. Thus detection and measurement of evolved hydrocarbons are possible. The results for silver and tin from a conventional vacuum fusion apparatus and the mass spectrometer apparatus are compared.     

Untersuchungen über ternäre Chalkogenide. XXIV. Zur Struktur des TlGaSe2

On Ternary Chalcogenides. XXIV. The Structure of TlGaSe₂ TlGaSe₂ is monoclinic with a = 10.772(3), b = 10.771(5), c = 15.636(8) Å, ß = 100.6(3)°, Z = 16, space group Cc. The refinement yielded an R value of 0.082 for 1366 unique observed reflections (MoKα). The compound crystallizes with a layer structure with two anion layers perpendicular to c* in the unit cell. The structural motive of the layers are large corner-linked Ga₄Se₁₀- tetraeder consisting of four corner-linked GaSe₄ tetrahedra. Two adjacent layers are turned relative to each other by 90°. They are kept together by Tl¹⁺ ions, which are situated on straight lines parallel to the edges of the Ga₄Se₁₀ groups. They are surrounded by six selenium atoms forming trigonal-prismatic TlSe₆ polyhedra. 4₂ screw-axes within the layers are the reason for a strongly pronounced pseudo tetragonal symmetry. Different possibilities of stacking cause a onedimensional disorder along the c* direction. The relations between the TlGaSe₂ type and the TlSe type and also the high-pressure modifications of some compounds with the TlGaSe₂ structure are discussed.     

A facile, microwave-assisted, palladium-catalyzed arylation of acetone

We report an expedient method for the heteroarylation of acetone under tin-free conditions. The coupling is performed using the commercially available enol silane of acetone (2-trimethylsilyloxypropene) and a corresponding aryl bromide, chloride or triflate under microwave-assisted conditions, with tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium (Pd₂(dba)₃) or palladium acetate (Pd(OAc)₂) and 2-(2′,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl)dicyclohexylphosphine (S-Phos) as the catalyst system.     

The fluoride ion effect in the reactions of singlet oxygen with enols

The fluoride ion effect in the reactions of enolic systems with singlet oxygen has been investigated. β-Dicarbonyl compounds yielded 1,2,3-tricarbonyl derivatives, some of which underwent further hydration, whereas α-diketones suffered oxidative decarboxylation to give open-chain aldehydo-acids or keto-acids.     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-(1-->4)-D-xylooligosides: new substrates for beta-D-xylanase assays

Transglycosylation catalyzed by a beta-D-xylosidase from Aspergillus sp. was used to synthesize a set of 4-methylumbelliferyl (MU) beta-1-->4-D-xylooligosides having the common structure [beta-D-Xyl-(1-->4)]2-5-beta-D-Xyl-MU. MU xylobioside synthesized chemically by the condensation of protected MU beta-D-xylopyranoside with ethyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-xylopyranoside was used as a substrate for transglycosylation with the beta-D-xylosidase from Aspergillus sp. to produce higher MU xylooligosides. The structures of oligosaccharides obtained were established by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. MU beta-D-xylooligosides synthesized were tested as fluorogenic substrates for the GH-10 family beta-D-xylanase from Aspergillus orizae and the GH-11 family beta-D-xylanase I from Trichoderma reesei. Both xylanases released the aglycone from MU xylobioside and the corresponding trioside. With substrates having d.p. 4 and 5, the enzymes manifested endolytic activities, splitting off MU, MUX, and MUX2 primarily.     

Simple algorithm for isothermal-isobaric molecular dynamics

We review principles of non-Hamiltonian statistical mechanics and present a new set of equations and integration algorithm for isothermal-isobaric dynamics. The chief advantage of the present scheme is that it is somewhat simpler than previous methods. We perform numerical simulations to test the accuracy of the algorithm and compare its stability to that of a "gold standard," a symplectic integrator for Hamiltonian dynamics of the same system. The stability of the isothermal-isobaric algorithm is comparable to the stability of the symplectic integrator.     

CU(II) SENSITIZES pBR322 PLASMID DNA TO INACTIVATION BY UV-B(280–315 nm)

Abstract— Copper(II), in the presence of UV-B radiation(280–315 nm), can generate single-strand breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone of pBR322 plasmid DNA. A low level of single-strand backbone breaks occurs in the presence of Cu(II) alone, but UV-B irradiation increases the rate by the more than 100-fold. Concomitant with the damage to the DNA backbone is a loss of transforming activity. Oxygen is required for generation of the single-strand breaks but not for the loss of transforming activity. A DNA glycosylase (Fpg), which participates in the repair of certain DNA nitrogenous base damage, does not repair plasmid DNA damaged by Cu(II). The hydroxyl radical scavenging compound DMSO is only somewhat effective at protecting the physical and biological properties of the DNA. These results with Cu(II) are compared to those obtained previously with pBR322 plasmid DNA in the presence of Fe(III) and UV-A.     

Second-order nonlinear optical properties of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers studied by second harmonic generation from thin films

The two independent elements of the second-order nonlinear optical susceptibility tensor of a range of contact poled, donor–acceptor substitued side-chain polymers are reported. The susceptibilities were measured by second harmonic generation from thin films, typically less than 0.5 μm thick, at a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm. The largest value was χ = 2.64 pm/V which is three times greater than the χ value of KDP and was measured in a nitrobenzylidene side chain, polyhydroxystyrene polymer with an eleven unit alkyl chain spacer attaching the side group to the backbone. Typical susceptibility values obtained were χ～0.3 pm/V and X⁽²⁾₃₃～1 pm/V. The coherence lengths of the materials, which lay in the range 4–12 μm, were measured at 1064 nm by the maker fringe technique using thick, wedge-shaped samples.     

Quantification of tryptamine in brain using high-performance liquid chromatography

The concentration of endogenously formed tryptamine in central nervous system tissue was determined after extraction into ethyl acetate, purification on a weak cation-exchange resin and analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection. Final chromatographic separation of this indoleamine was achieved using a muBondapak C18 reversed-phase column under isocratic conditions. Using this method, the concentration of tryptamine in the whole brain of normal rats was found to be 0.60 +/- 0.06 ng/g of tissue, while pretreatment with dl-p-chlorophenylalanine, tranylcypromine and l-tryptophan increased the concentration to 96.7 +/- 21.9 ng/g.