Isolation,identification and synthesis of the sex pheromone of the citrus mealybug,Planococcus citri (risso)

The sex attractant pheromone of the citrus mealybug, $\text{Planococcus citri}$ (Risso), has been Identified as (1$\text{R}$-$\text{cis}$)-(+)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(1-methylethenyl)cyclobutanemethanol acetate (VI).     

Gas-phase derivatization of [C3H5]+ ions using tandem mass spectrometry methods A13C labelling study

The study of specifically ¹³C-labelled precursors sheds further light on the gas-phase chemistry of allyl and 2-propenyl cations. It is demonstrated that both species are formed from allyl and 2-propenyl bromide upon 70 eV electron impact ionization without skeletal reorganization. Gas-phase derivatization of the [C₃ H₅]⁺ ions with benzene facilitates, as suggested and observed earlier, the distinction of the two isomers using collision-induced dissociation of the Wheland complexes (or isomers thereof). The ¹³C labelling data clearly demonstrate that 64% of allyl cations survive the derivatization while 36% isomerize to 2-phenylpropyl cations; the latter are also formed via the reaction of 2-propenyl cation with benzene, protonation of α-methylstyrene and water loss from protonated 2-phenyl-2-propanol, respectively. Unimolecular loss of C₂H₄ from protonated allylbenzene proceeds via two competing reaction channels: one involves heterolysis of 1-phenylpropyl cations (～30%); the major pathway (～70%), however, involves decomposition via propylene benzenium ions.     

Organische Schwefelverbindungen—IV: Elektronenstossinduzierte Redoxreaktion von ortho-Nitrothiobenzoesäure-S-p-tolylester

The electron-impact fragmentation of S-p-tolylester of nitrothiobenzoic acid leads to a previously unknown rearrangement in the case of the ortho compound. This consists of an intra molecular redoxreaction with oxygen transfer from the o-nitro group onto the sulphur of the thiol ester group. The position of the nitro group is not only an essential influence on the fragmentation pattern, but also of dramatic importance in determining the lifetime of the molecular ion.     

Kinetics of cooperative conformational transitions of lineal biopolymers

Cooperative conformational transitions of proteins and nucleic acids are of decisive importance to many processes of molecular biology, and particularly to their regulation. They proceed via numerous interdependent elementary processes, and their kinetics are therefore often complicated. They are frequently also very fast. However, kinetic analyses can be carried out by chemical relaxation methods. The theoretical interpretation is comparatively simple in the case of linear biopolymers. When the linear Ising model extended for kinetics was applied to model peptides and polynucleotides, it provided an insight into the fundamental principles of cooperative transformations.     

Electrochemistry of capillary systems with narrow pores. IV. Dialysis potentials

The dialysis potentials of different collodion membranes with graded pore sizes and electrochemical activities have been measured in dilute aqueous KCl solutions as functions of concentration. It is possible to predict the value of the diffusion potential within a few millivolts on the basis of electrical conductivity data obtained with the same membranes. In general, the measured values are lower than those calculated. It is assumed that this difference is caused by the membranes having a distribution of pore sizes.     

Elektronenstossinduzierte Fragmentierung von Acetylenverbindungen—IV: Mechanistische Betrachtungen zur Bildung des Benztropyliumkations aus den Chlormethyl-Naphthalinen und 1-Chlor-Phenyl-(5)-Penten-(2)-in-(4)

Mass spectroscopic investigations of ²H- and ¹³C-labelled derivatives of e.g. 1-, 2-chloro-methyl-naphthalene and 1-chloro-phenyl(5)-pentene-(2)-in-(4) show that the [C₁₁H₉]⁺ ion, which gives [C₉H₇]⁺ by acetylene elimination, has the structure of a benztropylium cation. Model considerations show that the formation of this cation [C₁₁H₉]⁺ through a common transition state with a three-membered ring is very probable.     

Mössbauer study of LaNiSn and NdNiSn compounds and their deuterides

Summary LaNiSn and NdNiSn compounds and their deuterides have been studied by variable temperature ¹¹⁹Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopy. The hyperfine parameters obtained experimentally are in good agreement with those derived from first principle calculations. The enlargement of quadrupole splitting observed for LaNiSn after deuteration confirms the lower symmetry of electron density around tin atoms indicated by the calculation of partial Sn-p density of states (DOS). Magnetic ordering is observed at low temperature in deuterided NdNiSn.     

Gaseous alkyne ions

Using the relative abundance of metastable ions, collisional activation spectra, field ionization kinetic measurements, isotopic labelling, appearance energy and kinetic energy release data, it is shown that linear alkyne radical cations with more than six carbon atoms do not isomerize to equilibrating structures prior to decomposition. At the shortest ion lifetimes the molecular ions of linear alkynes decompose mainly by simple β-bond fission which allows an unequivocal localization of the triple bond. At medium ion lifetimes fragmentation occurs predominantly via a McLafferty rearrangement, while at long ion lifetimes competing alkyl losses prevail. These alkyl losses occur via cyclic intermediates leading to thermochemically stable cycloalkenyl ions. All these reactions occur with a high specificity with respect to the carbon and hydrogen atoms involved and are preceded by little or no hydrogen exchange reactions.     

Computational study on mechanistic details of the aminoethanol rearrangement catalyzed by the vitamin B12-dependent ethanolamine ammonia lyase: His and Asp/Glu acting simultaneously as catalytic auxiliaries

The rearrangement of aminoethanol catalyzed by ethanolamine ammonia lyase is investigated by computational means employing DFT (B3LYP/6-31G) and ab initio molecular orbital theory (QCISD/cc-pVDZ). The study aims at providing a detailed account on various crucial aspects, in particular a distinction between a direct intramolecular migration of the partially protonated NH(2) group vs elimination of NH(4)(+). Three mechanistic scenarios were explored: (i) According to the calculations, irrespective of the nature of the protonating species, intramolecular migration of the NH(3) group is energetically less demanding than elimination of NH(4)(+). However, all computed activation enthalpies exceed the experimentally derived activation enthalpy (15 kcal/mol) associated with the rate-determining step, i.e., the hydrogen abstraction from the 5'-deoxyadenosine by the product radical. For example, when imidazole is used as a model system for His interacting with the NH(3) group of the substrate, the activation enthalpy for the migration process amounts to 27.4 kcal/mol. If acetic acid is employed to mimic Asp or Glu, the activation enthalpy is somewhat lower, being equal to 24.2 kcal/mol. (ii) For a partial deprotonation of the substrate 2 at the OH group, the rearrangement mechanism consists of the dissociation of an NH(2) radical from C(2) and its association at C(1) atom. For all investigated proton acceptors (i.e., OH(-), HCOO(-), CH(3)COO(-), CH(2)NH, imidazole), the activation enthalpy for the dissociation step also exceeds 15 kcal/mol. Typical data are 20.2 kcal/mol for Ac(-) and 23.8 kcal/mol for imidazole. (iii) However, in a synergistic action of partial protonation of the NH(2) group and partial deprotonation of the OH group by the two conceivable catalytic auxiliaries Asp/Glu and His, the activation enthalpy computed is compatible with the experimental data. For imidazole and acetate as model systems, the activation enthalpy is equal to 13.7 kcal/mol. This synergistic action of the two catalytic groups is expected to take place in a physiologically realistic pH range of 6-9.5, and the present computational findings may help to further characterize the yet unknown structural details of the ethanolamine ammonia lyase's active site.