Kinetic Analysis of the Hydrolysis of Pentose-1-phosphates through Apparent Nucleoside Phosphorolysis Equilibrium Shifts**

Herein, we report an addition to the toolbox for the monitoring and quantification of the hydrolytic decay of pentose-1-phosphates, which are known to be elusive and difficult to quantify. This communication describes how apparent equilibrium shifts of a nucleoside phosphorolysis reaction can be employed to calculate hydrolytic loss of pentose-1-phosphates based on the measurement of post-hydrolysis equilibrium concentrations of a nucleoside and a nucleobase. To demonstrate this approach, we assessed the stability of the relatively stable ribose-1-phosphate at 98 °C and found half-lives of 1.8–11.7 h depending on the medium pH. This approach can be extended to other sugar phosphates and related reaction systems to quantify the stability of UV-inactive and hard-to-detect reaction products and intermediates.     

Modular Synthetic Approach to Carboranyl‒Biomolecules Conjugates

The development of novel, tumor-selective and boron-rich compounds as potential agents for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) represents a very important field in cancer treatment by radiation therapy. Here, we report the design and synthesis of two promising compounds that combine meta-carborane, a water-soluble monosaccharide and a linking unit, namely glycine or ethylenediamine, for facile coupling with various tumor-selective biomolecules bearing a free amino or carboxylic acid group. In this work, coupling experiments with two selected biomolecules, a coumarin derivative and folic acid, were included. The task of every component in this approach was carefully chosen: the carborane moiety supplies ten boron atoms, which is a tenfold increase in boron content compared to the l-boronophenylalanine (l-BPA) presently used in BNCT; the sugar moiety compensates for the hydrophobic character of the carborane; the linking unit, depending on the chosen biomolecule, acts as the connection between the tumor-selective component and the boron-rich moiety; and the respective tumor-selective biomolecule provides the necessary selectivity. This approach makes it possible to develop a modular and feasible strategy for the synthesis of readily obtainable boron-rich agents with optimized properties for potential applications in BNCT.     

Structure elucidation of β-carotene isomers by HPLC-NMR coupling using a C30 bonded phase

The separation of cis/trans isomers of β-carotene has been performed with a C₃₀ stationary phase employing ¹H NMR spectroscopy as an on-line detection technique. 1D as well as 2D NMR spectra have been recorded in the stopped-flow mode for the predominant chromatographic peaks. Structural assignment of the five identified isomers was performed via comparison of simulated 1D ¹H NMR spectra on the basis of the structures of β-carotene cis/trans isomers with the experimental data, and also by the analysis of the proton-proton connectivities in the 2D NMR spectra of three isomers with the highest concentration. The chromatographic retention behaviour of the isomers agreed well with previously reported data. The advantage of the applied hyphenated coupling technique compared to conventional off-line techniques lies in the fact that chromatographic separation and NMR detection are performed in a closed system, so that reisomerization of the separated compounds is inhibited. Received: 29 May 1996 / Revised: 1 July 1996 / Accepted: 4 July 1996     

Synthese und Kristallstruktur einer Neuen hexagonalen Modifikation von Al2S3 mit fünffach koordiniertem Aluminium

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Novel Hexagonal Modification of Al₂S₃ with Five-coordinated Aluminum A new hexagonal high temperature modification of Al₂S₃ could be prepared by chemical vapour transport with iodine (860 → 750°C) or by annealing of α -Al₂S₃ at 550°C. According to the single crystal X-ray structure determination the novel form of Al₂S₃ crystallizes in space group P 6₁ (No. 169) with a = 6.491(1), c = 17.169(4) Å, V = 626.5 ų, Z = 6; R = 0.0253. In this modification one half of the aluminum atoms are tetrahedrally coordinated [d(Al? S): 2.226–2.267 Å], whereas the other half are in trigonal bipyramidal coordination of five S atoms with bond lengths of 2.272–2.315 Å (equatorial) and 2.495–2.521 Å (axial). Aluminum in AlS₅ coordination is observed for the first time in this compound. The crystal structure is isotypic to In₂Se₃ and AlInS₃. In addition, results of a refinement of the α -Al₂S₃ crystal structure are reported which were obtained on crystals prepared also by chemical vapour transport with iodine.