Specific carbon-13 labelling of leucine residues in human growth hormone.

Biosynthetic human growth hormone specifically 13C-labelled in the carbonyl positions of all 26 leucine residues has been obtained by recombinant DNA techniques using 13C-labelled leucine and an E. coli strain that requires leucine. It is shown that, on the whole, the labelling is specific with no significant mislabelling as would have been the case had the 13C-labelled leucine been metabolized.     

Electron screening in backward elastic scattering

Abstact: The elastic scattering cross sections, σ (E,θ), for the systems He+Ta and He+W have been measured at θ_lab=165° and E _lab=76.1 keV to 3.988 MeV using targets with a thickness of a few atomic layers. The results are smaller than the results given by the Rutherford scattering law, σ_R(E,θ), due to the effects of electron screening and can be described by σ(E,θ)/σ_R(E,θ)=(1+U_e/E)⁻¹, where U _e is an atomic screening potential energy. The deduced average value, U _e=28 ± 3 keV, is consistent with the Moliére- and Lenz-Jensen-models as well as electron binding energies. Received: 25 May 1998     

Pattern formation in diffusion-limited reactions

The conditions for macroscopic segregation ofA andB in a steady-stateA+B 0 reaction are studied in infinite systems. Segregation occurs in one and two dimensions and is marginal ford=3. We note the dependence of these results on the precise experimental conditions assumed in the theory. We also note the difference between these results and our earlier ones for finite systems where the critical dimension isd=2.     

Synthesis of a new class of chiral 1,5-diphosphanylferrocene ligands and their use in enantioselective hydrogenation

A new family of ferrocenylphosphane ligands has been prepared. Their flexible synthesis allows many structural modifications. The asymmetric induction of these ligands was examined in the hydrogenation of functionalized C=C, C=O, and C=N bonds. The enantioselectivity of the reaction was strongly dependent on the substituent R at the position alpha to the ferrocene moiety. In many cases, both enantiomeric beta-hydroxyesters of the reduction product can be obtained by simply replacing a dimethylamino group in the ligand with a methyl group.     

Novel fluorinated block copolymer architectures fuelled by atom transfer radical polymerization

Block copolymers based on poly(pentafluorostyrene), PFS, in various numbers and of different lengths, and polystyrene are prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Di- and triblock copolymers with varying amounts of PFS were synthesized employing either 1-phenylethylbromide or 1,4-dibromoxylene as initiators for ATRP. Diverse bromo(ester) (macro)initiators were also devised and involved in the formulation of fluorinated pentablock as well as amphiphilic triblock copolymers with a central polyether segment. Amphiphilic star-shaped fluoropolymers, hydrophobic fluorinated nanoparticles, or segmented fluorinated star-shaped block copolymers are further designed by use of different multifunctional initiators. The composition of the novel materials with PFS is determined by combination of SEC and ¹H NMR. Glass transition temperatures and thermal stabilities of the hydrophobic star-shaped PFSs on a six arm dipentaerythritol core are investigated in a wide range of molecular masses and further discussed.     

Rapid identification and quantitation of compounds with forensic interest using fast liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry and library searching

A fast liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS-MS) method by using a monolithic column, gradient elution and ion trap mass spectrometer was developed for 14 forensically interesting and chemically different compounds. All compounds were eluted within 2.5 min and the total analysis time was 5 min including stabilisation time required for the next injection. All the compounds, basics, neutrals and acids were efficiently ionised by positive ion ESI. A laboratory library including MS-MS spectra and retention times was developed and tested. Results with 476 standard samples and 50 authentic samples showed that the compounds studied can be unambiguously identified with the library. A quantitative method was developed for the compounds using external calibration. The evaluation process showed good linearity of the method and reasonable repeatability. Limits of detection ranged from 10.0 to 50.0 ng/ml.     

Determination of Aroma Compounds from Alcoholic Beverages in Spiked Blood Samples by Means of Dynamic Headspace GC–MS

Some aroma compounds found in alcoholic beverages are characteristic of a certain beverage (i.e. 2,4-decadienoic acid ethyl ester is characteristic of pear spirit and 5-butyltetrahydro-4-methylfuran-2-on “whiskey lactone” is characteristic of aged spirits like whiskey). These substances were detectable in beverages but not in blood samples. The aim of this investigation was to find a sensitive sampling technique for aroma compounds in whole blood samples. This technique may be used in forensic toxicology for examination of drinking claims. The method comprises dynamic headspace sampling using a purge and trap concentrator, followed by quantitative gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (dynamic HS–GC–MS). The influence of sample preparation, trap adsorbents and sample temperature as well as desorption time and purge time on the quality of the analytical results were investigated. The following optimal parameters were determined: stirred and diluted whole blood sample without salt addition, use of Carbotrap C as trap material, sample temperature at 80 °C, desorption time 20 min and purge time 30 min. These optimal parameters were used for the determination of detection limits (LOD). The LOD of aroma compounds by means of dynamic headspace sampling were compared with the results of conventional sampling: the static headspace technique. Limits of detection for the aroma compounds with conventional static headspace GC are in the range 400–10,000 μg L^?1. Dynamic headspace–GC was found to be a more sensitive sampling technique for most of the aroma compounds investigated (e.g. C₄–C₈ ethyl esters, benzoic acid ethyl ester, linalool oxide and 4-ethylguaiacol) with detection limits between 1 and 50 μg L^?1, but there were also limits to the sampling of substances with lower volatility like decanoic acid ethyl ester, 2,4-decadienoic acid ethyl ester, eugenol and whiskey lactone with detection limits of about 1,000 μg L^?1.     

The dithianyl group as a synthon in porphyrin chemistry: condensation reactions and preparation of formylporphyrins under basic conditions

Vilsmeier formylation is one of the most widely used substitution reactions for the functionalization of porphyrins. However, its utility is limited by the electrophilic/acidic reaction conditions, deactivation of the aromatic system and regiochemical problems, the requirement for metal complexes and necessity for subsequent demetalation under harsh conditions, and low functional group tolerance. To overcome these limitations, the dithianyl group has been utilized as a latent formyl synthon in porphyrin chemistry. 2-Formyl-1,3-dithiane can be used directly in pyrrole condensation reactions to regioselectively yield porphyrins with up to four dithianyl residues. Likewise, 5-dithianyldipyrromethane could be prepared quantitatively as a key building block for various porphyrin condensation reactions yielding the respective free base formylporphyrins after deprotection. Additionally, dithianyllithium can be used as a reagent for the direct aromatic substitution of metallo- and free base porphyrins under nucleophilic conditions.