The Absolute Configuration of 1-Methylindane

It is shown unequivocally by chemical correlations (cf. Schemes 1--3) and Raman optical activity spectra (cf. Fig. 1 and 2) that the (R)-configuration has to be attributed to (+)-1-methylindane ((+)- 1 ). This is in contradiction to an earlier assignment of the (R)-configuration to (?)- 1 [2] which was based on the (R)-configuration of (+)-indane-1-carboxylic acid ( 3 ) [11].     

ADVENTITIOUS INTERCONVERSION OF cis- AND trans-UROCANIC ACID BY LABORATORY LIGHT

Urocanic acid (UCA) is a chromophore in the stratum corneum. Ultraviolet radiation (ultraviolet B) has been shown to suppress mammalian cell-mediated immunity. The photoisomerization of trans -UCA to cis -UCA was proposed as the initiator of the suppression process. Cis -urocanic acid has been demonstrated to suppress immunity by a variety of experiments. Investigators should be aware that laboratory illumination may be capable of interconverting trans -UCA and cis -UCA during experimental manipulations. This possible inadvertent contamination of one isomer by the other may influence results. We demonstrated that fluorescent lamps, daylight, sunlight and incandescent lamps were able to bring about isomerization. Window glass and container materials of plastic and clear glass did not filter out effective wavelengths, but three commercial plastic diffusers on fluorescent fixtures prevented the isomerization. Because the molar extinction coefficient (ɛ) for cis -UCA is less than that of trans -UCA, we have exposed 0.1 m M trans -UCA to ambient light and monitored the change in absorbance. A method is given to calculate the percentage of trans and cis isomers from the absorbance at 277 nm when the initial purity and absorbance are known. Using this procedure, we validated the molar extinction coefficient of cis -UCA.     

Thermisches Verhalten von Cyclopropa[c]chromenen

The Cyclopropa[c]chromenes 14 , trans-and cis- 15 , trans-and cis- 16 and 17 rearrange on heating > 200° in N, N-diethylaniline to give 2-alkyl-2H-chromenes 7, 8, 21, 22. The rate determining step of this rearrangement is the ‘homoelectrocyclic’ ring opening of the cyclopro-pa[c]chromenes to give ω-allyl-quinomethanes of type 4. These intermediates show fast [1,5s] and [1,7a] H-shifts, followed by electrocyclic ring closure. Deuterium labelling experiments are in agreement with this mechanism. The remarkable dependence of the rates of rearrangement with respect to the stereochemistry of the cyclopropa[c]chromenes (cf. table 2) suggests that in the first step only one of the two possible disrotatory modes of ring opening is involved.     

Effect of Groundwater Composition on Arsenic Detection by Bacterial Biosensors

A luminescent bacterial biosensor was used to quantify bioavailable arsenic in artificial groundwater. Its light production above the background emission was proportional to the arsenite concentration in the toxicologically relevant range of 0 to 0.5 μM. Effects of the inorganic solutes phosphate, Fe(II) and silicate on the biosensor signal were studied. Phosphate at a concentration of 0.25 g L⁻¹ phosphate slightly stimulated the light emission, but much less than toxicologically relevant concentrations of the much stronger inducer arsenite. No effect of phosphate was oberved in the presence of arsenite. Freshly prepared sodium silicate solution at a concentration of 10 mg L⁻¹ Si reduced the arsenite-induced light production by roughly 37%, which can be explained by transient polymerization leading to sequestration of some arsenic. After three days of incubation, silicate did not have this effect anymore, probably because depolymerization occurred. In the presence of 0.4 mg L⁻¹ Fe(II), the arsenite-induced light emission was reduced by up to 90%, probably due to iron oxidation followed by arsenite adsorption on the less soluble Fe(III) possibly along with some oxidation to the stronger adsorbing As(V). Addition of 100 μM EDTA was capable of releasing all arsenic from the precipitate and to transform it into the biologically measurable, dissolved state. The biosensor also proved valuable for monitoring the effectiveness of an arsenic removal procedure based on water filtration through a mixture of sand and iron granules.     

Die thermische Umlagerung von 2-(Buta-1′,3′-dienyl)-phenolen in 2-Alkyl-2H-chromene; Beispiele für aromatische [1,7a]- und [1,5s]sigmatropische Wasserstoffverschiebungen

2-(1′-cis,3′-cis-)- and 2-(1′-cis,3′-trans-Penta-1′,3′-dienyl)-phenol (cis, cis- 4 and cis, trans- 4 , cf. scheme 1) rearrange thermally at 85–110° via [1,7 a] hydrogen shifts to yield the o-quinomethide 2 (R ? CH₃) which rapidly cyclises to give 2-ethyl-2H-chromene ( 7 ). The trans formation of cis, cis- and cis, trans- 4 into 7 is accompanied by a thermal cis, trans isomerisation of the 3′ double bond in 4. The isomerisation indicates that [1,7 a] hydrogen shifts in 2 compete with the electrocyclic ring closure of 2 . The isomeric phenols, trans, trans- and trans, cis- 4 , are stable at 85–110° but at 190° rearrange also to form 7 . This rearrangement is induced by a thermal cis, trans isomerisation of the 1′ double bond which occurs via [1, 5s] hydrogen shifts. Deuterium labelling experiments show that the chromene 7 is in equilibrium with the o-quinomethide 2 (R ? CH₃), at 210°. Thus, when 2-benzyl-2H-chromene ( 9 ) or 2-(1′-trans,3′-trans,-4′-phenyl-buta1′,3′-dienyl)-phenol (trans, trans- 6 ) is heated in diglyme solution at >200°, an equilibrium mixture of both compounds (～ 55% 9 and 45% 6 ) is obtained.