A novel synthesis of racemic and enantiomeric forms of prostaglandin B1 methyl ester

3-(Dimethoxyphosphorylmethyl)cyclopent-2-enone was converted into (+/-)-prostaglandin B1 methyl ester in two steps involving regioselective alkylation at C(2) with methyl 7-iodoheptanoate and subsequent Horner-Wittig reaction with dimer of 2-hydroxyheptanal (42% overall yield). The use of (R)- and (S)-2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)heptanal for the Horner olefination reaction gave, after deprotection of the hydroxy group, the enantiopure forms of the title compound in 28% overall yield.     

Pressure dependence of the Davydov splitting in tetracene single crystals

The reflection spectrum of the OO component of the first singlet transition of tetracene single crystal has been measured as a function of pressure in the range 1 atm–6.5 kbar. A discontinuous change in the Davydov splitting occurs near 3 kbar confirming the existence of a pressure-induced first order phase transition discovered recently by measurements of the magnetic field anisotropy in the single crystal tetracene fluorescence. The pressure-induced spectral red-shifts are larger in the low-pressure (LP) phase than those in the high-pressure (HP) crystal structure. The Davydov splitting of the OO band however increases with increasing pressure at a larger rate of 57 cm^?1/kbar for the HP phase as compared with 46 cm^?1/kbar for the LP phase.     

On-line identification of diastereomeric dibenzo[a,l]pyrene diol epoxide-derived deoxyadenosine adducts by capillary electrophoresis-fluorescence line-narrowing and non-line narrowing spectroscopy.

A capillary electrophoretic method for the separation and on-line identification of closely related analytes using low-temperature fluorescence spectroscopy is reported for the eight diastereomeric deoxyadenosine (dA) adducts derived from dibenzo[a,l]pyrene diol epoxide (DB[a,l]PDE). Electrophoretic separation of stereoisomers was accomplished by application of a mixed surfactant buffer [dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS) and Brij-S], which was below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) due to the high concentration (approximately 25%) of organic solvent. Addition of multiple surfactant additives to the separation buffer provided electrophoretic resolution, which was unattainable under single surfactant conditions. It is shown that the CE-separated analyte zones could be identified on-line via low-temperature (4.2 K) fluorescence non-line narrowing and fluorescence line-narrowing (FLN) spectroscopy. In addition, it was determined that in CE buffer trans-syn-,cis-syn- and cis-anti-DB[a,l]PDE-14-N6dA diastereomeric adducts exist mostly with the -dA and DB[a,l]P moiety in an "open"-type conformation while the trans-anti-DB[a,l]PDE-14-N6dA adducts exist in two different conformations whose relative distribution depends on matrix composition. The above conformations have also been revealed by selective laser excitation. Thus, the low-temperature methodology not only provides fingerprint structure via vibrationally resolved 4.2 K fluorescence spectra for adduct identification, but also provides conformational information on the spatial relationship of the carcinogen and dA moiety. These results, taken together with those for DB[a,l]P-DNA adducts formed in standard glasses and mouse epidermis exposed to DB[a,l]P, support our earlier findings that DB[a,l]P-derived adducts exist in different conformations [Jankowiak et al., Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11 (1998) 674]. Therefore, the combination of the separation power of CE and spectral selectivity of low-temperature fluorescence spectroscopy at NLN and FLN conditions provides a powerful methodology which should prove useful for identification of closely related DNA adducts formed at low levels in biological systems.     

Modeling study of non-line-narrowed hole-burned spectra in weakly coupled dimers and multi-chromophoric molecular assemblies

Several different models have been proposed to explain the origin of the complex anti-hole features observed in hole-burned (HB) spectra of excitonically coupled systems such as photosynthetic complexes. This lack of consensus presents a serious constraint on the interpretation of HB spectra and the underlying electronic structures of these systems. To resolve this problem we present results of modeling studies of non-resonant HB spectra taking uncorrelated excitation energy transfer and excitonic interactions into account. Simplified analytical results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations in which excitonic interactions are explicitly taken into account in order to disentangle a number of distinct effects. It is shown that these effects can accurately account for both hole shapes and the broad anti-hole structure observed in excitonically coupled systems. We argue that these models will provide a necessary framework for probing the electronic structure of these systems via HB spectroscopy.     

The MAMI C accelerator

The demand for CW electron beam energies of more than 1?GeV led to the decision of constructing a worldwide unique accelerator – the Harmonic Double-Sided Microtron (HDSM). This machine nearly doubles the beam energy of the Mainz Microtron cascade from up to 855?MeV to now 1.6?GeV to extend the experimental capabilities for nuclear and particle physics experiments to higher excitation energies. For the recent decade the construction and commissioning of the HDSM at the Institut für Kernphysik has been the major task of the accelerator department.     

Catalytic reactions of hydrosiloxanes with allyl chloride

Catalytic reactivity of Si-H bond of di-, trisiloxanes with allyl chloride in the presence of platinum catalyst has been examined. Hydrosilylation process competes with hydrogen substitution by chlorine and/or propenyl group. The effect of the reaction conditions as well as structure of siloxane on the yield and selectivity of the number of products has been discussed. Several consecutive-competitive processes have been identified. The results obtained can be helpful in the study of the catalytic hydropolysiloxanes reactions with allyl derivatives-systems of great practical importance, to produce commercial functionalized silicones.     

The preparation of [closo-1-CB9H8-1-COOH-10-(4-C3H7C5H9S)] as intermediate to polar liquid crystals

The preparation of iodo acid [closo-1-CB₉H₈-1-COOH-10-I]⁻ (1) is optimized and scaled from 1 to 40 g of B₁₀H₁₄. The improved preparation of the [arachno-6-CB₉H₁₃-6-COOH]⁻ (5) uses four times smaller volume and can be run conveniently in up to 40 g scale in a 3-L vessel. The optimized oxidation of 5 to [closo-2-CB₉H₉-2-COOH]⁻ (4) requires less oxidant, 12 times smaller volume, and significantly shorter reaction time. The overall yields of the iodo acid 1 as the [NMe₄]⁺ salt are typically 8-10% (10-12 g) for 40 g of B₁₀H₁₄. The iodo acid 1 was transformed to amino acid 8, then to dinitrogen acid 10, and finally to sulfonium acid 2[3] in overall yield of about 13%. The search for a more efficient phosphine ligand for the Pd-catalyzed amination process was not fruitful. Three routes to the sulfonium acid 2[n] were investigated, and the best yield of about 47% was obtained for Cs₂CO₃-assisted cycloalkylation. Liquid crystalline ester of acid 2[3] and 4-butoxyphenol was prepared and investigated.     

Integrated microfluidic device for the separation and electrochemical detection of catechol estrogen-derived DNA adducts

Catechol estrogen-derived DNA adducts are formed as a result of the reaction of catechol estrogen metabolites (e.g., catechol estrogen quinones) with DNA to form depurinating adducts. Developing a new methodology for the detection of various DNA adducts is essential for medical diagnostics, and to this end, we demonstrate the applicability of on-chip capillary electrophoresis with an integrated electrochemical system for the separation and amperometric detection of various catechol estrogen-derived DNA adducts. A hybrid PDMS/glass microchip with in-channel amperometric detection interfaced with in situ palladium decoupler is utilized and presented. The influence of buffer additives along with the effect of the separation voltage on the resolving power of the microchip is discussed. Calibration plots were constructed in the range 0.4–10 μM with r ² ≥ 0.999, and detection limits in the attomole range are reported. These results suggest that on-chip analysis is applicable for analyzing various DNA adducts as potential biomarkers for future medical diagnostics.     

Deformation-induced increase of spin—orbit coupling in the benzophenone molecule

Applying phosphorescence and phosphorescence excitation spectroscopy to a 6 K benzophenone glass, we found that the T₁ ← S_o transition can be enhanced by a factor of 300 if the absorbing molecule is distorted. Distortion also induces strong coupling to the antisymmetric torsional mode of the phenyl rings. It is concluded that twisting of the phenyl rings increases spin—orbit coupling in the 3nπ* state.     

Intense non-photochemical hole-burning spectra with discrete phonon structure in an aromatic organic glass (diphenylanthracene)

Hole burning in a tetracene-doped 9,10-diphenylanthracene glass deposited at 4.2 K occurs at an initial efficiency of 0.2 ± 0.1. The hole depth in the saturation limit is 0.6. The spectra show sharp phonon structures. The role of the phenyl rings for non-photochemical hole burning (NPHB) is emphasized.