Microwave promoted methylation of plant polysaccharides

O-Methylation is of outstanding importance in structural polysaccharide chemistry. A novel method for the methylation of polysaccharides using microwave (MW) irradiation is described. Seed gum from Cyamopsis tetragonolobus (Guar) was fully methylated with dimethyl sulphate and sodium hydroxide using 100% microwave power for 4 min in 68% yield. The completely methylated seed gum thus obtained was hydrolyzed by 70% formic acid followed by 0.5N H₂SO₄ under full microwave power for 1.16 and 1.66 min, respectively. The partially methylated monosaccharides were separated and identified.     

5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine reactivates the CDH1 gene without influencing methylation of the entire CpG island or histone modification in a human cancer cell line

It is well-recognized that DNA methylation and histone modifications play critical roles in epigenetic regulation of gene activity through the alteration of chromatin structure. Recent studies have shown that in a subset of cancer cells, the silencing of the human E-cadherin (CDH1) gene is associated with hypermethylation of the CpG island. However, the associated molecular mechanism remains unclear. To understand the mechanism, we have investigated the alteration of CpG island methylation and histone modifications during the reactivation of the CDH1 gene by treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC). Although the CDH1 gene expression was recovered by treatment with 5-aza-dC in a liver cancer cell line Li21, the methylation status of the entire CpG island and acetylation and methylation status of associated histones were not significantly altered. These results demonstrate that the silenced CDH1 gene can be reactivated without apparent alteration of histone modification or CpG island methylation.     

Bioaccumulation and excretion of arsenic compounds by a marine unicellular alga,polyphysa peniculus

Polyphysa peniculus was grown in artificial seawater in the presence of arsenate, arsenite, monomethylarsonate and dimethylarsinic acid. The separation and identification of some of the arsenic species produced in the cells as well as in the growth medium were achieved by using hydride generation–gas chromatography–atomic absorption spectrometry methodology. Arsenite and dimethylarsinate were detected following incubation with arsenate. When the alga was treated with arsenite, dimethylarsinate was the major metabolite in the cells and in the growth medium; trace amounts of monomethylarsonate were also detected in the cells. With monomethylarsonate as a substrate, the metabolite is dimethylarsinate. Polyphysa peniculus did not metabolize dimethylarsinic acid when it was used as a substrate. Significant amounts of more complex arsenic species, such as arsenosungars, were not observed in the cells or medium on the evidence of flow injection–microwave digestion–hydride generation–atomic absorption spectrometry methodology. Transfer of the exposed cells to fresh medium caused release of most cell–associated arsenicals to the surrounding environment.     

Species differences in the metabolism of arsenic compounds

Humans are exposed via air, water and food to a number of different arsenic compounds, the physical, chemical, and toxicological properties of which may vary considerably. In people eating much fish and shellfish the intake of organic arsenic compounds, mainly arsenobetaine, may exceed 1000 μg As per day, while the average daily intake of inorganic arsenic is in the order of 10–20 μg in most countries. Arsenobetaine, and most other arsenic compounds in food of marine origin, e.g. arsenocholine, trimethylarsine oxide and methylarsenic acids, are rapidly excreted in the urine and there seem to be only minor differences in metabolism between animal species. Trivalent inorganic arsenic (AsIII) is the main form of arsenic interacting with tissue constituents, due to its strong affinity for sulfhydryl groups. However, a substantial part of the absorbed AsIII is methylated in the body to less reactive metabolities, methylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), which are rapidly excreted in the urine. All the different steps in the arsenic biotransformation in mammals have not yet been elucidated, but it seems likely that the methylation takes place mainly in the liver by transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine to arsenic in its trivalent oxidation state. A substantial part of absorbed arsenate (AsV) is reduced to AsIII before being methylated in the liver. There are marked species differences in the methylation of inorganic arsenic. In most animal species DMA is the main metabolite. Compared with human subjects, very little MMA is produced. The marmoset monkey is the only species which has been shown unable to methylate inorganic arsenic. In contrast to other species, the rat shows a marked binding of DMA to the hemoglobin, which results in a low rate of urinary excretion of arsenic.     

Influence of humic substances on sorption and methylation processes of inorganic- and organo-tin species

The influence of humic substances on sorption and methylation processes for inorganic- and organotin species is presented. Four sediment samples from different locations of the Rivers Elbe, Mulde and Spittelwasser, Germany, with different organotin and humic contents were selected to extract the humic and fulvic acids. The various fractions—the original sediment, the humic acid, the fulvic acid and the residual sediment—were analysed for their organotin content. The individual buyltin species show quite different distribution patterns. Monobutyltin is found mostly associated with humic acids. Dibutyltin shows a nonunique behaviour. At low total organotin content, dibutyltin is found bonded to humic and fulvic acids, whereas at high organotin content dibutyltin is distributed more with the residual sediment. Most of the tributyltin remains in the sediment unextracted; only small quantities of it are in the fulvic acid fraction. Tetrabutyltin is only in the humic acid fraction when it binds to humic matter; it mostly remains in the sediment. General observations indicate that ionic butyltin species bind to fulvic acids whereas the non-polar tetrabutyltin is not found in the fulvic acid fractions in any of the samples. The appearance of monomethyl- and dimethyl-tin species in the humic and fulvic acid fractions after the alkaline extraction was surprising. There is a correlation between the humic content of the sample and the formation of methyltin species. Evidence is provided by experiments that humic substances act as methylation agents.     

2,4-二甲氧基苯甲酰氯的合成

2,4-二羟基苯甲酸与硫酸二甲酯经甲基化反应得到2,4-二甲氧基苯甲酸(3);3与SOCl2发生氯化反应合成了2,4-二甲氧基苯甲酰氯(4)。较佳的氯化反应条件为:325mmol,苯70mL,AlCl3250mg,回流反应1.5h,重结晶溶剂为石油醚(90℃～120℃),总产率达74.1%。2～4的结构经1HNMR和FT-IR表征。     

A study of methylation of inorganic tin by iodomethane in an aquatic environment with 13C carbon isotope tracer technique

The methylation of tin(II) [Sn(II)] by iodomethane (CH₃I) under environmental conditions has been further demonstrated by a ¹³C carbon isotope tracer method. Methylation products are mainly monomethyltin, and very small amounts of dimethyltin. The reaction of Sn(II) and CH₃I was investigated at pH 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and salinity (S) 8, 15, 22, 28, 35%; it has been found the reaction was affected by pH and salinity, the tin methylation activity being highest at about pH 6 and S = 28% . The methylation reaction is first-order for both CH₃I and Sn(II), and the rate equation has been obtained as follows: .     

酰亚胺及磺酰苯酰亚胺的氰甲基化新方法

二乙胺基乙腈分別与苯邻二酰亚胺、丁二酰亚胺或邻-磺酰苯酰亚胺反应后,可生成相应的N-氰甲基苯邻二酰亚胺、N-氰甲基丁二酰亚胺,N-氰甲基邻磺酰苯酰亚胺及O-氰甲基邻磺酰苯酰亚胺。酰亚胺或磺酰苯酰亚胺的氰甲基化反应活性,随氮负离子的稳定性及其酸性增强而增大。     

Pt/HL和Pt/KL沸石在异丙醇分解反应中的不同催化行为

Ｐｔ／ＫＬ沸石在异丙醇分解反应中具有很高的脱氢活性,而Ｐｔ／ＨＬ沸石具有明显的缺电子性,在此反应中难以显示出脱氢活性,通过加氢作用,可使沸石的酸位免受积炭覆盖,从而可增强Ｐｔ／ＨＬ沸石的酸性催化作用。