Surface accessibility of cellulose fibrils studied by hydrogen–deuterium exchange with water

A problem with cellulose-based materials is that they are highly influenced by moisture, leading to reduced strength properties with increasing moisture content. By achieving a more detailed understanding of the water–cellulose interactions, the usage of cellulose-based materials could be better optimized. Two different exchange processes of cellulose hydroxyl/deuteroxyl groups have been monitored by transmission FT-IR spectroscopy. By using line-shape-assisted deconvolution of the changing intensities, we have been able to follow the exchange kinetics in a very detailed and controlled manner. The findings reveal a hydrogen exchange that mainly is located at two different kinds of fibril surfaces, where the differences arise from the water accessibility of that specific surface. The slowly accessible regions are proposed to be located between the fibrils inside of the aggregates, and the readily accessible regions are suggested to be at the surfaces of the fibril aggregates. It was also possible to identify the ratio of slowly and readily accessible surfaces, which indicated that the average aggregate of cotton cellulose is built up by approximately three fibrils with an assumed average size of 12 × 12 cellulose chains. Additionally, the experimental setup enabled visualizing and discussing the implications of some of the deviating spectral features that are pronounced when recording FT-IR spectra of deuterium-exchanging cellulose: the insufficient red shift of the stretching vibrations and the vastly decreasing line widths.     

A practical synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes catalyzed by BF_3·Et_2O

Practical BF3Et2O catalyzed reactions between indoles and a series of carbonyl compounds at room temperature are described, which afford bis(indolyl)methanes with isolated yields up to 96%.     

Enantioselective addition of Et_2Zn to aldehydes catalyzed by chi-ral aliphatic β-amino alcohols

This paper describes the preparation of two new optically active aliphatic β-amino alcohols (R)-5,5-dimethyl-2-(dimethy-lamino)-1,1-diphenyl-1-hexanol (1a) and (S)-8,8-dimethyl-2-(dimethylamino)-1, 1-diphenyl-1-nonanol (1b). They were synthesized by methylation of the corresponding β-amino alcohols 2a and 2b. Compounds la and 1b catalyze the addition of diethylzinc to various aldehydes enantioselectively. The catalyst structure-enantioselectivity relationships were discussed.     

Structural changes of ultrasonicated bovine serum albumin revealed by hydrogen–deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry

The structural changes of bovine serum albumin (BSA) under high-intensity ultrasonication were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Evidence for the ultrasonication-induced conformational changes of BSA was provided by the intensity changes and maximum-wavelength shift in fluorescence spectrometry. Matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS) revealed the increased intensity of the peak at the charge state +5 and a newly emerged peak at charge state +6, indicating that the protein became unfolded after ultrasonication. Prevalent unfolding of BSA after ultrasonication was revealed by hydrogen–deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). Increased intensity and duration of ultrasonication further promoted the unfolding of the protein. The unfolding induced by ultrasonication goes through an intermediate state similar to that induced by a low concentration of denaturant.     

Investigation of ligand interactions with human RXRα by hydrogen/deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry

Several different agonists of the retinoic X receptor alpha (hRXRalpha) were examined for their effects on the amide H/D exchange kinetics of the homodimeric protein using mass spectrometry. Some agonists, LG 100268, SR11246, and DHA, bind such that slower deuterium exchange-in occurs compared with 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA), whereas others, fenretinide and methoprenic acid, result in poorer protection during binding and hence faster exchange-in. Protection against H/D exchange by different agonists and the inhibition of H/D exchange kinetics relative to 9-cis-RA varies markedly in different regions of the protein. Agonists LG 100268, SR11246, and DHA generally inhibit faster exchange processes in the ligand binding regions of hRXRalpha than does the native ligand 9-cis-RA. In at least half of these regions, the level of protection by 9-cis-RA lags behind the agonists even after 60 min. Methoprenic acid did not significantly protect hRXRalpha against amide hydrogen exchange. An efficient method is described for comparing the effects of different agonists on the protein structure of the agonist-RXRalpha complex.     

Synthesis of α-allyl-α-amino acids by means of a palladium catalyzed intramolecular rearrangement

Allylic esters of imines of amino acids provide α-alkylated-α-amino acids in good yields, on rearrangement by catalytic quantities of Pd(O) complexes.     

Reduction of 4-nitrophenol catalyzed by nitroreductase

The reduction of 4-nitrophenol catalyzed by nitroreductase in the presence of NADH was investigated in this paper.4-Amino- phenol and 4-bydroxylamino-phenol were found in the reductive products.The relationship between reaction time and the reductive ratio were studied.The similar reducing ratios of 4-nitrophenol were obtained under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.The results indicated that an oxygen-insensitive reaction was proceeded in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and nitroreductase was an oxygen- insensitive enzyme.The reductive products of 4-nitrophenol were determined by HPLC and MS.     

Separation of15N by chemical exchange in NO, NO2−HNO3 system under pressure

The basic isotopic exchange reaction is responsible for the separation of¹⁵N in the Nitrox system that between gaseous nitrogen oxides and aqueous nitric acid with a single stage separation factor α=1.055 for 10M nitric acid, at 25°C and atmospheric pressure takes place. In order to know what happens in¹⁵N separation at higher pressure, when the isotopic transport between two phases is improved, a stainless steel laboratory experimental plant with a 1000 mm long × 18 mm i.d. column, packed with triangular wire springs 1.8×1.8×0.2 mm², was utilised. At 1.5 atm (absolute), and 2.36 ml·cm⁻²·min⁻¹ flow rate HETP was 7% smaller than at atmospheric pressure and 1.5 times smaller flow rate. HETP at 3.14 ml·cm⁻²·min⁻¹ flow rate and 1.8 atm is practically equal with that obtained at atmospheric pressure and 2 times smaller flow rate. The operation of the¹⁵N separation plant at 1.8 atm (absolute), instead of atmospheric pressure, will permit doubling of the 10M nitric acid flow rate and of¹⁵N production of the given column.     

Regioselective tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols catalyzed by Fe（HSO4）3

Alcohols are selectively and efficiently protected as their tetrahydropranyl ethers in the presence of a catalytic amount of Fe(HSO4)3 in good to high yields. All reactions are performed under mild and completely heterogeneous reaction conditions.     

Hydration of α-pinene catalyzed by acid clays

The hydration reaction of α-pinene in the presence of natural clays treated with monochloroacetic acid as catalyst to obtain oxygenated compounds was studied. Catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, programmed thermal desorption of adsorbed pyridine, and infrared spectroscopic analysis of adsorbed pyridine to determine Brønsted and Lewis acid sites. Catalytic tests revealed that treatment of the natural clay with the acid improved the catalytic activity and the selectivity toward oxygenated products by increasing the acidity of the catalyst. The selectivity toward oxygenated compounds increased with the augment of the α-pinene conversion because of greater contact between water molecules with the remaining α-pinene molecules. The natural clay without treatment produced compounds resulting from α-pinene isomerization, whereas the treated clays produced alcohols and other products in addition to isomerization compounds. After a certain time, the α-terpineol was isomerized into cineols. Studies of the reusability of the JAL catalyst were performed (clay treated with monochloroacetic acid). As the number of reuses increased, the percent conversion decreased; however, the selectivity toward oxygenated compounds increased.      

Biomimetic approach for the synthesis of N,N’-diarylsubstituted formamidines catalyzed byβ-cyclodextrin in water

An environmentally benign and highly efficient biomimetic approach for the synthesis of N,N′-diarylsubstituted formamidines in water catalyzedβ-cyclodextrin is described under neutral condition with quantitative yields of products.β-Cyclodextrin has been recovered and reused.     

Enantioselective sulfenylation of α-nitroesters catalyzed by diarylprolinols

The organocatalytic sulfenylation of α-nitroesters mediated by diaryl-l-prolinols was developed. A range of α-sulfenylated α-nitroesters were obtained in good yields with moderate to good enantioselectivities.     

Kinetics and reaction mechanism of phenol hydroxylation catalyzed by La-Cu_4FeAlCO_3

Phenol hydroxylation is an industrially important reaction, whose main products are catechol and hy-droquinone being diverse applications which are im-portant intermediates for perfumes, drugs, and phar-maceuticals and so on[1]. The processes using H2O2 a…     

Ullmann-type C–N coupling reaction catalyzed by CuI/metformin

A facile and efficient method for Ullmann-type C–N coupling reaction of amine and aryl halide catalyzed by CuI/metformin in EtOH is described. The advantages of this method are the use of an inexpensive and readily available catalyst and ligand, easy workup, shorter reaction time, improved yields, and the use of green solvent. Furthermore, this procedure is applied successfully for the modification of natural products, such as Vindoline and Tabersonin.     

Enantioselective Michael addition of α,α-disubstituted aldehydes to nitroolefins catalyzed by a pyrrolidine-pyrazole

An efficient protocol for the asymmetric catalytic Michael additions of α,α-disubstituted aldehydes to nitroolefins with a pyrrolidine-pyrazole is described. The desired products γ-nitrocarbonyl compounds possessing an all-carbon quaternary center, were obtained in good yields and with high levels of enantioselectivities under solvent-free reaction conditions, employing benzoic acid as an additive.     

Synthesis of β-fluoroamines by Lewis base catalyzed hydrofluorination of aziridines

Lewis base catalysis promotes the in situ generation of amine-HF reagents from benzoyl fluoride and a non-nucleophilic alcohol. The hydrofluorination of aziridines to provide β-fluoroamines using this latent HF source is described. This protocol displays a broad scope with respect to aziridine substitution and N-protecting groups. Examples of regio- and diastereoselective ring opening to access medicinally relevant β-fluoroamine building blocks are presented.     

Enzymatic racemization of amines catalyzed by enantiocomplementary ω-transaminases

A strategy for the biocatalytic racemization of primary α-chiral amines was developed by employing a pair of stereocomplementary PLP-dependent ω-transaminases. The interconversion of amine enantiomers proceeded through reversible transamination by a prochiral ketone intermediate, either catalyzed by a pair of stereocomplementary ω-transaminases or by a single enzyme possessing low stereoselectivity. To tune the system, the type and concentration of a nonchiral amino acceptor proved to be crucial. Finally, racemization could be achieved by the cross-transamination of two different amines without a requirement for an external amino acceptor. Several synthetically and industrially important amines could be enzymatically racemized under mild reaction conditions.     

Synthesis of substituted pyrrolidines by reaction of aryl-substituted vinylidenecyclopropanes with aromatic imines catalyzed by BF3·Et2O

The reactions of 1,1-diaryl-2-(diphenylvinylidene)cyclopropanes and 1,1-diaryl-2-(2-phenylpropenylidine) cyclopropanes with aromatic amines in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O leads to the formation of pyrrolidine derivatives. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 552–557, April, 2008.     

One-pot synthesis of 1-amidoalkyl-2-naphthols catalyzed by nano-BF3·SiO2

1-Amidoalkyl-2-naphthols were prepared via one-pot multi-component reaction of 2-naphthol, aldehydes, and amides in the presence of nano-silica supported boron trifluoride (nano-BF₃·SiO₂) in ethyl acetate at 80 °C. Short reaction times, high yields, scaleup and easy work-up are the advantages of this protocol.     

Extraction of trivalent europium and americium by the synergistic mixture of bis-1,2-dicarbollylcobaltate and N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide in highly polar 3-nitro-α,α,α-trifluorotoluene solvent

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The extraction of trivalent europium and americium in the system water—HNO3—3-nitro-α,α,α-trifluorotoluene...