Synthesis and polymerization of racemic and optically active β-substituted β-propiolactones. II: β-monosubstituted and β-disubstituted monomers and polymers with different optical purities

β-(trichloromethyl)-β-propiolactone (CCl₃-PL), β-(trifluoromethyl,methyl)-β-propiolactone (CF₃, Me-PL) and β-(trifluoromethyl,ethyl)-β-propiolactone (CF₃,Et-PL) have been obtained by the reaction of ketene with chloral, 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone and 1,1,1-trifluorobutanone, respectively. Chiral catalysis lead to optically active monomers. The enantiomeric excess of the lactones has been measured by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, in the presence of 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(9-anthryl)ethanol or an europium chiral shift reagent. Polymerizations have been carried out in bulk or in toluene, at 60°C or 80°C, using mainly organometallic initiators. The Polymers become insoluble and crystalline at enantiomeric excesses over 80% for CCl₃-PL and 70% for CF₃,Me-PL. Melting temperatures were recorded from 238 to 268°C for poly(CCl₃-PL) and from 78 to 100°C for poly(CF₃,Me-PL), depending upon the molecular weight and the enantiomeric excess. The ¹³C-NMR specroscopy of poly(CCL₃-PL) indicates that the polymerization of the corresponding lactone leads to polymers of increasing degrees of isotacticity with the enantiomeric excess of the monomer.     

Polymerization of optically active β-substituted β-propiolactones. IV. β-1,1-dichloroalkyl β-propiolactones polymerized with aluminum triisopropoxide

The polymerization of three optically active β-1,1-dichloroalkyl β-propiolactones has been investigated in toluene, at 55°C, using aluminum triisopropoxide (Al(OiPr)₃) as initiator in a range of monomer/initiator molar ratios smaller than 150. β-1,1-dichloroethyl β-propiolactone polymerizes according to a living mechanism. However, the ability to polymerize decreases with an increase in the length of the alkyl substituent. For instance, β-1,1-dichloro-n-propyl β-propiolactone is obtained only in low yields, whereas β-1,1-dichloro-n-butyl β-propiolactone does not polymerize at all. Actually, each of the lactones investigated reacts with Al(OiPr)₃ in an initiation step that obeys a coordination-insertion mechanism. However, the size of the chloroalkyl substituent has a critical effect on the propagation: when the alkyl group contains more than two methylene units, the insertion of a second monomer becomes exceedingly slow.     

Synthesis and polymerization of racemic and optically active substituted β-propiolactones. VI. α-Phenyl β-propiolactone

The synthesis and optical resolution of α-phenyl β-amino-ethylpropionate led to the preparation of optically active α-phenyl β-propiolactones (PhPL) of different optical purities. The enantiomeric excess of PhPL was determined using 200 MHz ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, after complexation with tris[3-(trifluoromethyl hydroxymethylene)-d-camphorato]europium III. It was then polymerized, in bulk and in solution, using a potassium acetate/crown ether complex as initiator. The optically active poly(PhPL)s thus obtained are insoluble in most organic solvents, whereas atactic poly(PhPL)s are soluble in CCl₄, CHCl₃, and dichloroethane. Several differences are observed between the physical properties of optically active and atactic poly(PhPL)s. However, atactic poly(PhPL)s are semi-crystalline polymers, similar to poly(α-disubstituted β-propiolactone)s, but in contrast with poly(α-methyl β-propiolactone). Melting (T_f) and glass transition temperatures, as well as enthalpy of fusion (ΔH), vary with the optical purity of the polymers. For example, atactic poly(PhPL) exhibits a T_f = 94°C and ΔH = 9 J/g as compared to T_f = 119°C and ΔH = 37 J/g for a poly(PhPL) having an enatiomeric excess of 50%.     

Synthese von diastereo- und enantio-selektiv deuterierten β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- und γ,γ-Carotinen

Synthesis of Diastereo- and Enantioselectively Deuterated β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- and γ,γ-Carotenes We describe the synthesis of (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-β, εcarotene, (1R, 1′R)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-β, β-carotene, (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-γ, γ-carotene and (1R, 1′R, 6S, 6′S)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-γ, γ-carotene by a multistep degradation of (4R, 5S, 10S)-[18, 18, 18-²H₃]-didehydroabietane to optically active deuterated β-, ε- and γ-C₁₁-endgroups and subsequent building up according to schemes \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm C}_{11} \to {\rm C}_{14}^{C_{\mathop {26}\limits_ \to }} \to {\rm C}_{40} $\end{document} and C₁₁ → C₁₄; C₁₄+C₁₂+C₁₄→C₄₀. NMR.- and chiroptical data allow the identification of the geminal methyl groups in all these compounds. The optical activity of all-(E)-[²H₆]-β,β-carotene, which is solely due to the isotopically different substituent not directly attached to the chiral centres, is demonstrated by a significant CD.-effect at low temperature. Therefore, if an enzymatic cyclization of [17, 17, 17, 17′, 17′, 17′-²H₆]lycopine can be achieved, the steric course of the cyclization step would be derivable from NMR.- and CD.-spectra with very small samples of the isolated cyclic carotenes. A general scheme for the possible course of the cyclization steps is presented.     

Preparation of N-Fmoc-Protected β2- and β3-Amino Acids and their use as building blocks for the solid-phase synthesis of β-peptides

N-Fmoc-Protected (Fmoc = (9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy)carbonyl) β-amino acids are required for an efficient synthesis of β-oligopeptides on solid support. Enantiomerically pure Fmoc-β³-amino acids β³: side chain and NH₂ at C(3)(= C(β)) were prepared from Fmoc-protected (S)- and (R)-α-amino acids with aliphatic, aromatic, and functionalized side chains, using the standard or an optimized Arndt-Eistert reaction sequence. Fmoc-β²- Amino acids (β² side chain at C(2), NH₂ at C(3)(= C(β))) configuration bearing the side chain of Ala, Val, Leu, and Phe were synthesized via the Evans' chiral auxiliary methodology. The target β³-heptapeptides 5–8 , a β³- pentadecapeptide 9 and a β²-heptapeptide 10 were synthesized on a manual solid-phase synthesis apparatus using conventional solid-phase peptide synthesis procedures (Scheme 3). In the case of β³-peptides, two methods were used to anchor the first β-amino acid: esterification of the ortho-chlorotrityl chloride resin with the first Fmoc-β-amino acid 2 (Method I, Scheme 2) or acylation of the 4-(benzyloxy)benzyl alcohol resin (Wang resin) with the ketene intermediates from the Wolff rearrangement of amino-acid-derived diazo ketone 1 (Method II, Scheme 2). The former technique provided better results, as exemplified by the synthesis of the heptapeptides 5 and 6 (Table 2). The intermediate from the Wolff rearrangement of diazo ketones 1 was also used for sequential peptide-bond formation on solid support (synthesis of the tetrapeptides 11 and 12 ). The CD spectra of the β²- and β³-peptides 5 , 9 , and 10 show the typical pattern previously assigned to an (M) 3₁ helical secondary structure (Fig.). The most intense CD absorption was observed with the pentadecapeptide 9 (strong broad negative Cotton effect at ca. 213 nm); compared to the analogous heptapeptide 5 , this corresponds to a 2.5 fold increase in the molar ellipticity per residue!     

The Effect of Electron-Donating and Electron-Withdrawing Substituents on 1H-and 13C-NMR chemical shifts of novel 7′-aryl-substituted 7′-apo-β-carotenes

The synthesis of 7′-aryl-7′-apo-β-carotenes, where aryl (Ar) is Ph, 4-NO₂C₆H₄, 4-MeOC₆H₄, 4-(MeO₂C)C₆H₄, C₆F₅, and 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂, is described. NMR Chemical shifts of all H- and C-atoms are presented, together with specific examples of the spectra. In contrast to ¹H chemical shifts which, except for H? C(8′) and H? C(7′), did not differ greatly from those of β,β-carotene, considerable variations in ¹³C chemical shifts were observed. Signals of the C(α) atoms of the polyene chain [C(β)? C(α)] +_n Ar were shielded, those of the C(β) atoms were deshielded, with some exceptions when n = 1; the effects decreased with increasing n.     

Photo-decarbonylation of β-styryl isocyanates

β-Styryl isocyanate (1, R ? H) and its β-methyl- (1, R ? CH₃) and β-phenyl- (1, R ? C₆H₅) derivatives underwent both extensive polymerization and the loss of the elements of carbon monoxide upon irradiation at 254 nm in cyclohexane. The formation of 2,5-diphenylpyrazine ( 3 ) and indole 4 , (R ? H) from 1 , (R - H) and 2,3-dimethyl-5,6-diphenylpyrazine ( 6 ) and 2-methylindole ( 4 , R ? CH₃) from 1 , (R ? CH₃) provided diagnostic evidence for styryl nitrene ( 2a ) intermediates. The formation of both phenylacetonitrile ( 5 , R ? H) and α-phenylpropio-nitrile ( 5 , R ? CH₃) was assigned to an initial rearrangement of the residue, C₈H₆(R)N?: ( 2 ), into a ketenimine concerted with the elimination of carbon monoxide from 1. Isomerization then produced a nitrile. β3-(β-phenyl)styryl isocyanate ( 1 , R ? C₆H₅) gave no product requiring the intermediacy of a nitrene and/or an azirine. The formation of 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylpyrrole ( 8 ) was assigned to a dimerization of the isocyanate concerted with or following the elimination of the elements of carbon monoxide and isocyanic acid, and the formation of 3-phenylisocarbo-styril ( 9 ) was assigned to a ring-closure of the isocyanate in an excited triplet state. Each isocyanate gave stilbene and trace amounts of oxidative fragmentation into benzaldehyde and benzonitrile. Solvent participation produced benzylcyclohexane and bicyclohexyl. Two unidentified solids, C₁₇H₁₄N₂O and C₁₂H₁₄N₂O, were obtained from 1 , (R ? CH₃).     

Mass spectrometric comparison of ordinary and fully deuterated α- and β-carotene

The individual, deuterated, isomeric α- and β-carotenes were isolated from the green alga, Scenedesmus obliquus, cultivated in D₂O containing 99·7 to 99·8 atom percent deuterium. Mass spectroscopy showed that both the α- and β-deuterio-carotene preparations contained principally the fully deuterated pigment molecules (C₄₀D₅₆), small quantities of deuterated molecules with one proton (C₄₀D₅₅H) and yet smaller quantities of deuterated molecules with two protons (C₄₀D₅₄H₂). From statistical calculations the deuterio-carotene preparations also contained one to several isotopically-substituted deuterio-carotenes of each mass in the mass range 585 to 599 because of variation of the number of ¹³C and H atoms per molecule. The mass fragmentation of the deuterated pigments was analogous to that of the respective ordinary α- and β-carotene. It indicated that the protons in the C₄₀D₅₅H and C₄₀D₅₄H₂ molecules were distributed approximately randomly in various parts of the structure as in the terminal rings and in the ends and central portions of the polyene chain.     

Selective synthesis of structurally isomeric poly-β-ester and poly-δ-ester from β-(2-acetoxy-ethyl)-β-propiolactone with Al and Zn catalysts

It was found that structurally isomeric polymers were formed by the ring-opening polymerization of β-(2-acetoxy ethyl)-β-propiolactone with (EtAlO)_n and Et(ZnO)₂ZnEt catalysts; that is, the Al catalyst catalyzed normal polymerization which led to poly-β-ester and the Zn catalyst formed isomerized poly-β-ester as the main product. The polymer structure was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), T₁-value, thermal decomposition product, and (T_g). The NMR studies for the monomer–catalyst systems indicated that the Al catalyst interacted predominately with the lactone group, whereas the Zn catalyst interacted with the side-chain ester group. These site-selective interactions could be related to the difference in the stereoregulation by the two catalysts during the poly(β-ester)-forming polymerization process.     

The Crystal and Molecular Structure of 3-Oxo-17β-acetoxy-Δ4-14α-methyl-8α, 9β, 10α, 13α-estrene

The crystal and molecular structure of 3-oxo-17β-acetoxy-Δ⁴-14α-methyl-8α, 9β, 10α, 13α-estrene, C₂₁H₃₀O₃, has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁, with the cell dimensions a = 12.093 Å, b = 19.667 Å, c = 7.746 Å; Z = 4. Intensity data were collected at room temperature with an automatic four-circle diffractometer. The structure was solved by direct methods and the parameters were refined by least-squares analysis. All the hydrogen atoms were included in the refinement. The final R value was 0.038 for 1413 observed reflections. The conformation of ring A is intermediate between a half-chair and a 1, 2-diplanar form. The hydrogens at C(9) and C(10) are anti, the B/C ring junction is trans, and rings B and C adopt chair conformations. Ring D is cis fused and is halfway between C₂ and C_s forms.     

5β,6β‐Epoxy‐17‐oxoandrostan‐3β‐yl acetate and 5β,6β‐epoxy‐20‐oxopregnan‐3β‐yl acetate

In the title compounds, C₂₁H₃₀O₄, (I), and C₂₃H₃₄O₄, (II), respectively, which are valuable intermediates in the synthesis of important steroid derivatives, rings A and B are cis‐(5β,10β)‐fused. The two molecules have similar conformations of rings A, B and C. The presence of the 5β,6β‐epoxide group induces a significant twist of the steroid nucleus and a strong flattening of the B ring. The different C17 substituents result in different conformations for ring D. Cohesion of the molecular packing is achieved in both compounds only by weak intermolecular interactions. The geometries of the molecules in the crystalline environment are compared with those of the free molecules as given by ab initio Roothan Hartree–Fock calculations. We show in this work that quantum mechanical ab initio methods reproduce well the details of the conformation of these molecules, including a large twist of the steroid nucleus. The calculated twist values are comparable, but are larger than the observed values, indicating a possible small effect of the crystal packing on the twist angles.     

Isomer differentiation via collision‐induced dissociation: The case of protonated α‐, β2‐ and β3‐phenylalanines and their derivatives

A combination of electrospray ionisation (ESI), multistage and high‐resolution mass spectrometry experiments is used to examine the gas‐phase fragmentation reactions of the three isomeric phenylalanine derivatives, α‐phenylalanine, β²‐phenylalanine and β³‐phenylalanine. Under collision‐induced dissociation (CID) conditions, each of the protonated phenylalanine isomers fragmented differently, allowing for differentiation. For example, protonated β³‐phenylalanine fragments almost exclusively via the loss of NH₃, only β²‐phenylalanine via the loss of H₂O, while α‐ and β²‐phenylalanine fragment mainly via the combined losses of H₂O + CO. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to examine the competition between NH₃ loss and the combined losses of H₂O and CO for each of the protonated phenylalanine isomers. Three potential NH₃ loss pathways were studied: (i) an aryl‐assisted neighbouring group; (ii) 1,2 hydride migration; and (iii) neighbouring group participation by the carboxyl group. Finally, we have shown that isomer differentiation is also possible when CID is performed on the protonated methyl ester and methyl amide derivatives of α‐, β²‐ and β³‐phenylalanines. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photodissociation of protonated β-diketones in the gas phase

The gas phase photodissociation spectra of four protonated β-diketones were obtained and compared with the absorption spectra of the corresponding ions in solution. Protonated 2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₅H₉O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₃H₆O with a λmax at 276±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 286 nm. Protonated 2,4-hexanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation processes [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₄H₈O and [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [C₂H₅CO]⁺ +C₃H₆O with a λmax at 279±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 288 nm. Protonated 3-methyl-2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₆H₁₁O₂]⁺ +hν → [CH₃CO]⁺ +C₄H₈O with a λmax at 295±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 305 nm. Protonated 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione was observed to undergo the photodissociation process [C₅H₆F₃O₂]⁺ +hν → CF₃H+[C₄H₅O₂]⁺ with a λmax at 273±10 nm compared with a solution absorption maximum at 288 nm. The [CH₃CO]⁺ and [C₂H₅CO]⁺ produced photochemically with the first three ions react to regenerate the protonated β-diketone leading to a photostationary state. Photodissociation of the protonated alkyl β-diketones is believed to occur from the protonated keto form, whereas photodissociation of protonated 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione is believed to occur from the protonated enol form. Mechanisms for the observed photodissociation processes are proposed and comparisons with results from related techniques are presented.     

Charge Transfer Complex Role in the Formation of Chlorobenzene in the γ‐Irradiated Carbon Tetrachloride‐Benzene System

The formation of carbon tetrachloride‐benzene charge transfer complex was confirmed by UV and NMR spectrometric studies. A change in UV spectrum of benzene is observed upon addition of carbon tetrachloride. Whereas the appearance of new bands supports the formation of charge transfer complex. NMR study shows that, chemical shift of benzene pmr signal depends on the CCl₄‐C₆H₆ molar ratio. This observation is another criterion for the formation of benzene‐carbon tetrachloride charge transfer complex. Job's Continuous Variation method indicates that a 2:1 CCl₄‐C₆H₆ charge transfer complex (2:1 CTC) is formed. The association constants (K_2:1) of (2:1 CTC) was found to be 0.0197 M^?2. The maximum concentration of (2:1 CTC) was found to be in samples with 2:1 CCl₄‐C₆H₆ molar ratio (33% benzene mole). On the other hand the maximum yield of chlorobenzene was obtained, also, upon radiolysis of CCl₄‐C₆H₆ samples at a 2:1 molar ratio (33% benzene mole). Therefore, it could be concluded that (2:1 CTC) participates in the formation of chlorobenzene upon radiolysis of the benzene‐carbon tetrachloride system. This conclusion was supported by the dependence of the chlorobenzene yield of a γ‐irradiated carbon tetrachloride‐benzene system (2:1 molar ratio) on irradiation time according to a third order kinetic equation with a very good linearity (R² = 0.9977). Accordingly, the rate constant for the chlorobenzene formation under this condition was found to be ≈ 5.5 × 10^?7 L².mol^?2.h^?1. We propose a radiation chemical mechanism in which the 2:1 CTC plays a role in the formation of chlorobenzene.     

Probing the Helical Secondary Structure of Short-Chain β-Peptides

Structural prerequisites for the stability of the 3₁ helix of β-peptides can be defined from inspection of models (Figs. 1 and 2): lateral non-H-substituents in 2- and 3-position on the 3-amino-acid residues of the helix are allowed, axial ones are forbidden. To be able to test this prediction, we synthesized a series of heptapeptide derivatives Boc-(β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu-Xaa-β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu)-OMe 13–22 (Xaa = α- or β-amino-acid residue) and a β-depsipeptide 25 with a central (S)-3-hydroxybutanoic-acid residue (Xaa = –OCH(Me)CH₂C(O)–) (Schemes 1 3). Detailed NMR analysis (DQF-COSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY, and TOCSY experiments) in methanol solution of the β-hexapeptide H(-β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu)₂-OH ( 1 ) and of the β-heptapeptide H-β-HVal-β-HAla-β-HLeu-(S,S)-β-HAla(αMe)-β-HVal-β-HAla- β-HLeu-OH ( 22 ), with a central (2S,3S)-3-amino-2-methylbutanoic-acid residue, confirm the helical structure of such β-peptides (previously discovered in pyridine solution) (Fig.3 and Tables 1–5). The CD spectra of helical β-peptides, the residues of which were prepared by (retentive) Arndt-Eistert homologation of the (S)- or L -α-amino acids, show a trough at 215 nm. Thus, this characteristic pattern of the CD spectra was taken as an indicator for the presence of a helix in methanol solutions of compounds 13–22 and 25 (including partially and fully deprotected forms) (Figs.4–6). The results fully confirm predicted structural effects: incorporation of a single ‘wrong’ residue ((R)-β-HAla, β-HAib, (R,S)-β-HAla(α Me), or N-Me-β-HAla) in the central position of the β-heptapeptide derivatives A (see 17, 18, 20 , or 21 , resp.) causes the CD minimum to disappear. Also, the β-heptadepsipetide 25 (missing H-bond) and the β-heptapeptide analogs with a single α-amino-acid moiety in the middle ( 13 and 14 ) are not helical, according to this analysis. An interesting case is the heptapeptide 15 with the central achiral, unsubstituted 3-aminopropanoic-acid moiety: helical conformation appears to depend upon the presence or absence of terminal protection and upon the solvent (MeOH vs. MeOH/H₂O).     

Cationic copolymerization of β-pinene and epichlorohydrin

β-Pinene and epichlorohydrin (ECH) have been copolymerized cationically using BF₃(C₂H₅)₂O and SnCl₄ as catalysts. Polymerizations were carried out at ?80°C in methylenechloride. Monomer reactivity ratios were determined in both catalysts which were r₁(ECH) = 1.06 ± 0.15 and r₂ (β-pinene) = 0.32 ± 0.08 in BF₃(C₂H₅)₂O and r₁(ECH) = 0.33 ± 0.11 and r₂(β-pinene) = 2.03 ± 0.44 in SnCl₄. Copolymers of different composition were soluble in acetone and insoluble in methanol. This characteristic was taken to indicate that the polymeric products were real copolymers and not a mixture of two homopolymers of epichlorohydrin and β-pinene.     

Methyl β‐allolactoside [methyl β‐d‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside] monohydrate

Methyl β‐allolactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside], (II), was crystallized from water as a monohydrate, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁·H₂O. The βGalp and βGlcp residues in (II) assume distorted ⁴C₁ chair conformations, with the former more distorted than the latter. Linkage conformation is characterized by ϕ′ (C2_Gal—C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C6_Glc), ψ′ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C6_Glc—C5_Glc) and ω (C4_Glc—C5_Glc—C6_Glc—O1_Gal) torsion angles of 172.9 (2), −117.9 (3) and −176.2 (2)°, respectively. The ψ′ and ω values differ significantly from those found in the crystal structure of β‐gentiobiose, (III) [Rohrer et al. (1980). Acta Cryst. B 36 , 650–654]. Structural comparisons of (II) with related disaccharides bound to a mutant β‐galactosidase reveal significant differences in hydroxymethyl conformation and in the degree of ring distortion of the βGlcp residue. Structural comparisons of (II) with a DFT‐optimized structure, (II_C), suggest a link between hydrogen bonding, pyranosyl ring deformation and linkage conformation.     

Structure of chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride). IV. Chlorination of β,β-d2-poly(vinyl chloride) as model for determination of the mechanism of chlorination

Chlorinated β,β-dideuterated poly(vinyl chloride) (β,β-d₂-CPVC) was prepared by photochemical suspension chlorination in concentrated hydrochloric acid with chloroform as swelling agent, and thermally in tetrachloroethane solution. ¹H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectra of β,β-d₂-CPVC were recorded. The content of deuterium was determined in combustion products of β,β-d₂-CPVC as the D₂O:(H₁D)₂O ratio by means of mass spectroscopy. Both in the photochemical suspension chlorination and in the thermal solution chlorination of β,β-d₂-PVC, a decrease of the concentration of ? CHCl? groups was observed. The differences in structure of the suspension chlorinated and solution chlorinated β,β-d₂-PVC were confirmed.     

Trennung und Charakterisierung von β-Carotin-Isomeren

Separation and Characterization of the cis-Isomers of β,β-Carotene A stable HPLC. system is described allowing the excellent separation of 11 different cis-isomers of β,β-carotene from the all-trans compound. The system is applied to the analysis of cis/trans mixtures obtained from plant extracts and by photoisomerization of the all-trans isomer. Al₂O₃ is used as the stationary phase while hexane with controlled H₂O content is utilized as the mobile phase. With the aid of the optimum conditions 8 sufficiently stable cis isomers were isolated and their structures shown to be the 9-, 13- and 15-cis, the 9,9′-, 9, 13-, 9, 13′- and 13,13′-di-cis and, tentatively, the 9,13,13′-tri-cis β,β-carotenes by application of 270-MHz-FT.-¹H-NMR. spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate. II. Synthesis of D-poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and the mechanism of ring-opening polymerization of β-butyrolactone

Synthesis of the naturally occurring polyester, D -poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was accomplished by using an optically active monomer. Polymerization of D -(+)-β-butyrolactone (β-BL) of 73% optical purity with a catalyst system of Et₃Al–H₂O produced a polymer with a similar optical activity and essentially identical to the natural polymer as isolated from bacterial cells. This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of this optically active polyester along with a suggested mechanism to account for the observed stereospecific polymerization of β-BL with this catalyst system.