Biodegradation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Films in Natural Environments

Summary: Biodegradation of film specimens from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) of two types – poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) – was analysed in different environments: tropical sea waters of the South China Sea (Nha Trang, Vietnam) and soils in the environs of Hanoi (Vietnam), Nha Trang (Vietnam) and Krasnoyarsk (Siberia, Russia). In seawater, the mass loss of the specimens of both types was almost equal. However, in tropical soils, PHB degraded quicker than PHBV. In the Siberian soil, the degradation rate of the PHBV was generally higher than that of PHBV. Analysis of molecular mass of PHA specimens showed its decreasing during biodegradation. In the tropical sea conditions, PHA degrading microorganisms were represented by bacteria of Enterobacter, Bacillus and Gracilibacillus genera. Among PHA degrading bacteria, Burkholderia, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Mycobacterium and Streptomyces genera were identified in Vietnamese soils, and Variovorax, Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Xanthomonas genera in Siberian soils. Micromycetes of Gongronella, Paecilomyces, Penicillium and Trichoderma genera exhibited PHA degrading activity in Vietnamese soils, and Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Acremonium, Verticillium and Zygosporium genera – in Siberian soils.     

The kinetics of the decarboxylation of n-butylmalonic acid in alkanols and amines

Rate constants and activation parameters are reported for the decarboxylation of n-butylmalonic acid in four normal alkanols (hexanol? 1, octanol? 1, decanol? 1, and dodecanol? 1) and in five amines (aniline, N-methylaniline, N-ethylaniline, N-n-propylaniline, and N-n-butylaniline). Both ΔH? and ΔS? of the reaction in both homologous series decrease regularly with increasing length of the hydrocarbon chain of solvent. If we compare data for the reaction in alkanol–amine pairs containing the same total number of carbon atoms in the molecule, we find that the ΔH? values are identical, but that the value of ΔS? is 0.8 eu/mole higher for the reaction in the amines as compared with the alcohol. The rate constant, at all temperatures, is 1.5 times as large in the amine as it is in the corresponding alcohol. Empirical equations are deduced relating the parameters ΔH? ΔS? ΔG? and k of the reaction to the parameters n and T, where n is the total number of carbon atoms in the solvent molecule and T is the absolute temperature. The results reported herein are compared with previously reported data for malonic acid.     

Acute Toxicity of Cresols to Pseudomonas — An Initial Oxygen Uptake Method

Acute toxicity of cresols to both Pseudomonas I and II was estimated by an initial oxygen uptake method. Inhibition studies of toluene and cresols on the oxidation of either benzoate by Pseudomnas I or phenol by Pseudomonas II were analyzed and expressed as oxygen uptake rates. Double reciprocal plots for the inhibiton by cresols of oxygen uptake in Pseudomonas, two physical constants, Vmaxi and Ki, were obtained. The Vmaxi of o?, m? and p-cresol were 80%, 81% and 57% of Vmax in Pseudomnas I, and 10%, 25% and 36% in Pseudomonas II, respectively. Thus, the toxicity to Pseudomonas I decreases in the order p- > o- ≥ m-cresol, whereas to Pseudomonas II, the order is changed to o- > m- > p-cresol. This difference in the toxicity order is probably due to the allosteric effect of p-cresol towards Pseudomonas II. Inasmuch as most compounds inhibit noncompetively, the relative toxicity of different compounds can be estimated by a new toxicity parameter RI (relative inhibition) which is defined as 100/Ki. By comparing the RI value of each compound, the toxicity to Pseudomonas I decreases in the order m-chlorophenol > p-cresol > p-chlorophenol > o-cresol ≥ m-cresol > o-chlorophenol > toluene > phenol.     

Pulsed NMR observation of ultradrawn polypropylene

Proton spin-spin relaxation times have been measured as a function of temperature for ultradrawn polypropylene with draw ratios λ up to 24. The three relaxation times T_2a (the longest), T_2i (intermediate), and T_2c (the shortest), observed for all the samples, have been ascribed to the relaxations of the amorphous, constrained amorphous, and crystalline components, respectively. T_2i and T_2a, which reflect the changes in structure and mobility in the noncrystalline regions, decrease with increasing λ; T_2i becomes saturated at λ > 9, whereas T_2a shows a substantial decrease up to λ = 24. The continued decrease in T_2a indicates that the constraint on the amorphous segments keeps increasing up to the highest λ. The associated mass fractions F_a, F_i, and F_c also change with λ. At λ < 9, the increasc in F_i with increasing λ is accompanied by a decrease in F_a, with F_c remaining unchanged. At higher λ, however, F_a is almost constant, and stepwise rises in F_c at about λ = 12 and 24 are accompanied by corresponding drops in F_i. It seems that, in this high draw ratio range, some of the taut molecules are fully extended and are in sufficiently good lateral register to transform into crystalline bridges. This conjecture is supported by the similarity in the λ dependence of F_c and the mass-fraction crystallinity obtained from the heat of fusion.     

PHOTOREAaIVITY OF CHLORAMPHENICOL in vitro AND in vivo

Abstract The negative side effects of chlorarnphenicol (CAP) mostly involve blood dyscrasias (e.g. irreversible nondose-dependent aplastic anemia), allergic skin reactions and eye damage. To learn the cause of these side effects, most research focuses on metabolically formed nitroso- and hydroxylamino derivatives in the predisposed patient. In previous investigations it was demonstrated that photochemical decomposition of CAP in vitro by UV-A leads to formation of p-nitrobenzaldehyde (pNB), p-nitrobenzoic acid (pNBA) and p-nitrosobenzoic acid (pNOBA); the latter comprises up to 45 mol% of the starting amount of CAP. Incubation of these photoproducts in rat blood showed that pNB and pNOBA rapidly react and that PNBA is stable under these conditions. Reaction products from pNB (half-life 1.7 min) proved to be pNBA and p-nitrobenzyl alcohol (pNBOH) while pNOBA (half-life 3.7 min) was converted into p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA). Exposure of CAP in rat blood to UV-A yielded the same end products: pNBA, PABA and pNBOH. To estimate the amount of oxidative stress generated in vivo by these compounds, the ability to form methemoglobin (MetHb) in erythrocytes was tested; only pNOBA and p-hydroxylaminobenzoic acid (pHABA), a possible intermediate in the decomposition of pNOBA, proved to be reactive. Ultraviolet-A exposure of rats, after intraperitoneal injection of CAP, led to 3.6 times the basic level of MetHb. In addition, covalent binding of ³H-labeled CAP photoproducts to the skin of the back and to the ears was found, which was 9.1 and 3.2 times higher, respectively, than the dark values. Toxicity toward bone marrow cells of all photoproducts was established in vitro. p-Nitrobenzaldehyde, pNOBA andpHABA were 20, 6 and 6 times more toxic than CAP, respectively. These results show that photodecomposition of CAP in vivo does occur. Its reactive photoproducts are able to cause damage that may lead to (systemic) side effects. The latter is supported by the fact that the nature of the reactive products, nitroso- and hydroxylamino derivatives, is the same as the expected metabolites.     

Synthesis, π‐Face‐Selective Aggregation,and π‐Face Chiral Recognition of Configurationally Stable C3‐Symmetric Propeller‐Chiral Molecules with a π‐Core

The C₃‐symmetric propeller‐chiral compounds (P,P,P)‐ 1 and (M,M,M)‐ 1 with planar π‐cores perpendicular to the C₃‐axis were synthesized in optically pure states. (P,P,P)‐ 1 possesses two distinguishable propeller‐chiral π‐faces with rims of different heights named the (P/L)‐face and (P/H)‐face. Each face is configurationally stable because of the rigid structure of the helicenes contained in the π‐core. (P,P,P)‐ 1 formed dimeric aggregates in organic solutions as indicated by the results of ¹H NMR, CD, and UV/Vis spectroscopy and vapor pressure osmometry analyses. The (P/L)/(P/L) interactions were observed in the solid state by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, and they were also predominant over the (P/H)/(P/H) and (P/L)/(P/H) interactions in solution, as indicated by the results of ¹H and 2D NMR spectroscopy analyses. The dimerization constant was obtained for a racemic mixture, which showed that the heterochiral (P,P,P)‐ 1 /(M,M,M)‐ 1 interactions were much weaker than the homochiral (P,P,P)‐ 1 /(P,P,P)‐ 1 interactions. The results indicated that the propeller‐chiral (P/L)‐face interacts with the (P/L)‐face more strongly than with the (P/H)‐face, (M/L)‐face, and (M/H)‐face. The study showed the π‐face‐selective aggregation and π‐face chiral recognition of the configurationally stable propeller‐chiral molecules.     

Spectral Study of the Reaction of Functionally Substituted Enehydrazides with Proton Donors

Reactions of new enehydrazides, N',N'-dimethyl-N-vinylpropenohydrazide and N',N'-dimethyl-N-vinylbenzohydrazide with chloroform, phenol, and hydrogen chloride in carbon tetrachloride were studied by IR spectroscopy. In the first two cases, molecular complexes are formed between the hydrazide and proton donor. The reaction of N',N'-dimethyl-N-vinylpropenohydrazide with HCl results in formation of dihydropyrazole derivative which exists as a tautomeric mixture of the major lactam and minor lactim forms. N',N'-dimethyl-N-vinylbenzohydrazide reacts with hydrogen chloride to give protonated form in which proton is localized on the amino nitrogen atom. The structure of the initial compounds and the products was analyzed in terms of AM1 quantum-chemical calculations.     

Chlorination of trans-1,2-Diarylethenes in Chloroform and Acetic Acid

When chlorinated in chloroform, (E)-stilbenes bearing electron-donor substituents in the para position of the benzene ring give threo-1,2-diaryl-1,2-dichloroethanes, while meta-substituted (E)-stilbenes, predominantly erythro isomers, irrespective of the nature of the substituent. The reactions in acetic acid result in preferential formation of threo-1,2-dichloro- and threo-1-acetoxy-1,2-diaryl-2-chloroethanes.     

Orbitally resolved charge sensitivity analysis: Basic concepts and relations

Following the recent developments of the charge sensitivity analysis (CSA ) in the atoms-in-molecules (AIM ) resolution, the corresponding CSA quantities in the orbital (or shell) resolution (OR ) are defined. The OR electron population variables, in the ordinary closed-shell SCF problem, are the elements of the bond-order matrix P , and their conjugates, “chemical potentials,” F ^T = ?E/? P , are the respective Fock matrix elements, appropriate for the representation in question; here E is the SCF energy. The second derivatives ?²E/? P ? P define the OR hardness tensor from which all related OR CS s, e.g., the hardness, softnesses, Fukui function (FF ) indices, etc., can be determined. The rigid potentials and hardness tensor, corresponding to the “frozen” orbital approximation, are examined in more detail, and the decoupled representation of the normal orbitals (N oO ) is introduced, in which the rigid hardness tensor becomes diagonal. Illustrative valence-shell N oO contours for the water molecule are given and discussed. The new approximation for the OR FF indices, as the orbital occupation probabilities, is proposed on the basis of the density matrix functional development of Donnely and Parr for natural orbitals, and the relevant expressions for the molecular fragment (collection of orbitals) quantities are summarized.     

Bis(chlorido)tin(IV)meso-substituted Porphyrins-Characterization and Solubility

Investigation of the solubility behavior of para-substituted (H, Me, t-Bu, n-Bu) meso-tetraarylporphyrins as well as meso-tetraalkylporphyrins (Me, n-Pr, n-Bu) were performed. An increase of solubility in chloroform and benzene is detected according to the higher functionality in para position of the phenyl ring for meso-tetraarylporphyrins or in meso position on meso-tetraalkylporphyrins. Furthermore, the series of bis(chlorido)tin(IV) meso-tetraarylporphyrin and bis(chlorido)tin(IV) meso-tetraalkylporphyrin was investigated via UV/Vis spectroscopy, ¹¹⁹Sn-NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Order parameter studies from effective order geometry in 4O.Om and 7O.Om liquid crystalline compounds

The effective geometry parameter, α_g = n _o /n _e, is used to evaluate the orientational order parameter, S, in the case of N-(p-n-butyloxybenzylidene)-p-n-alkoxy anilines, 4O.Om and N-(p-n-heptyloxybenzylidene)-p-n-alkoxy anilines, 7O.Om compounds with m?=?3–7 and 9 in the former case and m?=?3, 5–7 and 9 in the later materials. The results obtained are compared with those calculated using the standard techniques of molecular polarisability and birefringence. The effective geometry parameter's influence on the deflection of light by the liquid crystal compounds is also studied. The variation of temperature gradient of the ordinary refractive index, dn _o /dT, and extraordinary refractive index, dn _e /dT, of the liquid crystals is also studied.     

Light-induced cis/trans isomerization of cis-[Pd(L-S,O)2] and cis-[Pt(L-S,O)2] complexes of chelating N,N-dialkyl-N′-acylthioureas: key to the formation and isolation of trans isomers

Irradiation cis-[M(Lⁿ-S,O)₂] complexes (M = Pt^II, Pd^II) derived from N,N-dialkyl-N′-benzoylthioureas (HLⁿ) with various sources of intense visible polychromatic or monochromatic light with λ < 500 nm leads to light-induced cis?→?trans isomerization in organic solvents. In all cases, white light derived from several sources or monochromatic blue-violet laser 405 nm light, efficiently results in substantial amounts of the trans isomer appearing in solution, as shown by ¹H NMR and/or reversed-phase HPLC separation in dilute solutions at room temperature. The extent and relative rates of cis/trans isomerization induced by in situ laser light (λ = 405 nm) of cis-[Pd(L²-S,O)₂] was directly monitored by ¹H NMR and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy of selected cis-[Pt(L-S,O)₂] compounds in chloroform-d; both with and without light irradiation allows the δ(¹⁹⁵Pt) chemical shifts cis/trans isomer pairs to be recorded. The cis/trans isomers appear to be in a photo-thermal equilibrium between the thermodynamically favored cis isomer and its trans counterpart. In the dark, the trans isomer reverts back to the cis complex in what is probably a thermal process. The light-induced cis/trans process is the key to preparing and isolating the rare trans complexes which cannot be prepared by conventional synthesis as confirmed by the first example of trans-[Pd(L-S,O)₂] characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, deliberately prepared after photo-induced isomerization in acetonitrile solution.     

Design,Synthesis, NMR‐Solution and X‐Ray Crystal Structure of N‐Acyl‐γ‐dipeptide Amides That Form a βII′‐Type Turn

Conformational analysis of γ‐amino acids with substituents in the 2‐position reveals that an N‐acyl‐γ‐dipeptide amide built of two enantiomeric residues of unlike configuration will form a 14‐membered H‐bonded ring, i.e., a γ‐peptidic turn (Figs. 1 – 3). The diastereoselective preparation of the required building blocks was achieved by alkylation of the doubly lithiated N‐Boc‐protected 4‐aminoalkanoates, which, in turn, are readily available from the corresponding (R)‐ or (S)‐α‐amino acids (Scheme 1). Coupling two such γ‐amino acid derivatives gave N‐acetyl and N‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl] (Boc) dipeptide methyl amides ( 1 and 10 , resp.; Fig. 2, Scheme 2); both formed crystals suitable for X‐ray analysis, which confirmed the turn structures in the solid state (Fig. 4 and Table 4). NMR Analysis of the acetyl derivative 1 in CD₃OH, with full chemical‐shift and coupling assignments, and, including a 300‐ms ROESY measurement, revealed that the predicted turn structure is also present in solution (Fig. 5 and Tables 1 – 3). The results described here are yet another piece of evidence for the fact that more stable secondary structures are formed with a decreasing number of residues, and with increasing degree of predictability, as we go from α‐ to β‐ to γ‐peptides. Implications of the superimposable geometries of the actual turn segments (with amide bonds flanked by two quasi‐equatorial substituents) in α‐, β‐, and γ‐peptidic turns are discussed.     

Geminal systems. 50. Synthesis and alcoholysis of N-acyloxy-N-alkoxy derivatives of ureas,carbamates, and benzamides

Procedures were developed for the synthesis of N-acyloxy-N-alkoxy derivatives of ureas, carbamates, and benzamides by the reactions of the corresponding N-alkoxy-N-chloro derivatives with sodium carboxylates in MeCN. N-Chloro-N-ethoxy-p-toluenesulfonamide was inert in this reaction. Alcoholysis of N-acyloxy-N-alkoxy derivatives of ureas, carbamates, and tert-alkylamines afforded the corresponding N,N-dialkoxy derivatives, whereas alcoholysis of N-acetoxy-N-ethoxybenzamide gave rise to alkyl benzoates.     

Photocatalytic E→Z Contra-Thermodynamic Isomerization of Vinyl Silanes with Lewis Base

Herein, we disclosed the contra-thermodynamic E→Z isomerization of alkenyl silanes, according to the in situ formation of a chromophoric species, in the presence of rac-BINAP as the catalyst. The reaction carried out in DMSO or CH₃CN under irradiation at 405 nm allowed the interconversion of the E-isomers into the Z-congeners in good to excellent yields and outstanding Z/E selectivities, on 18 examples. Finally, the mechanism of this E→Z isomerization was studied to get insight into the reaction mechanism.     

Preparation and Characterization of N,N′-Dialkyl-1,3-propanedialdiminium Chlorides,N,N′-Dialkyl-1,3-propanedialdimines,and Lithium N,N′-Dialkyl-1,3-propanedialdiminates

We describe convenient preparations of N,N′-dialkyl-1,3-propanedialdiminium chlorides, N,N′-dialkyl-1,3-propanedialdimines, and lithium N,N′-dialkyl-1,3-propanedialdiminates in which the alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, or tert-butyl. For the dialdiminium salts, the N₂C₃ backbone is always in the trans-s-trans configuration. Three isomers are present in solution except for the tert-butyl compound, for which only two isomers are present; increasing the steric bulk of the N-alkyl substituents shifts the equilibrium away from the (Z,Z) isomer in favor of the (E,Z), and (E,E) isomers. For the neutral dialdimines, crystal structures show that the methyl and isopropyl compounds adopt the (E,Z) form, whereas the tert-butyl compound is in the (E,E) form. In aprotic solvents all four dialdimines (as well as the lithium dialdiminate salts) adopt cis-s-cis conformations in which there presumably is either an intramolecular hydrogen bond (or a lithium cation) between the two nitrogen atoms.     

On the methods of pore size distribution and the multilayer thickness

Summary Pore-volume-area distribution was achieved for a wide variety of silica gels, employing six computational procedures, and using botht-estimates ofCranston andInkley, andButt. The mathematical induction procedure outlined byRoberts proved to be as good as the more exact procedures. S _eum values evaluated by employing theButt estimate of multilayer thickness were exclusively higher than SBET data. The tabulatedt-values ofCranston andInkley yielded relatively reasonableS _eum results than those obtained above but are also higher thanS _BET. An overlooked parameter was suggested to be partly the cause of the divergence between the varioust-evaluations, namely: the thickness of a monolayer. Recalculation of all data, and using a value of 4.132 Å for the adsorbed monolayer, in botht-estimates ofLippens andButt, resulted in an excellent agreement betweenS _eum andS _BET in most of the cases. It is suggested that the multilayer thickness, as determined from adsorption data on non-porous solids, might not necessarily be of value in pore-size distribution analysis.     

Molecular Recognition of Pyranosides by a Family of Trimeric, 1,1′-Binaphthalene-Derived Cyclophane Receptors

The synthesis and carbohydrate-recognition properties of a new family of optically active cyclophane receptors, 1 – 3 , in which three 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol spacers are interconnected by three buta-1,3-diynediyl linkers, are described. The macrocycles all contain highly preorganized cavities lined with six convergent OH groups for H-bonding and complementary in size and shape to monosaccharides. Compounds 1 – 3 differ by the functionality attached to the major groove of the 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol spacers. The major grooves of the spacers in 2 are unsubstituted, whereas those in 1 bear benzyloxy (BnO) groups in the 7,7′-positions and those in 3 2-phenylethyl groups in the 6,6′-positions. The preparation of the more planar, D₃-symmetrical receptors (R,R,R)- 1 (Schemes 1 and 2), (S,S,S)- 1 (Scheme 4), (S,S,S)- 2 (Scheme 5), and (S,S,S)- 3 (Scheme 8) involved as key step the Glaser-Hay cyclotrimerization of the corresponding OH-protected 3,3′-diethynyl-1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol precursors, which yielded tetrameric and pentameric macrocycles in addition to the desired trimeric compounds. The synthesis of the less planar, C₂-symmetrical receptors (R,R,S)- 2 (Scheme 6) and (S,S,R)- 3 (Scheme 9) proceeded via two Glaser-Hay coupling steps. First, two monomeric precursors of identical configuration were oxidatively coupled to give a dimeric intermediate which was then subjected to macrocyclization with a third monomeric 1,1′-binaphthalene precursor of opposite configuration. The 3,3′-dialkynylation of the OH-protected 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2′-diol precursors for the macrocyclizations was either performed by Stille (Scheme 1) or by Sonogashira (Schemes 4, 5, and 8) cross-coupling reactions. The flat D₃-symmetrical receptors (R,R,R)- 1 and (S,S,S)- 1 formed 1 : 1 cavity inclusion complexes with octyl 1-O-pyranosides in CDCl₃ (300 K) with moderate stability (ΔG⁰ ca. −3 kcal mol⁻¹) as well as moderate diastereo- (Δ(ΔG⁰) up to 0.7 kcal mol⁻¹) and enantioselectivity (Δ(ΔG⁰)=0.4 kcal mol⁻¹) (Table 1). Stoichiometric 1 : 1 complexation by (S,S,S)- 2 and (S,S,S)- 3 could not be investigated by ¹H-NMR binding titrations, due to very strong signal broadening. This broadening of the ¹H-NMR resonances is presumably indicative of higher-order associations, in which the planar macrocycles sandwich the carbohydrate guests. The less planar C₂-symmetrical receptor (S,S,R)- 3 formed stable 1 : 1 complexes with binding free enthalpies of up to ΔG⁰=−5.0 kcal mol⁻¹ (Table 2). With diastereoselectivities up to Δ(ΔG⁰)=1.3 kcal mol⁻¹ and enantioselectivities of Δ(ΔG⁰)=0.9 kcal mol⁻¹, (S,S,R)- 3 is among the most selective artificial carbohydrate receptors known.     

An Estimate of the Interatomic Distances in Monohaloacetylene Radical Cations from Photoelectron-spectroscopic Data

A convenient method is given for the semiquantitative determination of those changes ΔS_i in internal coordinates, which describe the structure of the radical cation M⁺(Ψ) relative to the neutral molecule M in its electronic ground state. The changes ΔS_i correspond to those associated with the relaxation process which follows the ionisation M + hv → M⁺(Ψ) + e, M⁺ being in the electronic state Ψ. The method, based on the procedure originally developped by Smith & Warsop [3], uses the spacing and relative intensity of the vibrational fine-structure components of the bands in the photoelectron spectrum of M. From these data are calculated the changes ΔQ_k in normal coordinates, which are then transformed into the ΔS_i by applying the L -matrix. The changes ΔR_CX, ΔR_CC and ΔR_CH which describe the structure of the radical cations of the four monohaloacetylenes I(X) (X = F, Cl, Br, I) in their ² II _Ω(1) and ² II _Ω(2) states have been determined. It is shown that the results are in agreement with theoretical expectation and that they confirm the band assignement proposed in a previous communication [2].     

Konstitution und absolute Konfiguration der Rhoeadin-Alkaloide (+)-Alpinigenin und (+)-cis-Alpinigenin

The constitution and absolute configuration of the rhoeadine alkaloids (+)-alpinigenine and (+)-cis-alpinigenine. The fundamental structure of the hemi-acetal phenylbenzazepine alkaloid (+)-alpinigenine ( 1 ), isolated from Papaver bracteatum LINDL ., was derived essentially from ¹H-NMR.- and mass-spectra of 1 and its derivatives 7, 10 and 14 (cf. Scheme 2). The positioning of the four methoxy groups in the two aromatic rings could be deduced from the ¹H-NMR.-spectra of the N-oxides 14 and 15 in which, as a result of favourable sterical and conformational behaviour, an interaction exists between the N-oxide oxygen atom and one of the two ortho protons in ring C. The B/D-trans-fused 1 undergoes isomerization in 1N HCl to cis-alpinigenine ( 16 ). A stereochemical correlation between bases in the trans-and cis-series was enabled via an Emde degradation of the corresponding methylacetal-methyliodides 21 resp. 19 leading to the enantiomeric isochroman derivatives 22 resp. 23 which are achiral at C (2) (Scheme 4). The configuration at C (14) in the hemi-acetals (eg. 1 and 16 ) and the methyl ethers (eg. 7 and 8 ) is discussed in detail (cf. Scheme 7). (+)-Alpinigenine ( 1 ) has the (1S, 2R, 14R) configuration and (+)-cis-alpinigenine ( 16 ), in chloroform or acetone solution, the (1R, 2R, 14R) configuration.