Plutonium in soils, bottom sediments and lichen near peaceful nuclear explosion sites in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

During the 1974–1987 period 12 paceful nuclear explosions were conducted in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). For the first time^239,240Pu and²³⁸Pu concentrations were determined in samples of soils, bottom sediments and lichen taken at the Craton-3 and Crystal nuclear explosion sites. At the Craton-3^239,240Pu concentrations in the range 6.2 mBq/g to 5.9 Bq/g samples of soil and^239,240Pu concentrations up to 7.4 Bq/g in samples of lichen were observed.^239,240Pu concentration measurements in bottom sediments of a stream washing out the banking around the borehole of Craton-3 show that plutonium migrates in the direction of the Markha river. At the Crystal site local plutonium concentrations up to 35 Bq/g in soil and 1.8 Bq/g in lichen were observed.     

Simultaneous determination of environmental α-radionuclides using liquid scintillation counting combined with time interval analysis (TIA) and pulse shape discrimination (PSD)

Some improvements of the detection sensitivity in pulse time interval analysis (TIA) based on selective extraction of successively - correlated decay events within millisecond order from random or background events, were established by the utilization of PSD, to reject /-pulses from -ones and a simple chemical procedure of radium separation, together with the use of well resolved scintillator. By applying the PSD, the contribution of -decay events was completely eliminated in both the -spectra and the TIA distribution curves as well as the improvement into clear energy resolution and the enhancement of detection sensitivity for the TIA. As a result, the TIA and -spectrometric analysis of²²⁶Ra-extract showed the existence of²²³Ra (Ac-series) and /-correlated events with correlated life (due to 0.16 ms due to²¹⁴Bi()²¹⁴Po()) along with a singly well resolved -peak to be useful for the determination of²²⁶Ra (U-series). The difference of half-lives (145 and 1.78 ms) due to²¹⁶Po and²¹⁵Po (direct daughters of²²⁴Ra for Th-series and²²³Ra for Ac-series, respectively) was also proven for the possibility of the simultaneous determination of both correlated events by using the TIA/PSD combined with chemical separation and liquid scintillation counting method. Finally, the simultaneous determination of three natural decay series, which include U-, Th- and Ac-series nuclides, have been conveniently carried out for some environmental samples using the present method combined with²²⁵Ra yield tracer (Np-series).     

A molecular mechanics study of the effect of substitution in position 1 on the conformational space of the oxytocin/vasopressin ring

Summary The effect of the substitution in position 1 on the low-energy conformations of the oxytocin/vasopressin 20-membered ring was investigated by means of molecular mechanics. Three representative substitutions were considered: -mercapto-,-dimethyl)propionic acid (Dmp), (-mercapto-,-cyclopentamethylene)propionic acid (Cpp), both forming strong antagonists, and (,-dimethyl--mercapto)propionic acid (-Dmp), forming analogs of strongly reduced biological activity, with the -mercaptopropionic (Mpa) residue taken as reference. Both ECEPP/2 (rigid valence geometry) and AMBER (flexible valence geometry) force fields were employed in the calculations. Three basic types of backbone conformations were taken into account which are distinguished by the type of -turn at residues 3 and 4: 1/III, II, and I/III, all types containing one or two intra-annular hydrogen bonds. The allowed (ring-closed) disulfide-bridge conformations were searched by an algorithm formulated in terms of scanning the disulfide-bridge torsional angle C-S-S-C. The ECEPP/2 and AMBER energies of the obtained conformations were found to be in reasonable agreement. Two of the low-energy conformers of the [Mpa¹]-compound agreed very well with the cyclic part of the two conformers found in the crystal structure of [Mpa¹]-oxytocin. An analysis of the effect of -substitution on relative energies showed that the conformations with the N-C-CH₂-CH₂ (₁) and C-CH₂-CH₂-S (₁) angles of the first residue around (–100°, 60°) and (100°, –60°) are not affected; this in most cases implies a left-handed disulfide bridge. In the case of -substitution the allowed values of ₁ are close to ± 60°. This requirement, being in contradiction to the one concerning -substitution, could explain the very low biological activity of the -substituted analogs. The conformational preferences of substituted compounds can largely be explained by the analysis of local interactions within the first residue. Based on the selection of the conformations which are low in energy for both the reference and -substituted compounds, two distinct types of possible binding conformations were proposed, the first one being similar to the crystal conformer with a left-handed disulfide bridge, the second one having a right-handed bridge, but a geometry different from that of the crystal conformer with the right-handed bridge. The first type of disulfide-bridge arrangement is equally favorable for both I/III and II types of backbone structure, while the second one is allowed only for the II type of backbone. No conformation of the I/III type has a low enough energy to be considered as a possible binding conformation for all of the active compounds studied in this work.     

Radiation-induced reactions of cholesterol in an aqueous medium

⁶⁰Co -ray radiolysis of cholesterol /3-hydroxy-5-cholestene/ /I/ in the two-phase system /water-ethyl acetate/ and in the presence of air has been studied using TLC and GC methods. The following products were observed in the irradiated mixture: 3, 7-dihydroxy-5-cholestene /II/, G O. 36, 3-hydroxy-7-keto-5-cholestene /III/, G 1.48, 3-hydroxy-7-keto-5-cholestane /IV/, G 0.22, 3,5,6-trihydroxy-5-cholestane /V/, G 0.83, 5,6-epoxy-3-hydroxy-5-cholestane /VIa/, G 0.26, 5,6-epoxy-3-hydroxy-5-cholestane /VIb/, G 0.24, and 2, 3-dihydroxy-5-cholestene /VII/, G 0.22. The dose dependence of the formation of these products shows that the cholesterol derivatives substituted in the position 7 /II–IV/ are formed from a common precursor — the radical Ia. On the other hand, the products of the 5–C=C double bond reactions /V and VI/ are formed independently. Also the product VII is formed independently. A reaction scheme that is in agreement with these results is proposed.     

Evaluation of the uranium concentration in rocks at the μg/g level by a low-background Geiger-Müller counter

A low-background -counter and a simple direct method, based on total -counting, have been developed in order to estimate the concentration of uranium at the g/g level in ordinary rock samples. The method is a relative one; international standards have been used for calibration. Only 3 g of rock powder is needed. Combining this method with -spectrometry, direct determination of²³⁸U (independently of²²⁶Ra) becomes possible near the above concentration level.     

1-Aryl-6-azauracile, 5. Mitt.: Die Synthese von 1-(β-Pyridyl)-6-azauracil-5-carbonsäure und einiger ihrer Derivate

Zusammenfassung Analog wie in vorherigen Mitteilungen^1–4 wurden -Pyridyl-hydrazono-cyanacetylcarbamidsäureäthylester (1), 1-(-Pyridyl)-5-cyan-6-azauracil (2), 1-(-Pyridyl)-6-azauracil-5-carbonsäure (3), deren Thioamid (4), und Amidoxim (5), welches in 1-(-Pyridyl)-5-[5-methyl-1,2,4-oxdiazolyl(3)]-6-azauracil (6) überge-führt wurde, hergestellt.

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-Pyridylhydrazono-cyanacetylcarbamic acid ethyl ester (1), l-(-pyridyl)-5-cyano-6-azauracil (2), 1-(-pyridyl)-6-azauracil-5-carboxylic acid (3), its thioamide (4) and amidoxime (5) were prepared as described in preceding communications. (5) was converted into l-(-pyridyl)-5-[5-methyl-1,2,4-oxdiazolyl(3)]-6-azauracil (6).

     

Polyhydroxysteroids from the Far-Eastern starfishCtenodiscus crispatus

Four new polyhydroxysteroids, 5-cholesta-3,5,6,15,16,25,26-heptaol, 24-ethyl-5-cholesta-3,5,6,15,28,29-heptaol-29-sulfate, (22E)-24-methyl-5-cholest-22-ene-3,5,6,15,25,26-hexaol-26-sulfate, 24-propyl-5-cholesta-3,5,6,8,15,28,29-heptaol, and the known 5-cholesta-3,5,6,15,16,26-hexaol, have been isolated from the starfishCtenodiscus crispatus.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1821–1825, October, 1994.     

Steroid compounds from the starfish Lysastrosoma anthosticta collected in the Sea of Japan

Six polyhydroxylated steroids and their derivatives were isolated from the starfish Lysastrosoma anthosticta collected in the Posyet Bay, Sea of Japan. These include a new glycoside of the steroid polyol, lysastroside A (1), which was identified as (25S)-26-O--d-xylopyranosyl-5-cholestane-3,6,8,15,16,26-hexaol, and the previously known pycnopodioside C monoglycoside (2), marthasterone sulfate (3), (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,8,15,16,26-hexaol (4), (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,7,8,15,16,26-heptaol (5), and (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,7,8,15,16,26-heptaol (6). The compounds were tested for the haemolytic activity and the action on the embryogenesis of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius.     

Pitzer model parameters for sparingly soluble salts from solubility measurements. The systems TlCl+SrCl2+H2O and TlCl+BaCl2+H2O at 25°C

The solubility of thallium(I) chloride has been determined in aqueous solutions of strontium chloride and barium chloride at concentrations up to 1.5 mol kg^–1. The data were analyzed using Pitzer's equations without making explicit assumption of association to ion pairs by assuming =3 instead of =2, with the ⁽¹⁾ term for TlCl being equivalent to the ⁽²⁾ term for 2-2 electrolytes. Best values of ⁽⁰⁾ and ⁽¹⁾ for TlCl are recommended together with K _s , the activity solubility product. These were used to fit the present solubility data and derive the Pitzer model mixture parameters relevant to the systems, _fTIN and _fTINCl (N=Sr, Ba). Mixture parameters for TlCl+MCl+H₂O systems are also derived to complete the parameter base. The fit of the experimental data was found to be worse when higher-order terms for asymmetrical mixing were included in the analysis. Activity coefficients for thallium(I) chloride in the mixtures are derived.     

Thermodynamic properties of water-β-cyclodextrin-dodecylsurfactant ternary systems

Densities, heat capacities and conductivities of water-surfactant--cyclodextrin (-CD) ternary systems were determined at 25°C. The surfactants studied were sodium dodecylsulfate (NaDS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). From conductivity data, apparent critical micelle concentrations (cmc^*) and degree of ionization of micelles were obtained at a fixed -CD concentration (m_CD). From the cmc^* value and that in water (cmc) the stoichiometry of the surfactant--CD complex was calculated. At a given m_CD, the apparent molar volume V_,CD and heat capacity C_,CD of -CD in the two surfactants were calculated as functions of surfactant concentration m_S. For both NaDS and DTAB, V_,CD increases with m_S up to about the cmc beyond which it decreases to a constant value at high m_S, the opposite is observed for C_,CD. With NaDS, a jump in the C_,CD vs, m_S trend was detected and ascribed to a structural NaDS micellar transition. The apparent molar volume V_S and heat capacity C_S of NaDS and DTAB in the water--CD mixture 0.017 m were also obtained. From these properties and those in pure water, the volume V_S and heat capacity C_S of transfer of the surfactant from water to water+-CD mixture as functions of m_S were calculated. For both surfactants, the V_S vs. m_S trends increase to the cmc and then decrease in a monotonic manner, whereas C_S increases regularly with m_S in the pre-micellar region and is essentially constant in the post-micellar region. The V_S vs. m_S trends were qualitatively explained in terms of dispersed, complexed and micellized surfactant contributions.     

Inclusion Complexes of Cyclodextrins with Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin and Tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin in Aqueous Solutions

In neutral and alkaline solutions, tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) and tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TSPP) form 1:1 and 2:1 host–guest inclusion complexes with -cyclodextrin (-CD), -cyclodextrin (-CD), and 6-deoxy-6-diethylamino--CD (DEA--CD), except for DEA--CD in alkaline solution. On the other hand, TCPP and TSPP form only 1:1 inclusion complexes with 6-deoxy-6-dihexylamino--CD (DHA--CD). The limited solubilities of DEA--CD in alkaline solution and DHA--CD are likely responsible for no observation of the 2:1 inclusion complex containing DEA--CD in alkaline solution and that containing DHA--CD. The equilibrium constants (Ks) of TCPP and TSPP for the formation of the inclusion complexes have been estimated from the absorption and/or fluorescence intensity changes in neutral and alkaline solutions. The K₂ values, which are the equilibrium constants for the formation of the 2:1 host–guest inclusion complex from the 1:1 inclusion complex, are about one tenth the corresponding K₁ values, except for the -CD–TSPP system in alkaline solution. In neutral solution, where DEA--CD and DHA--CD are in protonated forms, the electrostatic force operates between DEA--CD (DHA--CD) and TCPP (TSPP), leading to the greater K values than those in alkaline solution, where DEA--CD and DHA--CD exist as neutral species.     

Complexation of Vinpocetine with Cyclodextrins in the Presence or Absence of Polymers. Binary and Ternary Complexes Preparation and Characterization

Inclusion complexation between -cyclodextrin (-CD),hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HP--CD), water-solublepolymers (PVP and HPMC) and vinpocetine was studied in aqueous solution and in the solid state.Phase solubility studies were used to evaluate the complexation in aqueous solution at roomtemperature. Stability constants (K_c) of binary and ternary complexes were determined spectrophotometrically. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)was used to characterize kneaded, co-evaporated and lyophilised binary and ternary systems.The K_c values obtained were 70.14 M^-1 and 35.01 M^-1 for vinpocetine--CD and vinpocetine-HP--CD and increased in a range of 17% to 94%by addition of water-soluble polymers. Some preliminary evidences ofinclusion complexation were obtained from DSC suggesting that co-evaporated and lyophilised binary andternary systems were truly inclusion complexes.     

The effects of cyclodextrin inclusion of the ferrocenemonocarboxylate anion on the kinetics of its oxidation by bis(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)cobaltate(III) in aqueous solution

The effects of -, -, dm-(heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)--) and -cyclodextrins (CD) on the kinetics of the electron-transfer reaction of the ferrocenemonocarboxylate anion (FCA^–) with bis(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)cobaltate(III) have been investigated in aqueous solution (0.20 M Na₂HPO₄, pH 9.2) at 25.0°C. Substantial decreases in the rate constants for the electron-transfer reactions were observed upon cyclodextrin inclusion of the reductant, due to an increase in the FCA^0/– reduction potential and to the insulation of the reductant from oxidant. The inclusion stability constants for {FCA·CD}^– were evaluated from the¹H NMR and kinetic data, and the order of the stability constants was found to be -CDdm-CD-CD>-CD.     

Studies of the reactions of Br(2P3/2) and Br(2P1/2) with SiH4

Photobromination of SiH₄ under uv-irradiation at various wavelengths has been studied. Rate constants for the elementary reactions Br(²P_3/2)+SiH₄HBr+SiH₃ (k=3.2×10^–11 exp(–21.8±2.5)/RT, cm³/s) and Br^* (²P_1/2)+SiH₄HBr+SiH₃ (k^*=(3±1)×10^–13 cm³/s) have been determined in the temperature range from 300 to 415 K.

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- . Br(²P_3/2)+SiH₄HBr+SiH₃, k=3,2×10^–11 exp (–21,8±2,5)/RT ³/ Br^*(²P_1/2)+SiH₄HBr+SiH₃, k^*=(3±1)×10^{–13 3}/ 300–415 K.

     

Synthesen von kernsubstituierten N,N-Diphenyl-β-alaninen

Zusammenfassung N,N-Diphenyl--alanine mit Substituenten in einem oder in beiden Phenylresten wurden durch Umsetzung von entsprechenden Diphenylaminderivaten mit -Propiolacton erhalten. In ähnlicher Weise reagierte Diphenylamin mit -Butyrolacton zu -(N,N-Diphenylamino)-buttersäure. 4,4-Diäthyldiphenylamin und 2-Chlor-6-methyl-diphenylamin wurden als Ausgangsmaterialien für die entsprechenden -Alanine hergestellt.

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N.N-Diphenyl--alanines with substituents in one or in both of the phenyl groups were synthesized by reactions of the corresponding diphenylamine derivatives with -propiolactone. Similarly diphenylamine reacted with -butyrolactone to give -(N.N-diphenylamino)-butyric acid. 4.4-Diethyldiphenylamine and 2-chloro-6-methyldiphenylamine were prepared as starting materials for the corresponding -alanines.

     

Interaction of tri-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin with drugs

Summary The effect of tri-O-methyl--cyclodextrin(methyl--CD) on the partition coefficients of drugs, such as p-nitrophenol, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, and aspirin, was studied at 25°C. The partition coefficients of these drugs were increased linearly with methyl--CD concentration. The increase of partition coefficients was interpreted by the 11 complex formation between methyl--CD and the drug in CHCl₃ phase.The interaction between p-nitrophenol and methyl--CD in solution was studied by UV and PMR spectroscopies. It was concluded that p-nitrophenol is included in the cavity of methyl--CD in both aqueous solution and CHCl₃ solution.Inclusion compounds of these drugs with methyl--CD in the solid state were studied by X-ray diffractometry, IR spectroscopy, and DSC measurements. 11 crystalline inclusion compounds were obtained from hot water. It is also suggested that amorphous inclusion compound was obtained by the grinding of drug with methyl--CD.The dissolution rate and the bioavailability of ketoprofen were significantly increased in the presence of methyl--CD. The bioavailability of ketoprofen after oral administration with methyl--CD to rats was 3.7 times that of ketoprofen alone.     

Reaction of methylmagnesium iodide with steroid keto oxides

Summary The reaction of the 3-acetate of the 20-ketal of 16,17-oxido-⁵-pregnenol-3-one-20 with methylmagnesium iodide and subsequent hydrolysis of the reaction product yielded 16-methyl-⁵-pregnenediol-3 –17-one –20. 18-Nor-17-methyl-17-iso-^5.11-pregnadienediol-3,16-one-20 was formed as a by-product.     

Radical scavenging properties of a flavouring agent–Vanillin

Using pulse radiolysis technique, the one-electron oxidation of vanillin (V-OH) with azide radicals, at pH 6 and 9 resulted in the formation of vanillin phenoxyl radical with k = 6.7 × 10⁷ and 2.5 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1, respectively. The transient absorption spectra of the vanillin phenoxyl radical (V-O) formed either at pH 6 or 9, showed a _max at 410 nm. At pH 5, the OH radicals seem to form an adduct with vanillin, _max at 430 nm and k(OH + V-OH) = 3.3 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1, while at pH 9, the OH radical reaction resulted in the formation of vanillin phenoxyl radical with _max at 410 nm and k(OH + V-O-) = 6.6 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1. The reactivity of NO₂radicals with vanillin is lower by orders of magnitude signifying an incomplete reaction. In general, the rate constants for the reaction of OH, N, NO radicals with vanillin were higher at pH 9 than at the lower pH. Its reactivity with other one-electron oxidants like CCl₃OO, CHCl₂OO and CH radicals and the ability to chemically repair tryptophanyl and guanosyl radicals with k = 1.5 - 4 × 10⁷ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1 indicate its antioxidative behaviour.     

Steroid glycosides XXI. The structure of polygonatoside E′ and protopolygonatoside E′ from the leaves ofPolygonatum latifolium

Summary The chemical structures of two new steroid glycosides from the leaves ofPolygonatum latifolium have been shown. Polygonatoside E is 3-[0--D-glucopyranosyl-(1 3)-0--D-glucopyranosyl-(1 4)-0--d-galactopyranosyl-(1 3)--D-glucopyranosyloxy]-(25R)-spirost-5-ene, and protopolygonatoside E is 26--D-galactopyranosyl-(1 3)--D-glucopyranosyloxy]-(25R)-furost-5-en-22-ol.Institute of Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Moldavian SSR, Kishenev. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 350–354, May–June, 1978.