Substituted chromans and tetrahydrofuro[2,3-b]benzofurans (trapped tetrahedral intermediates) from 3-phenyl-2-benzofuranones

The previously discovered neighboring group reaction has been extended to the synthesis of chroman derivatives (i.e., 4, 5, 6) containing geminal methyls in the 2-position, a feature common to certain physiologically active natural chromans. In two instances, cyclic ortho ester by-products (8), not observed in previous work, were formed as a result of the intramolecular trapping of tetrahedral intermediates. Reasons for the incursion of this unexpected side reaction are discussed.     

Plutonium Activity Ratios in Plankton: New Evidence of Hold-Up Time in Irish Sea Sediments

The determination of activity ratios for radioisotopes of different half-lives can be used to estimate transit times from a point source to locations further away. For conservative elements, this time is approximately equivalent to the net hydrological transport. However, for non-conservative elements such as plutonium, the additional influence of biogeochemical processes decreases the net transport time. In this study, ²⁴¹Pu and ^239,240Pu concentrations in Irish Sea plankton samples, collected in May 1994, were determined and the ²⁴¹Pu/^239,240Pu ratios calculated. Plutonium-239,240 was measured using a standard method by ion exchange chromatography and alpha counting, and ²⁴¹Pu was determined by liquid scintillation counting using the disk-supported technique. The latter showed some methodological problems, which are briefly discussed. The ²⁴¹Pu/^239,240Pu ratios gave an estimate of the "transit time" from Sellafield to the different sampling points. In fact, this time represents the age of plutonium in plankton, i.e., the time lag between release from Sellafield and detection at the different sampling stations. The mean plutonium age was 17±2 years (n = 10) and 18.6±0.8 years (n = 13) in phytoplankton and zooplankton, respectively. The spatial distribution was reasonably homogeneous over the Irish Sea. The assimilation-elimination processes of plutonium in plankton are rather rapid. Therefore, it may be assumed that, in this time scale, the plutonium concentrations were in equilibrium with surrounding waters. Thus, it is concluded that plutonium was rather old because resuspension-sedimentation processes had occurred that delayed its transport within the Irish Sea. Therefore, the age of plutonium in plankton represented the hold-up time of plutonium in the sediments from the Irish Sea.     

A simple and versatile method for the synthesis of acetals from aldehydes and ketones using bismuth triflate

Acetals are obtained in good yields by treatment of aldehydes and ketones with trialkyl orthoformate and the corresponding alcohol in the presence of 0.1 mol % Bi(OTf)3.4H2O. A simple procedure for the formation of acetals of diaryl ketones has also been developed. The conversion of carbonyl compounds to the corresponding 1,3-dioxolane using ethylene glycol is also catalyzed by Bi(OTf)3.4H2O (1 mol %). Two methods, both of which avoid the use of benzene, have been developed.     

Solution properties of poly p-isopropyl α-methylstyrene

Two series (S and F) of poly p-isopropyl α-methylstyrene were characterized by viscometry, light scattering (LS), osmometry and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). S-samples were prepared by bulk anionic polymerization whereas F-samples were obtained on fractionation by preparative GPC of a polymer also prepared in bulk but with a different initiator. The K parameter in the Mark-Houwink relation was 5.55 × 10^?4 for series-S and 4.50 × 10^?4 for series-F, whereas the exponent a was 0.55 for both series. The Mark-Houwink equations for series-S and -F hold good at 25 and 30° for both toluene and tetrahydrofuran as solvents and have been corrected for polydispersity. The chain dimensions obtained with LS were much higher than those computed from the viscosity data indicating that the hydrodynamic theories in their present state should not be used for the calculation of chain dimensions. The deviations from the GPC universal calibration curve of polystyrene observed with some samples were attributed to structural differences among the polymers and to their high polydispersity.     

The total space-time of a point charge and its consequences for black holes

Singularities associated with an incomplete space-timeS are not uniquely defined until a boundaryB is attached to it. [The resulting space-time-with-boundary, ¯S S B, will be termed a total space-time (TST).] Since an incomplete spacetime is compatible with a variety of boundaries, it follows thatS does not represent a unique universe, but instead corresponds to a family of universes, one for each of its distinct TSTs. It is shown here that the boundary attached to the Reissner-Nordström space-time for a point charge is invalid forq ²<m ². When the correct boundary is used, the resulting TST is inextendible. This implies that the Graves-Brill black hole cannot be produced by gravitational collapse. The same is true of the Kruskal-Fronsdal black hole for the point mass, and for those black holes which reduce to the latter for special values of their parameters.     

Initiation of polymerization of alkyl 2-cyanoacrylates in aqueous solutions of glycine and its derivatives

The polymerization of methyl 2-cyanoacrylate and heptyl 2-cyanoacrylate was carried out with the use of aqueous solutions of ¹⁴C-tagged glycine, methyl glycine, and acetyl glycine as initiators. When glycine and methyl glycine were used, radioactive polymers were formed. When acetyl glycine was used, the polymer formed was not radioactive. The data seem to indicate that free NH₂ groups appear to be necessary for the incorporation of the glycine initiator in the polymer. A possible mechanism for the polymerization is presented.     

Solid state radioluminescent lighting

We have demonstrated novel types of tritium-powered, solid-phase radioluminescent (RL) light sources. These lights include: (1) all-organic formulations comprised of polystyrene and fluorescent organic dyes; (2) polydimethylsiloxane-based systems incorporating inorganic phosphors; and (3) inorganic aerogel-based systems doped with phosphors. Three principal design consideration for these new RL lights are described. These include: (1) incorporation of tritium into the solid matrix; (2) molecular engineering to maximize light-output efficiency; and (3) strategies for increasing longevity. The advanced RL lights, which are of interest due to potential advantages in efficiency, brightness and safety, are being developed for emergency lighting uses and for battery and lighting applications in remote locations.     

Thermal analysis of some metal benzohydroxamates

The preparation and thermal analysis of metal chelates of benzohydroxarnic acid (BHA) with Al(III), Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II) (two compounds), Fe(III), La(III), Pb(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), U(VI) and Zn(II) is discussed. The Al(III), La(III), Pb(II) and Mn(II) chelates are new compounds. DTA and TGA curves of the chelates and of BHA are presented, and the heats of decomposition of the chelates are estimated.     

OptiDock: virtual HTS of combinatorial libraries by efficient sampling of binding modes in product space

Products from combinatorial libraries generally share a common core structure that can be exploited to improve the efficiency of virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS). In general, it is more efficient to find a method that scales with the total number of reagents (Sigma growth) rather with the number of products (Pi growth). The OptiDock methodology described herein entails selecting a diverse but representative subset of compounds that span the structural space encompassed by the full library. These compounds are docked individually using the FlexX program (Rarey, M.; Kramer, B.; Lengauer, T.; Klebe, G. J. Mol. Biol. 1995, 251, 470-489) to define distinct docking modes in terms of reference placements for combinatorial core atoms. Thereafter, substituents in R-cores (consisting of the core structure substituted at a single variation site) are docked, keeping the core atoms fixed at the coordinates dictated by each reference placement. Interaction energies are calculated for each docked R-core with respect to the target protein, and energies for whole compounds are calculated by finding the reference core placement for which the sum of corresponding R-core energies is most negative. The use of diverse whole compounds to define binding modes is a key advantage of the protocol over other combinatorial docking programs. As a result, OptiDock returns better-scoring conformers than does serially applied FlexX. OptiDock is also better able to find a viable docked pose for each library member than are other combinatorial approaches.