THE CHLOROPHYLL a AGGREGATE ABSORBING NEAR 685 nm IS SELECTIVELY FORMED IN AQUEOUS TETRAHYDROFURAN*

An aqueous solution of 2–12% (vol/vol) tetrahydrofuran (THF) induced the selective aggregation of chlorophyll a (Chl a) to form a novel species, A-685, absorbing near 685 nm. The formation of A-685 was closely correlated with a decrease in water activity of the solution. A Raman spectrum of the Chl a species formed in the presence of 6% THF suggests a unique interaction among Chl a, solvent THF and water molecules to give a stacked aggregate (Chl a.THF.H₂O.THF.Chl a). The circular dichroic spectrum of the Chl a species formed in the 6% THF aqueous solution showed an intense signal that had negative and positive wings with about 100-fold larger molar ellipticity for the A-685 than for monomer. However, Chl a', the C10 epimer of Chl a, and chlorophyllide, with a phytyl chain replaced by an ethyl group, did not form A-685 in 6% THF. These clearly indicate that 10-methylcarboxylate and the phytyl chain have a significant role in stabilizing A-685. A possible structure for A-685 is proposed as a novel in vitro model for the P-680 Chl a dimer.     

Tetracyanoresorcin[4]arene ion channel shows pH dependent conductivity change

A pH sensitive artificial ion channel, tetracyanoresorcin[4]arene, whose pK(a1) to pK(a3) are around pH 7, was synthesized. Conductivities for potassium ion were increased by the progress of dissociation at the channel mouth.     

Synthesis of 1-Thio-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine Derivatives,and Their Biological Activities. XX

Abstract

In the course of an investigation² on the relationship between the immunoadjuvant activity and the structure of the carbohydrate moiety in N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), which is the minimal, immunoadjuvant-active component of bacterial cell-wall peptidoglycan, we demonstrated that not only is restricted configuration of the sugar moiety important for the activity² but also that chemical modifications^3–5 of the functional groups in the carbohydrate moiety produce various, important effects on the manifestation of activity. It has been shown that lipophilic derivatives^6–8 of MDP bearing the lipid moiety at C-6 of the sugar skeleton, or at the end of the peptide chain, have strong antitumor and anti-infection activities that are not for MDP itself. In addition, we have also observed that introduction^3b,9,10 of lipophilic character at C-2 in muramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, or at C-6 in N-acetyl-6-amino-6-deoxy-muramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, causes potent antitumor activity based on the immune reaction, as well as strong, immunoadjuvant activities.     

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper and zinc in high-purity bismuth after thiocyanate extraction

Copper and zinc (0.01–1 μg g^?1)in high-purity bismuth are extracted together as their thiocyanate complexes into methyl isobutyl ketone and determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with a tungsten-strip atomizer. The concentrations of copper found by the proposed method agree well with the values obtained by similar atomic absorption spectrometric methods involving prior extraction of copper as its bathocuproine or diethyldithiocarbamate complex.     

Identification of possible technical problems in determination of the major inorganic constituents of brown-rice flour by evaluating proficiency test results

To support skill upgrading in analysis of inorganic constituents of environmental and food samples, the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and the National Food Research Institute (NFRI) have organized a proficiency test (PT) of determination of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Cd in brown-rice flour based on the international standard (ISO/IEC 17043:2010). One hundred and thirty-three sets of reports were assessed by use of the E _n -number and z-score approaches in accordance with ISO/IEC 17043 and the international harmonized protocol for PT. The PT results and analytical procedures, reported in detail, were reviewed, and possible technical reasons for questionable or unsatisfactory results are discussed.

New ring-expansion reactions of hydroxy propenoyl cyclic compounds under palladium(0)/phosphine-catalyzed conditions

[reaction: see text] Palladium(0)-catalyzed one-atom ring-expansion of 1-hydroxy-2,2-dialkyl-1-propenoylindan derivatives has been achieved in the presence of P(o-tolyl)(3) giving 2-hydroxy-3,3-dialkyl-2-vinyl-1-tetralone derivatives in excellent yields. This ring-expansion reaction was applied to a 17-(1-oxo-2-propenyl)-beta-estradiol derivative and furnished a similar ring-expanded product in an excellent yield.     

Synthesis of N-substituted cyclic triglycines and their response to metal ions

N,N^′,N^″-Trisubstituted-cyclo-triglycines were synthesized. The major conformation of these compounds has C₃ symmetry, and the carbonyl groups and substituents on the nitrogen are inclined in the same direction. Their response to various metal ions was estimated by constructing ion-selective electrodes. Two of them responded selectively to Ca²⁺ over other cations, demonstrating that N,N^′,N^″-trisubstituted-cyclo-triglycines provide a new scaffold to act as host molecules.     

Effects of orientation and degree of polymerization on tensile properties in the cellulose sheets using hierarchical structure of wood

Cellulose - Structural control is essential for further development of cellulosic materials. Here, we demonstrated the significance of the orientation and degree of polymerization in the integrated...     

A Coulometric Analysis Method and an Ion-exclusion Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Antimony(V) in Large Excess of Antimony(III)

A coulometric analysis method and an ion-exclusion chromatographic method were developed for the determination of antimony(V) in a large excess of antimony(III). Antimony(V) reacted with potassium iodide in a high concentration hydrochloric acid; the liberated iodine was determined by the standard-addition method using coulometrically generated iodine. Using a Dionex ICE-AS1 ion-exclusion column, antimony(V) was eluted with 40 mmol/L sulfuric acid; on the other hand, antimony(III) was strongly retained on the column. The content, expressed as the amount ratio of antimony(V) to antimony(III), was 0.035% in a 10 g/kg antimony(III) solution prepared from an antimony(III) oxide reagent by the coulometric analysis method and 0.036% in a 1 g/kg antimony(III) solution prepared from the same antimony(III) oxide by the ion-exclusion chromatographic method. The results of both methods were in good agreement with each other. The detection limit of antimony(V) in antimony(III) oxide by the former method was 0.004% of antimony(III), and that by the latter method was 0.002% of antimony(III).