Anionic polymerization of vinyl chloride

Anionic polymerization of vinyl chloride has been studied. Of the organometallic compounds tested as initiators, only butyllithium was found to initiate polymerization. Polymerization in bulk at 0°C and with tert-butyllithium as initiator gave poly(vinyl chloride) in a yield of 38% with M _n = 55,000. Tacticity of the anionic PVC was similar to that of conventional PVC prepared at similar temperatures. Anionic PVC was found to be less branched and more heat-stable than the conventional polymer.     

Mass spectral fragmentation patterns of heterocycles. VI. Carbazole and 1,8-dideuteriocarbazole

The mass spectral fragmentation of carbazole was reinvestigated using metastable ion studies, exact mass measurements and 1,8-dideuteriocarbazole. 1,8-Dideuteriocarbazole was prepared by successive metalations and deuterations of carbazole. The ¹H- and ¹³C-nmr spectra of 1,8-dideuteriocarbazole confirmed earlier assignments for carbazole.     

Acoustic absorption in aqueous potassium phosphate

Measurements of acoustic absorption and velocity as a function of frequency and concentration in KH₂PO₄–K₂HPO₄ buffers at 4°C and pH 5-7 are reported. The dependence of the observed acoustic relaxation parameters on concentration is consistent with that to be expected from perturbation of a monomer-dimer equilibrium with an equilibrium constant [for 2H₂PO ₄ ^– (H₂PO₄)₂ ^2–] of 0.21 M^–1, a bimolecular rate constant of 5×10⁸ M^–1-sec^–1 and a standard volume change of –5 cm³ mole. The equilibrium constant for H₂PO ₄ ^– + HPO₄ ^2–H₃(PO₄)₂ ^3– is estimated to be 0.7 M^–1.     

Refinement of borate structures from 11B MAS NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations of 11B electric field gradients

The refinement of borate structures using DFT calculations combined with experimental (11)B quadrupole coupling parameters from solid-state NMR spectroscopy is presented. The (11)B electric field gradient (EFG) tensors, calculated using the WIEN2k software for trigonal and tetrahedral boron sites in a series of model compounds, exhibit a convincing linear correlation with the quadrupole coupling tensor elements, determined from (11)B MAS NMR spectra of the central or satellite transitions. The model compounds include Li(2)B(4)O(7), Mg(2)B(2)O(5), Mg(3)B(2)O(6), NH(4)B(C(6)H(5))(4), and colemanite (CaB(3)O(4)(OH)(3).H(2)O). The (11)B quadrupole moment, Q = 0.0409 +/- 0.0002 barn, derived from the linear correlation, is in excellent agreement with the accepted value for Q((11)B). This demonstrates that DFT (WIEN2k) calculations can provide precise (11)B quadrupole coupling parameters on an absolute scale. On the other hand, DFT calculations based on the reported crystal structures for datolite (CaBSiO(4)(OH)) and danburite (CaB(2)Si(2)O(8)) cannot reproduce the experimental (11)B quadrupole coupling parameters to the same high precision. However, optimization of these structures by minimization of the forces between the atoms (obtained by DFT) results in a significant improvement between the calculated and experimental (11)B quadrupole coupling parameters, which indicates that reliable refinements of the borate structures are obtained by this method. Finally, the DFT calculations also provide important structural information about the sign and orientation of the EFG tensor elements in the crystal frame, a kind of information that cannot be achieved from (11)B NMR experiments on powdered samples.     

Dimethylformamide as a carbon monoxide source in fast palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylations of aryl bromides

Dimethylformamide (DMF) acts as an efficient source of carbon monoxide and dimethylamine in the palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation (Heck carbonylation) of p-tolyl bromide to provide the dimethylamide. Addition of amines to the reaction mixture in excess delivers the corresponding aryl amides in good yields. The amines employed, benzylamine, morpholine, and aniline, all constitute good reaction partners. The reaction proceeds smoothly with bromobenzene and more electron-rich aryl bromides, but electron-deficient aryl bromides fail to undergo aminocarbonylation. The reactions are conducted at 180-190 degrees C for 15-20 min with microwave heating in a reaction mixture containing imidazole and potassium tert-butoxide: the latter is required to promote decomposition of the DMF solvent at a suitable rate. The beneficial effects of controlled microwave irradiation as an energy source for the rapid heating of the carbonylation reaction mixture are demonstrated. The carbonylation procedure reported herein, which relies on the in situ generation of carbon monoxide, serves as a convenient alternative to other carbonylation methods and is particularly applicable to small-scale reactions where short reaction times are desired and the direct use of carbon monoxide gas is impractical.     

Computerized, comprehensive databases of cellular and secreted proteins from normal human embryonic lung MRC-5 fibroblasts: identification of transformation and/or proliferation sensitive proteins

Databases of protein information from human embryonal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) have been established using computer analyzed two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. One thousand four hundred and eighty-two cellular proteins (1060 with isoelectric focusing and 422 with nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis, in the first dimension) ranging in molecular mass between 8 and 234 kDa were separated and numbered. Information entered in the database (in most cases for major proteins) includes: protein name, HeLa protein catalog number, mouse protein catalog number, proteins matched in transformed human epithelial amnion cells (AMA) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), transformation and/or proliferation sensitive proteins, synthesis in quiescent cells, cell cycle regulated proteins, mitochondrial and heat shock proteins, cytoskeletal proteins and proteins whose synthesis is affected by interferons. Additional information entered for a few transformation-sensitive proteins that have been selected for future studies includes levels of synthesis and amounts in fetal human tissues. A total of four hundred and seventy-six [35S]methionine labeled polypeptides (258 isoelectric focusing; 218, nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis) secreted by MRC-5 fibroblasts were separated and recorded (J. E. Celis et al., Leukemia 1987, 1, 707-717). Information entered in this database includes molecular weight and transformation sensitive proteins. These databases, as well as those of epithelial and lymphoid cell proteins (J. E. Celis et al., Leukemia 1988, 9, 561-601), represent the initial stages of a systematic effort to establish comprehensive databases of human protein information. In the long run, these databases are expected to offer a useful framework in which to focus the human genome sequencing effort.     

A liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of specific organophosphorus pesticide biomarkers in human urine

Organophosphorus pesticides are commonly used in both agricultural and residential settings. The widespread use of these chemicals makes it almost impossible for humans to avoid exposure. In order to determine background human exposure, there is a need for fast, reliable, and sensitive analytical methods. We have developed a sensitive method to quantify specific biomarkers of the organophosphorus pesticides acephate, azinphos, chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, diazinon, isazofos, malathion, methamidophos, parathion and pirimiphos or their O,O-dimethyl analogues in human urine, as their selective metabolites or as the intact pesticide. Isotopically labeled internal standards were used for eight of the analytes. The use of labeled internal standards in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry provided a high degree of specificity. Repeated analysis of urine samples fortified with high and low concentrations of the analytes gave relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 10% for the analytes with an isotopically labeled standard. Analytes without isotopically labeled standards had higher RSD. For all compounds except methamidophos and acephate, the recoveries were greater than 70%. The limits of quantification for most of the analytes were in the range of 0.1 to 1 ng/mL. We detected concentrations of most of these pesticides and/or their metabolites in urine samples from non-occupationally exposed persons using our method. Our frequencies of detection for the analytes measured ranged from 1% to 98%.     

Synthetic studies directed towards asmarines; construction of the tetrahydrodiazepinopurine moiety by ring closing metathesis

Asmarines are tetrahydro[1,4]diazepino[1,2,3-g,h]purine derivatives isolated from marine sponges (Raspailia sp). They possess profound cytotoxic activity towards cancer cell lines, and are thus attractive synthetic targets. The tetrahydrodiazepinopurine ring skeleton has been prepared employing the RCM reaction on Boc-protected 6-allylamino-7-(propen-1-yl)purine as the key step for the construction of the seven-membered ring. 7-(Propen-1-yl)purines were formed by a novel rearrangement of 7-allylpurines under basic conditions. Boc-protected N⁶,7-diallylpurine also participated in RCM to give the eight-membered ring analog of the diazepinopurine.     

Resolution of seven-coordinate complexes

The crystal structures of [Pr(dbm)3H2O] (1), [Sm(dbm)3H2O] (2), and [Er(dbm)3H2O] (3) have been determined (dbm=dibenzoylmethane). They display seven-coordinate propeller-shaped molecules, which are chiral and crystallize as conglomerates in space group R3. Analysis of the crystal structures reveals supramolecular interactions, including formation of a quadruple helix, which explain how stereochemical information can be transferred between stacks of molecules. A method to quantify the ee in bulk samples of stereochemically labile compounds by using solid-state CD spectroscopy is described. Using this method, it has been shown that compounds 1-3 undergo total spontaneous resolution directly after synthesis, forming a microcrystalline reaction product that is essentially enantiopure. The resolution of bulk quantities of seven-coordinate complexes (without chiral or polydentate ligands) is thus reported for the first time. Because the crystallization starts without seeding, the overall preparation may be regarded as absolute asymmetric synthesis.     

Evaluations of solid electrodes for use in voltammetric monitoring of heavy metals in samples from metallurgical nickel industry

Evaluation of different solid electrode systems for detection of zinc, lead, cobalt, and nickel in process water from metallurgical nickel industry with use of differential pulse stripping voltammetry has been performed. Zinc was detected by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) on a dental amalgam electrode as intermetallic Ni–Zn compound after dilution in ammonium buffer solution. The intermetallic compound was observed at –375 mV, and a linear response was found in the range 0.2–1.2 mg L^–1 (r²=0.98) for 60 s deposition time. Simultaneous detection of nickel and cobalt in the low g L^–1 range was successfully performed by use of adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (AdCSV) of dimethylglyoxime complexes on a silver–bismuth alloy electrode, and a good correlation was found with corresponding AAS results (r²=0.999 for nickel and 0.965 for cobalt). Analyses of lead in the g L^–1 range in nickel-plating solution were performed with good sensitivity and stability by DPASV, using a working electrode of silver together with a glassy carbon counter electrode in samples diluted 1:3 with distilled water and acidified with H₂SO₄ to pH 2. A new commercial automatic at-line system was tested, and the results were found to be in agreement with an older mercury drop system. The stability of the solid electrode systems was found to be from one to several days without any maintenance needed.