Unusual Facial Selectivity in the Cycloaddition of Singlet Oxygen to a Simple Cyclic Diene(1)

Syntheses of 5-isopropyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene and syn-5-isopropyl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, by routes that would allow completely diastereoselective introduction of deuterium labels, are described. The reaction of the isopropyl cyclohexadiene with singlet oxygen is shown to give an endoperoxide that is derived by preferential attack on the more sterically hindered face of the diene. A possible mechanistic explanation of this result is that the attack from the less hindered face leads to "ene" reaction rather than endoperoxide formation. However, this mechanism would require that the "ene" reaction and cycloaddition proceed via a common intermediate-presumably a perepoxide.     

Experimental detection of one case of benzene epoxidation by a peroxy radical and computational prediction of another

Reaction of the beta-styryl radical with O2 in benzene results in a low yield of benzene oxide, which is shown by isotopic labeling to arise from the solvent. Ab initio and DFT calculations elucidate the mechanism of this reaction, and identify the properties of other radicals that should be more effective promoters of the reaction. The CN radical is found to be one candidate.     

Aggregation of iron colloids in estuaries: a heterogeneous kinetics study using continuous mixing of river and sea waters

The kinetics of iron colloid aggregation in estuaries have been simulated with a model estuary in which seawater is continuously pumped into a reservoir initially containing river water. Profiles of colloidal Fe concentration versus salinity produced in this apparatus closely resembled field data for actual estuaries. Synthetic Fe colloids prepared by peptising Fe(OH)₃ with humic acid and phosphate showed very similar kinetic behaviour. Aggregation rate was found to be almost independent of velocity shear rate, implying that most aggregations are induced by brownian interparticle collisions. A heterogeneous kinetic model is proposed to explain the kinetic behaviour of Fe colloids during seawater-induced aggregation. This model describes kinetic behaviour in terms of a log-normal distribution of rate constants characterised by a mean value k and a standard deviation γ. Experiments showed that k is linearly related to the rate constant for salinity increase during mixing. This coupling of salinity changes and aggregation rate leads to Fe-salinity profiles that are nearly independent of the rate of salinity change, but which are dependent on γ.     

Manipulation of protein fingerprints during on-column fluorescent labeling: protein fingerprinting of six Staphylococcus species by capillary electrophoresis

Bacterial proteomes were analyzed by use of electrophoretically mediated microanalysis (EMMA) and field-enhanced stacking. A water-soluble protein fraction was injected onto a capillary. Next, a fluorogenic reagent was injected and allowed to react with the protein mixture, producing fluorescent products that were separated by submicellar capillary electrophoresis and detected by laser-induced fluorescence. By use of a low-ionic strength sample buffer and a brief electrophoretic step, slow moving anionic proteins were stacked at the reagent-sample interface and were preferentially labeled. By reversing the order of sample injection and labeling reagent, fast moving cationic proteins were preferentially labeled. By adjustment of the sample buffer pH, proteins with different isoelectric points were selectively labeled. Electrophoresis fingerprints were generated for the water-soluble protein fraction from six Staphylococcus species. The protein patterns produced were species-specific and were used to construct a phylogenetic tree.     

Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems. Part CLIII. Electron impact-promoted fragmentation of n-alkyl cyanides

In spite of previous extensive studies on the mass spectrometry of alkyl cyanides, no good mechanistic insight has as yet been gained into the behavior of straight chain alky1 cyanides. For this reason the possible origins for the principal ions in the mass spectrum of a typical alkyl cyanide (n-hexyl cyanide) have been determined using high resolution mass spectrometry anddeuterium labeling of every carbon atom. The results lead to the conclusion that most of the typical fragmentation processes of n-alkyl cyanides proceed through cyclic intermediates.     

Toward the development of new photolabile protecting groups that can rapidly release bioactive compounds upon photolysis with visible light

The synthesis and characterization of a new photolabile protecting group (caging group) for carboxylic acids, the 2-(dimethylamino)-5-nitrophenyl (DANP) group, is described. This compound has a major absorption band in the visible wavelength region with a maximum near 400 nm (epsilon400 = 9077 M(-1) cm(-1) at pH 7.4 and 21 degrees C). The caging group is attached through an ester linkage to the carboxyl functionality of beta-alanine, which activates the inhibitory glycine receptor in the mammalian central nervous system. Such caged compounds play an important role in transient kinetic investigations of fast cellular processes. Upon photolysis of DANP-caged beta-alanine, the caging group is released within 5 micros. Quantum yields of 0.03 and 0.002 were obtained in the UV region (308 and 360 nm) and the visible region (450 nm), respectively. Laser-pulse photolysis experiments, using 337 or 360 nm light, were performed with the caged compound equilibrated with HEK 293 cells transiently transfected with cDNA encoding the alpha1 homomeric, wild-type glycine receptor. The experiments demonstrated that neither DANP-caged beta-alanine nor its byproducts inhibit or activate the glycine receptors on the cell surface. Under physiological conditions, the DANP-caged beta-alanine is water-soluble and stable and can be used for transient kinetic measurements.     

Apparent molal volumes of aqueous solutions of bis-tetraalkylammonium salts at 25°C: Methylene-group contribution to the limiting molal volume

Densities of aqueous solutions of a series of polymethonium chloride and bromide salts (CH₃)₃–N–(CH₂)_n–N–(CH₃)₃X₂ have been measured at 25°C. Apparent molal volumes have been calculated, and methylene-group contributions to the limiting apparent molal volumes °_v have been estimated. Constant values of the methylene-group contribution of 16.5 and 17.0 cm³-mole^–1 were obtained for the bromide and chloride salts, respectively. These values are consistent with methylene-group contributions reported for other series of organic electrolytes.