Substoichiometric determination of heavy rare earths by isotopic dilution analysis

A substoichiometric method for the determination of heavy rare earths (holmium, thulium) has been developed. After the addition of a substoichiometric amount of EDTA to the test sample of rare earth labelled with its radioactive isotopes, the negatively charged complex formed was separated by passage through a column of Dowex 50 x 8. Interfering metals can be removed by preliminary cupferron and diethylammonium diethyldithiocarbamate extraction. Concentrations of rare earth down to 4 x 10(-7)g 5 ml have been determined.     

Preparation and stereoselectivity of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition ofD-glucose-derived nitrones to N-arylmaleimides

Summary Nitrones2 derived fromD-glucose oxime and benzaldehydes without employing any protection of hydroxyl group were isolated in pure state. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of2 to N-arylmaleimides gave predominantly theanti isoxazolidines3 and was rationalized byZ/E isomerization of N-glycosylnitrones2. The structure and steric configuration of the products have been assigned on the basis of¹H- and¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. AM1 calculations of the nitrones and MM2 calculations of the adducts were performed.

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Darstellung und Stereoselektivität der 1,3-dipolaren Cycloaddition vonD-Glucose-abgeleiteten Nitronen an N-Arylmaleimiden

Zusammenfassung Die Nitrone2 wurden ausD-Glucoseoxim und Benzaldehyden ohne Schutz von Hydroxylgruppen in reinem Zustand erhalten. Die 1,3-dipolare Cycloaddition von2 an N-Arylmaleimiden ergab bevorzugt dieanti-Isoxazolidine3; dies wurde über eineZ/E-Isomerisierung der N-Glycosylnitrone2 rationalisiert. Struktur und Stereochemie wurden auf Basis von¹H- und¹³C-NMR-Spektroskopie ermittelt. Außerdem wurden AM1-Berechnungen an den Nitronen und MM2-Rechnungen an den Addukten ausgeführt.

     

Staphylococcus aureus bicomponent gamma-hemolysins, HlgA, HlgB, and HlgC, can form mixed pores containing all components

Staphylococcal gamma-hemolysins are bicomponent toxins forming a protein family with leucocidins and alpha-toxin. Two active toxins (AB and CB) can be formed combining one of the class-S components, HlgA or HlgC, with the class-F component HlgB. These two gamma-hemolysins form pores with marked similarities to alpha-toxin in terms of conductance, nonlinearity of the current-voltage curve, and channel stability in the open state. AB and CB pores, however, are cation-selective, whereas alpha-toxin is anion-selective. gamma-Hemolysins' pores are hetero-oligomers formed by three or four copies of each component (indicated as 3A3B and 3C3B or 4A4B and 4C4B). Point mutants located on a beta-strand of the class-S component that forms part of the protomer-protomer contact region can prevent oligomer assembly. Interestingly, these mutants inhibit growth of pores formed not only by their natural components but also by nonstandard components. This lead to the hypothesis that mixed ABC pores could also be formed. By studying the conductance of pores, assembled in the presence of all three components (in different ratios), it was observed that the magnitudes expected for mixed pores were, indeed, present. We conclude that the gamma-hemolysin/leucocidin bicomponent toxin family may form a larger than expected number of active toxins by cross-combining various S and F components.     

Structural-chemical disorder of manganese dioxides 1. Influence on surface properties at the solid-electrolyte interface

Relationships between lattice parameters of manganese dioxides and their surface properties at the solid-aqueous solution interface were investigated. The studied series ranged from ramsdellite to pyrolusite and encompassed disordered MD samples. The structural model used takes into account structural defects: Pr (rate of pyrolusite intergrowth) and Tw (rate of microtwinning). Water adsorption isotherms showed that the cross sectional area of water molecules adsorbed in the first monolayer is positively correlated to Pr. Titration of the surface charge of the MD series evidenced a positive linear relationship between the PZC and Pr (Pr=0, Tw=0, PZC=1 for ramsdellite; Pr=1, Tw=0, PZC=7.3 for pyrolusite; gamma-MD with intermediate values of Pr (0.2 to 0.45) have increasing PZC values). The rate of microtwinning appeared as a secondary factor for the increase of the PZC. The above correlations are explained by the chemical defects at the origin of the structural disorder, respectively Mn(3+)/Mn4+ substitution for Pr and Mn vacancies for Tw, which result in proton affinity and thus in increased PZC. The experimental results are compared with data collected in the literature for manganese dioxides as well as for dioxides of transition elements with tetragonal structure.     

New access to 1,3-diketones from aldehydes

A simple and efficient methodology to introduce an 1,3-diketone motif from various aldehyde precursors in three steps with good overall yields is described using β-ketosulphone 7 as masked equivalent of acetone.     

Substoichiometric determination of manganese by neutron-activation analysis

A simple and rapid method for the substoichiometric determination of traces of manganese in various materials by neutron-activation analysis has been developed. After dissolution of the irradiated test sample, manganese(II) carrier is added and subsequently oxidised by peroxodisulphate to the heptavalent state. The permanganate thus formed is finally extracted into chloroform as tetraphenylarsonium permanganate using a substoichiometric amount of tetraphenylarsonium chloride. This single separation step isolates radiochemically pure manganese-56 in the analysis of a relatively simple material in which interfering elements (gold, rhenium, etc.) are absent. When this is not true, a preliminary separation of manganese from the irradiated sample, based on the extraction of manganese diethyldithio-carbamate into chloroform and followed by stripping of the manganese with dilute sulphuric acid, must be used. A simultaneously irradiated standard containing manganese must be treated in exactly the same way as a test sample. In the materials analysed by the new method 10(-5) to 10(-3)% of manganese has been determined.     

Diels-Alder reaction of fulvenes with N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-maleimide

Summary N-(3,5-Dichlorophenyl)-maleimide reacts smoothly with a variety of substituted fulvenes (1) to give onlyendo adducts (3) independent of the nature of fulvene substituent,Lewis acid catalyst, and reaction solvent and temperature. The structure of theDiels-Alder adduct3f was determined by X-ray crystallography. Semi-empirical quantum methods (AM1) were used to rationalize theendo stereoselectivity.Dedicated to Professor Fritz Sauter on the occasion of his 65^th birthday     

Synthesis of 2,3-anti-3,4-anti and 2,3-anti-3,4-syn propionate motifs: a diastereoselective tandem sequence of Mukaiyama and free-radical-based hydrogen transfer reactions

[reaction: see text] Reported herein is a strategy employing a Mukaiyama reaction in tandem with a hydrogen transfer reaction for the elaboration of 2,3-anti-3,4-anti and 2,3-anti-3,4-syn propionate motifs. The mode of complexation is controlled through monodentate or chelate pathways for the Mukaiyama reaction to give access to either syn or anti aldol products, precursors of the free-radical reduction reaction. Boron Lewis acid is used to control the free-radical reaction through the exocyclic pathway.     

Thermal decomposition of the pyridinium salt of 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,4-dimercapto-2,4-dithioxo-1,3-diaza-2λ5, 4λ5-diphosphetidine

It was found that the first step of thermal decomposition of the pyridinium salt of 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2, 4-dimercapto-2,4-dithioxo-1,3-diaza-2⁵,4⁵-diphosphetidine (I) most probably involves breakdown to the acid form HS(S)P(NHSiMe₃)₂P(S)SH (II). The latter is very unstable and decomposes further, the end-product being a polymer (PNS)_x. In this work, the mechanism of this process is investigated.

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Zusammenfassung Man fand, daß der erste Schritt der thermischen Zersetzung des Pyridiniumsalzes von 1,3-Bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,4-dimercapto-2,4-dithioxo-1,3-diaza-25,45-diphosphetidin (I) sehr wahrscheinlich einen Abbau zur Säureform HS(S)P(NHSiMe₃)₂P(S)SH (II) beinhaltet. Letztere ist sehr unbeständig und zersetzt sich, wobei als Endprodukt ein (PNS)_x-Polymer entsteht. In vorliegendem Manuskript wird der Mechanismus dieses Prozesses näher untersucht.