Rapid identification of enantioselective ketone reductions using targeted microbial libraries

A collection of about 300 microbes was surveyed for the ability to generate chiral secondary alcohols by enantioselective reduction of a series of alkyl aryl ketones. Microbial cultures demonstrating utility in reducing model ketones were arrayed in multi-well plates and used to rapidly identify specific organisms capable of producing chiral alcohols used as intermediates in the synthesis of several drug candidates. Approximately 60 cultures were shown to selectively reduce various ketones providing both the R and S enantiomers of the corresponding alcohols in 92-99% ee with yields up to 95% at 1-4 g/L. An alternative approach to chiral alcohols based on selective microbial oxidation of racemic alcohols is also reported. This study provides a useful reference for generating chiral alcohols by selective microbial bioconversion.     

Lipschitz continuity of the absolute value in preduals of semifinite factors

We prove a weak-type estimate for the absolute value mapping in the preduals of semifinite factors which extends an earlier result of Kosaki for the trace class.Research supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)     

The application of homotopy analysis method to solve nonlinear differential equation governing Jeffery–Hamel flow

In this paper Jeffery–Hamel flow has been studied and its nonlinear ordinary differential equation has been solved through homotopy analysis method (HAM). The obtained solution in comparison with the numerical ones represents a remarkable accuracy. The results also indicate that HAM can provide us with a convenient way to control and adjust the convergence region.     

The concomitants of spinors of type [3/2,1/2] in space-time

Explicit forms for the concomitants which are bilinear in two spinors of type [3/2, 1/2] and the concomitants which are quadratic in a single spinor of type [3/2, 1/2] are obtained. The dual-tensors, where they exist, are also given.The concomitants of higher-order spinors can be obtained in an exactly similar manner.     

Vilenkin systems and generalized triangular truncation operator

We study actions of the Vilenkin group ^{k=0 m(k)} onL _p -spaces associated with a semi-finite von Neumann algebra , via a generalized triangular truncation operator. The systems of eigenspaces that arise contain the classical unbounded Vilenkin systems and we show that such systems with the inverse lexicographic enumeration form Schauder decompositions in all reflexive non-commutativeL _p -spaces. This is a non-commutative analogue of a theorem of Paley for unbounded Vilenkin systems, which in the classical setting is due to W.S. Young, F. Schipp and P. Simon.Research is partially supported by the NSF Grant DMS 99-71587Research is partially supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC)     

HyperMacs. Long Chain Branched Analogues of Hyperbranched Polymers Prepared by the Polycondensation of AB2 Macromonomers

We describe here a new strategy for the synthesis of polymers with highly branched architectures. The strategy involves the synthesis by anionic polymerization of well-defined AB₂ polystyrene macromonomers with molecular weights from 3,600 to 94,000 gmol⁻¹, which are then converted via a one-pot polycondensation reaction into high molecular weight, long-chain (hyper)branched architectures. Since the Hyperbranched structures are built up from condensation Macromonomers we have coined the term ‘HyperMac’ to describe these branched polymers. In this paper we report the synthesis of the HyperMacs, the optimal conditions for the polycondensation reaction and some preliminary characterization studies.     

On DABAL-Me3 promoted formation of amides

The range and utility of DABAL-Me₃ couplings of methyl esters and free carboxylic acids with primary and secondary amines under a variety of conditions (reflux, sealed tube, microwave) has been compared for a significant range of coupling partners of relevance to the preparation of amides of interest in pharmaceutical chemistry. Commercial microwave reactors promote the fastest couplings and allow the use of significantly sterically hindered amines (primary and secondary) and carboxylic acids derivatives. The influence of microwave energy on the reaction system was shown to be typically related to thermal effects (over-pressuring and superheating).     

Neuromodulation by soy diets or equol: Anti-depressive &; anti-obesity-like influences,age- &; hormone-dependent effects

Background  

Soy-derived isoflavones potentially protect against obesity and depression. In five different studies we examined the influence of soy-containing diets or equol injections on depression, serotonin levels, body weight gain (BW) and white adipose tissue (WAT) deposition in female Long-Evans rats at various stages of life [rats were intact, ovariectomized or experienced natural ovarian failure (NOF)].     

Fully symmetric operator spaces

It is shown that certain interpolation theorems for non-commutative symmetric operator spaces can be deduced from their commutative versions. A principal tool is a refinement of the notion of Schmidt decomposition of a measurable operator affiliated with a given semi-finite von Neumann algebra.Research supported by A.R.C.     

Non-commutative Banach function spaces

Dedicated to A.C. Zaanen on the occasion of his 75th birthday