1,3,6-Triphenyl-6-phenylazo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridazin

Base induced 1.4-elimination of pyridine·HI from 1-(2-phenyl-2-phenylhydrazono-ethyl)-pyridinium iodide (6) yields 1.3.6-triphenyl-6-phenylazo-1.4.5.6-tetrahydropyridazine (8) the (4+2)-cyclodimer of the intermediate 1-phenyl-1-phenylazoethylene (7).8 can also be obtained by intramolecular oxidative cyclisation (with KMnO₄) of 1.4-diphenylbutane-1.4-dione bisphenylhydrazone (12). Spectroscopic data (ms,¹H-nmr, uv and ir/Raman) confirm the structure of8.     

Syntheses of (±)-17α- and (±)-17β-hydroxytacamonine; determination of configuration at C-17

Both (±)-17α-hydroxytacamonine (3) and its 17β-isomer (4) were synthesized in two steps (one-pot) from aldehyde mixture 5/6 via the cyanohydrin reaction. NMR spectral characterization of isomer 3 revealed it to be unidentical with natural 17-hydroxytacamonine, whereas spectral data of isomer 4 were in agreement with those published for the natural isomer. The configuration at C-17 was confirmed by NOE difference spectroscopy.     

Free energy derivatives: A new method for probing the convergence problem in free energy calculations

The convergence behavior of free energy calculations has been explored in more detail than in any previously reported work, using a model system of two neon atoms in a periodic box of water. We find that for thermodynamic integration-type free energy calculations as much as a nanosecond or more molecular dynamics sampling is required to obtain a fully converged value for a single λ point of the integrand. The concept of “free energy derivatives” with respect to the individual parameters of the force field is introduced. This formalism allows the total convergence of the simulation to be deconvoluted into components. A determination of the statistical “sampling ratio” from these simulations indicates that for window-type free energy calculations carried out in a periodic waterbox of typical size at least 0.6 ps of sampling should be performed at each window (0.7 ps if constraint contributions to the free energy are being determined). General methods to estimate and reduce the error in thermodynamic integration and free energy perturbation calculations are discussed. We show that the difficulty in applying such methods is determining a reliable estimate of the correlation length from a short series of data. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dual-label autoradiographic analysis of human skin fibroblast and myoblast proteins by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using immobilised pH gradients in the first dimension

Horizontal two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with immobilised pH gradients in the first dimension has been applied to the analysis of human skin fibroblast and muscle myoblast total cell proteins. Excellent two-dimensional separations of skin fibroblast proteins were obtained using pH 4-10 immobilised pH gradient gels with a long interelectrode distance (16 cm), but resolution was degraded, particularly of the more acidic proteins, by the use of shorter (10 cm) gels. Improved resolution of acidic and basic proteins was obtained using separate pH 4-7 and pH 7-10 immobilised pH gradient gels respectively in the first dimension. Two-dimensional protein maps of skin fibroblast proteins were visualised both by silver staining and by autoradiography of samples labelled synthetically with [35S]methionine. Horizontal two-dimensional electrophoresis, using pH 4-7 and pH 7-10 immobilised pH gradient gels in the first dimension, was applied to the analysis of protein samples from skin fibroblasts and muscle myoblasts dual-labelled synthetically with [35S]methionine and [75Se]selenomethionine in an attempt to identify sets of proteins specific to each cell type. In addition, two-dimensional maps or protein samples derived from normal individuals and patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were compared to search for protein changes associated with the disease state. Although sets of qualitative protein spot differences were observed by visual inspection of the two-dimensional gels, more rigorous qualitative and quantitative analysis of the patterns using a computerised analysis system will be required to obtain the maximum amount of information from these data.     

Low-Field NMR Relaxation Analysis of High-Pressure Ethane Adsorption in Mesoporous Silicas

Understanding the behaviour of short-chain hydrocarbons confined to porous solids informs the targeted extraction of natural resources from geological features, and underpins rational developments in separation, storage and catalytic conversion processes. Herein, we report the application of low-field (12.7 MHz) ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation measurements to characterise ethane dynamics within mesoporous silica materials exhibiting mean pore diameters between 6 and 50 nm. Our measurements provide NMR-based adsorption isotherms within the range 25–50 bar and at ambient temperature, incorporating the ethane condensation point (40.7 bar at our experimental temperature of 23.6 °C). The quantitative nature of the acquired data is validated via a direct comparison of NMR-derived excess adsorption capacities with ex situ gravimetric ethane adsorption measurements, which are demonstrated to agree to within 0.2 mmol g⁻¹ of the observed ethane capacity. NMR relaxation time distributions are further demonstrated as a means to decouple interparticle and mesopore dominated adsorption phenomena, with unexpectedly rapid relaxation rates associated with interparticle ethane gas confirmed via a direct comparison with NMR self-diffusion analysis.     

Studium des gegenseitigen Einflusses der Bindungen in Thiocyanat-Kupfer(II)-Komplexen mit Methyl- und Dimethylpyridinen mittels Infrarotspektroskopie

The infrared spectra of thiocyanato-copper(II) complexes of the type Cu(NCS)₂ L ₂ with all isomeric picolines and lutidines (L) as well as those of the type Cu(NCS)₂ L ₃ withL=3- and 4-picoline, 3,4- and 3,5-lutidine were measured. The behaviour of the (CN) stretching vibrations of the Cu(NCS)₂ L ₂ complexes led to conclusions on the different kind of coordination of the NCS groups in dependence on the ligandL. The mutually conditioned strength of the Cu–NCS and Cu–N(L) bonds in the equatorial plane, especially in the presence of ligandsL with the steric effect, was determined from the frequency shift of the Cu–NCS and Cu–N(L) stretching vibrations with regard to the vibrations for Cu(NCS)₂(pyridine)₂.

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Mit 1 Abbildung     

Die Massenspektren der Pyrrolidide einiger aliphatisch-alicyclischer Carbonsäuren

The mass spectra of the pyrrolidides of some long-chain carboxylic acids with alicyclic residues attached to their ω-end are discussed and compared with the spectra of the corresponding esters. Fragmentation triggered by the pyrrolidide group generates a series of peaks, which clearly exhibits the size and the structure of the carbon chain.     

Thermally activated conduction in molecular junctions

We report temperature dependence measurements on the conductance of individual molecular wires. The results show for the first time in a molecular junction the theoretically predicted transition from coherent superexchange tunneling conductance to an activated hopping mechanism as temperature is increased.     

Die spezifische Wärme des Polyvinylchlorids

Zusammenfassung Die spezifische Wärme verschiedener handelsüblicher Polyvinylchlorid-Sorten (Suspensions- und Emulsions-PVC, schlagfestes PVC und ein Vinylchlorid-Vinylacetat-Copolymerisat) wurde im Temperaturbereich 20 (bzw. –50) bis 140 °C mit einem adiabatischen Kalorimeter gemessen. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wurde dem Einfluß der thermischen Vorgeschichte gewidmet. Messungen an getemperten Proben ergaben — in Übereinstimmung mit den Ergebnissen anderer Autoren —einfache Kurvenzüge mit einem Steilanstieg der spezifischen Wärme im Einfriergebiet. Untersuchungen an abgeschreckten Proben ließen zu Beginn des Einfrierbereiches Minima der spezifischen Wärme infolge Enthalpierelaxation erkennen. Oberhalb des Einfrierbereichs zeigten sich Kristallisationserscheinungen mit Wärmetönungen von etwa –1,3 cal/g (exotherm). Hieraus wurde der kristalline Anteil des Polyvinylchlorids zu rund 3% abgeschätzt. Der Schmelzpunkt der PVC-Kristallite wurde differentialthermoanalytisch zu 156 bzw. 170 °C gefunden. Das schlagfeste PVC ließ das Schmelzen einer Spur Polyäthylen zwischen 102 und 125 °C erkennen. Die kalorimetrisch bestimmten Einfriertemperaturen stimmen mit dilatometrisch gemessenen — gleiche thermische Vorbehandlung vorausgesetzt — überein.

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Summary The specific heat of some commercially available samples of polyvinyl chloride (suspension PVC, emulsion PVC, high impact PVC, and a copolymerisate of vinylchloride and vinylacetate) was measured in the temperature range from 20 (or –50) to 140 °C, using an adiabatic calorimeter. Special attention was paid to the influence of thermal history of the samples. Investigations of annealed samples gave simple curves with a steep slope in the glass transition range, in agreement with the results of other authors. Measurements with samples quenched in ice water showed specific heat curves with a minimum at the beginning of the glass transition range caused by enthalpy relaxation. Above the glass transition range crystallization occurred accompanied by heat effects of about –1,3 cal/g (exothermal). From this the fraction of crystalline PVC was estimated to be about 3%. The melting point of the PVC crystallites as determined by differential thermal analysis was 156 or 170 °C. With high impact PVC the melting of traces of polyethylene was observed between 102 and 125 °C. The glass transition temperatures as determined by calorimetry agreed with those determined by dilatometric measurements, provided thermal pretreatment being equal in both cases.

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Mit 14 Abbildungen und 5 Tabellen     

Heme-protein active site models via self-assembly in water

[structure: see text] Water-soluble models of heme-protein active sites are obtained via the self-assembly of cationic porphyrins 1 and tetrasulfonato calix[4]arene 2 (K(1.2)() = 10(5) M(-)(1)). Selective binding of ligands either outside or inside the cavity of assemblies 1.2 via coordination to the zinc center has been observed. Small ligands such as 4-methylpyridine and 1-methylimidazole are encapsulated, while the bulkier caffeine is bound outside. Assemblies Co-1.2, in which the Zn porphyrin moiety has been replaced by a Co(II) porphyrin, can act as O(2) carriers.