Mild, aqueous, aerobic, catalytic oxidation of methane to methanol and acetaldehyde catalyzed by a supported bipyrimidinylplatinum-polyoxometalate hybrid compound

We have demonstrated that a bipyrimidinylplatinum-polyoxometalate, [Pt(Mebipym)Cl2]+[H4PV2Mo10O40]-, supported on silica is an active catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of methane to methanol in water under mild reaction conditions. Further oxidation of methanol yields acetaldehyde. The presence of the polyoxometalate is presumed to allow the facile oxidation of a Pt(II) intermediate to a Pt(IV) intermediate and to aid in the addition of methane to the Pt catalytic center.     

Phenanthroline-polyoxometalate hybrid compounds and the observation of intramolecular charge transfer

A phenanthroline ligand has been covalently modified at the 2 and 9 positions by an aminophenylhexamolybdate substituent. The 1H NMR spectrum indicated a strong electron-withdrawing effect of the hexamolybdate (Mo6O19(2-)) moiety on the phenanthroline ligand. UV-vis and cyclic voltammetry showed extended conjugation of the hybrid phenanthroline-polyoxometalate compound and the possibility of easy oxidation of the extended phenanathroline ligand. Further EPR experiments provided strong evidence for an intramolecular charge-transfer process with the formation of a phenanthroline cation radical and a reduced hexamolybdate.     

Chiral Compounds Synthesized by Biocatalytic Reductions [New Synthetic Methods (51)]

It has been known for many decades that chiral compounds can be obtained by stereospecific biocatalytic reduction. Further significant methodological developments in this field have, however, only been made during the past ten years; they include the application of previously unused microorganisms and electron donors, the discovery of additional substrates for the known reductases, the development of methods for regenerating reduced pyridine nucleotides, and the discovery of new reductases which were sought for specific preparative purposes. Many chiral compounds can now be synthesized by microbial hydrogenation using H₂ and hydrogenase-containing microorganisms as well as by electromicrobial or electroenzymatic reduction. In the two latter methods, anaerobic or aerobic organisms are supplied with electrons from electrochemically reduced, artificial mediators, e.g., methyl viologen. Reductases that do not require pyridine nucleotides and can accept electrons directly from reduced viologens are especially useful. Two examples of this type of enzyme are described which are of preparative interest. Many cells contain methyl viologen-dependent NAD(P) reductases, a large number of which have still not been characterized. A productivity number is proposed which allows different methods of bioconversion with microorganisms to be compared. The productivity numbers of compounds synthesized by the methods described in this review are often 10- to 100-fold higher than those of substances obtained by conventional techniques.     

Natural Occurrence of Enantiomeric and meso-Astaxanthin. 5. Ex wild salmon (Salmo salar and Oncorhynchus)

The configurational isomers of astaxanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4′-dione) from the flesh of salmon (Salmo salar and Oncorhynchus) caught at different places in Europe and Canada were isolated and analyzed as (?)-camphanic acid diesters by means of HPLC. The biological variation in the composition of the configurational isomers in seven fish was surprisingly similar: 78 to 85% of (3S, 3′S)-astaxanthin, 12 to 17% (3R, 3′R)-astaxanthin and 2 to 6% meso-astaxanthin.     

Purification by solid layer melt crystallization

The application of solid layer crystallization techniques in industry is arousing ever more interest. One reason is the increasing demand for ultrapure products, and another is the energysaving potential of this separation technology.This article examines solid layer melt crystallization as concerns its purification efficiency. The crystallization process was carried out in two different modes, whereby the process parameters were varied and post-crystallization treatments were additionally applied. The experimental results were used as the basis for a mathematical fit of a semi-empirical expression which predicts the purification efficiency. It was used for a design of different multistage plants, which operate with different crystallization strategies. One result is that a comparable product quality is attainable with a simple process technique in combination with post-crystallization treatments, instead of a more complicated and therefore more expensive process technique.The authors wish to acknowledge support by the EU (JOULE program), which helped attainment of some results presented here.     

Photopolymers for Rapid Prototyping of Soluble Mold Materials and Molding of Cellular Biomaterials

Summary. To substitute cross-linked photopolymers in rapid prototyping of mold materials and therefore extend the range of materials which can be casted, organo-soluble photopolymers were developed. Branched bisalkylacrylamides were suitable as base component for such formulations, due to their high reactivity, good mechanical properties, and excellent solubility of the formed polymers. These molding materials were used to prepare cellular biocompatible materials which could be used as bone replacement materials. Biocompatible crosslinkers based on methacrylates from hydrolyzed gelatine or lactic acid ethyleneglycol blockcopolymers and commercially available reactive diluents are the base components of such a formulation. Biocompatibility was investigated by osteoblast-like cells. Cellular biocompatible parts were obtained by thermal polymerization in soluble mould materials prepared by 3D-photoshaping.     

Verbesserte Apparatur zur Bestimmung der primären Aminogruppe

Zusammenfassung Die früher beschriebene Apparatur zur Bestimmung der primären Aminogruppe wurde verbessert. Auch die Handhabung wurde vereinfacht. Die einzelnen Teile der Apparatur (Desaminierungsteil, Absorber) können nun unabhängig voneinander ausgewaschen und luftfrei gemacht werden. Die Absorber sind für etwa 30 bis 50 Analysen benützbar, bevor sie erneuert werden müssen.

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Summary The apparatus previously described for the determination of primary amino groups has been improved. Also the manipulation is simplified. The individual segments of the apparatus (deamination part, absorber) can now be washed out independently of each other, and rendered free of air. The absorbers may be used for around 30 to 50 analyses before they must be renewed.

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Der Firma P. Haack, Wien danken wir für das besondere Entgegen-Kommen bei der Entwicklung der Apparatur.     

Zur regioselektiven nucleophilen Addition an 2,3-Dihydrobilatriene-abc

Donors are added regioselectively to position 10 of 2,3-dihydrobilatrienes-abc in a reversible reaction, which is complicated in case of strongly basic donors due to the easy deprotonation of the partially saturated ring. Compared to the bilatrienes-abc the addition equilibrium is retarded by about two orders of magnitude.