PHOTOSENSITIVITY IN THE SKIN OF THE LIZARD, Anolis carolinensis

Skin of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis, is remarkably sensitive to light. Illuminated in vitro with visible light from a tungsten source (110 W (m-2)), skin changes from brilliant green to dark brown (50% reduction in reflectance) within 2-4 min as a result of dispersion of melanin from a perinuclear position within dermal melanophores into superficial dendritic processes. Reversal of the process, reaggregation of pigment, will occur within 2.0 min upon return to darkness. This photic response can be initiated with light levels as low as 5.0 W m(-2) and is maximized by light levels only 5% that of midwinter sunshine. Pigment dispersion in response to both melanocyte simulating hormone and to light is inhibited by cytochalasin-B, indicating that microfilaments may be the motor element for pigment movement in that direction. Colchicine, but not cytochalasin-B, totally blocks pigment reaggregation following melanocyte stimulating hormone exposure and partially blocks it in the dark phase of the photic response. The results of this study are consistent with a model for pigment movement in A. carolinensis that provides microfilaments for pigment dispersion and microtubule involvement in both dispersion and aggregation. Finally, because it is readily visible, easily quantified, rapid and reversible, photic response in the skin of A. carolinensis is recommended as a valuable model system for the study of saltatory movement of organelles within cells.     

Polymer blends—I. Mechanical and morphological behaviour of polyethylene/polyvinyl chloride blends

As part of a fundamental study of the behaviour of mixed plastics during reprocessing and in service, blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been investigated. It was found that Young's modulus increased steadily from pure LDPE to pure PVC whereas both tensile strength at break and elongation at break passed through a minimum at about 5% PVC. Optical and scanning electron microscope studies have related this mechanical behaviour to morphological changes in the two phase system under stress.     

Esters of 5-carboxyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide: a family of spin traps for superoxide

Apparent rate constants, at acidic pH and neutral pH for the reaction of a family of ester-containing 5-carboxyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxides with superoxide (O2*-) were estimated, using ferricytochrome c as a competitive inhibitor. It was of interest to note that the rate constants were similar among the different nitrones and not that significantly different from that found for 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide. At acidic pH, the rate constant for spin trapping O2*- was 3-fold greater than that at physiological pH. Subsequent experiments determined the half-life of aminoxyls, derived from the reaction of these nitrones with O2*-. The EPR spectra were modeled by using a global analysis method. The results clearly demonstrated that EPR spectra of all the aminoxyls were inconsistent with a model that included a single gamma-hydrogen splitting. A better interpretation modeled them as two diastereomers with identical nitrogen splittings and slightly different beta-hydrogen splittings. Detailed line width analyses slightly favored an equal line width-unequal population ratio for the two diastereomers.     

Mechanisms of antioxidant action: Stabilisation of nitrile rubber by interpenetrating networks based on thiol adducts

Nitrile rubbers containing three thiol antioxidants ((I) to (III)) in bound form have been evaluated as masterbatch concentrates by dilution in unstabilised nitrile rubber both at the latex stage and in the polymer melt. Both procedures give effective substantive systems in the case of the hindered phenol (I) and the aromatic thiol amide (II). Both show a high level of antioxidant retention under very severe technological conditions (oil/air oven cyclical test at 150°C). Antioxidant (III), which has only a minor structural difference from (II), is very much less effective as a substantive antioxidant.     

Charge transfer efficiency in hybrid bulk heterojunction composites

On the basis of recently published electrochemical measurements, the charge transfer efficiency within CdSe nanocrystal/conducting polymer heterojunction composites was investigated by means of luminescence interaction strength. It was found that poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] and poly-9-vinylcarbazole luminescence was not totally quenched by nanocrystals, whereas poly-3-octylthiophene and polyvinylpyrrolidone was completely quenched. In case of poly-3-hexylthiophene, the nanocrystal luminescence was quenched. The results are in complete agreement with the electrochemical findings and thus, the CdSe nanocrystal/Polyvinylpyrrolidone composite should be a promising material for electroluminescent devices.     

Lanthanide induced shifts of aromatic 1,2,3-trimethoxy compounds: Conformational analysis of tetrahydrofurofuran-lignans in solution

Summary The solution conformations of 1,4-diaryl-tetrahydro-1H,3H-furo[3,4-c]furans were determined by means of the LIS technique using a modified LIS-simulation program specially designed for the requirements of the aromatic 1,2,3-trimethoxy arrangement as a bidentate coordination site for the NMR shift reagent. The resulting geometries were confirmed by force field calculations (MM2-87) and compared with X-ray derived structures. Reliable data for the conformations in solution allowed a quantitative estimation of the circular dichroism based on the coupled oscillator model.

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Lanthanideninduzierte Verschiebungen von aromatischen 1,2,3-Trimethoxy-Verbindungen: Konformationsanalyse von Tetrahydrofurofuran-Lignanen in Lösung

Zusammenfassung Es wurden mittels der LIS-Technik die Konformationen von 1,4-Diaryl-tetrahydro-1H,3H-furo[3,4-c]furanen in Lösung bestimmt. Dazu mußte ein modifiziertes LIS-Simulationsprogramm entworfen werden, das auf die besonderen Verhältnisse der aromatischen 1,2,3-Trimethoxy-Gruppierung eingeht, welche in den untersuchten Verbindungen als zweizähnige Koordinationsstelle für das NMR-Verschiebungsreagens fungiert. Die resultierenden Geometrien wurden mittels Kraftfeldrechnungen (MM2-87) überprüft und soweit vorhanden auch mit Röntgenstrukturdaten verglichen. Für die Lösungskonformationen wurde eine quantitative Abschätzung des Circulardichroismus auf der Basis des Modells für gekoppelte Oszillatoren durchgeführt.

     

Eine neue Mikro- und Ultramikro-Bestimmung von Sauerstoff in organischen Verbindungen mit Hilfe eines W?rmeleitf?higkeitsdetektors

Zusammenfassung Zur Bestimmung des Sauerstoffs wird die organische Probe in Helium-Atmosphäre gecrackt; die sauerstoffhaltigen Crackprodukte werden über Kohle zu Kohlenmonoxid konvertiert. Um das Kohlenmonoxid von den übrigen Crackprodukten, wie H₂, N₂ und CH₄ abzutrennen, wird es zu Kohlendioxid oxydiert und danach an einem Molekularsieb bei 20° C durch Adsorption zurückgehalten; H₂, N₂ und CH₄ werden aus der Apparatur gespült. Sobald in der Probeleitung reines Spülgas auftritt, wird das adsorbierte Kohlendioxid durch Erhitzen desorbiert und im Detektor gemessen.

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Summary For the determination of oxygen the organic sample is cracked in helium atmosphere. Cracking products, containing oxygen, are converted to carbon monoxide by coal. For separation from the remaining cracking products (H₂, N₂, CH₄) carbon monoxide is oxidized and then adsorbed on molecular sieve 5A at 20°C; H₂, N₂ and CH₄ are flushed out. As soon as pure carrier gas flows through the sample pipe, carbon dioxide is desorbed by heating the molecular sieve and flushed to the detector.

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Es ist uns eine angenehme Pflicht, der Shell Austria AG., Wien, insbesondere Herrn Direktor Dipl.-Ing. R. Wallner, für die Gewährung eines Forschungsstipendiums an den einen von uns (E. W.) ergebenst zu danken.     

An Unexpectedly Stable Chiral Hydrido-Solvent Complex of RuII: A mechanistic link in the enantioselective hydrogenation of pyrones. Preliminary communication

The ligand (6,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis[3,5-di(tert-butyl)phenylphosphine] ( 1 ) forms an unexpectedly stable hydrido-bis-solvento complex of composition [RuH(isopropanol)₂( 1 )]BF₄, ( 2 ) under the conditions used in the enantioselective hydrogenation of pyrones. The structure of 2 , determined by X-ray diffraction, represents the first well-characterized chiral five-coordinate bis-phosphine ruthenium-hydride complex stable as a solvento complex, and provides a structural link in the enantioselective pyrone hydrogenation cycle catalyzed by [Ru(OAc)₂( 1 )]. Using the arene complex [RuH(p-cymene)( 1 )]BF₄ ( 3 ), the chiral pocket of coordinated 1 is shown to be relatively rigid, via NMR spectroscopy. This is reflected in restricted rotation about one of the four P–[3,5-di(tert-butyl)phenyl] P? C_ipso bonds at room temperature.     

Exploring CH-activation pathways in bifunctional zirconocene/borane systems

The dimethylsilanediyl-bridged ansa-zirconocene dichloride 1, that contains a pendent allyl substituent at a Cp-ring, adds HB(C(6)F(5))(2) to the vinyl group to yield the bifunctional zirconocene/borane complex 2. Substituted benzimidazoles were added to the strongly electrophilic borane moiety as protective groups, which allowed subsequent chloride versus -CH(2)SiMe(3) exchange at zirconium to take place by treatment with the respective alkyllithium reagent. Alternatively, the introduction of active sigma-ligands at zirconium is carried out first, followed by the hydroboration reaction. This route was followed for the synthesis of the diphenyl-ansa-zirconocene/borane complex 12. Complex 12 reacts slowly in solution by intramolecular electrophilic attack of the borane at its adjacent Cp-ring, followed by deprotonation using a [Zr]-Ph group to yield the zwitterionic complex 14 featuring a borata-tetrahydroindenyl moiety as part of the ansa-metallocene framework. Complex 14 was characterized by X-ray diffraction. It adds PMe(3) at zirconium to yield 15. Thermolysis of 12 with excess PMe(3) leads to the formation of the (aryne)zirconocene complex 18, which is stabilized by PMe(3) coordination to zirconium and PMe(3) addition to boron. N-Methylbenzimidazole adds to the -B(C(6)F(5))(2) unit of 12 to give the 1:1 adduct 19. Thermolysis of 19 at 80 degrees C in benzene solution in the presence of one additional equivalent of N-methylbenzimidazole results in deprotonation of the substrate to yield the sigma-N-methylbenzimidazolyl zirconium complex 20 (as a mixture of two diastereoisomers). An additional N-methylbenzimidazole ligand is bonded to the B(C(6)F(5))(2) unit in this product.