Microchemical characterization of paintings — A case study

Summary The fundamental importance of scientific research for the preservation and restoration of works of art is uncontestable. The methods described in this paper, such as light microscopy, microchemical tests, emission spectroscopy, chromatography, scanning electron analysis, electron microprobe analysis and infrared spectroscopy, are of special significance in this filed. Nevertheless a better understanding of the problems that arise out of new special questions of art history can be obtained only by the right interpretation of the data obtained by scientific methods.

---

Mikrochemische Charakterisierung von Gemälden

Zusammenfassung Die grundlegende Bedeutung wissenschaftlicher Forschung für die Erhaltung und Restaurierung von Kunstwerken ist unbestritten. Die hier beschriebenen Methoden (Lichtmikroskopie, mikrochemische Reaktionen, Emissionsspektroskopie, Chromatographie, Rasterelektronen-Analyse und Infrarotspektroskopie) sind hierfür von zunehmender Bedeutung. Sie ermöglichen ein besseres Verständnis neuerer kunsthistorischer Probleme nur durch die richtige Interpretation der Ergebnisse wissenschaftlicher Methoden.

     

Automatische Analyse und Simulation von NMR-Spektren

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry -     

Etorphine‐Related Ferrocenyl‐Substituted Morphinan Alkaloids

The two diastereoisomeric ferrocenyl‐substituted orvinols 2 and 3 were prepared. The modified alkaloids are still able to interact with opioid receptors (see Table). The ferrocene moiety allows highly selective and sensitive electrochemical detection. The X‐ray crystal structure of the major isomer 2 was determined. The combination of a metallocene and a morphinan alkaloid holds promise for useful antitumor activity.     

Connectedness properties of polynomial maps between affine spaces

Let f:A^mAⁿ be a polynomial map between affine spaces. We give some sufficient conditions for the connectedness of the difference kernel of f and relate this to the Jacobian Conjecture.     

Synthesis and characterization of new oligosilane derivatives of iron and molybdenum

By use of salt elimination, the transition metal substituted oligosilanes (η⁵-C₅Me₄Et)Fe(CO)₂SiMe₂SiMe₂Cl 1, (η⁵-C₅Me₄Et)Mo(CO)₃SiMe₂SiMe₂Br 2, (η⁵-C₅Me₄Et)Fe(CO)₂(SiMe₂)₆(CO)₂Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₄Et) 3 and (η⁵-C₅Me₄Et)Fe(CO)₂(SiMe₂)₆Br 4 were prepared and characterized. Compound 1 is well crystallized from pentane and its structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Preparation of 1-ferrocenyl-2-methyl-1-propylamine,a highly effective chiral template in asymmetrically induced synthesis

The 1-ferrocenyl-2-methyl-1-propylamine (2a)is the most effective chiral template in asymmetrically induced peptide synthesis by stereoselective four component condensation (4CC). Two routes for the synthesis of this amine via its N,N-dimethyl derivative (12a) an described. One route involves the conversion of 12a into the corresponding azide 14a by treatment with methyl iodide/sodium azide in diglyme/water and subsequent reduction of the azide. The preferred other route consists of treating 12a with thioglycolic acid/formic acid to yield the carboxymethylmercapto derivative 9a and transformation of the latter into 2a with aqueous ammonia/ammonium chloride/mercuric chloride. Some related reactions are also discussed.     

Different approaches toward an automatic structural alignment of drug molecules: Applications to sterol mimics,thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors

Summary A relative comparison of the binding properties of different drug molecules requires their mutual superposition with respect to various alignment criteria. In order to validate the results of different alignment methods, the crystallographically observed binding geometries of ligands in the pocket of a common protein receptor have been used. The alignment function in the program SEAL that calculates the mutual superposition of molecules has been optimized with respect to these references. Across the reference data set, alignments could be produced that show mean rms deviations of approximately 1 Å compared to the experimental situation. For structures with obvious skeletal similarities a multiple-flexible fit, linking common pharmacophoric groups by virtual springs, has been incorporated into the molecular mechanics program MOMO. In order to combine conformational searching with comparative alignments, the optimized SEAL approach has been applied to sets of conformers generated by MIMUMBA, a program for conformational analysis. Multiple-flexible fits have been calculated for inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis. Sets of different thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors have been conformationally analyzed and subsequently aligned by a combined MIMUMBA/SEAL approach. Since for these examples crystallographic data on their mutual alignment are available, an objective assessment of the computed results could be performed. Among the generated conformers, one geometry could be selected for the thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors that approached reasonably well the experimentally observed alignment.     

CZE separations of basic proteins at low pH in fused silica capillaries with surfaces modified by silane derivatization and/or adsorption of polar polymers

Mixtures of several basic proteins have been used to test CZE capillaries with surfaces modified by new pretreatment procedures; the performance obtained has been compared with that achieved using capillaries treated by procedures described in the literature. It has been shown that addition of non-ionic polyvinylalcohols (PVA) to CZE buffer solutions deactivates even bare, i.e. untreated, fused silica surfaces and renders them suitable for separations of basic proteins. The performance obtained from such surfaces was comparable with that of capillaries modified by the more elaborate procedures of etching, silanol derivatization, and/or adsorptive coating (again with polymers). A home-made device is described which enables derivatization and coating reactions to be performed on fused silica capillaries under an inert atmosphere, i.e. one free from oxygen and water.     

Optical sensor materials for the detection of amines in organic solvents

A new optical polymer-based sensor was developed, which is able to recognize amines in organic solvents with high sensitivity. Thin polymer membranes were prepared and investigated, which contain a chromogenic functional dye (reactand) that shows a significant colour change during a reversible chemical reaction with the analyte. For that purpose the azo dye 4-trifluoroacetyl-4′-[N-(methacryloxyethyl)-N-(ethyl)amino]-azobenzene (CR-465) was synthesized, which contains a trifluoroacetyl moiety (receptor for interaction with amines) and in addition, a polymerizable methacrylate group. The methacrylate group links the dye covalently to the polymer matrix and the receptor recognizes the analyte via covalent binding. For immobilisation of the dye cross-linked methacrylate polymers with different composition were used. The highly cross-linked polymer network was stable against most organic solvents and exhibited enhanced stability against mechanical strain compared to plasticized PVC. The sensitivity of the reaction between the analyte and the dye was tailored by the choice of the solvent in which the analysis of the sensor layer was performed, with equilibrium constants for 1-butylamine ranging from 80 to 2000 M⁻¹ in chloroform and DMSO, respectively. In toluene as the solvent, sensor layers typically exhibited equilibrium constants of 100 M⁻¹ for 1-butylamine, 1300 M⁻¹ for 1,4-diaminobutane and 20,000 M⁻¹ for tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine. We have also investigated the cross-linked sensor layers with respect to molecular imprinting and did not find any enhancement in selectivity through imprinting in the presence of different analyte molecules.