Enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic materials using simultaneous ball milling

One of the limiting factors restricting the effective and efficient bioconversion of softwood-derived lignocellulosic residues is the recalcitrance of the substrate following pretreatment. Consequently, the ensuing enzymatic process requires relatively high enzyme loadings to produce monomeric carbohydrates that are readily fermentable by ethanologenic microorganisms. In an attempt to circumvent the need for larger enzyme loadings, a simultaneous physical and enzymatic hydrolysis treatment was evaluated. A ball-mill reactor was used as the digestion vessel, and the extent and rate of hydrolysis were monitored. Concurrently, enzyme adsorption profiles and the rate of conversion during the course of hydrolysis were monitored. α-Cellulose, employed as a model substrate, and SO₂-impregnated steam-exploded Douglas-fir wood chips were assessed as the cellulosic substrates. The softwood-derived substrate was further posttreated with water and hot alkaline hydrogen peroxide to remove >90% of the original lignin. Experiments at different reaction conditions were evaluated, including substrate concentration, enzyme loading, reaction volumes, and number of ball beads employed during mechanical milling. It was apparent that the best conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis of α-cellulose were attained using a higher number of beads, while the presence of air-liquid interface did not seem to affect the rate of saccharification. Similarly, when employing the lignocellulosic substrate, up to 100% hydrolysis could be achieved with a minimum enzyme loading (10 filter paper units/g of cellulose), at lower substrate concentrations and with a greater number of reaction beads during milling. It was apparent that the combined strategy of simultaneous ball milling and enzymatic hydrolysis could improve the rate of saccharification and/or reduce the enzyme loading required to attain total hydrolysis of the carbohydrate moieties.     

Kinetics of anation of chromium(III) by L-phenylalanine

Summary The kinetics of anation of chromium(III) species, [Cr(H₂O)₆]⁴⁺ and [Cr(H₂O)₅OH]²⁺, by L-phenylalanine in aqueous acid has been studied spectrophotometrically. Effects of varying [substrate], [ligand], [H⁺], , % ethanol and temperature were investigated. The kinetic data suggest a mechanism where outersphere-associations [between chromium(III) species and phenylalanine in the zwitterionic form] precede anation. Comparison of the results with published data suggest an I_a path for the [Cr(H₂O)₆]³⁺ reaction and I_d path for the [Cr(H₂O)₅OH]²⁺ reaction.     

Terpenoids of the oleoresin ofPinus kochiana

The chemical composition of the oleoresin of Koch's pine growing in the Caucasus has been studied. It has been shown that, with respect to the composition of the monoterpenes and the resin acids, the oleoresin of this species does not differ from oleoresins of the subgenusDiploxylon studied previously. Predominating among the sesquiterpenes is germacrene D, which has not previously been found in the resins of the conifers of the USSR. The diterpenoids are represented by tricyclic compounds (pimarinol, isopimarinol, and methyl 15-hydroxydehydroabietate and the hydrocarbons corresponding to them).     

Stannyl radical-mediated cleavage of pi-deficient heterocyclic sulfones. Synthesis Of alpha-fluoro esters

Treatment of ethyl 2-(pyridin-2-ylsulfonyl)hexanoate with tributylstannane and azobis(2-methyl-2-propanitrile) (AIBN) in benzene at reflux for 36 h resulted in hydrogenolysis to give ethyl hexanoate (60%), whereas no reaction was observed after 48 h at reflux with ethyl 2-(phenylsulfonyl)hexanoate. Ethyl 2-(pyrimidin-2-ylsulfonyl)hexanoate underwent quantitative hydrogenolysis within 1 h under these conditions. This represents a mild new methodology for removal of the synthetically useful sulfone moiety. Substitution of Bu(3)SnD for Bu(3)SnH gave access to alpha-deuterium-labeled esters. Treatment of the alpha-(pyrimidin-2-ylsulfonyl) enolates derived from several esters with Selectfluor gave high yields of the 2-fluoro-2-(pyrimidin-2-ylsulfonyl)alkanoates, which were smoothly desulfonylated [Bu(3)SnH (2 equiv)/AIBN/benzene/Delta] to give 2-fluoroalkanoates. "Catalytic" tin hydride, generated from tribuytltin chloride (0.15 equiv) and excess polymethylhydrosiloxane in the presence of potassium fluoride, also effected removal of the pi-deficient alpha-(pyrimidin-2-ylsulfonyl) moiety from acid derivatives in high yields. Desulfonylation is suggested to proceed via alkoxy ketyl-type radicals and tin enolates.     

Direct conversion of N-methoxy-N-methylamides (Weinreb amides) to ketones via a nonclassical Wittig reaction

[reaction: see text] N-Methoxy-N-methylamides (Weinreb amides) are converted efficiently into ketones by reaction with alkylidenetriphenylphosphoranes and in situ hydrolysis of the product.     

Two‐Dimensional Holo‐ and Hemidirected Lead(II) Coordination Polymers: Synthetic,Spectroscopic, Thermal,and Structural Studies of [Pb(μ‐SCN)2(μ‐ebp)1.5]n and {[Pb(μ‐OAc)(μ‐ebp)](ClO4)}n (ebp=4,4′‐[(1E)‐Ethane‐1,2‐diyl]bis[pyridine]; OAc=Acetato)

Two new coordination polymers of Pb^II complexes with bridging 4,4′‐[(1E)‐ethane‐1,2‐diyl]bis[pyridine] (ebp), thiocyanato, and acetato ligands, [Pb(μ‐SCN)₂(μ‐ebp)_1.5]_n ( 1 ) and {[Pb(μ‐OAc)(μ‐ebp)](ClO₄)}_n ( 2 ), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, thermal analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In 1 , the Pb²⁺ ions are doubly bridged by both the ebp and the SCN⁻ ligands into a two‐dimensional polymeric network. The seven‐coordinate geometry around the Pb²⁺ ion in 1 is a distorted monocapped trigonal prism, in which the Pb²⁺ ions have a less‐common holodirected geometry. In 2 , the Pb²⁺ ions are bridged by AcO⁻ ligands forming linear chains, which are also further bridged by the neutral ebp ligands into a two‐dimensional polymeric framework. The Pb²⁺ ions have a five‐coordinate geometry with two N‐atoms from two ebp ligands and three O‐atoms of AcO⁻. Although ClO acts as a counter‐ion, it also makes weak interactions with the Pb²⁺ center. The arrangement of the ligands in 2 exhibits hemidirected geometry, and the coordination gap around the Pb²⁺ ion is possibly occupied by a configurationally active lone pair of electrons.     

Metal chelates of heterocyclic nitrogen-containing ketones,Part XXII. Spectroscopic studies on rhodium(III) complexes of phenyl-2-picolylketone-2-pyridyl hydrazone

Summary Mono, bis and tris complexes of rhodium(III) with phenyl-2-picolylketone-2-pyridyl hydrazone (PPKPyH) have been characterized. In every case, the imino-proton of PPKPyH shows marked acidity associated with the coordination to rhodium(III). Electronic spectra show that all complexes are octahedral. The B-values suggest a strong covalency in the metal-ligand -bond and the Dq-values indicate a medium-strong ligand field. The magnetic susceptibility indicates that PPKPyH forms low-spin complexes with rhodium(III).¹H n.m.r. spectra show that the tris(ligand) complexes arecis isomers. I.r. spectra show that the ligand is neutral or monobasic tridentate or bidentate. Far i.r. studies show that [Rh(PPKPyH)X₃] · 2 H₂O (X = Cl, Br or I) aremer isomers. The effect of pH variation on the rection products is also discussed.     

Separation and Determination of Ephedrine Enantiomers and Synephrine by High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis in Dietary Supplements

The chiral separation of ephedrine alkaloids by high performance capillary electrophoresis is of great interest since the enantiomers exhibit quantitative and qualitative differences in pharmacological activity. The isomers of (–)-ephedrine, (+)-pseudoephedrine, (–)-N-methylephedrine, (+)-N-methylpseudoephedrine, (+)-norpseudoephedrine and (–)-norephedrine are the major bioactive components of E. sinica (Ma-Huang) which is a Chinese herb used for weight loss and as an energy booster in the US. However, the compounds stereoisomers are not present in the plant material. The electrophoretic separation was performed using a 110 cm × 50 m I.D. (101.5 cm effective length) fused silica capillary. The samples were injected by pressure for 5 s at 50 mbar and the running voltage was 30 kV at the injector end of the capillary. Within 23 min, nine ephedrine compounds and synephrine were separated at 210 nm. The method was successively applied to the determination of the ephedrine compounds in dietary supplement products. Parameters affecting the resolution between (+) and (–)-enantiomers, such as pH, cyclodextrin concentration, temperature, organic modifier, buffer concentration and capillary dimensions were reported.     

Differential pulse cathodic stripping adsorption voltammetric determination of trace amounts of lead using factorial design for optimization

A sensitive cathodic stripping voltammetric method is developed for determination of lead(II), with adsorptive collection of complexes with Pyrogallol red (PGR) on to a hanging mercury drop electrode. After accumulation of the complex at −0.80 V vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode, the potential is scanned in a negative direction from −0.20 to −0.50 V with differential pulse method. Then the reduction peak current for the lead(II)-PGR complex is measured at −0.39 V. The influence of reagent and instrumental variables was completely studied by factorial design analysis. The optimum analytical conditions for the determination of lead(II) were established. Under optimum conditions, lead(II) determined in the range of 0.1-30.0 ng ml⁻¹ with a limit of detection of 0.06 ng ml⁻¹. The method is successfully applied to determination of lead(II) in water sample.