Solution structure of (+)-discodermolide

[structure: see text]. The solution structure of (+)-discodermolide (1) has been determined via 1- and 2-D NMR techniques in conjunction with Monte Carlo conformational analysis. Taken together, the results demonstrate that in solution (+)-discodermolide occupies a helical conformation remarkably similar to the solid state conformation.     

The numbers of chiral and achiral alkanes and monosubstituted alkanes

Whereas the theory for the enumeration of the optical isomers of the lakyl radicals and the alkanes has long been understood, this is not the case for the corresponding archiral isomers. We present for the first time recurrence formulae for counting the number of archiral isomers of the alkyl radicals and the alkanes. For chiral and archiral alkanes and monosubstituted alkanes, numerical results up to C₁₄ are tabulated.After presenting the history of the problem and the necessary definitions, we proceed to derive functional equations on the various generating functions, which readily yield the more explicit recurrence formulae usefule for numerical calculations. In the process, we first re-derive Pólya's expression for planted steric trees using his classical enumeration theorem. This result is then extended to the enumeration of free steric trees using the now standard tree-counting method due to Otter and known as a dissimilarity characteristic equation.By definition, a steric tree is a quartic tree (all points having degree 1 or 4) in which the four neighbors of every carbon point are given a tetrahedral configuration. Building on the methods of the first two authors for counting chiral and archiral trees in the plane, we obtain the formula for counting achiral steric trees, thus setting a problem first enunciated by van't Hoff and Le Bel in 1874.     

The fluorescent oxidation products of dihydroxyphenylalanine and its esters

Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), its methyl ester (DOPAM) and the N-acetylated derivative of the ester (DOPAMNA) are found to undergo rapid oxidation in air-saturated alkaline solution. Some of the products of oxidation exhibit fluorescent emission in the 300-500 nm spectral range and their excitation-emission spectra have been determined in acidic and alkaline aqueous solutions. The spectral distributions and positions of the maxima depend on the pH of the solution. Excitation-emission maxima associated with the protonated phenolic form of the compounds occur at shorter wavelengths than those of the conjugate base. At some pH values the phenolic forms of these molecules are excited and undergo rapid deprotonation in the excited state; as a consequence, emission is observed from the phenolate anion. The fluorescence excitation-emission spectrum of an authentic sample of 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic (caffeic) acid has also been determined and features of the fluorescence spectra of the principal oxidation products are consistent with the presence of 3,4-hydroxycinnamoyl compounds in solutions of oxidized DOPAM and DOPAMNA.     

A method of general applicability for the micro determination of chlorine,bromine and iodine

Summary A method is described for the combustion of halogen containing organic compounds in milligram quantities in a closed system. It has been found to have greater applicability than existing techniques. After combustion the halogen is determined by an amperometric titration, which permits the determination of Cl^–, Br^– and I^– either singly or in admixture. The accuracy is probably better than existing micro methods for single halides and comparable with these methods for mixed halides.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Methode zur Verbrennung von Milligrammengen halogenhaltiger organischer Verbindungen im geschlossenen System wurde beschrieben. Sie hat einen größeren Anwendungsbereich als bisher bekannte Verfahren. Nach der Verbrennung wird das Halogen durch eine amperometrische Titration bestimmt, womit Chlorid, Bromid und Jodid sowohl einzeln wie in Gemischen bestimmt werden können. Die Genauigkeit seheint besser zu sein als bei bekannten Mikromethoden für die Bestimmung einzelner Halogene und etwa gleich gut wie bei Methoden zur Analyse von Halogengemischen.

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Résumé On décrit une méthode de combustion en vase clos, des composés organiques contenant des halogènes en quantités de l'ordre du milligramme. Cette méthode a été trouvée comme ayant un domaine d'applications plus grand que celui des techniques existant déjà. Après combustion, l'halogène est dosé par titrage ampérométrique, ce qui permet le dosage de Cl^–, Br^– et I^– isolés ou en mélange. La précision est probablement meilleure que celle des microméthodes existant pour les halogénures isolés et comparable à celle de ces méthodes pour les mélanges d'halogénures.