Magnetic resonance investigations of lipid motion in isotropic bicelles

The dynamics of DMPC in different isotropic bicelles have been investigated by NMR and EPR methods. The local dynamics were obtained by interpretation of 13C NMR relaxation measurements of DMPC in the bicelles, and these results were compared to EPR spectra of spin-labeled lipids. The overall size of the bicelles was investigated by PFG NMR translational diffusion measurements. The dynamics and relative sizes were compared among three different bicelles: [DMPC]/[DHPC] = 0.25, [DMPC]/[DHPC] = 0.5, and [DMPC]/[CHAPS] = 0.5. The local motion is found to depend much more strongly on the choice of the detergent, rather than the overall size of the bicelle. The results provide an explanation for differences in apparent dynamics for different peptides, which are bound to bicelles. This in turn determines under what conditions reasonable NMR spectra can be observed. A model is presented in which extensive local motion, in conjunction with the overall size, affects the spectral properties. An analytical expression for the size dependence of the bicelles, relating the radius of the bilayer region with physical properties of the detergent and the lipid, is also presented.     

Cinchona alkaloid derived ligands in catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

A collection of chiral quinuclidine ligands, derived from the Cinchona alkaloids quinine and quinidine, has been evaluated in the catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones. It was fond that [IrCl(COD)]2 complexes of the diamines QCI-Amine and QCD-Amine gave the most active catalysts, capable of reducing a range of aromatic ketones with excellent conversions and good enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee). These are the best selectivities reported for ligands based on the quinuclidine core in an asymmetric transformation, and advocate that these ligands, commercially available in both pseudo-enantiomeric forms, will find practical use in this and other catalytic processes.     

Speciation in the aqueous H+/H2VO4-/H2O2/phosphate system

The speciation in the aqueous H(+)/H(2)VO(4)(-)/phosphate (dihydrogen phosphate, P(-)) and H(+)/H(2)VO(4)(-)/H(2)O(2)/P(-) systems has been determined in the physiological medium of 0.150 M Na(Cl) at 25 degrees C. A combination of multinuclear NMR integral and chemical shift (Bruker AMX500) as well as potentiometric data (glass electrode) have been collected and treated simultaneously by the computer program LAKE. The pK(a)-values for phosphoric acid have been determined by potentiometric and (31)P NMR chemical shift data, and have been found to be 1.85 +/- 0.02, 6.69 +/- 0.02 and 11.58 +/- 0.07. The errors given are 3sigma. Altogether nine vanadate-phosphate species have been found in the ternary H(+)/H(2)VO(4)(-)/P(-) system in the pH region 1-11, with the following compositions: VP, VP(2) and V(14)P. Equilibrium is very slow in acidic solutions, requiring more than 3 months for the formation of V(14)P species. On the other hand, less than 15 min are needed for equilibration at neutral and alkaline pH. In the quaternary H(+)/H(2)VO(4)(-)/H(2)O(2)/P(-) system, four new species have been found in addition to all binary and ternary complexes. They are of VXP and VX(2)P compositions, where X denotes the peroxo ligand. (51)V and (31)P NMR chemical shifts, compositions and formation constants are given, and equilibrium conditions are illustrated in distribution diagrams as well as the fit of the model to the experimental data. Biological and medical relevance of the species is also discussed and physiological conditions are modelled.     

Changes in mobile phase ion distribution when combining pressurized flow and electric field

The distribution of ions in a capillary with both pressurized flow and an electric field has been studied. We have earlier reported that the overall concentration of ions increase in a capillary with high electric field and a pressurized flow. Now we describe how the ions are distributed in the capillary both along the capillary length and in the radial direction as a result of the parabolic flow profile. We have combined current measurements with finite element techniques in order to get better understanding of the system. We have found that the concentration of the ions that because of the electric mobility moves towards the flow primarily increases at the beginning of the electric field and close to the capillary wall. In view of the results we have proposed an alterative explanation of earlier published results concerning voltage-induced variation in capacity factors.     

A DFT exploration of the enantioselective rearrangement of cyclohexene oxide to cyclohexenol

In this paper, we present computational results for the (1S,3R,4R)-3-(pyrrolidinyl)-methyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane mediated rearrangement of cyclohexene oxide. The results nicely explain the differences in enantioselectivities between catalytic and stoichiometric mode between different ligands, and provides a rational for the identification of non-stereospecific background reactions as the major cause of decreased enantioselectivity in catalytic reactions for sterically hindered diamines.     

Acrylamide: update on selected research activities conducted by the European food and drink industry

This paper reviews the progress made by the European food and drink industry (CIAA) on acrylamide with regard to analytical methods, mechanisms of formation, and mitigation research in the major food categories. It is an update on the first CIAA review paper, "A Review of Acrylamide: An Industry Perspective on Research, Analysis, Formation and Control." Initial difficulties with the establishment of reliable analytical methods, in most cases, have now been overcome, but challenges remain in terms of the need to develop simple and rapid test methods and certified reference materials. Many trials have been conducted under laboratory and experimental conditions in a variety of foods, and a number of possible measures have been identified to relatively lower the amounts of acrylamide in food. Promising applications were studied in reconstituted potato models by addition of amino acids or use of asparaginase. In bakery wares, predictive models have been established to determine the role of ammonium carbonate and invert sugar in acrylamide formation. Studies in several commercial foods showed that acrylamide is not stable over time in roasted and ground coffee. Some progress in relatively lowering acrylamide in certain food categories has been achieved, but at this stage can only be considered marginal. Any options that are chosen to reduce acrylamide in commercial products must be technologically feasible and must not adversely affect the quality and safety of the final product.     

An organoiron approach to thyroid hormone analogues

An approach to thyroid hormone analogues was proposed involving sequential substitution of cationic cyclopentadienyl(1,4-dichlorobenzene)iron(II) complexes with phenoxide/thiophenoxide and hydroxide/amine, followed by decomplexation. Although the selectivity for monosubstitution with phenolates and thiophenolates was poorer than previously observed, it was often possible to control the reaction with sterically less demanding phenolates of intermediate nucleophilicity. The subsequent introduction of a polar substituent into the monosubstituted product was successful with amine nucleophiles. A modified approach, based on the reverse order of substitution was also attempted. Whereas clean monosubstitution with hydroxide/hydroxide equivalents was unsuccessful, cyclopentadienyl(N-alkyl-1-chloro-4-aminobenzene)iron(II) complexes could be prepared in fair yields and further substituted with nucleophiles such as thiophenolates.     

Unusual Gruneisen and Bridgman parameters of low-density amorphous ice and their implications on pressure induced amorphization

The low-temperature limiting value of the Grüneisen parameter for low-frequency phonons and the density dependence of the thermal conductivity (Bridgman parameter) of low-density amorphous (LDA) ice, high-density amorphous (HDA) ice, hexagonal ice Ih, and cubic ice Ic were calculated from high-pressure sound velocity and thermal conductivity measurements, yielding negative values for all states except HDA ice. LDA ice is the first amorphous state to exhibit a negative Bridgman parameter, and negative Grüneisen parameters are relatively unusual. Since Ih, Ic, and LDA ice all transform to HDA upon pressurization at low temperatures and share the unusual feature of negative Grüneisen parameters, this seems to be a prerequisite for pressure induced amorphization. We estimate that the Grüneisen parameter increases at the ice Ih to XI transition, and may become positive in ice XI, which indicates that proton-ordered ice XI does not amorphize like ice Ih on pressurization.     

Total synthesis of pinnamine and anatoxin-a via a common intermediate. A caveat on the anatoxin-a endgame

[reaction: see text] This paper describes the total synthesis of the naturally occurring alkaloids pinnamine (1) and anatoxin-a (2) from a common enantiomerically pure intermediate (7) easily available from pyroglutamic acid. The synthesis of enantiopure pinnamine proceeded in 10 steps and 4.8% overall yield, and the route was flexible enough to allow stereocontrolled access to a non-natural congener (5-epi-pinnamine) of the natural product. Intramolecular reaction of an N-acyl iminium ion was a key step in the synthesis of both pinnamine and anatoxin-a. However, in stark contrast to literature precedent, complete racemization was observed during the reaction of the N-acyliminium ion leading to the latter alkaloid.     

Time-dependent amorphization of ice at 0.8-0.9 GPa

Thermal conductivity measurements show that ice continues to amorphize for several days when kept at a fixed pressure p in the 0.79-0.88 GPa range, and fixed temperature T in the 127-130 K range. Thermal conductivity kappa decreases according to a stretched exponential in time, and its limiting long time value kappa( infinity ) varies with p and T. At 0.8 GPa and 128 K, kappa( infinity ) remains 2.5 times the value observed for high-density amorph. Consequences of these findings for our understanding of amorphization are discussed.