Cyclization by the intermediates of phenylthio- and phenoxy carbamoyl. Formation of azasuccinic anhydrides and their polycondensation products. Intervention of the carbamoyl pyridinium cation

The N-(p-nitrophenoxy-carbonyl) derivatives of glycine, DL -alanine and DL -leucine are transformed by the action of pyridine into azasuccinic, 3-methyl-2-azasuccinic and 3-isobutyl-2-azasuccinic anhydride, respectively. These cyclisations occur probably via the intermediate N-carbamoyl-pyridinium cation , the rate of cyclisation seems to depend on the concentration of the intermediate in the form of the dipolar ion , i.e. the ionised carboxyl is necessary for the reaction. In γ-collidine the cyclisation occurs very slowly; this is attributed to the slowness due to steric hindrance of the production of N-carbamoyl-γ-collidinium cation and its instability. The azasuccinic anhydrides mentioned polycondense, yielding the corresponding polyglycine, poly-DL -alanine and poly-DL -leucine. This reaction too is catalysed by pyridine; it can also be effected by γ-collidine, but the efficacity of the latter in comparison with pyridine is even less than in the catalysis of the cyclisation described above. N-(p-nitrophenoxy-carbonyl)-glycine reacts with lysozyme in the presence of pyridine; several glycine residues are introduced into the enzyme molecule, the product being insoluble and poorly active.     

Stereospecific reactions of copper(II) complexes of serine and threonine with formaldehyde

Summary Condensations of Cu(L-ser)₂ and Cu(L-thr)₂ (where L-ser=L-serinato anion and L-thr=L-threoninato anion) with formaldehyde at pH 4.5 yield two new optically active products:bis[L-(oxazolidine-4-carboxylato)]-copper(II) monohydrate (1) andbis[L-(N-hydroxymethyl-5-methyloxazolidine-4-carboxylato)]copper(II) dihydrate (2), respectively. Cu(D-ser)₂ and Cu(D-thr)₂ also undergo similar reactions. The new products are different from the products obtained from Cu(DL-ser)₂ and Cu(DL-thr)₂, and a mechanism has been suggested to explain the stereospecificity of these conversions. Condensation of Cu(L-ser)₂ with formaldehyde and ammonia at pH 4.5 yields the new product, [3N,7N-(1,3,5,7-tetraazabicyclo-[3.3.1]nonyl)di(hydroxymethyl)-acetato]copper(II), (3). The compexes have been characterized by analytical and by i.r. electronic and c.d. spectral data. Complexes (1) and (2) undergo a reversible Cu^II/Cu^I redox process in aqueous media at –0.18 Vversus s.c.e.; complex (3) exhibits irreversible Cu^II/Cu^I reduction at –0.49 V confirming the presence of a rigid pentamethylenediaza-bridged ligand system.     

Gas Hydrate Formation in Reversed Micelles

We describe a technique to modify protein solubility and optimize enzyme activity in reversed micellar solutions. The technique is based on the ability of hydrates of natural gas to form in the micro-aqueous phase. Clathrate hydrates are crystalline inclusions of water and gas, and their formation in bulk water has traditionally been studied with relevance to natural gas recovery. We have found that hydrates can form in the environment of the microaqueous pools of reversed micelles, and that their extent of formation can be well controlled through the thermodynamic variables of temperature and pressure. Additionally, formation of hydrates affects the size and aggregation number of the micelles, and thus influences the solubility and conformation of encapsulated proteins. We demonstrate how the concept can be used in two applications: (i) protein extraction into reversed micelles and subsequent recovery, and (ii) optimization of enzyme activity in reversed micelles.     

MoSe2 and WSe2 nanotubes and related structures

MoSe2 and WSe2 nanotubes are obtained by the reduction of the corresponding triselenides in hydrogen or by the decomposition of the ammonium selenometallates in a hydrogen atmosphere.     

Synthesis and spectral studies ofo-hydroxyacetophenone (N-benzoyl)glycyl hydrazone and some of its lanthanide(III) complexes

Summary o-Hydroxyacetophenone (N-benzoyl)glycyl hydrazone (o-HABzGH) has been characterized by i.r.,¹H n.m.r.,¹³C n.m.r. and mass spectral studies, and its complexes of the types [Ln(o-HABzGH)Cl₂(H₂O)₂]Cl and [Ln(o-HABzGH–2H)OH(H₂O)₃], where Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm and Eu, have been synthesized. The structures of the complexes have been studied by conductance, magnetic, electronic, i.r.,¹H n.m.r. and¹³C n.m.r. spectral techniques. The hypersensitive bands of the electronic spectra suggest coordination numbers six and seven around Nd^III in its adduct and neutral complexes respectively. I.r. and n.m.r. spectral data suggest a neutral bidentate behaviour for the ligand in the adducts and a dinegative tridentate nature in the neutral complexes.     

Spectral studies on VO ions in potassium thiourea bromide single crystals using EPR and optical absorption spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies have been carried out on VO²⁺ ions doped in single crystals of ferroelectric material, potassium thiourea bromide (PTB) at room temperature and in the temperature range 103–343 K on X-band MW frequency. An isotropic octet spectrum characteristic of VO²⁺ ion was obtained due to the fast re-orientation of the VO²⁺ in PTB lattice, which exhibits glassy nature at certain range around room temperature. The temperature dependant EPR spectra of VO²⁺ ions in this host lattice has been attributed to the occurrence of multiple phase transitions due to the combined environment effects of KBr and thiourea materials in the single crystal. From the optical absorption spectrum, the crystal field splitting parameter Dq, tetragonal parameters Ds and Dt have been evaluated and discussed.     

Spectroscopic investigations of Nd(3+)-doped alkali chloroborophosphate glasses

Optical absorption spectra were studied in wavelength region 400-900 nm for the Nd(3+)-doped alkali (R = Li, Na and K) chloroborophosphate glasses at room temperature. The energy level scheme of the 4f(3) electron configuration was deduced from the observed energy level data using a parametrized Hamiltonian (H(F1)) model which includes 20 free-ion interaction parameters. Reasonable correlation was obtained between the experimental and calculated energy levels. The Judd-Ofelt model for the intensity analysis of induced electric dipole transitions has been applied to the measured oscillator strengths of the absorption bands to determine the three phenomenological intensity parameters Omega(2), Omega(4) and Omega(6) for each glass. Using these parameters, the total radiative transition rates (A(T)), non-radiative relaxation rates (W(NR)), branching ratios (beta(R)), integrated cross-sections for the stimulated emission (Sigma), excited state emission intensities (f(ESE)) and excited state absorption intensities (f(ESA)) have been theoretically calculated for certain excited Nd(3+) fluorescent levels. From the results obtained, the conclusion is made about the possibility of using these glasses as laser media.     

Electron impact induced fragmentation of some 1,2,4-triazole derivatives

The mass spectra of eight 1,2,4-triazole derivaties have been recorded and found tao reveal extensive hydrogen and skeletal migrations. The structures of the fragments have been confirmed by deuterium labelling and exact mass measurement. The compounds revealed striking differences in their spectra depending on the nature of the substituents.     

A single amino acid Gly-tag enables metal-free protein purification

Analytically pure proteins are indispensable for diverse applications, including therapeutics. Here, we report a methodology where a single amino acid, glycine, enables metal-free protein purification. This robust platform is enabled by a Gly-tag resin for site-specific capture, enrichment, and release through chemically triggered C–C bond dissociation by resonance-assisted electron density polarization.

Gly-tag resin precisely captures and releases a protein with one glycine at the N-terminus. The user-friendly protocol delivers analytically pure protein free of metal contaminants.     

Reverse isotope dilution alpha spectrometry using plutionium-239 spike for determining plutonium concentration in high burn-up fuel samples without purification from americium-241 and a bulk of other impurities

A reverse isotope dilution alpha spectrometric /R-IDAS/ method using²³⁹Pu as a spike is described for the determination of plutonium concentration in high burn-up fuel samples wth²³⁸Pu/(²³⁹Pu+²⁴⁰Pu) alpha activity ratio >0.5, without resorting to any purification from²⁴¹Am and a bulk of other impurities. It involves the addition of a pre-clibrated spike solution to a known aliquot of the plutonium sample solution followed by source preparation using TEG as a spreading agent. The results obtained on a number of plutonium samples containing 20–80% of²⁴¹Am /alpha activity wise/ using this method are compared with those achieved by R-IDAS using purification with TTA, with respect to precision and accuracy. Precision and accuracy of 0.5% are demonstrated. This method eliminates the need of any separation and purification of plutonium from²⁴¹Am and a bulk of other impurities like uranium.