Synthesis and structure of trigonal and tetragonal connectors for a "Tinkertoy" construction set

We describe a convergent synthesis of eight 1,3,5- and 1,2,4,5-substituted benzene derivatives with long rigid arms containing 4-pyridyl, 2,2'-bipyridyl, and 2,2'-bipyrimidyl termini, meant to be used as trigonal or tetragonal connectors for the construction of large molecular structures. The synthesis involved copper-free Pd-mediated coupling of terminal acetylenes to aryl halides. First, one of the termini of 1,3-diethynylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentane was coupled with a brominated aza heterocycle, and second, 3 equiv of the resulting extended arm were coupled with 1,3,5-triiodobenzene or 4 with 1,2,4,5-tetraiodobenzene. An improved large-scale synthesis for 1,3-diethynylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentane is described. The structures of two of the arms were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Several long molecular rods with 4-pyridyl termini were obtained as byproducts, and a single-crystal X-ray structure is reported for the shortest of these.     

Isoperichoric focusing field-flow fractionation and thin layer isoperichoric focusing based on coupling of gradient generated by primary field with secondary field action: general principles and performances

The primary field forces can generate spatially oriented gradient of the effective property of a continuum or pseudo-continuum fluid (carrier liquid). When this gradient is coupled with the action of a secondary field of identical or different nature the isoperichoric focused zones of the dispersed species can appear. Consequently, they can be separated according to differences responding to the property gradient of the carrier liquid. This concept can be applied under static (non-flow) conditions in thin layer focusing as well as under dynamic conditions with the elution due to the carrier liquid flow in focusing field-flow fractionation. The gradient established by the action of the primary field and the concentration distribution of the isoperichoric focused zone formed by the coupled effect of the gradient and of the primary or secondary field are described theoretically. The rigorous relationship describing the shape of the focused zone is compared with the approximate solutions. The performances of the proposed principle were evaluated by model calculations. Potential experimental configurations considering the implementation of the static and dynamic conditions are discussed. The generalized isoperichoric focusing theory can be applied to describe the particular processes operating in analytical and preparative focusing separations of the particles of various, but especially of biological origin.     

Zur Konfiguration des Vitamin-D3-Metaboliten 25, 26-Dihydroxycholecalciferol: Synthese von (25S,26)- und (25R,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol

Configuration of the Vitamin-D₃-Metabolite 25,26-Dihydroxycholecalciferol: Synthesis of (25S,26)- and (25R,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol For selective synthesis of the title compounds, (25S)- 1b and (25R)- 1b (Scheme 1), the protected cholesterol precursors (25S)- 6 and (25R)- 6 were prepared from stigmasterol-derived steroid-units 4a-d and C₅-side chain building blocks 5a–d by Grignard- or Wittig-coupling (Scheme 2), the configuration at C(25) of the target compounds being already present in the C₅-units. Conversion of the cholesterol intermediates to the corresponding vitamin-D₃ derivatives was carried out via the 7,8-didehydrocholesterol compounds (25S)- 2b and (25R)- 2b (Scheme 1), using the established photochemical-thermal transformation of the 5,7-diene system to the seco-triene system of cholecalciferol. The configuration at C(25) of the cholesterol precursors as assigned on basis of the known configuration of the C₅-units used, was found to be in agreement with the result of a single crystal X-ray analysis on compound 11 . The configuration at C(25) remained untouched on conversion of the cholesterol ring system to the seco-triene system of vitamin D₃ as evident from comparison of the lanthanide-induced CD. Cotton effects observed for (25S)- 3b and (25S) 1b . 25,26-Dihydroxycholecalciferol observed as a natural vitamin-D₃ metabolite has (25S)-configuration.     

Indications for the Occurrence of Nitric Oxide Synthases in Fungi and Plants and the Involvement in Photoconidiation of Neurospora crassa*

Indications for the occurrence of nitric oxide synthases in Dictyostelium, Neurospora, Phycomyces and the leguminous plant Mucuna hassjoo as well as a physiological role of nitric oxide in Neurospora crassa are demonstrated. An exogenous nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprus-side, inhibited light-stimulated conidiation in N. crassa. Specific inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase, like the arginine derivatives N^G-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) and N^G-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME), enhanced conidiation in darkness and in the light, whereas the stereo-isomer D-NAME was inactive. This communication reports to our knowledge the first time the presence of enzymatic activity of nitric oxide synthase in fungi and a higher plant and an effect of nitric oxide in fungal photophysiology.     

Electrospray ionization ion-trap multistage mass spectrometric study of sodium cationized aldobiuronic and pseudoaldobiuronic acid derivatives

Fragmentation mechanisms of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry of aldobiuronic and pseudoaldobiuronic acid derivatives were elucidated by multistage mass spectrometric (MS(n), n = 2-5) measurements of selected ions. Characteristic under the conditions of ESI-MS analysis is the production of alkali metal (Na and K) cationized adducts. The probability the of locations of Na cations in per-O-methylated compounds was proved by quantum chemical calculations, using the Jaguar program. The most probably position of alkali metal attachment is the carboxy group of the methoxycarbonyl C-5 group of the uronic acid unit. Characteristic cleavages vary according the kind of O-derivatization. In most cases they take place on the acidic part of the dimer and at the interglycosidic oxygen atom. As a result, the criteria for the differentiation of aldobiouronic and pseudoaldobiouronic acids derivatives were elucidated.     

Enantioselective Preparation of 2‐Aminomethyl Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Solving the β2‐Amino Acid Problem with the Chiral Auxiliary 4‐Isopropyl‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐one (DIOZ). Preliminary Communication

Multigram amounts of suitably protected β²‐amino acids with 17 of the 20 proteinogenic side chains are prepared by diastereoselective reactions of Li, B, or Ti enolates of the corresponding 3‐acyl‐4‐isopropyl‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐ones (acyl‐DIOZ; 1 ) with appropriate electrophiles (amidomethylation, hydroxyalkylation, (benzyloxycarbonyl)methylation) in yields of 55–90% and with diastereoselectivities of 80 to >97% (Scheme). The primary products 2 – 8 thus obtained are converted to protected β²‐amino acids by standard procedures (Table 1). Many of the DIOZ derivatives are highly crystalline compounds (31 X‐ray crystal structures in Table 2). The chiral auxiliary DIOZ, readily prepared in either enantiomeric form, is recovered with high yield.     

Synthesis and structure of a new rhodium(I) complex [Rh{P(OPh)3}3CN]

Summary The [Rh(acac){P(OPh)₃)}₂] complex (Hacac = 2,4-pentadione) reacts in solution with gaseous HCN in the presence of P(OPh)₃ to give [Rh{P(OPh)₃}₃CN]. Structural investigations of this complex including its³¹P n.m.r. spectra are reported.     

Photometrische Bestimmung von Nitrat und Nitrit in Schwefels?ure mit Brucin

Zusammenfassung Bei der Wahl einer geeigneten analytischen Methode für die Nitrat- und Nitritbestimmung in konzentrierter Schwefelsäure sind die bisher bekannten Verfahren [1,3–12] wegen ihrer ungenügenden Empfindlichkeit oder wegen Schwierigkeiten bei der Probeaufbereitung auszuschließen. Wir haben daher für diesen Zweck eine einfache und zuverlässige Modifikation unserer Brucinmethode [2] ausgearbeitet, wobei eine noch größere Empfindlichkeit der Nitratbestimmung erreicht wurde. Bei geeigneter Acidität kann die Brucin-methode auch für die selektive Nitritbestimmung verwendet werden. Das hier beschriebene Verfahren ersetzt eine analoge Modifikation [5], die wegen ihrer methodischen Unrichtigkeit unzureichend ist.

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Photometric determination of nitrate and nitrite in sulphuric acid using brucine

A modified brucine method is recommended as a result of a detailed study of the reaction conditions. By suitable selection of acidity and tempering period two ranges of sensitivity have been obtained for the nitrate determination (0–5 and 0.1 bis 0.5 g NO₃ ^–-N/g H₂SO₄, resp.). At low concentrations of sulphuric acid nitrite may be determined in presence of nitrate by the same brucine method. Maximum errors are ±0.02 resp. ±0.05 g NO₃ ^–-N and ±0.05 NO₂ ^–-N.

     

2,6-dicyano-1,5-dimethylsemibullvalene as a probe for homoaromatic molecules of the Dewar-Hoffman type

The 2,6-dicyano-1,5-dimethylsemibullvalene (2d) synthesized via the bicyclo[3.3.0]octanedione 7 exists as a classical ground state which is lower in energy by less than 5 kcal/mole than the homoaromatic transition of the Cope rearrangement of 2d.     

A novel technique to specifically analyze the secretome of cells and tissues

The secretome of cells and tissues may reflect a broad variety of pathological conditions and thus represents a rich source of biomarkers. The identity of secreted proteins, usually isolated from cell supernatants or body fluids, is hardly accessible by direct proteome analysis, because these proteins are often masked by high amounts of proteins actually not secreted by the investigated cells. Here, we present a novel method for the specific detection of proteins secreted by human tissue specimen as well as cultured cells and chose liver as a model. The method is based on the metabolic labelling of proteins synthesized during a limited incubation period. Then, the cell supernatant is filtered, precipitated, and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Whereas fluorography detected a large number of proteins derived from residual plasma and dead cells, the autoradiographs selectively displayed genuinely secreted proteins. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by means of the secretomes of the hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cell line HepG2 and human liver slices. The selective identification of cell- and tissue-specific protein secretion profiles may help to identify novel sets of biomarkers for wide clinical applications.