Novel rearrangement of twisted 2,4-di-alkyl 2-trans-4-trans pentadienals: An approach to cyclopentenones based on molecular mechanical consideration

Rearrangement of 2,4-di-$\text{trans}$-pentadienals $\text{IVa-d}$ was described as a consequence of the successive alkyl substitutions on the C-2 and C-4 positions. ¹H-FT nmr spectroscopy suggested that the reaction involves ketene $\text{VIII}$ as an intermediate.     

Determination of magnesium and calcium ions in seawater by capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis is proposed for the determination of magnesium and calcium ions in seawater. A carrier solution containing EDTA was adopted for the complexation of these ions and the effect of sodium chloride concentration in the sample solutions on the results was examined. It was found that magnesium and calcium ions could be determined without any pretreatment by injecting 100-fold diluted seawater samples. Linear calibration graphs were obtained for standard solutions containing up to 10.0 mg/l of calcium ion when both peak area and peak height were used. On the other hand, a linear calibration graph was obtained for standard solutions containing up to 20.0 mg/l of magnesium ion when the peak area was used, while a curved one was obtained when the peak height was used. Relative standard deviations were 0.8 and 1.2% when a standard solution containing 5.0 mg/l of magnesium and 8.0 mg/l of calcium ions was analysed 8 times using the peak area. Limits of detection for magnesium and calcium ions were 0.13 and 0.26 mg/l, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of magnesium and calcium ions in surface and bottom seawater samples.     

Real-time measurement of nitric oxide using a bio-imaging and an electrochemical technique

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator responsible for numerous physiological phenomena. Transient levels of NO in biological systems usually range from nanomolar to micromolar concentrations, with a rapid return to basal levels normally seen following these increases. Because NO can diffuse only over a local area in limited time due to such low levels of production and due to its short life-time prior to degradation, high spatial and temporal resolutions are required for direct and continuous NO measurement if the physiological role of NO is to be investigated in any system. For such purposes, analytical methods based on bio-imaging and electrochemical techniques for the measurement of NO are useful. In this paper, we describe the successful application of these methods to a number of biological systems. Specifically, complementary application of these methods demonstrate that it is possible to detect real-time NO production from nervous tissue with high spatial and temporal resolutions.     

Reverse permeation of sodium ions driven by pH difference across a liquid membrane: time dependencies of membrane resistance and membrane potential in a reverse permeation system

The diffusional flux of sodium ions across a liquid membrane was observed as a reverse permeation phenomenon: sodium ions were transported across the membrane against their own concentration difference. A supported liquid membrane having stearic acid as an ionic carrier was used. The internal aqueous phase contained NaCl and HCl and the external aqueous phase contained NaOH of the same initial concentration as NaCl in the internal aqueous phase. The reverse permeation occurred with a long time delay. During the delay, sodium ions flowed from the acidic to alkaline solution. The diffusion coefficient of sodium ion estimated from the flux equation taking into account the Donnan equilibrium at the interface was found to be much greater than that in the membrane solvent, 1-octanol. In the same membrane system as for the flux measurement, the membrane conductance and the membrane potential were measured as a function of time. The time dependence of the membrane potential in the presteady state showed a biphasic behavior. The initial rapid phase could be attributed to the change in the phase boundary potential and the subsequent slow step to the change in the diffusion potential within the membrane. Before the steady membrane potential had been reached, the reverse permeation of sodium ions against their own concentration difference was not observed. During the slow relaxation process of the membrane potential, the membrane resistance decreased to approach the steady state. Moreover, the oscillation of membrane potential abruptly started at a time in the slow step of the potential change and continued during the steady state. It was suggested that, at the presteady state, the increase in the amount of water in the membrane would drive a drastic change in the state of the liquid membrane in the filter pore, e.g. an inverted micellar structure making.     

Hypotensive effects on spontaneously hypertensive rats and antifungal activity on various species of Fusarium oxysporum of diethylstilbestrol-related compounds

The diethylstilbestrol-related compounds 3,3'-dihydroxy-alpha, beta-diethyldiphenylethane (I), diethylstilbestrol (II) and hexestrol (III) showed hypotensive effects on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and antifungal activities against all Fusarium oxysporum sp. tested. As previously reported, I had strong hypotensive action on normotensive rats at the dose of 10 mg/kg, while II and III showed weak hypotensive effects on these rats at the same dose. In this work, all three compounds also had hypotensive actions on SHR at the same dose. I showed the strongest hypotensive effect (-80.0 +/- 5.0 mmHg, 10 mg/kg, i.v.) on both SHR and normotensive rats. The three compounds also had antifungal activities against five kinds of Fusarium oxysporum sp. tested. Especially, II strongly inhibited the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani IFO-9972 (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 1.0 micrograms/ml).     

THE 'OPSIN SHIFT' IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN: STUDIES WITH ARTIFICIAL BACTERIORHODOPSINS

Abstract— The difference (in cm⁻¹) in absorption maxima between the protonated Schiff base of retinals and the pigment derived therefrom has been defined as the opsin shift. It represents the influence of the opsin binding site on the chromophore. The analysis of the opsin shifts of a series of dihydrobacteriorhodopsins has led to the external point-charge model, which in addition to a counter anion near the Schiff base ammonium, carries another negative charge in the vicinity of the β-ionone ring. This is in striking contrast to the external point-charge model proposed earlier for the bovine visual pigment. The absorption maxima of rhodopsins formed from bromo- and phenyl retinals support the two models. A retinal carrying a photoaffinity label has yielded a nonbleachable bacteriorhodopsin.     

Emission of 2-phenylethanol from its β-d-glucopyranoside and the biogenesis of these compounds from [H8] l-phenylalanine in rose flowers

The hydrolysis of 2-phenylethyl β-d-glucopyranoside (3) was found to be partially inhibited by feeding with 2-phenyl-N-glucosyl-acetamidiumbromide (8), a β-glucosidase inhibitor, resulting in a decrease in the diurnal emission of 2-phenylethanol (2) from Rosa damascena Mill. flowers. Detection of [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₇]-2 from R. ‘Hoh-Jun’ flowers fed with [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 suggested that β-glucosidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and reductase might be involved in scent emission. Comprehensive GC-SIM analyses revealed that [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 must be biosynthesized from [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′6′-²H₈] l-phenylalanine ([²H₈]-1) with a retention of the deuterium atom at α-position of [²H₈]-1.     

Extraction equilibria for the 4-(2-Pyridylazo)-Resorcinol-Nickel(II)-Quaternary-Ammonium salt system

The extraction equilibria of nickel(II)-PAR complexes with tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride(Q⁺Cl^?) are investigated. Two kinds of nickel complex are extracted by chloroform: Ni(HR)₂,nQ⁺Cl^?₍₀₎(?⁵⁰⁰ = 3.73·10⁴l mol^?1cm^?1) at about pH 5 and 2Q⁺ NiR^2-_2(o)(?⁵⁰⁰ = 8.08·10⁴ l mol^?1 cm^?1) at above pH 8.5. The extraction constant for 2Q⁺ NiR^2-_2(o) was evaluated as [2Q⁺ NiR^2-₂]₀/[NiR^2-₂] [Q⁺]² = 10^11.16 at μ = 0.1 (Na₂SO₄. Synergic extraction studies of the Ni(HR)₂ species under slightly acidic conditions show that the species is Ni(HR)₂(H₂O)₂in auqeous solution and is extracted into chloroform as the adduct Ni(HR)₂(TBP)₂ (?⁵³⁵ = 3.57·10⁴ l mol^?1 cm^?1. Based on the extraction behavior of these complexes, the structures of the Ni²⁺—PAR complexes are discussed.     

Ionic conduction of the perovskite-type halides

The ionic conduction in the perovskite-type halides, CsPbCl₃, CsPbCl₃ and KMnCl₃, was studied. Measurements were made of ac conductivity at temperatures from 150°C to the melting point, and of ionic transport number using the Tubandt, EMF and ion-blocking methods. The effects of impurity doping on the ionic conductivity of CsPbCl₃ were also studied using the samples of composition, CsPb_0.99M_0.01Cl_2.99 (M = Li, Na, K, Ag). It was concluded that these materials are halide-ion condcutors. The ionic conductivities of CsPbCl₃ and CsPbBr₃ are close to those of the well known halide-ion conductors, PbCl₂ and PbBr₂. The ionic transport numbers were found to be > 0.9 for CsPbCl₃ and CsPbBr₃, and about 0.99 for KMnCl₃. The conduction was considered to be caused by the migration of halide-ion vacancies V_X (X = Cl, Br). The activation energies for the migration of V_X were 0.29 eV for CsPbCl₃, 0.25 eV for CsPbBr₃ and 0.39 eV for KMnCl₃. The vacancy diffusion coefficients of these materials were found to be verylarge. However, the impurity doping did not increase the ionic conductivity markedly because of small dopant solubility.     

ESR study of the xenon-photosensitized decomposition of gaseous hydrogen

The gas-phase ESR technique has been used to study the xenon-photosensitization of hydrogen. The ESR spectrum of atomic hydrogen was observed when the mixtures of xenon and hydrogen were irradiated by the xenon resonance line (147 nm). The results show that photosensitized decomposition of hydrogen takes place due to the chemical quenching of the excited xenon by hydrogen molecules.