Thermosensitive biodegradable polydepsipeptide

A poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-like biodegradable thermosensitive polydepsipeptide, poly[Glc-Asn(N-isopropyl)], was synthesized by introducing an isopropyl amide group into poly[Glc-Asn]. Poly[Glc-Asn(N-isopropyl)] was degraded in vitro by cleavage of the ester bonds in the main chain in water at room temperature. The non-toxic nature of the polymer and its degradation products, coupled with a cloud point at 29 degrees C in water, make this polymer attractive for biomedical implant applications.     

Use of allyl, 2-tetrahydrofuryl, and 2-tetrahydropyranyl ethers as useful C3-, C4-, and C5-carbon sources: palladium-catalyzed allylation of aldehydes

Palladium-diethylzinc or palladium-triethylborane catalytically promotes self-allylation of 2-(allyloxy)tetrahydrofurans, 2-(allyloxy)tetrahydropyrans, and their hydroxy derivatives on the rings (ribose, glucose, mannose, deoxyribose, deoxyglucose). All the reactions proceed at room temperature and provide polyhydroxyl products, sharing a structural motif of a homoallyl alcohol, in good to excellent yields with high levels of stereoselectivity. Useful C3-unit elongation, which makes the best use of an allyl ether as a protecting group and a nucleophilic allylation agent, is demonstrated. Mechanisms for the umpolung reaction (of an allyl ether into an allylic anion) and stereoselectivity associated with allylation of aldehydes are discussed.     

Sensitive determination of diazepam and N-desmethyldiazepam in human material using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A reliable and sensitive capillary gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method was developed for the detection and determination of diazepam and its major metabolite, N-desmethyldiazepam, in human material. Medazepam served as the internal standard. Quantitative determination was achieved using mass fragmentography with selected ions of m/z 256 for diazepam and m/z 242 for N-desmethyldiazepam and medazepam. The limit of detection was 1 ng/g and the recoveries were 98.54 +/- 3.95% for diazepam and 98.66 +/- 6.48% for N-desmethyldiazepam. The calibration graph was linear over the concentration range from 1.0 ng/g to 1.0 microgram/g for diazepam and N-desmethyldiazepam. Using this method, trace amounts of diazepam and N-desmethyldiazepam were detected in the tissues of an autopsied individual.     

Synthetic organic chemistry with 2-ethoxy-2-(phenylselenenyl)perfluoroalk-2-enenitrile: application to alpha-cyanoperfluoroacylation of aldehydes

(Z)- and (E)-2-Ethoxyperfluoro-2-(phenylselenenyl)alk-2-enenitriles 2-4 prepared by our original method underwent transmetalation on treatment with n-BuLi or EtMgBr, and the successive reaction with aldehyde and ketones afforded the corresponding allylic alcohols 10a-f, 9a, and 11a,b in good to high yields. Hydrolysis of the alcohols gave alpha-cyano-alpha,beta-unsaturated perfluoroalkyl ketones 13a-c, 13e, 12a, and 15a. alpha-Cyanoperfluoroalkyl ketones were easily converted to alpha,beta-unsaturated 3-aryl-2-cyanoallylic alcohols 18-22 having interesting biological activities and chemical reactivities.     

Photodegradation of polyethylene in the presence of ferric salt: Influence of ferric acetylacetonate on model compounds

The influence of ferric acetylacetonate [Fe(acac)₃] on the photodegradation of model compounds of polyethylene (PE) was examined. By studying electron-spin-resonance (ESR) spectra of photoirradiated compounds such as 1-octene and 1,7-octadiene, which contain carbon double bonds, Fe(acac)₃ was found to accelerate the formation of allyl radical by contact with them. On the other hand, Fe(acac)₃ suppressed the radical formation based on Norrish type I reaction in a carbonyl group of compounds such as 2-octanone and 3-octanone. Based on the study of ultraviolet (UV) spectra as well as ESR spectra on photoirradiated samples, the influence of Fe(acac)₃ on the photodecomposition of model compounds of PE was discussed. Finally, the discussion turned to the mechanism of photodecomposition of PE in the presence of ferric salt.     

Conformation of drawn poly(trimethylene terephthalate) studied by solid-state 13C NMR

The change in the conformation of the flexible O-CH2-CH2-CH2-O segment of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) monofilament caused by drawing was investigated by means of the gamma-gauche effect on the 13C solid-state NMR chemical shift of the internal methylene carbon, combined with the NMR relaxations. The conformation around the O-CH2 and CH2-O bonds for as-spun fiber was trans/trans. On drawing, followed by heat treatment, the conformation changed to gauche/gauche. The ratio of gauche/gauche to trans/trans for the drawn PTT fiber was determined quantitatively.     

Selective separation of Am(III) from lanthanides(III) by solvent extraction with hydrophobic field of "superweak" anion

The weakly coordinating hydrophobic anion TFPB-, whose surface is covered with a hydrophobic field, gives rise to a selective separation of Am(III) from lanthanides(III) in their solvent extraction even with a hard-donor extractant that shows no selectivity for Am(III) in traditional solvent extraction.     

Thermody namic functions of 1,2-alkanediols in dilute aqueous solutions

The heat capacities of binary aqueous solutions of 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol and 1,2-butanediol were measured at temperatures ranging from 283.15 to 338.15 K by differential scanning calorimetry. The partial molar heat capacities at the infinite dilution were then calculated for the respective alkanediols. For 1,2-ethanediol or 1,2-propanediol, the partial molar heat capacities at the infinite dilution of increased with increasing temperature. In contrast, the partial molar heat capacities of 1,2-butanediol at the infinite dilution decreased with increasing temperature. Heat capacity changes by dissolution of the alkanediols were also determined. Heat capacity changes caused by the dissolution of 1,2-ethanediol or 1,2-propanediol were increase with increasing temperature. On the other hand, heat capacity changes caused by the dissolution of 1,2-butanediol are decrease with increasing temperature. Thus our results indicated that the structural changes of water caused by the dissolution of 1,2-butanediol differed from that of the two other alkanediols. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hair analysis of nicotine and cotinine for evaluating tobacco smoke exposure by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) method for the determination of nicotine and cotinine in human hair was established. In the procedure, a hair sample (10 mg) was washed with dichloromethane and digested in 2.5 M sodium hydroxide. The digest was extracted with dichloromethane and then 25 mM hydrochloric acid in methanol was added to the extract, to prevent loss of analytes. The solution was evaporated and redissolved in the mobile phase, methanol/10 mM ammonium acetate (30/70, v/v). A 20 microL aliquot of redissolved solution was subjected to analysis. Nicotine and cotinine in human hair were quantified by using deuterated analytes as internal standards. The quantification limits were 8 microg/L for nicotine and 0.9 microg/L for cotinine. The proposed method was applied to measure the concentrations of nicotine and cotinine in hair of smokers and non-smokers to evaluate their self-reported smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. In both cases, the method provided good selectivity, accuracy and precision.