Synthesis of Anellated Pyranose Derivatives on the Basis of Levoglucosenone

ABSTRACT

1,6-Anhydro-2-(dicyanomethylene)-2,3-dideoxy-4-S-ethyl-4-thio-β-D-erythro-hexopyranose (1) reacted with tosyl azide or sulfur and triethylamine to furnish the 5-aza-10, 11-dioxatricyclo[6.2.1.0^2,6]undeca-2(6),3-diene-3-carbonitrile 2 and the 10,11-dioxa-5-thiatricyclo[6.2.1.0^2,6]undeca-2(6),3-diene-3-carbonitrile 3, respectively. The reactions of 1 with arylisothiocyanates furnished the 11,12-dioxa-5-thiatricyclo[7.2.1.0^2,7]dodeca-2(7),3-diene-3-carbonitriles 4 and 5. 3 underwent cyclization with triethyl orthoformate and ammonia or hydrazine hydrate to afford the 5,7-diaza-14,15-dioxa-9-thiatetracyclo[10.2.1.0^2,10.0^3.8]pentadecatetra(tri)enes 7 and 8, respectively.     

Flux response technology applied in zero length column diffusivity measurements

Flux Response Technology (FRT) has been successfully adapted as an in situ perturbation technique in dynamic gas sorption measurements to extract hydrocarbon diffusion coefficients in alumina/CeZrO _x washcoats of cordierite monoliths. FRT works by measuring minuscule changes in flowrate between two gas streams for any gaseous process involving a change in volume (δV/δt). Ad- and desorption transients, which can be collected during the same experimental run have been analysed using the zero length column (ZLC) method to study propane diffusivity within an alumina/CeZrO _x washcoat as a function of temperature. Extracted diffusivities and activation energies compare favourably with literature data.     

Properties of a new ferroelectric crystal family: MCd(NO2)3 [M=NH4, K,Rb, Cs,Tl]

Single crystals of MCd(NO₂)₃, with M=NH₄, K, Rb, Cs, and Tl, respectively, were grown and investigated by means of optical and dielectric methods. The crystals show rhombohedral symmetry (possible space group R 3) and multi-domain patterns at ambient temperature. The compounds exhibit phase transitions above room-temperature of first (M=K) and second order (M=Rb, Cs, Tl), respectively, into cubic high-temperature phases. Observed dielectric anomalies and hysteresis loops point to ferroelectric properties and suggest a relaxational order-disorder mechanism of the nitrite ions to be responsible for the transitions. The MCd-(NO₂)₃-compounds are seen to represent a new family of ferroelectrics with a cubic prototypic phase closely related to the structural type of the perovskites. The transions are classified by symmetry considerations, and a possible structure of the cubic high-temperature phase with space group Pm3 is proposed.     

High density digital recording on 4 mm metal particle and Ba-ferrite tapes

In this study we compare the recording performance of 4 mm metal particle (MP) and Ba-ferrite (BF) tapes using helical scan digital audio tape (DAT) mechanisms and heads. At low bit densities the MP tapes have higher output signal and SNR compared with the BF tapes, but at high bit densities the reverse is true. This superior recording performance of the BF tapes, along with their immunity to environmental corrosion, recommends them as the media of choice for 4 mm data recording applications.     

Sensitization of spinal cord nociceptive neurons with a conjugate of substance P and cholera toxin

Background  

Several investigators have coupled toxins to neuropeptides for the purpose of lesioning specific neurons in the central nervous system. By producing deficits in function these toxin conjugates have yielded valuable information about the role of these cells. In an effort to specifically stimulate cells rather than kill them we have conjugated the neuropeptide substance P to the catalytic subunit of cholera toxin (SP-CTA). This conjugate should be taken up selectively by neurokinin receptor expressing neurons resulting in enhanced adenylate cyclase activity and neuronal firing.     

The Munich Compact Light Source: initial performance measures

While large‐scale synchrotron sources provide a highly brilliant monochromatic X‐ray beam, these X‐ray sources are expensive in terms of installation and maintenance, and require large amounts of space due to the size of storage rings for GeV electrons. On the other hand, laboratory X‐ray tube sources can easily be implemented in laboratories or hospitals with comparatively little cost, but their performance features a lower brilliance and a polychromatic spectrum creates problems with beam hardening artifacts for imaging experiments. Over the last decade, compact synchrotron sources based on inverse Compton scattering have evolved as one of the most promising types of laboratory‐scale X‐ray sources: they provide a performance and brilliance that lie in between those of large‐scale synchrotron sources and X‐ray tube sources, with significantly reduced financial and spatial requirements. These sources produce X‐rays through the collision of relativistic electrons with infrared laser photons. In this study, an analysis of the performance, such as X‐ray flux, source size and spectra, of the first commercially sold compact light source, the Munich Compact Light Source, is presented.     

Cryopreservation of cold-acclimated mint (Mentha spp.) shoot tips using a simple vitrification protocol

Accessions of Mentha x piperita, M. x villosa, and M. spicata were evaluated for regrowth after cooling in liquid nitrogen using shoot tips from in-vitro grown plantlets and a simple vitrification protocol with aluminium foil as a carrier. The influences of plant preculture, loading solution and loading time and of the effects of the cryoprotectant PVS 2 on plant re-growth after re-warming were investigated. Nodal segments were cultivated at constant temperatures of 20 or 25 degree C or in alternating temperature regimes (25/15C or 25/-1C). The illumination was always 16 h per day. The re-growth levels after re-warming were significantly higher in plants pre-cultured at 25/-1C regime than in plants cultivated at 20C or 25C or at 25/15C regime for all nine tested accessions. The mean re-growth levels increased from 36 percent at 20C to 69percent at alternating temperatures, respectively. The maximum of plant re-growth after re-warming was 89 percent. A pre-culture at alternating temperatures of 25/15C did not increase the recovery of plants. Loading in sucrose solutions with different dehydration capacities did not alter the plant re-growth. Differences in the loading time between 20 min and 2 h were not important for re-growth either. No significant differences were found between freezing without and with PVS 2 droplets on the aluminium foil. Re-grown shoots rooted easily on the re-growth medium and plantlets were successfully transferred to soil.