Docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid induce changes in the physical properties of a lipid bilayer model membrane

We investigated the effect of fatty acids such as stearic acid (SA, 18:0), oleic acid (OA, 18:1), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6) on a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer by determining the phase transition temperature, fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), and detergent insolubility. Treatment with unsaturated fatty acid broadened and shifted the phase transitions of the DPPC bilayer to a lower temperature. The phase transition temperature and the value of fluorescence anisotropy of DPH at 37 degrees C decreased progressively with increasing treatment amounts of unsaturated fatty acid. A large amount of the DPPC bilayer treated with unsaturated fatty acid was dissolved in Triton X-100, obtaining a low level of detergent insolubility. These modifications of the bilayer physical properties were most pronounced with DHA and EPA treatment. These data show that unsaturated fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA, induce a marked change in the lipid bilayer structure. The composition of fatty acids in the DPPC bilayer was similar after treatment with various unsaturated fatty acids, suggesting that the different actions of unsaturated fatty acids are attributed to change in the molecular structure (e.g., kinked conformation by double bonds). We further explored the change in physical properties induced by fatty acids dispersed in a water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsion and found that unsaturated fatty acids acted efficiently on the DPPC bilayer, even when incorporated in emulsion form.     

Fast enantiomeric analysis of a complex essential oil with an innovative multidimensional gas chromatographic system

The present research is focussed on the evaluation of a recently developed high performance multidimensional gas chromatographic (MDGC) system employed in the fast analysis of a series of chiral compounds contained in rosemary essential oil. The heart of the MDGC system consists in a simple transfer device for the rapid sequential re-injection of analyte "heart-cuts" from the first to the second dimension. The transfer system has no temperature restrictions, presents very low dead volumes and achieves multidimensional analysis through a pressure-balance mechanism. The MDGC set-up is characterized by two GC ovens (enabling independent temperature programming) and the possibility of mass spectrometric (MS) and/or flame ionization detection (FID). Multiple-cut conventional and fast MDGC-FID methods were developed and the results obtained compared, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. In this respect, the rapid method provided the same analytical result in a greatly reduced time (approximately five times less). Furthermore, quali/quantitative data reproducibilty was very good. Fast MDGC was achieved by using micro-bore (0.1mm I.D.) columns in both dimensions.     

Chemistry of anthracene-acetylene oligomers: synthesis and enantiomeric resolution of a chiral 1,8-anthrylene-ethynylene cyclic tetramer

To construct a new type of chiral pi-conjugated system, the title anthracene-acetylene oligomer containing two octyl groups at position 10 of 1,2-alternating anthracene groups was synthesized. Each anthracene unit was connected by Sonogashira coupling, and the tetrameric precursor was cyclized by a cross-coupling reaction to form the desired C2-symmetric compound. Its enantiomers were resolved by chiral HPLC with a Chiralcel OD column, and the chiroptical properties were investigated by optical rotation ([alpha]D(23) = -95 and +91) and circular dichroism (CD) measurements. The structural and spectroscopic features of this oligomer were discussed in terms of the molecular symmetry and the dynamic behavior of the macrocyclic framework.     

Synthesis,Structures, and Complexation with Phenolic Guests of Acridone-Incorporated Arylene–Ethynylene Macrocyclic Compounds

Acridone units were incorporated into the arylene–ethynylene structure as polar arene units. Cyclic trimers consisting of three acridone-2,7-diyl units and three 1,3-phenylene units were synthesized by Sonogashira couplings via stepwise or direct route. X-ray analysis revealed that the trimer had a nearly planar macrocyclic framework with a cavity surrounded by three carbonyl groups. In contrast, the corresponding tetramer had a nonplanar macrocyclic framework. ¹H NMR measurements showed that the trimer formed a 1 : 1 complex as a macrocyclic host with dihydric phenol guests, and the association constants were determined to be ca. 1.0×10³ L mol⁻¹ for hydroquinone or resorcinol guests in CDCl₃ at 298 K. The calculated structures of these complexes by the DFT method supported the presence of two sets of OH⋅⋅⋅O=C hydrogen bonds between the host and guest molecules. The spectroscopic data of the cyclic trimers and tetramers are compared with those of reference acridone compounds.     

Facile dissociation of B?S coordination bonds in [2,6-bis(ethylthiomethyl)phenyl]diethylborane by an SN2-type mechanism

The title organoboron complex undergoes dissociation of the intramolecular B–S coordination bond much faster than the corresponding mono ethylthiomethyl complex as revealed by the dynamic NMR study. The facile dissociation is attributable to an S_N2-type mechanism, where the uncoordinated ligand assists the dissociation of the coordinated ligand in the transition state. This mechanism is supported by the initio calculations of a model reaction system. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 15:241–245, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20005