Fourfold tetraurea calix[4]arenes--potential cores for the formation of self-assembled dendrimers

Wide rim tetraurea calix[4]arenes monofunctionalized at the narrow rim by COOH or NH2 have been synthesized in five steps from t-butylcalix[4]arene tripropylether. Their covalent linkage via the narrow rim to a central calix[4]arene fixed in the 1,3-alternate conformation led to pentacalix[4]arenes 9 bearing four tetraurea derivatives in the cone conformation in a flexible tetrahedral arrangement. Their self-assembly via the formation of hydrogen bonded dimeric capsules has been studied under different conditions. A fourfold heterodimerisation of tetrakis-tetraurea derivatives of type 9 with tetratosylurea 10 has been confirmed by 1H NMR-spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering.     

Die Oxidation von 3-(1-Nitro-2-oxocycloalkyl)propanal

The Oxidation of 3-(1-Nitro-2-oxocycloalkyl)propanal Oxidation of the title compound 1 with KMnO₄ under neutral conditions led to the corresponding acid 2 , 5-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-nitro-5-oxo-2-furyl)pentanoic acid ( 4 ), and 4-oxononadioic acid ( 6 ). On the basis of experimental results the mechanism of the formation of 4 is discussed (Scheme 1). Oxidation of 1 with KMnO₄ under basic conditions gave 6 which was transformed to (E)-4,5-dihydro-5(2′-oxocyclopentyliden)furan-2(3H)-one ( 12 ) with benzene/TsOH (Scheme 3). In contrast to this result the corresponding 4-oxoheptandioic acid ( 22 ) yields 1,6-dioxaspiro[4,4]nonan-2,7-dione ( 23 ) only (Scheme 4).     

Yellowing and IR-changes of spruce wood as result of UV-irradiation

The yellowing and IR-changes of spruce wood as a result of UV-irradiation were studied using two different types of xenon lamps (lambda>300 nm; I(o)=50 mW cm(-2) and lambda>280 nm; I(o)=17.5 mW cm(-2)). Changes in the IR spectra as well as the yellowing of the irradiated wood surfaces show the influence of UV light on the wood modules. The UV-irradiation (72 h; lambda>300 nm; I(o)=50 mW cm(-2)) decreased the lignin content on the surface by up to 20% of the original values. The colour difference of yellowing (deltaE) exhibited a systematic trend to higher values with increasing irradiation time. Our results show that the photoyellowing (UV-Vis detection) correlates very well with lignin degradation (IR detection). This result is in agreement with the quinone formation as the chromophoric reaction product of lignin decay. The degradation, yellowing, and oxidation kinetics differed only little using different light sources. The absorbed light intensity, which depends on wavelength, the intensity distribution of the light source and the absorption spectrum of lignin, influenced the degradation rate. Under the current experimental conditions, the absorption spectrum of lignin was the most important factor. Therefore, irradiation with lambda>280 nm is useful for rapidly monitoring the UV-degradation of wood     

Influence of increasing zinc contents in brass in the early stages of corrosion investigated by in-situ TM-AFM and SIMS

In-situ tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM), a powerful, high-resolution imaging technique for determining the structure of surfaces and ex-situ secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), a multielement, high-depth-resolution method, were used to examine the influence of increasing zinc contents in brass in the early stages of corrosion. Four different samples (pure Cu, pure Zn, Cu/Zn=90/10 wt% and Cu/Zn=70/30 wt%) were studied in order to determine their chemical behaviour under various atmospheric conditions. The in-situ TM-AFM investigations were carried out in synthetic air with 60% relative humidity (RH) and 80% RH with 250 ppb SO(2). The samples for the ex-situ SIMS experiments were weathered over a period of 60 h in 80% RH and 250 ppb SO(2). The in-situ TM-AFM investigations have shown that an increasing Zn content in brass increases the corrosion rate.     

Tumorhemmende wirkstoffe, XIII [1] aromatisch carbocyclisch und heterocyclisch substituierte 2-perfluoralkylpyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole

The interaction of 2-aminobenzimidazole with the appropriate β-diketones carrying fluoroalkyl groupings has led to the 2-perfluoroalkylpyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles as follows: 4-phenyl-, 4-(2'-naphthyl)-, 4-(3'-pyridyl)-, 4-(2'-furyl)-, and 4-(2,-thienyl)-2-trifluoromethylpyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole, and 4-(2'-thienyl)-2-(heptafluoropropylpyrimido [1,2-a]benzimidazole.     

PHOTOMOVEMENT RESPONSES OF THE HETEROTRICHOUS CILIATE Blepharisma Japonicum

Light-induced movement responses of the heterotrichous ciliate Blepharisma japonicum were studied by physiological experiments. Two photosensory responses could be identified. A step-up photophobic response is observed as a very rapid backward movement. Microbeam irradiations of individual cells showed that only the anterior part of the ciliate is able to perceive the light stimulus that mediates the phobic reaction. The action spectrum peaks at approximately 400 nm, which indicates that a blue light receptor is involved.
Positive photokinesis of Blepharisma could be shown as a forward movement that is accelerated by increasing the applied photon fluence rate. The steady state level of the velocity depends highly on wavelength and photon fluence rate of the actinic light. After specific inhibition of the phobic reaction bv 1 m/W NH₄⁺, photokinesis can be induced by microbeam irradiation at any part of the cell.
We isolated two main pigments by thin layer chromatography and characterized them as hypericin-like compounds: a red pigment that is obviously responsible for the red color of the ciliates (= blepharismin). and a yellow one with maximal absorption near 420 nm. The possible photoreceptor functions of these pigments are discussed.
We could not find in Blepharisma a distinct phototactic behavior which is so typical for the related ciliate Stentor.     

Synthese des Pyrrolizidin-Alkaloides (±)-Trachelanthamidin

Synthesis of the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid (±)-Trachelanthamidine The important intermediate in the synthesis of the title compound 8 is the diastereoisomer mixture of ethyl 2-[2-(1,3 dioxolan-2-yl)ethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylate ( 3a/3b ) which was prepared from nitromethane, acrylaldehyde, and diethyl fumarate (Scheme). Its reduction (NaBH₄, t-BuOH, MeOH) gave exclusively the trans-alcohol 4a , which was converted to the protected pyrrolidine derivative 6 . The deprotection and reduction of 6 gave the pyrrolizidine alkaloid 8 , characterized as its hydrochloride.     

The Macrocyclic Spermidine Alkaloid (−)‐(S)‐Neoperiphylline: Revision of the Structure Based on the Total Synthesis

The total synthesis of the two isomeric macrocyclic enamides 2 and 17 is described. The precursor 14 was synthesized by means of template‐assisted macrocyclization (Scheme 2). Isomerization of 14 in the presence of [Fe(CO)₅] gave 2 and 17 (Scheme 4). Structure 2 was previously assigned to the alkaloid neoperiphylline. However, the synthetic 2 showed completely different properties compared to the earlier described data of the natural compound. Surprisingly, analytical data of the second synthetic product 17 were very close to those of the natural neoperiphylline. We conclude that the previously assigned structure of neoperiphylline is erroneous and should be corrected to that of (?)‐(4S,12Z)‐4‐phenyl‐9‐[(2E)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐enoyl]‐1,5,9‐triazacyclotridec‐12‐en‐2‐one ( 17 ).     

EFFECTS OF EXCITED-STATE PROTON TRANSFER ON THE PHOSPHORESCENCE OF TYROSINE-PHOSPHATE COMPLEXES

Abstract Phosphate anions quench the fluorescence of tyrosine at room temperature as a result of an excited-state proton transfer. At 77 K in frozen solutions the fluorescence of tyrosine is still quenched by phosphate anions but the phosphorescence emission is enhanced. No tyrosinate phosphorescence is detected. A mechanism is proposed to explain these results: excited-state proton transfer from tyrosine to phosphates is followed by intersystem crossing in tyrosinate anions with subsequent back-transfer of the proton in the triplet state.     

Orientation and order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer

The order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer is studied by X-ray reflection. Films of thicknesses of less than 200 nm on float glass are investigated as a function of temperature. The polymer with mesogenic groups in the main and side-chains exhibits smectic and cholesteric mesophases. Measurements in the smectic phases show a Bragg peak and smectic layers are oriented parallel to the substrate. The sample is thus macroscopically ordered by the influence of substrate and free surface. The film surface is very smooth after spincoating; surface roughness is typically 0.8 nm. First annealing of samples leads to a significant roughening of the free surface; roughness increases to 2.1 nm. Order as a function of film thickness depends on the interaction of the polymer with the substrate and free surface. These interactions give rise to a typical correlation length of perturbations in smectic ordering.