Synthesis of 3-aminolactams as X-Gly constrained pseudodipeptides and conformational study of a Trp-Gly surrogate

3-Amino-delta-valerolactams trans-11a-c were synthesized through conjugate addition and Curtius rearrangement and converted into Fmoc-[Trp-Gly], Fmoc-[Ile-Gly], and Fmoc-[Phe-Gly] pseudodipeptides. Conformational analyses of tripeptide analogues Ac-[Trp-Gly]-Leu-NH(2) 17a and 17b by NMR experiments and molecular modeling calculations showed that diastereomer 17a adopted a gamma-turn/distorted type II beta-turn structure, whereas diastereomer 17b adopted mainly a gamma-turn structure.     

Variability in goethite surface site density: evidence from proton and carbonate sorption

Goethite is a representative iron oxide in natural environments due to its abundance and thermodynamic stability and may be responsible for many surface-mediated processes, including ion retention and mobility in aqueous settings. A large variability in morphologies and specific surface areas of goethite crystals exists but little work has been done to compare surface reactivity between them. The present work offers experimental evidence for the existence of an inverse relationship between sorption capacity for protons and carbonate ions and specific surface area of goethite for three synthetic goethite preparations spanning surface area differences by a factor of 2. An explanation for this was found by assuming a variable reactive site density between preparations in direct relationship to their sorption capacity based on congruency of carbonate sorption computed on a per-site basis. Previous evidence of maximum sorption capacities supports this explanation, and site density ratios between the goethites studied here were obtained. Triple layer surface complexation modeling was successful in describing adsorption data for all goethite preparations using equal stoichiometries. A new formulation of standard state for activities of surface species based on a 1.0 mole fraction of sites on the solid allowed transformation of the conventional molar concentration-based affinity constants to values based on site occupancy. In this fashion, by applying the appropriate site density ratios, a single set of affinity constant values was found that described accurately the adsorption data for all preparations.     

Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Time Asymmetry

There are two schools, or lines, of thoughtwhich attempt to unify the apparently divergent laws ofdynamics and thermodynamics and to explain the observedtime asymmetry of the universe and most of its subsystems in spite of the fact that thesesystems are driven by time-symmetric evolutionequations. They will be called the coarse-graining andthe extended dynamics schools (even if these names onlypartially describe their philosophy). The coarse-grainingschool obtains time asymmetry via a projection of thestate space onto a space of relevantstates. The corresponding projection of the primitivereversible evolution laws yields effective irreversibleevolution laws for the relevant states. Extendeddynamics always uses the same primitive reversibleevolution laws. But these laws (in adequate extensionsof the usual spaces where they are formulated)have a set of solutions S that can be decomposed intotwo subsets S₊ and S_- oftime-asymmetric solutions. Time asymmetry is establishedby choosing one of these two sets as the arena in which to formulate thetheory. This paper explains in the simplestself-contained and unbiased way the main characteristicsof both schools and points out the advantages anddisadvantages of each, in such a way as to make explicit thedebate between the schools. Some cosmological featuresof the theory are also considered, mainly the problem ofthe low-entropy initial state of the universe.     

Phase diagrams of crystalline adducts containing two volatile components

The phase relationships in binary systems forming a crystalline addition compound are obtained by means of classical thermodynamic arguments for the case in which both components are volatile. This approach can be applied to inclusion compounds and to other low-stability addition compounds existing only in the solid phase. The results are consistent with those already known for clathrates containing a volatile guest and a non-volatile host, and for symmetric systems, such as racemic compounds. The temperature range in which the adduct undergoes a congruent sublimation depends on the ratio of the vapor pressures of the two components. A relation has been found to exist between the properties of the pure components, the melting behavior and the enthalpy of formation of the adduct.     

Direct mass spectrometry of polymers. XIII.. Thermal fragmentation processes in copoly-α-amino acids

The thermal fragmentation processes in L-Proline—Sarcosine and in L-Proline—L-Alanine copolymers have been investigated by direct pyrolysis—mass spectrometry. The mass spectral data show that proline—sarcosine copolymers decompose in three steps, yielding cyclic oligomers. The first step is characterized by the presence of the Sar—Sar, Sar—Pro, and Pro—Pro cyclic dimers. In the second step the formation of several series of cyclic oligomers up to nonamers—decamers can be observed, while the third step of thermal decomposition process leads to the almost exclusive formation of Pro—Pro cyclic dimer. The proline—alanine copolymers, instead, show a single-step thermal degradation process leading to the formation both of cyclic oligomers and compounds with olefin and nitrile end-groups. Our results show that the thermal decompostion of alanine units is affected by the neighboring units along the polymer chain. Sarcosine units act as thermally labile probes, causing the selective thermal cleavage of the Pro—Sar copolymer.     

Crystallizable elastomers by chemical modification of transtactic polydiolefins. Hydrochlorination

Solutions of crystalline, high-melting trans-1,4 polybutadiene (trans-PB), trans-1,4 mix 1,2 butadiene-piperylene copolymer (BPC, low piperylene content), and isotactic trans-1,4 piperylene (trans-PP) were partly hydrochlorinated under mild conditions with gaseous HCl. Glass transition and melting temperatures were strongly affected by the addition of HCl. Several hydrochlorinated trans-PB and -BPC were semicrystalline or amorphous elastomers, susceptible to reversible crystallization when stretched. The straininduced crystallinity was similar to that shown by trans-polybutadiene sequences, particularly in the form that is unstable in bulk at room temperature (form II). The addition of HCl to the asymmetric double bond in trans-PP occurs in a stereoselective way, according to ¹³C-NMR. under the experimental conditions of the present study the occurrence of side reactions was observed; these reactions decrease the polymer unsaturation to a lower level than that calculated by the amount of HCl added to the polymer.     

Palladium(II) and platinum(II)-C(3)-substituted 2,2′-bipyridines

Reaction of Pd(OAc)₂ with HL¹ and HL² (HL¹=6-iso-propyl-2,2-bipyridine; HL²=6-neo-pentyl-2,2-bipyridine), followed by treatment with LiCl or KI, gives [PdCl(L¹)]₂, (1), [PdCl(L²)]₂ (2), and [PdI(L²)]₂ (3), respectively. The chloride bridge in complexes1 and2 is split by PPh³ to give the mononuclear species PdCl(L¹)(PPh₃) (4) and PdCl(L²)(PPh₃) (5). Spectroscopic data provide evidence for coordination of the deprotonated ligands through a nitrogen and the C₍₃₎ atom of the 6-substituted pyridine. An analogous platinum complex PtCl(L³)(SMe₂) (6) (HL³=6-tert-butyl-2,2-bipyridine) was obtained from trans-PtClMe(SMe₂)₂ and HL³. The crystal structures of compounds1 and6 have been solved by X-ray diffraction analysis.Dipartimento di Chimica, Universita di Sassari, via Vienna 2, I-07100 Sassari, Italy; Dipartimento di Chimica Strutturale e Stereochimica Inorganica, Universita di Milano, Centro CNR, I-20133 Milano, Italy; Published in Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1127–1137, August, 1999.     

Computer applications in food flavour research

Computer-assisted methods for improving research and production in a food-flavour company are described. Methods of experimental design are used in planning experiments. Special programs are used for identification of components through correlation of mass spectra and gas chromatographic retention indices, and for the design of new synthetic routes. In flavour creation, a data base containing qualitative and quantitative information on flavours, relevant legislation and organoleptic properties of components, can be searched selectively in attempts to improve flavours and to identify better combinations of substances. A computer-assisted production system is described which ensures complete qualitative and quantitative control.     

Synthesis of peptides containing 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid. Part 3. Cyclization of dipeptides and amides with acetic anhydride

Treatment of protected dipeptides containing 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid with acetic anhydride affords only 1H,3H,5H-oxazolo[3,4-a]quinolin-3-one derivatives. The formation of a-acylaminomethylketones, arising from the competitive Dakin-West reaction, was generally observed when the cyclization procedure was extended to some amides of the cyclic imino acid. The preferential stabilization of one of two probable mesoionic intermediates seems to determine the preferred pathway.     

Interrelation between side chain crystallization and dynamic glass transitions in higher poly(n-alkyl methacrylates)

Calorimetric and dielectric results for crystallizable poly(n-alkyl methacrylates) (PnAMA) with C=12, 16 and 18 alkyl carbons per side chain are presented. Degree of crystallization D_cal and melting peak temperature T_M are estimated from conventional DSC measurements. For poly(n-hexadecyl methacrylate) (C=16) the influence of isothermal crystallization is studied by DSC as well as TMDSC. Changes in dielectric relaxation strength Δε and α peak shape during crystallization are investigated. Effects of side chain crystallization on the complex dynamics of PnAMA are discussed. The results are related to the relaxation behavior of lower nanophase-separated PnAMA with two co-existing glass transitions, the conventional glass transition (a or α) and the polyethylene-like glass transition (α_PE) within alkyl nanodomains formed by aggregated alkyl rests. It is shown that amorphous as well as semicrystalline PnAMA can be understood as nanophase-separated polymers with alkyl nanodomains having a typical dimension of 1-2 nm. The results are compared with the predictions of simple morphological pictures for side chain polymers. X-ray scattering data for the amorphous and semicrystalline PnAMA are included in the discussion. Common aspects of nanophase-separated systems in both states as well as differences caused by crystallization are discussed. Indications for the existence of rigid amorphous regions are compiled. Different approaches to explain a similar increase of T_g(α_PE)—the glass temperature of the amorphous alkyl nanodomains—and T_M—the melting temperature of crystalline alkyl nanodomains—with side chain length are considered. Pros and cons of both approaches, based on increasing order within the alkyl nanodomains and confinement effects in nanophase-separated systems, are discussed. Main trends concerning crystallization and cooperative dynamics are compared with those in other systems with self-assembled nanometer confinements like microphase-separated blockcopolymers or semicrystalline main chain polymers.