Electron spin resonance study on polymerization of alkyl acrylates with n-butyl titanate(IV)–triethylaluminum catalyst

n-Butyl titanate(IV)–triethylaluminum catalyst at Al/Ti molar ratios greater than 6 polymerizes methyl and n-butyl acrylates at ?78°C. The polymerization system which includes methyl acrylate at ?78°C, gives two ESR signals with g factors of 1.958 and 1.961 that overlap each other. The absorption intensity of the latter signal is approximately proportional to the polymer chain concentration calculated from polymer yield and the molecular weight. The polymerization system at Al/Ti ratios smaller than 3 has no catalytic activity on the polymerization and shows only the ESR signal with the g factor of 1.958. On the basis of these facts the ESR signal with the g factor of 1.961 is attributed to the active growing end of poly(methyl acrylate) with this catalyst. The character of this active growing end is discussed.     

DNA-bleomycin interaction: Nucleotide sequence-specific binding and cleavage of DNA by bleomycin

Biosynthetic intermediates and synthetic analogues of bleomycin (BLM) have been investigated for their metal binding, dioxygen activation, and DNA cleavage. Molecular O₂ was activated by the Fe(II) complex of a synthetic model ligand. Nucleotide sequence specificities in DNA cleavage by the BLM-Fe(II) and deglyco-BLM-Fe(II) complexes were almost identical. It has been shown that (1) the β-aminoalanine-pyrimidine-β-hydroxyhistidine portion of BLM is essential for the metal binding and dioxygen activation and (2) the bithiazole moiety contributes to the specific binding to guanine base of DNA.     

Polyiodide composition in poly(vinyl acetate)-iodine-iodide complex

Polyiodide formed by complexation of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) with iodine in the presence of iodide has been investigated by chemical analysis and resonance Raman spectrophotometry. When PVAc films were immersed in iodide-iodine aqueous solutions which had different ratios of iodide to iodine concentration [I^?]/[I₂], the complex films exhibited tremendous variations of swelling degree, despite the relatively small change in the amount of bound iodine. From a quantitative chemical analysis, the composition of polyiodide bound to PVAc was found to be 1.01 ± 0.035 in the molar ratio of iodide to iodine irrespective of the composition of the iodide-iodine aqueous solution ([I^?]/[I₂] = 2–500). The polyiodide formed in PVAc-iodine-iodide complex was therefore inferred to be (I₃^?)_n. Resonance Raman spectra obtained on PVAc-iodine-iodide complexes were also identical to those of the benzamide-iodine complex, in which the polyiodide consists of (I₃^?)_n, consistent with the result from chemical analysis.     

Molecular structures of endo[4+2]π and exo[6+4]π cycloadducts via cycloaddition reaction of n-ethoxycarbonylazepine with 2,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-3,4-diphenylcyclopentadienone

The cycloaddition reaction of N-ethoxycarbonyl-1H-azepine with 2,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-3,4-diphenylcyclopentadienone gave anti-endo [4+2]π and exo [6+4]π cycloadducts. These structures were fully identified by X-ray crystallographic techniques. Mechanism for their cycloaddition reactions are also discussed.     

Hybrid Ia antigens: genetic, serologic, and biochemical analyses

Ia specificities 22 and 23 were found to be determinants on hybrid Ia molecules, formed by the noncovalent binding of a 26,000--28,000 dalton beta polypeptide chain (Ae) coded by the I-A subregion and a 32,000--35,000 dalton alpha chain (E alpha) coded by the I-E subregion. For expression of Ia.23 the Ae chain, coded by the I-A subregion, must be derived from the H-2d haplotype, while Ab, As, or Ak can provide the complementing beta chain for the expression of Ia.22. For expression of Ia.22 and Ia.23, most Ia.7 positive strains can provide the complementing alpha chain (E alpha), with the one exception of B10.PL (Eu), which is Ia.7 positive but will not complement with Ad to express Ia.23. Antisera were also produced against hybrid Ia antigens by immunizing with F1 cells expressing Ia.22 or Ia.23 generated by generated by trans-complementation. These antisera detect the same specificities as conventional anti-Ia.22 and anti-Ia.23 sera produced against cis-complementing Ia antigens. It is postulated that hybrid Ia determinants are involved in recognition and generation of immune response to antigens under dual Ir gene control. It is also suggested that there are 2 types of Ia specificities: 1) allotypic Ia specificities expressed on the alpha or beta chains (for example, Ia.7 on the E alpha chain) and 2) hybrid Ia specificities, which are unique interaction determinants formed by the association of alpha and beta chains (for example, Ia.22 and Ia.23). These interaction gene products may be involved in antigen recognition and presentation.     

Dithiol-mediated immobilization of CdS nanoparticles from reverse micellar system onto Zn-doped silica particles and their high photocatalytic activity

Cds nanoparticles, prepared in a reverse micellar system, were immobilized directly onto alkanedithiol-modified Zn-doped silica particles, which were themselves prepared via hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate in the presence of Zn(NO(3))(2) followed by contact with dithiol molecules. The resulting CdS-Zn-SiO(2) composite was then used as a photocatalyst for the generation of H(2) from 2-propanol aqueous solution. Under UV irradiation (lambda>300 nm), a high photocatalytic activity was observed for the CdS-Zn-SiO(2) composite material. This is effected by electron transfer from the photoexcited ZnS (dithiol-bonded Zn on SiO(2)) to CdS nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity is increased with a decrease in the number of methylene groups in the dithiol molecules, according to the rank order 1,10-decanedithiol <1,6-hexanedithiol <1,2-ethanedithiol.     

Separation of Leucas aspera,a medicinal plant of Bangladesh,guided by prostaglandin inhibitory and antioxidant activities

According to the traditional usage of the plant for antiinflammation and analgesia, Leucas aspera was tested for its prostaglandin (PG) inhibitory and antioxidant activities. The extract showed both activities, i.e., inhibition at 3 x 10(-4) g/ml against PGE(1)- and PGE(2)-induced contractions in guinea pig ileum and a 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect. The separation guided by the activities in these dual assay methods provided eight lignans and four flavonoids, LA-1- -12, among which LA-1- -7 and LA-10- -12 were identified as nectandrin B, meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid, macelignan, acacetin, apigenin 7-O-[6"-O-(p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-glucoside], chrysoeriol, apigenin, erythro-2-(4-allyl-2, 6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol, myristargenol B, and machilin C, respectively. LA-8 was determined to be (-)-chicanine, the new antipode of the (+) compound, by spectroscopic methods including CD and ORD. Chiral-HPLC analysis of LA-9 showed that it was a mixture of two enantiomers, (7R, 8R)- and (7S, 8S)-licarin A. All of these components were first isolated from L. aspera. PG inhibition was observed in LA-1, LA-2, and LA-5, and antioxidant activity in LA-1- -3 and LA-8- -12.     

High modulus polyimide/polyimide molecular composite films that utilize acetylene unit as a crosslink site

Polyimide/polyimide molecular composite (MC) films comprised of a rigid polyimide derived from biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and p-phenylenediamine (PDA) and a flexible polyimide derived from BPDA and bis (3,3'-diaminodiphenyl) acetylene (intA) and/or oxydianiline (ODA) were prepared by blending the polyamic acid solutions in 7 : 3 weight ratio, and then imidizing the blend films. Acetylene content in the flexible polyimide backbone was controlled by the ratio of intA and ODA. Cold-drawing of the blend polyamic acid films, followed by imidization, gives high modulus polyimide/polyimide MC films. The modulus of the MC films increased almost linearly with the draw ratio, reaching 25.5 GPa for the 40% drawn film. Acetylene groups in the flexible polyimide can be thermally cured to crosslink. The onset of exotherm appeared at 340°C on DSC, reaching maximum at 398°C. After the thermal crosslinking, the MC films maintained the high modulus, though elongation became small. Taking advantage of the crosslinkable acetylene units, two MC films were laminated and processed at 400°C for 20 min under 100 kg/cm² to give a good-quality laminate film. The interface of the two films was strongly bonded through the crosslinking of acetylene groups. Laminate films maintained the high modulus afforded by the cold-drawing. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Reaction of 2-dialkylamino-5-phenyl-1,3-oxathiolium cation with sulphur ylides

The reaction of 2-dialkylamino-5-phenyl-1,3-oxathiolium cation 1 with sulphur ylides 2 was investigated. The behavior of 1 was solvent-dependent. In CH₂Cl₂, carbamate ester 3 was obtained: in CH₃CN, the intermediate sulphonium salt 5, which on hydrolysis gave 3, was isolated. On the other hand, reaction in MeOH gave the diphenacyl derivative 6. The reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Streptonigrin and lavendamycin partial structures. Preparation of 7-amino-2-(2′-pyridyl)quinoline-5,8-quinone-6′-carboxylic acid: A probe for the minimum,potent pharmacophore of the naturally occurring antitumor-antibiotics

The preparation of 7-amino-2-(2′-pyridyl)quinoline-5,8-quinone-6′-carboxylic acid (4) constituting a potential minimum, potent pharmacophore of streptonigrin (1) and lavendamycin (2) , two structurally-related naturally-occurring antitumor-antibiotic, is detailed. In contrast to observations associated with streptonigrin and lavendamycin in which the C-6′ acid potentiates the antitumor, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activity of the naturally-occurring, substituted 7-aminoquinoline-5,8-quinone AB ring systems, the C-6′ carboxylic acid of 4 diminishes the observed antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of 7-amino-2-(2′-pyridyl)quinoline-5,8-quinone.