Effects of molecular structure and environment on the photodimerization of substituted anthracenes

Photochemical and photophysical studies of a number of 9-substituted anthracene sandwich pairs in their corresponding photodimer crystal matrices have been carried out. Corresponding studies have also been made in methylcyclohexane matrices at 6 K. Photodimerization of the 9-methyl, 9-chloro and 9-cyano derivatives in the photodimer matrices occurs at 6 K with unit quantum yield. The presence of excimer fluorescence from sandwich pairs indicates the lack of a perfect topochemical orientation while activation processes, leading to photodimerization, involve molecular re-orientation from more stable ground state configurations which are achieved within the constraints imposed by the solvent or crystalline cage.     

Direct monitoring of metal ion transfer between two trafficking proteins

To avoid the toxic effects of both essential and nonessential metal ions, cells elaborate a variety of metal ion trafficking proteins that regulate metal ion mobility. While structures of several trafficking proteins have been determined, kinetic characterization of metal ion transfer between cognate protein partners and the factors controlling transfer has lagged behind, in part due to a limitation on methods to monitor the rapid transfer. In this Communication we report studies on the kinetics of Hg2+ transfer between separately expressed components of the flavoenzyme mercuric ion reductase (MerA) that take advantage of the sensitivity of the flavin fluorescence to the charge state of a cysteine thiol in the Hg2+ binding pathway. The thiolate form of C558 in the Tn501 MerA partially quenches the fluorescence of the oxidized enzyme. Protonation or binding of Hg2+ to the thiolate increases the fluorescence, providing a sensitive probe for kinetic analysis of the Hg2+ binding reaction. The kinetics of Hg2+ transfer in both directions between the cysteine pair of the separately expressed N-terminal domain and the C-terminal cysteines (C558, C559) of the catalytic core are presented, along with a model describing the overall process.     

Luminescence determination of benzoquinoline isomers in complex samples

The room-temperature phosphorescence (r.t.p.) and fluorescence spectra of benzoquinoline isomers are investigated. The isomers can be resolved into the linear or angular subgroups on the basis of their fluorescence and r.t.p. spectra by using conventional fixed excitation. Second-derivative and synchronous scanning techniques can be combined to improve the selectivity of the r.t.p. and fluorescence methods. These simple luminescence techniques were used to estimate three benzoquinoline isomers in a coal tar fraction. Direct analysis of this complex sample allowed acridine to be estimated and upper limits to be provided for benzo(h)quinoline and phenanthridine; the presence of three other isomers was not detected. Comparative studies with data obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography are reported.     

Low Pass metallic mesh interference filters for operation in the 165 GHz to 880 GHz region

Low Pass metallic mesh interference filters have been designed and constructed for operation in the region 340 m (880 GHz) to 1.8 mm (165 GHz). These filters have been shown to have excellent edge characteristics and good rejection regions. The results show that the mesh filter can be effectively used in both millimetre and submillimetre regions.Part of this work was performed while this author was at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, U.K.     

Modeling of separations by closed-loop steady-state recycling chromatography of a racemic pharmaceutical intermediate

The following review describes the development of mass spectrometry off-line and on-line coupled with liquid chromatography to the analysis of food proteins. It includes the significant results recently obtained in the field of milk, egg and cereal proteins. This paper also outlines the research carried out in the area of food protein hydrolysates, which are important components in foodstuffs due to their functional properties. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry have been particularly used for the characterization of food peptides and especially in dairy products.     

Poly(3-hydroxyoxetane)—an analog of poly(vinyl alcohol): Synthesis,characterization, and properties

The spontaneous polymer formed from 3-hydroxyoxetane (HO), as first reported by Wojtowicz and Polak, is linear, low molecular weight, water-soluble, atactic, poly(3-hydroxyoxetane) (PHO) of high crystallinity with ? OCH₂CH(OH)CH₂OH end units. The highly crystalline nature of this atactic polymer may be related to the crystalline nature of atactic poly(vinyl alcohol) since PHO can be considered a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and formaldehyde. Spontaneous PHO apparently is formed in a cationic polymerization by the carboxylic acids produced by the air oxidation of HO on standing at room temperature for several months. The polymerization can be duplicated by the addition of 2% hydroxyacetic acid to HO. The rate of this unusual cationic polymerization increases greatly with acid strength, e.g., trifluoromethanesulfonic acid reacts explosively with pure HO. A mechanism is proposed for this cationic polymerization. High molecular weight, water-soluble, linear atactic, and highly crystalline PHO (mp = 155°C) was made by polymerizing the trimethylsilyl ether of HO with the i-Bu₃Al–0.7 H₂O cationic catalyst followed by hydrolysis. Two ¹H-NMR methods for measuring the tacticity of PHO were developed based on finding two different types of methylene units at 400 MHz with the methine protons decoupled. Also, an ¹H-NMR method was developed for measuring branching in HO polymers. High molecular weight, linear PHO with enhanced isotacticity (80%) has been obtained in low yield as a water-insoluble fraction with T_m = 223°C. The low molecular weight PHO prepared previously by the base-catalyzed, rearrangement polymerization of glycidol is highly branched.