Photochemical decomposition of the CS2N3 ion

The pseudo-halide 1, 2, 3, 4-thiatriazol-5-thiolate, in the anion and acid forms, undergoes photochemical decomposition with the formation of sulfur, nitrogen and the thiocyanate anion, with quantum yields (θ₃₁₃) of 0.13 and 0.26 for the acid and anion forms, respectively.     

Determination of copper impurities in nickel and cobalt salts by atomic absorption spectroscopy

Summary A method is described for the rapid determination of traces of copper in the ppm range in cobalt and nickel salts. The % standard deviation for the analysis is reported as 3.4 to 3.7 for aequous solutions and 4.8 to 5.0 for carbon tetrachloride sprayed directly into the flame after extraction.

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Zusammenfassung Ein Verfahren zur raschen Bestimmung von Kupferspuren im ppm-Bereich in Kobalt- und Nickelsalzen wurde beschrieben. Die Standardabweichung in wäßrigen Lösungen beträgt 3,4 bis 3,7%, bei unmittelbarem Versprühen der Tetrachlorkohlenstoffextrakte in die Flamme 4,8 bis 5,0%.

     

Synthesen von Heterocyclen, 130. Mitt.: Über das Glomerin und das Arborin

Zusammenfassung Es werden einstufige Synthesen desGlomerins (2) [1,2-Dimethyl-4(1H)-chinazolinon] und desArborins (3) [1-Methyl-2-benzyl-4(1H)-chinazolinon] bekanntgegeben.

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Syntheses of heterocycles, CXXX: Glomerine and arborine

A one step synthesis ofglomerine (2) [1.2-dimethyl-4(1H)-quinazolinone] andarborine (3) [1-methyl-2-benzyl-4(1H)-quinazolinone] is described.

     

Viskoelastische Eigenschaften von Polyisobutylenen in verdünnten Lösungen

Zusammenfassung Die Speicher- und VerlustmodulnG undG verdünnter Lösungen (2–4%) dreier Isobutylenpolymerisate mit den Molekulargewichten 0,63, 1,29 und 11×10⁵ wurden in der Apparatur vonBirnboim undFerry über einen Frequenzbereich von 0,4–400 Hz und einen Temperaturbereich von –17,5 bis 25,0° bestimmt. Für die scharf fraktionierten Polymerisate von niederem Molekulargewicht ergab die Frequenzabhängigkeit der Moduln eine ausgezeichnete Übereinstimmung mit der Theorie vonZimm. Die aus den experimentell erhaltenen Kurven ermittelten Molekulargewichte und größten Relaxationszeiten waren von der erwarteten Größenordnung. Für das Polymerisat mit höherem Molekulargewicht entsprach die Frequenzabhängigkeit vonG undG – _s jedoch der Theorie vonRouse. Der Einfluß der hydrodynamischen Wechselwirkung in der Bewegung der Knäuelsegmente, in welchem der Unterschied zwischen den beiden Theorien besteht, erscheint als von der Größe des Molekulargewichts abhängig.

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Summary The storage and loss moduliG andG of dilute (2–4%) solutions of three polyisobutylenes of molecular weight 0.63, 1.29, and 11×10⁵ were determined in the apparatus ofBirnboim andFerry over a frequency range of 0.4 to 400 cps, and a temperature range of –17.0 to 25.0°. The sharply fractionated polymers of low molecular weight showed a frequency dependence in excellent agreement with the theory ofZimm. The experimentally determined molecular weights and terminal relaxation times were of the expected order of magnitude. The frequency dependence of the polymer of highest molecular weight, however, conformed more closely to the theory ofRouse. The influence of the hydrodynamic interaction on the motion of the coil segments, which constitutes the difference in the two theories, appears to depend on the magnitude of the molecular weight.

     

Sexual attraction in the silkworm moth: structure of the pheromone-binding-protein-bombykol complex

BACKGROUND: Insects use volatile organic molecules to communicate messages with remarkable sensitivity and specificity. In one of the most studied systems, female silkworm moths (Bombyx mori) attract male mates with the pheromone bombykol, a volatile 16-carbon alcohol. In the male moth's antennae, a pheromone-binding protein conveys bombykol to a membrane-bound receptor on a nerve cell. The structure of the pheromone-binding protein, its binding and recognition of bombykol, and its full role in signal transduction are not known. RESULTS: The three-dimensional structure of the B. mori pheromone-binding protein with bound bombykol has been determined by X-ray diffraction at 1.8 A resolution. CONCLUSIONS: The pheromone binding protein of B. mori has six helices, and bombykol binds in a completely enclosed hydrophobic cavity formed by four antiparallel helices. Bombykol is bound in this cavity through numerous hydrophobic interactions, and sequence alignments suggest critical residues for specific pheromone binding.     

The photoreactions of recombinant phytochrome from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis: a low-temperature UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopic study

The interconvertible photoreactions of recombinant phytochrome from Synechocystis reconstituted with phycocyanobilin were investigated by light-induced optical and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) difference spectroscopy at low temperatures for the first time. The photochemistry was found to be deferred below -100 degrees C for the transformation of red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pr)-->far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr), and no formation of an intermediate similar to the photoproduct of phytochrome A obtained at -140 degrees C (lumi-R) was observed. Two intermediates could be stabilized below -40 degrees C and between -40 and -20 degrees C, and were denoted as meta-Ra and meta-Rc, respectively. Above -20 degrees C Pfr was obtained. In the reverse reaction two intermediates could be stabilized below -60 degrees C (lumi-F) and between -60 and -40 degrees C (meta-F). The FT-IR difference spectra of the late Pr-->Pfr photoreaction show great similarities to the spectra obtained from oat phytochrome A suggesting similar conformation of the chromophore and interactions with its protein environment, whereas deviations in the spectra of meta-Ra were observed. A large band around 1700 cm-1 in the difference spectra between the intermediates and Pr which is tentatively assigned to the C19=O group of the prosthetic group indicates the Z,E isomerization around the C15=C16-methine bridge of the chromophore during the formation of meta-Ra. In the difference spectra of the parent states only small differences are observed in this region suggesting that the frequency of the carbonyl group is similar in Pr and Pfr. Since the FT-IR difference spectra between lumi-F and Pfr show great similarities to the spectra of the parent states, it is assumed that during the formation of lumi-F the chromophore largely returns into the primary Pr conformation. The FT-IR spectra recorded in a medium of 2H2O generally show a downshift of the significant bands due to the isotope effect. The appearance of a characteristic band around 935 cm-1 in all 2H2O spectra suggests an assignment to an N-2H bending vibration of the chromophore.     

Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of bismuth(III) using a Tosflex-coated mercury film electrode

A Tosflex-mercury film electrode (TMFE) was prepared by spin-coating a solution of the perfluorinated anion exchange polymer Tosflex onto a glassy carbon electrode surface followed by electrodeposition of mercury film on this electrode. This electrode was used for the determination of trace bismuth(III) which was preconcentrated onto the TMFE as anionic bismuth(III) complexes with chloride in a chloride medium. The preconcentration was carried out at a potential of-0.2 V, and the preconcentration of the bismuth(III) was enhanced significantly by the anion-exchange feature of Tosflex. The accumulated bismuth(III) was then determined by anodic square-wave stripping voltammetry (SWSV). Various parameters influencing the determination of bismuth(III) were examined in detail. With 2 min accumulation, the analytical signal versus concentration dependence was linear up to 50 ppb, and the detection limit was 0.58 ppb. This modified electrode showed good resistance to the interferences from surface-active compounds and common ions.     

The Role of Oxygen in the Antiviral Activity of Hypericin and Hypocrellin

The light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin in the presence and absence of oxygen was examined under experimental conditions where the effect of oxygen depletion could be quantified. There was a significant reduction of light-induced antiviral activity of hypericin and hypocrellin under hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, antiviral activity of hypocrellin was not observed at low oxygen levels at which hypericin retained measurable virucidal activity. This suggests that additional pathways, such as the generation of protons from excited states of hypericin, may enhance the biological activity of activated oxygen species.     

Effect of Mobile Phase pH* on Chromatographic Behaviour in Chiral Ligand-Exchange Thin-Layer Chromatography (CLETLC) of Amino Acid Enantiomers

The enantiomers of some amino acids have been separated on commercial chiral TLC plates in reversed-phase mode. The effect of the pH* of the aqueous-organic mobile phase on the retention and mobility of the enantiomers and on selectivity was investigated. It was shown that for most of the amino acids investigated the highest enantioselectivity was obtained at pH* 3–4 or 6–7. The drift and disturbance of the baseline on the chromatograms were also much smaller at pH* 3–4 and 6–7.