Minor components with the γ-cyclogeranil geraniol skeleton from Bellardia trixago (L.) all.

Trixagol 1 and fourteen derivatives with the skeleton of γ-cyclogeranil geraniol were isolated from Bellardia trixago, the structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and confirmed by partial synthesis. Furthermore. 3,4-dihydro-γ-ionone, α-ambrinol, β-sitosterol and three flavonoids 5-O-demethyl tangeretin, 5-hydroxy auranetin and 3′-methoxy calycopterin were also isolated.     

Patents and literature

Protein engineering and site-directed mutagenesis is becoming immensely important in both fundamental studies and commercial applications involving proteins and enzymes in biocatalysis. Protein engineering has become a powerful tool to help biochemists and molecular enzymologists elucidate structure-function relationships in enzymic active sites, to understand the intricacies of protein folding and denaturation, and to alter the selectivity of enzymatic catalysis. Commercial applications of engineered enzymes are being developed to increase protein stability, widen or narrow substrate specificity, and to develop novel approaches for use of enzymes in organic synthesis, drug design, and clinical applications. In addition to protein engineering, novel expression systems have been designed to prepare large quantities of genetically engineered proteins. Recent US patents and scientific literature on protein engineering, site-directed mutagenesis, and protein expression systems related to protein engineering are surveyed. Patent abstracts are summarized individually and a list of literature references are given.     

Spectra and hadronic couplings of light hermaphrodite mesons

We clarify the discrepancies of previous results for the masses and decay amplitudes of hermaphrodite mesons obtained from QCD sum rules. We study the case of the strange quark within a light quark expansion formalism. We find tht the hermaphrodite masses are much higher than the ones of their ordinary meson partners. Our values of the set of masses and continuum thresholds are compared with some other sum rule results. We analyze the hadronic couplings of the isovector 1^?+ exotic hermaprodite \(\tilde \rho \) using a three-point function sum rule evaluated at the symmetric euclidean point. We find that the \(\tilde \rho \) can be very broad and prefers to decay into ρπ andK ^* K. Its most characteristic decays are the ones into πγ, ηπ and μ′π. The former and the latter are of the order of (3～8) MeV.     

A new convenient synthesis of N-acyl-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)glycinates

Easily accessible N-acyl-2-triphenylphosphonioglycinate tetrafluoroborates react smoothly with trimethylphosphite in the presence of methyltriphenylphosphonium iodide to give N-acyl-2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)glycinates in good or very good yields. The dimethoxyphosphorylglycinates may be isolated by column chromatography, or used directly for the Wadsworth-Emmons synthesis of α,β-dehydro-α-amino acids in a one-pot procedure without purification.     

Thermal Analysis of Acrylonitrile Polymerization and Cyclization in the Presence of N,N-Dimethylformamide

This paper examines the polymerization of acrylonitrile to poly(acrylonitrile)(PAN), and its cyclization, in bulk form and using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent in which both monomer and polymer are soluble. Thermal analysis of the resultant products after polymerization has been performed by DSC and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Scanning electron microscopy has been used to study the morphology of the resultant products and after thermal treatments. The DSC thermal curve of PAN-DMF sample is quite different from the PAN bulk sample, showing a single sharp exothermic peak associated with nitrile group polymerization (cyclization) of PAN at lower temperature (240°C) than that of bulk PAN sample (314°C). Cyclization of PAN was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. It was found that the amide molecules are difficult to eliminate completely in the product obtained after the polymerization reaction, even after prolonged heating at 110°C, and remain occluded. The formation of a complex by dipolar bonding is also possible and it is discussed. It is concluded that the amount of heat evolved as well as the temperature interval over which it is released are influenced by the chemical processing of PAN when using DMF as solvent of both monomer and polymer. Pyrolysis of these PAN samples revealed the release of occluded molecules of DMF, and several compounds containing nitrogen produced from the thermal degradation processes. All these results are interesting to know the chemical processing of carbon fibres and activated carbon fibres from PAN modified precursors.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

VISIBLE CHEMILUMINESCENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REACTION BETWEEN METHEMOGLOBIN OR OXYHEMOGLOBIN WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Abstract Visible chemiluminescence is emitted in the irreversible deactivation of hemoglobin or methemoglobin with excess H₂O₂. The emission takes place in two phases. The most intense one lasts a few seconds and is followed by a second phase of lower intensity that remains for longer periods. This second phase presents chaotic or sustained oscillations. Free radicals are implicated in the luminescent process since the emission can be reduced by free radical scavengers such as 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8,-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) or ascorbic acid. These additives lead to a delay in reaching the maximum intensity, which can be related to their consumption, implying substantial recycling of the hemoprotein. Chemiluminescence is also observed in the oxidation of hemin by H₂O₂, suggesting a role for the heme group in the processes leading to the excited state production. The lower intensity observed in the presence of hemin can be related to the contribution of the globin chains.     

New Carbonyl Compounds in the High-Boiling Fraction of Lavender Oil. 2nd Communication

In addition to the sesquiterpenoid compounds reported in [1] the in-depth analysis of lavender oil also led to the identification of new constituents with caryophyllane ( 1 – 6 ), cedrane ( 7 and 8 ) and other skeletons ( 9 – 21 ). Spectroscopic properties as well as partial syntheses of these compounds are discussed.     

Oxygen equilibrium pressure above V2O5−x and thermodynamic properties of this oxide system

Measurements of oxygen equilibrium pressure above the V₂O_5?x oxide system have been performed within the temperature range 575 to 615°C. The results have been used to determine the standard enthalpy and entropy in the reaction V₆O₁₃ + O₂ = 3 V₂O₅. The thermodynamic properties of the V₂O_5?x system (at x < 1) cited in the literature have been discussed for all the equilibria postulated.     

Thiocarbonyl rhodium complexes with tricyclohexylphosphine and other nitrogen and phosphorus donor ligands

Summary The preparation of the covalent Rh(OCIO₃)(CS)(PCy₃)₂ and Rh(OClO₃)(CS)(PPh₃)(PCy₃) perchlorato complexes is described, These complexes react with mono- or bidentate nitrogen donor ligands to give new cationic complexes of the [Rh(CS)(PCY₃)₂L]ClO4 and [Rh(CS)(PPh,)(PCy₃)L]ClO₄ types,