First observation of B(s)(0) → J/ψη and B(s)(0) → J/ψη'

We report first observations of B(s)(0) → J/ψη and B(s)(0) → J/ψη'. The results are obtained from 121.4 fb(-1) of data collected at the Υ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+ e- collider. We obtain the branching fractions B(B(s)(0) → J/ψη)=[5.10±0.50(stat)±0.25(syst)(-0.79)(+1.14)(N(B(s)(*) B(s)(*))]×10(-4), and B(B(s)(0) → J/ψη')=[3.71±0.61(stat)±0.18(syst)(-0.57)(+0.83)(N(B(s)(*) B(s)(*))]×10(-4). The ratio of the two branching fractions is measured to be (B(B(s) → J/ψη'))/(B(B(s) → J/ψη))=0.73±0.14(stat)±0.02(syst).     

Thermal Reactions of Epoxyenones and Epoxydienes in the Ionone Series

On flash vaccum thermolysis at temperatures between 390 and 585°, the epoxyenones 1 – 9 and the epoxydienes 10 – 12 undergo various types of reactions involving C? C and/or C? O bond cleavage in the oxirane ring. Thus, the compounds 1 , 4 – 9 , 11 , and 12 were transformed to the divinyl ethers 13 , 20 , 21 , 24 , 25 , 29 , and 38 by a reversible [1,5] homosigmatropic H-shift. On thermolysis of the epoxides 1 – 12 , several products formed via carbonyl-ylide intermediates were also isolated. The extent of the formation of ylide products is clearly related to the conjugating ability of the functional groups neighboring the oxirane. Thus, the epoxides 3 , 5 , and 7 – 10 , bearing a C(3)?C(4) bond, a 5-oxo function, a 3,4-epoxy or a 3,4-methano group, preferentially underwent reactions via a carbonyl-ylide intermediate. As a further reaction pathway, the epoxides 1 – 12 undergo cleavage of the C–O bonds of the oxirane, which, however, is presumably an acid-catalyzed rather than a thermal reaction.     

Photochemical reactions. 145th Communication. Carbonyl vs. epoxyketone photochemistry: Photolysis of 1,2;3,4-diepoxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexyl methyl ketone

The synthesis and photolysis of the title compound 3 is described. Irradiation (λ > 280 nm, MeCN) of the di-epoxyketone 3 leads predominantly to γ–H abstraction. Cyclization furnishes the cyclobutanols 22 – 24 , while cleavage gives compound 25 , presumably via the allene-oxide intermediate 36 . Further, products 27 and 28 are formed by Norrish fragmentation and by initial cleavage of the C(α)? O bond of the oxirane, respectively. The structures of the products 22 – 25 , 27 , and 28 were assigned on the basis of the spectral data of the photolysis products of the ¹³C-labelled diepoxyketone[6,6-dimethyl-¹³C₂]- 3 and by X-ray analysis of the compounds 24 and 35 , the latter being the p-nitrobenzoate of 22 .     

Measurements of dc Kerr Constants for a Homologous Series of Nematic Compounds

The dc Kerr constants of seven p,p′-n-alkoxyazoxybenzene homologous compounds have been measured as functions of temperature in the isotropic phase. The observed pretransitional behavior near the isotropic-nematic transition is consistent with the phenomenological model of Landau-de Gennes with the Onsager's loal-field correction included in the dielectric tensor. The dc polarizability anisotropy and the average orientation of the permanent dipole with respect to the long molecular axis are deduced from the experimental results. Their variations with increase of methylene groups in the alkyl chains are discussed.     

Extraction of plutonium(IV) from oxalic acid-nitric acid solutions by Aliquat-336

The extraction of Pu(IV) from oxalic acid-nitric acid mixtures has been investigated using a liquid anion exchanger, Aliquat-336, in xylene. The presence of oxalic acid is known to have adverse effects on the extraction of Pu(IV) by Aliquat-336. The use of cations, Al(III), Fe(III) or Zr(IV) was explored to overcome the effect of oxalic acid on Pu(IV) extraction. The data obtained reveal that Pu(IV) is quantitatively extracted by Aliquat-336, even in the presence of oxalic acid, when Al(III), Fe(III) or Zr(IV) is added. The extracted Pu(IV) can be back-extracted using aqueous ammonium carbonate.     

Preparation, characterization and application of thorium oxalate for sorption of plutonium and americium from aqueous solution

Synthetic inorganic exchangers exhibit good thermal and radiation stability. Thorium oxalate precipitate shows potential for co-precipitation of plutonium and americium from oxalate supernatant generated during plutonium oxalate precipitation. In the present study, efforts were made to prepare thorium oxalate precipitate to be used for column operation. Distribution ratios were determined to optimize conditions for sorption of plutonium and americium on thorium oxalate from nitric acid + oxalic acid solutions with composition similar to that of oxalate supernatant. Column experiments were also performed to evaluate the sorption capacity of thorium oxalate for plutonium and americium from the same medium. The result showed that, thorium oxalate prepared in 1.75M HNO₃ at 70 °C is suitable for column operations. These studies showed that plutonium and americium could be simultaneously removed from aqueous solutions with composition similar to plutonium oxalate waste using glass column packed with thorium oxalate and these nuclides could be recovered by eluting with 3M HNO₃.     

The behaviour of plutonium in aqueous basic media

Behaviour of Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) in basic media has been investigated by studying their stabilities and quantitative determination by spectrophotometry. Beer's law was found to be obeyed in the range of 1·10^–3 to 5·10^–3 M Pu(IV) at 485 nm peak with a molar absorption coefficient of 95M^–1· cm^–1 in sodium carbonate medium. In case of Pu(VI), in the same medium Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 2·10^–3 to 1·10^–2M at 550 nm with a molar absorption coefficient of 50M^–1·cm^–1. Distribution ratios of Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) for their sorption on Al₂O₃ and Amberlyst A-26 (MP) resin from bicarbonate and carbonate media have been determined. High distribution ratios obtained indicate the feasibility of decreasing the plutonium content of basic carbonate streams in reprocessing. 10% breakthrough capacities for Pu(IV) and Pu(VI) with these exchangers during column operations have also been determined.     

Rational design of a beta-lactamase inhibitor achieved via stabilization of the trans-enamine intermediate: 1.28 A crystal structure of wt SHV-1 complex with a penam sulfone

beta-Lactamases are one of the major causes of antibiotic resistance in Gram negative bacteria. The continuing evolution of beta-lactamases that are capable of hydrolyzing our most potent beta-lactams presents a vexing clinical problem, in particular since a number of them are resistant to inhibitors. The efficient inhibition of these enzymes is therefore of great clinical importance. Building upon our previous structural studies that examined tazobactam trapped as a trans-enamine intermediate in a deacylation deficient SHV variant, we designed a novel penam sulfone derivative that forms a more stable trans-enamine intermediate. We report here the 1.28 A resolution crystal structure of wt SHV-1 in complex with a rationally designed penam sulfone, SA2-13. The compound is covalently bound to the active site of wt SHV-1 similar to tazobactam yet forms an additional salt-bridge with K234 and hydrogen bonds with S130 and T235 to stabilize the trans-enamine intermediate. Kinetic measurements show that SA2-13, once reacted with SHV-1 beta-lactamase, is about 10-fold slower at being released from the enzyme compared to tazobactam. Stabilizing the trans-enamine intermediate represents a novel strategy for the rational design of mechanism-based class A beta-lactamase inhibitors.