Application of high-field NMR and cryogenic probe technologies in the structural elucidation of poecillastrin a,a new antitumor macrolide lactam from the sponge poecillastra species

Poecillastrin A (1), a new polyketide-derived macrolide lactam, was isolated from a deep-water collection of the marine sponge Poecillastra species. The structure of poecillastrin A (1) was assigned using NMR data acquired at 500 MHz with an inverse-detection cryogenic probe and at 800 MHz with a room-temperature probe.     

Asymmetric induction in mixed [2 + 2] photoadditions employing a chiral auxiliary in the alkene component

Asymmetric induction was achieved in the photoaddition of 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone to optically active enoates 1a–c and the absolute configuration of the major adduct was determined.     

Structural constraints from proton-mediated rare-spin correlation spectroscopy in rotating solids

A novel solid-state NMR concept is introduced that allows for the detection of through-space proton-proton contacts in high spectral resolution. The proposed method not only can be utilized to infer sequential assignments and backbone or side chain conformation in solid-phase polypeptides, but it also provides information about the three-dimensional arrangement of the molecule of interest. As a result, the molecular structure can be studied without additional restrictions regarding sample labeling or magic angle spinning rates.     

Mechanism for semiquinone formation in the oxygen negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The high toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) has led to the development of selective and highly sensitive quantitative methods for mass spectral analysis. Analytical selectivity has been demonstrated for the oxygen negative chemical ionization (ONCI) reaction of TCDD in an oxygen-rich plasma. While the reaction product (4,5-dichloro-1,2-benzoquinone anion) of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and oxygen is well known, the mechanism of its formation has not been studied thoroughly. In this report the results of a study involving the reaction of ¹⁸O₂ with 2,3,7,8-TCDD under high pressure and low pressure ONCI conditions are reported. A mechanism is proposed which is compatible with the observation that one ¹⁸O atom is incorporated into the product anion.     

Molecular solutes in nematic liquid crystals: Orientational order and electric field gradients

The difference between liquid-crystal and gas-phase values for the nuclear quadrupole coupling constant in D₂ and HD is used to obtain the mean electric field gradient in various liquid crystals. Order parameters for small molecules dissolved in liquid crystals are calculated assuming that the orientational order arises from the interaction of the molecular quadrupole moment with the average field gradient. The results obtained are in good agreement with experimental values for hydrogen and several other solutes.     

Analysis of organomercury compounds in sediments by capillary GC with atomic fluorescence detection

Analysis of methyl- and ethylmercury (MM and EM) halides in biological and environmental samples is generally performed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Tedious sample work-up protocols and poor chromatographic response (using packed columns) have, however, shown the need for the development of new methods in this field. This paper reports a sensitive method, free from these deficiencies, for the determination of methyl- and ethylmercury. The organomercury compounds (MM and EM) are first released from the sample matrix, by the combined action of acidic potassium bromide and cupric ions, and then extracted into dichloromethane. The initial extracts are subjected to thiosulfate clean-up and the organomercury species are isolated as their chloride derivatives by addition of cupric chloride, and subsequent extraction into a small volume of organic solvent. Capillary GC coupled with atomic fluorescence detection provided excellent separation efficiencies for methyl- and ethylmercury and proved to be a very selective and sensitive technique. The absolute detection limit for both MM and EM was found to be 0.2 pg.     

The polymerization of 1,4-pentadiene to [3.3.1]bicyclo-linked chains

1, 4-Pentadiene has been polymerized by Ziegler-Natta catalysts to give amorphous polymers which are up to 64 wt.-% soluble. The polymers all have residual unsaturation which is substantially less than one double bond per mer, some as low as 0.1 double bond per mer. The polymerizations proceed by an unusual double inter-, double intramolecular cyclopolymerization mechanism leading to the formation of [3.3.1] bicyclic repeat units. Some main-chain (internal) unsaturation as well as pendant-group (external) unsaturation is observed. The latter results from incompletely cyclized 1,4-pentadiene units. The former is due to some concurrent isomerization of 1,4- to 1,3 pentadiene, which then copolymerizes with the 1,4 diene. The extent of isomerization varied with the catalyst system used. The soluble polymer fractions were brittle for internal unsaturations of less than about 0.05 double bond per mer and were viscous for higher values. The insoluble fractions were brittle and are believed to be lightly crosslinked.     

Effects of wavelength, pulse duration and power density on laser activation of glassy carbon electrodes

The hypothesis that laser activation of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes is thermally driven was investigated by comparing simulated surface temperatures for several lasers and experimental conditions. Assuming no phase changes, the surface temperature vs. time profile for a laser pulse striking a GC electrode was predicted by finite difference simulation. It was predicted that peak surface temperature depends on power density, wavelength, pulse duration and the optical properties of the carbon. Experimentally, laser activation is weakly wavelength dependent for ascorbic acid and Fe . The surface temperatures required for activation were consistent for different lasers, supporting the conclusion that laser activation is thermally driven. Furthermore, predicted surface temperatures during activation were below the melting point of carbon but well above the boiling point of water. The results should be useful for predicting the effectiveness of different laser conditions on electron transfer activation.     

Use of an automated image processing program to quantify recombinant adenovirus particles.

Electron microscopy has a pivotal role as an analytical tool in pharmaceutical research. However, digital image data have proven to be too large for efficient quantitative analysis. We describe here the development and application of an automated image processing (AIP) program that rapidly quantifies shape measurements of recombinant adenovirus (rAd) obtained from digitized field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images. The program was written using the macro-recording features within Image-Pro Plus software. The macro program, which is linked to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, consists of a series of subroutines designed to automatically measure rAd vector objects from the FESEM images. The application and utility of this macro program has enabled us to rapidly and efficiently analyze very large data sets of rAd samples while minimizing operator time.