Homogeneous pyrolysis kinetics of ethyl 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoate in the gas phase

The pyrolysis kinetics of ethyl 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoate have been examined over the temperature range of 286–330°C and pressure range of 29–108 Torr. In a seasoned vessel and in the presence of the free radical inhibitor cyclohexene or toluene the reaction is homogeneous, unimolecular and obeys a first-order rate law. The elimination products are mainly acetone and ethyl acetate, and very small amounts of ethyl 3-butenoate, acetic acid, ethylene and H₂O. The rate coefficient is expressed by the following equation: log k₁(s^–1)=(12.39±0.46)–(174.5±5.2) kJ mol^–1 (2.303RT)^–1. The mechanism appears to proceed via a six-membered cyclic transition state, where polarization of the (CH₃)C(OH)^+...-CH₂COOCH₂CH₃ bond is rate determining.     

Adsorption modes of cysteine on Au(111): thiolate, amino-thiolate, disulfide

The adsorption of cysteine on the (111) surface of gold has been studied by means of periodic supercell density-functional theory calculations. A number of different adsorption modes are examined, including adsorption through the thiol group in either thiolate or disulfide form, and adsorption through both the thiol and amino functional groups. We find that at intermediate coverage densities the latter mode of adsorption is favored, followed by thiolate adsorption at the bridge (slightly displace toward fcc) site. The N-Au and S-Au bond strengths in the amino-thiolate adsorption are estimated to be of the order of 6 and 47 kcal/mol, respectively. The electronic structure of the different systems is analyzed, with focus on the total and projected density of states, as well as on the detailed character of the electronic states at the interface. States near the Fermi energy are found to have a metal-molecule antibonding character, whereas metal-molecule bonding states mostly occur near the lower edge of the Au-d band.     

Evaluation of thermodynamic properties of irreversible protein thermal unfolding measured by DSC

Summary We assessed the applicability of the extrapolation procedure at infinite scanning rate to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data related to irreversible protein unfolding. To this aim, an array of DSC curves have been simulated on the basis of the Lumry-Eyring model N↔U→F. The results obtained confirmed that when the apparent equilibrium constant K_{app (T=T1/2)} is lower than 3, the application of the extrapolation procedure provides accurate thermodynamic parameters. Although this procedure applies only to monomeric proteins for which the Lumry-Eyring model is a reasonable approximation, it will hopefully contribute to increase the potential of DSC in obtaining reliable thermodynamic information regarding the folding/unfolding equilibrium.     

A density functional theory study on the electrocyclization of 1,2,4,6-heptatetraene analogues: converting a pericyclic to a pseudopericyclic reaction

A comprehensive B3LYP/6-31+G* study on the electrocyclization of 1,2,4,6-heptatetraene analogues was conducted. Starting from the cyclization of (2Z)-2,4,5-hexatrienal, a pericyclic disrotatory process favored by the assistance of a electron lone pair, we incorporated small modifications in its molecular structure to obtain a truly pseudopericyclic process. To this purpose electronegative atoms (fluorine and nitrogen) were added to give a more electrophilic character on the carbon atom which is attacked by the electron lone pair of the oxygen atom. The complete pathway for each reaction was determined, and changes in magnetic properties were monitored with a view to estimating the aromatization associated with each process. This information, together with the energetic and structural results, allowed us to classify the reactions as pseudopericyclic or pericyclic. Among all studied reactions only one was a truly pseudopericyclic process and another was a borderline case. The features of this unequivocally pseudopericyclic case were analyzed in depth.     

Ratios between content of fatty acids as markers for mixture of cow and goat milk

The fat of mixture of goat and cow milk, extracted by di-ethylic ether, was gas chromatographically analysed in order to propose an analytical procedure suitable to reveal small additions of cow milk to goat milk. The obtained results show evident differences in the percentages of some fatty acids. An attempt to apply the peak area ratios, corresponding to the methyl esters of fatty acids, suggested by the literature for cow milk did not yield good results. Other ratios suitable to reveal even the presence of low percentages (up to 5 %) of cow milk in goat milk were found and proposed in this paper. Such ratios are sensitive and can be defined markers towards cow or goat milk and also towards extraneous fat like lard or colza seeds oil.     

Stereoselective synthesis of novel types of cyclopropyl carbocyclic nucleosides containing quaternary stereogenic centers

Versatile and stereocontrolled synthetic entries to novel types of cyclopropyl carbocyclic nucleosides are described. The target products have been synthesized from suitable cyclopropane precursors obtained, in turn, from olefinic compounds derived from D-glyceraldehyde as a chiral precursor. Selective manipulation of the functional groups has allowed the preparation of enantiopure nucleosides, some of them displaying opposite chirality. All these molecules contain a quaternary stereogenic carbon at C-1 or C-3 of the cyclopropane ring and bear an amino, a hydroxymethyl, or a methyl group as an additional substituent. In one instance, thymine is directly linked to the cyclopropane. A methylene unit serves as the spacer in the other synthesized nucleosides.     

Molecular recognition of biotin, barbital and tolbutamide with new synthetic receptors

We have measured, by means of NMR titrations, the binding constants for the complexes between hosts N,N′-bis(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-1,3-benzenedicarboxamide (7) and 4-chloro-N,N′-bis(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide (8, hydrated) with biotin methyl ester (1), N,N′-dimethylurea (2), 2-imidazolidone (3), N,N′-trimethylenurea (4), barbital (5) and tolbutamide (6) as guests. Molecular Mechanics calculations (Monte Carlo Conformational Search, AMBER and OPLS force fields, MacroModel v.8.1) on the complexes formed between the foregoing guests and hosts 7 and 8, comparatively with 4-oxo-N,N′-bis(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide (9a) have been carried out in order to determine the correlation between experimental and theoretical results and to understand the behaviour of the designed new hosts. Finally we have performed single point DFT [B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)] calculations on the optimised Molecular Mechanics geometries for the complexes between hosts 7-9 and water.     

Chronic Low-Dose UVA Irradiation Induces Local Suppression of Contact Hypersensitivity, Langerhans Cell Depletion and Suppressor Cell Activation in C3H/HeJ Mice

Abstract— It has previously been demonstrated that chronic low-dose solar-simulated UV radiation could induce both local and systemic immunosuppression as well as tolerance to a topically applied hapten. In this study, we have used a chronic low-dose UV-irradiation protocol to investigate the effects of UVA on the skin immune system of C3H/HeJ mice. Irradiation with UVA+B significantly suppressed the local and systemic primary contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response to the hapten 2,4,6-trinitrochlo-robenzene. Furthermore UVA+B reduced Langerhans cell (LC) and dendritic epidermal T cell (DETC) densities in chronically UV-irradiated mice. Ultraviolet A irradiation induced local, but not systemic, immunosuppression and reduced LC (32%) but not DETC from the epidermis compared to the shaved control animals. Treatment of mice with both UVA+B and UVA radiation also induced an impaired secondary CHS response, and this tolerance was transferable with spleen cells. These results suggest that depletion of LC, but not DETC, may be involved in UVA-induced local immunosuppression in our model, and that tolerance was induced in the presence of normal numbers of DETC. Hence exposure of C3H/HeJ mice 5 days per week for 4 weeks with UVA can induce local immunosuppression and tolerance.     

High-temperature thermal behaviour of Cr-Doped LiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> spinels synthesized by the sucrose-aided combustion method

Chromium doped spinels LiCr_YMn_2−YO₄ (0.2≤Y≤0.8) has been synthesized by the sucrose-aided combustion procedure. The thermal behaviour, phase homogeneity and structural characteristics of the samples were studied by thermal analysis, coupled mass spectrometry, and room-and high-temperature X-ray diffraction methods. It was found that the ‘as prepared’ samples contained residual organic impurities undetectable for X-ray diffraction, that burn out completely at 400°C. Samples treated between 400 and 750°C are single phase spinels, whose crystallites size increase from 10 to 50 nm on increasing the temperature. Cr-doping enhances the thermal stability of the spinels, which augments on increasing the Cr content Y. The enhanced thermal stability of the spinels has been accounted for based on the high excess stabilization energy of Cr³⁺ in octahedral ligand field.     

Glycosylation site analysis of human alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) by capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry

A new anionic surfactant (RapiGest SF) was successfully used for site-specific analysis of glycosylation in human alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP). By means of this analytical approach combined with capillary HPLC-mass spectrometry (and tandem mass spectrometry), the N-linked glycosylation pattern of AGP was explored. On the basis of mass matching and MS/MS experiments ca 80 different AGP-derived glycopeptides were identified. Glycosylation shows a markedly different pattern for the various glycosylation sites. At sites I and II, triantennary complex-type oligosaccharides predominate and at sites III, IV and V, tetra-antennary complex-type oligosaccharides predominate. Sites IV and V show the presence of additional N-acetyl lactosamine (Gal-GlcNAc) units (even higher degree of branching and/or longer antennae are also present).