Exo- and endo-Isomers of Plumbylenes Supported by 1,3-Diethers of Calix[4]arene

Calix[4]arene-plumbylene complexes Pb[Calix^t-Bu(O)₂(OR)₂], where R=benzyl, 9-fluorenyl, Si^tBuMe₂, and SiⁱPr₃, have been synthesized by the reaction of Lappert's plumbylene Pb[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ with the corresponding 1,3-diethers of calix[4]arene. The products have been fully characterized by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and ²⁰⁷Pb NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The products adopt two different forms depending on the R groups: the alkyl derivatives were obtained as exo-isomers in which the lead atom resides outside the cavity of the calix[4]arene, while the silyl derivatives were isolated as endo-isomers where the lead atom is situated inside the cavity. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the lead(II) atoms in the exo- and endo-isomers are coordinated by the ethereal oxygen atoms (OR) and the aromatic rings (ArOR), respectively, which are maintained in solution as evidenced by ²⁰⁷Pb NMR studies.     

A new series of antiallergic agents. I. Synthesis and activity of 11-(2-aminoethyl)thio-6,11-dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin derivatives.

A new series of 11-substituted 6,11-dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for antiallergic activity. Convenient methods for the preparation of sulfides from alcohols were developed. Structure-activity relationships are described. Compound 7, 11-[2-(dimethylamin)ethyl]thio-6,11-dihydrodibenz[b,e] oxepin-2-carboxylic acid hydrochloride, was the most potent in the rat passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test (ED50 = 0.92 mg/kg p.o.). It had a potent inhibitory effect on anaphylactic bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs (ED50 = 0.029 mg/kg p.o.) and H1 receptor antagonistic effect (Ki = 14 nM) with few central nervous system side effects. Additionally, an antagonistic effect against prostaglandin D2-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig trachea (pA2 = 5.73) was an attractive mechanism of action of the new antiallergic agent. Compound 7 was selected for further evaluation as KW-4994.     

Band broadening evaluation by back-and-forth capillary electrophoresis

The purpose of this study is to develop a method for precise evaluation of band broadening in capillary electrophoresis. A capillary electrophoresis system with on-column twin detectors is constructed. Back-and-forth electrophoresis permits zones to make a round trip between the twin detectors placed at distant positions on the capillary. The system is capable of eliminating extra-column effects and discriminating between reversible and irreversible band-broadening mechanisms.     

Analysis of the Dynamic Decomposition of Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Tocopherols in Commercial Oils During Deep Frying

The decomposition of unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols in 10 commercial edible oils during deep frying was investigated. The dominant tocopherol in oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was γ-tocopherol, except for natural perilla oil (δ-tocopherol dominant), and the main tocopherol in oleic acid-rich oils was α-tocopherol. The PUFA-rich oils had higher tocopherol contents than the oleic acid-rich oils. Both the reduction rate of total unsaturated fatty acid (TUFA) and total tocopherol (TToc) were linear with frying time (t). The decomposition rate of TToc is faster than that of TUFA since the slope values obtained from fitting equations (Y?=?k t) k_TToc (1.520–14.483) were obviously larger than for k_TUFA (0.155–0.270). By establishing a dynamic decomposition index, unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherol in oils showed dynamic decomposition over multiple frying cycles. The obtained results showed that decomposition characteristics of oils are related to their fatty acid compositions.     

Fused silica capillary tube isotachophoresis using a multichannel photodiode array detector

Isotachophoresis carried out in a 0.25 mm i.d. fused-silica capillary tube yielded high resolution, compared with that in a fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer tube. The use of an ultraviolet-visible multichannel spectrophotometer with photodiode array as detector together with a cross flow cell (volume 0.01 μl) was investigated. The system was successfully applied to the analysis of cationic dyes such as neutral red, bismarck brown, and basic fuchsine.     

Conformational Studies on Polytripeptides as a Model of Collagen

To study the role of glycine residues in stabilizing the collagen triple helix, the glycine residues in the polytripeptide (Pro-Ala-Gly)_n were partially replaced by alanine. The proline content was kept constant. The stability of the helical conformation of these polypeptides was studied by IR- and X-ray measurements in the solid state and by ORD, CD and viscometry in solution. The renaturation was followed as a function of time. All the polytripeptides studied, with the exception of (-Pro-Ala-Ala-)_n attained the polyproline II conformation. However the stability decreased with increasing alanine content. Obviously the molecules of (-Pro-Ala-Gly-) are highly associated by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and one may therefore suppose that a triple-stranded helix aggregation occurs. The results of the refolding process show that the stability of the helices seems to also affect the refolding rate in terms of the optical rotation, Two transitions appeared: the first one is responsible for a rapid reversible change in conformation and the second one for a further slow and irreversible change in the hydrodynamic shape. The latter seems to be due to the partial helical nature, leading to higher chain mobility.     

Detection of ethanol in human body fluids by headspace solid-phase micro extraction (SPME)/capillary gas chromatography

Summary Ethanol has been found extractable from human whole blood and urine samples by headspace solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) with a Carbowax/divinylbenzene-coated fiber. After heating a vial containing the body fluid sample with ethanol, and isobutanol as internal standard (IS) at 70°C in the presence of (NH₄)₂SO₄, a Carbowax/divinylbenzene-coated SPME fiber was exposed in the headspace of the vial to allow adsorption of the compounds. The fiber needle was then injected into a middle-bore capillary gas chromatography (GC) port. The headspace SPME-GC gave intense peaks for both compounds; a small amount of background noises appeared, but did not interfere with the detection of the compounds. Recoveries of ethanol and IS were 0.049 and 0.026% for whole blood, respectively, and 0.054 and 0.085% for urine, respectively. The calibration curves for ethanol showed excellent linearity in the range of 80–5000 mg L^–1 for whole blood and 40–5000 mg L^–1 for urine; the detection limits for both samples were 20 and 10 mg L^–1, respectively. The data on actual determination of ethanol after the drinking of beer are also presented for two subjects.