Effects of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain length of PEG-lipid on the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes

The effects of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain length of PEG-lipid on the membrane characteristics of liposomes were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), freeze-fracture electron microscopy (FFEM), fluorescence polarization measurement and permeability measurement using carboxyfluorescein (CF). PEG-liposomes were prepared from mixtures of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamines with covalently attached PEG molecular weights of 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000 (DSPE-PEG). DSC and FFEM results showed that the addition of DSPE-PEG to DPPC in the preparation of liposomes caused the lateral phase separation both in the gel and liquid-crystalline states. The fluidity in the hydrocarbon region of liposomal bilayer membranes was not significantly changed by the addition of DSPE-PEG, while that in the interfacial region was markedly increased. From these results, it was anticipated that the CF leakage from PEG-liposomes is accelerated compared with DPPC liposomes. However, CF leakage from liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.060 mol fraction was depressed compared with regular liposomes, and the leakage decreased with increasing PEG chain length. Furthermore, the CF leakage from liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.145 mol fraction was slightly increased compared with that of liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.060 mol fraction. It is suggested that the solute permeability from the PEG-liposomes was affected by not only properties of the liposomal bilayer membranes such as phase transition temperature, phase separation and membrane fluidity, but also the PEG chain of the liposomal surface.     

CVD growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes with narrow diameter distribution over Fe/MgO catalyst and their fluorescence spectroscopy

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a narrow diameter distribution are synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of methane over Fe/MgO catalyst on the basis of parametric study considering Fe loading, reaction temperature and time, methane concentration, and structure of a support material. We found that the porous MgO support gives the SWNTs with a narrow diameter distribution with the mean diameter and standard deviation of 0.93 and 0.06 nm, respectively, only when the Fe loading and reaction temperature are relatively low. The higher Fe loading and/or the higher reaction temperature enlarged the nanotube diameter, forming double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) in addition to SWNTs. This result indicates that only the diameter of Fe nanoparticles determines the growth of either SWNTs or DWNTs on the MgO support. The fluorescence and absorption spectra of the nanotube dispersion in D(2)O solution with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were studied to identify their chirality distribution. The fluorescence of the uniform-diameter SWNTs indicates the formation of the near armchair structures. On the other hand, the SWNTs synthesized over the catalyst with a high Fe loading, 3 wt %, showed a wide chirality distribution including the near zigzag structure. The synthesis of the SWNTs with a narrow diameter distribution could be applied to the selection of SWNTs with a specific chirality based on postsynthesis separation.     

Uricase-like catalytic activity of ion-exchange resins modified with metalloporphyrins

The uricase-like catalytic activity of the ion-exchange resins modified with metalloporphyrins has been investigated through the oxidation of uric acid. The anion-exchange resins modified with Mn(3+)-tetrakis(sulfophenyl)porphine and the cation-exchange resin modified with Mn(3+)-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphine exhibited the highest uricase-like activity among the modified resins tested. The fact that these resins accelerated the oxidation of uric acid even after ten cycles of use indicates that the modified resins act as catalysts in the reaction catalysed by uricase. Some of the modified resins may be effectively used for the determination of uric acid in place of uricase.     

Photochemical [3 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-cyanochromone to olefins

Irradiation of 2-cyanochromone in the presence of olefins gave rise to [3 + 2] cycloadducts together with the formation of normal [2 + 2] cycloadducts with the product ratio being temperature-dependent. The mechanism involving a vinyl nitrene intermediate was proposed.     

Etude par RPE des radicaux libres daus le tétraoxane irradié

The free radicals induced in tetraoxane at liquid nitrogen temperatures by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays have been studied by ESR. The powder spectrum as well as he spectra of the single crystal rotated around the b axis have been studied through their modifications from ?196°C up to + 80°C. These spectra show that at low temperatures two radicals exist conserving the cyclic nature of the parent molecule. During the course of annealing, starting at ?140°C and towards ?85°C they are gradually replaced by radicals with a linear structure, this being the first step in the post-polymerization process of tetraoxane. Further increase in temperature leads to radical sites situated on the polymer chains. At low temperatures evidence has also been found for the formyl radical, radical pairs, and a photo-sensitive radical.     

Measurement and correlation of liquid–liquid equilibria for acetonitrile + n-alkane systems

The reduction of sulfur content in gasoline and diesel fuel is a great environmental concern to reduce the motor vehicle emissions. Oxidative desulfurization using acetonitrile biphasic system has received much attention in recent years. The oxidative desulfurization can be oxidized the unreactive sulfur contents in the hydrodesulfurization and removed effectively. For the oxidative desulfurization process design and development, liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) for acetonitrile biphasic systems are needed as fundamental information. In our previous work, LLE for acetonitrile + n-octane and + n-decane systems have been reported. In this work, therefore, LLE for acetonitrile + n-hexadecane system was measured. Furthermore, NRTL equation was applied to correlate the LLE for these three acetonitrile + n-alkane systems.     

New synthesis of secondary carboxamide by using 2-methyl-2-oxazoline as a building block

New method for the synthesis of secondary carboxamides of type, R²NHCOR¹, which utilizes 2-methyl-2-oxazoline as a carboxamide building block and various halides, R²X, has been developed.     

Synthesis of pyridine N-imine complexes of methylcobaloxime and reactions of bis(dimethylglyoximato)methyl(Pyridine N-imine)cobalt with acid anyhydrides and acetylenedicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester

Pyridine N-imine complexes of methylcobaloxime, CH₃Co(Hdmg)₂(R¹— C₅H_nN⁺N^?H) (n = 4; R¹ = H, 2-CH₃, 3-CH₃, 4-CH₃: n = 3; R¹ = 2,6-CH₃), have been synthesized by the reaction of CH₃Co(Hdmg)₂S(CH₃)₂ with a pyridine N-imine which is generated from a pyridine, hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid and K₂CO₃. The reactions of CH₃Co(Hdmg)₂(C₅H₅N⁺N^?H) with acid anhydrides form new methylcobaloxime complexes with N-substituted pyridine N-imines, CH₃Co(Hdmg)₂(C₅H₅N⁺N^?R²) R² = COPh, COMe, COEt). With maleic anhydride, (pyridine N-acryloylimine)carboxylic acid is formed. With acetylenedicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the ligand gives pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 76.Mitteilung [1]. UV.-Bestrahlung von 11-Oxo-Steroiden V Die Photoisomerisierung von 3,20-Diäthylendioxy-5α,14β,17α-pregnan

The UV.-isomerisation of 11-oxo-14β,17α-pregnane 9 to the 11,19-cyclo-derivative 11 is described. In addition the Pb(OAc)₄-fragmentation of photoproduct 11 was investigated. 11 yielded besides the expected 11-oxo-19-hydroxy-pregnane 18 the novel 9,11-seco-11,19-cyclosteroid 19 . The structure of 19 was established by chemical transformations and subsequently confirmed by X-ray analysis [2].     

Photoinduced cross-coupling reaction of 5-bromo-1,3-dimethyluracil to electron-rich aromatics

On irradiation with Pyrex-filtered light, 5-bromo-1,3-dimethyluracil 1 coupled with methyl- and methoxynaphthalenes 2–7 to give 5-naphthyl-1,3-dimethyluracils 8–13. No coupling product was formed by triplet sensitization except in the cases of 2,3-dimethioxynaphthalene 3 and 2-methoxynaphthalene 5. indicating that the singlet excited states of the naphthalenes are involved in the unsensitized coupling reaction. The k_qτ values of the fluorescence quenching of 1,4-dimethoxynaphthalene 2 and 1-methoxynaphthalene 4 by 1 in acetonitrile were comparable with those obtained from the kinetics of the coupling reactions. On the basis of this fact and the fluorescence-quenching rate constants k_q in acetonitrile ranging from 10⁸ to 10⁹ M^?1 sec^?1, involvement of an electron-transfer process possibly via a singlet exciplex is proposed for this cross-coupling reaction.