MECHANISM OF PHOTOOXYGENATION OF THE CD (II) COMPLEX OF PYROPHEOPHORBIDE A METHYL ESTER

Photooxygenation of (pyropheophorbidato a methyl ester)cadmium (II) was studied using ^18,18O₂ labeling of the molecular oxygen required for cleavage of the macrocycle. After reductive demetallation of the primary oxidation product (4,5-dioxo-4,5-secopyropheophorbidato a methyl ester)cadmium (II), the isotope content of formylbilinone 4a was analyzed by repeated-scan fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Comparison of the spectroscopic data of the labeled pigment 4a with the statistical probabilities of¹⁸ O isotope incorporation calculated for four possible reaction mechanisms clearly proves that photooxidative ring cleavage occurred by the one-molecule mechanism, i.e. the terminal oxygen atoms of 4a were derived from one oxygen molecule. Furthermore, a study of the exchange of the¹⁸ O-labeled atoms revealed that no exchange occurs within the pH 4.5–9.5 range. In stronger alkaline or acidic solutions, only the oxygen atom of the formyl group is exchanged. Hydrolysis of the methyl ester group of 4a was achieved, without loss of the¹⁸ O label on the formyl group, at pH 7.2 in the presence of pig liver esterase.     

A New Family of Binary Layered Compounds of Platinum with Alkali Metals (A = K,Rb, Cs)

By reacting platinum with alkali metals (A = K, Rb, Cs) a new family of binary alkali metal platinides has been synthesized and characterized by chemical analysis, X‐ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis (DTA and DSC), and magnetic measurements. All three compounds exhibit similar XRD‐patterns with strong reflections that can be indexed on the basis of a rhombohedral crystal system (K_xPt: a = 2.6462(1), c = 17.123(1); Rb_xPt: a = 2.6415(1) Å, c = 17.871(1) Å; Cs_xPt: a = 2.6505(1) Å, c = 18.536(1) Å; x < ½. The a lattice constant is independent on the alkali metal used and of value close to the Pt–Pt distance in NaPt₂ (2.645Å). The c parameter increases monotonically with the growing atomic radius of the alkali metal. The average structure of the alloys consists of cubic close packed layers of platinum atoms with layers of disordered alkali metals in between. For all compounds besides the strong reflections small satellites are observed which cannot be indexed together with the rhombohedral peaks in any rational 3‐dimensional lattice. However, these satellites can be indexed as incommensurate modulations within the ab plane (found propagation vectors k = (0.1011, 0.2506, 0) for Cs_xPt, and k = (0.0168, 0.2785, 0) for Rb_xPt).     

The isolation and structure determination of cryptomisrine,a novel indolo[3,2-b]quinoline dimeric alkaloid from cryptolepis sanguinolenta

The isolation and structure determination of cryptomisrine, a novel indolo[3,2-b]quinoline dimeric alkaloid obtained from extracts of the roots of the Ghanaian medicinal plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta is reported. The structure determination was made via a consideration of the spectral data, including uv, ir, nmr, and mass spectra. In particular, one-dimensional proton/carbon nmr, one-dimensional nOe difference nmr, and a series of homonuclear (COSY) and inverse-detected heteronuclear two-dimensional (HMQC, HMBC) experiments were utilized, as well as high resolution FABMS. Cryptomisrine is most unusual in that its two monomeric parts apparently exist in such a C₂ symmetric environment that only one set of proton and carbon nmr resonances are observed. Cryptomisrine is the first example of a dimeric indolo-[3,2-b]quinoline alkaloid to have been isolated from nature.     

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Aldol-Reaction of 2,6-Dimethylphenyl Propionate Using Titanium-Carbohydrate Complexes

Chloro(cyclopentadienyl)bis(1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D -glucofuranos-3-O-yl)titanium ( 1 ) is used for the transmetallation of Li-enolates obtained from propionyl derivatives. While such Ti-enolates of ketones and hydrazones appear to be unreactive, the (E)enolate 13 of 2,6-dimethylphenyl propionate ( 11 ) adds to the re-side of aldehydes, affording various syn-aldols 14 with high dia- and enantioselectivity (92–97% ds, 91–97% ee, cf. Scheme 2 and Table 1). Racemic syn-aldols (±)- 14 are obtained analogously from the achiral bis(2-propyloxy)-Ti-enolate 15 (Scheme 2 and Table 2). In contrast to the unstable Li-enolate 10 , the Ti-enolates 13 and 15 isomerize at ?30°, presumably to the thermodynamically more stable (Z)-enolates (Scheme 4), While the diastereoselectivity of the achiral enolate 15 is lost upon this equilibration, the chiral (Z)-enolate 27 quite unexpectedly affords anti-aldols 12 of high optical purity (94–98% ec) and, in most cases, with acceptable-to-good diastereoselectivity (82–90% ds). Notable exceptions are branched unsaturated and aromatic aldehydes which form a greater proportion of synepimers of moderate optical purity (Scheme 5 and Table 3). Consistent with these findings, re-facial-and ami -selective aldol-addition is also exhibited by the (Z)-configurated Ti-enolate 22 of N-propionyl-oxazolidi-none 19 (Scheme 3).     

Structural Aspects of the Enantioselectivity of Tartrates with α-Amino-alcohol Salts. Part II. Crystal structures of (1R, 2S)-norephedrine hydrochloride and (1R, 2R)- norpseudoephedrine hydrochloride

Enantioselective host-guest complexes between α-amino-alcohol salts and chiral tartrates can not be crystallised up to now. To study structural aspects of their enantioselectivity, crystal structures of the components were determined. Norephedrine was used as a reference guest α-amino-alcohol. (1R, 2S)-Norephedrine hydrochloride (monoclinic, space group P2₁ Z = 4, a = 8.455, b = 10.331, c = 12.570 Å, β = 107.45°) and (1R, 2R)-norpseudoephedrine hydrochloride (monoclinic, space group P2₁ Z = 2, a = 5.493, b = 8.052, c = 11.986 Å, β = 104.62°) both adopt M-synclinal conformations with respect to the ammonium and hydroxy groups. Rather short intramolecular N…?O distances indicate interaction between ammonium and hydroxy groups.     

Dynamic imaging of single DNA-protein interactions using atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging of static DNA-protein complexes, in air and in liquid, can be used to directly obtain quantitative and qualitative information on the structure of different complexes. For example, DNA length, the location of preferential binding sites for proteins and bending of DNA as a result of the complexation can all be measured. Recording consecutive AFM images of DNA and protein molecules under conditions that they are still able to move and interact, or dynamic AFM imaging, however, can reveal information on the dynamic aspects of the interactions between these molecules. Here, an overview is given of the technical challenges that need to be considered for successful dynamic AFM imaging studies of individual DNA-protein interactions. Necessary technical improvements to the AFM set-up and the development of new sample preparation methods are described in this paper.     

Synthesis,Vibrational Spectrum and Structure of the Tetracyanoborate K[B(CN)4]·CH3CN

The new tetracyanoborate K[B(CN)₄]·CH₃CN was synthesized by dissolution of the solvent‐free K[B(CN)₄] in acetonitrile and subsequent careful crystallization. The crystal structure has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with Z = 4. Some comparisons with related structures are made, and the vibrational spectrum is discussed.     

Deposition of Oral Bacteria and Polystyrene Particles to Quartz and Dental Enamel in a Parallel Plate and Stagnation Point Flow Chamber

The aim of this paper is to determine to what extent (i) deposition of oral bacteria and polystyrene particles, (ii) onto quartz and dental enamel with and without a salivary conditioning film, (iii) in a parallel plate (PP) and stagnation point (SP) flow chamber and at common Peclet numbers are comparable. All three bacterial strains showed different adhesion behaviors, and even Streptococcus mitis BMS, possessing a similar cell surface hydrophobicity as polystyrene particles, did not mimic polystyrene particles in its adhesion behavior, possibly as a result of the more negative ζ potentials of the polystyrene particles. The stationary endpoint adhesion of all strains, including polystyrene particles, was lower in the presence of a salivary conditioning film, while also desorption probabilities under flow were higher in the presence of a conditioning film than in its absence. Deposition onto quartz and enamel surfaces was different, but without a consistent trend valid for all strains and polystyrene particles. It is concluded that differences in experimental results exist, and the process of bacterial deposition to enamel surfaces cannot be modeled by using polystyrene particles and quartz collector surfaces.     

A Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of C(11)-Functionalized Aromatic Steroids by an Intramolecular Benzocyclobutene-Olefin -Cycloaddition. Preliminary Communication

The racemic cis-anti-trans-steroids 9 to 11 have been synthesized in a highly stereoselective manner starting from 4-methoxybenzocyclobutene carboxylic acid via the key step 8 → 9 . (cf. Scheme 2).