Synthesis of 4,6-disubstituted 2-methylpyridines and their 3-carboxamides

A new one-pot synthesis of title compounds by the reactions of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with β-aminocrotononitrile in the presence of sodium hydroxide is described.     

Mechanistic studies of the isomerization of peroxynitrite to nitrate catalyzed by distal histidine metmyoglobin mutants

Hemoproteins are known to react with the strong nitrating and oxidizing agent peroxynitrite according to different mechanisms. In this article, we show that the iron(iii) forms of the sperm whale myoglobin (sw Mb) mutants H64A, H64D, H64L, F43W/H64L, and H64Y/H93G catalyze the isomerization of peroxynitrite to nitrate. The two most efficient catalysts are H64A (k(cat) = (5.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), at pH 7.5 and 20 degrees C) and H64D metMb (k(cat) = (4.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), at pH 7.5 and 20 degrees C). The pH dependence of the values of k(cat) shows that HOONO is the species which reacts with the heme. In the presence of physiologically relevant concentrations of CO(2) (1.2 mM), the decay of peroxynitrite is accelerated by these metMb mutants via the concurring reaction of HOONO with their iron(iii) centers. Studies in the presence of free added tyrosine show that the metMb mutants prevent peroxynitrite-mediated nitration. The efficiency of the different sw metMb mutants correlates with the value of k(cat). Finally, we show that sw WT-metMb is nitrated to a larger extent than horse heart metMb, a result that suggests that the additional Tyr151 is a site of preferential nitration. Again, the extent of nitration of the tyrosine residues of the metMb mutants correlates with the values of k(cat).     

High output power operation of 1.3-μm strained MQW lasers with low threshold currents at high temperature

We have investigated the temperature dependencies of the slope efficiency and the threshold current for strained multiquantum well (MQW) lasers as a parameter of the well number. Smaller well numbers mean larger temperature dependencies of the slope efficiency and the threshold current, while larger well numbers mean larger internal loss and broadening of the photoluminescence linewidth of the MQW structure. Furthermore, the change in the slope efficiency with temperature change is related to the change in internal loss. In this work, the 1.3-m strained MQW laser with a compressive strain of 1.0% and 7 wells shows the highest output power of 6.8 mW for an injection current of 50 mA and the lowest threshold current of 5.5 mA at 85°C, and the lowest variation in output power of 2.0 dB from 25–85°C at injection current of 50 mA.     

Catalytic asymmetric desymmetrization of cyclic meso-1,3- and 1,4-diols by a phosphinite derivative of quinidine

Asymmetric monobenzoylation reactions of cyclic meso-1,3- and 1,4-diols were catalyzed by a phosphinite derivative of quinidine to afford the corresponding monobenzoylated diol with good yield and enantioselectivity. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis of crown ether-terminated poly(methyl methacrylate) by radical chain transfer polymerization

Mercapto-16-crown-5 was prepared starting from tetraethyleneglycol and 3-chloro-2-chloromethyl-1-propene. Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate was carried out in the presence of mercapto-16-crown-5 as a chain transfer agent to give crown ether-terminated poly(methyl methacrylate). The end crown group was characterized by IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. Sodium cation was selectively extracted by this crown-containing polymer. The molecular weight of the obtained polymer had influence upon the ability of extraction of sodium cation.     

Synthesis and Odor Evaluation of Stereoisomers of Imine Derivatives in Roasted Spotted Shrimp

All possible stereoisomers of imine derivatives 1 – 4 , which have the characteristic roast odor of seafood, were synthesized. As a result of odor evaluation of all isomers, we found that each isomer has a different and characteristic odor of roasted seafood.