Electron-impact induced rearrangements in isomeric pyridine aldoximes

The mass spectra of α-, β- and γ-pyridine aldoximes and the respective O-methyl ethers were studied. The mass spectral behaviour of α-pyridine aldoxime is characterized by the elimination of NO, while the molecular ion of the γ-isomer expels H₂ CN. In the case of the β-isomer the formation of the m/e 67 ion (C₄H₅N) in a concerted process is the main feature. In the α-pyridine aldoxime methyl ether, in sharp contrast to the hydroxy analog, the M-30 peak was found to be due to the elimination of CH₂O, the expulsion of NO being absent. The mechanism of the fragmentation reactions is discussed, the conclusion drawn being based on the high resolution measurements as well as on the spectra of the respective deuterioanalogs and on the metastable transitions.     

Theoretical strategy to provide atomistic models of comblike polymers: a generation algorithm combined with configurational bias Monte Carlo

A computational strategy to model the amorphous phase of comblike polymers is presented. The strategy, denoted SuSi/CB (CB-configurational bias), combines the strength of an algorithm recently developed to generate reliable microstructures of dense amorphous polymers, which is based on a random search of energy minima, and configurational bias Monte Carlo method. The influence of different parameters used to define the characteristics of SuSi/CB on both the reliability of the generated structures and the computational effort has been examined in detail. Finally, we have modeled and characterized the supramolecular organization of poly(octadecyl acrylate) in the amorphous state.     

Nitrosation of amides involves a pseudopericyclic 1,3-sigmatropic rearrangement

Two possible pathways for the nitrosation of formamide and N-methyl formamide by nitrosonium ion (NO(+)) have been investigated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level. The key steps are pseudopericyclic 1,3-sigmatropic rearrangements to give the observed N-nitrosamides. The transition structures (8a and 8b) are close to planar on the amide moiety and have remarkably low barriers of only 6.6 and 4.8 kcal/mol from the lowest energy conformations of 6a and 6b, respectively. [reaction: see text]     

The synthesis of peptides and proteins containing non-natural amino acids

Methods for the incorporation of non-natural amino acids into proteins have advanced significantly over recent years and in this tutorial review we aim to give a general overview of the area. These techniques offer the possibility of modulating the structures and functions of proteins and thus permit the generation of novel designed systems for both biocatalytic and mechanistic studies. Four complementary approaches are discussed in detail along with examples of their application. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are also discussed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (E)-beta-tributylstannyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones: construction of a key intermediate for the total synthesis of zoanthamine

(E)-beta-Trialkylstannyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones are readily available from secondary propargylic alcohols via a two-step sequence involving highly regio- and stereoselective Pd(0)-catalyzed hydrostannation followed by mild oxidation (TPAP). The methodology has been applied to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure enone 12 which is a key intermediate for the total synthesis of zoanthamine, a structurally complex marine natural product.     

Experimental detection of one case of benzene epoxidation by a peroxy radical and computational prediction of another

Reaction of the beta-styryl radical with O2 in benzene results in a low yield of benzene oxide, which is shown by isotopic labeling to arise from the solvent. Ab initio and DFT calculations elucidate the mechanism of this reaction, and identify the properties of other radicals that should be more effective promoters of the reaction. The CN radical is found to be one candidate.     

Fluorescence polarization immunoassays for pesticides

Fluorescence polarization immunoassay methods for the detection of pesticides and their metabolites or degradation products are reviewed. Advantages and limitations for application to pesticide detection in environmental and food samples are discussed. The influence of the structure of fluorescent-labeled tracers and the affinity and specificity of antibodies on analytical performance is examined. The methods are simple, readily automated, and rapid (total time for assay of a water sample is about 1 min) with sensitivity of 1 - 10 ng/ml pesticide in 0.01 - 0.1 ml sample.     

A novel diacetylenic bilirubin

An etiobilirubin‐IIβ analog with the central C(10) CH₂ group replaced by a diacetylene unit ( 1 ) was synthesized by base‐catalyzed condensation of bis‐[3‐methyl‐4‐ethyl‐5‐formylpyrrol‐2‐yl]‐diacetylene ( 3 ) with 3‐methyl‐4‐ethyl‐5‐p‐toluenesulfonyl‐2‐pyrrolinone ( 10 ). Diacetylenic rubin 1 is a dark red solid, giving orange solutions with uv‐visible absorption maxima near 460 nm.     

Evidence for the direct isomerization of a platinocyclobutane to an olefin complex

Dichloro-2,3,3-trimethyl-1-platinocyclobutane,

, prepared by the metathetical reaction of Zeise's dimer and 1,1,2-trimethylcyclopropane, reacts with pyridine in chloroform to produce a platinum complex of 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene

. Reaction of I with pyridine at low temperatures (ca. ?40° C) leads to a pyridine addition compound (III) in which the platinocyclobutane ring remains intact. The thermal isomerization of III, which may be conveniently studied using NMR, produces a mixture of II and the free olefin.     

Lanczos cluster expansion for non-extensive systems

A cluster expansion of the Lanczos recursion for non-extensive systems is developed based on the plaquette expansion for extensive systems, in which an auxiliary scaling parameter, Ω, plays the role of volume and introduces extensivity into the problem. Connected Hamiltonian moments of the non-extensive system are computed and introduced into the plaquette expansion in the usual way with Ω. The extensive energy is calculated for increasing orders of the expansion in 1/Ω and the ground state and mass gap of the finite few body problem recovered in the limit Ω → ∞. This new non-perturbative method is applied to the case of N bosons interacting harmonically in one dimension and the ground state energy and mass gap in the vacuum sector are calculated exactly.