Total synthesis of natural (levo) and enantiomeric (dextro) forms of prostaglandin El

1 newly-discovered method of synthesizing PGE1 (prostaglandin E1) is explained and diagrammed chemically. Recrystallization of the synthetic product produced material identical in all respects with natural PGE1. The synthetic product showed the same infrared spectrum and chromatographic values as racemic and natural forms of PGE1. The biological activity of the synthetic product was found to be .1% of that of the naturally-occurring PGE1 in the stimulation of smooth muscle contraction. This is the 1st report of a total synthesis of PGE1. Research continues on improvements in this synthesizing method and on discovering other synthetic approaches to PGs.     

Preparation and properties of cross-linked fluorescent poly(methyl methacrylate) latex colloids

We report a single step preparation of monodisperse fluorescent poly(methyl)methacrylate (PMMA) lattices cross-linked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate with radii in the range 150-1000 nm using dispersion polymerization. The particles are applied as fluorescent cores in core-shell PMMA particles for confocal microscopy (Dullens et al. Langmuir 2003, 19, 5963). Contrary to un-cross-linked particles, these cross-linked colloids are stable in good solvents for PMMA as well. Therefore we studied the properties of the cross-linked PMMA particles in the good solvents tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, and toluene using light scattering and confocal scanning laser microscopy. We show that the particles swell instantaneously and that their volume can increase up to more than seven times their volume in poor solvents. Further, it is very likely that the particles are charged in THF.     

A simplified monobuffer multidimensional chromatography for high-throughput proteome fractionation

The complexity of the human serum proteome is attributed to both a large dynamic range of protein abundance, as much as 10 orders of magnitude, and a disproportionate few dozens of proteins representing as much as 99% of the total protein content. These characteristics make it beneficial to use a pre-fractionation step prior to any high-resolution analysis, such as mass spectrometry. The present method describes a unimodal multidimensional chromatography concept to rapidly achieve an effective fractionation of human serum that is directly amenable with surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI)-based mass spectrometry. This method is based on the use of a column composed of a superimposed sequence of sorbents. The assembly is first equilibrated with a single binding buffer and then loaded with the whole crude sample. As the sample crosses the different adsorbent layers proteins within are sequentially trapped according to the complementary properties vis-a-vis of the sorbent. Once the loading and capturing is achieved, the sequence of columns is disassembled and each column, containing different complement of proteins is eluted separately in a single step and under optimal elution conditions. When compared to classical single-chemistry fractionation based on, for example, anion-exchange and pH stepwise elution, the new proposed approach shows much lower protein overlap between fractions, and therefore, greater resolution. This results in a larger number of detectable species, and therefore, reinforces the power of discovery of new biomarkers. A significantly higher sensitivity for low-abundance species was additionally found as evidenced by spiking trials.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance and spin trapping investigations of the photoreactivity of human lens proteins

Oxidation of cysteine, glutathione and ascorbate by photoexcited proteins from normal and cataractous lenses was investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance in combination with spin trapping. We report that illumination of these proteins in pH 7 buffer with light > 300 nm in the presence of thiols (RSH) and a spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), afforded DMPO/S-cysteine and DMPO/SG adducts, suggesting the formation of the corresponding thiyl radicals. In a nonbuffered aqueous solution, illumination of the proteins and glutathione also produced superoxide detected as a DMPO/O2H adduct. Irradiation of these proteins in the presence of ascorbate generated ascorbate radical. We conclude that chromophores present in the natural normal and cataractous lenses are capable of initiating photooxidative processes involving endogenous thiols and ascorbic acid. This observation may be pertinent to UV-induced development of cataract.     

Crystal structure of oxotitanium(IV) 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate

The structure of titanyl dipivalylmethanate TiO(dpm)₂ has been studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound has a molecular structure formed by isolated centrosymmetrical dimers [TiO(dpm)₂]₂; the unit cell contains two structurally related, crystallographically unique binuclear molecules. The Ti...Ti distance in the dimer is 2.73 Å. Crystal data for Ti₂C₃₆H₇₆O₁₀: a = 32.477(6) Å, b = 14.409(3) Å, c = 25.630(5) Å; β = 107.82(3)°, space group C2/c, Z = 8, d _calc = 1.002 g/cm³.     

New Synthetic Approaches to Functionally Substituted 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole 2-Oxides

A practical procedure has been proposed for the synthesis of functionally substituted 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole 2-oxides on the basis ofsulfamic acid derivatives.__________Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2005, pp. 121–123.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Tartakovskii, Ermakov, Strelenko, Vinogradov, Petrov.     

Fatty aldehydes of the phosphatidylethanolamines of marine invertebrates

The compositions of the fatty aldehydes from the phosphatidylethanolamines of 26 species of marine invertebrates belonging to nine classes of six types have been investigated. It has been shown that for the aldehydes of all the animals investigated a high degree of saturation and the presence of substantial amounts of branched aldehydes and aldehydes with odd numbers of carbon atoms in the chain of the molecule are characteristic. The amounts of the main — 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, and 20:1 — aldehydes changes appreciably according to the systematic position occupied by the animal; the nature of their distribution can serve to a certain extent as a chemotaxonomic marker. The bryozoanBugula neritina differs from all the other animals studied by an unusually high content of the 17:0 aldehyde and the almost complete absence of unsaturated aldehydes.Institute of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Vladivostok. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 621–625, September–October, 1989.     

THE FLUORESCENT PRODUCT OF SCALEWORM BIOLUMINESCENT REACTION: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract— The fluorescence of scaleworms has been attributed by Harvey (1952) to a product of the bioluminescent reaction confined in the scales of these worms. We have purified this fluorescent molecule by gel filtration. This compound has an apparent low molecular weight as shown by polyacrylamide gel clectrophoresis in the presence of SDS. The yield of the fluorescent product, after gel filtration, varies with the stimulation of the bioluminescence, triggered either chemically or enzymatically. The fluorescence spectrum of the purified product is similar to the one observed in vivo , with a maximum centered at 520 nm. Consequently, the fluorescent compound isolated is likely the reaction product of the bioluminescent reaction.     

Constitution moleculaire d'α,ω-difluoropolydimethylsiloxanes equilibres obtenus par une reaction de redistribution

α,ω-Difluoropolydimethylsiloxanes F[(CH₃)₂SiO]_n(CH₃)₂SiF have been prepared by reaction of (CH₃)₂SiF₂ with cyclic dimethylsiloxanes [(CH₃)₂SiO]_n (n = 3 or 4). An equilibrium is reached in the redistribution of fluorine vs. oxygen atoms after ca. 24 h at 200°C or 15 days at 150°C when catalysed by AlCl₃. 16 equilibrated samples of varied (R = F/Si) overall compositions have been analysed by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR and by VPC. The presence of rings has been established for the lower values of R. The molecular constitution of the equilibrated samples is described by a set of constants. The abundance of the end units

is slightly larger than expected from random distribution. The good resolution of the spectra permits the distinguishing of the 9th order of environment of the end units and the 5th order for the middle units and the verification that there is no preferential association among the building units, and thus the proportion of chains of various lengths obeys Flory's random distribution mode. The equilibrium molecular constitution of these α,ω-difluorosiloxanes is close to that of their dichloro analogs; the substitution of chlorine by fluorine atoms at the end of the chains thus appears to cause little perturbation. On the other hand, the kinetic evolution of the reaction appears to be different, since the first species which forms is always the pyro molecule

instead of long chains and large rings as in the case of the chloro analogs.     

Solvatation preferentielle dans les systemes ternaires polyvinylpyrrolidone/solvant halogene/solvant donneur de proton—III: Confrontation des resultats obtenus par diffusion de la lumiere et par spectroscopie infra-rouge

We have compared the experimental results of study of the preferential solvation of polyvinylpyrrolidone in halogenated solvent/proton-donor solvent mixtures, obtained by light scattering and i.r. spectroscopy and described in the two preceding papers. The preferential adsorption of the proton-donor solvent is explained by the formation of a hydrogen-bond complex of polymer with proton-donor solvent, on which other proton-donor molecules are bound by induced autoassociation. This complexing occurs even in mixtures where the “inert” solvent (1,2-dichloroethane) is preferentially adsorbed; this is experimental proof of a differing solvation of the chains in their close neighbourhood and within short range of them.