Characterization of the projective space Pr3 by a contact form

In this paper we present a theorem, which is a specific case of a very general problem, that could be described as follows: Given a differentiable manifoldV, “What are the elements of the exterior algebra ofV which describe the topology and differentiable structure ofV?” Classic examples of this situation are: (A) De Rham’s theorems, which describe the cohomology of a manifold by means of closed forms. (B) Reeb’s theorem, which describes the topology of a sphere by means of a function having only two critical points. In the present paper, we prove the following: Theorem.The projective space Pr₃ and the sphere S ³ are the only three-dimensional, compact, manifold which has a contact form with a global expression: \(\omega = f_1 df_2 - f_2 df_1 + f_3 df_4 - f_4 df_3 + f_5 df_6 - f_6 df_5 \) where the f _i are global functions satisfying certain integrability conditions.     

Reactivity of allyl (o-halophenyl) ethers with organonickel (0) complexes

The reactivity of allyl (o-halophenyl) ethers with zerovalent nickel complexes, with triphenylphosphine and pyridine as ligands, leading to benzo[b]furan derivatives has been checked. Cyclization products were not isolated, but deallylation, substitution, reduction and rearrangement products were obtained in low to moderate yields. Mechanisms are proposed to explain the formation of these side products.

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Ion exchange on resins with temperature-responsive selectivity III. Influence of complex formation stoichiometry on temperature dependence of resin selectivity

The influence of temperature (293308 K 1:1 IDA:Ni2+ complex is dominating. The Cu2+-Ni2+ exchange equilibrium from sulfate medium is characterized by the formation of nickel complexes of both stoichiometries within the whole temperature range studied. The dependence of alpha on T in Zn2+-Co2+ exchange system has been shown to be weaker than that in the Cu2+-Ni2+ system. This result is in a good agreement with the predictions made in the first communication of this series. The results of thermostripping experiments carried out for Cu2+-Co2+ exchange have shown that the efficiency of the thermostripping process depends on both the interval of working temperatures (deltaT) and its position on the temperature scale. The efficiency of thermostripping rises with an absolute deltaT value and also increases following the shift of temperature interval to the lower temperature range.     

Molecular features of organic matter in diagnostic horizons from andosols as seen by analytical pyrolysis

Andosols are usually formed from volcanic substrates, with thick A horizons high in organic carbon mainly in the form of stabilized humic fractions. The peculiar properties of these soils are, to large extent, affected by poorly crystalline materials like allophanes, imogolite and other Fe and Al oxyhydroxides that induce intense organo-mineral interactions which are considered to play a relevant role in OM protection against biodegradation as regards other soils developed under similar climatic conditions. Little is known about the molecular composition of this stabilized OM in a soil scenario often considered as an efficient C-sink in terms of C sequestration processes.

Whole soil samples in addition to isolated humic and fulvic acids from organic A horizons of three soils with andic properties and one non-andic soil (Sodic Cambisol) from the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) were analysed by double shot pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) in order to get some insight on the molecular composition of different structural domains of progressive structural stability.

Clear differences were found between soils, both in thermal desorption and pyrolysis behaviour of humic substances. In general the results suggest large yields of aliphatic (both alkyl and carbohydrate-derived pyrolysis compounds) pointing to high-performance processes of incorporation of aliphatic humic constituents in andosols probably favoured by interactions with amorphous minerals, whereas in non-andic soils the latter are comparatively less stabilized and are removed in early pyrolysis stages as if they occurred as loosely joined, thermoevaporation-released products.

In fact, compared to Cambisol, humic and fulvic acids from andic soils led to comparatively richer pyrograms and compound assemblages. The lack of similar amounts of these loosely joined, mainly aliphatic structures after thermal desorption of the whole andic soils indicate an origin for humic substances based on rapid sequestration of C-forms of recent (litter or microbial) origin.     

Synthesis of Spirovetivane Sesquiterpenes from Santonin. Synthesis of (+)-Anhydro-beta-rotunol and all diastereomers of 6,11-spirovetivadiene

The synthesis of the spirovetivane sesquiterpenes (+)-anhydro-beta-rotunol and all the diastereomers of 6,11-spirovetivadiene in enantiomerically pure form has been achieved starting from santonin. The key step is the silicon-guided acid-promoted rearrangement of a 1-trimethylsilyl-4,5-epoxyeudesmane prepared from santonin in several steps involving lactone reductive opening, conjugate addition of TMSLi-CuCN, deoxygenation of a carbonyl group, and epoxidation. Rearrangement of the epoxide gave a spiro[4,5]decanediol which was used as a synthetic intermediate. From this compound, (+)-anhydro-beta-rotunol was prepared after elimination of the primary hydroxyl group in the side chain, followed by allylic oxidation at C8 and elimination of the tertiary hydroxyl group in the cyclohexane ring. On the other hand, elimination of the hydroxyl group in the side chain and reduction of the hydroxyl in the cyclohexane ring gave (-)-premnaspirodiene and (-)-hinesene. The synthesis of the rest of the diastereomers for these compounds required formal inversion of the C5 spiro carbon. The synthesis of these compounds showed that the structure of (-)-agarospirene isolated from Scapania sp. was erroneously assigned, and it has been corrected to be identical to that of (-)-hinesene.     

A novel approach to the qualitative and quantitative assay of HPTLC plates: Second and fourth derivative recording of spectrophotodensitograms

One of the limitations due to lack of resolution for a given pair of analytes in TLC or HPTLC is the need to optimize the system. In Practice this requires time, rerunning of the sample in different developing solvents, and a great deal of expertise on the part of the analyst. In our experience, application of first and second derivative recording techniques to HPTLC facilitates and speeds the whole process, permitting qualitative and quantitative assay of most unresolved spots. Consequently, we have now extended our instrumental capabilities to fourth derivative measurements. For this purpose, we have added a homemade electronic unit in series with the one previously used for first and second order derivatives. Thus, we have been able to evaluate the potential advantages of higher order derivatives for HPTLC analysis of unresolved components in various pharmaceutical products. A comparison of second and fourth order derivative measurements of seriously overlapping HPTLC components in a sample of preservatives used in the pharmaceutical industry suggests that the lower order derivatives might be a better choice in view of the higher accuracy and precision of the corresponding data. This is supported by the results of other applications, such as the assay of a commercial colorant, and a syrup formulation. The observed lack of precision of fourth order measurements stems from the fact that although the second and higher order derivatives produce narrower bandwidths, thus contributing to improved resolution, the signal to noise ratio decreases and satellite peak interactions increase, thus rendering correct discrimination of the fine structural detail of overlapping components more difficult.     

Composition and structure of iron oxidation surface layers produced in weak acidic solutions

Although oxidation/passivation of iron in basic solution has been extensively investigated, there is very little information on iron corrosion in weak acidic solutions. In this work, iron surface composition and structure, produced in aerobic aqueous solutions ranging from pH 2 to 5, were determined in detail by the use of infrared external reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The most striking observation is that at pH 2 and 3 almost all oxidized iron is dissolved in solution, whereas at pH 4 and 5 the product of iron oxidation is deposited on the iron surface in the form of lepidocrocite, gamma-FeOOH. Detailed iron surface and solution analyses allow the proposition of the following overall oxidation reactions: [EQUATION: SEE TEXT]. At pH 2 and 3, only a very thin surface layer consisting of FeO and Fe(OH)2 with polymeric structure is observed on the iron surface. The amounts of these surface species remain almost constant (2-5 nm) from the first minutes to a few hours of reaction, if pH is kept constant. Nevertheless, with time the akaganeite-like, beta-FeOOH structure is also detected. At pH 4 and 5, the amount of lepidocrocite deposited on the iron surface increases with reaction time. Detailed quantitative evaluation of the lepidocrocite produced at pH 5 and its surface distribution on iron was performed based on the comparison of infrared spectroscopic data with spectral simulation results of assumed surface structures. At pH 4 and 5 and a temperature of 40-50 degrees C, in addition to a very large amount of lepidocrocite other oxy-hydroxide surface species such as goethite (alpha-FeOOH) and feroxyhite (delta-FeOOH), were identified. Addition of Cl- ions to solution at 10(-3) M concentration at pH 5 increases the oxidation rate of iron by about 50%, and lepidocrocite remains the only oxidation product. Similarly, an addition of Fe2+ ions to solution at pH 5 very strongly enhances lepidocrocite formation as well as its conductivity. The latter finding is important for the possible application of metallic iron as a catalyst in redox reactions, for example, for decomposition of difficult-to-biodegrade water pollutants.     

Tuning Photoinduced Electron Transfer Efficiency of Fluorogenic BODIPY‐α‐Tocopherol Analogues

Fluorogenic analogues of α‐tocopherol developed by our group have been instrumental in monitoring reactive oxygen species (ROS) within lipid membranes. Prepared as two‐segment trap‐reporter (chromanol‐BODIPY) probes, photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) was utilized to provide these probes with an off/on switch mechanism warranting the necessary sensitivity. Herein, we rationalize within the context of Marcus theory of electron transfer how substituents on the BODIPY core and linker length joining the trap and reporter segments, tune PeT efficiency. DFT and electrochemical studies were used to estimate the thermodynamic driving force of PeT in our constructs. By tuning the redox potential over a 400 mV range, we observed over an order of magnitude increase in PeT efficiency. Increasing the linker length between the chromanol and BODIPY by 2.8 angstroms, in turn, decreased PeT efficiency 2.7‐fold. Our results illustrate how substituent and linker choice enable “darkening” the off state of fluorogenic probes based on BODIPY fluorophores, by favoring PeT over radiative emission from the singlet excited state manifold. Ultimately, our work brings light to the sensitivity ceiling one may achieve in developing fluorogenic antioxidant analogues of α‐tocopherol. The work provides general guidelines applicable to those developing fluorogenic probes based on PeT.     

Stable Pyrrole-Linked Bioconjugates through Tetrazine-Triggered Azanorbornadiene Fragmentation

An azanorbornadiene bromovinyl sulfone reagent for cysteine-selective bioconjugation has been developed. Subsequent reaction with dipyridyl tetrazine leads to bond cleavage and formation of a pyrrole-linked conjugate. The latter involves ligation of the tetrazine to the azanorbornadiene-tagged protein through inverse electron demand Diels–Alder cycloaddition with subsequent double retro-Diels–Alder reactions to form a stable pyrrole linkage. The sequence of site-selective bioconjugation followed by bioorthogonal bond cleavage was efficiently employed for the labelling of three different proteins. This method benefits from easy preparation of these reagents, selectivity for cysteine, and stability after reaction with a commercial tetrazine, which has potential for the routine preparation of protein conjugates for chemical biology studies.