A simple and versatile method for the synthesis of acetals from aldehydes and ketones using bismuth triflate

Acetals are obtained in good yields by treatment of aldehydes and ketones with trialkyl orthoformate and the corresponding alcohol in the presence of 0.1 mol % Bi(OTf)3.4H2O. A simple procedure for the formation of acetals of diaryl ketones has also been developed. The conversion of carbonyl compounds to the corresponding 1,3-dioxolane using ethylene glycol is also catalyzed by Bi(OTf)3.4H2O (1 mol %). Two methods, both of which avoid the use of benzene, have been developed.     

INVESTIGATION OF THE ANTIVIRAL ACTION OF THE PHOTOACTIVE COMPOUND PHENYLHEPTATRIYNE

Abstract— Murine cytomegalovirus, a herpes virus, was used as a model virus to investigate the mechanism of the anti-viral action of phenylheptatriyne in long wave ultraviolet light. The genome and proteins of the inactivated virus penetrated the nuclei of susceptible cells normally. Furthermore, the viral genome did not contain extra single strand breaks or cross-links. However, cells infected with the treated virus did not synthesize late viral proteins, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. nor did they synthesize late viral RNA and viral DNA according to nucleic acid hybridization tests. Thus the compound may interfere with an early viral function so that the replication cycle cannot proceed.     

Solution structure of (+)-discodermolide

[structure: see text]. The solution structure of (+)-discodermolide (1) has been determined via 1- and 2-D NMR techniques in conjunction with Monte Carlo conformational analysis. Taken together, the results demonstrate that in solution (+)-discodermolide occupies a helical conformation remarkably similar to the solid state conformation.     

The fluorescent oxidation products of dihydroxyphenylalanine and its esters

Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), its methyl ester (DOPAM) and the N-acetylated derivative of the ester (DOPAMNA) are found to undergo rapid oxidation in air-saturated alkaline solution. Some of the products of oxidation exhibit fluorescent emission in the 300-500 nm spectral range and their excitation-emission spectra have been determined in acidic and alkaline aqueous solutions. The spectral distributions and positions of the maxima depend on the pH of the solution. Excitation-emission maxima associated with the protonated phenolic form of the compounds occur at shorter wavelengths than those of the conjugate base. At some pH values the phenolic forms of these molecules are excited and undergo rapid deprotonation in the excited state; as a consequence, emission is observed from the phenolate anion. The fluorescence excitation-emission spectrum of an authentic sample of 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic (caffeic) acid has also been determined and features of the fluorescence spectra of the principal oxidation products are consistent with the presence of 3,4-hydroxycinnamoyl compounds in solutions of oxidized DOPAM and DOPAMNA.     

A method of general applicability for the micro determination of chlorine,bromine and iodine

Summary A method is described for the combustion of halogen containing organic compounds in milligram quantities in a closed system. It has been found to have greater applicability than existing techniques. After combustion the halogen is determined by an amperometric titration, which permits the determination of Cl^–, Br^– and I^– either singly or in admixture. The accuracy is probably better than existing micro methods for single halides and comparable with these methods for mixed halides.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Methode zur Verbrennung von Milligrammengen halogenhaltiger organischer Verbindungen im geschlossenen System wurde beschrieben. Sie hat einen größeren Anwendungsbereich als bisher bekannte Verfahren. Nach der Verbrennung wird das Halogen durch eine amperometrische Titration bestimmt, womit Chlorid, Bromid und Jodid sowohl einzeln wie in Gemischen bestimmt werden können. Die Genauigkeit seheint besser zu sein als bei bekannten Mikromethoden für die Bestimmung einzelner Halogene und etwa gleich gut wie bei Methoden zur Analyse von Halogengemischen.

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Résumé On décrit une méthode de combustion en vase clos, des composés organiques contenant des halogènes en quantités de l'ordre du milligramme. Cette méthode a été trouvée comme ayant un domaine d'applications plus grand que celui des techniques existant déjà. Après combustion, l'halogène est dosé par titrage ampérométrique, ce qui permet le dosage de Cl^–, Br^– et I^– isolés ou en mélange. La précision est probablement meilleure que celle des microméthodes existant pour les halogénures isolés et comparable à celle de ces méthodes pour les mélanges d'halogénures.

     

The development of a versatile field program for measuring tritium in “real-time”

Robust sample handling and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) procedures have been developed to routinely monitor tritium in the field relative to the 20,000 pCi/L drinking water standard. This procedure allows tritium to be monitored hourly during 24 hour drilling operations at depths in the saturated zone potentially contaminated by sub-surface nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site. Using retrofitted, shock hardened, vibration damped counters and strict analytical protocols, tritium may be measured rapidly in the field under hostile conditions. Concentration standards and dead tritium backgrounds are prepared weekly in a central laboratory and delivered to remote drilling locations where they are recounted daily as a check on counter efficiency and calibration. Portable LSC counters are located in trailers and powered off a battery pack and line filter fed by mobile generator. The samples are typically groundwaters mixed with drilling fluids returned after circulation through a drill string. Fluids are aerated and de-foamed, filtered, mixed with scintillation cocktail and dark adapted before counting. Real-time monitoring affords drilling and field personnel early warning against intercepting down-gradient plumes of radioactivity. For routine operations, the tritium activity may not exceed a 10,000 pCi/L threshold.