NMR‐based analysis of the chemical composition of Japanese persimmon aqueous extracts

Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) is recognized as an outstanding source of biologically active compounds relating to many health benefits. In the present study, NMR spectroscopy provided a comprehensive metabolic overview of Japanese persimmon juice. Detailed signal assignments of Japanese persimmon juice were carried out using various 2D NMR techniques incorporated with broadband water suppression enhanced through T₁ effects (BB‐WET) or WET sequences, and 26 components, including minor components, were identified. In addition, most components were quantitatively evaluated by the integration of signals using conventional ¹H NMR and BB‐WET NMR. This is the first detailed analysis combined with quantitative characterization of chemical components using NMR for Japanese persimmon. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cellulose Iβ investigated by IR-spectroscopy at low temperatures

Highly crystalline oriented Halocynthia roretzi cellulose Iβ films were investigated by IR-spectroscopy between ?180 and +10 °C. Changes in the IR-spectra induced by temperature were compared to published changes induced by mechanical stretching. This made it possible to conclude that frequency shifts in the O–H stretching region of the IR-spectra due to temperature were not predominantly an indirect effect of thermal expansion leading to greater O–O distances, but were due directly to the effect of temperature on the O–H···O hydrogen bonds. Temperature induced frequency shifts of C–H stretching bands were consistent with the presence of weak inter-sheet C–H···O bonds. Furthermore, no phase transition in cellulose Iβ was found between ?180 and +10 °C.     

The structural changes in crystalline cellulose and effects on enzymatic digestibility

The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose I achieves almost complete digestion when sufficient enzyme loading as much as 20 mg/g-substrate is applied. However, the yield of digestion reaches the limit when the enzyme dosage is decreased to 2 mg/g-substrate. Therefore, we have performed three pretreatments such as mercerization, dissolution into phosphoric acid and EDA treatment. Transformation into cellulose II hydrate by mercerization and dissolution into phosphoric acid were not sufficient because substrate changed to highly crystalline structure during saccharification. On the other hand, in the case of crystalline conversion of cellulose I to III_I by EDA, almost perfect digestion was achieved even in enzyme loading as small as 0.5 mg/g-substrate, furthermore, hydrolyzed residue was typical cellulose I. The structural analysis of substrate after saccharification provides an insight into relationships between cellulose crystalline property and cellulase toward better enzymatic digestion.     

Polymerization of Acrylonitrile Initiated by 1,4-Dimethyl-1,4-bis(p-nitrophenyl)-2-tetrazene

The polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) initiated by 1,4-dimethyl-1,4-bis(p-nitrophenyl)-2-tetrazene (Ie) was studied in dimethylformamide (DMF) at high temperature. The polymerization proceeds by a radical mechanism. The rate of polymerization is proportional to [Ie]^0.64 and [AN]^1.36. The overall activation energy for the polymerization is 21.5 kcal/mole within the temperature range of 115-130°C. The chain transfer of Ie was also undertaken over the temperature range of 120-135°C. The activation parameters for the decomposition of Ie at 120°C are k_d = 2.78 × 10^?6 sec^?1, ΔH^? = 40.8 kcal/mole, and ΔS^? = 19.5 cal/mole-deg, respectively.     

Vinyl Polymerization. 274. Polymerization of Acrylonitrile Initiated by the System Tetramethyl Tetrazene and Co(II) Chloride

Abstract

The binary system of tetramethyl tetrazene (TMT) and Co(II) chloride was used as initiator of acrylonitrile (AN) in dimethylformamide. The initial rate of polymerization (Rp) was found to be expressed by Rp = k[TMT]^0.62[Co(II) chloride]^0.57 [AN]^2.00

The polymerization was confirmed to proceed via a radical mechanism. The over-all activation energy for the polymerization was estimated as 15.1 kcal/mole. On the basis of these results and the product analysis of the reaction between the catalyst components in the absence of monomer, the initiation mechanism of the polymerization is discussed.     

Polymerization of Acrylonitrile Initiated by the System Tetramethyl-2-tetrazene and p-Toluenesulfonic Acid

The polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) initiated by tetramethyl-2-tetrazene (TMT) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (TSA) in dimethylformamide (DMF) was studied. The polymerization was confirmed to proceed through a radical mechanism. The initial rate of polymerization R was expressed by the equation: R_p = k[TMT]^0.6 [TSA]^0.46 [AN]^1.35. The overall activation energy for the polymerization was estimated as 20.7 kcal/mole. In the absence of monomer, the reaction of TMT with TSA was also studied kinetically by measuring the evolution of nitrogen. From these results and ESR measurement of the TMT/TSA system, a possible initiation mechanism is proposed.     

Hydrochlorothiazide Enhances UVA‐Induced DNA Damage

The UVA is currently thought to be carcinogenic because, similar to UVB, it induces the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). Various drugs have been reported to cause photosensitive drug eruptions as an adverse effect. Although the precise mechanism of photosensitive drug eruption remains to be elucidated, it is generally accepted that free radicals and other reactive molecules generated via UV‐irradiated drugs play important roles in the pathogenesis of photosensitive drug eruptions. The waveband of concern for photo‐reactive drugs is UVA‐visible light, but some extend into the UVB region. We tested whether photosensitive drugs could enhance CPD formation after UVA exposure by using isolated DNA in the presence of several reported photosensitive drugs using high‐performance liquid chromatography. We found that the diuretic agent hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) significantly enhanced the production of TT dimers over a wide range of UVA. Furthermore, we investigated whether UVA plus HCT could enhance CPD production in xeroderma pigmentosum model mice defective in nucleotide excision repair. Immunofluorescence studies showed that CPD formation in the skin significantly increased after 365 nm narrow‐band UVA irradiation in the presence of HCT, compared with that in wild‐type mice. HCT could be used with caution because of its enhancement of UVA‐induced DNA damage.