On distribution of molecular weight in anionic polymerizates of caprolactam

Measurement has been made of the dependence of the molecular weight distribution on the ratio of the catalytic system components and on the polymerization time for polycaprolactam obtained by anionic polymerization. A bimodal character of the curves was observed for products made using molar ratios of activator (N-benzoylcaprolactam) to initiator (sodium dihydro-bis(methoxyethoxy)aluminate) of 1:1 and 1:3, when the polymerization times were less than 1 hr. This course is explained by the influence of fast side-reactions, mainly condensations. For a ratio of 3:1 of the components of the catalytic system, smooth integral distribution curves are obtained, accounting for a very fast decrease in the strong base concentration in the initial stages of the polymerization.     

Molecular orbital studies on the conformation of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)

In distinction to Extended Hückel Theory which predicts as the most stable conformation of free zwitterionic GABA a totally extended form, PCILO and SCF ab initio studies show that the intrinsically preferred conformation of the isolated molecule is a highly folded one, resulting from strong interactions between the two charged ends. Computations are also carried out for hydrated GABA in the supermolecule approach allowing moreover for the flexibility of binding of some of the water molecules of the first hydration shell. They predict the coexistence in solution of a large number of conformations showing different degrees of folding (or extension), a result confirmed by recent NMR studies. This and a number of similar results show that we have to adapt our thinking on the role of conformations in pharmacological activity to this situation, which was frequently obscured by the more abundant results of X-ray crystallography yielding a single conformation.     

Addition of hydroxide to an isoelectronic series of bis-diazineplatinum(II) complex ions

Base hydrolysis of bis-bipyridylplatinum(II) occurs via a 1:1 intermediate adduct with hydroxide ion. The equilibrium constants for this 1:1 addition of hydroxide inwater to complex ions [PtL2]2+, where L=one of theisoelectronic set 2,2-bipyridyl (bpy); 2,2- bipyrazine (bpz); 3,3-bipyridazine (bpdz) and 2,2- bipyrimidine (bpym) are respectively (as log10K at 25°C): 4.23; 4.59; 3.82; 6.14. This result is rationalized in terms of addition at the 6–position of the ligand.     

Studies on stereoselective approaches to β-carboline derivatives

Transformation of β-carboline derivatives into optically active entities were studied and the de and ee values of the resulted compounds were detected. Dedicated to Professor Károly Lempert on his 80th birthday.     

Heterocyclic bioantioxidants. 2. Interaction of 3-nitro-4-substituted coumarins with mercaptans

3-Nitro-4-chlorocoumarin forms 3-nitro-4-substituted coumarins when it reacts with an equimolar quantity of benzyl mercaptan or thiosalicylic acid; with excess benzyl mercaptan, it forms 3,4-di-S-benzyl coumarin. 3-Nitro-4-methoxycoumarin under the same conditions, with an equimolar ratio of reagents, forms a mixture of monosubstituted and disubstituted products. A mechanism is proposed for these reactions.For Communication 1, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 11, pp. 1476–1479, November, 1991.     

Stereochemical studies—76 saturated heterocycles—63 : synthesis of cis- and trans-n-methyl- and n-benzyl-4.5- and 5,6-tetramethylenetetrahydro-1,3-oxazines; an x-ray study of n-benzyl-cis-4,5-tetramethylenetetrahydro-1,-3-oxazinium- picrate

- The corresponding $\text{cis}$- and $\text{trans-N}$-methyl- and $\text{N}$-benzyl-5,6- and 4,5-tetramethylenetetrahydro-l,3-oxazines $\text{(5a,b-8a,b)}$were synthesized from $\text{cis}$- and $\text{trans-N}$-methyl and$\text{N}$-benzyl-2- aminomethyl-1-cyclohexanols $\text{1a,b,2a,b}$, from $\text{cis}$- and $\text{trans-N}$-methyl- and $\text{N}$benzyl -2-hydroxymethyl-1-cyclohexylamines$\text{(3a,b,4a,b)}$ by reaction with formaldehyde. The aminoalcohols $\text{1a,2a,3a,b}$and $\text{4a,b}$ were prepared in considerably higher yields than in earlier procedures. NMR spectroscopy showed that the $\text{cis}$ isomers of the synthesized oxazines were conformationally homogeneous in solution, and their preferred conformation (inside or outside) depended on the steric requirement of the groups attached to the anellation points, whereas a bulky C-2 substituent had no influence on the predominant conformation. The structure of $\text{N}$-benzyl-$\text{cis}$-4,5-tetramethylenetetrahydro-1,3-oxaziniumpicrate $\text{(7b)}$. determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, was in agreement with the predominant N-outside conformation of the corresponding base, established by means of NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and 13C-NMR spectroscopic investigations of rhamnobioses

A convenient method has been developed for the synthesis of all mono- and di-O-benzyl ethers of methyl α-L-rhamnopyranoside applying a new stereoselective method for the hydrogenolytic ring-cleavage of benzylidene acetals. Using the prepared dibenzyl ethers as aglycones, the (1→2)-, (1→3)- and (l→4)-linked rhamnosyl-rhamnose derivatives (13–15) were synthesised. Hydrogenolysis of the latter compounds and subsequent acetylation gave the pentaacetates (16–18) of methyl dirhamnosides, which on saponification furnished the free methyl dirhamnosides (19–21). Acetolysis of 16–18 gave the corresponding dirhamnose-hexaacetates which were transformed into the three disaccharides by saponification. The structure of each product was investigated by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, and for the purpose of ¹³C-NMR studies the mono-O-methyl ethers of methyl α-L-rhamnopyranoside, the diacetates and di-O-benzyl ethers of the latter compounds, and, also the diacetates of methyl α-L-rhamnopyranoside were synthesised.It has been established that, for ¹³C-NMR investigations of oligosaccharides, the benzyl ethers of monosaccharides are more suitable model compounds than the currently used monosaccharide methyl ethers.     

Primary photodamage sites and mitochondrial events after Foscan photosensitization of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

To determine the initial photodamage sites of Foscan-mediated photodynamic treatment, we evaluated the enzymatic activities in selected organelles immediately after light exposure of MCF-7 cells. The measurements indicated that the enzymes located in the Golgi apparatus (uridine 5'-diphosphate galactosyl transferase) and in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide [reduced] [NADH] cytochrome c [cyt c] reductase) are inactivated by the treatment, whereas mitochondrial marker enzymes (cyt c oxidase and dehydrogenases) were unaffected. This indicates that the ER and the Golgi apparatus are the primary intracellular sites damaged by Foscan-mediated PDT in MCF-7 cells. We further investigated whether the specific mitochondria events could be associated with Foscan photoinduced cell death. The dose response profiles of mitochondrial depolarization and cytochrome c release immediately after Foscan-based PDT were very different from that of overall cell death. By 24 h post-PDT the fluence dependency was strikingly similar for both mitochondrial alterations and cell death. Therefore, although mitochondria are not directly affected by the treatment, they can be strongly implicated in Foscan-mediated MCF-7 cell death by late and indirect mechanism.     

Sodium diffusion through amorphous silica surfaces: a molecular dynamics study

We have studied the diffusion inside the silica network of sodium atoms initially located outside the surfaces of an amorphous silica film. We have focused our attention on structural and dynamical quantities, and we have found that the local environment of the sodium atoms is close to the local environment of the sodium atoms inside bulk sodo-silicate glasses obtained by quench. This is in agreement with recent experimental results.     

The Mitsunobu Inversion Reaction of Sterically Hindered 17-Hydroxy Steroids

The Mitsunobu inversion reaction of 3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-ol is dramatically influenced by the acidic component. There appears to be a relationship between the dissociation constant of the electron-withdrawing substituent on the aryl acid and the overall effectiveness of the reaction, with more acidic species generally providing a higher yield of inverted product.