Electron paramagnetic resonance study of partially oriented clay platelets intercalated with copper(II) 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of powder and oriented films of montmorillonite, hectorite, and saponite intercalated with [Cu(cyclam)](2+) (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) exhibit three components: an orientation-dependent component without hyperfine features, an orientation-dependent component with hyperfine features, and an orientation-independent component without hyperfine feature. EPR spectra of [Cu(cyclam)](2+)-saponite, which exhibit only two components and the best resolved hyperfine features, were simulated. The spectra indicate that a large portion of the saponite platelets are inclined to the glass surface, although they tend to align with their basal planes parallel to the glass surface. The orientation-dependent spectra could be simulated by introducing a Gaussian distribution with a standard deviation of 20 degrees for the inclination angle. The standard deviation may be used as a disorder parameter for the microcrystals assembled on glass plates. Spectral simulation also shows that the CuN(4) plane of [Cu(cyclam)](2+) is parallel to the clay layers. EPR spectra of some other partially oriented systems are also discussed.     

Purification and characterization of recombinant murine endostatin in E. coli

Endostatin, a carboxyl-terminal fragment of collagen XVIII is known as an anti-angiogenic agent, that specifically inhibits the proliferation of endothelial cell and the growth of several primary tumor. We report here the purification and characterization of the recombinant murine endostatin (rmEndostatin) which was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system. This rmEndostatin has similar physiochemical properties of yeast-produced recombinant endostatin, and it also specifically inhibits the proliferation and migration of bovine capillary endothelial cells stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor. The biological activity of rmEndostatin was also shown by its anti-angiogenic ability on the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryo in vivo. In this article, we demonstrate the refolding and purification of rmEndostatin, expressed using E. coli system, to a biologically active and soluble form. In addition, these results confirm the activity of endostatin as a potent anti-angiogenic agent.     

Synthesis of an isomer of the germacranolide isoaristolactone

Photocycloadditlon of (+)-isoplperltenone and cyclobutene-1-carboxylic acid gives an adduct which upon reduction with NaCNBH₃ followed by thermolysis yields an isomer of isoaristolactone in an overall yield of 26%.     

Salting-out solvent extraction for the off-line preconcentration of benzalkonium chloride in capillary electrophoresis

The use of salting-out effect for the off-line preconcentration of charged analytes in capillary electrophoresis is demonstrated for the first time. Using benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as model compound, a mixture of cationic surfactants consisting of even-numbered alkylbenzyl quaternary ammonium homologues (C8-C18), the addition of appropriate amounts of sodium chloride and acetonitrile in the sample solution (2 mL sample volume) was found to be capable of providing ca. 40-fold enhancement in detection sensitivity. In addition to affording a preconcentrating effect due to the extraction of BAK in the smaller volume water-miscible organic solvent phase (acetonitrile), the organic solvent also serves to improve the peak area and shape of the longer chain surfactants. Optimal experimental conditions, such as volume of acetonitrile and concentration of sodium chloride, for the preconcentration of BAK with good preconcentration factors and reproducibility were investigated. The usefulness of the present method was demonstrated for the improved determination of BAK present in commercially available industrial and pharmaceutical products.     

The system K2SO4-K2S

A new experimental technique has been developed to determine the phase equilibrium diagram for the system K₂SO₄-K₂S.The technique involves isothermal thermogravimetry of potassium sulphate during reduction to potassium sulphide at elevated temperatures in a stream of dry oxygen-free hydrogen gas. Several abrupt changes in the rate of weight loss occur in each curve and these can be related to phase changes in the phase diagram for the system.On the basis of such results the liquidus and solidus (solid solution) boundaries can be located.Simple thermal analysis is used to confirm the eutectic temperature and various liquidus temperatures.The diagram K₂SO₄-K₂S is a simple eutectic system with the eutectic at 610 and 23 mole % K₂S. The limits of solid solubility of K₂S in K₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄ in K₂S at the eutectic temperature are 11 % and 36 mole% respectively.The odd shape of the liquidus curves on each side of the eutectic suggests the possibility of phase changes in both K₂SO₄ and K₂S solid solutions. No evidence for this was obtained from thermal analysis.

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Zusammenfassung Eine neue experimentelle Technik wurde zur Bestimmung des Phasengleichgewichtsdiagramms des Systems K₂SO₄-K₂S entwickelt.Die Technik umfasst die isotherme Gravimetrie von Kaliumsulfat wÄhrend der Reduktion zu Kaliumsulfid bei erhöhten Temperaturen in strömenden trockenen und Sauerstoff-freien Wasserstoff. Verschiedene plötzliche Änderungen der Geschwindigkeit des Gewichtsverlustes treten bei jeder Kurve auf und können mit den PhasenÄnderungen im Phasendiagramm des Systems in Zusammenhang gebracht werden.Durch diese Ergebnisse können die GrenzflÄchen der flüssigen und der Festphasenlösung festgestellt werden.Die einfache Thermoanalyse wird zur BestÄtigung der eutektischen Temperatur und verschiedener Liquidus-Temperaturen herangezogen.Das Diagramm K₂SO₄-K₂S ist ein einfaches eutektisches System mit dem Eutektikum bei 610 und 23 Mol % K₂S. Die Grenzwerte einer festen Lösung von K₂S in K₂SO₄ und K₂SO₄ in K₂S betragen bei der eutektischen Temperatur 11% bzw. 36 Mol %.Die aussergewöhnliche Form der Liquidus-Kurven zu beiden Seiten des Eutektikums lÄsst auf die Möglichkeit von PhasenÄnderungen in den Festlösungen von sowohl K₂SO₄ wie auch von K₂S schliessen Hierzu ergab jedoch die Thermoanalyse keine BestÄtigung.

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Résumé Une nouvelle technique expérimentale a été développée afin de déterminer le diagramme d'équilibre des phases dans le système K₂SO₄-K₂S.La technique fait appel à la thermogravimétrie isotherme du sulfate de potassium lors de sa réduction en sulfure de potassium à températures élevées dans un courant de gaz hydrogène sec exempt d'oxygène. Plusieurs changements abrupts de vitesse de perte de poids ont lieu sur chaque courbe et ces changements peuvent Être rapportés aux changements de phases dans le diagramme de phases du système.A partir de tels résultats on peut déterminer les limites du liquidus et du solidus (solution solide).L'analyse thermique simple a été utilisée pour confirmer la température eutectique etdiverses températures du liquidus.Le diagramme K₂SO₄-K₂S forme un système eutectique simple à 610 et 23 p.c. molaires de K₂S. Les limites de la solubilité en phase solide de K₂S dans K₂SO₄ et de K₂SO₄ dans K₂S sont, à la température eutectique, respectivement de 11 et 36 mol %.La forme particulière des courbes du liquidus de chaque cÔté de l'eutectique fait penser à la possibilité de changements de phases dans les solutions solides tant de K₂SO₄ que de K₂S, mais l'analyse thermique n'en a pas donné de preuve.

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K₂SO₄-K₂S . , . , . ( ). . K₂SO₄-K₂S 610 23% K₂S. K₂S K₂SO₄ K₂SO₄ K₂S , , 11 36 . K₂SO₄ K₂S . , .

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The authors would like to thank the National Research Council of Canada for their financial support.     

Role of sphingomyelin-MAPKs pathway in heat-induced apoptosis

The role of sphingomyelinase (SMase) activation and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation in cellular apoptosis was investigated during the hyperthermic treatment of HL-60 human leukemia cells. Treating the cells for 1 h at 43(o)C caused more than 50% of cellular apoptosis within several hours. The neutral-SMase activity in the cells treated for 1 h at 42(o)C was slightly increased but decreased in the cells treated at 43(o)C or 44(o)C for the same period whereas the acid SMase activity was slightly increased after heating the cells at 42(o)C and 43(o)C and markedly increased at 44(o)C for 1 h. Treatment of cells with inhibitors of SMase activation and ceramide formation significantly reduced the heat-induced apoptosis. Three major families of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), i.e. ERK1/2, p38 and JNK, were activated by the hyperthermic treatment of cells. Inhibition of ERK1/2 with PD98059 exerted little effect on the heat-induced apoptosis and p38 inhibition with SB203580 slightly lessened apoptosis whereas, inhibition of JNK with SP600125 markedly suppressed the heat-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that heat-shock induced the activation of SMase, particularly acid-SMase, thereby causing apoptosis and that JNK played a pivotal role in heat-induced apoptosis in HL-60 leukemia cells.     

Palladium-catalyzed chemoselective direct α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with chloroaryl triflates at the C–Cl site

This study described palladium-catalyzed chemoselective direct α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with chloroaryl triflates in the Ar–Cl bond. The Pd/SelectPhos system showed excellent chemoselectivity toward the Ar–Cl bond in the presence of the Ar–OTf bond with a broad substrate scope and excellent product yields. The electronic and steric hindrance offered by the –PR₂ group of the ligand with the C2-alkyl group was found to be the key factor affecting the reactivity and chemoselectivity of the α-arylation reaction. The chemodivergent approach was also successfully employed in the synthesis of flurbiprofen and its derivatives (e.g., –OMe and –F).

Palladium-catalyzed chemoselective direct α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with chloroaryl triflates in the Ar–Cl bond is reported. The effects of –PR₂ and C2-alkyl groups of the ligands are investigated using experimental and computational methods.     

Investigation on the stress behavior of cellulose acetate and the development of highly moisture‐resistant optical films for display devices

An optical film with high optical anisotropy was prepared by the stretching of a cellulose acetate film and the consequential orienting of a retardation‐enhancing additive. The change in retardation in response to moisture absorption was explored and it was found that the degree of the retardation variation is strongly related to the stretching temperature. Stress generated by the stretching and its relaxation was systematically investigated to elucidate the effect of stretching temperature on the irreversible change in retardation upon moisture absorption. The results show that the magnitude of releasable stress plays an important role in controlling changes in optical properties. In addition, the difference in the deformation behavior between glassy and rubbery states should be taken into account in the development of a moisture‐resistant optical film. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1470–1478     

Expedient and Diastereodivergent Assembly of Terpenoid Decalin Subunits having Quaternary Stereocenters through Organocatalytic Robinson Annulation of Nazarov Reagent

We report an expedient approach to highly functionalized cis‐ and trans‐decalines that could function as key structural subunits toward the synthesis of various classes of terpenoids. Key to the strategy is an organocatalyzed Robinson annulation reaction of the Nazarov reagent that affords chiral enone building blocks with high enantioselectivities. The quaternary carbon stereogenic center can direct the subsequent reactions and allow the rapid and diastereoconvergent assembly of complex decalines with contiguous stereocenters.