252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometric study of interactions of steroid glycosides with amino acids

252Cf Plasma desorption with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-PDMS) has been applied to comparative studies of the interactions of steroid glycosides (SGs) of the spirostan series with amino acids. SGs can interact with amino acids to form heteroclusters of the type [SG + aminoacid + H](+) and [SG + aminoacid + K](+). It is shown how the affinity of SGs for amino acids depends on the structures of both the SG carbohydrate chain and the SG aglycone, and on the nature of the amino acid side chain. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient palladium-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of triorganoindium reagents to carbocyclic derivatives

Palladium (0)-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions employing triorganoindium reagents have been investigated. In situ generated vinyl- and arylindiums react with substituted and unsubstituted cyclohex-2-enyl esters in the presence of 1-3 mol % Pd(2)(dba)(3) to produce vinyl- or arylcyclohexenes in moderate to excellent yields. The stereoselectivity of this process was also examined, and evidence is presented that the reaction proceeds with inversion of stereochemical configuration.     

Treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma with extracorporeal photopheresis induces Fas-ligand expression on treated T cells,but does not suppress the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on monocytes

Following extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), lymphocytes become apoptotic and upregulate class I MHC antigenic peptides. Conversely, ECP treated monocytes demonstrate activation markers and have an increased avidity for the phagocytosis of apoptotic T cells. Processing of apoptotic T cells by monocytes, following ECP, is thought to induce an immunomodulatory response, which targets untreated, but clonal T cells. Recently we detected apoptotic lymphocytes immediately post ECP. Although enhanced CD95 (Fas) expression has been observed 24 h post ECP, CD95 and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) expression have not been determined at this very early apoptotic stage. Exposure of monocytes to UV has previously suppressed expression of the co-stimulatory molecules required for the presentation of processed antigens to T cells. Our data demonstrate no increase in CD95 or Fas-L expression on T cells tested immediately following ECP. However, the number of T cells expressing Fas-L significantly increased 24 h post ECP (P<0.005). The expression of the co-stimulatory molecules, CD54, CD80 and CD86, remained unaltered on monocytes treated by ECP. Although the mechanism responsible for early induction of lymphocyte apoptosis remains unclear, the later apoptosis involves Fas-L expression. The maintenance of co-stimulatory molecules, on treated monocytes, indicates that they retain the ability to induce an immunomodulatory response.     

Dimethylzinc-mediated addition of alkenylzirconocenes to alpha-keto and alpha-imino esters

[reaction: see text] Hydrozirconation of alkynes followed by in situ transmetalation to dimethylzinc and 1,2-addition to activated ketones and N-diphenylphosphinoylimines leads to tertiary allylic alcohols and amines in high overall yield. With 8-phenylmenthol as the chiral auxiliary, si-face attack proceeds in good to excellent diastereoselectivities.     

Copper(II) diamino acid complexes: quantum chemical computations regarding diastereomeric effects on the energy of complexation

[reaction: see text] Quantum chemical calculations were used to rationalize the observed enantiodifferentiation in the complexation of alpha-amino acids to chiral Cu(II) complexes. Apart from Cu(II)[bond]pi interactions and steric repulsions between the anchoring cholesteryl-Glu moiety and an aromatic amino acid R group, hydrogen bonding also plays a role. In fact, in the case of tryptophan, C[double bond]O...H[bond]N hydrogen bonding between the glutamate moiety and the tryptophan N[bond]H group compensates for the loss of intramolecular hydrogen-bonding and diminished Cu(II)[bond]pi interactions.     

Determination of moisture on thorium dioxide by a coulometric electrolytic measurement with electronic integration

The coulometric electrolytic principle is utilized for the measurement of moisture sorbed on sintered thorium dioxide. Moisture is removed from the sample by heating and is swept by dry argon gas through a hygrometer. The resulting hygrometer output is converted into frequency pulses and counted cumulatively. The instrument is calibrated by use of standard hydrated chemicals. The number of counts/mu;g of water obtained from standards compares favourably with the theoretical number of counts/mu;g calculated from performance specifications of the components employed. The error is <5% for 1-350mu;g of water. A high sensitivity and low operating blank recommends application of this method to materials other than thorium dioxide, having very low moisture contents.     

Formation constants of zinc(II) complexes with Semi-Xylenol Orange

A potentiometric and spectrophotometric investigation on the formation of zinc(II) complexes with Semi-Xylenol Orange (SXO or H(4)L) is reported. In an aqueous solution (mu = 0.1), three 1:1 complex species, MH(2)L, MHL(-), ML(2-), and a 1:2 complex, ML(6-)(2), seem to exist. In a strongly alkaline medium (above pH 12.5) the complexes may dissociate to give zinc hydroxide and L(4-). The formation of a hydroxy complex is not observed. The absorption maxima are at 445 nm (MH(2)L), 466 nm (MHL(-)) and 561 nm (ML(2-)), the molar absorptivities being 2.34 x 10(4), 2.42 x 10(4) and 3.14 x 10(4) 1.mole(-1) .cm(-1) respectively. The formation constants are (at 25 +/- 0.1 degrees ) log K(M)(ML) = 11.84, log K(M)(MHL) = 7.13, log K(M)(MH(2)L) = 2.70, log K(M)(ML(2)) = 16.60.     

Determination of uranium after its selective extraction as phenylacetate

The method described is based on the extraction of uranium with a chloroform solution of phenylacetic acid from slightly acidic solution containing nitrilotriacetic acid, which masks all interfering metals. After stripping into very dilute hydrochloric acid, uranium is reduced with ascorbic acid and determined complexometrically. The method permits reliable determination of uranium in the presence of all quadri-, ter- and bivalent metals investigated, molybdenum(VI), tungsten(VI), and vanadium(V).     

Hydrogenation without a transition-metal catalyst: on the mechanism of the base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones

The hydrogenation of unsaturated organic substrates such as olefins and ketones is usually effected by homogeneous or heterogeneous transition-metal catalysts. On the other hand, a single case of a transition-metal-free and purely base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones was reported by Walling and Bollyky some 40 years ago. Unfortunately, the harsh reaction conditions (ca. 200 degrees C, >100 bar H(2), potassium tert-butoxide as base) limit the substrate spectrum of this reaction to robust, nonenolizable ketones such as benzophenone. We herein present a mechanistic study of this process as a basis for future rational improvement. The base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones was found to be irreversible, and it shows first-order kinetics with respect to the substrate ketone, hydrogen, and catalytic base. The rate of the reaction depends on the type of alkali ion present (Cs > Rb - K > Na > Li). Using D(2) instead of H(2) revealed a rapid base-catalyzed isotope exchange/equilibration between the gas phase and the solvent as a concomitant reaction. The degree of deuteration of the product alcohols did not indicate a significant kinetic isotope effect. It is proposed that both ketone reduction and isotope exchange proceed via similar six-membered cyclic transition states involving the H(2)(D(2))-molecule, the alkoxide base, and the ketone (solvent alcohol in the case of isotope exchange). Mechanistic analogies are pointed out which apparently exist between the base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones studied here and the Ru-catalyzed asymmetric ketone hydrogenation developed by Noyori. In both cases, heterolysis of the hydrogen molecule appears to be assisted by a Br?nsted-base (i.e., alkoxide), the latter being bound to the substrate ketone or the catalyst ligand, respectively, by a bridging Lewis-acidic alkali ion.