Distoriton of area and conditioned Brownian motion

Summary In a simply connected planar domainD the expected lifetime of conditioned Brownian motion may be viewed as a function on the set of hyperbolic geodesics for the domain. We show that each hyperbolic geodesic induces a decomposition ofD into disjoint subregions and that the subregions are obtained in a natural way using Euclidean geometric quantities relating toD. The lifetime associated with on each _j is then shown to be bounded by the product of the diameter of the smallest ball containing _j and the diameter of the largest ball in _j . Because this quantity is never larger than, and in general is much smaller than, the area of the largest ball in _j it leads to finite lifetime estimates in a variety of domains of infinite area.Research of the first author was supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-9100811Research of the second author was supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-9105407     

Approximate force constant calculations for cis-L2M(CO)4 species

A new procedure based on the criterion of maximum interaction between coupled fundamental vibrational modes has been developed to solve the energy factored force field of cis-L₂M(CO)₄ species. The results for complexes containing a wide range of metal-ligand combinations are compared with the force constants obtained by the Cotton-Kraihanzel and Jernigan methods. The CO stretching frequencies of isotopically-substituted cis-I₂Fe(CO)₄ species have been calculated as a check on the method.     

Chemical shielding anisotropy of 13C and 15N in acetonitrile

High resolution ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectra have been obtained for powdered CH₃CN. The presence of resolved dipolar structure in the ¹³C spectra permits the conclusion that the symmetry axis of the ¹³C shielding tensor lies along the CN bond direction.     

Steric and Electronic Effects, Enantiospecificity, and Reactive Orientation in DNA Binding/Cleaving by Substituted Derivatives of [SalenMn(III)](+)

Twenty-six derivatives of [SalenMn(III)](+) (1) bearing halogen, nitro, amino, ether, alkyl, or aryl substituents on the aromatic rings and/or at the imine positions or containing 1,3-propylene-, 1,2-phenylene-, 1,2-cyclohexane-, or 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine in place of ethylenediamine as the bridging moiety have been synthesized. The DNA binding/cleaving properties of these complexes in the presence of terminal oxidants have been examined using DNA affinity cleaving techniques. Active derivatives produced DNA cleavage from the minor groove at sites containing multiple contiguous A:T base pairs. For aryl-substituted derivatives, DNA cleavage efficiency was found to vary with both the identity and position of attachment of substituents. The precise patterns of cleavage at A:T target sites varied with the position of attachment of substituents, but not with the identity of the substituents. The results suggest that substituents alter specificity through both steric and electronic effects. The 3,3'-difluoro and -dichloro derivatives produced cleavage patterns that match those of the parent complex, suggesting that the activated form of 1 produces cleavage from an orientation in which the concave edge of the complex faces away from the floor of the DNA minor groove. Bridge modifications yield complexes with reduced DNA cleaving activity relative to 1. DNA cleaving efficiency was found to vary with both the structure and stereochemistry of the bridge. Cleavage efficiency for the complex derived from (R,R)-cyclohexanediamine was 5 times greater than that for the (S,S) enantiomer. Cleavage patterns produced by the enantiomeric complexes at A:T rich target sites were different, demonstrating enantiospecific recognition and cleavage of right-handed double-helical DNA.     

Photo- and thermoinduced generation of 1,3-diaryl carbonyl ylides from 2,3-diaryloxiranes 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions to dipolarophiles

A group of symmetrically substituted 2,3-diaryloxiranes have been studied as photoprecursors for carbonyl ylides. The stereochemistry of the adducts obtained upon interception of these 4n pi-transient systems with a variety of dipolarophiles provides information on the mode(s) of electrocyclic opening of the oxiranes to carbonyl ylides, as well as the mechanism of the 4n + 2 cycloaddition process. The stereochemistry of the dipolarophiles is preserved in the cycloadducts, which is consistent with a concerted addition process; however, solvent effects, steric hindrance, and possibly secondary orbital overlap factors all may play a role in determining the product distribution.     

Construction of an ion-exchange amino acid analyser kit for use with high-performance liquid chromatography apparatus

A conventional ion-exchange amino acid analyser kit has been simply and economically constructed for use with existing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) apparatus. Sequential elution conditions are fully programmable by virtue of a 32K BBC microcomputer interfaced with an elution buffer selection valve and a thermostatically controlled column. Post-column derivatization with o-phthaladehyde-2-mercaptoethanol reagent enables fluorimetric detection at the picomole level. The system enables sensitive amino acid analysis of complex mixtures to be carried out by clinical and research laboratories who already possess HPLC apparatus but whose sample turnover does not merit purchase of a dedicated fully automated analyser.     

(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile as a chiral dienophile: diels-alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes

The behavior of (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile (1) as a chiral dienophile has been evaluated from its reactions with furan and acyclic dienes. Electrostatic interactions of the cyano group with the sulfinyl one restrict the conformational mobility around the C-S bond, thus controlling the pi-facial selectivity, which is almost complete in all cases, the approach of the diene from the less-hindered face of the dienophile (that bearing the lone electron pair) in the predominant rotamer being the favored one. The regioselectivity is also completely controlled by the cyano group. Additionally, the reactivity of compound 1 as well as its endo-selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (Z)-3-sulfinylacrylates, thus proving the potential of sulfinylnitriles as chiral dienophiles.