Thermolyzed products of naphth[1,2-d]imidazo[2,1-b]-thiazole-2,3-dione

Themolysis of naphth[1,2-d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-2,3-dione ( 1 ) in dimethylformamide gave an intermediate 2-isocyanatonaphtho[1,2-d]thiazole ( 2 ), which underwent [4 + 4] cyclodimerization to yield dinaphtho-[1″,2″:4,5;1′″,2′″:4′,5′]dithiazolo[3,2-a:3′,2′-e]-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine-9,19-dione ( 3 ). The possible [4 + 2] cycloadduct, 3-(2-naphtho-[1,2-d]-thiazolyl)naphtho[1′,2′:4,5]thiazolo[3,2-a]-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dione ( 4 ), an usual dimer type of heterocyclic isocyanates was not produced. Discrimination between the two isomers was established on the basis of spectral analyses.     

UVA-Potentiated Damage to Calf Thymus DNA by Fenton Reaction System and Protection by para-Aminobenzoic Acid

Abstract— Calf thymus DNA was irradiated with low-intensity UVA (main output at 365 nm, 2 mW cm^?2 or 36 kj m ² for 30 min), and the role of metal ions, hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was examined. DNA damage was measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (possibly from degradation of deoxyribose) and as changes in ethidium bromide-DNA fluorescence due to unwinding from strand breaks. Under the present experimental conditions, UVA alone or in the presence of H₂0₂ had no effect on DNA but slightly enhanced the damage by iron/EDTA. Ultraviolet A strongly enhanced DNA damage (ca four- to five-fold) by the Fenton reaction system (50 μM Fe²⁺/100 μM EDTA + 0.5 mM H₂0₂). The results suggest that the Fenton reaction system was “photosensitized” to damage DNA by low-intensity UVA radiation. The enhanced damage by UVA was attributed in part to the reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺. Ultraviolet A had no effect when iron (ferric or ferrous) ions were replaced by Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺ or Cd²⁺. The ROS involved in the UVA-enhanced damage to DNA by the Fenton reagents were OH and, to a lesser extent, superoxide anions. The UVA-potentiated DNA damage by the Fenton reaction system was then used to examine the protective effect of para-aminobenzoate (PABA), a UVB-absorbing sunscreen that protects against photocarcinogenesis in hairless mice. The results show that PABA and mannitol dose-dependently inhibited the damage with concentrations required for 50% inhibition at 0.1 mM and 3 mM, respectively. The protection by PABA was attributed to its radical-scavenging ability because PABA does not absorb light in the UVA region. These findings may be relevant to the biological damage by UVA and suggest that PABA is useful in protection against photocarcinogenesis by wide-range UV radiation.     

Immobilized Aspergillus Oryzae Protease Catalyzed Formation of Peptide Bonds in Organic Solvent

Immobilized Aspergillus oryzae protease (AOP) catalyzed the formation of peptide bonds between TV-protected amino acids and amino acid esters or amides in ethyl acetate. The influences of pH and reaction time on the coupling of Boc-L -Tyr and Gly-NH₂ were studied. The optimal reaction condition for this enzyme catalyzed synthesis of Boc-L -Phe-Gly-NH₂ (98.66%) was at pH 5.5 and a duration of 48 hours.     

Epoxidized HTPB‐based Polyurethane Membranes for Pervaporation Separation

Polyurethane (PU) solutions were synthesized with hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), 4,4′‐dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI) and 1,4‐butanediol (1,4‐BD). PU membranes were prepared by dry/wet method from PU solutions, while epoxidized membranes were prepared by dipping the dried PU membranes into a mixture of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide for the reaction with C=C double bonds of HTPB soft segments. The extent of epoxidized reaction, which forms epoxide or ether groups, on the PU membranes was quantified by the absorbance ratio of the epoxide group to the butadiene group (A_epoxide/A_C=C ratio). Effect of epoxidized time on the polymer composition, morphology, and polarity of these HTPB‐based PUs was investigated by FTIR‐ATR, DMA and contact angle meter. Both permeabilities and permselectivity of a water/ethanol mixture, which is measured by pervaporation method, were improved through the epoxidation of PU membranes.     

Effects of glucose and mannose on the flocculation behavior of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at different life stages

The temporal flocculation behavior of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at different life stages is investigated using glucose and mannose as the different carbon sources, and the temporal variations of cell size, zeta potential and stability ratio of cell suspension are measured. It is found that the largest cell size and the lowest stability ratio of cell suspension occurred at the middle period of the exponential growth phase independent of carbon sources. The colloidal aspect was analyzed by using the DLVO theory, and indicated that the gravitational force plays a major role in determining the flocculation behavior of yeast cells.     

Enhancing stability and oxidation activity of cytochrome C by immobilization in the nanochannels of mesoporous aluminosilicates

Hydrothermally stable and structrurally ordered mesoporous and microporous aluminosilicates with different pore sizes have been synthesized to immobilize cytochrome c (cyt c): MAS-9 (pore size 90 A), MCM-48-S (27 A), MCM-41-S (25 A), and Y zeolites (7.4 A). The amount of cyt c adsorption could be increased by the introduction of aluminum into the framework of pure silica materials. Among these mesoprous silicas (MPS), MAS-9 showed the highest loading capacity due to its large pore size. However, cyt c immobilized in MAS-9 could undergo facile unfolding during hydrothermal treatments. MCM-41-S and MCM-48-S have the pore sizes that match well the size of cyt c (25 x 25 x 37 A). Hence the adsorbed cyt c in these two medium pore size MPS have the highest hydrothermal stability and overall catalytic activity. On the other hand, the pore size of NaY zeolite is so small that cyt c is mostly adsorbed only on the outer surface and loses its enzymatic activity rapidly. The improved stability and high catalytic activity of cyt c immobilized in MPS are attributed to the electrostatic attraction between the pore surface and cyt c and the confinement provided by nanochannels. We further observed that cyt c immobilized in MPS exists in both high and low spin states, as inferred from the ESR and UV-vis studies. This is different from the native cyt c, which shows primarily the low spin state. The high spin state arises from the replacement of Met-80 ligands of heme Fe (III) by water or silanol group on silica surface, which could open up the heme groove for easy access of oxidants and substrates to iron center and facilitate the catalytic activity. In the catalytic study, MAS-9-cyt c showed the highest specific activity toward the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which arises from the fast mass transfer rate of reaction substrate due to its large pore size. For pinacyanol (a hydrophilic substrate), MCM-41-S-cyt c and MCM-48-S-cyt c showed higher specific activity than NaY-cyt c and MAS-9-cyt c. The result indicated that cyt c embedded in the channels of MCM-41-S and MCM-48-S was protected against unfolding and loss of activity. By increasing the concentration of the spin trapping agent, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) in ESR experiments, we showed that cyt c catalyzes a homolytic cleavage of the O-O bond of hydroperoxide and generates a protein cation radical (g = 2.00). Possible mechanisms for MPS-cyt c catalytic oxidation of hydroperoxides and PAHs are proposed based on the spectroscopic characterizations of the systems.     

Poly[(3-hydroxypropyl) oxirane] and poly[(4-hydroxybutyl)oxirane]: New hydrophilic polyether elastomers

Preparations of poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane] and poly[(4-hydroxybutyl)oxirane] are described. Three routes to poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane] are discussed, each of which involves the methanolysis of a polymeric ester. (3-Acetoxypropyl)oxirane, [3-(m-chlorobenzoyloxy)propyl]oxirane, and (3-chloropropyl)oxirane were polymerized using the AIEt₃/H₂O/AcAc initiator system. Poly[(3-acetoxypropyl)oxirane] and poly{[3-(m-chlorobenzoyloxy)propyl]oxirane} were converted directly to poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane] by methanolysis, the former under either acidic or basic conditions only. Poly[(3-chloropropyl)oxirane] was first converted to poly[(3-benzoyloxypropyl)oxirane] by treatment with tetrabutylammonium benzoate; subsequent basic methanolysis then afforded poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane]. Poly[(3-hydroxypropyl)oxirane] is a colorless elastomer which can be cast into tough, clear films from water or methanol. Poly[(4-hydroxybutyl)oxirane] was prepared from poly[(4-chlorobutyl)oxirane] by benzoyloxylation and subsequent methanolysis. Poly[(4-hydroxybutyl)oxirane] is insoluble in water, but is hydrophilic and can be cast into tough films from methanol or dimethylsulfoxide.     

Crown Ether As The Phase-Transfer Catalyst for Free Radical Polymerization of Hydrophobic Vinyl Monomers

Various crown ethers were used as phase-transfer catalysts for free radical polymerizations of some water-insoluble vinyl monomers such as acrylonitrile, methylmethacrylate and styrene with persulfate as initiator. The catalytic abilities of these crown ethers for free radical polymerization of acrylonitrile with S₂O₈^2?ion as an initiator were in the order: 18-crown-6 > 15-crown-4 > 12-crown-4 > benzo-15-crown-5 > dibenzo-18-crown-6. Among various persulfates such as Na₂S₂O₈ K₂S₂O₈ and (NH₄)₂S₂O₈, ammonium persulfate was the optimum initiator for the polymerization of acrylonitrile catalyzed by 18-crown-6 or 15-crown-5. Among the organic solvents used, chloroform seems to be the best solvent for the catalytic polymerization of acrylonitrile. An apparent activation energy of 72.9 kJ mol^?1 was observed for the polymerization of acrylonitrile. The catalytic reaction rates of free radical polymerization for these hydrophobic vinyl monomers were in the order: acrylonitrile > methylmethacrylate > styrene > isoprene. Effects of concentrations of crown ether, initiator, and nitrogen on the polymerization of these vinyl monomers were investigated.     

Access to the syntheses of sydnonyl-substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones and 1,3-dihydro-indol-2-ones by modified Knoevenagel reaction

A convenient method for the preparation of sydnonyl-substituted α, β-unsaturated ketones, based on Knoevenagel condensation, is presented. Although well known, this reaction has never been utilized in the condensation involving sydnone derivatives. Thus, 3-aryl-4-formylsydnones (1) are reacted with active methylene compounds such as acetylacetone (2a), ethyl acetoacetate (2b), diethyl malonate (2c), malononitrile (4a), ethyl cyanoacetate (4b) and cyanoacetamide (4c) by modified Knoevenagel condensation to afford multifunctional derivatives. Also, sydnonyl-substituted 1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one derivatives 10 were synthesized successfully by condensing 3-aryl-4-formylsydnones (1) with oxindoles 9.     

Synthesis of aryl- and heteroaryl[a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles

Synthesis of aryl- and hetero[a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazoles by photochemical oxidation and Heck cyclization are described. Photochemical oxidation of 2-naphthyl indolyl maleimide affords two different carbazole regioisomers, depending on the reaction conditions. The regiochemistry of the cyclization can be controlled using the Heck reaction.