Vibrational circular dichroism: a new spectroscopic tool for biomolecular structural determination

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) in the past two decades has developed into a powerful new structural tool. A concise review of the applications of VCD to determine the structures of various biological molecules, namely peptides and proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates, is provided.     

Gradient elution capillary electrochromatography and hyphenation with nuclear magnetic resonance

Coupling of gradient capillary electrochromatography (gradient CEC) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) was performed using a recently developed capillary NMR interface. This technique was applied for the analysis of pharmaceuticals and food. An analgesic was investigated using isocratic and gradient continuous-flow CEC-NMR. Comparison of the results demonstrated the superiority of gradient CEC over isocratic CEC. Aspartame and caffeine, both ingredients of soft beverages, were separated and analyzed by continuous flow CZE-NMR. The order of elution could be reversed by altering the pH. This reversal led to an increased sample concentration in the NMR detection cell, thus allowing the acquisition of a totally correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY) two-dimensional (2-D) spectrum of the synthetic peptide aspartame.     

Electron-donor-acceptor complexing reagents in the analysis of pesticides. VI

Summary Pesticides may be detected following thin-layer chromatography by spraying the chromatogram with a reagent which forms a-complex with the pesticide. The effect of various pesticide structures and substituents in choosing a suitable-complexing reagent is discussed, as well as the effect of these factors in influencing the colour of the complex formed. Quantitative analyses may be performedin situ on the thin-layer chromatogram and positive identification of the-complexed compounds may be made by mass spectrometry. The procedure should be applicable for formulation analysis or studies of pesticide decomposition.

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Zusammenfassung Zum Nachweis von Pestiziden besprüht man deren Dünnschichtchromatogramme (DC) mit einem zur Bildung eines-Komplexes geeigneten Reagens. Die Bedeutung verschiedener Pestizidstrukturen und -Substituenten bei der Wahl eines solchen Reagens wurde erörtert; ebenso der Einfluß der genannten Faktoren auf die Farbe des Komplexes. Quantitative Bestimmungen lassen sich unmittelbar auf dem DC, Nachweise der einzelnen komplexierten Verbindungen mit Hilfe der Massenspektrometrie durchführen. Das Verfahren eignet sich zur Strukturanalyse sowie zur Untersuchung von Pestizidabbauproblemen.

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Issued as NRCC No. 13120.     

Mittlere ringe-XIII Die intramolekulare acylierung der ω-(1-naphthyl)-fettsäuren

The intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclisation of ω-arylalkanoic acids, which is in the benzene series a valuable synthetic route to bicyclic ketones with medium-sized and large rings, has been investigated with ω-(1-naphthyl)alkanoyl chlorides. The lower members, including naphthyl-caproic acid, close the ring at position 2 to form IV. The higher homologous acids show a preference for annellation at 7, making available a new type of heteronuclear naphthalene cyclic ketones (VII). During cyclisation of ω-(1-naphthyl) decanoic acid, the 1,4 ring closure competes with the 1,7 type.

Steric hindrance of resonance as a consequence of “medium ring torsion” was studied in different classes of naphthocyclenones.     

Preparative method of obtaining L- and D-2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acids

Summary A preparative method was developed for obtaining L-and D-2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acids by the separation of racemic 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid with the aid of D-and L-threo-2-amino-1-p-nitrophenyl-1,3-propanediols.     

Sorption of butane, propane, ethane, methane, and carbon dioxide on asphaltene

Isotherms of sorption of butane, propane, ethane, methane, and carbon dioxide on an asphaltene sample of known elemental composition were measured. The effect of the pressure and temperature on the shape the sorption isotherms for all the adsorption systems studied was examined. The values of the initial heat of sorption were determined and compared to the energies of interaction of the molecules with asphaltene. The results obtained suggest that asphaltene is a swellable amorphous sorbent.     

Co-Pt bimetallic catalysts for the selective oxidation of carbon monoxide in hydrogen-containing mixtures

The performance of a Co-Pt powder and of Co-Pt catalysts supported on γ-Al₂O₃ and on the graphite-like carbon material Sibunit in selective CO oxidation in hydrogen-containing mixtures is considered. Fine particles of metal-metal solid solutions and intermetallides were obtained by the decomposition of a Co- and Pt-containing double complex salt in a hydrogen atmosphere at ～400°C. As compared to their Pt and Co monometallic counterparts, the bimetallic catalysts are more active and allow the CO concentration in hydrogen-containing mixtures to be reduced from 1 to 10^?3 vol %. This effect is likely due to the formation of bimetallic particles of a Co-Pt solid solution on the support surface.