Microstructural investigation of monoglyceride-water coagel systems by NMR and CryoSEM

Monoglyceride coagels consist of a network of plate-like crystals and are formed from a swollen gel state (alpha-gel). In order to resolve the transition mechanism, coagels were prepared with monoglycerides that differ in fatty acid composition (monomyristate and palmitate/stearate, respectively). Rheology provided information on kinetics of coagel formation and the strength of the resulting crystal network. From NMR measurements, the surface-to-volume ratio, tortuosity, and dimensionality of the network were obtained. These findings were in line with qualitative and quantitative structural information obtained from CryoSEM. As a model for the behaviour of non-monoglyceride species, the dynamics of (perdeuterated) palmitic acid was monitored in both alpha-gels and coagels. The experimental data support a two-stage mechanism. In the first stage, two-dimensional separation of D- and L-isomers in the monoglyceride bilayers of the alpha-gel occurs. This process depends primarily on lateral diffusion rate of the monoglycerides. Palmitic acid can be accommodated in the alpha-gel bilayer, but in the coagels it is separated into relative mobile and mechanically weak junction zones between the crystal plates. In the second stage of coagel formation, the crystal plates also grow in the third dimension. Both monoglyceride type and concentration determine the kinetics of this process.     

The structure of mammalian fatty acid synthase turned back to front

On page 1667 of this issue, Stuart Smith and colleagues [1] demonstrate that the animal fatty acid synthase is a head-to-head dimer rather than the head-to-tail dimer depicted in textbooks. This has important ramifications for the mechanisms of other multifunctional enzymes such as polyketide synthases [2].     

Chromatographic study of anionic complexes

Summary In this paper we have reported our results on the attempted separation of copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II) and iron(III) in mixtures by filter paper strip chromatography, using aqueous ethanol as solvent. The effect of the presence of varying concentrations of citrate ion as a complexing agent in the mixtures has been studied. The complexing agent has been added in the metal solution, and not in the solvent as usually done by previous workers.     

Self-repairing polymers: poly(dioxaborolane)s containing trigonal planar boron

The molecular weight of poly(dioxaborolane)s can be controlled during the polymerization reaction or through post-polymerization processing in such a manner that hydrolytic damage to these materials may be repaired, thereby regenerating the polymer.     

A comparison of two methods for the preparation of 3-Deazapurine ribonucleosides

The reaction of the trimethylsilyl derivative of 4,6-dichloroimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine with 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl- D -ribofuranosyl bromide gave four nucleosides-the α- and β-anomers of the 1-isomer and the α- and β-anomers of the 3-isomer (3.9:2.7:1.5:1). In contrast, the fusion reaction of 4,6-dichloroimidazo[4,5-c ]pyridine with 1,2,3,5-tetra-O-acetyl-β- D -ribofuranose gave a high yield of the 1-β-isomer, which was converted to the known 3-deazaadenosine (4-amino-l-β- D -ribofuranosylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine).     

Localized orbitals in hydrogen bonded systems

The localized molecular orbitals for a variety of hydrogen bonded systems are obtained from their INDO and CNDO/2 wavefunctions. The bonding of these systems is qualitatively discussed in light of the localized orbitals.     

A new entry to the isogeissoschizoid skeleton

[reaction: see text] The tetracyclic isogeissoschizoid skeleton has been prepared by a novel route that involves the ozonolysis and double reductive amination of a cyclopentene, a nickel-catalyzed cyclization, and a late-stage Fischer indole synthesis.     

A study of the reaction of bicyclo[5.1.0]octa-2,5-diene with sulphur dioxide

Thermally-induced reaction between bicyclo[5.1.0]octa-2,5-diene (I) and sulphur dioxide under dry conditions is toluene-d₈ as solvent leads to the unexpected formation of the hitherto unknown diene sulphone 7-thiabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4-diene 7,7-dioxide (II).     

Direct measurement of the radiative lifetime of the A2Σ+(υ′ = 0, K′ = 1, J′ = 32) state of OH and OD

The radiative lifetime of the A²Σ⁺(υ′ = 0, K′ = 1, J′ = 3/2) state of OH and OD has been directly measured by following the decay of fluorescence excited by light from a frequency doubled dye laser. Stern-Volmer extrapolation of the results to zero pressure gave τ(OH) = 788 ± 13 ns and τ(OD) = 754 ± 12 ns.     

CHLOROPHYLL ONE-ELECTRON PHOTOCHEMISTRY-II. PHOTOSENSITIZATION BY CHLOROPHYLL,PHEOPHYTIN AND BACTERIOCHLOROPHYLL OF A ONE-ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTION BETWEEN ETHANOL AND QUINONE*

Abstract— Chlorophyll, pheophytin and bacteriochlorophyll sensitize a one-electron transfer in the presence of quinones in ethanol, to produce a ternary complex of ground state porphyrin analog, alcohol cation radical and semiquinone anion radical as the primary photo-product at low temperature. A similar photo-oxidation of alcohol to produce a binary complex is caused by direct excitation of quin-one in the absence of chlorophyll. The mechanisms of these reactions and their implications for photosynthesis are discussed.