On the alkaloids of strychnos—xxxvi: The alkaloids of strychnos hirsuta spruce exbentham; two new β-carbolinic alkaloids,strychnohirsutine and tetradehydrostrychnohirsutine

The structures and configurations of two new β-carbolinic alkaloids, strychnohirsutine 1 and tetra-dehydrostrychnohirsutine 2, isolated from stem and root bark of Strychnos hirsuta, were reported. ¹H NMR data of N,O-diacetylstrychnohirsutine 5 and ¹H and ¹³C NMR data of O-acetyltetradehydrostrychnohirsutine 4 were listed. Alkaloid 1 was converted into 2 by catalytic dehydrogenation.     

In vivo total body chlorine measurements using prompt-gamma neutron activation analysis

Total body chlorine (TBC1) provides an estimate of extracellular water. We have examined the feasibility of measuring TBC1 using the 5.6, 6.1, and 8.6 MeV C1 peaks produced during in vivo prompt-gamma neutron activation (dose<0.3 mSv). In subjects, background interference permitted the use of only the 8.6 MeV peak in C1 analysis. Preliminary analyses of the prompt-gamma spectra for 33 healthy females (ages: 24–40 yr) provided a mean estimate of 0.85 g C1 per kg body weight. It is therefore feasible to measure TBC1 concurrently with body nitrogen using relatively low-dose prompt-gamma neutron activation analysis.     

Stacking and discontinuous buffers in capillary zone electrophoresis

Discontinuous buffers for capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) can be used under less rigid conditions compared to those for isotachophoresis for stacking. They can be prepared simply by modifying the sample itself, either by addition of small inorganic ions, low conductivity diluents, or both, and also by adjusting its pH, meanwhile injecting a large volume on the capillary. Zwitterionic and organic-based buffers such as triethanolamine and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) are well suited for stacking due to their low conductivity, provided the buffer is discontinuous as demonstrated here. A simple mechanism based on discontinuous buffers is described to explain many of the observed stacking types in CZE, pointing out the many similarities to transient isotachophoresis.     

Utilisation d'un “blanc interferences” dans la determination des nitrates par potentiometrie selective

(Use of an interference blank in the determination of nitrate by ion-selective potentiometry.) During selective potentiometry of nitrate in meat product additives, a new interference originating from polyphosphate ions was encountered. The selectivity coefficients measured were 5 × 10^?2 for tripolyphosphate, 10^?2 for chloride, 8 × 10^?4 for pentapolyphosphate and 6 × 10^?4 for pyrophosphate. An “interference blank” techniques is proposed; nitrate is destroyed in the medium to be studied, so that calibration is possible in the presence of interfering substances regardless of their identity or concentration. The method is successfully applied to monitoring of meat product additives.     

Research on the aromas. On the aroma of coffee. I

The analysis of a coffee concentrate is described: 202 constituents have been identified, 154 of which for the first time. Some of these compounds are new chemicals; their synthesis is described. Most identifications are based upon mass spectrometry combined in many cases with IR. spectrometry and comparison with reference compounds. MS. and IR. data are given in detail. The analysis shows that a large number of minor constituents is present, many of which could not be identified.     

Some peculiarities of the molecular structure of porphine and its complexes

A qualitative analysis of certain peculiarities of the porphine molecule and its complexes compared with the phthalocyanine molecule is made by evaluating the -electron charges of bonds in these compounds by means of G. V. Bykov's semi -empirical linear equation. Acid-base, oxidation-reduction, and coordination properties of porphine are examined. It is shown that differences in chemical properties of porphines and tetraporphines can be explained by differences in -electron charges of bonds.     

Inhibitory effects of glycyrrhetic acid derivatives on 11 beta- and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases of rat liver.

Glycyrrhetic acid (GA), an aglycone of glycyrrhizin (GL), is a potent inhibitor of 11 beta- and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. 11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity of rat liver microsomes was potently inhibited by GA, 3-deoxyglycyrrhetic acid (3-deoxyGA), 3-ketoglycyrrhetic acid (3-ketoGA), 3-epiglycyrrhetic acid (3-epiGA) and 11-deoxoglycyrrhetic acid (11-deoxoGA), with I50 values of 2-4 x 10(-7) M. However, 18 alpha-stereoisomers (I50 = 3-7 x 10(-6) M) of GA, 3-deoxyGA and 11-deoxoGA were one tenth less inhibitory on the enzyme activity than the corresponding 18 beta-isomers. On the other hand, 18 alpha-stereoisomers of GA, 3-deoxyGA and 11-deoxoGA inhibited 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity of rat liver cytosol more potently than the corresponding 18 beta-isomers. I50 values of 18 alpha- and 18 beta-isomers were 2 and 7 x 10(-6) M, respectively, in the case of GA, 8 and 20 x 10(-6) M in 3-deoxyGA, 3 and 20 x 10(-6) M in 11-deoxoGA. These results indicate that the 18 beta-conformation of oleanane is important for the inhibition of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase but on the contrary the 18 alpha-conformation is important for the inhibition of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate. II. Synthesis of D-poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and the mechanism of ring-opening polymerization of β-butyrolactone

Synthesis of the naturally occurring polyester, D -poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was accomplished by using an optically active monomer. Polymerization of D -(+)-β-butyrolactone (β-BL) of 73% optical purity with a catalyst system of Et₃Al–H₂O produced a polymer with a similar optical activity and essentially identical to the natural polymer as isolated from bacterial cells. This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of this optically active polyester along with a suggested mechanism to account for the observed stereospecific polymerization of β-BL with this catalyst system.