Molecular modelling with spherical Gaussians

A mathematical model of a molecule is proposed. The electronic structure is described using a molecular orbital wave function constructed from a small number of spherical Gaussians with optimized parameters. The models exhibit the desirable properties of numerical stability, objectivity and transferability. Results are given for CH₄, C₂H₆, cyclo-propane, H₂O, CH₂O and C₂H₄. They can be given a chemical interpretation in terms of chemical bonds, lone pairs and atomic cusps.     

Relationships between flow and NMR relaxation of fluids in porous solids.

Measurements are presented which correlate the displacements, X(Delta), determined by PGSE NMR, with the multi-mode transverse 1H NMR relaxation of water flowing through a glass bead pack, for which the dominant relaxation mechanism is diffusion through inhomogeneous internal magnetic fields. Analytical solution for the joint amplitude A[X(Delta), T(2k)] for the case of laminar flow in a circular pipe, with a diffusion-to-surface mechanism, shows that, for other than the lowest mode (k = 0), the contributions to the observed relaxation for a given X(Delta) may involve negative as well as positive amplitudes. The experimental measurements are shown to agree with this general conclusion, showing clear evidence of the presence of relaxation modes with negative amplitude at larger values of X(Delta). It is shown that in these, or similar measurements, which provide a spatially-resolved view of surface-mediated relaxation, allowance must be made for fitting with both positive and negative amplitudes.     

Diffusion of D2O in archaeological wood measured by 1-D NMR profiles

1-D¹H nuclear magnetic resonance profiles have been used to image the penetration of D₂O into waterlogged archaeological wood. A series of well characterised plugs were sampled from different depths, reflecting different degrees of degradation and orientation with respect to the wood structure, of an oak timber from the Mary Rose. The ingress of D₂O was Fickian in character and the diffusion coefficients,D, are reported as a function of depth into the timber for each orientation. The behaviour ofD could be approximated by a surface layer, with a higher diffusion coefficient, and a lower diffusion core region. The differences in the values ofD in the different orientations are rationalised in terms of the known structure of decayed wood. Theoretical uptake curves were calculated from a numerical evaluation of the analytical solution for diffusion into a multiple-layer model. Saturation of the surface layer was predicted to occur prior to diffusion into the core, with a characteristic change of gradient displayed in the uptake curve. Good agreement was achieved with experiments that sampled the different decay environments. Concentration distributions, and uptake curves, were calculated using these models for a typical archaeological timber.     

Structural Feature Ions for Distinguishing N- and O-Linked Glycan Isomers by LC-ESI-IT MS/MS

Glycomics is the comprehensive study of glycan expression in an organism, cell, or tissue that relies on effective analytical technologies to understand glycan structure–function relationships. Owing to the macro- and micro-heterogeneity of oligosaccharides, detailed structure characterization has required an orthogonal approach, such as a combination of specific exoglycosidase digestions, LC-MS/MS, and the development of bioinformatic resources to comprehensively profile a complex biological sample. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) has emerged as a key tool in the structural analysis of oligosaccharides because of its high sensitivity, resolution, and robustness. Here, we present a strategy that uses LC-ESI-MS/MS to characterize over 200 N- and O-glycans from human saliva glycoproteins, complemented by sequential exoglycosidase treatment, to further verify the annotated glycan structures. Fragment-specific substructure diagnostic ions were collated from an extensive screen of the literature available on the detailed structural characterization of oligosaccharides and, together with other specific glycan structure feature ions derived from cross-ring and glycosidic-linkage fragmentation, were used to characterize the glycans and differentiate isomers. The availability of such annotated mass spectrometric fragmentation spectral libraries of glycan structures, together with such substructure diagnostic ions, will be key inputs for the future development of the automated elucidation of oligosaccharide structures from MS/MS data.

1,1,1-Trifluoropropan-2-ammonium triflate enantiomers: stereoselective synthesis and direct use in reaction with epoxides

A three-step synthesis of enantiomerically enriched 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanamine based on the use of a chiral sulfinamide auxiliary is described. The reduction of the geometrically pure Z-sulfinimine (NOE, HOE) with NaBH₄ or l-Selectride leads to the corresponding (R)- or (S)-configured amine derivatives (X-ray crystallographic analysis) with 92–96% de. The typical models to explain the stereoselection for these reducing agents fail to rationalize the obtained stereoselectivities, and an in situ imine isomerization is proposed to occur. The direct use of the hydrochloric acid salt (with excess Et₃N) of this poorly nucleophilic amine for epoxide opening reactions is not possible due to the higher nucleophilicity of chloride. Hence, a novel triflate salt is introduced, synthesized through ready sulfinamide hydrolysis with trimethylsilyl triflate, which can be used directly, without the need of isolating the pure amine beforehand.     

Essential Oil Profile and Yield of Corolla,Calyx, Leaf,and Whole Flowering Top of Cultivated Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae) from Utah

Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (lavender) is an essential-oil-bearing plant in the Lamiaceae family. Volatile oil produced through the steam distillation of lavender was examined to establish the essential oil yield and aromatic profile from each portion of the plant—namely, the corolla, calyx, leaf, and whole flowering top. The resulting essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The different plant parts generally shared similar compounds but in varying relative percentages. Aromatic profiles of the whole flowering top and calyx were similar, with prominent compounds being linalool acetate (34.3%, 32.0%), linalool (26.5%, 32.9%), lavandulyl acetate (5.6%, 4.9%), terpinen-4-ol (5.3%, 7.0%), and (Z)-β-ocimene (4.5%, 5.4%), respectively. Aromatic profiles for the corolla and leaf were unique. Prominent aromatic compounds of the corolla included linalool acetate (18.4%), linalool (10.8%), epi-α-cadinol (10.0%), borneol (7.3%), and lavandulyl acetate (6.3%). Prominent aromatic compounds of the leaf included epi-α-cadinol (19.8%), γ-cadinene (11.0%), borneol (6.0%), caryophyllene oxide (4.9%), and bornyl acetate (4.8%). Complete profiles and essential oil yields of corolla, calyx, leaf, and whole flowering top were established. This study establishes the influence the corolla, calyx, and leaf exert on the aromatic profile of the whole flowering top and provides insight into authentication of lavender essential oil.     

Aquaculture Production of the Brown Seaweeds Laminaria digitata and Macrocystis pyrifera: Applications in Food and Pharmaceuticals

Seaweeds have a long history of use as food, as flavouring agents, and find use in traditional folk medicine. Seaweed products range from food, feed, and dietary supplements to pharmaceuticals, and from bioenergy intermediates to materials. At present, 98% of the seaweed required by the seaweed industry is provided by five genera and only ten species. The two brown kelp seaweeds Laminaria digitata, a native Irish species, and Macrocystis pyrifera, a native New Zealand species, are not included in these eleven species, although they have been used as dietary supplements and as animal and fish feed. The properties associated with the polysaccharides and proteins from these two species have resulted in increased interest in them, enabling their use as functional foods. Improvements and optimisations in aquaculture methods and bioproduct extractions are essential to realise the commercial potential of these seaweeds. Recent advances in optimising these processes are outlined in this review, as well as potential future applications of L. digitata and, to a greater extent, M. pyrifera which, to date, has been predominately only wild-harvested. These include bio-refinery processing to produce ingredients for nutricosmetics, functional foods, cosmeceuticals, and bioplastics. Areas that currently limit the commercial potential of these two species are highlighted.     

The precipitation of alkaline-earth metal and transition metal oxalates from aqueous solution. Induction periods and nucleation rates

The precipitation of magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium oxalates and of manganous, ferrous, cobalt, nickel and copper oxalates was studied from equivalent aqueous solutions at 22°C: the initial overall concentrations (C) generally varied from 0.001 to 0.2 M and the saturation ratios (S_mox) varied from <10 to >3000. The induction periods before the main growth surge were measured and nucleation rates were determined from final crystal numbers and induction periods. Precipitation occurred through homogenous nucleation: the critical nuclei in supersaturated alkaline-earth metal oxalate solutions were formed by aggregation of 6–8 M⁺⁺Ox⁻ ion-pairs while the critical nuclei in supersaturated transition metal oxalate solutions were formed by aggregation of 6–8 MOx complexes (to units of 3–4 M⁺⁺MOx₂⁻ ion-pairs). Over the range studied, the nucleation rates then varied with saturation ratios according to the relation, Nucleation rates at any saturation ratio decreased in the order Mg > Sr, Ba > Ca and Fe > Mn > Co, Cu > Ni; that is, generally in the order of increasing M⁺⁺–Ox⁻ and M⁺⁺–MOx₂⁻ bond strengths and increasing surface energies of the metal oxalate crystals. Induction periods decreased with increasing-concentration and saturation ratio; over The factors t _C1 and t _S1 depended in turn on the ‘rate constants’ for nucleation and growth during the induction periods and on metal oxalate solubilities.