The change of aromaticity along a Diels-Alder reaction path

[reaction: see text] Quinodimethanes are highly reactive toward dienophiles since Diels-Alder cycloaddition results in an aromatic product. Density functional-based (13)C, (1)H NMR, NICS, and MO-NICS calculations indicate that the increase of aromatic character of the developing benzenoid ring along the reaction path is especially pronounced after the transition state is reached, even though the number of pi orbitals decreases. The forming aliphatic ring exhibits large ring current effects during the reaction.     

Absolute Configuration of 3-Substituted 1-Azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes

The l-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-exo-ol ( 2 ) was resolved by fractional crystallisation of its hydrogen tartrate salts. The enantiomers (+)- and (?)- 2 were oxidised to the ketones (?)- 4 and (+)- 4 , respectively (Scheme). CD spectroscopy suggested that (?)- 4 possesses the (1R,4S)-configuration. This absolute configuration was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction of the derivative (+)-(1R,4R)-3-(1,3-dithian-2-ylidene)-1-azabicyclo [2.2.1]-heptane ((+)- 5 ).     

Synthesis of stable and cell-type selective analogues of cyclic ADP-ribose, a Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messenger. Structure--activity relationship of the N1-ribose moiety

We previously developed cyclic ADP-carbocyclic ribose (cADPcR, 2) as a stable mimic of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR, 1), a Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messenger. A series of the N1-ribose modified cADPcR analogues, designed as novel stable mimics of cADPR, which were the 2"-deoxy analogue 3, the 3"-deoxy analogue 4, the 3"-deoxy-2"-O-(methoxymethyl) analogue 5, the 3"-O-methyl analogue 6, the 2",3"-dideoxy analogue 7, and the 2",3"-dideoxydidehydro analogue 8, were successfully synthesized using the key intramolecular condensation reaction with phenylthiophosphate-type substrates. We investigated the conformations of these analogues and of cADPR and found that steric repulsion between both the adenine and N9-ribose moieties and between the adenine and N1-ribose moieties was a determinant of the conformation. The Ca(2+)-mobilizing effects were evaluated systematically using three different biological systems, i.e., sea urchin eggs, NG108-15 neuronal cells, and Jurkat T-lymphocytes. The relative potency of Ca(2+)-mobilization by these cADPR analogues varies depending on the cell-type used: e.g., 3"-deoxy-cADPcR (4) > cADPcR (2) > cADPR (1) in sea urchin eggs; cADPR (1) > cADPcR (2) approximately 3"-deoxy-cADPcR (4) in T-cells; and cADPcR (2) > cADPR (1) > 3"-deoxy-cADPcR (4) in neuronal cells, respectively. These indicated that the target proteins and/or the mechanism of action of cADPR in sea urchin eggs, T-cells, and neuronal cells are different. Thus, this study represents an entry to cell-type selective cADPR analogues, which can be used as biological tools and/or novel drug leads.     

Modern strategies for PC-supported spectral analysis of 1D NMR data

 Analysis of high-resolution NMR spectra elucidation has been known for many years. Hard-and software development now permits the implementation of such programs on personal computers. The structural information hidden in complex proton NMR spectra becomes easily accessible by using graphical user interfaces and direct data exchange between programs. A new mode has been implemented in 1D WIN-NMR to support the analysis of multiplet patterns with first order rules. Structure display, direct export mechanisms to the simulation program WIN-DAISY, and an archiving possibility complete the state-of-the-art data analysis. Some practical examples are given. Received: 25 October 1996/Revised: 6 March 1997/Accepted: 10 March 1997     

Anisotropic rotations in 1-naphthylamine. Existence of a red-edge transition moment normal to the ring plane

The rotational motions of 1-naphthylamine in propylene glycol are investigated by means of steady-state flourescence polarization measurements and differential polarized phase flourometry, on excitation at various wavelengths. For excitation at 370 nm the average rotational rate is faster than for excitation at shorter wavelength and the rotations are clearly anisotropic. On excitation from 370nm to the red edge of the spectrum (390 nm) the average rotational rate slows down by a factor of two and the rotations become nearly isotropic. The results reveal the possible existence of an excited state generated preferentially by excitation at the edge of the absorption, in which the transition moments in both absorption and emission are prependicular to the plane of the aromatic rings.     

A possible interaction between gravity and the electric field

A charged parallel plate capacitor contains less electric energy when its plates are oriented parallel to a gravitational field than it contains when its plates are oriented perpendicular to the same field. If this energy difference can be detected by an observer located inside the field, then the capacitor should experience a torque until the electric field is perpendicular to the radial direction.     

Synthese und Struktur hochfunktionalisierter 2, 3‐Dihydro‐1H‐1, 3, 2‐diazaborole

Synthesis and Structure of Highly Functionalized 2, 3‐Dihydro‐1H‐1, 3, 2‐diazaboroles A series of differently substituted 2, 3‐dihydro‐1H‐1, 3, 2‐diazaboroles has been prepared by various methods. 1, 3‐Di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐trimethylsilylmethyl‐1H‐1, 3, 2‐diazaborole ( 7 ), 2‐isobutyl‐1, 3‐bis(1‐cyclohexylethyl)‐1H‐1, 3, 2‐diazaborole ( 8 ), 1, 3‐bis‐(1‐cyclohexylethyl)‐2‐trimethylsilylmethyl‐1H‐1, 3, 2‐diazaborole ( 9 ) 1, 3‐bis(1‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐propyl)‐2‐trimethylsilylmethyl‐1H‐1, 3, 2diazaborole ( 10 ) and 2‐bromo‐1, 3‐bis(1‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐propyl)‐1H‐1, 3, 2‐diazaborole ( 11 ) were formed by reaction of the corresponding 1, 4‐diazabutadienes with the boranes Me₃SiCH₂BBr₂, iBuBBr₂ and BBr₃ followed by reduction of the resulting borolium salts [R¹ = tBu, Me(cHex)CH, [Me(Et)Ph]C; R² = Me₃SiCH₂, iBu, Br] with sodium amalgam. Treatment of 11 and 12 with silver cyanide afforded the 2‐cyano‐1, 3, 2‐diazaboroles 13 and 14 . An alternative route to compound 8 is based on the alkylation of 2‐bromo‐1, 3, 2‐diazaborole 12 with isobutyllithium. Equimolar amounts of 13 and isobutyllithium give rise to the formation of 15 . The new compounds were characterized by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, ¹¹B‐NMR, IR and mass spectra. The molecular structures of 7 and meso ‐10 were confirmed by x‐ray structural analysis.     

Charge effects during surface analysis of poorly conducting inorganic materials

Summary The properties of surfaces and interfaces often determine the behaviour of materials in a given application: typical examples are all kinds of corrosion, segregation, sensor activity, wear and friction, adhesion of coatings, joining processes, sintering, etc. It is the aim of this paper to provide materials scientists with a better understanding of the limits of applying modern surface analysis methods (SIMS, AES, etc.) to materials with low room temperature electrical conductivity like most ceramics and glasses. One feature common to all methods deserves special attention: this is the influence of surface and near surface charges on the distribution of mobile ionic species in the near surface region of the sample to be analyzed. The origin of these charges and their order of magnitude as a function of the experimental parameters can be deduced from charge balance considerations: the main result is that self-compensating methods should be most favorable.