Effects of lipid chain lengths in alpha-galactosylceramides on cytokine release by natural killer T cells

Glycolipid presentation by CD1 proteins has emerged as an important aspect of antigen recognition, and presentation of alpha-glycosylceramides by CD1d to natural killer T cells has become a central focus in understanding how glycolipid presentation can influence immune responses. An alpha-galactosylceramide containing relatively long lipid chains has been the subject of intense study because, when presented by CD1d to natural killer T cells, it stimulates the release of both proinflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokines. Using an efficient synthesis of alpha-galactosylceramides, we have prepared a series of glycolipids in which the lipid chain lengths have been incrementally varied. The responses of natural killer T cells to these glycolipids have been determined, and we have found that truncation of the phytosphingosine lipid chain increases the relative amounts of immunomodulatory cytokines released. In similar fashion, the length of the acyl chain in alpha-galactosylceramides influences cytokine release profiles.     

Preparation of crown compounds containing allyloxymethyl or butenyl groups for attachment to silica gel or containing long chain lipophilic groups for use in liquid membrane systems

Several new macrocyclic polyether ligands have been prepared for use in the separation of metal ions from aqueous solutions. Four of the crown ethers reported contain 1,2,4-triazole or 4-pyridone protonionizable subcyclic units and lipophilic groups. The remaining crown ethers are not proton-ionizable but contain alkene groups and were prepared for attachment to silica gel. The crowns were prepared by reacting the appropriate glycols with the appropriate ditosylates or dichloride in the case of the 1,2,4-triazole subcyclic unit. The crowns with proton-ionizable and lipophilic substituents were tested in liquid membrane transport systems and some of the crowns with alloxymethyl or butenyl substituents were attached to silica gel. The log K values for the interaction of these silica gel-bound macrocycles with certain metal ions were nearly the same (± 10%) as those for the association of the unbound macrocycles with the same metal ions.     

Aromatic and rigid rod polyelectrolytes based on sulfonated poly(benzobisthiazoles)

Aromatic polyelectrolytes based on sulfonated poly(benzobisthiazoles) (PBTs) have been synthesized by a polycondensation reaction of sulfo-containing aromatic dicarboxylic acids with 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzenedithiol dihydrochloride (DABDT) in freshly prepared polyphosphoric acid (PPA). Several sulfonated PBTs, poly[(benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d′]bisthiazole-2,6-diyl)-2-sulfo-1,4-phenylene] sodium salt (p-sulfo PBT), poly[(benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d′]bisthiazole-2,6-diyl)-5-sulfo-1,3-phenylene] sodium salt (m-sulfo PBT), their copolymers, and poly[(benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d′]bisthiazole-2,6-diyl)-4,6-disulfo-1,3-phenylene] potassium salt (m-disulfo PBT), have been targeted and the polymers obtained characterized by ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR, elemental analysis, thermal analysis, and solution viscosity measurements. Structural analyses confirm the structures of p-sulfo PBT and m-disulfo PBT, but suggest that the sulfonate is cleaved from the chain during synthesis of m-sulfo PBT. m-Disulfo PBT dissolves in water as well as strong acids, while p-sulfo PBT dissolves well in strong acids, certain solvent mixtures containing strong acids, and hot DMSO. TGA indicates that these sulfonated PBTs are thermally stable to over 500°C. Free-standing films of p-sulfo PBT, cast from dilute neutral DMSO solutions, are transparent, tough, and orange in color. Films cast from basic DMSO are also free standing, while being opaque and yellow-green. p-Sulfo PBT was incorporated as the dopant ion in polypyrrole, producing conductive films with conductivities as high as 3 S/cm and electrical anisotropies as high as 10. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A new diaza‐18‐crown‐6 ligand containing two quinolin‐8‐ylmethyl side arms: Crystal structures and characterization of the ligand,the protonated ligand and its mononuclear barium(II) and dinuclear copper(II) complexes

A new 7,16‐bis(quinolin‐8‐ylmethyl)‐1,4,10,13‐tetraoxa‐7,16‐diazacyclooctadecane ligand, L, has been prepared and its crystal structure reported. In addition, the structure of the protonated ligand H₂L has been determined. H₂L is of interest because of interatomic interactions between the ligand and perchlorate ions. The mononuclear Ba(II) (Ba L ), and dinuclear Cu(II) (Cu₂L) complexes of L have been prepared and their crystal structures determined. Stability constants and other thermodynamic data valid in methanol at 23 or 25° for these and several other complexes of L have been obtained. Among the metal ions studied, L forms the most stable complex with Ba²⁺. In addition, L selectively binds Cu²⁺ over Ni²⁺ by about 3 orders of magnitude. Some of the complexes have been studied using nmr and uv‐vis spectroscopic techniques. Crystal data are given for L, space group, P2₁c, a = 8.8325(14) Å, b = 13.808(3) Å, c = 13.310(3) Å; β = 94.72(2)° Z=2, R = 0.0727; for H₂ L , space group, P2₁/c, a = 14.685(3) Å, b = 15.035(6) Å, c = 17.369(4) Å, β = 90.366(12)°, Z = 4, R = 0.0781; for Ba L , space group, Pbcn, a = 17.314(3) Å, b = 9.539(2) Å, c = 22.081(3) Å, Z = 4, R = 0.0354; and for Cu₂ L , space group, Cc, a = 19.762(2) Å, b = 14.413(2) Å, c = 14.935(2) Å, β = 98.753(12)°, Z = 4, R = 0.0564. Cu²⁺ forms a hydroxo‐bridged dinuclear complex with L while Ba²⁺ forms a mononuclear complex with L in which its two side arms are not involved in complexation.     

Mesoporous Manganese Oxide Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Coupling of Anilines To Aromatic Azo Compounds

Herein we introduce an environmentally friendly approach to the synthesis of symmetrical and asymmetrical aromatic azo compounds by using air as the sole oxidant under mild reaction conditions in the presence of cost‐effective and reusable mesoporous manganese oxide materials.     

An FTIR study of mechanisms for the HO radical initiated oxidation of C2H4 in the presence of NO: detection of glycolaldehyde

Using the long-path FTIR method, glycolaldehyde, CH₂(OH)CHO, was detected among the products in photolysis of mixtures containing C₂H₄, NO and RONO (R = alkyl group) at ppm concentrations in air. The results suggest the occurrence of both unimolecular dissociation and O₂ reaction of an oxy-radical, CH₂(OH)CH₂O, formed in the HO-initiated oxidation of C₂H₄ in the presence of NO.     

Twisted Heisenberg Doubles

We introduce a twisted version of the Heisenberg double, constructed from a twisted Hopf algebra and a twisted pairing. We state a Stone–von Neumann type theorem for a natural Fock space representation of this twisted Heisenberg double and deduce the effect on the algebra of shifting the product and coproduct of the original twisted Hopf algebra. We conclude by showing that the quantum Weyl algebra, quantum Heisenberg algebras, and lattice Heisenberg algebras are all examples of the general construction.     

Sterically-Hindered Amines for Acid-Gas Absorption

Abstract

This paper reviews sterlcally-hindered amines for removal of add gases such as CO₂ and H₂S from gaseous streams. Steric hindrance of amines reduces carbamate stability. Moderately hindered amines are characterized by high rates of CO₂ absorption and high capacities for CO₂. The moderately hindered amine in use with organic solvent has considerably higher capacity than the conventional amine-solvent system for simultaneous removal of CO₂and H₂S from synthesis gas and natural gas. A severely-hindered-amine absorbent, characterized by a very low rate of CO₂absorption, has much higher capacity and selectivity than the current industry standard, methyldiethanolamine, for selective removal of H₂S from CO₂-containing streams. Use of hindered amines represents new advances in gas treating. Hindered amines save energy and capital in gas treating significantly. In addition, hindered amines used commercially have much better stability than conventional amines. As of today, fourteen commercial plants use hindered amines.