The process\pi ^0 \to \lambda _\gamma \bar \lambda _\gamma as an alternative to\pi ^0 \to v\bar v

The process \(\pi ^0 \to \lambda _\gamma \bar \lambda _\gamma \) is investigated as an alternative to \(\pi ^0 \to v\bar v\) . It is shown that the experimental bound on the branching fraction for missing energy (in the form of \(\lambda _\gamma \bar \lambda _\gamma \) and/or \(v\bar v\) ) may be understood in terms of \(\pi ^0 \to \lambda _\gamma \bar \lambda _\gamma \) for the kinematically allowed photino mass, if the squark mass is >8 GeV.     

Fermion masses

In this paper, we show that 2m _e m /(m _e ² +m ² = (g _V/g _A) _e ² . From this expression, the Weinberg mixing parameter is shown to be 0·2254 or 0·2746. Assuming that the electron and muon neutrino masses are degenerate, we find thatm _v = (g _V/g _A) _e ² . (m _e m )/M _WL, where M_WL is the mass of the standard W^± boson. The neutrino mass turns out to be 6·5 eV. The -neutrino mass is found to be about 81 MeV. The masses of c, t, s and b quarks are found to be respectively 1·7 GeV, 21·2 GeV, 0·57 GeV and 2·18 GeV by assumingm _d=m _u= 0·3 GeV. All these masses agree with other estimates except the b quark which has about half of its expected value.     

Can a single oxidant with two spin states masquerade as two different oxidants? A study of the sulfoxidation mechanism by cytochrome p450

Density functional calculations were performed on the sulfoxidation reaction by a model compound I (Cpd I) of cytochrome P450. By contrast to previous alkane hydroxylation studies, which exhibit a dominant low-spin (LS) pathway, the sulfoxidation follows a dominant high-spin (HS) reaction. Thus, competing hydroxylation and sulfoxidation processes as observed for instance by Jones et al. (Volz, T. J.; Rock, D. A.; Jones, J. P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 9724) are the result of a two-state reactivity scenario, whereby the hydroxylation originates from the LS pathway and the sulfoxidation from the HS pathway. In this manner, two spin states of a single oxidant (Cpd I) can be disguised as two different oxidants. The calculations rule out the possibility that a second oxidant (the ferric peroxide, Cpd 0 species) interferes in the observed results of Jones et al.     

Differentiation of Boc- alpha,beta- and beta,alpha-peptides and a pair of diastereomeric beta,alpha-dipeptides by positive and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS)

Positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectral study of a new series of hybrid peptides, viz, BocN-alpha,beta-peptides and BocN-beta,alpha-peptides, synthesized from C-linked carbo-beta3-amino acids [Caa (S)] and L-Ala has been carried out. The alpha,beta-peptides have been differentiated from beta,alpha-peptides by the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of [M + H]+ and [M - H]- ions in positive and negative ion ESI-MS respectively. The fragment ion [M + H - C(CH3)3 + H]+ formed from [M + H]+ ions by the loss of 2-methyl-prop-2-ene in alpha,beta-peptides with L-Ala at the N-terminus is insignificant or totally absent for beta,alpha-peptides which have the Caa (S) at N-terminus. The fragment ion [M - H-C(CH3)3OH - HNCO]- formed from [M - H]- of beta,alpha-peptide acids is totally absent for alpha,beta-peptide acids. This has been attributed to the absence of the beta-methylene group in alpha,beta-peptides, and the participation of the beta-methylene group in the loss of HNCO in beta,alpha-peptide acids is confirmed by the deuteration experiments. The CID of [M + H-Boc + H]+ ions of these peptides also produce characteristic fragmentation. In the CID spectra of alpha,beta-peptides, the b(n)+ ions and the resulting y(n)+ ions occur at a mass difference of 243 and 71 Da corresponding to the successive losses of Caa and L-Ala, whereas a mass difference of 71 and 243 Da is observed for beta,alpha-peptides. In contrast to the CID of protonated peptides, the CID of [M - H]- ions of the alpha,beta- and beta,alpha-peptide acids do not give b(n)- ions and show abundant z(n) (-) ions. Further, a pair of diastereomeric dipeptide esters and acids have been distinguished by the CID of [M + H]+ ions. The loss of 2-methyl-prop-2-ene is more pronounced for Boc-NH-Caa(R)-D-Ala-OCH3 (21) and Boc-NH-Caa(R)-D-Ala-OH (23) with Caa (R) at the N-terminus, whereas it is totally absent for Boc-NH-Caa (S)-D-Ala-OCH3 (22) and Boc-NH-Caa(S)-D-Ala-OH (24) peptides, which have Caa (S) at the N-terminus. Thus, on the basis of our previous and present studies, we propose that the CID of [M + H]+ ions provides a simple and useful method for distinguishing the configuration of Caa (S or R) at the N-terminus of BocN-carbo beta,alpha- and beta,beta-dipeptides.     

Unprecedented, fully recyclable, solid-supported reagent for the kinetic resolution of racemic amines through enantioselective N-acetylation

The high-yielding synthesis and application of the first polymer supported reagent for the kinetic resolution (KR) of amines through enantioselective acetylation is described; this new supported chiral reagent allows the KR of primary amines with excellent selectivities at room temperature; moreover, this supported approach is highly efficient as the Merrifield-supported chiral scaffold can be quantitatively recovered and recycled.     

Structural modifications of aqueous ionic micelles in the presence of denaturants as studied by DLS and viscometry

Hydrophobic interactions control the morphologies of both surfactant aggregates and proteins. Globular proteins "denature" upon addition of excess amounts of denaturants such as urea. Understanding the microscopic basis of the urea effect on proteins or supramolecular aggregates such as micelles has always been a debated issue. Inspired by this need, the effect of urea (U), thiourea (TU), monomethylurea (MMU), dimethylurea(DMU), tetramethylurea (TMU), dimethylthiourea (DMTU), and tetramethylthiourea (TMTU) on the structural transition (spherical micelles to rod-shaped micelles, s --> r) in the sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS)-1-pentanol system has been investigated through dynamic light scattering(DLS) and viscosity measurements at 25 degrees C. 1-Pentanol, at 0.14 M, is found to promote s --> r in this system (0.2 M SDBS). The presence of the additives causes, in almost all cases, a decrease and increase in this 1-pentanol concentration depending upon the concentration and nature of the additive. These effects are explained in terms of an increased dielectric constant of the solvent medium due to the presence of additives and increased micellar hydration due to the repulsion of charged monomers caused by adsorption of the additives. Taken together, the data signal the exposure of biological assemblies to water at higher [additive], which causes a decrease in hydrophobic interactions responsible for compact structure formation (i.e., native protein).     

Total synthesis of d-(+)-biotin

A total synthesis of d-(+)-biotin is described starting from d-(+)-glucosamine using acyliminium chemistry.     

Physico-chemical studies on the chelation behaviour of biologically active 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde semicarbazone (HNAS) with some lanthanons

Summary The chelation behaviour of the complexes of La³⁺, Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, Y³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺ with biologically active 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde semicarbazone (HNAS) has been studied potentiometrically in 75% (v/v) dioxane-water medium at various ionic strengths. The method of Bjerrum and Calvin, as modified by Irving and Rossotti has been used to find out the values of n andpL. The formation constants of metal chelates and the values ofS _min have been calculated. The order of formation constants of chelates was found to be: La³⁺3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+.

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Physikochemische Untersuchungen zur Komplexierung von biologisch aktivem 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyd-Semicarbazon (HNAS) mit Lanthanoiden

Zusammenfassung Das Chelierungsverhalten von La³⁺, Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Gd³⁺, Y³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺ und Ho³⁺ mit 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehydsemicarbazon (HNAS) wurde potentiometrisch in 75% (v/v) Dioxan-Wasser bei verschiedenen Ionenstärken untersucht. Die Werte für n undpL wurden nach der Methode von Bjerrum und Calvin in der Modifikation von Irving und Rossotti bestimmt. Die Komplexbildungskonstanten der Metallchelate und die WerteS _min wurden ermittelt. Die Reihung der Komplexbildungskonstanten war La³⁺3+3+3+3+3+3+3+3+33+.

     

Pervaporation from a dense membrane: roles of permeant-membrane interactions, Kelvin effect, and membrane swelling

Dense polymeric membranes with extremely small pores in the form of free volume are used widely in the pervaporative separation of liquid mixtures. The membrane permeation of a component followed by its vaporization on the opposite face is governed by the solubility and downstream pressure. We measured the evaporative flux of pure methanol and 2-propanol using dense membranes with different free volumes and different affinities (wettabilities and solubilities) for the permeant. Interestingly, the evaporative flux for different membranes vanished substantially (10-75%) below the equilibrium vapor pressure in the bulk. The discrepancy was larger for a smaller pore size and for more wettable membranes (higher positive spreading coefficients). This observation, which cannot be explained by the existing (mostly solution-diffusion type) models ofpervaporation, suggests an important role for the membrane-permeant interactions in nanopores that can lower the equilibrium vapor pressure. The pore sizes, as estimated from the positron annihilation, ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 nm for the dry membranes. Solubilities of methanol in different composite membranes were estimated from the Flory-Huggins theory. The interaction parameter was obtained from the surface properties measured by the contact angle goniometry in conjunction with the acid-base theory of polar surface interactions. For the membranes examined, the increase in the "wet" pore volume due to membrane swelling correlates almost linearly with the solubility of methanol in these membranes. Indeed, the observations are found to be consistent with the lowering of the equilibrium vapor pressure on the basis of the Kelvin equation. Thus, a higher solubility or selectivity of a membrane also implies stronger permeant-membrane interactions and a greater retention of the permeant by the membrane, thus decreasing its evaporative flux. This observation has important implications for the interpretation of existing experiments and in the separation of liquid mixtures by pervaporation.     

Potentiometric studies of ternary complex formation Cu(II), Ni, Zn or Cd iminodiacetic acid/amino-acid complexes

The formation constants, log K(mab), for the reactions MA + B right harpoon over left harpoon MAB [where M = Cu(II), Ni, Zn or Cd, A = terdentate ligand and B = bidentate or terdentate ligand] have been determined. Potentiometric evidence is presented for the stepwise addition of the secondary ligand B to the 1:1 metal iminodiacetate (MA). The formation constants and the free energies of formation (DeltaG) have been calculated at 25 +/- 1 degrees and mu = 0.10. The order in terms of secondary ligands has been found to be ASPA > Gly > Aln and Gly > Aln > ASPA with iminodiacetic and nitrilotriacetic acid as primary ligands respectively (ASPA = aspartic acid, Gly = glycine, Aln = dl-alanine). The plot of log K(mab) against log k(mb)(2) shows a linear relationship between the formation constants of the ternary and 1:2 M(II)secondary ligand complexes.