Dianion approach to chiral cyclopropene carboxylic acids

[reaction: see text] In this Letter, we describe a general method for preparing the dianions of cyclopropene carboxylic acids, and we show that their subsequent reactions with electrophiles provide a general means for selectively introducing diverse types of functional groups. This provides a general method for the synthesis of chiral 1,2-disubstituted cyclopropenes, and opens new avenues for the enantioselective preparation of cyclopropenes.     

Diastereoselective intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of chiral cyclopropenes

In this Letter, it is demonstrated that the unusual reactivity of cyclopropenes can increase the scope and utility of intermolecular Pauson-Khand reactions. The well-defined chiral environment of cyclopropenes has a powerful influence on the diastereoselectivity of the reactions and leads to the production of a single cyclopentenone in each of the described cases. The cyclopropane ring strongly influences the stereochemistry of reactions at the enone, and the three-membered ring can subsequently be cleaved under mild conditions. [reaction: see text]     

Insertion reactions of hydridonitrosyltetrakis(trimethylphosphine) tungsten(0)

[W(H)(NO)(PMe3)4] (1) was prepared by the reaction of [W(Cl)(NO)(PMe3)4] with NaBH4 in the presence of PMe3. The insertion of acetophenone, benzophenone and acetone into the W-H bond of 1 afforded the corresponding alkoxide complexes [W(NO)(PMe3)4(OCHR1R2)](R1 = R2 = Me (2); R1 = Me, R2 = Ph (3); R1 = R2 = Ph (4)), which were however thermally unstable. Insertion of CO2 into the W-H bond of yields the formato-O complex trans-W(NO)(OCHO)(PMe3)4 (5). Reaction of trans-W(NO)(H)(PMe3)4 with CO led to the formation of mer-W(CO)(NO)(H)(PMe3)3 (6) and not the formyl complex W(NO)(CHO)(PMe3)4. Insertion of Fe(CO)(5), Re2(CO)10 and Mn2(CO)10 into trans-W(NO)(H)(PMe3)4 resulted in the formation of trans-W(NO)(PMe3)4(mu-OCH)Fe(CO)4 (7), trans-W(NO)(PMe3)4(mu-OCH)Re2(CO)9 (8) and trans-W(NO)(PMe3)4(mu-OCH)Mn2(CO)9 (9). For Re2(CO)10, an equilibrium was established and the thermodynamic data of the equilibrium reaction have been determined by a variable-temperature NMR experiments (K(298K)= 104 L mol(-1), DeltaH=-37 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS =-86 J K(-1) mol(-1)). Both compounds 7 and 8 were separated in analytically pure form. Complex 9 decomposed slowly into some yet unidentified compounds at room temperature. Insertion of imines into the W-H bond of 1 was also additionally studied. For the reactions of the imines PhCH=NPh, Ph(Me)C=NPh, C6H5CH=NCH2C6H5, and (C6H5)2C=NH with only decomposition products were observed. However, the insertion of C10H7N=CHC6H5 into the W-H bond of led to loss of one PMe3 ligand and at the same time a strong agostic interaction (C17-H...W), which was followed by an oxidative addition of the C-H bond to the tungsten center giving the complex [W(NO)(H)(PMe3)3(C10H6NCH2Ph)] (10). The structures of compounds 1, 4, 7, 8 and 10 were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Identification of marker proteins for Bacillus anthracis using MALDI-TOF MS and ion trap MS/MS after direct extraction or electrophoretic separation

Direct extraction of bacterial vegetative cells or spores followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS) has become popular for bacterial identification, since it is simple to perform and mass spectra are readily interpreted. However, only high-abundance proteins that are of low mass and ionize readily are observed. In the case of B. anthracis spores, small acid-soluble spore proteins (SASPs) have been the most widely studied. Additional information can be obtained using tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) to confirm the identity of proteins by sequencing. This is most readily accomplished using ion trap (IT) MS-MS. However, enzymatic digestion of these proteins is needed to generate peptides that are within the mass range of the ion trap. The use of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), or other forms of electrophoresis, allows one to focus on specific proteins of interest (e.g. the high mass exosporium glycoproteins BcIA and BcIB) that provide additional species- and strain-specific discrimination.     

The electrophoretic mobility of DNA three-way junctions is affected by the sequence of overhanging single-stranded ends

The folding of three- and four-way DNA junctions is often assessed by comparing the electrophoretic mobility of restriction enzyme fragments, using the long-short arm assay. We have compared the mobility of synthetic three-way junctions that contain identical branch point sequences, but different restriction sites in the arms. We show that the mobility of fragments is affected by the sequence of the overhanging ends. In general, GC-rich overhangs produce fragments with anomalous mobilities. These anomalies can be prevented by treating the cleaved junctions with mung bean endonuclease, elevating the electrophoresis temperature or using blunt cleaving restriction endonucleases.     

The210Pb and137Cs profiles in sediment cores from Bay of Quinte,Lake Ontario

²¹⁰Pb,²²⁶Ra and¹³⁷Cs profiles have been measured for sediment cores from three locations in Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, Canada. Compaction of the sediment with depth of burial is taken into account in calculating recent sedimentation rates and age profiles at these locations from the excess²¹⁰Pb profiles. The rates are 1.803+0.592 cm·y^–1 (0.254±0.083 g·cm^–2·y^–1), 0.101±0.017 cm·y^–1 (0.036+0.006 g·cm^–2·y^–1), and 0.795±0.218 cm·y^–1 (0.076±0.021 g·cm^–2·y^–1). The corresponding fluxes of excess²¹⁰Pb to sediment/water interface are determined to be 1.652, 0.253, and 1.123 pCi·cm^–2·y^–1, respectively. The anomalies observed in the radionuclide concentration profiles are attributed to physical mixing. It is postulated that the significantly higher flux of²¹⁰Pb observed at one of the locations is due to inputs from Trent River which joins the Bay near this location.     

Tunable UV generation at 283 nm by frequency doubling and sum frequency mixing of two semiconductor lasers for the detection of Pb

High resolution atomic absorption measurements of lead at 283 nm in a vapor cell were performed by frequency doubling an 850 nm laser diode to obtain 425 nm light, followed by sum frequency generation of the harmonic radiation with a second 850 nm laser diode.     

Internalization and processing of the EGF receptor in the induction of DNA synthesis in cultured fibroblasts: the endocytic activation hypothesis.

The addition of EGF to cultured murine 3T3 cells produces a decrease in EGF binding activity with concomitant internalization and degradation of the initially bound EGF. When the EGF receptor on cultured 3T3 cells is affinity labeled with high specific activity 125I-EGF, and the fate of the affinity labeled EGF-receptor complex determined, the loss in binding activity was accounted for by receptor internalization and subsequent proteolytic processing of the EGF receptor molecules in the lysosomes. Studies of the effects of EGF concentration on EGF binding by cells, EGF-induced receptor internalization and EGF-induced stimulation of 3H-thymidine uptake into cellular DNA show that there is a direct correlation between EGF-induced receptor internalization and EGF-induced stimulation of DNA synthesis, but not between EGF binding and EGF-induced stimulation of DNA synthesis. This correlation is lost at high EGF concentrations, where stimulation of DNA synthesis is suboptimal. Optimal stimulation of DNA synthesis requires a minimum of 6 h of incubation of EGF with cells, and the suboptimal stimulation of DNA synthesis at high EGF concentration is intensified when the period of incubation of EGF with cells is less than 6 h. These data are consistent with a model of hormone signal transmission by Endocytic Activation, wherein the activation of EGF-induced processes requires constant EGF-induced internalization of receptor for a requisite 6-8 h period as an obligatory step in production of "second messenger" in the action of this hormone.     

CFD simulation of aggregation and breakage processes in laminar Taylor-Couette flow

An experimental and computational investigation of the effects of local fluid shear rate on the aggregation and breakage of approximately 10 microm latex spheres suspended in an aqueous solution undergoing laminar Taylor-Couette flow was carried out according to the following program. First, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed and the flow field predictions were validated with data from particle image velocimetry experiments. Subsequently, the quadrature method of moments (QMOM) was implemented into the CFD code to obtain predictions for mean particle size that account for the effects of local shear rate on the aggregation and breakage. These predictions were then compared with experimental data for latex sphere aggregates (using an in situ optical imaging method) and with predictions using spatial average shear rates. The mean particle size evolution predicted by CFD and QMOM using appropriate kinetic expressions that incorporate information concerning the particle morphology (fractal dimension) and the local fluid viscous effects on aggregation collision efficiency match well with the experimental data.