Synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles by condensation of the conjugate base of open-chain reissert compound analogs with vinyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (schweizer's salt)

Reaction of the conjugate base of several open-chain Reissert compound analogs with vinyltriphenylphosphonium bromide is shown to afford a convenient route to substituted pyrroles. The condensation is a two-step process involving an initial reversible addition to form an unstabilized Wittig reagent followed by an intramolecular Wittig reaction upon the carbonyl group of the tertiary amide functionality with concomitant elimination of HCN. Several applications to the synthesis of 1,2,5-trisubstituted pyrroles are presented, together with attempts to expand this methodology to the synthesis of other heterocyclic systems.     

Mass spectrometric characterization of pGlu-peptides related to the thyrotropin releasing hormone

Twelve synthetic di- and tripeptides which are related to the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) have been subjected to electron-impact without conversion to more volatile derivatives as background for structural elucidation of unknown peptides isolated on a microgram basis.     

Vibrational spectroscopic,conductivity, and calorimetric studies on tripotassium hydrogen diselenate

Infrared spectra of K₃H(SeO₄)₂ obtained at 300 and 77 K, conform to the pattern expected for a very strong O-H O hydrogen bond. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electrical conductivity measurements indicate the presence of a phase transition at 388 K to a state having high protonic conductivity.A. W. A. is a recipient of a La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship.     

Principal component analysis calibration method for dual-luminophore oxygen and temperature sensor films: application to luminescence imaging

Oxygen sensor films are frequently used to image air-pressure distributions on surfaces in aerodynamic wind tunnels. In this application, the sensor film is referred to as a pressure-sensitive paint (PSP). A Stern-Volmer calibration is used to relate the emission intensity ratio of a long-lifetime luminescent dye (the pressure-sensitive luminophore, PSL) to surface air pressure. A major problem in PSP measurements arises because the Stern-Volmer calibration of the PSL's emission varies with temperature. To correct for the temperature dependence, a second luminescent dye that has an emission that varies with temperature (the temperature-sensitive luminophore, TSL) is incorporated into the sensor film. With such a dual-luminophore PSP (DL-PSP), it is possible to measure the surface-temperature distribution with the TSL emission, and this information is then used to correct the temperature dependence of the PSL's pressure response. In the present article, we report the application of a DL-PSP to obtain high-resolution air-pressure distributions on a surface that is subjected to a 20 degrees C temperature gradient. Two different calibration methods are used to generate surface-temperature and air-pressure distributions from the luminescence imaging data, and a quantitative comparison of the results obtained from the two methods is provided. The first method is based on an intensity-ratio calibration that uses luminescence images collected at two wavelengths, one corresponding to the TSL emission and the second corresponding to the PSL emission. The second method is based on principal component analysis (PCA) of luminescence images obtained at four wavelengths throughout the spectral region of the TSL and PSL emission (hyperspectral imaging, 550-750 nm). The results demonstrate that the PCA method allows the measurement of surface air pressure with higher accuracy and precision compared to those of the intensity-ratio method. The improvement is especially significant at pressures near 1 atm, where the temperature interference is most pronounced. Surface-pressure distributions are measured with comparable accuracy and precision with the two methods.     

Novel perfluoroalkyl-substituted pyrazoles. 1. Hydroxypyrazoles

Addition of methylhydrazine to a variety of haloalkyl-substituted α,β-unsaturated esters gives 1,5-disubstituted 3-hydroxypyrazoles, in contrast to the more common synthesis from β-ketoesters, which gives 1,3-disubstituted 5-hydroxypyrazoles. This reaction is used to prepare several novel pyrazoles bearing haloalkyl substituents. Criteria for assignment of structures have been developed based on physical and spectroscopic properties of the isomers. The regiochemical preference in this addition is considered on the basis of steric, electronic, and mechanistic factors.     

Forensic DNA typing by capillary electrophoresis using the ABI Prism 310 and 3100 genetic analyzers for STR analysis

DNA typing with short tandem repeat (STR) markers is now widely used for a variety of applications including human identification. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) instruments, such as the ABI Prism 310 and ABI 3100 Genetic Analyzers, are the method of choice for many laboratories performing STR analysis. This review discusses issues surrounding sample preparation, injection, separation, detection, and interpretation of STR results using CE systems. Requirements for accurate typing of STR alleles are considered in the context of what future analysis platforms will need to increase sample throughput and ease of use.     

Structural studies of immobilized ethylenediamine as a preconcentrating agent for molybdate and tungstate

The structure of the complex formed between molybdate and the diamine functional group of N-β-aminoethyl-γ-aminopropylsilane (Dow Corning 2-6020) immobilized on a silica substrate is determined and compared with the analogous complex precipitated from solution. Infrared spectroscopy and photoacoustic spectroscopy were applied to establish the nature of the complex. The precipitate formed with ethylenediamine contains a polymeric molybdate species, whereas the molybdate retained by the immobilized ethylenediamine group is monomeric. Trace levels of tungstate and molybdate can be extracted from aqueous concentrated sodium chloride solutions on a column packed with controlled-pore glass beads treated with Z-6020.     

A structural model for cyanine dyes templated into the minor groove of DNA

3,3-Diethylthiadicarbocyanine (DiSC₂(5)) is a monocationic dye which forms cofacial dimers that insert into the minor groove of DNA [J. Seifert, R. Conner, S. Kushon, M. Wang, B. Armitage, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121 (1999) 2987]. These dyes self-assemble into long helical aggregates in AT-rich regions with the dimers aligned in an end-to-end fashion. A model is presented that allows for the construction of large helical aggregates with continuously variable structural parameters. The spectra or excited states are computed using a direct intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) single configuration interaction (SCI) method. Results are reported for both H- and J-type aggregates ranging in size from 2 to 6 dimers. A more approximate model based on transition charge densities enables calculations of larger aggregates. These models are used to derive structural parameters of both H- and J-type aggregates from the available spectral data, resulting in a new structural model for J-type aggregation in these systems.     

Large oligosaccharide-based glycodendrimers

Carbohydrate-based dendritic structures composed of 21 and 27 monosaccharide residues have been synthesized in a convergent manner from trisaccharide building blocks. The oligosaccharide AB2 monomers are based on a maltosyl beta(1-->6)galactose structure, which has been modified to include two methylamino groups at the primary positions of the glucosyl residues. Reductive alkylation of the secondary amino groups, with the innate formyl function of a second oligosaccharide monomer, allows for the chemoselective construction of dendritic wedges, while employing a minimal number of protecting groups. The first-generation dendron can be coupled either to another AB2 monomer, to give a second-generation dendron, or to a tris[2-(methylamino)ethyl]amine-based core moiety, to provide a carbohydrate-based dendrimer. Alternating alpha- and beta-glucosyl residues in the monomers and dendrons, simplifies 1H NMR spectra as a consequence of spreading out the anomeric proton signals. Monomers and dendrons were characterized by extensive one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy in addition to FAB, electrospray, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed similar conformations in the dendrons as in the isolated trisaccharide repeating units.