Untersuchungen zur thermischen Zersetzung von Boraten

In spite of numerous investigations the literature data on the thermal decomposition of borax are contradictory. On the basis of thermal, X-ray, gas analytical and optical investigations this fact can be attributed to the complex decomposition mechanism. After the release of about 8 mole water the reaction product is an X-ray amorphous phase, having the thermal behaviour of glass. From this glass sodium diborate (Na₂O.2B₂O₃) crystallizes between 500–600? with further mass loss. Sodium diborate decomposes from about 700? incongruently yielding NaBO₂ vapor and B₂O₃ glass phase. After evaporation of NaBO₂ is completed the rate of evaporation of B₂O₃ increases considerably.     

Facile synthesis of O6-alkyl-, O6-aryl-, and diaminopurine nucleosides from 2'-deoxyguanosine

The 3',5'-bis-O-TBDMS derivative of 2'-deoxyguanosine can be converted to its O6-alkyl and O6-aryl ethers as well as to N6-substituted diaminopurine nucleosides in two simple steps. Also described is a novel, nonaqueous, one-step O6-desulfonylation method that leads to deprotection of the carbonyl moiety of 2'-deoxyguanosine.     

Enzymatic Conversion of Flavonoids using Bacterial Chalcone Isomerase and Enoate Reductase

Flavonoids are a large group of plant secondary metabolites with a variety of biological properties and are therefore of interest to many scientists, as they can lead to industrially interesting intermediates. The anaerobic gut bacterium Eubacterium ramulus can catabolize flavonoids, but until now, the pathway has not been experimentally confirmed. In the present work, a chalcone isomerase (CHI) and an enoate reductase (ERED) could be identified through whole genome sequencing and gene motif search. These two enzymes were successfully cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli in their active form, even under aerobic conditions. The catabolic pathway of E. ramulus was confirmed by biotransformations of flavanones into dihydrochalcones. The engineered E. coli strain that expresses both enzymes was used for the conversion of several flavanones, underlining the applicability of this biocatalytic cascade reaction.     

Röntgenographische Phasenbestimmungen zur thermischen Dissoziation und das Hydrolyseverhalten von Alkalihexafluorogermanaten bei höheren Temperaturen

Phase Determinations by X-rays on the Thermal Dissociation and the Hydrolysis of Alkali Hexafluorogermanates at Higher Temperatures For a better understanding of the thermal dissociation of alcaline hexafluorosilicates investigations have been done on hexafluorogermanates. In these systems the formation of new phases has been studied by x-rays in dependence of temperature. Thermal behaviour of the substances strongly depends on the starting structure. Phase transformations taking place at lower temperatures are strongly determine the reaction at higher temperature. Therefore, we found differences to the analogous thermal reactions of hexafluorosilicates. There is a high sensitivity to hydrolysis of hexafluorogermanates above 600°C. We discuss the difference in reaction of thin powder layers and of powder samples in the volume.     

Copper and iron interactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. A study by fast-atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment, combined with high-energy collision-induced tandem mass spectrometry, has been used to investigate gas-phase metal-ion interactions with captopril, enalaprilat and lisinopril, all angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.Suggestions for the location of metal-binding sites are presented. For captopril, metal binding occurs most likely at both the sulphur and the nitrogen atom. For enalaprilat and lisinopril, binding preferably occurs at the amine nitrogen. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of shikimate in crude plant extracts by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A method based on micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) has been developed for the determination of shikimate in water and crude plant extracts. The analytes are separated in a cholate-taurine buffer by MECC at pH 7.3 and measured by direct UV detection at 206 nm. Shikimate showed linearity up to 12.5 mM, with a squared correlation coefficient (r(2)) of 0.9997. The method has concentration limit of detection (cLOD) and concentration limit of quantification (cLOQ) at 24.4 and 67.8 microM, respectively, corresponding to detection in the femtomol range. The number of theoretical plates (N) was estimated to 245,000 for the optimized system using a capillary with an effective length of 560 mm. The method was tested on plant samples by measuring the shikimate content in leaves of rapeseed plants grown in hydroponic solutions containing the herbicide glyphosate, a well-known inhibitor of the shikimate pathway. In crude extracts of these plants, shikimate was found to accumulate in the leaves, confirming earlier reports of shikimate as a potential biomarker for glyphosate treatment. The method now developed was also able to detect shikimate-3-phosphate, but this compound was not accumulated in glyphosate inhibited plants as found for shikimate.