Studies on glycolipids. III. Glyceroglycolipids from an axenically cultured cyanobacterium, Phormidium tenue.

Seven new monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (1-7) and six new digalactosyl diacylglycerols (11-16) were isolated from an axenically cultured cyanobacterium, P. tenue. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence and the results of enzymatic hydrolysis using a lipase (from Rhizopus arrhizus). Comparison of antialgal activity for P. tenue between monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (1-8) and digalactosyl diacylglycerols (11-19) revealed that the former showed more potent activity than the latter.     

Heuristic Algorithms and Scatter Search for the Cardinality Constrained P||Cmax Problem

We consider the generalization of the classical P||C_max problem (assign n jobs to m identical parallel processors by minimizing the makespan) arising when the number of jobs that can be assigned to each processor cannot exceed a given integer k. The problem is strongly NP-hard for any fixed k > 2. We briefly survey lower and upper bounds from the literature. We introduce greedy heuristics, local search and a scatter search approach. The effectiveness of these approaches is evaluated through extensive computational comparison with a depth-first branch-and-bound algorithm that includes new lower bounds and dominance criteria.     

Studies on cardiac ingredients of plants. VII: Chemical transformation of proscillaridin by means of the Diels-Alder reaction and biological activities of its derivatives.

The Diels-Alder reactions of a cardiac glycoside, proscillaridin (1), with some dienophiles were investigated. The reaction of 1 with alkenes such as methyl vinyl ketone and methyl acrylate afforded 3-oxo-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-enes (2-5) and para-substituted benzene derivatives (6 and 7), while 1 reacted with alkynes (3-butyn-2-one, methyl propiolate) to yield para- or meta-substituted benzene derivatives (6-9). The biological activities of the resulting derivatives were evaluated by the use of isolated guinea-pig papillary muscle preparations and Na+,K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) preparation from dog kidney. Among the proscillaridin derivatives, compounds 4 and 7 moderately inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. Furthermore, the concentration range of 7 over which its positive inotropic effect on guinea-pig papillary muscle preparations, increased from 5% to 95% of maximum was broader than that of 1, i.e., concentration dependency was maintained over a greater range of concentration.     

Stereoselective nucleophilic addition reactions to nitro sugars

Nucleophile(s) almost exclusively added from the equatorial side of 2-nitro-β-$\text{D}$-2-enopyranoside and the axial side of 2-nitro-$\text{D}$-$\text{ribo}$-1-enitol. On the other hand, methoxide and $\text{tert}$-butyl peroxide ions approached from the equatorial side of 2-nitro-α-$\text{D}$-2-enopyranoside, whereas methanol and hydrogen peroxide ion from the axial side.     

Vibrational spectra and molecular conformations of 1,5-dichloro- and 1,5-dibromopentanes and 1,6-dichloro-and 1,6-dibromohexanes

The Raman and IR spectra of 1,5-dichloro- and 1,5-dibromopentanes and 1,6-dichloro-and 1,6-dibromohexanes have been measured. The normal coordinates have been calculated for these molecules using a consistent set of force constants and the molecular conformations studied by analysing the spectra with reference to the results of the calculations. In the crystalline solid state, 1,5-dichloropentane assumes the trans-trans-trans-gauche form and 1,5-dibromopentane, 1,6-dichloro- and 1,6-dibromohexanes assume the all-trans form. The normal coordinate treatment with the well-established force field was of great help in determining the whole molecular form of the relatively large chain molecules.     

Stereochemistry of nucleophilic addition reactions 13 : Kinetically controlled nucleophilic addition reactions to methyl 4,6-0-benzylidene-2,3- dideoxy-2-nitro-β-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside: an important role of a(1,3) strain

An improved synthesis of methyl 4,6-0-benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-2-nitro-β-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside and its reactions with various nucleophiles are described; all the nucleophiles were found to approach exclusively or predominantly from the equatorial side of the molecule, giving the β-D-glucopyranoside derivatives as the major or exclusive product. The stereochemical course of approach of a nucleophile observed in the present reactions and in the literature are discussed.     

Electromagnetic fission of238U at 600 and 1000 MeV per nucleon

Electromagnetic fission of²³⁸U projectiles at E/A =600 and 1000 MeV was studied with the ALADIN spectrometer at the heavy-ion synchrotron SIS. Seven different targets (Be, C, Al, Cu, In, Au and U) were used. By considering only those fission events where the two charges added up to 92, most of the nuclear interactions were excluded. The nuclear contributions to the measured fission cross sections were determined by extrapolating from beryllium to the heavier targets with the concept of factorization. The obtained cross sections for electromagnetic fission are well reproduced by extended Weizsäcker-Williams calculations which include E1 and E2 excitations. The asymmetry of the fission fragments' charge distribution gives evidence for the excitation of the double giant-dipole resonance in uranium.Communicated by V. Metag