An investigation of tautomeric equilibria by means of mass spectrometry

Changes in the mass spectra with inlet temperature were used in this work to demonstrate the dependence of keto-enol tautomerism of acetylacetone, 3-methyl acetylacetone and 3-allyl acetylacetone on temperature. The largest dependence of temperature were shown by the ion [M ? 42]^+. arising from a McLafferty type rearrangement and by the ion [M ? Me]⁺ resulting from simple α-cleavage. The ion [M ? 42]^+. peak increases with the temperature of the inlet system while the ion [M ? Me]⁺ peak decreases. By assuming that the ion [M ? 42]^+. represents the keto form and that the ion [M ? Me]⁺ represents the cis-enol form (stabilized by the hydrogen bond) one sees that the direction of the intensity variation of these peaks with temperature is in accord with the expected change of keto-enol tautomerism with temperature. A quantitative correlation on the basis of the above assumptions is also approached. Recording of the mass spectra of these three β-diketones at different energies of the incident electrons enables us to estimate whether or not the particular ions present in the mass spectra result from energetically favourable processes. The variation of the intensities of the peaks with the temperature of the inlet at different electron energies is also discussed.     

Intracellular Delivery and Triggered Release of DNA Using Biodegradable Poly(2‐hydroxypropylene imine)s Containing Cystamine Units

Poly(2‐hydroxypropylene imine)s containing segments of cystamine (PHPI‐CA) are synthesized by polycondensation of 1,3‐dibromo‐2‐propanol with a mixture of 1,3‐diamino‐2‐propanol and cystamine. High molecular weight fractions of these polymers are collected by ultrafiltration and characterized by chemical analysis, ¹H and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, size‐exclusion chromatography with triple detection, and potentiometric titration, and are tested for DNA delivery in vitro. It is shown that PHPI‐CA are highly branched polymers containing disulfide linkages. Transfection efficiency of PHPI‐CA for DNA gives similar results to that of PHPI with GFP⁺ cell percent reaching 80–90%. Cytotoxicity levels for PHPI‐CA are lower than that of PHPI. Novel polymers containing different amounts of disulfide linkages are able to disintegrate and release DNA following the treatment with reducing agent 1,4‐dithiothreitol. Downstream application of PHPI‐CA transfected cells for RNA purification shows that RNA yield is not affected even after the double transfection suggesting that these polymers could be great candidates for in vitro and in vivo transfection.

     

5-epi-Canadensene and other novel metabolites of Taxus canadensis

The Canadian yew distinguishes itself from other yews by the nature of its taxane metabolites. We are now reporting a new canadensene taxane whose stereochemistry is rigorously established. The three-dimensional structures of canadensene, 5-epi-canadensene and three other related bicyclic taxanes isolated from other yews were calculated using distance constraints derived from NMR data. The stereochemistry of the substituents, the polar acetate groups and the double bonds determine the 3D models. In addition, three new taxanes were also characterized and some biosynthetic speculations are presented.     

Identification of a novel protein regulating microtubule stability through a chemical approach

To identify novel proteins regulating the microtubule cytoskeleton, we screened a library of purine derivatives using mitotic spindle assembly in Xenopus egg extracts as an assay. Out of a collection of 1561 compounds, we identified 15 that destabilized microtubules without targeting tubulin directly, resulting in small spindles. Affinity chromatography with one compound, named diminutol, revealed a potential target as NQO1, an NADP-dependent oxidoreductase. A role for NQO1 in influencing microtubule polymerization was confirmed through inhibition studies using known inhibitors and immunodepletion. Therefore, this chemical approach has identified a novel factor required for microtubule morphogenesis and cell division.     

Methyl 4-Carbomethoxy-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-Phenyl-Acetoacetate from the Disilylated Dianion of Methyl Acetoacetate

Recently, Chaley and Chan¹ reported a novel synthesis of methyl olivetolate (3a) from the annelation of 1,3-bis(trimethylsiloxy)-1-methoxybuta-1,3-diene (1) with the acid chloride 2a and titanium tetrachloride at room temperature. In view of their success, we attempted to apply this methodology for a convenient synthesis of isotopically labelled orsellinic acid in order to unravel its biosynthesis to cyclopentanoids.     

Echinopines A and B: sesquiterpenoids possessing an unprecedented skeleton from Echinops spinosus

Echinopines A (1) and B (2), novel sesquiterpenoids with an unprecedented rearranged skeleton named echinopane, were isolated from the roots of Echinops spinosus. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The relative configuration of 1 was assigned by a combination of NOESY correlations and a simulation analysis. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for echinopane was discussed.     

First three examples of taxane-derived di-propellanes in Taxus canadensis needles

The first three examples of taxane-derived [3.3.3][3.4.5] di-propellanes isolated from the needles of a yew tree are reported. They differ in their acetylation pattern and their biogenesis from a putative taxane precursor is proposed.     

Ageing and fatigue of lead titanate and lead zirconate titanate thin ferroelectric films

The phenomena of ageing and fatigue have been experimentally investigated in lead titanate and lead zirconate titanate thin ferroelectric films for samples on different substrates and with different materials of the measuring electrodes. A certain broadening of the dielectric permittivity peak is observed for the films on the silicon substrate after a year keeping without external actions. The lead titanate films on corundum substrates did not demonstrate visible changes in structural and dielectric parameters in the course of this time. In the course of repeated cycling the reduction of switching polarization in the lead titanate and lead zirconate titanate films on silicon substrates takes place at considerably greater number of cycles as compared to the same films on corundum substrates under the identical conditions. The above changes of dielectric and switching characteristics can be relevant to the changes in the domain structure of the materials under investigation in the process of their ageing and repeated switching. The reason for the acceleration of the ageing processes in the films on corundum substrates could be either an increase in the absolute magnitude of the switching field or an increase of the internal bias field, that facilitate the migration of oxygen vacancies in the films with the perovskite structure to the electrode–ferroelectric surface with the consequent fixation of domain walls.     

First example of a taxane-derived propellane in Taxus canadensis needles

The first example of a propellane isolated from the needles of a yew is reported; the biogenesis from a putative taxane precursor is proposed.     

Synthesis of 1- and 3-arylcarbonyl derivatives of 5-fluorouracil

4′-Substituted 1-arylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracil derivatives were synthesized from the reaction of the potassium salt of 5-fluorouracil with one equivalent of aryl acid chloride in acetonitrile. 4′-Substituted 3-arylcar-bonyl-5-fluorouracil derivatives were synthesized from the reaction of 5-fluorouracil with 3 equivalents of the aryl acid chloride in pyridine and the subsequent hydrolysis of the 1,3-diarylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracil derivatives in situ with a small amount of water. If a large amount of water were used in the second step, the 1,3-diarylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracil precipitated before it hydrolyzed. The melting behaviors of both the 1-arylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracil and 3-arylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracil series suggested that thermal decomposition or rearrangement occurred on heating. The position of the C⁶-H absorption in the ¹H nmr spectra of 1-arylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracils was 0.14 to 0.23 ppm farther downfield than that of the corresponding 3-arylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracils while that of the 1,3-diarylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracils was even farther downfield. The Rf values of 1-arylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracils were significantly greater (0.23 to 0.41) than those of the corresponding 3-arylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracils, while that of 1,3-diarylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracil was slightly greater than that of 1-arylcarbonyl-5-fluorouracils.