Baylis-Hillman mechanism: a new interpretation in aprotic solvents

Using reaction rate data collected in aprotic solvents, we have determined that the Baylis-Hillman rate-determining step is second order in aldehyde and first order in DABCO and acrylate. On the basis of these data, we have proposed a new mechanism involving a hemiacetal intermediate. The proposed mechanism was then supported using two different kinetic isotope experiments.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of involatile monophosphonated and mixed sulphonated/monophosphonated azo dyestuffs

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of a range of involatile monophosphonated and mixed sulphonated/monophosphonated azo dyestuffs are presented. Good spectra are obtained and the fragmentations are discussed with special reference to the ions formed by cleavage of the azo linkage. The negative ion spectra are shown to be superior in terms of signal to background and structural information to those obtained in the positive ion mode. The results are compared with those obtained from sulphonated azo dyestuffs.     

An Historical Application of McClean's Steady State Manpower Model

McClean's model is applied to an analysis of Consultant Staff in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh from 1801 to 1968.     

Cation-cation interactions between uranyl cations in a polar open-framework uranyl periodate

Novel open-framework alkali metal uranyl periodates, having the formula A[(UO2)3(HIO6)(OH)(O)(H2O)].1.5H2O (A = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs), have been prepared through mild hydrothermal synthesis. These isostructural compounds contain distorted UO7 pentagonal bipyramids that are linked through a uranyl (UO22+) to uranyl cation-cation interaction. This interaction arises from a single axial uranyl oxygen coordinating at an equatorial site of an adjacent uranyl unit. These uranium oxide polyhedra are further bound by IO6 distorted octahedra creating an open-framework structure whose channels contain the alkali metal cations.     

Structures and cytotoxicities of fascaplysin and related alkaloids from two marine phyla—Fascaplysinopsis sponges and Didemnum tunicates

The structural variations and bioactivity properties of the alkaloids in the fascaplysin (1) and the reticulatine (3) families were examined. Four organisms were analyzed consisting of two collections of the sponge Fascaplysinopsis reticulata and two collections of the tunicate Didemnum sp. Reported are the isolation of three new compounds: 3-bromofascaplysin (2), 14-bromoreticulatine (4), and 14-bromoreticulatate (6) along with reticulatate (5) previously known as a semi-synthetic product of 1. Compounds 1 and 5 showed selectivity in a cell based cytotoxicity assay.     

A comparison of crystalline- and graft polymer-based chemosensors

Herein, we report a highly sensitive luminescent thin film chemosensor constructed out of a small-molecule donor/acceptor system. Two types of films were compared: one using a small-molecule crystalline donor/acceptor pair and the other using a donor-graft polymer/small-molecule acceptor pair. The acceptor selected for this proof of concept responds to acid, causing its absorption and emission bands to red-shift, which increases spectral overlap with the donor. This increase in overlap greatly enhances energy transfer from the acceptor to the donor. Signal amplification was ascertained by measuring the ratio of acceptor fluorescence when the donor was excited versus direct excitation of the acceptor. Both types of films exhibited large amplification. For the polymeric system, the mechanism of energy migration was investigated by the use of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. The mechanism was determined to be dominated by an exciton-hopping process.     

Metal ion scrambling in hexanuclear M(6)(Et(2)NCO(2))(12) complexes (M = Co,Mg). Synthesis,solid state structure,and solution dynamics of heteronuclear Co(n)Mg(6-n)(Et(2)NCO(2))(12) complexes

Heteronuclear diethylcarbamato complexes of the form Co(n)()Mg(6)(-)(n)()(Et(2)NCO(2))(12) were prepared from the isostructural homonuclear precursors Mg(6)(Et(2)NCO(2))(12), 1, and Co(6)(Et(2)NCO(2))(12), 2, via a solvothermal methodology. Two materials were selected for single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis: Co(1.6)Mg(4.4)(Et(2)NCO(2))(12) and Co(2.7)Mg(3.3)(Et(2)NCO(2))(12). Both compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Ccca, as do 1 and 2. The molecular structure is best described as two trinuclear M(3) units cross-linked by diethylcarbamate ligands and twisted about one another, so that the complex has overall D(2) symmetry and is chiral. Each trinuclear unit consists of two terminal pentacoordinate metal ions and one central hexacoordinate metal ion. The X-ray diffraction data were unambiguous that the Co(2+) ions migrate exclusively to the pentacoordinate sites in the heteronuclear complexes, thus demonstrating that metal ion scrambling at the molecular level must occur. The composition of individual crystals can be continuously varied for Co(2+) mole fractions chi(Co) < 0.5, and the a and c unit cell distances are linearly related to chi(Co). This indicates that the compounds behave as solid solutions. There appears to be either a chemical or crystallographic phenomenon inherent in the synthetic methodology that prevents isolation of heteronuclear materials having chi(Co) > 0.5. Solution electronic spectroscopy and molecular weight measurements show that 2 can dissociate in chloroform and cyclohexane solution to give a dimeric complex 2'. This behavior contrasts with the stability of 1 in solution, as shown by NMR. The kinetic rate profile for formation of Co(n)Mg(6-n)(Et(2)NCO(2))(12) reveals saturation kinetics and is consistent with direct attack by 2' on 1 to give the heteronuclear complex via a higher nuclearity intermediate. This study illustrates a general method for the preparation of solids based on heteronuclear Werner-type complexes of the M(6)(Et(2)NCO(2))(12) structure type, and the mechanism by which such compounds can be formed from isostructural homonuclear precursors.     

Structures and cytotoxic properties of sponge-derived bisannulated acridines

A reinvestigation of sponge natural products from additional Indo-Pacific collections of Xestospongiacf. carbonaria and X. cf. exigua has provided further insights on the structures, biological activities, and biosynthetic origin of bisannulated acridines. These alkaloids include one known pyridoacridine, neoamphimedine (2), and three new analogues, 5-methoxyneoamphimedine (4), neoamphimedine Y (5), and neoamphimedine Z (6). A completely new acridine, alpkinidine (7), was also isolated. A disk diffusion soft agar assay, using a panel of five cancer cell lines (solid tumors and leukemias) and two normal cells, was used to evaluate the differential cytotoxicity (solid tumor selectivity) of the sponge semipure extracts and selected compounds including amphimedine (1), 2, 4, and 7. While all four compounds were solid tumor selective, 1 and 2 were the most potent and 4 was the most selective. The rationale used to characterize the new structures is outlined along with the related biosynthetic pathways envisioned to generate 2 and 7.