A Simpler Proof of the Excluded Minor Theorem for Higher Surfaces

We give a simple proof of the fact (which follows from the Robertson–Seymour theory) that a graph which is minimal of genusgcannot contain a subdivision of a large grid. Combining this with the tree-width theorem and the quasi-wellordering of graphs of bounded tree-width in the Robertson–Seymour theory, we obtain a simpler proof of the generalized Kuratowski theorem for each fixed surface. The proof requires no previous knowledge of graph embeddings.     

Formation and reactivity of free radicals in 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde--the effect on isoprenaline photostability

Solutions of glucose are used as diluents for drugs in various drug infusions. When sterilized by heat small amounts of the substance 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF) is produced from glucose. At a hospital ward such infusions may be exposed to irradiation; including UV-light. The photoreactivity of the furaldehyde is investigated. It is shown to photodestabilize the catecholamine isoprenaline. It is shown to be a producer, but also a consumer, of singlet oxygen. The excited triplet, cation and anion radical have been produced by pulse radiolysis and flash photolysis and their absorbance characteristics have been determined. The triplet absorption spectrum showed absorption bands at 320 and 430 nm with molar absorption coefficients of 4700 and 2600 M-1 cm-1, respectively. The anion radical showed absorption bands at 330 and 420 nm with molar absorption coefficients of 2000 and 300 M-1 cm-1, respectively. The cation radical had an absorption band at 320 nm with a molar absorption coefficient of 5000 M-1 cm-1. The quantum yield for the production of singlet oxygen, sensitized by the 5-HMF triplet, was determined to be 0.6, whilst the quantum yield for the triplet formation was 1.0. Aqueous solutions of 5-HMF were found to photoionize to yield the hydrated electron and the cation radical of 5-HMF in a biphotonic process. The influences of pH, buffer and glucose on the formation of transients were evaluated. The reactions between 5-HMF and the solvated electron, the hydroxyl radical and the superoxide were also studied.     

Reduction of effects of structured non-specific absorption in the determination of arsenic and selenium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The presence of iron and phosphates in biological matrices causes deuterium arc background-correction systems to overcompensate at several arsenic and selenium resonance lines. The addition of platinum as matrix modifier has a significant effect on both the absorbance/time profile of iron and the formation of gaseous phosphate decomposition products. A nickel/platinum matrix modifier is shown effectively to control the problems in the determination of selenium arising both from thermal instability and spectral interferences. The same combination eliminates the spectral interferences found at the arsenic resonance lines. Remaining problems are the thermal stabilization of organometallic arsenic compounds present in biological samples. When radioactived-labelled ⁷⁴As compounds prepared in vivo were applied, none of the tested matrix modifiers (Ni, Cu, Ag, Pd, Zr, Ce, Ce + magnesium nitrate) showed a significant influence on the volatility of arsenic in whole blood and urine from rats.     

Stability of workroom air volatile organic compounds on solid adsorbents for thermal desorption gas chromatography

The storage stability of the occupationally frequently occurring compounds, methylethylketone, methylisobutylketone, benzene, toluene, tetrachloroethylene, n-butylacetate, -pinene, β-pinene, limonene and n-decane, has been investigated on the adsorbents Tenax TA, Chromosorb 106 and Carbotrap using thermally desorbable tube type samplers, commonly utilized in ambient and workroom atmospheric measurements. Fifty and 500 ng of each compound were loaded on the various adsorbents tubes, stored at both ambient (20 °C) and refrigerated (4 °C) temperatures and analysed by means of thermal gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection on days 0, 7, 14 and 28 after exposure. A 90% storage recovery was chosen as acceptance criteria for storage stability, and statistical testing by Student's t-test, analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests were employed to investigate the effect of the categorical variables storage time, storage temperature and analyte loading on the different adsorbents. Chromosorb 106 showed the overall best behaviour with recoveries of 90% or better for all analytes during the 28-day test period. Tenax TA and Carbotrap yielded lower recoveries and were more influenced by variations in storage time, storage temperature and analyte loading. Refrigerated temperatures were best avoided for storage on Tenax TA, but may increase the recovery of some compounds on Carbotrap (e.g. n-butylacetate). The blank build-up on the adsorbents was also investigated, and Carbotrap and Tenax TA showed no signs of artefact development over time. Chromosorb 106, however, contained inherently more artefacts that build up over time, which in spite of the excellent storage capability, may limit its use in field studies where long storage times are normal.     

Stereochemistry of [4 + 2] Cycloadditions of Perfluorinated Selenocarbonyls to 1, 3‐Dienes

In completely stereospecific [4+2] cycloadditions, the perfluorinated selenocarbonyls 1 and 2 react both with trans‐trans‐2, 4‐hexadiene and cis‐trans‐2, 4‐hexadiene to yield 3, 6‐dihydro‐cis‐3, 6‐dimethyl‐2H‐selenapyrans 3 , 4a and 4b . The observed stereoselectivity leads to the conclusion, that the [4+2] cycloaddition of perfluorinated selenocarbonyls follows a concerted pathway. An identical mixture of isomers was isolated when using the precursor for 2 , trimethylstannyl (pentafluoroethyl)selane, which reacts with both 1, 3‐dienes over several weeks to form a mixture of syn‐2‐fluoro‐3, 6‐dihydro‐cis‐3, 6‐dimethyl‐2‐trifluoromethyl‐2H‐selenapyran ( 4a ) and anti‐2‐fluoro‐3, 6‐dihydro‐cis‐3, 6‐dimethyl‐2‐trifluoromethyl‐2H‐selenapyran ( 4b ) in the same ratio as found for 2 , thus proving the intermediate formation of Se=C(F)CF₃ ( 2 ). Complex 2D NMR experiments were used to distinguish the isomers 4a and 4b and to assign the ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F NMR data of the selenaheterocycles.     

Combinatorial synthesis of benztropine libraries and their evaluation as monoamine transporter inhibitors

A combinatorial synthesis of benztropine analogues is presented. Radical azidonation of 3-benzyloxy-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester 3 to 3-(1-azidobenzyloxy)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester 4 was used as a key step in the synthesis. This step was optimized by adding 10% DMF to the reaction. Reaction of 4 with phenyl magnesium bromide followed by Boc removal and N-methylation gave benztropine 1. Reaction of five-component Grignard reagents with 4 was used to create a two-dimensional library of 25 N-normethylbenztropine analogues. Further reaction of this library with five alkyl bromides was carried out to create a three-dimensional library containing 125 compounds. Screening of the libraries towards binding and inhibition of uptake of the human dopamine (hDAT), serotonin (hSERT) and norepinephrine transporters (hNET) was carried out. None of the synthesized compounds were found to be stronger than benztropine, and none were selective for inhibition of binding over monoamine uptake.     

1,1,2,2-tetrabromodisilane: gas-phase molecular structure and conformational composition as determined by electron diffraction

The molecular structure of 1,1,2,2-tetrabromodisilane has been investigated using gas-phase electron diffraction data obtained at 110°C. At this temperature the molecules exist as a mixture of about equal parts (X = 0.5 ±0.2) of the two conformers with the H---Si---Si---H torsion angle equal to 180° (anti) or 60° (gauche). Assuming that the two conformers differ in their geometries only in the torsion angle φ, some of the important distance (r_a) and angle () parameters are: r(Si---Si) = 2.349(19) Å, r(Si---Br) = 2.205(5) Å, r(Si---H) = 1.485 Å (assumed), Br---Si---Br = 110.1(1.6)°, Si---Si---Br = 107.1(1.2)° Si---Si---H = 108.6° (assumed). The error limits are 2σ. The observed conformational composition (X_anti = 0.5(0.2)) corresponds to an energy difference between the conformers of ΔE = E(gauche) — E(anti) = 0.5 ± 0.6 kcal mol⁻¹, assuming ΔS = Rln2.     

The performance of density functional theory for LnF (Ln=Nd,Eu, Gd,Yb) and YbH

Different density functional theory (DFT) functionals have been evaluated by studying geometries and bond strengths of YbH, YbF, EuF, GdF, and NdF and compared with accurate CCSD(T) results and, when available, experiment. The agreement between the CCSD(T) results and experiment, when available, is good. The agreement is also good between bond strengths calculated at the DFT level using relativistic effective core potentials and the CCSD(T) results. However, the all-electron ADF calculations systematically overestimate binding energies. The geometries obtained by both the all-electron and the effective-core-potential-based DFT calculations are generally in good agreement with the CCSD(T) results.Contribution to the Björn Roos Honorary Issue     

Crystal structure of a partly self-complementary peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomer showing a duplex-triplex network

The X-ray structure of a partly self-complementary peptide nucleic acid (PNA) decamer (H-GTAGATCACT-l-Lys-NH(2)) to 2.60 A resolution is reported. The structure is mainly controlled by the canonical Watson-Crick base pairs formed by the self-complementary stretch of four bases in the middle of the decamer (G(4)A(5)T(6)C(7)). One right- and one left-handed Watson-Crick duplex are formed. The two PNA units C(9)T(10) change helical handedness, so that each PNA strand contains both a right- and a left-handed section. The changed handedness in C(9)T(10) allows formation of Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding between C(9)T(10) and G(4)A(5) of a PNA strand in an adjacent Watson-Crick double helix of the same handedness. Thereby, a PNA-PNA-PNA triplex is formed. The PNA unit A(3) forms a noncanonical base pair with A(8) in a symmetry-related strand of opposite handedness; the base pair is of the A-A reverse Hoogsteen type. The structural diversity of this PNA demonstrates how the PNA backbone is able to adapt to structures governed by the stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the nucleobases. The crystal structure further shows how PNA oligomers containing limited sequence complementarity may form complex hydrogen-bonding networks.