Synthesis of alkenes from tertiary esters utilizing the triphenylphosphine-iodine system

The treatment of tertiary esters with triphenylphosphine and iodine under mild conditions gives the most stable alkene in good yield. Formates, acetates and trifluoroacetates were studied.     

Protein fold recognition

Summary An important, yet seemingly unattainable, goal in structural molecular biology is to be able to predict the native three-dimensional structure of a protein entirely from its amino acid sequence. Prediction methods based on rigorous energy calculations have not yet been successful, and best results have been obtained from homology modelling and statistical secondary structure prediction. Homology modelling is limited to cases where significant sequence similarity is shared between a protein of known structure and the unknown. Secondary structure prediction methods are not only unreliable, but also do not offer any obvious route to the full tertiary structure. Recently, methods have been developed whereby entire protein folds are recognized from sequence, even where little or no sequence similarity is shared between the proteins under consideration. In this paper we review the current methods, including our own, and in particular offer a historical background to their development. In addition, we also discuss the future of these methods and outline the developments under investigation in our laboratory.     

Tertiary amine-mediated synthesis of microporous carbon membranes

Microporous carbon membranes were prepared on an -alumina support by a pyrolysis of cationic tertiary amine/anionic polymer composites. The precursor solutions contain a thermosetting resorcinol/formaldehyde (RF) polymer and a cationic tertiary amine. Three types of cationic tertiary amines with different chain lengths were used, such as tetramethlammonium bromide (TMAB), tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPAB) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). A porous structure was produced by a decomposition of the amine and the resulting pores assisted the further gasification of the RF polymer at high temperature. The carbon/alumina membranes have thin and continuous carbon top layers with a thickness of 1 μm. Gas permeation tests were performed using single gases of CO₂, O₂, N₂, CF₄, n-C₄H₁₀ and i-C₄H₁₀, as well as binary mixtures of CH₄/n-C₄H₁₀ and N₂/CF₄ at different temperatures between 23 and 150 °C. The carbon membrane prepared using TMAB showed separation factors higher than 650 for the CH₄/n-C₄H₁₀ mixtures and higher than 8100 for the N₂/CF₄ mixture. From the permeation of pure gases with different molecular sizes, the pore sizes of the carbon membrane prepared using TMAB, TPAB and CTAB are estimated to be 4.0, 5.0 and larger than 5.5 Å, respectively, indicating that the micropore size of the carbon membranes is controllable by using different amines.     

冻干保护剂溶液低温退火特性的研究

利用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)研究了10%叔丁醇/10%蔗糖/水溶液的冻结特性, 退火温度及退火时间, 分析了溶液的退火行为. 实验结果表明, 溶液降温时, 蔗糖的存在阻碍了叔丁醇析出, 最大冻结浓缩溶液玻璃化转变温度Tg′由－32.5 ℃降低到－42.0 ℃, 升温时在－30 ℃叔丁醇发生反玻璃化. 在反玻璃化峰附近的温度进行退火可使叔丁醇充分析出, Tg′由－42.0 ℃上升到－34.9 ℃. 所需的退火时间与退火温度有关, 退火温度越接近Tg′, 所需的退火时间越长. 在－37 ℃时, 退火20 min可完全消除反玻璃化.     

V. Thioanalogues of sparteine lactams. (+)-2-Thiono-17-oxosparteine and (+)-2,17-dithionosparteine

The X-ray and spectroscopic results clearly indicate that the (+)-2-thiono-17-oxosparteine (1) and (+)-2,17-ditihionosparteine (2) are conformationally rigid. In order to analyze deviations of lactam/thiolactam groups from planarity induced by ring constraints, the Dunitz-Winkler approach has been used. The lactam and thiolactam groups are close to planarity, only the lactam group in one of the two independent molecules of 1 is markedly non-planar. The bond angles in the thiolactam and lactam groups are highly diverse. Rings A and C adopt a distorted sofa conformation in both compounds. The distortions in the molecules of 2 as compared with those in the related monothiolactams correspond to the unusual chemical shifts of H5(eq), H5(ax) and H11, as well as to the extremely low J_5ax-6 and extremely large J_5eq-6 coupling constants. Also chemical shifts show a similar regularity being extremely high and low for C2 and C17, respectively.     

Complexation of an acrylic resin by tertiary amines: synthesis and characterisation of new binders for antifouling paints

Antifouling coatings are the most reliable way to prevent biofouling of immersed surfaces. As concerning the high toxicity of organotin paints, the tendency is the development of coatings, which do not present environmental risks. In this work, we prepare binders from modification of acrylic copolymers containing free carboxylic acid groups. Biocides chosen are tertiary ammonium salts; alkyl chain substituents with different length are considered. The chemical modifications of resins are carried out via a single step reaction. Modification extents are monitored through proton nuclear magnetic resonance and thermogravimetric analysis and the modified resins are characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature of the acrylate systems is assessed by dynamical mechanical analysis (pin point method) and compared with data obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The erosion and antifouling properties of the binders are followed during an exposure to marine environment by a visual observation.     

Development and validation of a method for the determination of trace alkylphenols and phthalates in the atmosphere

An analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous extraction and determination of trace tertiary octylphenol (t-OP), technical nonylphenol isomers (NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate isomers (NP1EO) and seven phthalates in the atmosphere using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). High volume samples were collected using a high-volume pump equipped with a PUF/XAD-2 column for air and glass fiber filter for particles. The detection limits of the method for alkylphenols (APs) and the phthalates ranged from 0.0006 to 0.034 ng m⁻³ in air. The recoveries of t-OP, NP, NP1EO and the phthalates for the entire procedure were satisfactory (>69%). The method was successfully applied to the determination of the analytes in the atmosphere samples collected over land and the ocean. The concentrations of t-OP, NP, NP1EO showed decline trends from land to the open sea, and the phthalates present over land and the North Sea were comparable. It is suggested that the atmosphere is a significant pathway for the transport of alkylphenols and the phthalates in the environment.     

Secondary and Tertiary Structure of Polysaccharides in Solutions and Gels

Many polysaccharide chains can adopt ordered helical and ribbon-like secondary structures. It seems however that these chains are often so stiff and extended that the cooperative interactions necessary for stability in the solvent environment can only be achieved when inter-chain as well as intra-chain interactions are favorable. Hence we commonly find two-or more-stranded associations of helices, of ribbons, or of helices with ribbons. These can be regarded as tertiary and higher levels of structure. The ordered secondary structure characteristically requires a regular repeating sequence of sugar residues, and the termination of this sequence by insertion of a residue of different type may also terminate the secondary structure and hence the association in which it is involved. This is the mechanism by which native polysaccharides may link up to form three dimensional networks, or gels, in which state they perform their natural roles in maintaining the hydration and integrity of biological tissues. For several polysaccharides there is evidence that the mechanism of biological control over the fine topology and properties of the gel network is mediated by enzymes which modify sugar residues at the polymer level to change the pattern of “interrupting” sugar residues.     

KMnO4-mediated oxidative CN bond cleavage of tertiary amines: Synthesis of amides and sulfonamides

KMnO₄-mediated oxidative CN bond cleavage of tertiary amines producing secondary amine was introduced, which was trapped by electrophiles (acyl chloride and sulfonyl chloride) to form amides and sulfonamides. The reaction could take place at mild condition, tolerating a wide range of function groups and affording products in moderate to excellent yields.     

Determination of Hormones and Non-ionic Surfactant Degradation Products in Small-Volume Aqueous Samples from Soil Columns Using LC-ESI-MS-MS and GC-MS

The leaching of two estrogens, 17β-estradiol and estrone, and two degradation products of non-ionic surfactants, octylphenol and nonylphenol, through a soil column were studied to estimate their transport behavior. Different concentration methods (lyophilization, solid phase extraction, and liquid–liquid extraction) were evaluated for analyzing these compounds in small effluent fractions (30–50 mL) collected. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed for quantitative analysis of these compounds. After comparison, the lyophilization-LC-MS-MS method was found to be best suited for the analysis of the two estrogen hormones and the liquid–liquid extraction-GC-MS method best for the analysis of the two phenols in small samples in the soil column study. Because of their high sorption capacity, these compounds were mostly sorbed in the upper part of the soil column and were difficult to detect in column effluent.