Library

Notes: The increasing requirements in wastewater treatment have led to the development of new wastewater treatment processes based on the know-how and experience in reaction and process engineering of the chemical industry. Due to their compactness, closed operation and high flexibility, these new processes show a large potential for process integration and significant cost reduction in particular for highly polluted industrial wastewaters.This paper discusses the HCR (high-performance compact reactor) - process, developed at the Mass Transfer Laboratory of the Technical University of Clausthal within the last decade. This process has been realized in more than 30 technical applications with a volume loading of up to 70 kg COD/m3 d and an energy consumption of about 0.4 kWh per kg CODelim.

Notes: Nitrogen fixing Anabaena azollae strains isolated from four different Azolla cultures were characterized based on their total protein profile and RAPD profile to study the existing variation among them. As expected, the isolates showed almost similar protein banding patterns, but exhibited differences in 40-70 KDa protein subunits. Polymerase chain reaction of the DNA of the isolates, using four different primers, amplified specific sequences of DNA and showed clear polymorphism among the isolates. The RAPD profile generated the fingerprinting pattern characteristic of each strain based on the sequence of the primers used. Common band sharing observed between the strains A. azollae-RS-KK-SK-AM and A. azollae-RS-KK-SK-RP probably represents maternal inheritance of DNA to the progeny. The polymorphic bands were generated specifically for the isolates A. azollae-RS-KK-SK-RP and A. azollae-RS-KK-SK-AM with primers numbered 2 and 4, respectively, which could be developed as possible markers for these isolates.

Notes: Mature seed-derived callus from an elite Chinese japonica rice cv. Eyl 105 was transformed with a plasmid containing the selectable marker hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) and the reporter β-glucuronidase (gusA) genes via particle bombardment. After two rounds of selection on hygromycin (30 mg/l)-containing medium, resistant callus was transferred to hygromycin (30 mg/l)-containing regeneration medium for plant regeneration. Twenty-three independent transgenic rice plants were regenerated from 127 bombarded callus with a transformation frequency of 18.1%. All the transgenic plants contained both gusA and hpt genes, revealed by PCR/Southern blot analysis. GUS assay revealed 18 out of 23 plants (78.3%) proliferated on hygromycin-containing medium had GUS expression at various levels. Genetic analysis confirmed Mendelian segregation of transgenes in progeny. From R2 generations with their R1 parent plants showing 3:1 Mendelian segregation, we identified three independent homozygous transgenic rice lines. The homozygous lines were phenotypically normal and fertile compared to the control plants. We demonstrate that homozygous transgenic rice lines can be obtained via particle bombardment-mediated transformation and through genetic analysis-based selection.

Notes: The GRAM-positive bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis K2-3 and the GRAM-negative Ochrobactrum anthropi K2-14 are capable of synergistically degrading 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid (2,4-DB). The two strais execute this task in a symbiotic manner, but the nature of the interaction involved in the degradation is only partially understood as yet. An essential first step in elucidating the interaction is to be able to monitor the two strans separately, at the cellular level, within mixed populations. Therefore a method exploiting fluorescently labelled lectin probes was developed. Since Concanavalin A (Con A) binds specifically to R. erythropolis K2-3, it was selected and linked to the fluoresent dye Bodipy 630/650, which has an excitation maximum in the red part of the visible light spectrum. Forward light scatter (FSC) and DNA fluorescence from both strains were also measured to obtain simultaneous information about their physiological states. The three parameters were conveniently monitored by dual and triple excitation flow cytometry in conjunction with double fluorescent staining techniques. In addition, the strains were identified using an epifluorescence microscope. These techniques were found powerful tools for the population analysis of this mixed bacterial system.

Notes: A quite unconventional, innovative scientific methodology called “macroscopic pattern analysis” is presented in this paper. This approach is more adequate in the case of complex systems than the well-known microscopic, mechanistic approach. Complex systems are not only attracting more engineering interest, but their scientific treatment is increasingly wanted by society due to the manifold problems in Earth's ecosphere. The macroscopic pattern approach will be explained in depth and illustrated in some case studies from the ecosphere (sustainability, hurricanes and avalanches), where nature serves as a teacher for the solution of the sustainability problem. Then, a series of case studies on macropatterns are described showing the problem-solving capacity for anthropo- and technosphere: sustainability in society with an index of sustainability, the eco-social market economy with eco-tech as an instrument, biokinetics, bioreactor mixing and integrated bioprocessing with models, design of cars and houses and even quality of life as an attempt to quantify macropatterns.The innovations are briefly compared in their problem-solving capacity with known approaches such as the microscopic method in science, technology and society (free market economy), including the evaluation of other indices and cleaner production, industrial ecology and zero emission initiative. Finally, a deeper integration of sciences, ethics, arts and nature will be introduced based on the vision with macroscopic pattern analysis, where the different domains of human life are integratable to effect a reconciliation.

Notes: The dynamic behaviour of biofilters intended to remove toluene and xylene from air was studied during transient states. Laboratory scale biofilters were filled with a mixture of peat, bark and wood and inoculated with a mixed microbial population. Toluene and xylene were applied both as single pollutants and as mixtures. Attention was focused on the evaluation of the following transients: the response of biofilters to step changes and peaks in pollutant concentrations, the effect of changes between single and multiple pollutant loadings and the response to shutdown periods.The biofilters demonstrated a good dynamic stability during transient states induced by change in inlet pollutant concentrations. Their time periods did not exceed three hours. No interaction between xylene and toluene degradation was observed during changes in loading with single pollutants or their mixture. The performance interruptions lasting less than 24 hours were found to have no significant influence on the removal efficiency of biofilters. When the biofilters were reacclimated after longer starvation periods, a short temporary decrease in efficiency whose minimum and duration were proportional to the length of a preceding shutdown period was observed. The longest starvation period (7 days) resulted in a reacclimation lasting 7 hours only. Adaptations of a microbial population to new operating conditions as well as sorption/desorption processes were suggested as the main factors influencing the dynamic reponse characteristics.

Notes: In this paper, the in vivo decolourization of the polymeric dye Poly R-478 by semi-solid-state cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767 (ATCC 24725) was investigated, employing corncob as a support. In order to stimulate the ligninolytic system of the fungus, the cultures were supplemented with veratryl alcohol (2 mM) or manganese (IV) oxide (1 g/l).Maximum manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) activities of around 2,000 U/l and 400 U/l were attained by the former, whereas the activities reached by the latter were of about 1,500 U/l and 200 U/l, respectively. Furthermore, laccase activity (around 150 U/l) was only detected in manganese (IV) oxide supplemented cultures.The polymeric dye Poly R-478 (0.02 w/v) was added to three-day-old cultures. A percentage of biological decolourization of about 85% was achieved using cultures supplemented with veratryl alcohol, whereas MnO2 cultures showed a rather lower percentage of around 58% after nine days of dye incubation. Moreover, a correlation between MnP activity and Poly R-478 decolourization could be observed, indicating that this enzyme is mainly responsible for dye degradation.In the present work, the in vivo decolourizing capability of the ligninolytic complex secreted by P. chrysosporium was investigated under the above-mentioned cultivation conditions, employing a model compound, such as the polymeric dye Poly R-478.

Notes: Desulfovibrio vulgaris strain PY1 was isolated from a 3-chlorobenzoic acid (3CBA) degrading anaerobic enrichment culture, using anaerobic Percoll density centrifugation. When grown on pyruvate (20 mM), in the absence of sulphate and under strict anaerobic conditions, this organism converted not only the co-substrates benzoate (BA), 3-amino-BA and 3CBA to the corresponding alcohols but also ten other different halogenated benzoic acids, viz., 4-Cl-, 3-Br-, 4-Br-, 3-I-, 3-F-, 4-F-, 2,4-di-Cl-, 2,5-di-Cl-, 3,4-di-Cl- and 3,5-di-Cl-BA. This was verfied with HPLC and GC/MS spectrometric analyses. The yields of the co-substrate converted after 30 days of growth were between 20% and 88%, depending on the compounds which had been added at initial concentrations of 500 μM. Sulphate, sulphite, thiosulphate and disulphite inhibited the formation of 3-Cl-benzyl alcohol (3CBOH), i.e. a 97 to 99% inhibition, and nitrate and sulphur had no effect (a 7-10% inhibition). In cell-free extracts, the reduction of 3CBA to 3CBOH required strict anaerobic conditions, pyruvate or H2 as electron donors and the addition of methylviologen (MV), FAD, FMN or ferredoxin as electron carriers. The specific activity of the reduction of 3CBA to 3CBOH in crude extract was 5.3 nmol/(mg protein min). The reaction was not inhibited by additions of sulphate or sulphite (5 mM), but was completely inhibited at concentrations of 10 mM 3CBA or 50 mM BA. A carboxylic acid reductase (aldehyde dehydrogenase), which acted on non-activated 3CBA and was responsible for the reduction of 3CBA to 3-Cl-benzaldehyde, was found in the solube fraction (94% of the total activity). These results demonstrate that strain PY1 was able to effectively reduce a wide range of halogenated benzoic acids to the corresponding alcohols.

Notes: The recent upsurge in information technology has provided the international community with an easy access to professional journals (e.g. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology at http://www.ejb.org; etc.), discussion groups (e.g. bioenergy@cret.org; digestion@crest.org; etc.) and recently to electronic international conferences (e.g. ICIBS; http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidbiotech, etc.) as well as a series of biotechnological information material (e.g. http://www.psrast.org, etc.) to stay in contact and receive up-to-date information in biotechnology. There is no doubt that this new technology will be more cost effective in future and reach more people in communities around the globe.This review reports on one such an electronic conference aiming at bridging the communication gap between developed and developing countries. This conference dealt with integrated biosystems and has provided an excellent forum for more than 100 active participants from all regions of the world. As has been demonstrated in this review, the conference was able to show the very different approaches towards the use of biotechnology in developed and developing countries, cold and tropical climate regions owing to their different ecological, economical and societal problems. It also demonstrated very clearly that the field of molecular genetics and/or genetic engineering is not a priority issue in developing countries, but rather the need for clean technologies, multiproduct formation through socio-economic integrated biosystems, e.g. incorporating microbial waste management into agro-industries, in human activities and their roles in creating better health conditions, a better environment and sustain development.It is hoped that this review will lead to a greater use of the electronic facilities available to inform and educate both the northern and the southern communities more readily of their needs and requirements to improve understanding and efforts for a sustainable future.

Notes: The purpose and scope of this article is to introduce capable zeolites into downstream processing of natural compounds, especially flavour compounds like 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furan-3-one (Furaneol®Furaeol is a registered trademark of FIRMENICH, Ch). The synthesis and the recovery of Furaneol from L-rhamnose are presented. Therefore adsorption isotherms of the zeolites ZSM5 and DAY with varying modules have been determined and adsorption experiments using model and reaction mixtures of Furaneol synthesis were performed and will be discussed.

Notes: A fermentation process for manufacturing 1,4-piperazinium-(L,L)-dilactate from renewable raw materials and a method for processing this product into L,L-dilactide are described. Lactic acid fermentation with Lactobacillus paracasei was modified in such a way that pH control occurred by using an aqueous solution of piperazine as a correcting agent instead of sodium hydroxide solution. The production of a stoichiometrically composed piperazinium lactate was possible when the pH was 5.0. From 5.0 kg of glucose and 2.15 kg of piperazine, 6.65 kg of 1,4-piperazinium-(L,L)-dilactate were formed in the fermentation process. Separation from fermentation broth, purification and concentration of the product in aqueous solutions were carried out by means of ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and electrodialysis. Total product retention by the membranes used was about 33%. The crystalline salt was obtained by vacuum evaporation. Processing of the 1,4-piperazinium-(L,L)-dilactate into L,L-dilactide was performed in a special glass reactor. A product yield of 70% was achieved. The purified product was characterized by elementary analysis, as well as solubility behaviour, polarity and spectroscopic data. An overall process consisting of the stages fermentation, purification and concentration of piperazinium dilactate as well as cyclization of the latter to dilactide is described.

Notes: Five different chemical reagents and γ-rays were tested for the sanitization of immobilized biocatalysts with high penicillin G acylase (PGA) activity. The most effective chemical reagents were N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol (thymol). The optimum concentration of CTAB for the treatment of the immobilized enzyme was 0.25% [w/v] and 1 h, for immobilized cells 0. [w/v] and 3 h. The optimum concentration of thymol for the immobilized enzyme was found to be 0.1% [w/v] and 1 h, for immobilized cells 0.27% [w/v] and 2 h. The optimum dose of γ-rays for the sanitization of the immobilized enzyme was established as 3.2 kGy, for immobilized cells as 4.5 kGy.

Notes: An advanced primary treatment process for a municipal waste water was systematically studied, using a bio-flocculation-adsorption, sedimentation and stabilzation process (BSS). It was shown that the organic removal efficiency was higher than that of the traditional primary treatment processes but lower than that of the traditional secondary treatment processes. Both adsorption and bio-flocculation played an important role in the removal of pollutants. The activated sludge within the bio-flocculation-adsorption tank could be considered a bio-flocculent which improved the quality of the effluent from the primary treatment process. As the effluent of the BSS process did not meet the requirements for a typical secondary effluent, the process may be regarded as an advanced (or enhanced) primary treatment process, suitable for waste water containing a high concentration of suspended solids and colloidal particles.

Notes: The concentration of airborne fungal spores and bacteria as related to room temperature, humidity and occupancy levels within a library building in Singapore was determined. Measurement of indoor air quality with respect to microorganisms is of particular importance in tropical environments due to the extensive use of air-conditioning systems and the potential implications for human health. This study has revealed a number of interesting relationships between the concentrations of fungal spores and bacteria in relation to both environmental and human factors. The levels of fungal spores measured in the indoor environment were approximately fifty times lower than those measured outside, probably because of the lowered humidity caused by air-conditioning in the indoor environment. The variation in fungal spore concentration in the outdoor environment is likely to be due to the diurnal periodicity of spore release and the response to environmental factors such as light temperature and humidity. The indoor concentration of fungal spores in air was not clearly correlated to concentrations measured in air outside of the library building and remained relatively constant, unaffected by the difference in the numbers of occupants in the library. In contrast, the indoor concentrations of bacteria in air were approximately ten times higher than those measured outdoors, indicating a signficant internal source of bacteria. The elevated levels of indoor bacteria were primarily attributed to the number of library occupants. Increased human shedding of skin cells, ejection of microorganisms and particulates from the respiratory tract, and the transport of bacteria on suspended dust particles from floor surfaces probably accounts for the strong positive correlation between occupancy levels and the concentration of bacteria in internal air.

Notes: Preliminary results on the novel use of the bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (ATCCJ 3598 and ATCC33020) for the micro-machining (or biomachinig) of metals are reported. Biomachning is a controlled microbiological process to selectively form microstrucutures on a metal work-piece by metal removal (or dissolution) using microorganisms. Applying copper and mild steel as work-pieces, it was shown that the mass removed increased proportionately with machining time. In another experiment, the work-pieces were coated with organic photo-resistive materials to mask (i.e. protect) certain regions of the metlas, thereby defining the microstructure to be formed. The unmasked regions were successfully biomachined; the final machined profile was shown to be similar to the coating image on the original metal. Although biomachining proceeded at a slower rate than chemical machining, the undesired leaching of the metal in the region under the masked area (termed undercutting) was not as severely encountered when compared with the latter. This work demonstrates the potential use of microorganisms for the biomachining of metals. As a “green process”, the innovative use of T. ferrooxidans for the micro-machining of metals opens up the possibility of biomachining as an alternative to conventional metal processing.

Notes: During the microbial treatment of a sandy model soil artificially contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a large residual pollution was found. The remainig PAHs were sorbed into the micropores of the soil and were therefore not bioavailable. Using a lab-scale precolator, the microbially pretreated soil was subjected to aftertreatment with surfactants with the aim of further degradation of its pollution. Two commercial nonionic surfatants of the polyethoxylate type, Präwozell F1214/5 N and Sapogenat T-300, were used. The surfactants differ both in their physicochemical properties (CMC value, PAH solubilization capacity, adsorption onto soil) and in their microbial degradability. During aftertreatment under permanently aerobic conditions, only a weak PAH accumulation in the liquid phase was observed, which was due to a low solubilization rate as well as to simultaneous microbial degradation of the dissolved PAHs. Temporary anaerobiosis successfully suppressed the microbial degradation of both the surfactant and the solubilized PAHs, resulting in a more intensive PAH accumulation. But the PAH content of the soil - the essential criterion for evaluating the efficiency of surfactant application - was not decreased to a larger extent with surfactants than without them. To find out why the surfactants failed to act, the surfactant and hydrocarbon distribution among the liquid and solid phases was studied in mixtures of phenantherne-spiked solis and Präwozell-containig liquids; at heavy phenanthrene loading, the aqueous phase was saturated with PAH; at weak loading, it was unsaturated. Model-aided data analysis showed that the soil may contain PAH in two fractions: strongly sorbed into soil pores and, in the case of heavy loading, also weakly attached to the soil surface. The latter is easily extractable, resulting in a PAH-saturated liquid, while strongly adsorbed PAH is only partially dissolved due to competition between the micelles and the soil pores for the PAH. The microbially pretreated soil contains only strongly bound PAHs, which are as difficult to extract by surfactants as they are poorly accessible for microbes.

Notes: Autochthonous bacteriocenoses in semiarid soils in Patagonia were found to be capable of rapidly adapting to high contamination with crude oil. This adaptation at community level is due to the selective enrichment of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria always present in these soils. Immediately after a heavy contamination with crude oil, the authochthonous bacteriocenosis contained about 28% hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria which could be classified into eight ecotypes with characteristic metabolic profiles. Mainly n-alkanes were used as growth substrates of representative strains. After seven months' exposure to crude oil, the bacteriocenosis consisted almost entirely of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. At least fourteen ecotypes were distinguishable, and the majority of representative strains were able to metabolize a broad spectrum of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Corresponding to the significant alteration of the physiological diversity, drastic changes to the taxonomic diversity were also found. Whereas at the beginning of the study the autochthonous bacteriocenoses were dominated by GRAM-positive genera of the Actinomycetales (Dietzia, Gordona, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Streptomyces) with high ecological potency, after just two months' exposure to crude oil, GRAM- negative bacteria (especially Pseudomonas stutzeri) became predominant within the hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteriocenoses accompanied by some GRAM-positive genera of the Actinomycetales with a significantly lower abundance. These findings underline the importance of Pseudomonas and some genera of Actinomycetales for processes of natural attenuation and the technically supported in situ bioremediation of soil polluted by crude oil in Patagonia.

Notes: Some parameters of the production of an alkaline protease by Rhizopus oryzae in the solid state fermentation of wheat bran were optimized. Using the optimum parameters of an inoculum age of 7 days, an incubation time of 9 days, an amount of CZAPEK-DOX (liquid medium) of 6 ml/g bran and an incubation temperature of 33°C, an activity of 50 U/g bran was achieved. The initial pH of the CZAPEK-DOX medium had little effect. Re-incubation of mouldy bran with only fresh CZAPEK-DOX yielded 3 times total activity compared to single-cycle fermentation. As for the effect of the amount CZAPEK-DOX medium, the water constituent contributed more to activity increase than did the salt component. The ARRHENIUS activation energies were 23 and 7.9 kcal/mole below and above the optimum of 33°C, respectively. In all the studies, along with protease production, variation of protein content and specific activity were also observed. Attempts were made to explain the effects and also gauge their implications for large-scale production.

Notes: Because of the growing utilization of renewable raw materials, the technical use of lignocellulosic fibres from wood and other annual plant materials is becoming increasingly important. The conventional production process of fibreboards is characterized by high-energy consumption and use of ecologically insecure synthetic lesins. Approximately 40 to 45% of the total energy expenditure are used for the thermo-mechanical pulping. Because of high plastication temperatures, an inactive lignin crust on the fibre surface is formed. For that reason, for glueing of the fibres, urea formaldehyde and melamin resins are usually used. The costs for the resin amount to approximately 50% of the entire material costs. In addition, environmental problems are caused. The aim of our investigation is the reduction of energy and resin consumption by enzymatic modification of wood chips and the enzymatic activation of the inherent bonding strength of the material. The first industrial use of fungi for the modification of wood was in the production of “Myco wood”. Pleurothus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor were applied for nonsterile delignification of beech wood. The present investigation of the authors deals with the mycological pre-treatment of wood chips in order to reduce the energy consumption during wood pulping. The screening results favour the brown rotter Gleophyllum trabeum for pinewood (Pinus silvestris) and the white rotter Trametes hirsuta for beech (Fagus silvatica). Both species show resistance against mould fungi. The use of submerged inoculum of these fungi has the advantage over wheat inoculum that the lag phase is less than 12 hours and that the addition of nutrients or fungicides is not necessary. Short-time wood chip incubation results in a 40% decrease of energy consumption during thermo-mechanical pulping and in improved fibreboard properties. Lignin reduction could not be determined by gravimetrical and x-ray microanalysis.Comparative investigations of fibre incubation using laccase, a submerged culture of Trametes versicolor and rape straw fibres show a high increase in bending and tensile strength and an improvement in the hygroscopic properties of glue-free fibre boards for the last two incubation kinds. Similar effects have been obtained incubating pine wood fibres for the production of fibre sheets with enzyme medium of Trichoderma reseei.

Notes: During the 20th century, important relationships developed between the oil industry and both microbiological and biotechnological research. Basic microbiological research has played an important role in both the exploration and production sectors of the oil industry, but as the maturity of the industry has progressed, such contributions have been relegated with respect to their importance. With respect to refining and petrochemicals manufacture, process routes have been extensively researched, but only rarely have the biotechnological solutions developed satisfied the economic criteria that resulted in major investment. In fact, situations exist where investment has occurred, but project life was unrealistically short, suggesting a need for extreme caution when evaluating biotechnological processes for the oil industry. However, as far as engineered processes for both biotreatment and bioremediation are concerned, the fundamental research that has underpinned other areas of hydrocarbon microbiology will finally prove to be of both technical and economic value, in ensuring that the essential needs of treatment, rather than disposal, and restoration, rather than environmental destruction, can be satisfied by the oil and other industries involved in both geochemical manipulation and natural resource exploitation.

Notes: The influence of different growth-limiting factors - namely the sources of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus and the dilution (growth) rate - on the ice-nucleation activity of Pseudomonas syringe CCM 4073 was studied. A higher ice-nucleation activity was observed at a lower dilution (growth) rate (D = 0.1 h-1) than at a higher dilution (growth) rate (D = 0.3 h-1). Remarkable differences in ice-nucleation activity were found in its dependence on the growth-limiting factor. The highest ice-nucleation activity was observed under carbon limitation (T90 = -2.7°C), a medium activity under nitrogen limitation (T90 = -5°C) and lowest activity under phosphorus limitation (T90 = -12.3°C). After the addition of excess nitrogen or phosphorus to steady-state cultures, the ice-nucleation activity was restored.

Notes: Studies were carried out to evaluate the feasibility of using coffee industry residues, viz. coffee husk, coffee leaves and spent coffee ground as substrates in solid state fermentation (SSF) to cultivate edible mushrooms Pleurotus. Eight strains of Pleurotus ostreatus and two strains of Pleurotus sajor-caju were screened on a medium prepared from aqueous extract of coffee husk and agar. Based on best mycelial growth (9.68 mm/day) and biomass production (43.4 mg/plate in 9 days at 24°C), the strain P. ostreatus LPB 09 was selected for detailed studies. SSF was carried out using these substrates under different moisture conditions (45-75%) and spawn rates (2.5-25%). In general, although a 25% spawn rate appeared superior, the 10% spawn rate was recommended for all the three substrates in view of the process economics, as there was not any significant difference in the increase with 10 to 15%. The ideal moisture content for mycelial growth was 60-65% for coffee husk and spent coffee ground, and 60-70% for coffee leaves. The biological efficiency (BE), which is defined as the ratio of the weight of fresh fruiting bodies to the weight of dry substrate, multiplied by 100, and which indicates the fructification ability of the fungus for utilizing the substrate, was best with coffee husk. With coffee husk as the substrate, the first fructification occurred after 20 days of inoculation, and the biological efficiency reached about 97% after 60 days. When coffee leaves were used as the substrate, no fructification was observed even upon prolonged cultivation. With spent ground as the substrate, the first fructification occurred 23 days after inoculation and the biological efficiency reached about 90% in 50 days. There was a significant decrease in the caffeine and tannin contents (61 and 79%, respectively) of coffee husk after 60 days. It was remarkable to observe that caffeine was adsorbed onto the fruiting body (0.157%), indicating that it was not completely degraded by the fungal culture. However, no tannins were found in the fruiting body, indicating that the fungal strain was capable of degrading them. The results showed the feasibility of using coffee husk and spent coffee ground as substrates without any pre-treatment for the cultivation of edible fungi in SSF, and provided one of the first steps towards an economical utilization of these otherwise unutilized or poorly utilized residues.

Notes: Serratia marcescens biovar A2/A6 is able to produce a red pigment as a secondary metabolite which has antimicrobial activity. This paper describes its growth and biopigment formation in batch cultures, in media containing different concentrations of lactic acid and beef extract as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. An unstructured model has also been developed to describe its growth, lactic acid uptake and biopigment formation. The comparison of simulated and experimental data shows that the proposed model predicts reasonably well the system behaviour over a range of conditions.

Notes: The impact of hydrocarbon remediation on several enzyme activities (catalase, dehydrogenase, lipase, protease, urease, alkaline phosphomonoesterase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) and microbial properties (biomass-C, respiration, N-mineralization, qCO2, microbial counts) was evaluated in a laboratory study over a period of 10 weeks. A pristine soil was contaminated with diesel oil (10 mg/g soil) or with a mixture of phenanthrene and naphthalene (total amount 1 mg/g soil) and supplemented with inorganic nutrients to give a C:N ratio of 20:1. The corresponding controls consisted of uncontaminated nutrient-supplemented soil. Oil contamination caused a significant initial increase of all biological parameters measured. In the presence of PAHs, biomass-C, respiration, protease activity and heterotrophic counts were significantly enhanced, while urease activity was depressed. N-mineralization was initially, however, reversibly inhibited in the presence of oil and PAHs.The measured parameters behaved differently over time: Biomass-C, respiration and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity reached a maximum activity after about 2-5 weeks, corresponding to the period during which the majority of hydrocarbons disappeared, and declined thereafter to the background level. Activities of catalase and dehydrogenase also followed this pattern, however, were characterized by fluctuations. Activities of lipase, protease, urease and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis increased and remained almost constant throughout the incubation period.

Notes: The action resonance theory (ART), a hypothesis based on a logical extension of EINSTEIN's theory of Brownian movement, suggests that the genotype × environment interaction can be modelled as forceful encounters of the gene-products of an organism with its environment. This model has implications for molecular and cell biology, morphogenesis, evolutionary development via mutation, the mechanism of natural selection and overall function of ecosystems, extending SCHRÖDINGER's programme for molecular biology. Action, a thermodynamic property with the same physical dimensions as angular momentum and PLANCK's quantum of action, is proposed to be reversibly generated as a result of the molecular exchange of quanta, which become resonant at equilibrium, corresponding to an optimum degree of entropy and action for living systems. Because the theory can potentially predict solutions to unsolved problems such as the folding of proteins it has strong implications for successful genetic modification of organisms and for biotechnology in general; the design of a programme of research to test this theory is proposed. A key element in this research programme, improving productivity and sustainability, would be the need to select genetically modified strains in the ecological environment or niche in which they are required to function.

Notes: Continuous counter-current chromatographic processes have been successfully used in the petrochemical and sugar industry over the last 30 years. Only recently has simulated moving bed (SMB)-technology attracted widespread interest in the pharmaceutical industry, mainly as a very efficient system for chromatographic enantioseparation. The application of this technique to the downstream processing of biotechnological products requires some specific changes to meet the special demands of bioproduct isolation. Production processes are set up on an multi-ton scale, for example, for the purification of fructose with both yield and purity higher than 90%. Examples for other mono- and oligosaccharides are reported. In the purification of fatty acids or fat soluble vitamins, SMB technology under supercritical fluid conditions gives additional benefits and increases the productivity by a factor of four when a pressure gradient is applied. Another field of operation is the isolation of drug compounds from natural sources where different batch- and SMB-chromatographic steps could be successfully combined. First examples are reported for cyclosporine A and paclitaxel isolation. Finally, step-gradient elution modes can be used continuously, as demonstrated for the isolation of monoclonal antibodies.

Notes: The title compound, an analogue of [Leu5]-enkephalin with L-o-carboranylalanine replacing L-phenylalanine in position 4, was prepared by fragment condensation. The analogue has a 3-fold higher affinity for rat brain opiate receptors in the [3H]naloxone competition assay than natural [Leu5]-enkephalin. Like [Leu5]-enkephalin and Na-acetyl-[Leu5]-enkephalin, the N-terminal tripeptide fragment, H · Tyr-Gly-Gly · OH, had no melanotropic activity in the Rana pipiens frog skin assay.A convenient, direct synthesis of methyl t-butoxycarbonyl-L-propargylglycinate is described, and the 13C-NMR. spectra of L-o-carboranylalanine recorded. The procedure was extended to the preparation of BOC · Car-Leu · OMe from BOC · Pra-Leu · OMe. A number of new propargylglycine derivatives are reported.

Notes: The conversion of primary, secondary and vinylic halides to the two C-atoms homologated phenylselenomethyl ketones 8 is described. The method involves addition of the readily available phenylselenoacetaldehyde 5 to the Grignard reagents 9 and oxidation of the resulting β-hydroxy-selenides 10 (Scheme 3).

Notes: Preparation of Stilbenyl Derivatives of 1,2,4-OxadiazolesSchiffs bases derived from 3- and 5-(p-formylphenyl)-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles and chloroanilines are reacted with various p-tolyl substituted aromatic heterocycles in the presence of dimethylformamide and potassium hydroxide to yield the corresponding heterocyclic substituted stilbenes (‘Anil synthesis’). The reactivity of 5-[4-(chlorophenylimino-methyl)phenyl]-3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles is very low and side reactions will predominate.

Notes: (Perhalomethylthio)heterocycles. XIX. Mitt.: s. [1]. . Acid-catalyzed substitutions on (perchlorofluoromethylthio)pyrroles and their agro-biological activitiesIn the presence of C4F9SO3H the (perhalomethylthio)pyrroles 1a-c react with Cl3-nFnCSCl (n = 1-3) to give mixtures of the 2,5- and 2,4-disubstituted pyrroles 2a-f and 3a-h. 2a and 3a react with CF3SCl (catalyst CF3SO3H) yielding 2,3,5-tris (trifloromethylthio)pyrrole (4a), which under similar conditions reacts further to give 2,3,4,5-tetrakis (trifluoromethylthio)pyrrole (5). As a by-product during the conversion of 3a to 4a 2,3,4-tris (trifluoromethylthio)pyrrole (4b) is formed. The pyrroles 2a, 4a and 5 form the mercury salts 6a-c; compound 5 yields also a silver salt 7. The 1H- and 19F-NMR. spectra are discussed and the agro-biological properties of the compounds investigated.

Notes: A new way to vinylic ethers from acetalsAcetals react at low temperatures in presence of a Lewis acid (aluminium chloride or magnesium bromide) with tertiary amine to give in good yields the vinylic ethers corresponding to the elimination of one molecule of alcohol.

Notes: Addition Reaction of 3-Dimethylamino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirine with Phenylisocyanate and Diphenylketene3-Dimethylamino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirine (1a) reacts with carbon disulfide and isothiocyanates with splitting of the azirine N(1), C(3)-double bond to give dipolar, fivemembered heterocyclic 1:1 adducts. In some cases, these products can undergo secondary reactions to yield 1:2 and 1:3 adducts. In this paper it is shown that the reaction of 1a with phenylisocyanate also takes place by cleavage of the N(1), C(3)-bond, whereas with diphenylketene N(1), C(2)-splitting is observed.The reaction of 1a and phenylisocyanate in hexane at room temperature yields the 1:3 adduct 2 in addition to the trimeric isocyanate 3 (Scheme 1). A mechanism for the formation of 2 is given in Scheme 5. Hydrolysis experiments with the 1:3 adduct 2, yielding the hydantoins 4-6 and the ureas 7 and 8 (Schemes 3 and 5), show that the formation of this adduct via the intermediates d, e and f is a reversible reaction.The aminoazirines 1a and 1b undergo an addition reaction with diphenylketene to give the 3-oxazolines 14 (Scheme 8), the structure of which has been established by spectral data and oxidative degradation of 14a to the 3-oxazolin-2-one 15 (R1 — R2 — CH3, Scheme 9).

Notes: 1H-NMR. Spectroscopic Analysis of Prochiral Allenic Esters Using Optically Active Europium Shift ReagentsThe prochiral allenic methyl esters 1-4 (cf. Scheme) show in the presence of 1 mol-equiv. tris[3-(heptafluorobutyryl)-(+)-camphorato]europium (III) (Eu (hfc)3) in 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (TCFE) induced unlike 1H-NMR. shift differences (ΔΔδ) for the enantiotopic protons and methyl groups on C(4), respectively (cf. Fig. 2 and 3). This effect allows to determine directly the 2JH,H coupling constants of the geminal protons on C(4) of the allenic esters 1 (15.5 Hz) and 2 (14.5 Hz) (cf. Table 2).

Notes: Heterocyclic anellated derivatives of strychnine: Imidazo-, oxazolo- and (1,3-dioxolo)strychnineThe synthesis of imidazo-, oxazolo- and dioxolo-strychnine derivatives, anellated at the 2,3-position of the aromatic nucleus is described. The spectroscopic properties of these compounds and of some intermediates are given.

Notes: UV.-irradiation of pivalic and isobutyric acid and their methyl esters as well as of α-hydroxy isobutyric and malonic acid in solution lead to chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP.) of parent compounds and of various reaction products. CIDNP.-effects and product distributions confirm α-cleavage of the C(α), CO bond to be the major mode of photodecomposition. Scavenger experiments indicate that decomposition of the molecules from a triplet excited state is roughly equally or more probable than from a singlet excited state. Quantum yields of educt disappearance are also given for the methyl esters of pivalic and isobutyric acid.

Notes: Sodiumthiophenoxide and sodiumphenylselenide react with N-benzyl- and N-hexyl-di-p-toluenesulfonamides (1 and 2) via displacement at the C-atom to afford the corresponding organosulfides and selenides in yields of 68-96%. In contrast, sodium cyanide converts disulfonamides to monosulfonamides by attack on the S-atom. The different selectivities of phenylsulfide and selenide as compared to cyanide anions with respect to attack on the C- and S-atoms are rationalized on the grounds of the HSAB (hard and soft acids and bases) principle of Pearson.

Notes: The recently proposed structure of the carotenoid pigment prolycopene as the 7,9,7′,9′-tetra-cis isomer of lycopene has been unambiguously confirmed by a series of homonuclear Overhauser 1H-NMR. experiments at 270 MHz. Comparative measurements are reported for lycopene.

Notes: The racemic sesquiterpene isocomene (1) has been synthesized starting from 1,7-octadien-3-one (2) in a stereoselective manner (Scheme 2). In the key step 4 → 5 the C(7), C(8)-bond was formed by an intramolecular thermal ene reaction. Further elaboration of 5 involved the ring contraction 6 → 7, the elimination 8 → 9 and the final olefin isomerization 9 → 1.

Notes: Metabolites of Microorganisms. The Aspochalasins A, B, C, and DThe structures of the antibiotic aspochalasin B (asposterol) and its inactive co-metabolites aspochalasin A, C, and D from Aspergillus microcysticus (Tü 502) were elucidated by extended spectroscopic studies and chemical degradation. The structures are: aspochalasin A = 10-isopropyl-14-methyl[11]cytochalasa-6, 13-dien-1, 17, 18, 21-tetrone (32), aspochalasin B = 17-hydroxy-10-isopropyl-14-methyl-[11]cytochalasa-6, 13, 19-trien-1, 18, 21-trione (11), and aspochalasin C = 17, 18-dihydroxy-10-isopropyl-14-methyl[11]cytochalasa-6, 13, 19-trien-1, 21-dione (29). Aspochalasin D (1) is a diastereomer of aspochalasin C (different configuration at C (17) or C (18)).

Notes: Metabolites of Microorganisms. Synthesis of 3-Isobutyl-4,5-dimethylisoindolin-1-one, a Degradation Product of Aspochalasin D3-Isobutyl-4,5-dimethylisoindolin-1-one (1) and 3-isobutyl-6, 7-dimethyl-isoindolin-1-one (6) were synthesized in a non-regioselective way. The structures could be assigned unequivocally by spectroscopic means. Compound 1 was identical with a degradation product of Aspochalasin D.

Notes: Complexation in anhydrous methanol of Cu (II) and Zn (II) with diaza-polyoxamacrocyclic ligandsProtonation of five diaza-polyoxamacrocyclic ligands, (L = [2.1], [2.2], [2.1.1.], [2.2.1], [2.2.2]), and their complexing properties towards Cu2+ and Zn2+ cations have been studied in anhydrous methanolic solutions.Potentiometric measurements have been carried out at 25°, using 5 · 10-2MEt4N+ClO4- as support-electrolyte, in order to determine the nature of the species formed upon complexation and their stability constants. The results were confirmed by spectrophotometry, for the cupric complexes of [2.1] and [2.2.2], and the electronic spectra of the different complexes were calculated.Comparison between complexation in aqueous and methanolic solutions have been made: as in water, ML2+ species and sometimes protonated MHL3+ species, with higher stability constants, are present in methanol; but the main difference is the formation of dinuclear complexes M2L4+, between Cu2+ and all ligands except [2.1]. In these complexes the Cu2+ cations cannot be both ‘encaged’ in the ligand cavity because of its small size. The different possible structures are discussed in terms of the stability constants values. The protonation constants values and the existence of the binuclear complexes may indicate a possible conformational change in the complexing ligand on changing the solvent from water to methanol.

Notes: rac-1,2,10-Trimethoxy-aporphine (14) and rac-2-ethoxy-10,11-dimethoxyaporphine (27) have been synthesized from the 3-phenylphenethylamines 9 and 22 by a new route. The 8-phenyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines 11 and 24, the oxo-aporphines 12 and 25 and the rac-nor-aporphines 13 and 26 were obtained as intermediates.

Notes: (6aR)-1,2-(Methylenedioxy)aporphine-10, 11-diol (8) and (6aR)-aporphine-1, 1, 10, 11-tetrol (16) have been prepared from natural (S)-bulbocapnine (4). For both compounds, the partial synthesis included racemic intermediates which have been resolved into their enantiomers. Both compounds 8 and 16 showed dopaminergic activity in rats, although to a lower extent than (R)-apomorphine (1) itself.

Notes: The self-ordered supramolecular structures formed by 5′-guanosine monophosphate (disodium salt) in aqueous solution at pH 7.8 show pronounced interaction with ammonium ions. Rather than competing with potassium ions for the central cavity in hydrogen-bonded guanine tetramers, ammonium ions bring about - in synergism with potassium ions - further aggregation. Glycine appears to destroy the aggregates, by competing with potassium ions for the core positions within the tetramers. Conversely, alanine does not interact significantly with the system. These conclusions follow from analysis, at various concentrations, of the microdynamics and of the mole fractions of sodium ions bound to self-assembled 5′-GMP--, obtained from relaxation rate measurements for the 23Na nucleus, as the 5′-GMP-- counter-ion.

Notes: Synthetic application of epoxynitrones. II. Syntheses of steroidal α-methylidene-γ-lactonesThis communication describes the application of the epoxynitrone/CF3SO3SiR3 → 1,2-oxazine annelation-reaction [1] to the syntheses of steroidal α-methylidene-γ-lactones from olefines, e.g. 12 → 14a/b → 16a/b → 18a/b → 20 → 22 (Scheme 2).

Notes: Evidence is presented which demonstrates that 13C-NMR. spectroscopy can be used with confidence in evaluating the configuration of R1R2CHOH centers at C(6) and C(8) of iridoid glucosides.

Notes: XPS. and 1H-NMR. spectra of 1,3-diaryltriazenes complexes of Hg(II)The core binding energies C 1s, N 1s, Hg 4f7/2, Hg 4f5/2 in 7 symmetrical p-substituted 1,3-diphenyltriazenes complexes of Hg(II) have been measured by XPS. Within the limits of experimental error (± 0.2 eV) only one N 1s signal could be detected. This indicates the equivalence of the 3 N-atoms. Invariance of C 1s, N 1s, Hg 4f7/2, Hg 4d5/2 signals with the para substituents on the phenyl ring is explained on the basis of ionic character in the Hg, N bond. These results are corroborated by the 1H-NMR. spectra.

Notes: Synthesis and reactivity of 3-aryl-1-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-triazenes and 4-arylazo-3,4-dimethylisoxazol-5-onesAccording to the experimental conditions and the nature of the substituents on the aromatic ring, aryldiazonium salts react with 5-amino-3,4-dimethylisoxazole (3) leading to either 3-aryl-1 (3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-triazenes (1A) or 4-arylazo-3,4-dimethylisoxazol-5-ones (4). Analyses of the products resulting from thermal decomposition of these triazenes in aromatic substrates and in DMSO and their behaviour in acidic medium show that it is essentially the arylazo form 1B which is reactive.

Notes: The neurotoxin α-kainic acid (7) was synthesized from 1 via the thermal key step 5 → 6 in 41% overall yield.

Notes: Stereospecific synthesis of 6β,7β-methylene-20-spirox-4-ene-3,21-dioneA stereospecific synthesis of the highly active 6β,7β-methylene-20-spirolactone 4 (Prorenone) is described.

Notes: Chiral 2,2′-polyoxaalkano-9,9′-spirobifluorenesFrom 2,2′-diacetyl-9,9′-spirobifluorene (2), twelve chiral polyethers have been prepared as potential ion- and enantiomer-selective ionophores. The absolute configuration of the polyethers 15-17, 19-22, and 25 has been determined by chemical correlation with vespirenes [11] [29], by circular dichroism, and by X-ray analysis. The circular dichroism of 15-17, 19 and 21 depends on the size of the macrocycle and indicates that the fluorene chromophores of 19 and 21 with 13- and 16-membered rings respectively deviate considerably from orthogonality.

Notes: Favorskii-rearrangement in the presence of 3,4-dimethoxyfuran: preparation of 3,4-dimethoxy 11endo-oxo-tricyclo [4.3.1.12,5]undec-3-en-10-one and any derivativesOn treatment with sodiumhydride of 2-chloro-cyclohexanone in the presence of 3,4-dimethoxyfuran, a possible intermediate of the Favorskii-rearrangement has been trapped as 3,4-dimethoxy-11endo-oxa-tricyclo [4.3.1.12,5]undec-3-en-10-one (3). This new compound contains a highly nucleophilic double bond. It can be cleaved in high yield by ozonolysis to 2exo, 4exo-bis (methoxycarbonyl)-3-oxabicyclo [3.3.1]nonan-9-one (4). Addition of chlorine to 3 occurs in stereoselective exo-cis-manner to the crystalline 3exo, 4exo-dichloro-3endo,4endo-dimethoxy 11endo-oxa-tricyclo [4.3.1.12,5]undecan-10-one (5). Silver ion assisted hydrolysis of 5, followed by thermal treatment of the intermediate hydrates, leads to the red 11endo-oxa-tricyclo [4.3.1.12,5]undecan-3,4, 10-trione (6), and methanolysis to 3,3,4,4-tetramethoxy-11endo-oxa-tricyclo [4.3.1.12,5]undecan-10-one (8). By photolytic decarbonylation, 8 is converted into 3,3,4,4-tetramethoxy-10-oxa-tricyclo-[4.3.12,5.0]decan (9).

Notes: Activated quinones: O- versus C-addition of phenols. New regiospecific syntheses of xanthones, thioxanthones and N-methyl-9-acridonesThe acid catalyzed reaction of phenols with activated quinones, e.g. 2-methoxycarbonyl-1, 4-benzoquinone or 2-acetyl-1, 4-benzoquinone, leads to substituted biphenylderivatives (C, C-addition) as has been previously described [1]. O, C-Addition of phenols has now been achieved by using 2-methoxypyridin or 4-dimethyl-aminopyridin [4] as basic catalysts. The resulting substituted diphenylethers can serve as convenient starting materials for regiospecific syntheses of substituted xanthones, especially for 1, 4-dimethoxyxanthones.Arylthiols and N-methyl-N-arylamines also react readily with activated quinones to give substituted di-aryl-thioethers and N-methyl-N, N-diarylamines respectively; both types of compounds are convenient materials for regiospecific syntheses of substituted thioxanthones and N-methyl-9-acridones.

Notes: Cob(I)alamin as Catalyst. 5. Communication [1]. Enantioselective Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl DerivativesThe cob(I)alamin-catalyzed reduction of an α,β-unsaturated ethyl ester in aqueous acetic acid produced the (S)-configurated saturated derivative 2 with an enantiomeric excess of 21%. The starting material 1 is not reduced at pH = 7.0 in the presence of catalytic amounts of cob(I)alamin (see Scheme 2). It is shown that the attack of cob(I)alamin and not of cob(II)alamin, also present in Zn/CH3COOH/H2O, accounts for the enantioselective reduction observed. All the (Z)-configurated starting materials 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 have been transformed to the corresponding (S)-configurated saturated derivatives 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, respectively. The highest enantiomeric excess revealed to be present in the saturated product 12 (32,7%, S) derived from the (Z)-configurated methyl ketone 11 (see Scheme 3 and Table 1). The reduction of the (E)-configurated starting materials led mainly to racemic products. A saturated product having the (R)-configuration with a rather weak enantiomeric excess (5.9%) has been obtained starting from the (E)-configurated methyl ketone 23 (see Scheme 5 and Table 2). The allylic alcohols 16 and 24 have been reduced to the saturated racemic derivative 17.

Notes: Total Synthesis of Natural α-TocopherolTwo independent syntheses of (S)-6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-yl-methanol (8b), (Scheme 6 resp. 9) as optically active chroman moiety for the preparation of natural vitamin E via (S)-6-acetoxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboaldehyde (2a) (Scheme 1) and a corresponding side chain are described. Both reaction sequences use trimethyl-hydroquinone as starting material; one approach employs an optically active C4 unit (10a) (Schemes 5 and 6) to introduce the required configuration at C(2), the other uses an optically active C5-synthon (11a) (Schemes 8 and 9) to build the optically active chroman unit. The correct configuration and optical purity of the chroman synthesized is established by correlation with optically pure material of known configuration from which natural vitamin E had already been derived [2].

Notes: The crystal structure of the antibiotic hedamycin (1) has been solved by direct method and refined by least squares techniques to R = 0.091 for 2289 of 2643 independent reflexions. Crystals of C41H50N2O11 are orthorhombic, space group P212121 with lattice parameters a = 24.239 (12), b = 21.440 (10), c = 7.369 (4) Å, Z = 4. The structural features of hedamycin derived earlier by chemical and spectroscopical means are confirmed. Optical rotation and circular dichroism indicate that hedamycin (1) has the absolute configuration of the related antibiotic kidamycin (3). The conformation of ring F is a chair form with the aryl substituent almost axial. The bioxirane part of the antibiotic is in a synclinal conformation.

Notes: Synthesis and Chirality of (5R, 6R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ψ-carotene-5,6-diol, (5R, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Dihydro-β, ε-carotene-5,6-diol, (5S, 6R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,ψ-carotene and (5S, 6R, 6′R)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,ε-caroteneWittig-condensation of optically active azafrinal (1) with the phosphoranes 3 and 6 derived from all-(E)-ψ-ionol (2) and (+)-(R)-α-ionol (5) leads to the crystalline and optically active carotenoid diols 4 and 7, respectively. The latter behave much more like carotene hydrocarbons despite the presence of two hydroxylfunctions. Conversion to the optically active epoxides 8 and 9, respectively, is smoothly achieved by reaction with the sulfurane reagent of Martin [3]. These syntheses establish the absolute configurations of the title compounds since that of azafrin is known [2].

Notes: ESR. and ENDOR. studies are reported for the radical anions of 1,2-diphenylcyclopentene (3) and its di(pe+deuteriophenyl)-derivative (3-D10). Comparison of the coupling constants of the phenyl protons in 3\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ ^{\ominus \atop \dot{}} $\end{document}. with the analogous values for the radical anions of 1,2-diphenyl substituted cyclopropene (1) and cyclobutene (2) reveals regular changes in the sequence 1\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ ^{\ominus \atop \dot{}} $\end{document}, 2\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ ^{\ominus \atop \dot{}} $\end{document}, 3\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ ^{\ominus \atop \dot{}} $\end{document}, which are caused by an increasing twist of the phenyl groups about the C(1), C(1′)- and C(2), C(1″)-bonds linking them to the ethylene fragment. Such a twist is shown to be also responsible for the large difference in the coupling constants of the methylene β-protons in 3\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ ^{\ominus \atop \dot{}} $\end{document}. (0.659 and 0.293 mT). It is suggested that - in order to minimize the losses caused by this twist in the π-delocalization energy - the 2 pz-axes at the centres 1 and 2 deviate from a perpendicular orientation to the mean plane of the cyclopentene ring. A deviation by 19° from such an orientation is required to account for the observed β-proton coupling constants in terms of their conventional cos2-dependence on the dihedral angles θ.

Notes: Sorelline and Hobartine, Two New Indole Alkaloids from Aristotelia peduncularis (LABILL.) HOOK. F.From Aristotelia peduncularis (LABILL.) HOOK. F. two new indole alkaloids, sorelline (1) and hobartine (2), have been isolated. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data (the formulae represent their relative configurations). The alkaloids 1 and 2 have closely related structures with a monosubstituted indole moiety and an unrearranged monoterpene unit in the aliphatic part.

Notes: Synthesis and configuration of some spiro [indan-2,2′-pyrrolidine] and spiro [pyrrolidine-2,2′-tetraline] derivativesCatalytic hydrogenation of the nitrosoindan and nitrosotetralin derivatives 8 yielded trans-1-hydroxy-spiro [indan-2,2′-pyrrolidin]-5′-one (9) and trans-1′-hydroxy-spiro [pyrrolidine-2,2′-tetralin]-5-one (10) respectively, whilst the corresponding cis compounds 12 and 15 were prepared via the chlorides 11 and 14.The configurations of 10 and 13 were determined by X-Ray analysis.

Notes: Reactions of valencepolaromeric ketenes of mesoionic heterocyles with 3-dimethylamino-2H-azirinesReactions of the 3-dimethylamino-2H-azirines 1a and 1b with the mesoionic oxazole 5 and the mesoionic dithiole 6 in acetonitrile at room temperature yield the 1:1 adducts 11, 12, 19 and 20, respectively (Schemes 5 and 8). These products can be formulated as adducts of the aminoazirines and the ketenes 5a and 6a, which are valence polaromeric forms of the mesoionic heterocycles 5 and 6 (Scheme 2).The structure of the adducts has been elucidated by spectral data and their comparison with the data of (Z)-11, the structure of which has been established by X-ray [19]. Oxidation of the 1:1 adducts with KMnO4 in a two-phase system yields 4-dimethylamino-3-oxazolin-2-ones (cf. Scheme 6) by clevage of the exocyclic C,C-double bond. A mechanism for the formation of the adducts is given in Scheme 9: Nucleophilic attack of 1 on the ketene leads to a primary adduct of type a, which undergoes clevage of the former N(1), C(2)-azirine bond to give adducts of type 11 or 19. The N(1), C(2)-ring opening of 1a in the reaction with ketenes contrasts with the N(1), C(3)-opening of 1a in the addition with, for instance, isothiocyanates. These different ring openings are explained by the difference in nucleophilicity of the heteroatoms X and Y in a′ (Scheme 10).

Notes: The spironaphthalen-2-ones 2, 10 and 18 were prepared by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) oxidation of 1, 9 and 17 respectively, whereas spironaphthalen-1-ones 24 and 25 were obtained by treating 23 with NBS.The stereoisomeric reduction products 29, 30 and 32 obtained from 24 and 25, gave the pentacyclic compound 33 on treatment with polyphosphoric acid.

Notes: Cyclopeptide antibiotics from Aspergillus species. Structure of echinocandins C and DThe echinocandins B, C and D are antifungal antibiotics produced by a strain of Aspergillus rugulosus. All three metabolites are closely related representing cyclic oligopeptides composed of six amino acids and a linolic acid residue in an amide linkage. The complete structure of echinocandin B (1) has recently been established by X-ray analysis. Structural assignments to the new minor metabolites C and D have now been made by hydrolytic and oxidative cleavage reactions, formation of N-acyl-α-aminoethers as well as by chemical correlations and extensive NMR. examinations. Echinocandin C (2), C52H81N7O15, contains 3-hydroxyhomotyrosine in the place of 3, 4-dihydroxyhomotyrosine present in 1. Echinocandin D (3), C52H81N7O13, differs in two amino acids: 3, 4-dihyroxyhomotyrosine and 4, 5-dihydroxyornithine, unusual units of 1 being replaced by 3-hydroxyhomotyrosine and ornithine.

Notes: Compounds 2, 5 and 9 represent the first examples of isolable dichlorooxiranes formed by formal addition of dichloro carbene to a carbonyl group under phase transfer conditions. On heating, 2, 5 and 9 rearrange into α-chloroacid chlorides 3, 6 and 10, respectively.

Notes: Aminoisoxazoles C-nucleosidesUpon treatment with bromocyanomethylenetriphenylphosphorane, a series of aldehydosugar derivatives gave in good to excellent yields the corresponding terminal gem-bromocyanoenoses 3, 7-10 and 16. Reacted with hydroxylamine, these unsaturated sugars led to the expected [3] 5-amino-3-glycosylisoxazoles 4, 11, 12 and 17, whereas using hydroxyurea as a binucleophile they gave the corresponding 3-amino-5-glycosylisoxazoles 13 and 14 as previously described in other series [3]. The major interest of these compounds rests in their being close analogs (or enantiomers of analogs) of important biological compounds as f.e. AICAR.

Notes: Irradiation of 4-Allylated 2,6-Dimethylanilines in Methanol4-Allyl-, 4-(1′-methylallyl)-, 4-(2′-butenyl)-, and 4-(1′,1′-dimethylallyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline (14-17; cf. Scheme 3) were obtained by the acid catalysed, thermal rearrangement of the corresponding N-allylated anilines in good yields. Aniline 14, when irradiated with a high pressure mercury lamp through quartz in methanol, yielded as main product 4-(2′-methoxypropyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline (22; cf. Scheme 4) and, in addition, 2,6-dimethyl-4-propylaniline (18) and 4-cyclopropyl-2,6-dimethylaniline (23). The analogous products, namely erythro- and threo-4-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline (erythro- and threo-24), 2,6-dimethyl-4-(1′-methylpropyl)aniline (19), trans- and cis-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2′-methylcyclopropyl)aniline (trans- and cis-25), as well as small amounts of 4-ethyl-2,6-dimethylaniline (26), were formed by irradiation of 15 in methanol (cf. Scheme 5). When this photoreaction was carried out in O-deuteriomethanol, erythro- and threo-24 showed an up-take of one deuterium atom in the side chain. The mass spectra of erythro- and threo-24 revealed that in 50% of the molecules the deuterium was located at the methyl group at C(1′) and in the other 50% at the methyl group at C(2′) (cf. Scheme 6). This is a good indication that the methanol addition products arise from methanolysis of intermediate spiro[2.5]octa-4,7-dien-6-imines (cf. Scheme 7). This assumption is further supported by the photoreaction of 17 in methanol (cf. Scheme 8) which led to the formation of 4-(2′-methoxy-1′,2′-dimethylpropyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline (28) as main product. The occurrence of a rearranged side chain in 28 can again be explained by the intervention of a spirodienimine 31 (cf. Scheme 9). In comparison with 14, 15 and 17, the 2′-butenylaniline 16 reacted only sluggishly on irradiation in methanol (cf. Scheme 10). It is suggested that all photoproducts - except for the cyclopropyl derivatives which are formed presumably via a triplet di-π-methane rearrangement - arise from an intramolecular singlet electron-donor-acceptor complex between the aniline and ethylene chromophor of the side chain. Protonation of this complex at C(3′) or C(2′) will lead to diradicals (e.g. 33 and 34, respectively, in Scheme 11). The diradicals of type 33 undergo ring closure to the corresponding spirodienimine intermediates (e.g. 31) whereas the diradicals of type 34 take up two hydrogen atoms to yield the photo-hydrogenated compounds (e.g. 21) or undergo to a minor extent fragmentation to side chain degraded products (e.g. 30; see also footnote 7).-Irradiation of 4-ally-2,6-dimethylaniline (14) in benzene or cyclohexane yielded the corresponding azo compound 38 (cf. Scheme 12), whereas its N,N-dimethyl derivative 41 was transformed into the cyclopropyl derivative 42. The allyl moiety in 14 is not necessary for the formation of azo compounds since 2,4,6-trimethylaniline (39) exhibited the same type of photoreaction in benzene solution.

Notes: Conjugated cyclic divinyl ketones containing fifteen and seventeen membered rings have been prepared in a single step by condensation of 1,3-bis (dimethylphosphono)-2-propanone (10) with the dialdehydes 14, 17, 20, and 42 in the presence of hydrogencarbonate in aqueous t-butyl alcohol at reflux without using high dilution techniques. The more highly unsaturated aldehydes give better yields and ketones 34 and 36, or mixtures of the two, were transformed to muscone (1) and Exaltone® by standard procedures. Civetone (2) was prepared by hydrogenation of 43 in pyridine solution. Dienone 29 appears to be the first α, β-unsaturated ketone in which one of the β-vinyl proton resonates at higher field than the corresponding α-proton.

Notes: Mechanism of the Photochemical Addition of Methanol to 2-Allylated AnilinesWe studied in methanol the photoreaction of the 2-allylated anilines, given in Scheme 3 (cf. also [1]). Irradiation of N-methyl-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline (15) with a high pressure mercury lamp yielded trans- and cis-1,2,3-trimethylindoline (trans- and (cis-34) as well as erythro- and threo-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl)-N-methylaniline (erythro- and threo-35; Scheme 7). When the corresponding aniline d3-15, specifically deuterated in the 1′-methyl group, was irradiated in methanol, a mixture of trans- and cis-d3-34, and of erythro- and threo-d3-35 was obtained. Successive dehydrogenation of the mixture of cis/trans-d3-34 by Pd/C in boiling xylene and by MnO2 in boiling benzene lead to the corresponding indole d3-36 (cf. Scheme 9), the 1H- and 2H-NMR. spectra of which showed that both cis-d3- and trans-d3-34 had bound the deuterium labeled methyl group exclusively at C(3). The 1H- and 2H-NMR. analyses of the separated methanol addition products revealed that erythro-d3-35 contained the deuterium label to at least 95% in the methyl group at C(1′), and threo-d3-35 to 50% in CH3—C(1′) and to 50% in CH3—C(2′) (cf. Scheme 9). To confirm these results 2-(1′-ethylallyl)aniline (16) was irradiated in methanol, whereby a complex mixture of at least 6 products was obtained (cf. Scheme 11). Two products were identified as trans- and cis-3-ethyl-2-methylindoline (trans- and cis-37). The four other products represented erythro- and threo-2-(1′-ethyl-2′-methoxypropyl)aniline (erythro- and threo-39) as major components, and erythro- and threo-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylbutyl)aniline (erythro- and threo-40). These results clearly demonstrate that the methanol addition products must arise from spirodienimine intermediates of the type of trans-9 and cis-11 (R1 = CD3 or C2H5, R2 = CH3 or H; Scheme 2) which are opened solvolytically with inversion of configuration by methanol. Thus, cis-11 (R1 = CD3, R2 = CH3) must lead to a 1:1 mixture of threo-13 and threo-14 (i.e.) a 1:1 distribution of the deuterium labelled methyl group between C(1′) and C(2′) in threo-35) The formation of erythro-d3-35 with at least 95% of the deuterium label in the methyl group at C(1′) indicates that trans-9 (R1 = CD3, R2 = CH3) reacts with methanol regioselectively (〉 95%) at the C(2), C(3) bond. Similarly, the formation of the methanol addition products in the photoreaction of 16 (Scheme 11) can be explained. Since the indolines, formed in both photoreactions, show no alteration in the position of the subsituent at C(1′) with respect to the starting material we suppose that the diradical 7 (R1 = CD3 or C2H5, R2 = CH3 or H; Scheme 2) is a common intermediate which undergoes competetive 1.3 and 1.5 ring closure yielding the spirodienimines and the indolines.This conception is supported by irradiation experiments with N, 3,5-trimethyl-2-(1′-methylally)aniline (17) and 2-(2′-cyclohexenyl)-N-methylaniline (18) in methanol. In the former case the formation of spirodienimines is hindered by the methyl group at C(3) for steric reasons, thus leading to a ratio of the indoline to the methoxy compounds of about 6.3 as compared with ca. 1.0 for 15 (cf. Scheme 12). On the other hand, no methoxy compounds could be detected in the reaction mixture of 18 (cf. Scheme 13) which indicates that in this case the 1.3 ring closure cannot compete with the 1.5 cyclization in the corresponding cyclic diradical of the type 7 (R1-C(1′)-C(2′) is part of a six-membered ring; Scheme 2).We suppose that the diradicals of type 7 are formed by proton transfer in an intramolecular electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) complex arising from the excited single state of the aniline chromophor and the allylic side chain. This idea is supported by the fluorescence specta of 2-allylated N-methylanilines (cf. Fig.1-4) which show pronounced differences with respect to the corresponding 2-alkylated anilines. Furthermore, the anilines 18 and 20 when irradiated in methanol in the presence of an excess of trans-1,3-pentadiene undergo preferentially an intermolecular addition to the diene, thus yielding the N-(1′-methyl-2′-butenyl)anilines 52 and 51, respectively (Scheme 15), i.e. as one would expect the diene with its low lying LUMO is a better partner for an EDA complex than the double bond of the allylic side chain.

Notes: A new strategy for the synthesis of muscone (1) using the OH-assisted Prins reaction for macrocyclic ring closure has been developed. The monoacetal 4 of (Z,E)-4,8-dodecadienedial (3), easily obtainable from (Z,E,E)-1,5,9-cyclododecatriene (2), is treated with methallylmagnesium chloride, and the resulting C16-precursor 5 is subjected to acid-catalyzed cyclization in dilute (≤1%) solutions. This results in formation of the bicyclic dihydropyran derivatives 6 which directly yield muscone (1) on heating with a noble metal catalyst saturated with hydrogen. The five-step pathway proceeds with readily available starting materials in conventional steps and excellent overall yield (∼40%). This new principle of macrocyclic ring formation has also been used successfully for the preparation of 3-methylcyclotridecanone (34) and should be generally applicable for other suitable ring systems.

Notes: A synthesis of (6 R, 7 R)-7-acylamino-2-oxocephem-4-carboxylic acids from penicillins is reported based on the formation of the 2-oxocephem system in an intramolecular Wittig condensation. An interesting steric effect of the acylamino grouping on the course of this key step was used to advantage. Some physical and biological properties of this new type of Δ3-cephem are described.

Notes: The chiral aminoethers 1-4, accessible from tartaric acid, are tested as complexing ligands in organolithium reactions. The tetramine 4 turns out to cause highest inductions [see Table 2 and Equations (1)-(4)].

Notes: Diglycosyl Derivatives. Preliminary communicationNovel types of diglycosyl compounds, some of them bearing a resemblance to natural di- or tri-saccharides are described: a diglycosyldiyne (1), a diglycosylthiophene (2), a diglycosylaziridine (3), a diglycosyldioxolane (4), as well as six C,N-diglycosylnitrones, 9b-9f and 14. These C,N-diglycosylnitrones, on treatment with an acetylenic Grignard reagent, led to the expected acetylenic diglycosyl-hydroxylamine 11, whereas diglycosylisoxazolines (f. ex. 10) were obtained when these nitrones underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to acetylenic compounds.

Notes: Cob(I)alamin as Catalyst. 4. Communication. Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated NitrilesUsing catalytic amounts of cob (I)alamin and an excess of metallic zinc as source of electrons 1-naphthonitril (5) has been reduced to (1-naphthyl)methylamin (6) and in small amounts to (1-naphthyl)methanol (7) and (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl)methanol (8) (5 ½ h, CH3COOH/H2O; s. Scheme 3). Starting from cyclododecylideneacetonitrile (15) similar conditions (68 h, CH3COOH/H2O) produced the amines 16-19 as well as the nitrogen free saturated aldehyde 20, the corresponding allylic alcohol 21 and the saturated derivative 22 (s. Scheme 6). It is deduced that the first attack of cob (I)alamin on an α,β-unsaturated nitrile might occur on both the nitrile dipole as well as on the carbon atom in β-position. Cob (I)alamin in aqueous acetic acid saturates the isolated double bonds in allylic alcohols and amines. In a slow reaction the two different aromatic rings of (1-naphthyl)methanol (7) have been reduced giving the corresponding tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives 8 and 12, and in one case the production of the octahydroderivative 14 has been observed in a low yield (s. Scheme 5).

Notes: The wavelength range of the CD. spectra of some cyclohexapeptides containing different sequences of glycine, L- and D-alanine is extended down to 170 nm. This allows a relatively complete recording of the (n - π*) and (π° - π*) Cotton effects. Some striking spectral changes are observed on going from one molecule to another. The relative influence of L- and D-alanyl residues is discussed: Some spectra may be qualitatively related to each other by considering the effect of an L-residue at position q in the ring to cancel partially with the effect of a D-residue at position q ± 3. Assuming these cyclopeptides to occur in a hydrogen-bonded pleated sheet structure, certain dominant changes in the spectra are interpreted as reflecting a transition of the overall backbone conformation from one which is closer to the (optically inactive) symmetry Ci to another which is closer to the (optically active) symmetry C2. An attempt is made to relate the influence of L- and D-substituents within hairpin bends of the pleated sheet structure to an amide sector rule.

Notes: Lincomycin analogues. I. Chain-extensions of [1,2:3,4]-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galacto-hexodialdo-1,5-pyranoseThe title aldehydosugar 1 treated with Wittig reagents led in good to excellent yields to the unsaturated sugar derivatives 3-7 and 10-15, 8 having been prepared by condensation of 1 with malonic acid. The configuration (Z or E) of each compound obtained has been established by 1H-NMR. These chain-extensions constitute the first synthetic step towards the preparation of lincomycin analogues.

Notes: The photochemistry of optical active λ, δ-epoxy-enones. Racemization and cyclization of (-)-4-methylidene-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone and of (-)-4-oxo-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-iononeUV.-irradiation (λ ≥ 347 nm as well as λ = 254 nm) converts the conjugated λ, δ-epoxy-enones (-)-2 and (-)-4 by cleavage of the C,C-oxirane bond to an intermediate ketonium ylide f which cyclizes giving the racemic starting materials. The degree of racemization depends on the length of the irradiation time.The formation of the optical active products (-)-3 and (+)-5 in these irradiations gives evidence, that the photocyclization of (-)-2 und (-)-4, respectively, is a one step reaction of a state g.

Notes: The photoinduced cleavage of the C,C-oxirane bond of γ, δ-epoxy-enones: UV.-irradiation of 4-methylidene-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-iononeOn 1n, π*-excitation (λ ≥ 347 nm, pentane) 5 gives the isomeric bicyclic ether 10 in 75% yield (s. Scheme 2). In methanol the photoconversion of 5 to 10 is strongly reduced (12%) in favour of the formation of the methanol adduct 11 (43%). On photolysis in aqueous acetonitrile 5 is converted to the bicyclic ether 10 (9%), the dihydrofurane 12 (18%) as well as to the triketones 13A and 13B (7%), and 14 (23%).On 1π, π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) in pentane no 10 is formed, but 5 isomerizes to the tricyclic cyclopropyl compound 16 (59%), the allenic product 17 (10%), and the cyclopropene compound 18 (12%; s. Scheme 3). Photolysis in methanol furnishes 11 (63%), and 18 (4%), but no tricyclic cyclopropyl compound 16. In a secondary photoreaction (λ = 254 nm) the dihydrofurane 12 is isomerized to the bicyclic cyclopropyl compound 20.Evidence is given that the products 11 and 13 are formed by solvent addition to an intermediate ketonium ylide b (s. Scheme 12). The presence of b is further proven by the formation of 12, a product of an electrocyclization of b. On photofragmentation of b carbenoids d and e are presumably formed (s. Scheme 14). 1,2-Hydrogen shift in d yields the allene derivative 17, and cyclization of d gives the cyclopropene compound 18. On the other hand, e cyclizes to the non isolated cyclopropene compound 69 which is transformed to 16 by an intramolecular [4 + 2]-cycloaddition.The present investigation shows that the photochemistry of 5 is determined by photoinduced C,C-bond cleavage of the oxirane ring. This is in sharp contrast to the photochemistry of conjugated γ, δ-epoxy-enones without the additional double bond in ε, ζ-position, where selective photocleavage of the C(λ), O-bond is observed.

Notes: Enantioselective 1,2-addition of Li-, Mg-, Zn-, and Cu-organic compounds and of Li-enolates to carbonyl derivatives in the chiral medium DDBDDB = 1,4-Dimethylamino-2,3-dimethoxybutan (= 2,3-Dimethoxy-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,4-butandiamin).The (+)-enantiomer of the methoxyamine DDB is used as a chiral cosolvent in the title reactions. As evident from the results listed in the table, enantiotopic faces are generally differentiated with preferences ranging from 55:45 to 60:40.

Notes: The influence of twenty substituents R on the solvolysis rates and products of tertiary chlorides R - CH2CH2C(CH3)2Cl (7) has been studied. H, CH3, (CH3)2NCH2, ClCH2, Cl, CN and NO2 exert an inductive effect only, as the good correlation of the rates with the corresponding inductive substituent constants σIq shows. Bulkier alkyl groups, i.e. isopropyl and t-butyl, lower the rate due to a Baker-Nathan effect, while the n-electron donors CH3S, CH3O, HO and (CH3)2N and the σ-electron donors (CH3)3Sn and HOCH2 cause rate increases based on σIq constants. These accelerations are attributed to C,C-hyperconjugative and inductomeric effects which arise in the transition state for ionization. A comparison of the reactivity of the acyclic chlorides 7 and the corresponding 1-R-substituted 3-bromoadamantanes 1a shows that polar substituent effects are more strongly transmitted in the rigid bicyclic compounds 1a than in the flexible acyclic compounds 7.

Notes: The intramolecular and dimensionless equilibrium constant, K′, for the equilibrium between open and aromatic-ring stacked isomers of ternary complexes formed between adenosine 5′-triphosphate, inosine 5′-triphosphate, or uridine 5′-triphosphate, Mg2+ or Zn2+, and L-tryptophanate, 2,2′-bipyridyl (bipy), or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) have been estimated by 1H-NMR. shift measurements in D2O (I = 0.1M, NaNO3; 27°). The approximate equilibrium constants K′ are ≥ 20, ≥ 20, 1.2, 0.9, 0.7, 0.5, and 0.3 for the ternary complexes Zn (phen) (ATP)2-, Mg (phen) (ATP)2-, Zn (bipy) (ATP)2-, Zn (bipy) (ITP)2-, Zn (bipy) (UTP)2-, Zn (trp) (ATO) 3-, and Mg (trp) (ATP)3-, respectively. The percentages of the stacked isomers decrease in the order Zn (phen) (ATP)2- (≥ 95%) ≫ Zn (bipy) (ATP)2- (55%) 〉 Zn (bipy) (ITP)2- (48%) 〉 Zn (bipy) (UTP)2- (∼ 40%), which coincides with the order of stability of the binary metal-free adducts (phen) (ATP)4- 〉 (bipy) (ATP)4- ≃ (bipy) (ITP)4- 〉 (bipy) (UTP)4-; the corresponding stability constants are KABA = 28.2 ± 4.7, 8.1 ± 2.6, 8.8 ± 1.8, and ∼ 1 (M-1), respectively (D2O; I = 0.1 M, NaNO3; 27°): these series reflect the decreasing size of the aromatic-ring systems forming the stacks. The indole moiety of tryptophan resembles 2,2′-bipyridyl rather than 1,10-phenanthroline and K(trp)(ATP)(trp) = 6.2 ± 1.8 M-1 for (trp) (ATP)4-. Implications with respect to the stability of ternary complexes, and to biological systems are indicated briefly.

Notes: Structural Modifications of Vitamin D3. Synthesis and Properties of the SO2-Adducts with (5Z)- and (5E)-Vitamin D3Treatment of (5Z)- and (5E)-vitamin D3 (4) with sulfur dioxide yields each quantitatively the cyclic sulfones 1a and 1b. Thermally induced elimination of sulfur dioxide leads to either isotachysterol3 (3) alone or mixtures of isotachysterol3 (3) and isovitamin D3 (2). On the other hand the extrusion of SO2 can be brought about by means of KOH/CH3OH or on an alumina surface affording (5E)-vitamin D3 (4). On treatment with CD3UD/tBuOK/D2O 1a and 1b are transformed (5E)-6, 19, 19′-trideuteriovitamin D3 (4a).

Notes: (E)-3α-Acetoxy-5, 10-seco-1(10)-cholesten-5-one (3) was synthesized by fragmentation of 3α-acetoxy-5α-cholestan-5-ol (1) using the photochemical version [3] of the lead tetraacetate reaction [4], and transformed into the corresponding 3-oxo-compound (5). Two conformations (A2α and B1α) were deduced for the 10-membered ring of 3 by analysis of the 1H- and 13C-NMR. spectra in toluene. The major conformation (A2α) corresponds to that found in the solid state by X-ray analysis. According to its NMR. spectra in toluene, the medium-sized ring of the diketone 5 exists also predominantly in two conformations, the major one being analogous to A1β (the solid-state conformation of the 3β-acetoxy isomer (9) [1]) and the minor one to A2α (see above). The stereochemistry of the acidcatalyzed and thermal cyclisations of 3 as well as of the corresponding 5-oxime is discussed in terms of conformational factors.