Labeling studies of some carbonylation reactions of styrene with cationic palladium complexes

The dicarbonylation reaction of E-β-deuteriostyrene to syndiotactic poly(1-oxo-2-phenyltrimethylene) as well as to dimethyl-2-phenylbutanedioate and dimethyl-2,5-diphenyl-4-oxoheptanedioate using Pd(CF₃COO)₂/2,2′-bipyridine as the catalyst precursor in the presence of 1,4-benzoquinone in methanol takes place stereospecifically in a syn-fashion with complete retention of the label. The same result was found for the dicarbonylation to dimethyl 2-phenylbutanedioate catalyzed by [Pd(CF₃COO)₂(Diop)]. In the absence of the oxidant the latter catalytic system produces methyl 2- and 3-phenylpropionates for which some scrambling of deuterium is observed when using either -deuteriostyrene or CH₃OD as the labeled substrate. [Pd(CH₃CN)₄][BF₄]₂ modified with different ligands catalyses the formation of E-1,5-diphenylpent-1-en-3-one or of E-1,4-diphenylpent-1-en-3-one in tetrahydrofuran as the solvent. The label distribution using E-β-deuteriostyrene as the substrate (or styrene in the presence of dideuterium) suggests that in the synthesis of ketones catalyzed by [Pd(p-CH₃C₆H₄SO₃)₂(Dppp)]·2H₂O the regioselectivity of the first inserted olefin unit does not determine the ketone regioisomer; rather which regioisomeric product preferentially forms depends on the rate of carbon monoxide insertion in either the branched or linear metal-hydrocarbyl intermediate. β-Hydrogen elimination is very rapid both after the first and the second olefin insertion.     

Use of EPR and FTIR to detect biological effects of ultrasound and microbubbles on a fibroblast cell line

Structural and functional effects of exposing murine fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) to therapeutic ultrasound at 1 MHz frequency are described. These bioeffects can be attributed to the formation of free radical species by sonolysis of water. When cavitation occurs, dissociation of water vapor into H atoms and OH radicals is observed; these H atoms and OH radicals combine to form H₂, H₂O₂, and HO₂. The radicals can chemically modify biomolecules, for example enzymes, DNA, and lipids. Generation of free radicals during exposure to ultrasound with or without encapsulated microbubbles (contrast agents) was studied by use of electron paramagnetic resonance with DMPO spin trapping. Recently the potential for possible use of these microbubbles in gene therapy has been investigated, because of the ability of the stabilized microbubbles to release their content when exposed to ultrasound. Structural changes were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and induction of possible genotoxic damage by exposure of the cells to therapeutic ultrasound at 1 MHz frequency with our experimental device was verified by use of the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay.     

Neuropsychopathological comorbidities in learning disorders

Background

Learning Disorders (LD) are complex diseases that affect about 2-10% of the school-age population. We performed neuropsychological and psychopathological evaluation, in order to investigate comorbidity in children with LD.

Methods

Our sample consisted of 448 patients from 7 to 16 years of age with a diagnosis of LD, divided in two subgroups: Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), including reading, writing, mathematics disorders, and Learning Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (LD NOS).

Results

Comorbidity with neuropsychopathologies was found in 62.2% of the total sample. In the LSD subgroup, ADHD was present in 33%, Anxiety Disorder in 28.8%, Developmental Coordination Disorder in 17.8%, Language Disorder in 11% and Mood Disorder in 9.4% of patients. In LD NOS subgroup, Language Disorder was present in 28.6%, Developmental Coordination Disorder in 27.5%, ADHD in 25.4%, Anxiety Disorder in 16.4%, Mood Disorder in 2.1% of patients. A statistically significant presence was respectively found for Language and Developmental Coordination Disorder comorbidity in LD NOS and for ADHD, mood and anxiety disorder comorbidity in SLD subgroup.

Conclusions

The different findings emerging in this study suggested to promote further investigations to better define the difference between SLD and LD NOS, in order to improve specific interventions to reduce the long range consequences.

     

Enantioselective carbonylation reactions of para-substituted 2-phenylpropenes

The enantioselective hydroformylation catalyzed by [(R,R)-Diop]Pt(SnCl₃)Cl7 and the enantioselective hydroisopropoxycarbonylation catalyzed by [(R,R)-Diop]PdCl₂8 or by [(R,R)-Diop-dbp]PdCl₂9 of some para-substituted 2-phenylpropenes (para substituents = NO₂, H, CH₃O, Cl, CF₃) was investigated in order to recognize possible electronic influences on the regioselectivity and on the enantioface selection which take place in such carbonylation reactions. The catalytic systems used gave no carbonylation products when the nitro compound was the substrate. 7 and 8 show similar regioselectivities, the less branched isomer being exclusively formed for all substrates except p-methoxy-2-phenylpropene which gave small amounts of the alternative regioisomer. The enantioselectivity depends on the σ_p effect of the substituent in both cases; the differences are, however, rather small and the trend is opposite in the two cases. The regioselectivity displayed by 9 is still in favour of the less branched isomer but it is high only in the case of p-trifluoromethyl-2-phenylpropene. Larger differences with respect to the other catalytic systems were also observed for enantioselectivity but the trend for both regioselectivity and enantioselectivity is not linear.     

Induction of bacillomycin D-specific antibodies and comparison of their specificity for different iturinic antibiotics from Bacillus subtilis

Summary Bacillomycin D, an antifungal peptidolipid from B. subtilis, was conjugated to bovine serum albumin. Antiserum of the purified conjugate was prepared and anti-bacillomycin D specific antibodies were purified by affinity chromatography. Their immunologic properties for different iturinic antibiotics were tested and discussed in relation with the structure of the antibiotics.     

A fluorescence lifetime study of virginiamycin S using multifrequency phase fluorometry

Using multifrequency phase fluorometry, fluorescence lifetimes have been assigned to the different protolytic forms of the antibiotic virginiamycin S. These lifetimes are 0.476 +/- 0.005 ns for the uncharged form, 1.28 +/- 0.2 and 7.4 +/- 0.2 ns for the zwitterionic form, 1.19 +/- 0.01 ns for the negatively charged form, and 1.9 +/- 0.1 ns for the double negatively charged form. The assignments are based on lifetime measurements as a function of pH, volume percent ethanol, and excitation wavelength. Excited-state proton transfer is taken into account. It is complete at pH values lower than 1, and no fluorescence of the fully protonated charged form is observed. At pH 8, an excited-state pK* increase is calculated, but proton association is too slow to cause excited-state proton transfer. The addition of divalent cations, at pH 9.4, increases the lifetime of the negatively charged form to a value dependent upon the specific nature of the cation (7.58 +/- 0.06 ns for Mg2+, 6.54 +/- 0.02 ns for Ca2+, and 3.74 +/- 0.05 ns for Ba2+). Monovalent cations do not influence the lifetimes, indicating that their binding to the macrocycle does not influence the fluorescent moiety. The model compound 3-hydroxypicolinamide shows an analogous behavior, but the retrieved lifetime can differ significantly.     

Cephalopods in the Diet of Albacore, Thunnus alalunga, from the Adriatic Sea

The stomachs of 56 albacore (Thunnus alalunga) caught in thesouthern Adriatic Sea contained 222 cephalopods, or 29% of prey.Most cephalopod remains were from small specimens. Juvenilesand adults of Heteroteuthis dispar (61.5% of cephalopods) were morefrequently preyed upon in the `inshore' fishing area (bottomdepth: 100-700 m); early juveniles of Todarodes sagittatus (21.6%)were more abundant ` offshore' (750- 1,150 m); early juvenilesof Histioteuthis bonnellii (16.4%) were exclusive of the latterarea. The estimated overall number of cephalopods dying of predationby albacore is 6.3 x 10⁶ specimens/fishing season (two months). (Received 6 May 1998; accepted 13 July 1998)