Role of hydrogen migration in the mechanism of acetic acid elimination from MH(+) ions of acetates on chemical ionization and collision-induced dissociation

The elimination of acetic acid from the MH(+) ions of acetates of stereoisomeric 2-methyl-1-cyclohexanols and 1-hydroxy-trans-decalins exhibits a significant degree of stereospecificity under isobutane chemical ionization and collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions, resulting in more abundant [MH - AcOH](+) ions in the cis-isomers 4c and 5tc than in their trans-counterparts 4t and 5tt. These findings suggest the involvement of a 1,2-hydride shift from the beta- to the alpha-position in the course of the acetic acid elimination from the MH(+) ions of the above cis-acetates, resulting in tertiary carbocation structures. The proposed mechanism of the elimination is supported by a considerable deuterium isotope effect detected in beta-deuterium-labeled cis-2-methyl-1-acetoxycyclohexane and by a CID study of the structures of the [MH - AcOH](+) ions obtained from cis- and trans-1,2-diacetoxycyclohexanes. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Intramolecular proton transfers in stereoisomeric gas-phase ions and the kinetic nature of the protonation process upon chemical ionization

The isobutane chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of cis- and trans-1-butyl-3- and -4-dimethylaminocyclohexanols and of their methyl ethers exhibit abundant [MH - H(2)O](+) and [MH - MeOH](+) ions respectively. On the other hand, only the MH(+) ions of the cis-isomers exhibit significant [MH - H(2)O](+) and [MH - MeOH](+) ions under collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions. The non-occurrence of water and methanol elimination in the CID spectra of the trans-isomers indicates retention of the external proton at the dimethylamino group in the MH(+) ions that survive after leaving the ion source and the first quadrupole of the triple-stage quadrupole ion separating system, and the trans-orientation of the two basic sites does not allow proton transfer from the dimethylamino group to the hydroxyl or methoxyl. Such transfer is allowed in the cis-amino alcohols and amino ethers via internal hydrogen-bonded (proton-bridged) structures, resulting in the elimination of water and methanol from the surviving MH(+) ions of these particular stereoisomers upon CID. The abundant [MH - ROH](+) ions in the isobutane-CI mass spectra of the trans-isomers indicates protonation at both basic sites, affording two isomeric MH(+) ions in each case, one protonated at the dimethylamino group and the other at the less basic oxygen function. These results show that the isobutane-CI protonation of the amino ethers and amino alcohols is a kinetically controlled process, occurring competitively at both basic sites of the molecules, despite the large difference between their proton affinities ( approximately 25 and approximately 35 kcal mol(-1); 1 kcal = 4.184 kJ). Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Isolation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor.

Arachidonylethanolamide, an arachidonic acid derivative in porcine brain, was identified in a screen for endogenous ligands for the cannabinoid receptor. The structure of this compound, which has been named "anandamide," was determined by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and was confirmed by synthesis. Anandamide inhibited the specific binding of a radiolabeled cannabinoid probe to synaptosomal membranes in a manner typical of competitive ligands and produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the electrically evoked twitch response to the mouse vas deferens, a characteristic effect of psychotropic cannabinoids. These properties suggest that anandamide may function as a natural ligand for the cannabinoid receptor.

[Dynamics of formation of individual enzymes of the proteolytic complex during cultivation of Streptomyces griseus]. / Dinamika obrazovaniia otdel'nykh fermentov proteoliticheskogo kompleksa pri vyrashchivanii Streptomyces griseus

The activity of the following peptide hydrolases was studied in the course of submerged cultivation of Streptomyces griseus: proteinases (decomposing casein, benzoyl-arginine-ethyl ester, benzoyl-arginine-p-nitroanilide), carboxypeptidases, aminopeptidases, aminotripeptidases and dipeptidases (decomposing carbobenzoxy-glycyl-leucine, leucyl-glycyl-glycine, triglycine, glycyl-leucine, and glycyl-glycine). The dynamics of production differs among individual enzymes of the complex of peptide hydrolases, suggesting that they are not synthesized at the same time. The ratio between proteases in the cultural broth varies in the course of growth; therefore, the preparations with different types of action prevailing (proteinase, peptidase, etc.) can be obtained. Comparatively small changes in the composition of the medium caused considerable modifications in the processes of synthesis of peptide hydrolase and in their quantities. The overall proteolytic activity increased by a factor of 1.6 to 2.5 when the fermentation was prolonged from 120 hours to 160 to 180 hours. The most pronounced was an increase in the activity of proteinases and aminopeptidase decomposing leucyl-glycyl-glycine. These enzymes seem to be the most important in the action of the protease complex of Str. griseus.