Solid state carbon-13 NMR studies of silica-filled TBBS-accelerated, sulfur vulcanized, cis-1,4 polyisoprene

The network formation of silica-filled, TBBS accelerated sulfur vulcanization of cis-1,4 polyisoprene (Natsyn 2200) was studied by solid state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and equilibrium swelling measurements. Samples with varying silica levels at different stages of cure were analyzed. It was observed that silica retards the cure reaction, and results in an overall lower cure state. Silica also has an influence on the vulcanization chemistry causing an enhancement of the cis-trans isomerization, chain scission, and the formation of monosulfidic linkages. It was also determined that the polysulfidic linkages decreased as silica level was increased. Intermolecular crosslinks decreased, while intramolecular structures (including pendant side groups and cyclic sulfur structures) increased. Cross link density, as determined by swelling measurements, decreased as the silica level was increased. Received: 1 October 1997/Revised version: 1 December 1997/Accepted: 2 December 1997     

A method for determining sequence distributions in ethylene-1-butene copolymers by 13C NMR

Sequence distributions of the 1-butene comonomers in ethylene-1-butene copolymers were determined by analyzing the ¹³C NMR spectra using an optimization calculation technique. The proposed method takes the possible errors in NMR measurements into account. Applying the method to the spectra of some linear low density polyethylenes with 1-butene as the comonomer gave physically reasonable values of triad comonomer distribution. The method was thought to be useful by giving the possible maximum and minimum triad concentrations reflecting the chain structures. We also tried to use the method for determination of larger sequence structures over triad distribution. Received: 10 February 1997/Revised: 31 March 1997/Accepted: 2 April 1997     

Differential biohydrogenation and isomerization of [U-13C]Oleic and [1-13C]Oleic acids by mixed ruminal microbes

The additional mass associated with ¹³C in metabolic tracers may interfere with their metabolism. The comparative isomerization and biohydrogenation of oleic, [1-¹³C]oleic, and [U-¹³C]oleic acids by mixed ruminal microbes was used to evaluate this effect. The percent of stearic, cis-14 and- 15, and trans-9 to-16 18∶1 originating from oleic acid was decreased for [U-¹³C]oleic acid compared with [1-¹³C]oleic acid. Conversely, microbial utilization of [U-¹³C]oleic acid resulted in more of the ¹³C label in cis-9 18∶1 compared with [1-¹³C]oleic acid (53.7 vs. 40.1%). The isomerization and biohydrogenation of oleic acid by ruminal microbes is affected by the mass of the labeled tracer.     

Monomers for adhesive polymers

Bicyclic functionalized methacrylates were synthesized by a Diels-Alder reaction of furfuryl methacrylate with maleic anhydride and subsequent conversion to the corresponding monomers containing carboxylic groups. The structure of the bicyclic functionalized methacrylates was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The radical photopolymerization of bicyclic monomethacrylates in dimethylformamide with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) resulted in soluble polymers while a bicyclic dimethacrylate resulted in a crosslinked polymer. Received: 13 October 1997/Revised version: 31 October 1997/Accepted: 31 October 1997     

Synthesis and characterization of novel well-defined stars consisting of eight polyisobutylene arms emanating from an octa(dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane core

The synthesis and characterization of novel stars, octa(polyisobutylenedimethylsiloxy)octasilesquioxane (T₈ ^DPIB), consisting of eight polyisobutylene arms emanating from an octa(dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane (T₈ ^D) core are described. The synthesis involves: 1) The synthesis of allyl-terminated polyisobutylene (PIB^█01█) prearms, 2) The synthesis of octa(hydrodimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane (T₈ ^DH) precore and 3) Star formation by hydrosilation of PIB^█01█ with T₈ ^DH. Conditions for the precision synthesis and characterization of well-defined octa-arm stars are described. Received: 13 September 1996/Accepted: 14 October 1996     

[3-13C] γ-linolenic acid: A new probe for 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of arachidonic acid synthesis in the suckling rat

Our objective was to develop a suitable probe to study metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in the suckling rat pup. [3-¹³C] γ-Linolenic acid was chemically synthesized, and a 20 mg (Experiment 1) or 5 mg (Experiment 2) dose was injected into the stomachs of 6–10-day-old suckling rat pups that were then killed over a 192 h (8 d) time course. ¹³C NMR showed that ¹³C in γ-linolenate peaked in liver total lipids by 12-h post-dosing and that [5-¹³C]-arachidonic acid peaked in both brain and liver total lipids 48–96 h post-dosing. ¹³C enrichment in brain γ-linolenic acid was not detected by NMR, but gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry showed that its mass enrichment in brain phospholipids at 48–96 h post-dosing was 1–2% of that in brain arachidonic acid. ¹³C was present in liver and brain cholesterol and in perchloric acid-extractable water-soluble metabolites in the brain, liver and carcass. We conclude that low but measurable amounts of exogenous γ-linolenic acid do access the suckling rat brain in vivo. The slow time course of [5-¹³C] arachidonic acid appearance in the brain suggests most of it was probably transported there after synthesis elsewhere, probably in the liver. Some carbon from γ-linolenic acid is also incorporated into lipid products other than n−6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.     

Biosynthesis of hydrocarbons by algae: Decarboxylation of stearic acid to N-heptadecane inAnacystis nidulans determined by13C- and2H-labeling and13C nuclear magnetic resonance

The distribution of isotopic labels inn-heptadecane enriched from [1,2-¹³C] and [2-¹³C, 2-²H₃) acetates byAnacystis nidulans has been determined by¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR). Labeling with [1,2-¹³C] acetate is consistent with assembly from¹³C−¹³C units derived from an acetate “starter” group and 8 malonate units, as in fatty acid biosynthesis, followed by production of a methyl group through bond cleavage of the terminal¹³C−¹³C unit. A comparison of the hydrocarbon with palmitic acid (the only fatty acid produced in sufficient amount for NMR analysis) enriched from [2-¹³C,2-²H₃]acetate by the same culture shows that they have retained the same fraction of²H at corresponding sites, and have therefore undergone identical biosynthetic and hydrogen-deuterium exchange processes, as would be expected ifn-heptadecane originates from de novo-synthesized stearic acid. NRCC No. 18251.     

The composition of hydrogenated fats by high-resolution13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The high-resolution¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of twelve hydrogenated fats have been examined. Each spectrum contains 50–100 signals and reveals much about the nature of the acyl chains of both double-bond position and configuration. The signals for the ω1, ω2 and ω3 carbon atoms give information on thecis andtrans isomers of the Δ15, Δ14, Δ13 and Δ12 18:1 esters, respectively. Allylic signals distinguish betweencis andtrans esters, and the proportion of totalcis to totaltrans isomers can be obtained from these. Olefinic signals are the most informative, and most of these have been assigned. This leads to a semi-quantitative estimate of the various 18:1 isomers present. Assignments are based mainly on information already in the literature, but some were confirmed after urea fractionation of the acids from a hydrogenated oil in whichcis andtrans monoene acids were separately concentrated.     

Analysis of conjugated octadecatrienoic acids inmomordica balsamina seed oil by GLC and13C NMR Spectroscopy

Separation of conjugated octadecatrienoic acids by open tubular gas liquid chromatography (GLC) was performed using glass capillary columns coated with Carbowax 20 M and with OV-1. The equivalent chain length of geometrical isomers of the conjugated octadecatrienoic acids belonging to the two series C_18:3Δ^8.10.12 and C_18:3Δ^9.11.13 were determined. The application of these results to the study of theMomordica balsamina seed oil shows that this oil contains two conjugated octadecatrienoic fatty acids in appreciable amounts, punicic acid (50%) and α-eleostearic acid (13%). The isomerization of conjugated acids inM. balsamina seed oil was followed for one year. Quantitation of octadecatrienoic acids using GLC gave results similar to those obtained with¹³C NMR.     

The gastrointestinal handling and metabolism of [1-13C]palmitic acid in healthy women

The gastrointestinal handling and metabolism of [1-¹³C]palmitic acid given as the free fatty acid was examined in six healthy women by measuring the excretion of¹³C-label in stool and in breath as¹³CO₂. The gastrointestinal handling of [1-¹³C]palmitic acid was compared with the apparent absorption of dietary lipid by measuring lipid losses in stool. The variation both within and between subjects was determined by repeating the study in the same individuals on separate occasions. The time course for excretion of label in stool over the five-day study period followed a common pattern, with most of the label excreted over the first two days of the stool collection.¹³C-Label excreted in stool over the five-day study period was 14.3±9.8% of that administered and on repeating the trial was 31.6±24.7% (not significantly different due to variability); there was poor agreement within subjects. Lipid excreted in stool expressed as a percentage of ingested lipid was 5.2±4.4% in Trial 1 and 5.9±4.0% in Trial 2, and was the same in each individual on repeating the trial. There was no clear relationship between the excretion of¹³C-label and lipid in stool (Trial 1:R=−0.43,P>0.40; Trial 2:R=−0.02,P>0.97). On the first occasion, 22.0±4.5% of the administered label was excreted on breath over the 15-h study period and on repeating the trial was 15.8±9.5% (not significantly different) with poor repeatability in a given individual. There was an inverse relationship between the proportion of¹³C-label excreted in stool and that excreted on breath in Trial 1 (R=−0.80,P>0.06) with a weaker association observed in Trial 2 (R=−0.49,P>0.32). Correcting for differences in the apparent absorption of label reduced the variability in its excretion in breath observed between subjects, particularly in Trial 2. It is concluded that although there are differences in the gastrointestinal handling of [1-¹³C]palmitic acid both within and between healthy adults, the postprandial oxidation of absorbed substrate was similar. The assumptions underlying these observations need to be examined by characterizing the nature of¹³C-label in stool.     

An investigation into the synthesis of polycarbazole squaraine derivatives

The polycondensation of squaric acid with 1,2-(9-Ethylcarbazol-3-yl)ethene and N-ethyliminostilbene in polyphosphoric acid yielded insoluble polymers which included substituted phosphate groups on the phenyl rings. The presence of phosphorus in these polymers was identified using solid-state ³¹P NMR and EDAX techniques. Furthermore the phosphate groups were not ionic, hence no charge-balancing anions were present. Both polymers did not electrically conduct but exhibited dielectric breakdown values of 0.1 and 0.06 MV cm⁻¹ respectively. Received: 16 December 1996/Revised: 10 March 1997/Accepted: 10 March 1997     

Detection of [U-13C]eicosapentaenoic acid in rat liver lipids using13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Fatty acid carbons are well-resolved in¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of lipid extracts, but application of this methodology to the metabolism of¹³C-labelled fatty acids has not yet been reported. In the present study,¹³C NMR was used to monitor the presence of 98% [U-¹³C]eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in liver and carcass lipids 24 h after it had been injected into the stomach of a rat. Natural abundance¹³C NMR spectra of liver total fatty acid extracts were obtained from four control rats for comparison. At 24 h post-injection, quantitative high resolution¹³C NMR showed¹³C enrichment in liver fatty acid extracts was present mainly at olefinic and at the n−1 to n−4 carbons, but¹³C signal intensities for C−1 to C−4 of [U-¹³C]EPA were markedly reduced or absent. Small¹³C resonances, possibly indicative of some¹³C incorporation into docosahexaenoic acid and saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids, were present in spectra of liver fatty acids. Liver and carcass fatty acid composition was similar in both the controls and the EPA-injected rat, suggesting little accumulation of the injected [U-¹³C]EPA after 24 h. We conclude that the carbon-specific data provided by¹³C NMR of lipid extracts may be useful in monitoring the fate of individual carbons during tracer studies using¹³C-labelled fatty acids.     

13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of the triacylglycerol composition ofBiota orientalis and carrot seed oil

¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis of the whole oil (triacylglycerols) ofBiota orientalis seeds confirms the presence of oleate [18:1(9Z)], linoleate [18:2(9Z, 12Z)], linolenate [18:3((9Z, 12Z, 15Z)], 20:3 (5Z, 11Z, 14Z), 20:4(5Z, 11Z, 14Z, 17Z), and saturated fatty acids in the acyl groups by comparing the observed carbon shifts with previously established shift data for model triacylglycerols. This technique shows that the saturated, 20:3 and 20:4 fatty acids are distributed mainly in the α-acyl positions, whereas oleate, linoleate, and linolenate are randomly acylated to the α- and β-positions of the glycerol “backbone”. Stereospecific hydrolysis of theBiota oil with pancreatic lipase, followed by chromatographic analysis of fatty esters, reveals the presence of trace amounts of 16:0(0.7%), 18:0(0.5%), 20:3 (0.4%), and 20:4 (1.3%) in the β-position of the glycerol “backbone”, which are undetectable by¹³C NMR technique on the whole oil. Semiquantitative assessment of the¹³C NMR signal intensities gives the relative percentages of the fatty acid distribution as: saturated 16:0, 18:0 (12.0% α-acyl), oleate (7.7% α-acyl 8.7% β-acyl), total linoleate and linolenate (31.7% α-acyl; 24.2% βacyl), total 20:3 and 20:4 (15.7% α-acyl). The¹³C NMR spectroscopic analysis of carrot seed oil identifies the presence of saturated (18:0), 18:1(6Z), 18:1(9Z), and 18:2(9Z, 12Z). The saturated fatty acid is found in the α-acyl positions. Semi-quantitative assessment of the signal intensities gives the relative percentages of the fatty acids as: 18:0 (4.5% α-acyl), 18:1(6Z) (49.6% α-acyl; 19.7% β-acyl), oleate (6.5% α-acyl; 8.6% β-acyl) and linoleate (5.2% α-acyl; 6.9% β-acyl).     

New fluorescence active cellulosics prepared by a convenient acylation reaction

Novel, fluorescence active cellulosic polymers with high degree of functionalization of up to 1.0 were synthesized in homogeneous phase (cellulose in N,N-dimethylacetamide/LiCl and 6-O-thexyldimethylsilylcellulose in pyridine) with a mixed anthracene-9-carboxylic/p-toluenesulfonic acid anhydride. This novel and effective synthetic method yield the pure carboxylic acid esters of the polymers, which were characterized by means of FTIR- as well as ¹H and ¹³C NMR-spectroscopy. The polymers show typical fluorescence spectra, which are identical with the non-bond anthracene-9-carboxylic acid. Received: 26 August 1997/Accepted: 8 September 1997     

Polymerization of vinyl acetate in ternary microemulsions stabilized with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide

The polymerization of vinyl acetate (VA) in three component o/w microemulsions stabilized with the cationic surfactant, CTAB, is presented. Initiation is achieved thermally with a water soluble initiator (V-50). Stable latex containing small particles (ca. 35 nm) with molecular weights (M_w) of around 4 × 10⁵ are obtained. Analysis of the molecular weight distribution suggests that chain transfer to monomer (and not to polymer, which is the typical termination mechanism in emulsion polymerization, specially at high conversions) is the dominant mechanism of termination. Received: 11. October 1996/Revised: 16 January 1997/Accepted: 21 January 1997     

Polyamide-silica gel hybrids containing metal salts: Preparation via the sol-gel reaction

The hydrolysis and condensation of tetramethoxysilane in a DMF solution of polyamides containing LiCl, CaCl₂ or ZnCl₂, both in presence and absence of polyoxazoline, resulted in the facile formation of polyamide-silica gel hybrids. Films were cast from the resulting mixtures and evaporation of the solvent resulted in the formation of clear, transparent hybrids with the salts dispersed at the molecular level. Pyrolysis of hybrids at 600 °C gave porous silica. Pore size and surface characteristics of these silica gel samples indicated a porous nature with a pore radius of 1.1 nm for silica gels obtained from hybrids HPA-6 (containing no salt) and HPA-9 (containing ZnCl₂) and a surface area of 213 m² g⁻¹ and 310 m² g⁻¹, respectively. Silica gel from hybrid HPA-7 (containing LiCl) had a pore radius of 1.9 nm and a surface area of 15 m² g⁻¹. The silica gel samples obtained from hybrids HPA-6, HPA-7 and HPA-9 exhibited narrow slit-like pores with a pore volume of 0.68 cm³ g⁻¹. Received: 7 January 1997/Accepted: 6 March 1997     

Linear and nonlinear rheological responses in aqueous systems of hydrophobically modified chitosan and its unmodified analogue

Oscillatory shear and viscosity measurements have been carried out on semidilute acid aqueous systems of unmodified chitosan (UM-chitosan) and of hydrophobically modified chitosan (HM-chitosan) with three different degrees of C12-aldehyde substitution. These systems form physical gels at higher concentrations. The gel point, determined by the observation of a frequency independent loss tangent, was found to be shifted toward lower concentrations with increasing hydrophobicity. At the gel point, a power law frequency dependence of the dynamic moduli (G′∼G″∼ω ⁿ) was observed, with n values of 0.36 and 0.46 for the UM-chitosan and the hydrophobically modified chitosans, respectively. These values are interpreted in the framework of a fractal model. The gel strength parameter S increased with decreasing hydrophobicity. The UM-chitosan and HM-chitosan systems exhibited a non-Newtonian shear thinning behavior. This effect is promoted by increasing polymer concentration and hydrophobicity. Both the linear and nonlinear rheological properties elucidate the intricate interplay between hydrophobic associations and entanglement effects. Received: 13 October 1997/Accepted: 24 October 1997     

13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectral confirmation of Δ6-and Δ7-trans-18:1 fatty acid methyl ester positional isomers

Trans octadecenoic acid methyl ester isomers were obtained from a partially hydrognated soybean oil and isolated by silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography. Recently, the double-bond positions for nine individual trans octadecenoic acid positional isomers (Δ8 through Δ16) were confirmed by gas chromatography-electron ionization mass spectrometry after derivatization to 2-alkenyl-4,4-dimethyloxazoline. In this communication, the presence of two additional trans-18:1 fatty acid methyl ester positional isomers (Δ6 and Δ7) in the same mixture is confirmed by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The identity of the Δ5-trans-18:1 fatty acid methyl ester positional isomer is inferred. Summer student researcher.     

In vivo 13C nuclear magnetic resonance: Applications and current limitations for noninvasive assessment of fatty acid status

As a noninvasive method,in vivo ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance has potentially important applications in understanding the metabolism of long chain fatty acids in organs of living humans. At present, this methodology is most advanced for research on glucose utilization. However, the main¹³C signals visiblein vivo are from fatty acids in adipose tissue and the olefinic signals can be used to noninvasively estimate adipose tissue content and relative dietary intake of polyunsaturates and monounsaturates. The low natural abundance of¹³C improves the utility of this isotope for fatty acid tracer studies. Due to excessive signal broadening, uniform¹³C-labelling seems to have limited application inin vivo fatty acid studies. Tracer fatty acids with¹³C enrichment at a specific carbon position, i.e., [3-¹³C]_γ-linolenate, appear to be the most useful forin vivo tracer studies. Development of methods permitting resolution of¹³C enrichment in structural lipids of lean tissues will be an important breakthrough which may make human tracer studies feasible and worthwhile.     

n-Butane conversion on sulfated zirconia: in situ 13C MAS NMR monitoring of the kinetics of the 13C-label scrambling and isomerization

The kinetics of the conversion of ¹³C-labeled n-butane adsorbed on sulfated zirconia (SZ) were monitored by in situ ¹³C MAS NMR spectroscopy. Rate constants of n- to isobutane isomerization and of the ¹³C-isotope scrambling from the primary to the secondary carbon atoms in n-butane were determined. The monomolecular scrambling of the ¹³C-label in adsorbed n-butane has an activation energy of 17 ± 3 kcal mol^–1 and occurs faster than the bimolecular process of n-butane isomerization which has an activation energy of 15.1 ± 0.2 kcal mol^–1. The transfer of the selective ¹³C-label from the primary to the secondary carbon atom in the adsorbed n-butane seems to consist of two reaction steps: (i) a hydride abstraction by SZ leading to the formation of sec-butyl cations and (ii) a label scrambling in the sec-butyl cations. This two-step process with the formation of sec-butyl cations as intermediate increases the apparent activation energy for the ¹³C-label scrambling, which is almost twice as large compared with the activation energy for carbon scrambling of sec-butyl cations in a superacidic solution.