Kenneth K. Andersen

Some chemical constituents of the scent of the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

The malodorous, volatile portion of the scent or musk of the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) containstrans-2-butene-1-thiol, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, andtrans-2-butenyl methyl disulfide but no 1- butanethiol.

Chemical constituents of the defensive secretion of the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Abstract The volatile components in the musk of the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) were analyzed by GC-MS. Several thiols (mercaptans), thioethers (sulfides), and disulfides were identified.

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of some organoselenium compounds containing carbon–selenium double bonds

Carbon-13 n.m.r. spectra were obtained for eight compounds having C = Se double bonds. These comprised five selenoketones, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane-2-selone (1-Se), 1-thia-3,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexane-4-selone (2-Se), 1,1,3,3-tetra methylindane-2-selone (3-Se), 2,2,5,5-tetra methylcyclopent-3-ene-1-selone (4-Se), and selenofenchone (5-Se), one selenoester, ethyl selenobenzoate (6-Se), and two selenoamides, NN-dimethylselenobenzamide (7-Se) and NN-dimethyl-2,2-dimethylselenopropanamide (8-Se). Coupling constants, 1J(13C–77Se), were measured for (1) and (3)–(7). A comparison was made among the chemical shifts of (1)–(8), their oxygen analogues, and the sulphur analogues of (1), (5), and (7). The selenocarbonyl carbon atoms were shifted 34–72 p.p.m. downfield and the α-carbon atoms 10–19 p.p.m. downfield from their oxygen analogues. The differences, δΔSe, O, for the remaining carbons are only a few p.p.m. Values of 1J(13C–77Se) were 209–221 Hz, much larger than any previously observed 13C–77Se coupling constants.

OCCURRENCE OF CHOLINE ESTERS IN THE MARINE DINOFLAGELLATE AMPHIDINIUM CARTERI12

Acrylylcholine, choline O‐sulfate, and a yet unidentified choline ester have been isolated from cells of Amphidinium carteri. Natural and synthetic acrylyl choline had approximately 1/4,000 the activity of acetylcholine and choline O‐sulfate about 1/20,000 the activity on isolated Mercenaria mercenaria heart.

Sulfur Compounds in Mustelids

Secondary chemicals, especially alkaloids and terpenes isolated from plants, have interested chemists for many decades, yet only comparatively recently have their important roles in ecology been realized. They are no longer incorrectly considered to be just metabolic by-products.1 Investigations of secondary compounds produced by mammals have a long history, but are not numerous in comparison to the studies of substances isolated from plants or even insects. Early studies on mammalian secretions were stimulated primarily by commercial concern with perfumes, whereas current research is motivated mostly by the great interest in chemical ecology, in particular by the influence these secretions acting as chemical signals have on animal behavior. Recent advances in the methodology of isolation and identification of small quantities of low molecular weight volatile compounds coincide with this growth of interest and have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of mammalian secondary chemicals which have been identified. For the most part, mammalian secondary compounds are volatile and received by olfaction.2 Since the odors of low molecular weight divalent sulfur compounds are usually very intense and distinct to humans, and apparently to other mammals as well, it is not surprising that such compounds, many examples of which are found in plants, are also represented in mammalian secretions.3,4 Compound 1 was found in the vaginal secretion of the golden hamster5, 2 in the anal scent gland of the striped hyena6, and 3 and 4 in red fox urine.7

Sterols of Agarum cribosum: desmosterol in a brown alga

Abstract The sterol composition of the cold water brown alga Agarum cribosum was determined by GC—MS. Six of the seven sterols found were identified as stigmata-5,( E )-24(28)-dien-3β-ol (fucosterol), 24-methylenecholest-5-en-3β-ol (24-methylenecholesterol), cholest-5-en-3β-ol (cholesterol), 3β-hydroxycholest-5-en-24-one (24-ketocholesterol), 24ξ-stigmasta-5,28-diene-3β,24-diol (saringosterol) and cholesta-5, 24-dien-3β-ol (desmosterol).

On the Tautomerism of 2,4-Disubstituted Thiazolones

Four series of thiazolones − 2-phenyl-, 2-ethyl, 2-ethoxy, and 2-(ethylthio)thiazol-5-ones − have been synthesized. The tautomeric behavior of these thiazolones is discussed, and the keto form II, i.e. 2-ethylthiazol-5(2H)one has been characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic methods for the first time.

The chiroptical properties of selenofenchone, a selenoketone with an asymmetrically perturbed CSe chromophore

Abstract CD, ORD, and UV spectra were obtained for the first time on a selenoketone; the chiroptical properties of the selenoketone and of its analogous thione and ketone were parallel.