The toxicities of a series of glycerol mono-, di-, and trialkyl ethers against Vibrio fischeri bacteria have been determined. A systematic study has been carried out and the possible structure–toxicity relationships have been discussed using different QSAR models. Inhibition of bioluminescence after 30 minutes of exposure shows relatively low toxicity of many of the glycerol derived chemicals s...

Glycerol is converted to a mixture of butyric and isobutyric acid by rhodium- or iridium-catalysed carbonylation using HI as the co-catalyst. The initial reaction of glycerol with HI results in several intermediates that lead to isopropyl iodide, which upon carbonylation forms butyric and isobutyric acid. At low HI concentration, the intermediate allyl iodide undergoes carbonylation to give vin...

Although lipids are essential nutrients in the mammalian diet, we have shown that fatty acids are injurious to epithelial cells of developing piglet intestine during luminal perfusion. Furthermore, the intestine of young animals sustains greater injury than that of older piglets. In an effort to understand the mechanism for this developmental injury, we investigated whether changes in the chemi...

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid with antioxidant properties, synthesised by plants and algae, and distributed in marine seafood. Astaxanthin is also available as a food supplement, but, like other carotenoids, is a very lipophilic compound and has low oral bioavailability. However, bioavailability can be enhanced in the presence of fat. There is not much information in the literature about the phar...

A room temperature surfactant-free synthesis of gold nanoparticles in the size range 10–20 nm that only requires HAuCl4 as precursor, NaOH base, water solvent and a mono-alcohol such methanol or ethanol reducing agent, has recently been detailed. This approach is promisingly simple to obtain colloids stable for months. Here, it shown use fresh stock solutions base one key ensure formation small...

The parameters affecting the separation and quantification of trimethylsilyl ethers of mono- and diglycerides have been investigated by gas-liquid chromatography with QF-1 and SE-30 as stationary phases and a flame ionization detector. Results have been compared with those obtained earlier for triglycerides. The isothermal characteristics of a range of trimethylsilyl ethers of mono- and diglyce...

A hydrophobic cuticle consisting of waxes and the polyester cutin covers the aerial epidermis of all land plants, providing essential protection from desiccation and other stresses. We have determined the enzymatic basis of cutin polymerization through characterization of a tomato extracellular acyltransferase, CD1, and its substrate, 2-mono(10,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoyl)glycerol. CD1 has in vitr...

Four glycoglycerolipids with different head groups have been synthesized and their physicochemical properties studied. The lengths of the head groups from a mono-saccharide to a trisaccharide, in addition to the anomeric stereochemistry for the smaller glycoglycerolipids, have been modified. The synthesis has been optimized to avoid glycerol epimerization and to allow up-scaling. The physicoche...