Structure-gas chromatographic electron capture sensitivity relationships of some substituted 17alpha-acetoxyprogesterones.
Structure-electron capture sensitivity relationships were established for underivatized 17alpha-acetoxyprogesterones. While progesterone was very insensitive, 17alpha-acetoxyprogesterone had a response of 4.8 X 10(2) C/mole. Methyl groups in the A or B ring of 17alpha-acetoxyprogesterone had no effect. A keto group at C-6 was 25 times more sensitive (1.2 X 10(4) C/mole). A double bond at C-6,7 enhanced the sensitivity sevenfold (3.5 X 10(3) C/mole), but double bonds at C-1,2 or C-9,11 had only slight effect. Substitution at C-16 was important. A methyl group at C-16 had two and three times the sensitivity in the 3-keto delta4 and 3-keto delta4,6 series (1.1 X 10(3) and 1.1 X 10(4) C/mole), respectively. A methylene group at C-16, in contrast showed a six-and twofold greater sensitivity over the C-16 methyl in the two series (7 X 10(3) and 2.2 X 10(4) C/mole), respectively. The most sensitive compound was 6-dehydro-6methyl-16-methylene-17alpha-acetoxyprogesterone (melengestrol acetate). Its sensitivity was 2.2 X 10(4) C/MOL, Comparable to the most sensitive halo esters of steroid alcohols reported in the literature. Its electron capture coefficient was 3-7.6X 10(10) 1/mole. The coef-icient was independent of the detector temperature, indicating low activation energy for electron absorpiton.
The determination of steroids with and without natural electrophores by gas chromatography and electron-capture detection
The response of the electron-capture detector to organic compounds is poorly defined, and the steroids are no exception to this observation. For those steroids which are naturally electron-capturing, the structures of the electrophores will be defined. Other steroids can be made electron-capturing by the formation of appropriate derivatives. Some new or infrequently used reagents for this purpose (flophemesyl ethers,t-buflophemesyl ethers, pentafluorophenylhydrazone derivatives and halogensubstituted aromatic boronic acids) are described.
THE IRON-ACETOCARMINE METHOD OF FIXING AND STAINING CHROMOSOMES
A short description of this procedure was given in Vol. 55 of the American Naturalist, pp. 573â€”574. The method has now been used almost daily for five years, and certain improvements have suggested themselves. The solution can be prepared by mixing about equal volumes of glacial acetic acid and water. To this is added powdered carmine in excess. The liquid is then â€ ? just brought to boil, cooled, and decanted. To the red solution there are then added a few drops of a solution of ferric hydrate in 50 per cent. acetic acid, to act as a mordant. The amount of iron varies with different objects. Too much produces a precipitate in a short time. The more