Karyomorphology of Biebersteinia Stephan (Geraniaceae) and its systematic and taxonomic significance

The systematic and taxonomic position of Biebersteinia Stephan has long been in dispute. The present paper describes for the first time the karyomorphology of two species in Biebersteinia Stephan. Both species commonly showed the interphase nuclei of the simple chromocenter type and the mitotic prophase chromosomes of the interstitial type. The karyotype formulae of both B. heterostemon and B. odora were 2n=10=2m(2sec)+8sm(2sec), belonging to the 3A type of Stebbins' classification. The karyotype of this genus is recorded for the first time. The basic chromosome numbers of four of the five known species of Biebersteinia have been recorded as x=5. The combination of resting nuclei of the simple chromocenter type, mitotic prophase chromosomes of the interstitial type, two pairs of chromosomes with four obvious secondary constrictions at the mitotic prophase and metaphase stages, and the peculiar 3A karyotype in Biebersteinia can be regarded as the karymorphological marker of this genus. The karyomorphological data presented here do not support the traditional grouping of this genus in Geraniaceae. The unique karyomorphology of Biebersteinia justifies its familiar or ordinal status, which is congruent with embryological, anatomical, chemical and molecular data. The systematic position of Biebersteinia needs further study.

甘肃西峰黄土剖面500 ka以来的蜗牛化石记录及其古气候、古环境变化研究

The loess-paleosol sequences in China are among the best continental records of paleoclimate changes. Although numerous sedimentological and geochemical studies have contributed greatly to the understanding of past climate changes during this period, it is still necessary to decipher more details through investigating these sequences using various approaches including biological analyses. In this study, we analyze the mollusk fossil assemblages preserved in the upper part of the Xifeng section, from the fifth loess layer (L5) to the Holocene soil (S0), with the sampling interval of 10 cm. The main results and conclusions obtained are as follows: 1. A continuous terrestrial mollusk fossil record, covering the past 500 ka, has been obtained from the Xifeng loess-paleosol sequence, which provides important biological data for the study of paleoenvironmental changes in the Loess Plateau and its comparison with marine record during this period. A total of 475 mollusk assemblages were studied, and twenty-one species have been identified among the 210,000 mollusk individuals counted. Among these species, most have modern representatives and are found in previous terrestrial mollusk studies of Chinese loess-paleosol sequences. Thus, they can be grouped into cold-aridiphilous, thermo-humidiphilous, oriental, and cool-humidiphilous ecological groups, as defined by previous studies. 2. Comparison of mollusk assemblages between the last five glacials and four interglacials and Holocene shows very different climate conditions. The warmest period occurred at MIS 11, MIS 5e, and Holocene, respectively. The coldest period is the Last Glacial Maximam, rather than the MIS 12. 3. Our mollusk record provides insight into the climate conditions in the Loess Plateau during the MIS 11, interpreted as the closest analog to the present interglacial. S4 paleosol, equivalent of MIS 11, developed under two major different climate regimes: ranging from the very warm–humid early phase to the mild-cool late interval. Furthermore, a cooling spell has been documented at the interglacial optimum, reflecting unstable climate conditions. The early warm–humid conditions lasted over 30 ka, supporting that MIS 11 is a unique long interglacial in the Quaternary climate history. 4. Comparison of MIS 11 and Holocene climates based on the mollusk species compositions indicates major differences. The climate at the early part of MIS 11 was warmer and more humid than during the Holocene optimum period, but the conditions during the late part of MIS 11 were similar to or cooler than late Holocene. Our study indicates that the extent of warming during the Holocene might be significantly less than the conditions that prevailed during the early part of MIS 11 interglacial period. 5. Two strong summer monsoon events were observed during the MIS 12 and MIS 10. They correspond to the maximam values of insolation gradient between low and high latitudes, suggesting a causal linkage. 6. Our study, combined with the previously investigated Luochuan land snail record, reveals that the climate in the Loess Plateau during MIS 3 experienced three stages: relatively warm, humid climate prevailed during MIS 3c, relatively cold, dry climate during MIS 3b, and relatively warm-humid period during MIS 3a. Climate at this time fluctuated frequently in Luochuan, and changed from warm-cool to cold-dry in Xifeng. Our results reveal that the relatively warm-humid climate during MIS 3c may be resulted from an increasing insolation gradient controlled by obliquity. Our result also reveals that obvious regional difference existed in the Loess Plateau during MIS 3. A greater climate gradient occurred during this time compared with today’s climate pattern in the Loess Plateau.

Study on synthesis of azo-coupling products of 3-aminotropolone

3-Acetamidotropolone 1 reacted with p-substitutedbenzenediazonium chloride in pyridine to afford 3-acetamido-5-(4-substitutedphenylazo)tropolones 2a similar tof. Hydrolysis of compounds 2a similar tof gave 3-amino-5-(4-substitutedphenylazo)tropolanes 3a similar tof which could not be obtained directly from reactions of 3-aminotropolone with p-substitutedbenzenediazonium chloride. The structure of these new compounds 2a, 2c similar tof, 3a, 3c similar tof were confirmed from the elemental analysis and spectral data.

Synthesis and structural characterization of (pyrazolyl)alkenyl Fischer carbene complexes of chromium and tungsten

Michael addition of substituted pyrazoles 2 to 1-alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes (CO)(5)M=C(OEt)(CdropCPh) (1) (a, M = Cr and b M = W) afforded (pyrazolyl)alkenyl Fischer carbene complexes (CO)(5)M=C(OEt)(CH=C(R(1)R(2)R(3)pz)Ph) (R(1)R(2)R(3)pz = pyrazolyl) 3 (M = Cr) and 4 (M = W), respectively, with an exclusive (E)-configuration in mild to excellent yields. The reaction of la and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (2b) was monitored to demonstrate the formation and decomposition of complex 3b by H-1 NMR measurements in CDCl3 at 23degreesC. Complexes 3 and 4 were characterized with H-1, C-13{H-1} NMR, IR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. When the substituted pyrazoles were 3-methylpyrazole (2a) and 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole (2d), molecular structures of the corresponding (pyrazolyl)alkenyl Fischer carbene complexes 3a and 4d were characterized by X-ray crystallographic study. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.