Chemical methylation of inorganic mercury with methylcobalamin, a vitamin B12 analog

Chemical methylation of mercuric chloride with methylcobalamin has been studied. Methylated mercury was detected by gas chromatography; and analysis of the products of the reaction by thin-layer chromatography revealed that the methylation proceeded at a remarkably high rate when methylcobalamin and inorganic mercury were mixed. Dimethylmercury was an initial product of the reaction.

Phosphorus-Proton Spin-Spin Coupling and Conformation of a Dinucleoside Phosphate

The phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of beta-adenosine-3'-beta-adenosine-5'-phosphoric acid in its aqueous solution (pH = 9.2) was studied. The signal consisted of eight peaks caused by the spin-spin coupling of the phosphorus nucleus with three protons, two on the 5' carbon, and one on the 3' carbon. The coupling constants were 3.4, 6.5, and 8.1 hertz; from these values the dihedral angles of the three P-O-C-H systems were estimated.