Dehydrogenation of 4-aryl(hetaryl) spinacine derivatives with dimethyl sulfoxide

Aromatization of 4-aryl(hetaryl)tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carboxylic acids and their lithium salts by the action of dimethyl sulfoxide has been revealed for the first time. Heating of these compounds in DMSO for 5–7 h at 90–95°C leads to the formation of 4-aryl(hetaryl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine derivatives as a result of dehydrogenation and decarboxylation. Heating of the corresponding lithium salts generated in situ (DMSO, 90–95°C, 3–5 h) affords difficultly accessible 4-aryl(hetaryl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-6-carboxylic acids.     

Bromo dimethyl sulfoxide osmium(II) complexes. Molecular structure of cis,fac-[OsBr2(dmso-S)3(dmso-O)]

Bromo dimethyl sulfoxide osmium(II) complexes were synthesized: trans-[OsBr₂(dmso-S)₄] (1) was obtained by the reaction of K₂[OsBr₆] with DMSO in the presence of SnBr₂ at 100°C and cis,fac-[OsBr₂(dmso-S)₃(dmso-O)] (2) was prepared by thermal isomerization of 1 in a DMSO solution at 150°C. The coordination mode of DMSO molecules was determined by IR and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n; a = 8.4711(5) Å, b = 27.7876(15) Å, c = 8.5569(5) Å, β = 115.7110(10)°; Z = 4. The coordination polyhedron of osmium is a distorted octahedron; the osmium environment is formed by two cis-arranged bromine atoms and three fac-S-coordinated and one O-coordinated DMSO molecules. The interconversion of complexes in solutions was studied by UV/Vis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. In chloroform and DMSO, complex 2 isomerizes to cis-[OsBr₂(dmso-S)₄] and (in the light) to 1. The complexes trans-[OsX₂(dmso-d₆)₄], where X = Cl, Br, were isolated from DMSO-d ₆ and characterized by the IR spectra.     

Influence of the bridging coordination of DMSO on the exchange interaction character in the binuclear copper(II) complex with the nonsymmetrical exchange fragment

The binuclear copper(II) complex [Cu₂L(CH₃COO)] (I), where L^3? is the azomethine trianion based on 3-methyl-4-formyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one and 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol, and its DMSO adduct (II) in which the DMSO molecule acts as an additional bridging ligand are synthesized. The structure of complex II is determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and the structure parameters of the coordination unit of complex I are determined by EXAFS spectroscopy. The μ²-coordination of the DMSO molecule in compound II results in a change in the sign of the exchange interaction parameter. In complex I, the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction (2J = ?169 cm^?1) occurs between the copper(II) ions. The exchange interaction of the ferromagnetic type (2J = 174 cm^?1) is observed in complex II. The quantum-chemical calculations of the magnetic exchange parameters by the density functional theory method show that the role of the DMSO molecule as a switch of the exchange interaction character is exclusively the stabilization of the “broken” conformation of the metallocycles.     

A new synthesis of bicyclic N,O- and N,S-enaminals by the anionic cyclization of alk-4-ynals with amino alcohols and amino thiols

A reaction of alk-4-ynals with aliphatic amino alcohols or 2-aminoethanethiol in the system DMSO—KOH gives bicyclic N,O- and N,S-enaminals: 6-methylidenehexahydro-2H-pyrrolo[2,1-b][1,3]oxazines, 5-methylidenehexahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]oxazoles, or 5-methyl-idenehexahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazoles. The reaction proceeds through the formation of equilibrium mixtures of the corresponding imines and monocyclic aminals with subsequent 5-exodig-cyclization catalyzed by the superbasic system DMSO-KOH.     

Thermochemical properties of 2,4-dinitroanisole in N-methyl pyrrolidone and dimethyl sulfoxide

The thermochemical properties of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) in N-methy pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) were studied using a RD496-2000 Calvet microcalorimeter at four different temperatures. The heat effects were measured for DNAN dissolved in NMP and DMSO and the relationships between the heat effects and the amounts of the substance were determined. The molar enthalpies and the differential molar enthalpies of dissolution processes were also obtained from the experimental data. The corresponding kinetic equations describing the two dissolution processes at different temperatures were discussed.     

Spin-trapped Radicals: Determination by LC-TSP-MS and LC-ESI-MS

The 4-POBN[α-(4-pyridyl-l-oxide)-N-tert-butyl-nitrone] radical adducts of ethyl and pentyl radicals were determined by a combination of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) with HPLC-electrospray (ESI)-mass spectrometry and HPLC-thermospray (TSP)-MS. The identifIcation of the peak corresponding to the spin-trapped radical was done by performing HPLC-EPR under the same chromatographic conditions as the HPLC-MS. The radical adducts could be determined by both techniques, even though for ESI only 12 μL/min of the total 1 mL/min HPLC flow rate could be directed into the ion source.     

Hazard analysis of tetrahydrofuran and dimethylsulfoxide mixture solvents for efficient use in reaction processes

Organic solvents are often used in mixture solvent systems to optimize synthetic reactions. However, they may also produce unexpected effects, some of which may be hazardous and cause a runaway reaction and/or lead to an accident. Thus, the proper accident scenarios and thermal risk assessment models are needed to use mixture solvents more safely and efficiently. For chemical process safety, Stoessel suggests the systematic assessment of accident scenarios. However, if scenarios are changed by the properties of mixture solvents, Stoessel’s concept does not cover them. Our previous study evaluated characteristic scenarios of mixture solvents based on Stoessel’s model. In this study, as a characteristic scenario pattern, we focused on the energy release of the solvent and the material derived from degraded solvent and investigated them experimentally using tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a representative mixture solvent. From hazard and scenario identification of THF and DMSO, we assumed that THF peroxide and DMSO play roles in energy release. THF containing peroxide and DMSO were mixed, and thermal analysis and chemical composition analysis were performed. Our results indicated that DMSO promotes the decomposition of THF peroxide, and the decomposition temperature of DMSO decreases upon mixing with degraded THF. Therefore, we verified the scenario pattern of energy release of solvent and the material derived from degraded solvent.     

Thermally stimulated discharge current (TSDC) characteristics in β-phase PVDF–BaTiO3 nanocomposites

β-phase polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)–BaTiO₃ nanocomposite samples have been prepared by solution mixing method. XRD data represent that the crystallinity of PVDF decreases with increase in loading level of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles. DSC curve represents that the melting point of PVDF is lightly affected by loading concentration of BaTiO₃. The morphology and microstructure of PVDF and PVDF embedded by BaTiO₃ nanofillers were investigated by using inverted contrast microscopy (ICM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR interferrometry is proven that PVDF and BaTiO₃ are not chemically interacting; therefore, interaction of BaTiO₃ is van der Waals type of interaction. The thermally stimulated discharge current (TSDC) of PVDF and PVDF–BaTiO₃ nanocomposites sample was characterized by single peak. The observed TSDC peak is discussed on the basis of dipolar and interfacial polarization.     

A wide range optical pH sensor for living cells using Au@Ag nanoparticles functionalized carbon nanotubes based on SERS signals

p-Aminothiophenol (pATP) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been demonstrated as an efficient pH sensor for living cells. The proposed sensor employs gold/silver core-shell nanoparticles (Au@Ag NPs) functionalized MWCNTs hybrid structure as the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and pATP molecules as the SERS reporters, which possess a pH-dependent SERS performance. By using MWCNTs as the substrate to be in a state of aggregation, the pH sensing range could be extended to pH 3.0～14.0, which is much wider than that using unaggregated Au@Ag NPs without MWCNTs. Furthermore, the pH-sensitive performance was well retained in living cells with a low cytotoxicity. The developed SERS-active MWCNTs-based nanocomposite is expected to be an efficient intracellular pH sensor for bio-applications.     

Liquidus and glass transition temperatures of the ammonium nitrate-dimethylsulfoxide-water system

The liquidus temperature was measured in the ammonium nitrate-dimethylsulfoxide-water system over in the concentration range 0–60 mole% ammonium nitrate. The probable formation of the NH₄NO₃·nDMSO solvate with n=1.3–1.5 and the mixed solvate NH₄NO₃·DMSO·H₂O at 30 mole% ammonium nitrate and a DMSO:H₂O ratio of 4∶1 are indicated. The glass transition temperatures T _g were measured over a salt concentration range of 0–50 mol% ammonium nitrate and at various compositions of the mixed solvent (y _DMSO =0.1–0.9 mole fraction). At a constant mixed solvent composition, the dependence of the glass transition temperature on the salt concentration can be approximated by a linear relationship, as can its dependence on the DMSO content in the solution at constant salt concentration. The glass-forming composition regions were found and the limits of this region are discussed.     

Solute-solvent interactions in acid-base dissociation: nine protonated nitrogen bases in water-DMSO solvents

A titration method utilizing glass electrodes and silver-silver chloride electrodes in a cell without liquid junction has been used to determine the acidic dissociation constants at 15, 25, and 35°C of nine protonated nitrogen bases in mixtures of water and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The mole fraction of DMSO in the mixed solvents was 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8. The cell was calibrated with HCl (molality=0.01 mole-kg^?1) in the mixed solvents, and the ionic strength and chloride molality remained substantially unchanged during the titration with added base. This method minimizes the errors resulting from the formation of AgCl ₂ ^? in the media rich in DMSO. The pK _a of all the protonated bases passes through a minimum at a solvent composition close to that at which H₂O-DMSO mixtures display a maximum solvent structure. The results are discussed in terms of the preferential solvation of ions by the two types of solvent molecules. They are consistent with the hypothesis that increased solvent structure is accompanied by increased desolvation of the cation acids.     

Production of Pt nanoparticles-supported chelating group-modified graphene for direct methanol fuel cells

In this study, Pt nanoparticles (NPs) were supported on reduced graphene oxide with the aid of disodium ethylenediamine-tetraacetate, where the Pt iona were initially attached to EDTA-functionalized graphene oxide (EDTA-GO) sheets and then the metal ion and the graphene oxide were reduced simultaneously by ethylene glycol. Electrochemical properties of the catalysts were studied by measuring cyclic voltammetries, and functional groups of the synthesized materials were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Average sizes and lattice parameters were measured by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy images, and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that Pt NPs were successfully deposited on the EDTA-GO with the crystallite size of about 2.3 nm. The prepared catalysts demonstrated an enhanced tolerance towards CO poisoning, when EDTA-GO was used as supports. This suggests that EDTA plays a crucial role in the dispersion and electrocatalytic activity of the metal nanoparticles.     

Analysis of Genetic Diversity of Certain Species of Piper Using RAPD-Based Molecular Markers

The utility of RAPD markers in assessing genetic diversity and phenetic relationships of six different species of Piper from Northeast India was investigated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with four arbitrary 10-mer oligonucleotide primers applied to the six species produced a total of 195 marker bands, of which, 159 were polymorphic. On average, six RAPD fragments were amplified per reaction. In the UPGMA phenetic dendrogram based on Jaccard’s coefficient, the different accessions of Piper showed a high level of genetic variation. This study may be useful in identifying diverse genetic stocks of Piper, which may then be conserved on a priority basis.     

Weak acid–base interaction induced assembly for the formation of rambutan-like poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)/silica composite microspheres

To investigate the effect of surface functionality on the morphology of polymer/silica composite, poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SMA) spheres prepared via precipitation polymerization method was employed. In water/ethanol solution, diethanolamine (DEA) was used to catalyze the hydrolysis reaction of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and rambutan-like poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)/silica (SMA/SiO₂) microspheres were synthesized through in situ sol–gel process. The obtained structure and morphology were characterized by FTIR, NMR, TEM, SEM, and TGA. The results showed that the hydrolyzed SMA chains on the surface was crucial to the nucleation and growth of silica, and the morphologies of SMA/SiO₂ composite microspheres can be controlled by the amount of DEA and the ratio of SMA/TEOS. In addition, the SMA/SiO₂ microspheres were used to prepare hierarchical structure of SMA/SiO₂/Ag particles, which were utilized for the construction of surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate (SERS).     

A label-free electrochemical biosensor for microRNA detection based on apoferritin-encapsulated Cu nanoparticles

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small endogenous nonprotein-coding RNAs, regulate a wide range of biological processes, and their abnormal expressions are related to the growth and development of plants. Thus, a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive assay for miRNA detection is of great significance. In this work, a label-free and ultrasensitive assay for miRNA detection using protein cage nanoparticles has been developed. Apoferritin-encapsulated Cu nanoparticles (Cu-apoferritin) could be immobilized on the electrode through special reaction between amino and carboxyl. Hybridization event between the probe DNA and the target miRNA-159a is confirmed by electrochemical oxidation signal after Cu released into the detection buffer by adjusting the pH. This assay is highly selective and sensitive with a low detection limit of 3.5 fM. Moreover, the developed method can even discriminate single-base mismatched strand between the complementary targets. The effect of abscisic acid on the expression level of miRNA-159a in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds was also investigated.     

New EDTA determination method based on ion chromatography with suppressed conductimetric detection

A novel direct method for the determination of EDTA in alkaline radioactive evaporator residue solution was developed and validated based on ion chromatography with suppressed conductimetric detection and anion exchange columns (A Supp 4, 4 mm × 250 mm and A Supp 5, 4 mm × 150 mm). The yttrium-EDTA complex resulted one single chromatographic peak in the eluent and allowed the correct determination of EDTA in an alkaline, high concentration radioactive waste water. Depending on coexisting substances, suitable eluent is 10.0 mM carbonate buffer/pH 10.6 or 10.75 (t _R,Y–EDTA = 7.01 and 6.4 min, respectively). For 10.0 mM carbonate buffer/pH 10.6 and isocratic flow rate of 1.0 cm³/min, a linear calibration curve was obtained from 5 to 40 mg/dm³ (r > 0.999) EDTA. Good resolution was achieved from commonly coexisting anions (chloride, nitrite, nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, bromide and citrate). The developed simple ion chromatographic method was applied for the assay of EDTA in various radioactive alkaline solutions.     

Need for database extension for reliable identification of bacteria from extreme environments using MALDI TOF mass spectrometry

The ability of MALDI TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry) to identify cultivable microflora from two waste disposal sites from non-ferrous metal industry was analysed. Despite the harsh conditions (extreme pH values and heavy metal content in red mud disposal site from aluminium production or high heavy metal content in nickel sludge), relatively high numbers of bacteria were recovered. In both environments, the bacterial community was dominated by Gram-positive bacteria, especially by actinobacteria. High-quality MALDI TOF mass spectra were obtained but most of the bacteria isolates could be not identified using MALDI Biotyper software. The overall identification rate was lower than 20 %; in two of the environments tested identification rates were lower than 10 %. As a dominant bacterial species, Microbacterium spp. in drainage water from an aluminium red mud disposal site near ?iar nad Hronom, Bacillus spp. in red mud samples from the same site, and Arthrobacter spp. from nickel smelter sludge near Sereï were identified by a combination of the Biolog system and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. As the primary focus of the MALDI TOF MS-based methodology is directed towards medically important bacteria, reference database spectra expansion and refinement are needed to improve the ability of MALDI TOF MS to identify environmental bacteria, especially those from extreme environments.     

Antitumoral and MMP-2 inhibition activity of raloxifene or tamoxifen loaded nanoparticles containing dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin

A new nanoparticle formulation has been developed by using dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD) with raloxifene HCl or tamoxifene citrate. Both drugs are insoluble in water and represent as low bioavailibilities when given orally. Tamoxifen has an FDA approval for breast cancer prevention and the treatment. Raloxifene is approved for osteoprosis treatment. Both drugs were selected as a model drug antitumoural activity and MMP-2 inhibition studies were evaluated on breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231. MMP-2 is known to be responsible for tumour invasion and initation the of angiogenesis. DM-β-CD and sodium taurocholate (NaTC) have been used as absorption enhancers to increase penetration effect of raloxifene/tamoxifen on the tumour cells and aimed to provide high antitumoral activity and MMP-2 inhibition results by developed nanoparticle formulations. The effects of two absorption enhancers were compared. The highest antitumoral activity was observed for DM-β-CD—raloxifene HCl nanoparticle formulation and also MMP-2 enzyme inhibit effectively.