Bleaching of solutions of chlorophylls <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis> with blue and red light

The dependences of the reaction rate constant for bleaching of solutions of chlorophyll under the action of light with a wavelength of 434 and 670 on the type of solvent and additives (O₂, H₂O, HCl, and anthocyanins) have been studied.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Raman</Emphasis> Spectroscopy and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab-Initio</Emphasis> Model Calculations on Ionic Liquids

Summary. A review of the recent developments in the study and understanding of room temperature ionic liquids are given. An intimate picture of how and why these liquids are not crystals at ambient conditions is attempted, based on evidence from crystallographical results combined with vibrational spectroscopy and ab-initio molecular orbital calculations. A discussion is given, based mainly on some recent FT-Raman spectroscopic results on the model ionic liquid system of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([C₄ mim][X]) salts. The rotational isomerism of the [C₄ mim]⁺ cation is described: the presence of anti and gauche conformers that has been elucidated in remarkable papers by Hamaguchi et al. Such presence of a conformational equilibrium seems to be a general feature of the room temperature liquids. Then the “localized structure features” that apparently exist in ionic liquids are described. It is hoped that the structural resolving power of Raman spectroscopy will be appreciated by the reader. It is of remarkable use on crystals of known different conformations and on the corresponding liquids, especially in combination with modern quantum mechanics calculations. It is hoped that these interdisciplinary methods will be applied to many more systems in the future. A few examples will be discussed.     

Selective hydrogenation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-unsaturated carbonyl compounds on supported Ru-Sn catalysts

Selective catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonylic compounds to unsaturated alcohols on bi-metallic Ru-Sn catalysts/support was studied. The catalysts were prepared by the sol–gel method and the method of co-impregnation with the objective to evaluate selected parameters of preparation, i.e., the amount of modifying tin and the support (TiO₂, SiO₂, Al₂O₃), on their catalytic activity and selectivity. A significant modifying effect of tin was proved, especially its positive effect on the selectivity. Concerning the selectivity as well as the activity, Al₂O₃ was found to be the optimal support. Furthermore, the effect of a substrate was studied with results proving suitability of this catalytic system for hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes; however, the utilization for selective hydrogenation of unsaturated ketones was found inadequate.     

Isoconversional <Emphasis Type="Italic">vs.</Emphasis> Model fitting methods

The crystallization of metallic glasses has been studied quite extensively using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. Most methods rely on isokinetic hypothesis for the kinetic analysis of crystallization for which the choice of a reliable model is very important. Due to inherent uncertainty in the determination of kinetic parameters, the model-free isoconversional analytical techniques were proposed. However, these isoconversional methods are scarcely used for metallic glasses. In the present work, the crystallization kinetics of Fe₆₇Co₁₈B₁₄Si₁ metallic glass through both isoconversional and isokinetic methods has been investigated and attention has been focused on the relative applicability of the two methods.     

Kinetic Isotope Effect in the Photoreduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-Benzoquinones in the Presence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-Dimethylaniline

The kinetics of photoinduced reduction of a series of 3,5- and 3,6-di-tert-butylbenzoquinones-1,2 was studied in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline, its deuterated analog, and a series of para-substituted N, N-dimethylanilines. On passing from the endothermic to the exothermic range of the free energy of electron transfer ΔG _e , the effective rate constants k _H and k _D and the quantum yields ϕ_H and ϕ_D of the reaction varied nonmonotonically with a maximum at ΔG _e of approximately +0.1 eV. For the reactant pairs relevant to the ascending (left-hand) branch of the plot k _H = f(ΔG _e ), the H/D isotope effect takes place, varying from two to five in magnitude. For the reactant pairs at the maximum and in the descending (right-hand) branch of the plot k _H = f(ΔG _e ), there is no isotope effect or its value is insignificant.__________Translated from Khimiya Vysokikh Energii, Vol. 39, No. 5, 2005, pp. 348–352.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Abakumov, Shurygina, Chesnokov, Druzhkov, Lopatin, Chechet, Cherkasov.     

Structural analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis> multiple emulsions by means of DSC

Summary The properties of the inner and the external aqueous phases, were studied in w/o/w multiple emulsions with light microscopic image analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The importance of multiple emulsions lies in the presence of these aqueous phases, making them available for sustained, controlled drug delivery systems. Differentiation of these two aqueous phases, studying the effect of manufacturing technology on droplet structure, quantitative determination of phase volumes and any changes occurring during storage are essential when planning w/o/w emulsions. The present study uses microscopic observations combined with DSC measurements in order to identify the formed structure, at developmental stage in case of different components, preparation methods, and stirring rates. These tools are beneficial during manufacturing as in process controls, or to ensure product quality.     

Reaction sites of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N′</Emphasis>-substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine antioxidants

The geometries of N,N′-diphenylbenzene-1,4-diamine (DPPD), N-phenyl-N′-(1-phenylethyl)benzene-1,4-diamine (SPPD), N-(4-methylpentan-2-yl)-N′-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine (6PPD), N-propan-2-yl-N′-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine (IPPD), N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-N′-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine (MBPPD), and N-phenyl-N′-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)benzene-1,4-diamine (CPPD) as well as of their dehydrogenation products were optimized by the semiempirical AM1 method. The results support the idea of stable N_B=C_X structures formation during the consecutive dehydrogenation of SPPD, 6PPD, IPPD, and MBPPD antioxidants. The biradicals formed during the second step of dehydrogenation of substituted phenylenediamines might be important for their antioxidant effectiveness. Dedicated to Professor Vladimír Kvasnička, DrSc., in honour of his 65th birthday     

Solubilities and Transfer Chemical Potentials for Cobalt(III) Complexes in <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">t</Emphasis>-butanol– <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">i</Emphasis>-propanol–, and ethanol–water Mixtures

Solubilities in t-BuOH–, i-PrOH–, and EtOH–H₂O mixtures at 298.2 K are reported for a number of salts of mono- and bi-nuclear cobalt(III) complexes. From these solubilities and published single ion transfer chemical potentials, on the TATB (Ph₄As ⁺≡ BPh₄^-) assumption, transfer chemical potentials have been derived for most of these cobalt(III) complexes. The results and trends are discussed in relation to those for other ions and complexes. Effects of ligand nature for transfer to t-BuOH–H₂O mixtures are detailed and, for a selection of complexes, trends for transfer of a given complex to t-BuOH–, i-PrOH–, EtOH– , and MeOH– H₂O mixtures are compared.     

Bioaccumulation and transformation of cadmium by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaeodactylum tricornutum</Emphasis>

In this paper, we report the bioaccumulation and transformation of cadmium (Cd) by Phaeodactylum tricornutum in the presence of ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and cysteine (Cys). Both EDTA and Cys can alleviate the toxicity of Cd to P. tricornutum. Short term intracellular uptake and extracellular adsorption experiments using ICP-MS indicated that the amounts of Cd accumulated on the cell surface of P. tricornutum and inside the cell decreased along with the increase of EDTA concentration, which conformed to the prediction of the Free Ion Activity Model (FIAM). However, extracellular adsorption of Cd increased at first and then decreased along with the increase in the concentration of Cys, while intracellular uptake increased under Cys concentrations from the blank value to 4.45 μmol/L, and then tended to remain at the same level when the Cys concentration was greater than 4.45 μmol/L, and this deviated remarkably from the FIAM. The interactions of Cd with-Si-OH, -C-OH and NH₂(CO)-OH on the cell wall were confirmed using FT-IR and XPS studies. The results obtained using HPLC of the phytochelatins (PCs) produced by P. tricornutum under CdCl₂, Cd-EDTA and Cd-Cys stress suggested that the main reason for the different effects of EDTA and Cys on the bioaccumulation and transformation of Cd by P. tricornutum was that Cys is not only a complexing ligand to Cd, as is EDTA, but also it is a precursor of the intracellular synthesizing PCs participating in the cellular defense mechanism against Cd. Furthermore, the discovery of in vivo PCs and oxidized-PCs as well as Cd-PC₂ in P. tricornutum using ESI-IT-MS provided the evidence for deactivation of Cd by the PCs, reducing Cd-toxicity to P. tricornutum.     

Reaction of methylpheophorbides <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis> with amines

A series of formyl analogs of chlorin e₆ 13-amides were synthesized in high yields by reaction under mild conditions of primary and secondary amines with methylpheophorides b and d. In contrast with the secondary 13-amides, tertiary 13-amides were found as two isomers differing in the orientation of the amide plane relative to the plane of the chlorin ring. Methylpheophorbides b and d were more reactive toward the amines than methylpheophorbide a.     

Synthesis of Pinenylsulfides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-Verbenol

The reaction of cis-verbenol with thiols in the presence of ZnCl₂ occurred stereospecifically with substitution of the hydroxyl by a sulfide. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 565–567, November–December, 2005.     

Mechanism of OH radical-induced oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-cresol to <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-methylphenoxyl radical

The OH radical-induced oxidation of p-cresol to p-methylphenoxyl radical was studied in aqueous solution in a wide pH range by means of pulse radiolysis combined with optical spectroscopy. OH-adduct cyclohexadienyl type radicals were identified as intermediates of the reaction. In the acidic pH range the first-order rate coefficient of phenoxyl radical formation was found linearly dependent on the H₃O⁺ concentration yielding a bimolecular rate coefficient of 1.8 × 10⁸ mol^–1 dm³ s^–1. In the alkaline range a linear dependence was found on the OH^– concentration with rate coefficient of 4.9 × 10¹⁰ mol^–1 dm³ s^–1. These findings were interpreted in terms of acid-base catalysis of the H₂O elimination from the OH-adduct. With the time resolution applied, 30 ns, the radical cation p-CH₃C₆H₄OH^+. was not observed as intermediate.     

Nanosized mixed aggregates of alkylated <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-sulfonatocalix[<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>]arenes and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide: self-organization and catalytic activity

Self-organization and catalytic activity of supramolecular systems based on a series of O-alkylated p-sulfonatocalix[n]arenes (SCA: n = 4, 6, 8; R = Bu, Oct, Dod (Oct is octyl, Dod is dodecyl)) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) were studied by dynamic light scattering, tensimetry, and spectrophotometry. In aqueous solutions containing SCA (10^-6-10^-4 mol L^-1) and CTAB (10^-2-10^-12 mol L^-1), mixed associates and SCA—CTAB micelles are formed in a wide concentration range. Their sizes (100–300 nm), properties, and reactivity depend mainly on the structure and concentration of the starting components, as well as on the nature of their associates in solutions. A relationship between the nonlinear concentration dependences of the sizes of SCA—CTAB micelles (SCA: n = 4, 6, 8; R = Dod) and their catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of _O-ethyl _O-(4-nitrophenyl) chloromethylphosphonate was established. The study of the physiological effect on plant cells in solutions of SCA (n = 6; R = Dod), CTAB, and their mixtures showed that SCA and CTAB exerted opposite effects on the energy exchange in the wheat root cells, while a mixed solution of these substances (1: 1) has almost no effect on the physiological state of the roots, which is due to the formation of stable CTAB—SCA aggregates that protect the biosystem from the action of the starting components.     

Cyclic polyamines <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">via</Emphasis> a molybdenum(0) templated Mannich-type reaction

Reaction of [Mo(CO)₃(3-azahexane-1,6-diamine)] with formaldehyde and the carbon acid nitroethane leads to cyclisation involving one terminal amine and either the internal secondary amine (minor product) or the other terminal primary amine (major product), with zinc/acid reduction yielding new cyclic tetraamines, also characterised as their cobalt(III) complexes. This is the first example of Mannich-style formation of a pendant-arm triazamacrocycle around a molybdenum(0) template. The unexpected N-(1′-aminopropyl)-6-methyl-1,4-diazacycloheptan-6-amine minor product has been characterised by an X-ray structure as its cis-dichlorocobalt(III) complex.     

Supramolecular isomerism in the hydrogen-bonded network of (5<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,10<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-3,8-dihydroxy-5,10-diethoxy-5,10-dihydrochromeno[5,4,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">cde</Emphasis>]chromene monohydrate

A new compound (5R, 10R)-3,8-dihydroxy-5,10-diethoxy-5,10-dihydrochromeno[5,4,3-cde]chromene monohydrate was obtained from 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde in aerobic basic aqueous ethanol solution in the presence of manganese chloride and triethylamine and crystallized in orthorhombic P2₁2₁2₁ space group (denoted as 1). When 1 was recrystallized from aqueous methanol, it was transformed to another crystal (2) with the same composition but in P2₁/n space group. The drastic difference in the extensive hydrogen bond network makes 1 a 3D and 2 a 2D infinite supramolecular structure, respectively.     

Nucleophilic replacement of the nitro group in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-2,4,6-trinitrostilbenes by O- and S-nucleophiles. Synthesis of 2-aryl-4-X-6-nitrobenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thiophenes

The direction of nucleophilic substitution for the nitro group in E-2,4,6-trinitrostilbenes under the action of arene- and alkanethiols or phenols in the presence of inorganic bases was studied. Products of o-NO₂ group replacement in the presence of PhCH₂SH were used to obtain earlier unknown 2-aryl-4,6-dinitrobenzo[b]thiophenes and their 3-chloro derivatives. In these fused heterocycles, the 4-NO₂ group can be selectively displaced by a nucleophile.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 698–705, March, 2005.     

Kinetics and mechanism of degradation of Co(II)–<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-benzyloxycarbonylglycinato complex

The kinetics of multi-step thermal degradation of Co(II) complex with N-benzyloxycarbonyl glycinato ligand [Co(N-Boc-gly)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O, in non-isothermal conditions was studied using isoconversional and non-isoconversional methods. The degradation of complex occurs in three well-separated steps involving the loss of water molecules in first step followed by two degradation steps of dehydrated complex. The dependence of Arrhenius parameters on conversion degree showed that all observed steps of thermal degradation are very complex, involving more than one elementary step, as can be expected for most solid-state heterogeneous reactions with solid reactants and solid and gaseous products. It was shown that step 1, corresponding to the dehydration, involves a series of competitive dehydration steps of differently bound water molecules complicated by diffusion. Second step involves two parallel reactions related to the loss of two identical C₆H₅CH₂O– ligand fragments complicated by the presence of products in gaseous state. Further degradation in step 3 corresponds to complex process with a change in the limiting stage, in this case from the kinetic to the diffusion regime, connected with the presence of gaseous products diffusing through the solid product.     

Investigation of the effect of berberines alkaloids in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coptis chinensis</Emphasis> Franch on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus shigae</Emphasis> growthby microcalorimetry

The inhibitory effects of five berberines alkaloids (BAs) from rhizoma of Coptis chinensis Franch, a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, on Bacillus shigae (B. shigae) growth were investigated by microcalorimetry. The power-time curves of B. shigae with and without BAs were acquired; meanwhile, the extent and duration of inhibitory effects on the metabolism were evaluated by growth rate constants (k1, k2), half inhibitory ratio (IC50), maximum heat output (Pmax), and peak time (tp). The values of k1 and k2 of B. shigae in the presence of the five BAs decreased with the increasing concentrations of BAs. Moreover, Pmax was reduced, and the value of tp increased with increasing concentrations of the five drugs. The inhibitory activity varied with different drugs. IC50 of the five BAs was respectively 75 μg/mL for berberine, 90 μg/mL for coptisine, 115 μg/mL for palmatine, 220 μg/mL for epiberberine, and 400 μg/mL for jatrorrhizine. The sequence of antimicrobial activity of the five BAs berberine ＞ coptisine ＞ palmatine ＞ epiberberine ＞ jatrorrhizine. The functional groups methylenedioxy at C2 and C3 on phenyl ring improve antimicrobial activity more strongly than methoxyl at C2 and C3 on phenyl ring. However, the effect of bacteriostasis is not significant with methylenedioxy or methoxyl at C9 and C10 on phenyl ring.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">peri</Emphasis>-Naphthylenediamines: XXXIX. Synthesis and Structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N′,N′</Emphasis>-Trimethyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-nitrosonaphthalene-1,8-diamine Derivatives

The corresponding N-nitroso derivatives were synthesized by the action of nitrous acid on N,N,N′-trimethylnaphthalene-1,8-diamine, N,N,N′-trimethyl-5-nitronaphthalene-1,8-diamine, and N,N,N′-trimethylacenaphthene-5,6-diamine, and molecular structure of the products was studied.__________Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 7, 2005, pp. 1020–1027.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Koroleva, Dyablo, Pozharskii, Sennikova, Starikova.