<Emphasis Type="Italic">seco</Emphasis>-Kaurane skeleton diterpenoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Croton oblongifolius</Emphasis>

A new seco-kaurane type diterpenoid, ent-3,4-seco-17-oxo-kaur-4(19),15(16)-dien-3-oic acid, and a known compound, ent-3,4-seco-kaur-4(19),16(17)-dien-3-oic acid, were isolated from the stem bark of Croton oblongifolius. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Carboxamides of Dihydropyridin-2(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones

Summary. 3-Carboxamides and 3-carboxanilides of 6-alkyl and 6-aryldihydropyridin-2(1H)-ones have been prepared via different reaction pathways. All synthesized amides show hydrogen bonds in their NMR spectra. The 4-hydroxy compounds were obtained as a mixture of tautomers. Their configurations were elucidated by NMR experiments.Received December 16, 2002; accepted December 20, 2002 Published online June 2, 2003     

An Efficient Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-Methyl Protected Emodin Aldehyde and Emodin Nitrile

Summary. An efficient synthesis of tri-O-methylemodin aldehyde was achieved via bromination of tri-O-methylemodin utilizing N-bromosuccinimide yielding the monobromo and dibromo derivatives. Sommelet reaction of the monobromomethyl derivative as well as hydrolysis of the dibromomethyl analog with aqueous silver nitrate afforded the protected aldehyde in good yield. Accordingly, both bromo derivatives can be used even when they are obtained as a mixture of the bromination reaction, which could not be controlled easily to yield the bromo products selectively. From the aldehyde the tri-O-methylemodin nitrile was prepared in a one-pot reaction using hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid.Received February 18, 2003; accepted March 3, 2003 Published online June 2, 2003     

Rapid molecular typing of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber melanosporum</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. brumale</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. indicum</Emphasis> from tree seedlings and canned truffles

We have developed new DNA extraction and purification procedures for investigation of mycorrhized seedlings and canned truffles. Use of these procedures on approximately 100 mg initial material enabled good sample representation. For mycorrhized seedlings, Taq polymerase inhibitors were discarded irrespective of tree species. In routine analysis we systematically used consensus primers ITS1/ITS4 to check the absence of Taq polymerase inhibitors and the presence of fungus DNA. Positive response with ITS validates other positive or negative PCR results. Absence of amplification with ITS prevents validation of other results. For canned truffles, DNA harvested from ascocarps sterilized for one and a half hours at 115°C was amplified with specific primers. We have developed consensus primers, named R12/F12, to check for the presence of amplifiable fungus DNA and the absence of Taq polymerase inhibitors. Here also, positive response with consensus R12/F12 validates other positive or negative PCR results. We have developed one primer pair specific for T. brumale and another specific for T. melanosporum. We can then characterize these two taxa, which enables the use of truffle or truffled French designations. We can also characterize T. indicum, the Asiatic black truffle that might fraudulently be sold as T. melanosporum and T. brumale. These three specific primer pairs were used independently of DNA extraction from tree seedlings or canned truffles. Our process is specific, sensitive, convenient, and quick.J.P. Douet and D. Mabru have contributed equally to this work     

Grafting of poly-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methacryloylaminodeoxyglucose on poly-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrrolidone

A graft copolymer simulating glycoprotein was prepared by reaction of poly-N-methacryloylaminodeoxyglucose containing terminal amino group with a copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and acrylic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii, Vol. 77, No. 8, 2004, pp. 1356–1359.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Nazarova, Pavlov, Kever, Afanaseva, Panarin.     

4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript> resonances in photoionization from 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> levels in neutral zinc

In neutral zinc the 4p ² configuration lies above the 3d ¹⁰4s ionization limit and its levels become perturbers in the continuum. Lines have been identified in the Zn I spectrum for the multiplet, whereas no lines have been found for transitions to 4p ^{2 1} D or ¹ S. In this paper, cross sections for photoionization from 4s4p levels are reported that reveal the positions and widths of the 4p ² resonances. Calculations were performed using the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) and B-spline R-matrix (BSR) method. Results from Breit–Pauli calculations that ignore the background continua are also presented. Included in the latter are energies for the levels and transition data (transition energies, line strengths, f-values, and A-rates) for all E1 transitions between these levels. Transition energies and the agreement in the length and velocity values, particularly for allowed transitions, indicate the accuracy of the computational model. Line widths are compared with other estimates. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Mono-<Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylporphyrin

Summary. Treatment of meso-tetra(tert-butyl)porphyrin with sulfuric acid/n-butanol affords a mixture of porphyrin and mono-tert-butylporphyrin in relatively high yield.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Thieno[3,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>][1]benzopyran-4-ones by Thio-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Claisen</Emphasis> Rearrangement

Summary. A number of thieno[3,2-c][1]benzopyran-4-ones, potential antiinflamatory, antipyretic, and antiallergic drugs, are synthesized in 65–80% yield by thermal thio-Claisen rearrangement of 4-allylthio[1]benzopyran-2-ones in refluxing quinoline for 0.5–8.0h. The 4-allylthio[1]benzopyran-2-ones are in turn prepared in 75–85% yield from 4-mercaptocoumarin and different allylic halides by phase-transfer-catalysed alkylation with TBAB or BTEAC catalyst in chloroform-aq. NaOH at room temperature.     

Effects of ionization on the phase behavior of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) in water

Phase transitions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PiPA-AA) and poly(N,N- diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PdEA-AA) in water have been investigated by means of turbidimetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The phase transition temperatures (T_p) of these copolymers increase with the degree of ionization () of the acrylic acid (AA) units, which in turn is dependent on the pH of the solutions. Apparent values of pK_a for the AA units, determined from the pH dependencies of T_p, are 4.7 and 5.4 for PiPA-AA and PdEA-AA, respectively. Differences between T_p for PiPA-AA and T_p for PiPA homopolymer (T_p) are +1.5 and –0.2 °C/mol% of AA at =1 and 0, respectively. The values of T_p for PdEA-AA are +2.6 (ionic) and –0.5 (nonionic)°C/mol%, indicating that the incorporated AA units have a larger effect on PdEA than on PiPA. DSC measurements performed with each of these copolymers at different pH values show a linear relationship between T_p and the enthalpy of transition (H). IR measurements of PiPA-AA show that the profiles of IR bands from both iPA and AA units exhibit critical changes at T_p of the copolymer. Heating the solution above T_p leads to shifts of the amide II, C–H stretch, and C–H bend bands from the iPA units toward lower wavenumbers, as well as a shift of the amide I band from the iPA units toward higher wavenumbers. A decrease in the intensity of the symmetric C=O stretch IR band from carboxylate anions (1560 cm^–1), and an increase in the intensity of the C=O stretch band from COOH groups (1705 cm^–1) suggest that a partial protonation of the carboxylate groups (COO^–+H⁺COOH) takes place upon the phase transition.     

Three New 1D Polymeric Zinc(II) and Cadmium(II) Azido Complexes Containing Noncoordinated Pyridine-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxide or 3-Picoline-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxide

Summary. The interaction of pyridine-N-oxide (pyNO) and 3-picoline-N-oxide (3picNO) with zinc(II) and cadmium(II) azides afforded complexes with empirical formulae Zn(N₃)₂(pyNO)(H₂O)₂, Zn(N₃)₂(3picNO)₂(H₂O)₂ and Cd(N₃)₂(3picNO)₂(H₂O)₂. The IR spectra of these complexes are measured and discussed. X-Ray single crystal diffraction showed for the first complex, which should be formulated as {[Zn(N₃)₂(H₂O)₂](pyNO)}_n, to consist of 1D chains of trans-[Zn(N₃)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, double end-on (-1,1) azido bridges and noncoordinated pyNO molecules. The other two complexes are isomorphous containing 1D trans-[M(N₃)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, double (-1,1) azido bridges, and hydrogen bonded noncoordinated 3picNO molecules. Each pyridine-N-oxide molecule forms three hydrogen bonds, whereas the 3-picoline-N-oxides form two hydrogen bonds. The metal centers exhibit distorted octahedral geometry.Received March 5, 2003; accepted May 15, 2003 Published online September 11,2003     

Synthesis of Spiro and Fused Five Membered <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Heterocycles from Alkylidenephosphoranes

Summary. Triketoindan-2-oxime reacted readily with ethoxycarbonylmethylene triphenylphosphorane to give mainly the corresponding spiro-pyrrole (38%) along with the fused 1-hydroxydihydropyrrole (14%), whereas the spiro-dimer (29%) was obtained from the reaction of the oxime with methoxycarbonylmethylenetriphenyl phosphorane in addition to the corresponding 1-hydroxydihydropyrrole (31%). Conversely, Wittig products, mono-olefin (52%) and diolefin (<7%) along with the reduced substrate (10%), were observed when the oxime was treated with a cyano ylide. The reactions of the oxime with allyl- and vinyl phosphonium salts proceeded under phase-transfer catalysis to afford fused oxazole (46%) and spiro[2]oxazole (17%), while with the latter the fused 1-hydroxypyrrole (55%) was produced.Received February 26, 2003; accepted (revised) March 19, 2003 Published online August 28, 2003     

Conformations and properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-Alkyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-(2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dialkylamino)-ethylmethylthiophosphonates

Conformers of the biologically active compounds CH₃P(O)(OR)(SCH₂CH₂NR ₂ ^′ ), where (I) R = i-C₄H₉, R′ = C₂H₅ and (II) R = C₂H₅, R′ = i-C₃H₇, are calculated within the AM1 level of theory. The elongated and twisted forms with maximum and minimum distances between a nitrogen atom and those of a phosphorus tetrahedron, respectively, and bearing a syn and anti oriented alkoxy group relative to a phosphoryl oxygen, are studied. It is found that the differences between the energy, electronic, and geometric parameters of these forms are apparent in differences between their properties, e.g., the ability to participate in complexation and protonation, reactions that to some extent simulate the interaction between a substance and a biological object.     

Diastereoselectivity of Chiral Nitrone 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Baylis-Hillman</Emphasis> Adducts

Summary. 1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of chiral nitrones to Baylis-Hillman adducts (-hydroxy--methylene esters) proceed with complete regioselectivity in good yields to afford the corresponding diastereomeric 3,5,5-trisubstituted isoxazolidines. Attack of the dipole from the less sterically hindered side of the dipolarophiles affords C-3/C-5 cis isoxazolidines as the predominant isomers. The strong preference for the C-3/C-5 cis isoxazolidines provided more sterically demanding O-tert-butyldimethylsilylsubstituted nitrone 2. Addition of Lewis acids accelerates the reaction and increases the portion of C-3/C-5 trans isoxazolidines. Microwave irradiation accelerates the reaction, but it produces only a small effect on the diastereoisomeric product ratio.     

Inducing Geometrical Changes of Biliverdin Chromophores by 23<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Methylation

Summary. Transfer of sterical hindrance from the periphery to the center of biliverdins by placing a methyl group at N23 and hydrogens at the -carbons in position 12 and 13 changes the conformation of the chromophore from (10syn,14syn) to (10anti,14anti). Additional reduction of sterical hindrance by placing a further hydrogen at the -carbon in position 8 induces a change in configuration from (9Z) to (9E).     

Synthesis of Side Chain Substituted 3-Butylisocoumarins and Absolute Configurations of Natural Isocoumarins from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia dracunculus</Emphasis>

Summary. A series of 3-hydroxy- and 3-bromobutyl-substituted isocoumarins was synthesized. The absolute configurations of three isocoumarin derivatives from Artemisia dracunculus, namely (–)-epoxyartemidin, (–)-2-methoxydihydroartemidin, and (+)-3-hydroxyartemidin were determined by chemical means via derivatization, kinetic racemate resolution (Horeau method), and comparison of the circular dichroism (CD) spectra.DeceasedReceived March 17, 2003; accepted March 19, 2003 Published online August 18, 2003     

Investigation of kernel oils of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus cerris</Emphasis>

The kernel oils of Quercus robur and Quercus cerris were obtained by Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether. Oil yields were found to be 5.2–5.6% and 4.3–4.8% for Q. robur and Q. cerris kernel, respectively (expressed in g per 100 g of dried plant material). The physical and chemical constants, unsaponifiable matter and total fatty acids were determined. The total fatty acid composition of oils was determined by GC in the methyl ester form. Considering the composition and content of fatty acids, the examined kernel oils were very similar. Seven fatty acid components were identified in both oils: palmitic, stearic, arachidic, palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, and -linolenic. In Q. robur and Q. cerris kernel oils the principal acids were oleic (44.3% and 43.0%, respectively) and linoleic (37.2% and 32.6%, respectively), followed by a significant amount of palmitic acid.Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 347–348, September–October, 2004.     

Synthesis and antiviralactivity of 2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">seco</Emphasis>-derivatives of betulonic acid

A lupane 2,3-seco-aldehydoacid that was oxidized further to the 2,3-seco-diacid was synthesized by Beckmann fragmentation of the α-hydroxyoxime of betulonic acid. It was found that both 2,3-seco-derivatives were capable of suppresing reproduction of Herpes type 1 and flu A viruses (EC₅₀ from 1.9 to 21.3 μM).     

Rate and Equilibrium Data for Substitution Reactions of [Pd(<Emphasis Type="Italic">dien</Emphasis>)Cl]<Superscript>+</Superscript> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-Cysteine and Glutathione in Aqueous Solution

Summary. The kinetics of the complex formation reactions between monofunctional palladium(II) complex, [Pd(dien)Cl]⁺, where dien is diethylene triamine or 1,5-diamino-3-azapentane, with L-cysteine and glutathione were studied in an aqueous 0.10M perchloric acid medium by using variable stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Second-order rate constants, <$>{k_2}^{298}<$>, were (3.89±0.02) 10²M^–1s^–1 for L-cysteine and (1.44±0.01) 10³M^–1s^–1 for glutathione. The negative entropies of activation support a strong contribution from bond formation in the transition state of the process. The hydrolysis of Pd^II complex gave the monohydroxo species, [Pd(dien)(OH)]⁺ and the dimer with a single hydroxo-bridge species, [Pd₂(dien)₂OH]³⁺. L-Cysteine and glutathione ligands form complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry and a dimer with a single ligand bridge. The formation constants of the complexes were determined, and their concentration distribution as a function of pH was evaluated.     

Secondary self-assembly behaviors of PEO-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-P<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>BA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PS triblock terpolymers in solution

A series of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS _x (x = 42, 84, 165) triblock terpolymers were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization and characterized by size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR. Their self-assemblies were conducted by a two-step hierarchical self-assembly method and a one-step dialysis method and the self-assembly behaviors were investigated. The morphologies, sizes, and size distributions of micelles produced by the self-assembly were determined by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The secondary self-assembled structure of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS _x obtained by the two-step hierarchical self-assembly could be controlled by tuning the length of PS block, the core forming block. The micelles were uniform with diameters of 20–25 nm and their size distributions, except for that of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₁₆₅, were narrow with particle size distribution indexes ranging from 0.014 to 0.246. The one-step dialysis of the triblock terpolymers produced vesicular micelles with distinct vesicle walls that exhibited similar thicknesses. The vesicles did not show significant aggregation. The size distribution of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₄₂ vesicle was the narrowest with a particle size distribution index value of 0.135. The PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₁₆₅ vesicles tended to overlap with each other.