The potent anticancer compound ecteinascidin‐743 (ET‐743) as its 2‐propanol disolvate

Single crystals of the title compound, C₃₉H₄₃N₃O₁₁S·2C₃H₈O, have been obtained from 2‐propanol/water solutions. ET‐743 belongs to the group of ecteinascidins (ETs), which is a family of novel marine tetra­hydro­iso­quinoline derivatives characterized by a monobridged pentacyclic skeleton. Three large princi­pal planar groups are observed in the three‐dimensional structure of the ET‐743 mol­ecule, corresponding to three aromatic units which are nearly perpendicular to each other. In the crystal, the methoxy group on the large fused ring system adopts an anti conformation with respect to the S atom, thus presenting the same conformation as that found in solution.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Antimalarial Activity of Some Enantiomerically Pure,cis-fused cyclopenteno-1,2,4-trioxanes

Two pairs of enantiomerically pure cis-fused cyclopenteno-1,2,4-trioxanes ( 7 , ent- 7 and 8 , ent- 8 ) are prepared (Schemes 1–3). Their identities are established by dye-sensitized photo-oxygenation of ent- 7 and 8 , ent- 8 to the allylichydroperxides, reduction to the corresponding alcohols, and conversion to the (1S)-camphanates (Scheme 4), the structures of which are determined by X-ray analysis. The dynamic properties of ent- 7 are investigated by NMR spectroscopy and PM3 calculations. Evidence for an easily accessible twist-boat conformation is obtained. The in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activities of 7 , ent- 7,8 , and ent- 8 as well as those of the racemic mixtures are evaluated against Plasmodium falciparum, P. berghei, and P. yoelii. No correlation is observed between configuration and activity. Racemates and pure enantiomers have commensurate activities. The mode of action on the intraerythrocytic parasite is rationalized in terms of close docking by the twist-boat conformer of the trioxane on the surface of a molecule of heme, single-electron transfer to the O? O σ* orbital, and scission to the acetal radical which then irreversibly isomerizes to a C-centered radical, the ultimate lethal agent (Scheme 5).     

Inulin-containing biomass for ethanol production

The use of stalks instead of tubers as a source of carbohydrates for ethanol production has been investigated. The inulin present in the stalks of Jerusalem artichoke was extracted with water and the effect of solid-liquid ratio, temperature, and acid addition was studied and optimized in order to attain a high-fructose fermentable extract. The maximum extraction efficiency (corresponding to 35 g/L) of soluble sugars was obtained at 1/6 solidliquid ratio. Fermentations of hydrolyzed extracts by baker's yeast and direct fermentation by an inulinease activity yeast were also performed and the potential to use this feedstock for bioethanol production assessed. The results show that the carbohydrates derived from Jerusalem artichoke stalks can be converted efficiently to ethanol by acidic hydrolysis followed by fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or by direct fermentation of inulin using Kluyveromyces marxianus strains. In this last case about 30 h to complete fermentation was required in comparison with 8–9 h obtained in experiments with S. cerevisiae growth on acid extracted juices.     

Electrochemical characterization of polyelectrolyte/gold nanoparticle multilayers self-assembled on gold electrodes

Polyelectrolyte/gold nanoparticle multilayers composed of poly(l-lysine) (pLys) and mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were built up using the electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly technique upon a gold electrode modified with a first layer of MSA. The assemblies were characterized using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic and square-wave voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Charge transport through the multilayer was studied experimentally as well as theoretically by using two different redox pairs [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) and [Ru(NH(3))(6)](3+/2+). This paper reports a large sensitivity to the charge of the outermost layer for the permeability of these assemblies to the probe ions. With the former redox pair, dramatic changes in the impedance response were obtained for thin multilayers each time a new layer was deposited. In the latter case, the multilayer behaves as a conductor exhibiting a strikingly lower impedance response, the electric current being enhanced as more layers are added for Au NP terminated multilayers. These results are interpreted quite satisfactorily by means of a capillary membrane model that encompasses the wide variety of behaviors observed. It is concluded that nonlinear slow diffusion through defects (pinholes) in the multilayer is the governing mechanism for the [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) species, whereas electron transfer through the Au NPs is the dominant mechanism in the case of the [Ru(NH(3))(6)](3+/2+) pair.     

Ab initio interaction and spectral properties of CO+–He

In this contribution, ab initio methods have been used to study the open-shell CO⁺–He van der Waals (vdW) complex in both the ground and the first Π excited electronic state. Calculations were performed at the UCCSD(T) level of theory in the framework of the supermolecule approach using the cc-pVTZ basis set complemented with a set of standard bond functions in the middle of the vdW bond. Calculations predict a most-stable equilibrium conformation with β e=45°, R _e =2.85 Å and D _e =275 cm^?1 for the ground CO⁺(X²Σ)–He(¹S) state and β e=90°, R _e =2.70 Å and D _e =218 cm^?1 for the excited CO ⁺(A²Π)–He(¹S) state. The dipole moment μ and independent components of the field polarizability α of the CO ⁺–He vdW complex have been studied at the calculated equilibrium geometry of these states. The vertical excitation energies from the ground CO⁺(X ²Σ)–He(¹S) to the excited CO⁺(A²Π)–He (¹S) electronic state and corresponding shifts in the fluorescent spectrum with respect to the isolated CO⁺ molecule are also presented     

Total syntheses of variolin B and deoxyvariolin B

Two alternative synthetic routes have been developed for the preparation of variolin B and deoxyvariolin B. The strategy is based on the preparation of the core tricyclic ring common to all variolins, pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine, followed by a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction to give the tetracyclic system.     

Ethanol production from olive oil extraction residue pretreated with hot water

The olive pulp fraction contained in the residue generated in olive oil extraction by a two-step centrifugation process can be upgraded by using the cellulose fraction to produce ethanol and recovering high value phenols (tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol). Olive pulp was pretreated in a laboratory scale stirred autoclave at different temperatures (150–250°C). Pretreatment was evaluated regarding cellulose recovery, enzymatic hydrolysis effectiveness ethanol production by a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (SSF), and phenols recovery in the filtrate. The pretreatment of olive pulp using water at temperatures between 200°C and 250°C enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis. Maximum ethanol production (11.9 g/L) was obtained after pretreating pulp at 210°C in a SSF fed-batch procedure. Maximum hydroxytyrosol recovery was obtained in the liquid fraction when pretreated at 230°C.     

Characterization of bovine surfactant proteins B and C by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Bovine surfactant proteins B (SP-B) and C (SP-C) were analyzed by nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nano-ESI-MS). The observed molecular masses showed discrepancies compared to the calculated molecular masses using the published amino acid sequences. The number of cysteine residues in the published bovine SP-B amino acid sequences also failed to match the observed mass shift upon reduction of the SP-B dimer. To determine the amino acid sequences of two proteins, SP-B was first digested with trypsin and analyzed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), while SP-C was analyzed by MS/MS in its intact form. The amino acid sequence of bovine SP-B determined here matches the observed molecular mass. The sequence is almost identical to the sheep SP-B except for two amino acid residues, consistent with the proximity of the two species. The correct sequence contains seven cysteine residues. Bovine SP-B exists as dimers and all cysteines are oxidized to form disulfide bonds in physiological conditions, which is in agreement with the observed mass shift upon reduction of the SP-B dimer. These cysteine residues are completely conserved across all species indicating their importance for the biological functions of this surfactant protein. The sequence of SP-C determined here also reveals an L to V substitution at its position 22 compared with the published bovine SP-B sequence.     

Ethanol Production from the Organic Fraction Obtained After Thermal Pretreatment of Municipal Solid Waste

In this work, the use of organic fraction from municipal solid waste (MSW) as substrate for ethanol production based on enzymatic hydrolysis was evaluated. MSW was subjected to a thermal pretreatment (active hygienization) at 160?°C from 5 to 50 min. The organic fiber obtained after 30 min was used as substrate in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) and fed-batch SSF process using cellulases and amylases. In a fed-batch mode with 25% (w/w) substrate loading, final ethanol concentration of 30 g/L was achieved (60% of theoretical). In these conditions, more than 160 L of ethanol per ton of dry matter could be produced from the organic fraction of MSW.     

Air-coupled MUMPs capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers with resonant cavities

This work reports performance improvements of air-coupled capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) using resonant cavities. In order to perform this work, we have designed and manufactured a CMUT employing multi-user microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processes (MUMPs). The transducer was designed using Helmholtz resonator principles. This was characterised by the dimensions of the cavity and several acoustic ports, which had the form of holes in the CMUT plate. The MUMPs process has the advantage of being low cost which allows the manufacture of economic prototypes. In this paper we show the effects of the resonant cavities and acoustic ports in CMUTs using laser Doppler vibrometry and acoustical measurements. We also use Finite Element (FE) simulations in order to support experimental measurements. The results show that it is possible to enhance the output pressure and bandwidth in air by tuning the resonance frequency of the plate (f_p) with that of the Helmholtz resonator (f_H). The experimental measurements show the plate resonance along with an additional resonance in the output pressure spectrum. This appears due to the effect of the new resonant cavities in the transducer. FE simulations show an increase of 11 dB in the output pressure with respect to that of a theoretical vacuum-sealed cavity MUMPs CMUT by properly tuning the transducer. The bandwidth has been also analyzed by calculating the mechanical Q factor of the tuned CMUT. This has been estimated as 4.5 compared with 7.75 for the vacuum-sealed cavity MUMPs CMUT.