Reactions of platinum complexes with 4,7-phenanthroline: crystal structures of mono- and binuclear platinum(II) complexes containing 4,7-phenanthroline

The reaction of a mixture of cis and trans-[PtCl₂(SMe₂)₂] with 4,7-phen (4,7-phen = 4,7-phenanthroline) in a molar ratio of 1 : 1 or 2 : 1 resulted in the formation of mono and binuclear complexes trans-[PtCl₂(SMe₂)(4,7-phen)] (1) and trans-[Pt₂Cl₄(SMe₂)₂(μ-4,7-phen)] (2), respectively. The products have been fully characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, HHCOSY, HSQC, HMBC, and DEPT-135 NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of 1 reveals that platinum has a slightly distorted square planar geometry. Both chlorides are trans with a deviation from linearity 177.66(3)°, while the N–Pt–S angle is 175.53(6)°. Similarly, the reaction of a mixture of cis and trans-[PtBr₂(SMe₂)₂] with 4,7-phen in a 1 : 1 or 2 : 1 mole ratio afforded the mono or binuclear complexes trans-[PtBr₂(SMe₂)(4,7-phen)] (3) and trans-[Pt₂Br₄(SMe₂)₂(μ-4,7-phen)] (4), respectively. The crystal structure of trans-[Pt₂Br₄(SMe₂)₂(μ-4,7-phen)].C₆H₆ reveals that 4,7-phen bridges between two platinum centers in a slightly distorted square planar arrangement of the platinum. In this structure, both bromides are trans, while the PtBr₂(SMe₂) moieties are syn to each other. NMR data of mono and binuclear complexes of platinum 1–4 show that the binuclear complexes exist in solution as a minor product, while the mononuclear complexes are major products.     

Phenanthrenoids from Juncus acutus L., new natural lipopolysaccharide-inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitors

The novel natural product juncutol (1), 1,4,7-trimethyl-8,9-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[def]phenanthrene-2,6-diol, along with the three related metabolites juncusol (2), dehydrojuncusol (3), and 6-hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-5-vinyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2-ol (4), were isolated from the rhizomes of Juncus acutus L. (Juncaceae) growing in Egypt. The structural identity of 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 2D NMR spectroscopy. The inhibitory effect of these natural products on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells was determined for the first time. The unprecedented symmetrical compound juncutol (1) was found to be the most potent inhibitor against the induction of the proinflammatory iNOS protein.     

Dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal in heterocyclic synthesis: Synthesis of polyfunctionally substituted pyridine derivatives as precursors to bicycles and polycycles

Polysubstituted pyridines 11a,c and 12 were prepared by the reaction of benzoylacetone with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal followed by treatment with cyanothioacetamide 9a , cyanoacetamide 9b and the anion of malononitrile dimmer 9c in dry DMF. When the reaction was carried out in ethanol as a solvent and piperidine as a base afforded 14a,b . Thienopyridines 16a,b were prepared by the reaction of pyridinethiones 11a and 14a with 2‐chloro‐N‐p‐tolyl‐acetamide ( 15 ). Further reaction of thienopyridines 16a,b with either DMFDMA or nitrous acid to gave 17a,b and 18a,b respectively. The reaction of pyridine derivative 11c with hydrazine and phenylhydrazine afforded the tricyclic compounds 19a,b .     

Thermal Degradation and Flammability Properties of Poly(propylene)/Carbon Nanotube Composites

Nanocomposites based on poly(propylene) and multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (up to 2 vol.‐%) were melt blended, yielding a good dispersion of nanotubes without using any organic treatment or additional additives. Carbon nanotubes are found to significantly enhance the thermal stability of poly(propylene) in nitrogen at high temperatures. Specifically, the nanotube additive greatly reduced the heat release rate of poly(propylene). They are found to be at least as effective a flame‐retardant as clay/poly(propylene) nanocomposites.     

Buffalo Yogurt Fortified with Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha) Essential Oils: New Insights into the Functional Properties and Extended Shelf Life

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha) essential oils (EOs) stand out for their benefits in terms of health and functionality. Buffalo set yogurt enriched with different concentrations of EOs (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9%) were investigated. The effects of addition on sensory, syneresis, antibacterial activity, and bioactive properties (total phenol content and antioxidant activity) of yogurt were studied. The most acceptable organoleptic properties of treated yogurt were those samples treated with Eucalyptus oil. The levels of syneresis were decreased by increasing the concentration of EOs. Moreover, the antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, and total phenolic content were enhanced by increasing the concentration of EOs. Yogurt with 0.9% Eucalyptus oil showed the highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. The same concentration of Eucalyptus oil showed the highest antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium (the inhibition zone was 20.63 mm) then E. coli (the inhibition zone was 19.43 mm). On the other hand, the highest antibacterial effect against L. monocytogene was for Myrrh oil-enriched yogurt by 0.9% and the inhibition zone was 19.21 mm. The obtained results showed that Eucalyptus and Myrrh oils can be applied to yogurt to improve its beneficial properties in terms of physical characteristics and for human health due to their antioxidant activity and phenolic materials.     

Über Umlagerungen bei der Cyclialkylierung von Arylpentanolen zu 2,3‐Dihydro‐1H‐inden‐Derivaten, 4. Mitteilung

On Rearrangements by Cyclialkylations of Arylpentanols to 2,3‐Dihydro‐1 H ‐indene Derivatives. Part 4. The Acid‐Catalyzed Cyclialkylation of 2,4‐Dimethyl‐2‐phenyl[3‐ ¹³ C]pentan‐3‐ol The cyclialkylation of 2,4‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl[3‐¹³C]pentan‐3‐ol ( 4 ) gives only 2,3‐dihydro‐1,1,2,3‐tetramethyl‐1H‐[3‐¹³C]indene ( 6 ) (cf. Scheme 2) and not a trace of the isotopomeric 2,3‐dihydro‐1,1,2,3‐tetramethyl‐1H‐[2‐¹³C]indene ( 5 ). The mechanism proposed in [3] for the cyclialkylation of 4 (cf. Scheme 2, Path A) has, therefore, to be abandoned. The mechanism of Scheme 2, Path B, is proposed and may be considered as definitively established.     

New Routes to Fused Isoquinolines

Treatment of 6,7‐diethoxy‐3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline ( 8 ) and its 1‐methyl derivative 12 with hydrazonoyl halides 10 in the presence of Et₃N in THF under reflux afforded the corresponding 5,6‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐triazolo[3,4‐a]isoquinolines 11 and 13 , respectively, in high yield (Schemes 2 and 3). The products are formed via regioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the intermediate nitrilimines 9 with the isoquinoline C=N bond. Reaction of 6,7‐diethoxy‐3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline‐1‐acetonitrile ( 4a ) with ethyl α‐cyanocinnamates 15 in the presence of piperidine in refluxing MeCN yielded benzo[a]quinolizin‐4‐ones 16 (Scheme 4). Under the same conditions, 12 and arylidene malononitriles 19 reacted to give benzo[a]quinolizin‐4‐imines 20 (Scheme 5). Instead of 15 and 19 , mixtures of an aromatic aldehyde, and ethyl cyanoacetate or malononitrile, respectively, can be used in a one‐pot reaction.     

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: direct toxicological screening and analysis of illicit Ecstasy tablets

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) was used as a simple and rapid way to analyze drug tablets and powders without sample preparation. Experiments were performed with a home-made DESI source coupled to a triple-quadrupole linear-ion trap (QqQ(LIT)) mass spectrometer. Twenty-one commercial drugs as well as some illicit Ecstasy tablets and powders were analyzed. MS spectra almost exclusively showed the protonated or deprotonated ion of the drug after directing the pneumatically assisted electrospray onto the tablet's surface. With some tablets, inhomogeneity of the surface resulted in different spectra depending on the spot analyzed, thus showing that DESI could be used for imaging. Directly triggered MS/MS spectra were used for confirmatory analysis, with analysis times often below 10 s per tablet. For illicit Ecstasy tablets, DESI-MS, GC/MS and LC/MS analyses provided similar qualitative results for the main analytes. With MS/MS spectra library comparison or exact mass measurements, this technique could become very powerful for the rapid analysis of unknown tablets and shows the great potential of desorption techniques as an alternative to solution-based analysis.     

Spectrophotometric determination of acyclovir and ribavirin in their dosage forms

Two simple, accurate, and reliable spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of 2 antiviral drugs, acyclovir (ACV) and ribavirin (RBV), in their pharmaceutical formulations. These methods are based on oxidation of the 2 drugs with either cerium (IV) ammonium sulfate (Method A) or potassium persulfate (Method B). The products of oxidation in both methods are coupled with 3-methylbenzothiazolin 2-one hydrazone, producing a deep blue color with a maximum absorption wavelength at 630 nm. In Method A, the absorbance-concentration plots were linear over the ranges of 5-50 and 10-60 microg/mL with detection limits of 0.18 microg/mL (8 x 10(-7) M) and 0.63 microg/mL (2.58 x 10(-6) M) for ACV and RBV, respectively. In Method B, the ranges were 5-45 and 20-50 microg/mL with detection limits of 0.11 microg/mL (4.88 x 10(-7) M) and 1.40 microg/mL (5.73 x 10(-6) M) for the 2 drugs, respectively. The molar absorptivities were 4.1 x 10(3) and 3.65 x 10(3) L/mol/cm in Method A and 5.03 x 10(3) and 3.97 x 10(3) L/mol/cm in Method B for the 2 drugs, respectively. The proposed methods were applied successfully for the determination of the 2 drugs in their pharmaceutical formulations. The percentage recoveries +/- standard deviation were 99.57 +/- 0.86 and 100.82 +/- 0.46 for ACV; 99.41 +/- 1.08 and 100.35 +/- 1.03 for RBV. The results obtained were compared statistically with those given by official methods and showed no significant differences regarding accuracy and precision.     

VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF A BEAM WITH EMBEDDED SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY WIRES

In this study, analytical relations for evaluating the exact solution of natural fre- quency and mode shape of beams with embedded shape memory alloy （SMA） wires are presented. Beams are modeled according to Euler-Bernoulli, Timoshenko and third order beam （Reddy） the- ories. A relation is obtained for determining the effect of axial load generated by the recovery action of pre-strained SMA wires. By defining some dimensionless quantities~ the effect of different me- chanical properties on the frequencies and mode shapes of the system are carefully examined. The effect of axial load generated by SMA wires with buckling load and frequency jump is accurately studied.