Pinacol Formation and Reduction of Aromatic Carbonyls with Magnesium–Methanol at Ambient Temperature

A simple and inexpensive procedure for the pinacol formation of aromatic aldehydes and reduction of aromatic ketones to the corresponding alcohols with magnesium in dry methanol at ambient temperature is reported. The pinacol formation and reduction are proposed to be proceeding by SET from magnesium.     

A new access to polyhydroxy piperidines of the azasugar class: synthesis and glycosidase inhibition studies

A new synthetic strategy has been devised to access a variety of polyhydroxylated piperidines belonging to the azasugar class of glycosidase inhibitors. The key precursor (3aR, 7aR)-5-benzyl-2,2-dimethyl-7-methylenehexahydro[1,3]dioxo[4,5-c]pyridine is obtained by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) cyclization of the corresponding alpha-trimethylsilylmethylamine radical cation to the tethered acetylene functionality. The new molecules have been evaluated for inhibitory properties for certain beta-glycosidases and have been found to be moderate to weak inhibitors of the enzymes under study.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and thermal studies on ruthenium(III), rhodium(III) and iridium(III) complexes with hydrazones derived from 2,6-diacetylpyridine and different aromatic hydrazides

Summary The reactions of MCl₃·3H₂O (M=Ru, Rh or Ir) with hydrazones have been studied by three different methods and complexes of the types [M(LH₂)(H₂O)₂]Cl₃, [M(L)Cl(H₂O)] and [M(LH₂)Cl₂]Cl·H₂O have been isolated. Tentative structural conclusions are drawn for these products based upon elemental analysis, electrical conductance, magnetic moment, and i.r. and¹H n.m.r. data. The thermal stability and mode of decomposition for the complexes have been studied by t.g.a., d.t.g. and d.s.c. techniques.     

PhSeSiR(3)-Catalyzed Group Transfer Radical Reactions

A novel design for initiating radical-based chemistry in a catalytic fashion is described. The design of the concept is based on the phenylselenyl group transfer reaction from alkyl phenyl selenides by utilizing PhSeSiR(3) (1) as a catalytic reagent. The reaction is initiated by the homolytic cleavage of -C-Se- bond of an alkyl phenyl selenide by the in situ generated alkylsilyl radical (R(3)Si(*)), obtained by the mesolysis of PhSeSiR(3)](*)(-)( )()(1(*)(-)). The oxidative dimerization of counteranion PhSe(-) to PhSeSePh functions as radical terminator. The generation of 1(*)(-) is achieved by the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) promoted reductive activation of 1 through a photosystem comprising of a visible-light (410 nm)-absorbing electron rich DMA as an electron donor and ascorbic acid as a co-oxidant (Figure 1). The optimum mole ratio between the catalyst 1 and alkyl phenyl selenides for successful reaction is established to be 1:10. The generality of the concept is demonstrated by carrying out variety of radical reactions such as cyclization (10, 15-18), intermolecular addition (25), and tandem annulations (32).     

UVB-induced photodamage to phycobilisomes of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942

The effect of UVB irradiation on the phycobilisomes (PBSs) of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 cells was studied. The sucrose density-gradient-isolated PBSs from in vivo UVB-treated (280–320 nm) cells showed a strong decrease in β-phycocyanin (βPC) and -phycocyanin (PC) polypeptides. In addition to a decrease in the linker polypeptides LCM 75 (linker connecting the core to the thylakoid membranes), LR 33 (linker in the rod structure), LRC 31.5 (linker connecting the rod to the core) and LRC 29. In vitro UVB treatment of gradient-isolated intact PBSs for 1 h had no effect on any of the constituent polypeptides, and only after 2 h was a degradation of LCM 75 and LR 33 and a decrease in βPC evident. Further investigation of phycobiliproteins (4 h of UVB irradiation) using polyclonal antibody directed against purified whole PBSs revealed that, in vivo, there was a gradual decline in the levels of LCM 75, LR 33, LRC 31.5, LRC 29, βPC and PC.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL INACTIVATION OF SINGLE-STRANDED VIRAL DNA IN THE PRESENCE OF UROCANIC ACID*

Abstract— Urocanic acid (UA) has previously been shown to react photochemically in vitro with N,N-dimethylthymine. In this study, mixtures of UA and phage G4 single-stranded DNA have been irradiated with UV light (λ≥ 254 nm) and the DNA assayed for infectivity. At the concentrations of UA employed (typically 5.4 × 10^-3 M ) there is extensive absorption of the incident light by the UA. The DNA is inactivated at rates greater than that predicted from the calculated shielding by UA, indicating that photosensitization is occurring. Photosensitization is also indicated by the fact that at high UA concentrations the inactivation rate does not decrease to zero but approaches a residual value. Furthermore, the ability to photoreactivate DNA that has been photolyzed in the presence of UA is much reduced relative to that observed upon photolysis of the DNA alone. UA is therefore responsible for the production of UV-induced DNA lesions, which are resistant to photoreactivation.
A general analysis of the effects of photosensitization on the kinetics of UV inactivation is presented in an appendix.     

Force constants,coriolis coupling constants and mean amplitudes of vibration of GaF63− and FeF63−

The force constants, Coriolis coupling constants and mean amplitudes of vibration at 0, 298.16 and 500 K for GaF₆^3?FeF₆^3? have been reported for the first time employing recent vibrational data. The results are discussed in the light of available information.     

4-(Arylaminothiocarbonyl)-1-(1-o-methoxyphenylcarbamido)-ethylpiperazines as anticonvulsants

Several 4-(arylaminothiocarbonyl)-1-(1-o-methoxyphenylcarbamido)-ethylpiperazines were synthesized and evaluated for their anticonvulsant activity against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in mice. The ability of substituted piperazines to inhibit in vitro respiratory activity of rat brain homogenates was also determined to study their structure-activity relationship.     

Copper(II) ion sensor based on electropolymerized undoped conducting polymers

A solid state copper(II) ion sensor is reported based on the application of electropolymerized undoped (neutral) polycarbazole (PCz) and polyindole (PIn) modified electrodes. The new sensor shows high selectivity to Cu²⁺ ions with a detection limit of 10^–5 M. PCz and PIn are formed respectively by the anodic oxidation of 50 mM carbazole and 5 mM indole monomers in dichloromethane containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate on a platinum electrode using a single compartment cell. Potentiostatic polymerization of both the monomers are carried out at 1.3 V and 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. Perchlorate ions were electrochemically removed from the polymer films by applying – 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Polymer-coated electrodes are incubated in 1 M KCl solution for 8 h followed by incubation in distilled water for 2 h before using as a metal ion sensor. The undoped PCz and PIn electrodes were found to be highly selective and sensitive for Cu²⁺ ions with little selectivity for Pb²⁺ and negligible response towards Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ or Zn²⁺. Potentiometric responses for Cu²⁺ ions are recorded for both the sensor electrodes together with a double-junction Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Calibration curves for Cu²⁺ are reported for both ion sensors. The polymer-modified electrodes were found to be stable for several weeks. Electronic Publication     

A review on thiocyanate methods for the estimation of molybdenum by molecular absorption spectroscopy

A review is presented on thiocyanate methods for the estimation of molybdenum in a wide variety of samples. They include conventional thiocyanate methods in which molybdenum forms an orange red complex with the thiocyanate ions and improved thiocyanate methods where the sensitivity is increased through the formation of ternary ion association complex.