Two New Triterpene Saponins from the Seed Residue of Hippophae rhamnoides L.

Two new triterpene saponins, named hippophosides E and F ( 1 and 2 , resp.), together with two known compounds, were isolated from the seed residue of Hippophae rhamnoides L. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR and HR‐MS experiments, and by comparison with literature data.     

Design,Synthesis, and Herbicidal Evaluation of Novel Uracil Derivatives Containing 1,3,4‐Thiadiazolyl Moiety

Uracil derivatives, such as commercial herbicides butafenacil and benzfendizone, have been identified as inhibitors of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox, EC 1.3.3.4), one of the most important action targets of herbicides. In order to search for novel Protox inhibitors with high efficacy, broad‐spectrum activity, and safety to crops, commercially herbicide butafenacil was used as lead compound for further optimization; a series of title compounds 8a , 8b , 8c , 8d , 8e , 8f , 8g , 8h , 8i , 8j , 8k , 8l , 8m , 8n were designed and synthesized by introducing 1,3,4‐thiadiazole moiety into the uracil skeleton. The preliminary bioassays (in vitro) indicated that most of the target compounds displayed better inhibition against Echinochloa crus‐galli than Brassica campestris. The greenhouse bioassay results indicated that most of the compounds tested exhibited good‐to‐excellent herbicidal activities against B. campestris, A. retroflexus, E. crusgalli, and D. sanguinalis in pre‐emergence treatment at a dose of 1500 g/ha, for example, compound 8d showed 100% inhibition against the four plants tested in pre‐emergence treatment at a dose of 1500 g/ha. So, these types of skeletons can be used as valuable lead compounds for the development of a pre‐emergent herbicide.     

Influence of substrate temperature and N2/Ar flow ratio on the stoichiometry,structure and hardness of TaNx coatings deposited by DC reactive sputtering

The effect of substrate temperature and N2/Ar flow ratio on the stoichiometry, structure and hardness of TaN_x coatings prepared on (111) Si substrates by DC reactive sputtering was investigated. For the structural, chemical and morphological analysis, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Auger electron scanning and atomic force microscopy were respectively used. Hardness values of thin films were determined using the work of indentation model from nanoindentation measurements. TaN stoichiometric coatings were obtained for samples deposited at room temperature. The stoichiometric TaN phase was not obtained by increasing the temperature up to 773 K, even when increasing the N₂/Ar flow ratio. Even when a saturation in nitrogen content was achieved, nitrogen vacancies are still present in those samples. For coatings prepared at 773 K and low N₂/Ar flow ratio, a phase mixture between TaN_x and cubic α‐Ta was observed, while a cubic structure δ‐TaN was formed by increasing the N₂/Ar flow ratio. A maximum in hardness and (38 GPa) was obtained for the sample deposited at 773 K and a N₂/Ar flow ratio of 0.2, which presented a δ‐TaN cubic crystalline structure and a roughness value of 1.6 nm. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrodes/Electrolyte Interfaces in the Presence of a Surface‐Modified Photopolymer Electrolyte: Application in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Since hundreds of studies on photoanodes and cathodes show that the electrode/electrolyte interfaces represent a key aspect at the base of dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performances, it is reported here that these interfaces can be managed by a smart design of the spatial composition of quasi‐solid electrolytes. By means of a cheap, rapid, and green process of photoinduced polymerization, composition‐tailored polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) with siloxane‐enriched surfaces are prepared, and their properties are thoroughly described. When assembled in DSSCs, the interfacial action promoted by the composition‐tailored PEMs enhances the photocurrent and fill factor values, thus increasing the global photovoltaic conversion efficiency with respect to the non‐modified PEMs. Moreover, the presence of the siloxane‐chain‐enriched surface increases the hydrophobicity and reduces the water vapor permeation into the device, thus enhancing the cell′s durability.     

Effect of the π Bridge and Acceptor on Intramolecular Charge Transfer in Push–Pull Cationic Chromophores: An Ultrafast Spectroscopic and TD‐DFT Computational Study

Three (donor–π–acceptor)⁺ systems with a methyl pyridinium or quinolinium as the electron‐deficient group, a dimethyl amino as the electron‐donor group, and an ethylene or butadiene group as the spacer have been investigated in a joint spectroscopic and TD‐DFT computational study. A negative solvatochromism has been revealed in the absorption spectra, which implies a solution color change, and interpreted by considering the variation in the permanent dipole moment modulus and orientation upon photoexcitation. The fluorescence efficiency decreases upon increasing solvent polarity, in agreement with the excited‐state optimized geometries (planar in low‐polarity media and twisted in high‐polarity media). Femtosecond transient absorption has revealed the occurrence of a fast photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and the molecular factors that determine an efficient ICT. Considering the crucial role of the ICT in tuning the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, these compounds can be considered promising NLO materials.     

Fungistatic activity of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. bark extracts against fungal plant pathogens and investigation on mechanism of action in Botrytis cinerea

Plant-derived compounds are emerging as an alternative choice to synthetic fungicides. Chloroform–methanol extract, obtained from the bark of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium, a member of Rutaceae, showed a fungistatic effect on Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Clonostachys rosea, when added to the growth medium at different concentrations. A fraction obtained by gel separation and containing the alkaloid O-Methylcapaurine showed significant fungistatic effect against B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum, two of the most destructive phytopathogenic fungi. The underlying mechanism of such an inhibition was further investigated in B. cinerea, a fungus highly prone to develop fungicide resistance, by analysing the expression levels of a set of genes (BcatrB, P450, CYP51 and TOR). O-Methylcapaurine inhibited the expression of all the analysed genes. In particular, the expression of BcatrB gene, encoding a membrane drug transporter involved in the resistance to a wide range of xenobiotic compounds, was strongly inhibited (91%).     

Practical method for the rapid screening of xanthine oxidase inhibitors in herbal extracts by high‐performance liquid chromatography based on on‐line precolumn enzymatic reaction

A high‐performance liquid chromatography method with on‐line precolumn enzymatic reaction for the screening of xanthine oxidase inhibitors in natural extracts was developed. In this method, the enzymatic reaction occurred at the capillary inlet during a predetermined waiting period, after which the reaction product, uric acid, was separated and detected by liquid chromatography using ultraviolet absorption at 295 nm. Enzyme inhibition can be read out directly from the reduced peak area of uric acid in comparison to a reference chromatogram obtained in the absence of any inhibitor. In the present study, the availability of on‐line precolumn enzymatic reaction with ultraviolet detection was firstly evaluated by determining the inhibitory mechanism and IC₅₀ values of allopurinol, a commercially available positive drug. Then, the newly developed method was applied to screening of ten natural extracts from traditional Chinese medicine and as a result, the extract of Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim was found to be most positive for xanthine oxidase inhibition. The results obtained were compared with those obtained by offline enzyme assay and the effectiveness of the present method was confirmed. A rapid, low‐cost, and fully automated method for xanthine oxidase inhibitor screening was proposed.