Stereoselective synthesis of (3R,4S,5S,9S)-3,5,9-trihydroxy-4-methylundecanoic acid δ-lactone

A stereoselective synthesis of the pentaketide lactone (3R,4S,5S,9S)-3,5,9-trihydroxy-4-methylundecanoic acid δ-lactone has been achieved.     

Hydroxymethylation and cyanoethylation of nitroimidazoles

A series of nitroimidazoles were subjected to hydroxymethylations under a variety of conditions. Hydroxymethylation of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl), 1-(2-acetoxyethyl), and 1-(2-chloroethyl) substituted 5-nitroimidazoles with paraformaldehyde in dimethyl sulfoxide yielded the respective 2-hydroxymethyl analogs (5–7). However, attempts to hydroxymethylate 1-(2-hydroxyethyl), 1-(2-acetoxyethyl), 1-(2-cyanoethyl) substituted 4-nitroimidazoles and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-nitroimidazole were unsuccessful. Treatment of 1-(2-acetoxyethyl)-5-nitro-2-imidazolecar-baldehyde(10) with hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid afforded a mixture of corresponding 2-carbonitrile (12) and 2-(N-hydroxy)carboximidamide (13). Hydrolysis of 10 with ethanolic hydrochloric acid yielded 8-ethoxy-5,6-dihydro-3-nitro-8H-imidazo[2,1-c] [1,4]oxazine (11) which, on subsequent reaction with hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid, afforded 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-nitroimidazole-2-(N-hydroxy)carboximidamide (15). Reaction of 4(5)-nitroimidazole with chloropropionitrile produced a mixture of the isomeric 1-(2-cyanoethyl) substituted 4- and 5-nitroimidazoles. Treatment of 2,4(5)-dinitroímidazole with chloropropionitrile afforded a mixture of 4(5)-chloro-5(4)-nitroimidazole and 1-(2-cyanoethyl)-4-nitro-5-chloroimidazoIe. Reaction of nitroimidazoles with acrylonitrile in the presence of Triton B yielded the corresponding 1-(2-cyanoethyl) substituted derivatives.     

A simple and reliable semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography technique for the isolation of marker-grade hyperforin from Hypericum perforatum L extract

The present work describes isolation of bioactive lipophilic constituent [namely, hyperforin from St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.)], of approximately 98% purity by semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography (LC). The extraction, isolation, and analysis of the collected compound is performed without the use of antioxidants and inert gas atmospheres at all the stages. Hyperforin, separated isocratically on a 12microm semiprep column, is obtained in high purity, lyophilized after the removal of the organic phase, and preserved at a low temperature. The purity of the collected marker compound is estimated by the use of LC-mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques.     

Core modified oxybenziporphyrins: new aromatic ligands for metal-carbon bond activation

Successful syntheses of two new aromatic core modified oxybenziporphyrins by a simple '3 + 1' methodology and the first aromatic core modified oxybenziporphyrin palladium complex are reported.     

A novel tetracyclic ring system. 10H-tetrazolo[5′,1′:3,4][1,2,4]triazino[5,6-b]indole

The reaction of 3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazino[5,6-b]indole with nitrous acid affords a novel tetracyclic ring system: 10H-tetrazolo[5′,1′:3,4][1,2,4]triazino[5,6-b]indole. The mode of cyclization has been discussed.     

A new sphingolipid from the gorgonian Junceella juncea of the Indian Ocean

A new sphingolipid, (2S,3R,4E)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-[(nonadecanoyl) amino]-octadec-4-ene (1) along with ubiquitous batyl alcohol is isolated from the gorgonian, Junceella juncea Pallas (Gorgonaceae) of the Indian Ocean. The structure of 1 is determined on the basis of 1H- and 13C-NMR, COSY, FABMS, and GC-EIMS experiments.     

Novel Synthesis of Mafenide and Other Amino Sulfonamides by Electrochemical Reduction of Cyano Sulfonamides

Both aliphatic and aromatic amino sulfonamides such as mafenide ( 1a ) were synthesized in good yields (80–86%) by direct electrochemical hydrogenation of the corresponding nitriles in an undivided cell containing a Ni cathode, a Pt anode, and Raney Ni as catalyst (Table 1). The reaction can be performed without external supply of pressurized gas by in situ generation of H₂. Slightly elevated temperatures (45°) and low current densities (10 mA/cm²) are favorable conditions for this type of electrochemical nitrile hydrogenation. Our synthetic protocol does not require high‐pressure equipment or chemical hazards, is environmentally very friendly, and more economical than traditional methods. The concentration of adsorbed H^. radicals on the catalyst surface can be easily controlled by adjusting the electric potential, which may lead to improved product selectivity and, at the same time, reduces the risk of explosion and fire.     

Laboratory investigation of biodegradability of a polyurethane foam under anaerobic conditions

Polyurethane (PU) foams can be used in many remediation applications as an isolation material to prevent the release of hazardous materials into the environment. The integrity of a PU foam was investigated in this study using short-term accelerated laboratory experiments including bioavailability assays, soil burial experiments, and accelerated bioreactors to determine the fate of PU foam in the soil where anaerobic processes are dominant. The experimental results have shown that the studied PU foam is likely not biodegradable under anaerobic conditions. Neither weight loss nor a change in the tensile strength of the PU material after biological exposure was observed. The FT-IR chemical signature of the PU foams was also nearly identical before and after biological exposure. The composition of the PU material (aromatic polyester and polyether PU) used in this study could have played a significant role in its resistance to microbial attack during the short-term accelerated experiments.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-amino-propan-1-ol based poly(ether imine) dendrimers

A general synthetic strategy for the rapid construction of poly(ether imine) dendrons and dendrimers with a nitrogen core, originating from 3-amino-propan-1-ol, is described. A new trifunctional monomer, namely, 3-[bis-(3-hydroxypropyl)amino]propan-1-ol, was used in a divergent synthesis of dendrimers up to the third generation. This method permitted installation of, either alcohol, amine, nitrile, ester or carboxylic acid groups at the peripheries the dendrimers. Cytotoxicity studies on water-soluble carboxylic acid terminated dendrimers were conducted and these studies revealed that poly(ether imine) dendrimers were non-toxic. These results illustrate that poly(ether imine) dendrimers are useful for biological studies.     

meso-substituted aromatic 34pi core-modified octaphyrins: syntheses,characterization and anion binding properties

Modified octaphyrins with 34pi electrons have been synthesized and characterized following a simple synthetic methodology. An acid-catalyzed alpha,alpha coupling of tetrapyrranes containing furan, thiophene and selenophene rings resulted in the formation of the respective octaphyrins in relatively good yield. Solution studies by (1)H NMR and 2D NMR methods and single crystal Xray structural characterization reveal an almost flat structure with two heterocyclic rings inverted. Specifically, in 14 two selenophene rings (one on each biselenophene unit) are inverted while in 15 two furan rings (one on each bifuran unit) are inverted when the meso substituent are mesityl groups. On changing the mesityl substituent to m-xylyl group as in 19, the location of ring inversion shifts to pyrrole rings (one on each bipyrrole unit) indicating the dependence of structure on the meso substituents. UV/Vis studies, both in freebase and protonated forms reveal typical porphyrinic character and the aromatic nature of the octaphyrins. The Deltadelta values evaluated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy also support their aromatic nature. The protonated forms of octaphyrins bind TFA anion in a 1:2 ratio. The TFA anions are located one above and below the plane of the octaphyrin macrocycle and they are held by weak electrostatic NH-O interactions similar to that observed for protonated rubyrins. However, in the present case, there is an additional non-electrostatic CH-O interaction involving beta-CH of the inverted heterocyclic ring and the carbonyl oxygen of the TFA. Furthermore, inter molecular interactions between the Cbond;H of the meso-mesityl group and the fluorine of CF(3) group of bound TFA leads to the formation of one-dimensional supramolecular arrays with interplanar distance of 13 A between two octaphyrins.