Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Iris Species Growing in Iraqi Kurdistan and Phenolic Constituents of the Traditional Plant Iris postii

A dozen Iris species (Iridaceae) are considered traditional remedies in Kurdistan, especially for treating inflammations. Phytochemical studies are still scarce. The information reported in the literature about Iris species growing in Kurdistan has been summarized in the first part of this paper, although, except for Iris persica, investigations have been performed on vegetal samples collected in countries different from Kurdistan. In the second part of the work, we have investigated, for the first time, the contents of the methanolic extracts of Iris postii aerial parts and rhizomes that were collected in Kurdistan. Both extracts exhibited a significant dose-dependent free radical scavenging and total antioxidant activities, comparable to those of ascorbic acid. Medium-pressure liquid chromatographic separations of the two extracts afforded l-tryptophan, androsin, isovitexin, swertisin, and 2″-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl swertisin from the aerial parts, whereas ε-viniferin, trans-resveratrol 3,4′-O-di-β-d-glucopyranoside, and isotectorigenin were isolated from the rhizomes. This is the first finding of the last three metabolites from an Iris species. The various remarkable biological activities of isolated compounds scientifically sustain the traditional use of I. postii as a medicinal plant.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of cyanide- and phenolate-bridged [M(III)NiII]2 tetranuclear complexes (M=Fe and Cr)

The binuclear complex NiII2L(H2O)2(ClO4)2(1) and the neutral tetranuclear bimetallic compounds [{M(III)(phen)(CN)4}2{NiII2L(H2O)2}].2CH3CN with M=Fe (2) and Cr (3)[H2L=11,23-dimethyl-3,7,15,19-tetraazatricyclo[19.3.1.1(9,13)]hexacosa-2,7,9,11,13(26),14,19,21(25),22,24-decaene-25,26-diol] have been synthesized and the structures of and determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. and are isostructural compounds whose structure is made up of centrosymmetric binuclear cations [Ni2(L)(H2O)2]2+ and two peripheral [M(phen)(CN)4]- anions [M=Fe (2) and Cr (3)] acting as monodentate ligands towards the nickel atoms through one of their four cyanide nitrogen atoms. The environment of the metal atoms in 2 and 3 is six-coordinated: two phen-nitrogen and four cyanide-carbon atoms at the iron and chromium atoms and a water molecule, one cyanide-nitrogen and two phenolate-oxygens and two imine-nitrogens from the binucleating ligand L2- at the nickel atom build distorted octahedral surroundings. The values of the FeNi and CrNi separations through the single cyanide bridge are 5.058(1) and 5.174(2)A respectively, whereas the Ni-Ni distances across the double phenolate bridge are 3.098(2)(2) and 3.101(1) A (3). The magnetic properties of have been investigated in the temperature range 1.9-290 K. The magnetic behaviour of corresponds to that of an antiferromagnetically coupled nickel(II) dimer with J=-61.0(1) cm-1, the Hamiltonian being defined as H=-J S(A).S(B). An overall antiferromagnetic behaviour is observed for and with a low-lying singlet spin state. The values of the intramolecular magnetic couplings are J(Fe-Ni)=+17.4(1) cm-1 and J(Ni-Ni(a))=-44.4(1) cm-1 for and J(Cr-Ni)=+11.8(1) cm-1 and J(Ni-Ni(a))=-44.6(1) cm-1 for [H=-J(M-Ni)(S(M).S(Ni)+S(Ma).S(Nia))-J(Ni-Nia)S(Ni)S(Nia)]. Theoretical calculations using methods based on density functional theory (DFT) have been employed on in order to analyze the efficiency of the exchange pathways involved and also to substantiate the exchange coupling parameters.     

Are azobenzenophanes rotation-restricted?

We simulated the photoisomerization dynamics of an azobenzenophane with a semiclassical surface hopping approach and a semiempirical reparametrized quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics Hamiltonian. Only one of the two azobenzene chromophores in the molecule is taken into account quantum mechanically: the other one is treated by molecular mechanics. Both n-->pi* and pi-->pi* excitations are considered. Our results show that the photoisomerization reaction mainly involves the rotation around the N=N double bond. The excited state relaxation features are in qualitative agreement with experimental time-resolved fluorescence results.     

Novel cyclometallated Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with indole derivatives and their use as catalysts in Heck reaction

Several palladacycle and platinacycle complexes have been prepared from easily available or naturally occurring indole derivatives, such as gramine and related compounds. Dimeric complexes were obtained with Pd(OAc)₂, while Pt(DMSO)₂Cl₂ mainly afforded monomeric structures. A notable feature of these reactions was the formation of new M-C bonds between Pd or Pt and C-2 and C-3 of the indole ring. With ligands like 2-(2′-pyridyl)-1H-indoles, N-N metallacycles were generated instead: in fact new C-M bonds with the C-3 position could only form if N-substituted indoles were used. The reactivity of Pd dimeric complexes with PPh₃, sym-collidine and DMAP was explored to obtain monomeric complexes. Three such compounds were prepared, one of which was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Metathetical reactions were carried out to effect a ligand exchange replacing OAc with halide ions, with the aim to synthesize μ-Cl and μ-Br bridged structures. Turning to the synthesis of hetaryl complexes, functionalization of the C-2 position on the indole ring was achieved. These complexes were prepared by substitution reactions starting from gramine and/or its alkylammonium salts.     

Oxidative stability and phenolic content of virgin olive oil: an analytical approach by traditional and high resolution techniques

The characteristic resistance to oxidation of virgin olive oil is related to its unique fatty acid composition in addition to several minor components that have antioxidant properties. Among the latter, phenols are the most important. Several factors can influence the chemical or enzymatic oxidative processes that extend or shorten the shelf-life of olive oil. Furthermore, the amount of phenolic compounds extracted during production is fundamental for the oxidative and nutritional quality of the oil. In fact, it is well known that different steps used for preparation of virgin olive oil may determine differences in the quantities of phenol. At present, various analytical methods are available to analyze the hydrophilic components, including spectrophotometric assays (traditional) and high resolution chromatographic techniques (HRGC, HPLC, HPCE). In this review we summarize these different methodologies and demonstrate that the amount of phenolic compounds in virgin olive oil as determined by both traditional and high resolution techniques can be influenced by different factors including the olive cultivar and degree of ripeness, as well as by production and extraction technologies.     

HETEROGENEITY IN THE THERMALLY-INDUCED QUENCHING OF THE PHOSPHORESCENCE OF MULTI-TRYPTOPHAN PROTEINS

Abstract— The steady-state intensity and lifetime of the tryptophan phosphorescence from a number of globular proteins in 2:1 (v/v) glycerol buffer were monitored as a function of temperature. The phosphorescence lifetimes are essentially independent of the tryptophan local environment in rigid solution at temperatures < 170K, but vary markedly between proteins at temperatures at which the solutions become fluid. The ratio of steady-state intensity to lifetime P/τ was found to be temperature independent despite the quenching for free tryptophan and the lone residue in myelin basic protein. Heterogeneity in the triplet quenching of the tryptophans in liver alcohol dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were revealed as step-like decreases in the ratio of P/T followed by plateau regions characterizing the homogeneous behavior of the more resistent tryptophans in the proteins. This heterogeneity exists not only between solvent-exposed and buried residues, but reflects variations in the flexibility of the structure surrounding distinct buried tryptophans in the globular proteins.     

Visible and near-infrared intense luminescence from water-soluble lanthanide [Tb(III), Eu(III), Sm(III), Dy(III), Pr(III), Ho(III), Yb(III), Nd(III), Er(III)] complexes

The synthesis of a new ligand (1) containing a single phenanthroline (phen) chromophore and a flexibly connected diethylenetriamine tetracarboxylic acid unit (DTTA) as a lanthanide (Ln) coordination site is reported [1 is 4-[(9-methyl-1,10-phenantrol-2-yl)methyl]-1,4,7-triazaheptane-1,1,7,7-tetraacetic acid]. From 1, an extended series of water-soluble Ln.1 complexes was obtained, where Ln is Eu(III), Tb(III), Gd(III), Sm(III), Dy(III), Pr(III), Ho(III), Yb(III), Nd(III), and Er(III). The stoichiometry for the association was found 1:1, with an association constant K(A) > or = 10(7) s(-1) as determined by employing luminescence spectroscopy. The luminescence and photophysical properties of the series of lanthanide complexes were investigated in both H2O and D2O solutions. High efficiencies for the sensitized emission, phi(se), in air-equilibrated water were observed for the Ln.1 complexes of Eu(III) and Tb(III) in the visible region (phi(se) = 0.24 and 0.15, respectively) and of Sm(III), Dy(III), Pr(III), Ho(III), Yb(III), Nd(III), and Er(III) in the vis and/or near-infrared region [phi(se) = 2.5 x 10(-3), 5 x 10(-4), 3 x 10(-5), 2 x 10(-5), 2 x 10(-4), 4 x 10(-5), and (in D2O) 4 x 10(-5), respectively]. For Eu.1 and Tb.1, luminescence data for water and deuterated water allowed us to estimate that no solvent molecules (q) are bound to the ion centers (q = 0). Luminescence quenching by oxygen was investigated in selected cases.     

Evidence for an indirect halogen exchange in the reaction of trans- 2,3-dibromo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran with chloride ions

Treatment of the title compound with chloride ions in acetonitrile leads mainly to the formation of trans-2,3-dichloro-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. Since a nucleophilic displacement of bromide anion by chloride anion can be excluded, a mechanism involving the equilibrium 2Cl^? + Br₂ ? 2Br^? + Cl₂ is suggested.     

X-ray crystal and molecular structure of 2,3-dideoxy-4-thio-d-arabino-heptonic acid 1,4-lactone: a key intermediate for syntheses of 2′, 3′-dideoxy-4′-thio-l-nucleosides

The structure of 2,3-dideoxy-4-thio-d-arabino-heptonic acid 1,4-lactone has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystals of the compound are orthorhombic, space groupP2₁2₁2₁, with cell dimensionsa=11.555(5),b=10.451(5),c=9.604(5) Å, andZ=4. The diffraction experiment has allowed to assign the absolute configuration (4R, 5R, 6R) to the chiral centers of the molecule.     

Über Einwirkung von Aldol und Crotonaldehyd auf Phenylhydrazin

Ohne ZusammenfassungEs sei mir hier gestattet, meinem hochverehrten Lehrer, Herrn Prof. Hofrath Adolf Lieben für die liebenswürdige Anregung und Unterstützung meinen wärmsten Dank auszusprechen.