BINOL-derived diphosphoramidites bearing unsymmetrical 1,2-diamine link and their application in asymmetric catalysis

New P,P-bidentate diastereomeric diphosphoramidite chiral ligands with mixed stereogenic elements and a C₁ backbone symmetry have been prepared from (S_a)- and (R_a)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (BINOL) and (S)-N-benzyl-1-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)methanamine and are fully characterized. The use of these ligands provides up to 84% ee in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution of (E)-1,3-diphenylallyl acetate and up to 95% ee in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydrocarboxylic acid esters. The results indicate that the catalytic performance is highly affected by the axial chirality of the binaphthyl moieties of the ligand and the nature of the solvent.     

Conifers Phytochemicals: A Valuable Forest with Therapeutic Potential

Conifers have long been recognized for their therapeutic potential in different disorders. Alkaloids, terpenes and polyphenols are the most abundant naturally occurring phytochemicals in these plants. Here, we provide an overview of the phytochemistry and related commercial products obtained from conifers. The pharmacological actions of different phytochemicals present in conifers against bacterial and fungal infections, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are also reviewed. Data obtained from experimental and clinical studies performed to date clearly underline that such compounds exert promising antioxidant effects, being able to inhibit cell damage, cancer growth, inflammation and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, an attempt has been made with the intent to highlight the importance of conifer-derived extracts for pharmacological purposes, with the support of relevant in vitro and in vivo experimental data. In short, this review comprehends the information published to date related to conifers’ phytochemicals and illustrates their potential role as drugs.     

Applications of Fruit Polyphenols and Their Functionalized Nanoparticles Against Foodborne Bacteria: A Mini Review

The ingestion of contaminated water and food is known to cause food illness. Moreover, on assessing the patients suffering from foodborne disease has revealed the role of microbes in such diseases. Concerning which different methods have been developed for protecting food from microbes, the treatment of food with chemicals has been reported to exhibit an unwanted organoleptic effect while also affecting the nutritional value of food. Owing to these challenges, the demand for natural food preservatives has substantially increased. Therefore, the interest of researchers and food industries has shifted towards fruit polyphenols as potent inhibitors of foodborne bacteria. Recently, numerous fruit polyphenols have been acclaimed for their ability to avert toxin production and biofilm formation. Furthermore, various studies have recommended using fruit polyphenols solely or in combination with chemical disinfectants and food preservatives. Currently, different nanoparticles have been synthesized using fruit polyphenols to curb the growth of pathogenic microbes. Hence, this review intends to summarize the current knowledge about fruit polyphenols as antibacterial agents against foodborne pathogens. Additionally, the application of different fruit extracts in synthesizing functionalized nanoparticles has also been discussed.     

Thia- und Dithia-cycloalkane und die Spaltung einiger gesättigter Heterocyclen mit Methyljodid

Zusammenfassung Die 8- und 9-gliedrigen Thia-cycloalkane und die dimeren 14-, 16- und 18-gliedrigen Ringsulfide wurden aus den entsprechenden ,-Dibromalkanen und Natriumsulfid in hochverdünnter alkoholischer Lösung erstmalig dargestellt und charakterisiert. Die Beweisführung für die Struktur der Monomeren erfolgte durch Ringspaltung mit Methyljodid und Identifizierung der entstandenen ,-Dijodalkane.Es wird gezeigt, daß die Ringspaltungsmethode mit Methyljodid unter Herauslösung der gesamten C-Kette auch auf gewisse gesättigte O- und N-Heterocyclen anwendbar ist. Tetrahydrofuran, 1,6-Epoxyhexan und 1,4-Dioxan sowie der Trimethyleniminring werden sämtlich in verschiedenem Ausmaß gespalten, nicht aber die Polymethylenimine mit 4 bis 7 C-Atomen. Im spirocyclischen N,N-Hexamethylen-piperidiniumjodid wird jedoch der 7-gliedrige Ring gesprengt. Piperazin wird nicht angegriffen, wohingegen die Ringhomologen, 1,5-Diaza-cyclooctan und 1,10-Diaza-cyclooctadecan der Spaltung zugänglich sind.Soweit untersucht, werden Benzoyl und p-Toluolsulfonyl am Stickstoff allgemein durch Methyl verdrängt, p-Nitrophenyl und o,p-Dinitrophenyl werden aber nicht ausgetauscht.Mit 4 Abbildungen.     

The Synthesis of Crystals of Chalcogenides of K,Zr, Hf,Hg, and Some Other Elements in Halide Melts under Conditions of Stationary Temperature Gradient

Crystallography Reports - The growth of crystals of metals, alloys, chalcogenides, and pnictides in melts of alkali metal halides under conditions of stationary temperature gradient has been...     

Pyrene-Terminated Tin Sulfide Clusters: Optical Properties and Deposition on a Metal Surface

Herein, we present the synthesis of two pyrene-functionalized clusters, [(R^pyrSn)₄S₆]⋅2 CH₂Cl₂ ( 4 ) and [(R^pyrSn)₄Sn₂S₁₀]⋅n CH₂Cl₂ (n=4, 5 a ; n=2, 5 b ; R^pyr=CMe₂CH₂C(Me)N-NC(H)C₁₆H₉), both of which form in reactions of the organotin sulfide cluster [(R^NSn)₄S₆] ( C ; R^N=CMe₂CH₂C(Me)N-NH₂) with the well-known fluorescent dye 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde ( B ). In contrast, reactions using an organotin sulfide cluster with another core structure, [(R^NSn)₃S₄Cl] ( A ), leads to formation of small molecular fragments, [(R^pyrCl₂Sn)₂S] ( 1 ), (pyren-1-ylmethylene)hydrazine ( 2 ), and 1,2-bis(pyren-1-ylmethylene)hydrazine ( 3 ). Besides synthesis and structures of the new compounds, we report the influence of the inorganic core on the optical properties of the dye, which was analyzed exemplarily for compound 5 a via absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. This cluster was also used for exploring the potential of such non-volatile clusters for deposition on a metal surface under vacuum conditions.     

Continuous and reversible mixing or demixing of nanoparticles by dielectrophoresis

Mixing and demixing (separation) are essential tasks in microfluidic devices, which seem to be contrary in nature. Accordingly, completely different strategies and devices are usually employed for their realization. We here present a microfluidic device which is capable of performing both these tasks as it can be operated in either mixing or demixing mode. The mixing and demixing processes are reversible and are accomplished by continuous operation of the device. An asymmetric S-shaped ridge extends over the full width of a microfluidic channel (200 μm) creating a constriction of 620 nm in height with an aspect ratio of 1 : 500. Appropriate AC and DC voltages generate electrodeless dielectrophoresis at the constriction as well as (linear) electrokinetic driving forces along the channel. These de/mixing parameters can be adapted in real time in such a way that continuous separation and mixing efficiencies of 85-100% can be achieved. As a proof of concept we demonstrate continuous mixing and demixing of polystyrene nanoparticles (20 and 100 nm). The experimental results are complemented by numerical simulations illustrating the particles' motion under the influence of the electrokinetic effects and thermal noise (diffusion). The monolithic one-step fabrication process by soft lithography (with PDMS in our case) will make integration and combination of several mixing and demixing functions into a more complex lab-on-a-chip device possible.     

Optimization of Infrared Heating Conditions for Precooked Cowpea Production Using Response Surface Methodology

The infrared heating of preconditioned cowpea improves its utilization and potential application in food systems. This study investigated the effect of optimizing preconditioning and infrared heating parameters of temperature and time on cooking characteristics of precooked cowpeas using response surface methodology (RSM). The moisture level (32–57%), infrared heating temperature (114–185 °C), and time of processing the seeds (2–18 min) were optimized using a randomized central composite design to achieve optimal characteristics for bulk density and water absorption. A second-order polynomial regression model was fitted to the obtained data, and the fitted model was used to compute the multi-response optimum processing conditions, which were the moisture of 45%, the heating temperature of 185 °C, and time of 5 min. Precooked cowpea seeds from optimized conditions had a 19% increase in pectin solubility. The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were significantly reduced through complexation of the seeds’ phenolic compounds with other macromolecules but nonetheless exhibited antioxidant properties capable of scavenging free radicals. There was also a significant reduction in phytate and oxalates by 24% and 42%, respectively, which was due to the heat causing the inactivation of these antinutrients. The obtained optimized conditions are adequate in the production of precooked cowpea seeds with improved quality.