N-Bromoamides as versatile catalysts for aziridination of olefins using chloramine-T

N-Bromoamides catalyze effectively the aziridination of electron-deficient as well as electron-rich olefins using chloramine-T (N-chloro-N-sodio-p-toluenesulfonamide) as a nitrogen source under ambient conditions to afford the corresponding aziridines in good to excellent yields.     

A proof of Howard’s conjecture in homogeneous parallel shear flows

A rigorous mathematical proof of Howard's conjecture which states that the growth rate of an arbitrary unstable wave must approach zero, as the wave length decreases to zero, in the linear instability of nonviscous homogeneous parallel shear flows, is presented here for the first time under the restriction of the boundedness of the second derivative of the basic velocity field with respect to the vertical coordinate in the concerned flow domain.     

Baseline studies of radon/thoron concentration levels in and around the Lambapur and Peddagattu areas in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Studies conducted by Atomic Minerals Directorate of Exploration and Research (AMD) of Hyderabad, India had established the presence of higher concentrations of uranium in Lambapur and Peddagattu areas of Nalgonda district, AP, India and it was estimated that it could be a viable source for commercial extraction. The envisaged extraction process involves dispersion of radioactive particulate matter into atmosphere. Environmental radioactive studies in and around proposed mining areas at this point of time will be extremely useful for establishing base line data before a large scale uranium extraction process comes into existence. To this end, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors were installed to evaluate indoor radon and thoron concentration levels in the dwellings of the area. The geometric means of radon and thoron concentration levels were found to be (7.1±0.2)×10¹ and (6.7±0.3)×10¹ Bq/m³, respectively. Simultaneously, natural background radiation measurements were also made and these levels are found to vary from 770 to 3995 μGy/y in the spatial distribution.     

A simple and sensitive analytical method for the determination of antimony in environmental and biological samples.

The results of a study and application of leucocrystal violet for the determination of antimony in parts per million levels is described here. The proposed method is based on the reaction of antimony(III) with acidified potassium iodate to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine selectively oxidizes leucocrystal violet to crystal violet dye. The formed dye shows maximum absorbance at 590 nm. The color system obeys Beer's law in the concentration range from 0.4 - 3.6 microg antimony per 25 ml of final solution. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 7.32 x 10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.0016 microg cm(-2), respectively. All variables were studied in order to optimize the reaction. The proposed method is satisfactorily applicable for the analysis of antimony in various environmental and biological samples. The method is simple, highly sensitive, accurate and reliable.     

Adsorption Equilibrium and Kinetics of Egg-White Proteins on Immobilized Metal Ion Affinity Gels for Designing Fractionation

Designing an Immobilized Metal ion Affinity (IMA) chromatographic process on large scale demands a thorough understanding to be developed regarding the adsorption behaviour of proteins on metal loaded IMA (IMA-M(II)) gels and the characteristic adsorption parameters to be evaluated. This research investigation illustrates the significance of these aspects for the proposed fractionation of chicken egg-white proteins on these gels. Consequently, a systematic investigation of the adsorption characteristics of three chicken egg-white proteins viz., ovalbumin, conalbumin and lysozyme on Cu(II) and Ni(II) loaded IMA gels, iminodiacetate (IDA) and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), has been undertaken. These gels differ in their selectivity towards the proteins of interest under the identical sets of experimental conditions. While TREN-Ni(II) was selective only for lysozyme, IDA-Cu(II), IDA-Ni(II) and TREN-Cu(II) showed varying affinities for all the three proteins. The equilibrium and kinetic data were analysed using various theoretical models and adsorption parameters were quantified. On the basis of these investigations, various strategies have been proposed for the efficient large-scale fractionation of chicken egg-white proteins on these gels.     

Oxidation of cyclohexane with molecular oxygen using a Schiff base cobalt complex bonded to carbamate-modified silica gel

The Schiff base [1,2-bis(salicylidene amino)phenylene]cobalt(II) complex, chemically bonded to a carbamate-modified silica gel catalyst, has been prepared by a four step procedure. The oxidation of cyclohexane was studied in the presence of this catalyst under relatively mild conditions (150–200 °C, 15–20 atm) using molecular oxygen. The catalyst was found to be very selective for the production of cyclohexanol, with cyclohexanone formed in only a small amount (45:1). This is in contrast to the commercially available processes in which cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone are both formed in appreciable amounts. The t.g.a. analysis shows the catalyst to be stable up to 211 °C and atomic absorption spectroscopy indicated negligible metal loss during 50 h use of the catalyst up to 180 °C.     

Expression ofAscaris suum malic enzyme in a mutantEscherichia coli allows production of succinic acid from glucose

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The malic enzyme gene ofAscaris suum was cloned into the vector pTRC99a in two forms encoding alternative arnino-termini. The resulting plasmids, pMEAl and...     

Fabrication of highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays using an organic electrolyte

Anodization of titanium in a fluorinated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethanol mixture electrolyte is investigated. The prepared anodic film has a highly ordered nanotube-array surface architecture. Using a 20 V anodization potential (vs Pt) nanotube arrays having an inner diameter of 60 nm and 40 nm wall thickness are formed. The overall length of the nanotube arrays is controlled by the duration of the anodization, with nanotubes appearing only after approximately 48 h; a 72 h anodization results in a nanotube array approximately 2.3 mum in length. The photoelectrochemical response of the nanotube-array photoelectrodes is studied using a 1 M KOH solution under both UV and visible (AM 1.5) illumination. Enhanced photocurrent density is observed for samples obtained in the organic electrolyte, with an UV photoconversion efficiency of 10.7%.     

π‐Facial Selectivity in the Formation of Tricarbonylchromium(0) Complexes of Estra‐1, 3, 5(10), 6‐tetraenes

The preparation of two η⁶‐estra‐1, 3, 5(10), 6‐tetraene tricarbonylchromium complexes 4 and 6 are described. In both cases only one stereoisomer can be isolated, in contrast to other estrane‐tricarbonylchromium complexes, where complexations are non‐stereoselective. X‐ray crystal structural analysis of 4 discloses that only the more sterically hindered β‐facial isomer is formed. It is assumed that the 6, 7‐olefinic moiety exerts a directive influence on the complexation.     

Fe(3+) ions in alkali lead tetraborate glasses--an electron paramagnetic resonance and optical study

Glass systems of composition 90R(2)B(4)O(7)+9PbO+1Fe(2)O(3) (R=Li, Na and K) and 90Li(2)B(4)O(7)+(10-x)PbO+xFe(2)O(3) (x=0.5, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 mol %) have been investigated by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption techniques. The EPR spectra exhibit three resonance signals at g approximately 6.0, 4.2 and 2.0. The resonances at g approximately 6.0 and 4.2 are attributed to Fe(3+) ions in rhombic and axial symmetry sites, respectively. The g approximately 2.0 resonance signal is due to two or more Fe(3+) ions coupled together with dipolar interaction. The EPR spectra of 1 mol % of Fe(2)O(3) doped in lithium lead tetraborate glass samples have been studied at different temperatures (123-433 K). The intensity of g approximately 4.2 resonance signal decreases and the intensity of g approximately 2.0 resonance signal increases with the increase of temperature. The line widths are found to be independent of temperature. The EPR spectra exhibit a marked concentration dependence on iron content. A decrease in intensity for the resonance signal at g approximately 4.2 with increase in iron content for more than 4 mol % has been observed in lithium lead tetraborate glass samples and this has been attributed to the formation of Fe(3+) ion clusters in the glass samples. The paramagnetic susceptibility (chi) is calculated from the EPR data at various temperatures and the Curie constant (C) has been evaluated from 1/chi versus T graph. The optical absorption spectrum of Fe(3+) ions in lithium lead tetraborate glasses exhibits three bands characteristic of Fe(3+) ions in an octahedral symmetry. The crystal field parameter D(q) and the Racah interelectronic repulsion parameters B and C have also been evaluated. The value of interelectronic repulsion parameter B (825 cm(-1)) obtained in the present work suggests that the bonding is moderately covalent.