Study of Photochemical Reactions of Coniferyl Alcohol. II. Comparative Structural Study of a Photochemical and Enzymatic Polymer of Coniferyl Alcohol

The structure of the polymer synthesized by UV irradiation of coniferyl alcohol was studied, using UV-visible, Raman, IR, H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The photochemical polymer was compared with the structure of the polymer obtained by peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization of coniferyl alcohol. General similarity of the spectra of the two polymers was shown. However, differences in the fine structure of particular regions of the NMR spectra, as well as in certain bands in the Raman and IR spectra, could be explained through the various bond types and organization within the polymers. These results are consistent with molecular mass distribution of the polymers. Two fractions of enzymatic polymer correspond to the main two fractions of photochemical polymer. The later polymer has additional fractions that are probably the main reason for the observed spectral differences.     

A model of longitudinal dispersion in non–homogeneous porous media

This paper is concerned with a model of the longitudinal dispersion of a set of tagged particles in a flow through nonhomogeneous stratified porous media. The model is a particular homogeneous Markov jump process, the successive states visited forming a non-homogeneous Poisson process. The passage time of alevel x of this Markov process is an additive stochastic process.This property is used to evaluate the general form of the longitudinal concentration function of the tagged particles in the flow.     

Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease (PLpro) Inhibitors Using Combined Computational Approach**

In the current pandemic, finding an effective drug to prevent or treat the infection is the highest priority. A rapid and safe approach to counteract COVID-19 is in silico drug repurposing. The SARS-CoV-2 PLpro promotes viral replication and modulates the host immune system, resulting in inhibition of the host antiviral innate immune response, and therefore is an attractive drug target. In this study, we used a combined in silico virtual screening for candidates for SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protease inhibitors. We used the Informational spectrum method applied for Small Molecules for searching the Drugbank database followed by molecular docking. After in silico screening of drug space, we identified 44 drugs as potential SARS-CoV-2 PLpro inhibitors that we propose for further experimental testing.     

Palladium-catalysed synthesis of allyl acetates from allenes

Allyl acetates were synthesised from allenes utilising methodology based on the general reactivity of π-allyl palladium intermediates which participate efficiently in transformations involving nucleophiles. Reactions of allenes and aryl iodides in the presence of AcONa and Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃ as the catalytic system afforded allyl acetates in moderate to good yields. Monosubstituted allenes, depending on their structure, produced either a separable mixture of two regioisomeric products or a single regioisomer. As allylic acetates can be easily hydrolysed, the methodology is applicable for the synthesis of allyl alcohols as well.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 3-aryl-pyrimido[5,4-e][1,2,4]triazine-5,7(1H,6H)-dione libraries: derivatives of toxoflavin

The parallel synthesis of a library of toxoflavin derivatives is described. The microwave-assisted approach involves the de novo generation of the heterocyclic scaffold and allows for facile introduction of a variety of fragments.     

New aurone epoxide and auronolignan from the heartwood of Cotinus coggygria Scop

New aurone epoxide, 2,10-oxy-10-methoxysulfuretin (14), and new auronolignan (15), named cotinignan A, were isolated by silica gel column and semipreparative HPLC chromatography from the methylene chloride/methanol extract of Cotinus coggygria Scop. heartwood. In addition, thirteen known secondary metabolites namely sulfuretin, 2,3-trans-fustin, fisetin, butin, butein, taxifolin, eriodictyol, 3',5,5',7–tetrahydroxyflavanone, 3',4',7-trihydroxyflavone, 3-O-methyl-2,3-trans-fustin, 3-O-galloyl-2,3-trans-fustin, β-resorcylic acid and 3-O-β-sitosterol glucoside were isolated as well. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, IR and UV. Ten out of eleven isolated flavonoids possess 7, 3' and 4' hydroxy groups. These structural features could be considered as chemotaxonomic characteristic of flavonoids from C. coggygria. Cotinignan A (15) represents new subclass of secondary metabolites - auronolignans.

     

Development of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry for palladium and rhodium determination in platinum-based alloy

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) with internal standardization was applied for the analysis of an in-house reference platinum alloy containing palladium and rhodium (approximately 5% by weight). In order to compensate for variations in signal recovery due to matrix interferences, and therefore to improve the precision, platinum, the major component, was chosen as an internal standard. Quantitative analysis was based on calibration using a set of matrix-matched calibration standards with and without employing the internal standard. These results were compared with those obtained by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The results for both techniques were in a good agreement, although the precision was slightly better in the ICP-AES technique, with or without the internal standard.