Continuous production of (S)-1-phenylethanol by immobilized cells of Rhodotorula glutinis with a specially designed process

A specially designed process for the continuous production of a chiral alcohol by immobilized Rhodotorula glutinis was prepared and is reported. The performance of the process with immobilized cells was also investigated. The run time of the immobilized cells, the flow rates of the substrate, and tris buffer containing 4% glucose in the process were optimized. The immobilized R. glutinis biocatalyst could be used for 15 days with maximum reaction activity. Under the optimized conditions, the continuous production process was operated for 30 days and resulted in 10.8 mL (S)-1-phenylethanol [(S)-1-PE]. The process has been demonstrated on a multigram scale in 75% overall yield with a purity of >99%.     

New measurements and reanalysis of 14N elastic scattering on 10B target

The angular distributions of elastic scattering of ¹⁴N ions on ¹⁰B targets have been measured at incident beam energies of 21.0 and 24.5 MeV. Angular distributions at higher energies 38–94.0 MeV (previously measured) were also included in the analysis. All data were analyzed within the framework of the optical model and the distorted waves Born approximation method. The observed rise in cross sections at large angles was interpreted as a possible contribution of the α-cluster exchange mechanism. Spectroscopic amplitudes SA₂ and SA₄ for the configuration ¹⁴N→ ¹⁰B +α were extracted. Their average values are 0.58±0.10 and 0.81±0.12 for SA₂ and SA₄, respectively, suggesting that the exchange mechanism is a major component of the elastic scattering for this system. The energy dependence of the depths for the real and imaginary potentials was found.     

The effect of topical ethanol extract of Cotinus coggygria Scop. on cutaneous wound healing in rats

The aim of this study is to determine the cutaneous wound healing effects of the ethanol extract of Cotinus coggygria leaves in rats by excision wound model to provide scientific evidence for the traditional use of C. coggygria Scop. The levels of malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and hydroxyproline were investigated in wound tissues. Histopathological examination was also performed. The hydroxyproline content of the granulation tissue and the glutathione levels were both significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (p < 0.05 for both); while the malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the treatment group (p < 0.05). These results were supported with histological results. The ethanol extract of C. coggygria Scop could be considered as an effective agent in wound healing in accordance with its traditional use.     

A novel approach for highly proton conductive electrolyte membranes with improved methanol barrier properties: Layer-by-Layer assembly of salt containing polyelectrolytes

A series of highly proton conductive electrolyte membranes with improved methanol barrier properties are prepared from polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH) and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS) including salt by Layer-by-Layer (LbL) method. The effects of added salt type (NaCl, MgCl₂) and salt concentration (1.0 M, 0.1 M) on proton conductivity (σ) and methanol barrier properties of the LbL self-assembled composite membranes are discussed in terms of controlled layer thickness and charge density. Furthermore, the influences of ion type in the multilayered composite membranes are studied in conjunction with physicochemical and thermal properties.The deposition of the self-assembly of PAH/PSS film on Nafion is followed by UV–Vis spectroscopy and it is observed that the polyelectrolyte layers growth on both sides of Nafion membrane regularly. (PAH/PSS)₅–Na⁺ and (PAH/PSS)₅–H⁺ with 1.0 M NaCl exhibits 49.6 and 27.8% reduction in lower methanol permittivity in comparison with the pristine Nafion^®117, respectively, while the proton conductivities are 12.97 and 74.69 mS cm⁻¹. Promisingly, it is found that the membrane selectivity values (Φ) of all multilayered membranes in H⁺ form are much higher than that of salt form (Na⁺ and Mg²⁺) and perfluorosulfonated ionomers reported in the literature. Also, we find out that the use of polyelectrolytes with high charge density causes a further improvement in proton conductivity and methanol barrier properties simultaneously. These encouraging results indicate that upon a suitable choice of LbL deposition conditions, composite membranes exhibiting both high proton conductivity and improved methanol barrier properties can be tailored for fuel cells.     

Numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic buoyancy-induced flow in a non-isothermally heated square enclosure

Numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) buoyancy-induced heat transfer and fluid flow has been analyzed in a non-isothermally heated square enclosure using finite volume method. The bottom wall of enclosure were heated and cooled with a sinusoidal function and top wall was cooled isothermally. Vertical walls of the enclosure were adiabatic. Effects of Rayleigh number (Ra = 10⁴, 10⁵ and 10⁶), Hartman number (Ha = 0, 50 and 100) and amplitude of sinusoidal function (n = 0.25, 0.5 and 1) on temperature and flow fields were analyzed. It was observed that heat transfer was decreased with increasing Hartmann number and decreasing value of amplitude of sinusoidal function.     

On pseudo symmetric monomial curves

We study monomial curves, toric ideals and monomial algebras associated to 4-generated pseudo symmetric numerical semigroups. Namely, we determine indispensable binomials of these toric ideals, give a characterization for these monomial algebras to have strongly indispensable minimal graded free resolutions. We also characterize when the tangent cones of these monomial curves at the origin are Cohen–Macaulay.     

Efficient Synthesis of （S）-1-（2-chlorophenyl）ethanol in the Submerged Culture of Alternaria alternata Isolate

(S)-1-(2-chlorophenyl)ethanol is a key intermediate of L-cloprenaline used for relieving asthma symptoms. The asymmetric reduction of 2-chloroacetophenone 1 to (S)-1-(2-chlorophenyl)ethanol 2 in the submerged culture of Alternaria alternata isolates was studied. A. alternata EBK-8 isolate was the most effective biocatalyst. The bioactivity of the fungus could be significantly improved by the optimization of culture conditions. Parameters such as pH, temperature, agitation, and incubation time considerably influenced the substrate conversion and the optical purity of the product. The reaction was carried out in a culture medium at a substrate concentration of 30 mmol/L and produced the desired product with high conversion (100%) and isolated yield (80%) with an excellent enantiomeric excess (ee) of >99%. Under the optimum conditions, after 54 h reaction time, 24 mmol/L 2 from 30 mmol/L 1 could be produced. As a result, the submerged fermentation of A. alternata EBK-8 was found to be suitable for the asymmetric reduction of 1 to 2.     

Synthesis of pyrene end‐capped A6 dendrimer and star polymer with phosphazene core via “click chemistry”

Novel hexa‐armed and pyrene (Pyr) end‐capped phosphazene dendrimer [N₃P₃‐(Pyr)₆] and star polymer with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) arms [N₃P₃‐(PCL‐Pyr)₆] were prepared via two series of reactions. In these series, core‐first approach was used starting from a hexa‐hydroxy functional phosphazene derivative (N₃P₃‐(OH)₆). It was used as an initiator in the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone to prepare a hexa‐armed PCL star polymer (N₃P₃‐(PCL‐OH)₆). Hydroxyl functionalities of N₃P₃‐(OH)₆ and N₃P₃‐(PCL‐OH)₆ were then successfully converted into bromide and azide, in turn. Further end‐group modifications of azide functional dendrimer precursor (N₃P₃‐(N₃)₆) and star polymer (N₃P₃‐(PCL‐N₃)₆) were achieved quantitatively via the Cu(I) catalyzed click reaction between azide functional groups and 1‐ethynyl pyrene in the final step. Moreover, the pyrene end‐capped phosphazene dendrimer and star polymer were used in noncovalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Simple,High Yield Preparation of N-Benzylacetamides by Lewis Acid-Catalyseed Reaction of Benzyl Chlorides or Benzyl Methyl Ethers with Acetonitrile

Reaction of either benzyl chlorides or benzyl methyl ethers with hydrated ferric chloride in acetonitrile results in smooth Ritter reaction and formation of N-benzylacetamides in excellent yield.