Synthesis and Characterization of Silica@Copper Core–Shell Nanoparticles: Application for Conjugate Addition Reactions

Silica@copper (SiO₂@Cu) core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized and well characterized by XRD, TEM, AFM, XPS, UV/Vis, TGA–MS, and ICP–AES techniques. The synthesized SiO₂@Cu core–shell nanoparticles were employed as catalysts for the conjugate addition of amines to α,β‐unsaturated compounds in water to obtain β‐amino carbonyl compounds in excellent yields in shorter reaction times. Furthermore, the catalyst works well for hetero‐Michael addition reactions of heteroatom nucleophiles such as thiols to α,β‐unsaturated compounds. As the reaction is performed in water, it allows for easy recycling of the catalyst with consistent activity.     

Electrohydrodynamic instability in some nematic cyanobiphenyls in an a.c. electric field

Electrohydrodynamic instability in homeotropically oriented nematic samples of 4'-n-octyl-4-cyano-biphenyl and 4'n-alkyloxy-4-cyanobiphenyl, (n = 8.9) have been studied in an a.c. electric field. The domain patterns during the instability in these compounds in a very low frequency a.c. field are very similar to those in a d.c. field. The domain patterns observed at higher frequencies have been identified as 'maltese crosses' or 'crossed isogyres'. The electro-convective 'isotropic' flows near the electrode play an important role in the observed instability.     

Design and operation characteristics of a high power transverse flow pulser sustained cw CO2 laser

A transverse flow, transverse discharge cw CO₂ laser in which de discharge is sustained by employing high repetition rate high voltage pulses has been developed. Pulser sustained discharge through electrodes of innovative design provided uniform excitation at electrical input power densities more than 10 W/cc. Laser output power more than 2.5 kW was obtained in a laser gas mixture consisting of 0.5 mbar of CO₂, 16 mbar of N₂ and 38.5 mbar of He. Design details and operational characteristics of this laser are presented.     

Studies on the curing kinetics of epoxy resins using mixture of nadic/or maleic anhydride and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone

Curing kinetics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) in the presence of maleic anhydride (MA)/or nadic anhydride (NA) or mixture of MA/NA: 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) in varying molar ratios were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Curing behaviour of DGEBA in the presence of varying amounts of DDS:MA/NA was evaluated by recording DSC scans at heating rates of 5, 10, 15 and 20°C min⁻¹. The peak exotherm temperature depends on the heating rate, structure of the anhydride as well as on the ratio of anhydride: DDS. Thermal stability of the isothermally cured resins was evaluated by thermogravimetry. The char yield was highest in case of resins cured using mixture of DDS:MA (0.75:0.25; sample EM-1) and DDS:NA (0.75:0.25, sample EN-1).     

Microbial Transformation of Sesquiterpenes, (−)‐Ambrox® and (+)‐Sclareolide

The microbial transformation of (?)‐Ambrox^® ( 1 ), a perfumery sesquiterpene, by a number of fungi, by means of standard two‐stage‐fermentation technique, afforded ambrox‐1α‐ol ( 2 ), ambrox‐1α,11α‐diol ( 3 ), ambrox‐1α,6α‐diol ( 4 ), ambrox‐1α,6α,11α‐triol ( 5 ), ambrox‐3‐one ( 6 ), ambrox‐3β‐ol ( 7 ), ambrox‐3β,6β‐diol ( 8 ), 13,14,15,16‐tetranorlabdane‐3,8,12‐triol ( 9 ), and sclareolide ( 10 ) (Schemes 1 and 2). Further incubation of compound 10 with Cunninghamella elegans afforded 3‐oxosclareolide ( 11 ), 3β‐hydroxysclareolide ( 12 ), 2α‐hydroxysclareolide ( 13 ), 2α,3β‐dihydroxysclareolide ( 14 ), 1α,3β‐dihydroxysclareolide ( 15 ), and 3β‐hydroxy‐8‐episclareolide ( 16 ) (Scheme 3). Metabolites 2 – 5, 12, 13 , and 16 were found to be new compounds. The major transformations include a reaction path involving hydroxylation, ether‐bond cleavage and inversion of configuration. Metabolites 11 – 16 of sclareolide showed significant phytotoxicity (Table 1). The structures of the metabolites were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic techniques.     

Photochemical C–N bond forming reactions for the synthesis of five-membered fused N-heterocycles

Abstract

Few conversions cannot take place with ground-state reactions even with the help of a catalyst, therefore they are made to occur under photochemical conditions. The transfer of electrons took place even with the photochemical excitement of one molecule where redox reaction cannot occur at the ground state. The ground-state reactions resulted in the formation of side products. The substrates did not require any sort of chemical activation for C–N bond construction in the course of photochemical reactions. The source of energy; light has always been the interest of researchers in order to induce chemical reactions ever since the starting of scientific chemistry. The present review encloses the chemistry of photochemical transformations with a focus on their synthetic uses. The organic photochemical reactions prevent the polluting or harmful reagents thus, provides a possibility for sustainable procedures as well as green chemistry. This review article displays the formation of numerous of five-membered fused nitrogen-heterocyclic compounds.     

Three new cholinesterase-inhibiting cis-clerodane diterpenoids from Otostegia limbata

Three new tricyclic cis-clerodane type diterpenoids trivially named as limbatolide A (1), limbatolide B (2) and limbatolide C (3) have been isolated from the roots of Otostegia limbata along with two known compounds; oleanic acid and beta-sitosterol. The structure elucidation of the new compounds was based primarily on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques. Compounds 1-3 displayed inhibitory potential in a concentration-dependent manner against acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8) enzymes, respectively.     

Microbial transformation of prednisone

The microbial transformation of prednisone (17alpha,21-dihydroxy-pregna-1,4-diene-3,11,20-trione) (1) by Cunninghamella elegans afforded two metabolites, 17alpha,21-dihydroxy-5alpha-pregn-1-ene-3,11,20-trione (2) and 17alpha,20S,21-trihydroxy-5alpha-pregn-1-ene-3,11-dione (3), while the fermentation of 1 with Fusarium lini, Rhizopus stolonifer and Curvularia lunata afforded a metabolite 1,4-pregnadiene-17alpha,20S,21-triol-3,11-dione (4). Compound 3 was found to be a new metabolite. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. Compound 3 showed inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase enzyme.