Physanolide A, a novel skeleton steroid, and other cytotoxic principles from Physalis angulata

[reaction: see text] A novel withasteroid, physanolide A (1), with an unprecedented skeleton containing a seven-membered ring, and two new physalins, physalins U (2) and V (3), were isolated from Physalis angulata. The structures were elucidated from spectroscopic analysis, and plausible biosynthetic pathways were postulated. Physalins B (4), D (5), and F (6) showed strong cytotoxicity against multiple tumor cell lines, including KB, A431, HCT-8, PC-3, and ZR751, with EC(50) values less than 4 microg/mL.     

A new 22,26-seco physalin steroid from Physalis angulata

Abstract

A new 22,26-seco physalin, physalin XI (1) together with 5 known compounds, were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of Physalis angulata L. The structure of isolated compounds was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. The effects of isolated compounds on in vitro cytotoxicity were investigated. Compound 1 was assessed for its cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines (HepG2, HeLa, HuCCA-1, T47-D and A-549) and a normal cell line (MRC-5), and the result showed that it has no activity. Compounds 2 and 4 are highly toxic to H69AR and MDA-MB-23 cell lines. This property appears to be related to the presence of their conjugated double bond or epoxy groups and is a more reliable indication of toxicity than substitution on C(5)–C(6).     

High CO methanation activity on zirconia-supported molybdenum sulfide catalyst

In this study, different methods were used to prepare MoO3/ZrO2 catalysts for sulfur resistant methanation reaction. It was found that MoO3/ZrO2 catalyst prepared by one-step co-precipitation method achieved high methanation performance. CO conversion could reach up to 90% on 25 wt% MoO3/ZrO2 catalyst, much higher than that on the conventional 25 wt% MoO3/Al2O3 catalyst. The Mo-based catalysts were characterized by XRF, XRD, Raman, BET, TEM and H2-TPR etc. It was found that MoO3 particles were highly dispersed on ZrO2 support for 25 wt% MoO3/ZrO2 catalyst prepared at 65-85℃ because of its relatively larger pore size, which contributed to a high CO conversion. Meanwhile, when MoO3 loading exceeded the monolayer coverage, the formed crystalline MoO3 and ZrM020g might block the micropores of the catalyst and make the methanation activity declined. These results are useful for preparing highly efficient catalyst for CO methanation process.     

Fe48Co52 Alloy Nanowire Arrays： Effects of Magnetic Field Annealing

The effects of magnetic field annealing on the properties of Fe48Co52 alloy nanowire arrays with various interwire distances （Di=30-60 nm） and wire diameters （Dw=22-46 nm） were investigated in detail. It was found that the array＇s best annealing temperature and crys- talline structure did not show any apparent dependence on the treatment of applying a 3 kOe magnetic field along the wire during the annealing process. For arrays with small Dw or with large Di, the treatment of magnetic field annealing also had no obvious influence on their magnetic performances. However, such a magnetic field annealing constrained the shift of the easy magnetization direction and improved the coercivity and the squareness obviously for arrays with large Dw or with small Di. The difference in the intensity of the effective anisotropic field within the arrays was believed to be responsible for this different variation of the array＇s magnetic properties after magnetic field annealing.     

Sulfur/carbon composites prepared with ordered porous carbon for Li-S battery cathode

Ordered porous cabon with a 2-D hexagonal structure,high specific surface area and large pore volume was synthesized through a twostep heating method using tri-block copolymer as template and phenolic resin as carbon precursor.The results indicated the electrochemical performance of the sulfur/carbon composites prepared with the ordered porous carbon was significantly affected by the pore structure of the carbon.Both the specific capacity and cycling stability of the sulfur/carbon composites were improved using the bimodal micro/meso-porous carbon frameworks with high surface area.Its initial discharge capacity can be as high as 1200 mAh·g~(-1) at a current density of 167.5 mA·g~(-1)The improved capacity retention was obtained during the cell cycling as well.     

Determination of pK(a)'s for thymol blue in aqueous medium: evidence of dimer formation

Formation constants for recrystallized thymol blue were determined in water, using the SQUAD and SUPERQUAD programs. The best model correlating spectrophotometric, potentiometric and conductimetric data was fitted with the dissociation of HL⁻=L²⁻+H⁺−log K=8.918±0.070 and H₃L₂⁻=2L²⁻+3H⁺−log K=29.806±0.133 with the SUPERQUAD program at variable low ionic strength (1.5×10⁻⁴–3.0×10⁻⁴ M); and HL=L²⁻+H⁺−log K=8.9±0.000, H₃L₂⁻ =2L²⁻+3H⁺−log K=30.730±0.032, H₄L₂=2L²⁻+4H⁺−log K=32.106±0.033 with SQUAD at 1.1 M ionic strength.     

Study on structural characteristics and adsorption performance of ultrasonic treated Mn-containing sulfur transfer agent

To prepare manganese-containing spinel sulfur transfer agent with acid peptization, ultrasonic wave is used for the first time to modify the structure of sulfur transfer agent in this work. Mini fixed bed reactor was used to investigate the effect of ultrasonic power, time and temperature on the structure and oxidation adsorption performance of sulfur transfer agent and the adsorption kinetics and mechanism of SO2 were analyzed. SEM, TEM, XRD and N2 adsorption-desorption techniques were employed to characterize and analyse the function of sulfur transfer agent. The results indicated that manganese-containing spinel is a kind of promising sulfur transfer agent and exhibits higher sulfur capacity and desulfurization degree under the selected conditions of the ultrasonic wave power of 60%, and with the treatment period for 3 h at a temperature of 60 ℃.     

Improved Photovoltaic Performance of MEH-PPV/PCBM Solar Cells via Incorporation of Si Nanocrystals

We have studied the effect of silicon nanocrystals （SiNCs） as a third component on performance of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells composed of poly[2-methoxy,5-（2＇-ethylhexyloxy）-l,4-phenylene vinylene] （MEH- PPV）：[6,6]-phenyI-C61-butyric acid methyl ester （PCBM） blend film. By adding suitable amounts of SiNCs into MEH-PPV：PCBM blend, the device performance such as external quantum efficiency, short circuit current density （Js（）, and power conversion efficiency （PCE） improved. Incorporation of 2.5% SiNCs in the blend led to 13.6% improvement of Jsc, which in turn resulted in 18% improvement of PCE up to 2.28%. The improved performance was mainly due to the improvements both in the charge generation from the interface of MEH-PPV/SiNCs and the charge collection at the cathode.     

含对苯氧基联接链的羧酸盐Gemini表面活性剂合成及胶团化特性

合成了含对苯氧基联接链的羧酸盐Gemini表面活性剂,研究了其胶团化特性.结果表明,该羧酸盐Gemini表面活性剂具有很低的cmc值,给出了cmc-T(温度)以及lncmc-(m+1)(烷烃链长)的回归方程.计算了胶团化的热力学函数变化,证实胶团化过程来自熵驱动,并表现出焓/熵补偿现象,在所考察的系列中,以(m+1)=11的胶团最为稳定.     

Ab Initio Study of the Mechanism of Forming a Spiro-Si-heterocyclic Ring Compound Involving Ge from Cl_2Ge=Si:and Formaldehyde

The X2Ge=Si:(X = H, Me, F, Cl, Br, Ph, Ar···) is a new species. Its cycloaddition reaction is a new area for the study of silylene chemistry. The mechanism of cycloaddition reaction between singlet Cl2Ge=Si: and formaldehyde has been investigated with CCSD(T)//MP2/6-31G* method. From the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that the reaction has two competitive dominant reaction pathways. The reaction rule presented is that the two reactants firstly form a four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring silylene through the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction. Owing to the 3p unoccupied orbital of Si: atom in the four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring silylene and the π orbital of formaldehyde forming a π→p donor-acceptor bond, the four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring silylene further combines with formaldehyde to form an intermediate. Because the Si: atom in intermediate shows sp3 hybridization after transition state, the intermediate isomerizes to a spiro-Si-heterocyclic ring compound involving Ge via a transition state. Simultaneously, the ring strain of the four-membered Ge-heterocyclic ring silylene makes it isomerize to a twisted four-membered ring product. The research result indicates the laws of cycloaddition reaction between X2Ge=Si:(X = H, Me, F, Cl, Br, Ph, Ar···) and the asymmetric π-bonded compounds, which are significant for the synthesis of small-ring and spiro-Si-heterocyclic ring compound involving Ge. The study extends the research area and enriches the research content of silylene chemistry.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Tianagliflozin Triacetate

The title compound tianagliflozin triacetate 1 was synthesized and its crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.The crystal belongs to monoclinic system(C27H31ClO8,Mr = 518.97),space group P21 with a = 5.3913(11),b = 16.137(2),c = 15.411(3) ,β = 94.15(3)°,V = 1337.3(5) 3,Z = 2,Dc = 1.289 g/cm3,F(000) = 548,μ = 0.190 mm-1,the final R = 0.0374 and wR = 0.0809 for 3981 observed reflections(I 2σ(I)).The structure of 1,triacetate of a highly potent SGLT2 inhibitor tianagliflozin,was unambiguously determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction,which helped to confirm the desired β configuration at the anomeric center and the position where the deoxylation occurred.The two benzene rings in the lattice are basically orthogonal to each other.There are four intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the crystal,which helps to further stabilize the crystal.     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures and Intermolecular Interactions of Cu（II） Complexes with Methyl- benzoic Acid （MBA） and 1,10-Phenanthroline

Two cupric complexes containing methylbenzoic acid have been prepared and crystallized by solvent evaporation method in DMF. The single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals that they are dicaryon complexes. Complex I with formula of [Cu2（m- MBA）4DMF2] crystallizes in monoclinic with space group of P21/c and complex 2 with formula of [Cuz（o-MBA）ffo-phen）2]·NO3·H2O crystallizes in triclinic with space group of P I. The weak interactions including C-H...O hydrogen bonds, C-H…π interactions and π-π stacking in the structures of two complexes are observed from the X-ray crystallographic data. In addition, there are still classical hydrogen bonds in 2. The different strength of intermolecular interaction in the structure is reflected on their different thermal stability measured by thermal gravimetric analysis and 2D-1R correlation spectroscopy of two complexes. The study of weak interactions is meaningful to provide supporting data for supramolecular chemistry theory and potential applications in molecular biology.     

Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopy of the Photoproduct of π-Cyclopentadienyliron Dicarbonyl Dimer

Equilibrium photoproduct of 7r-cyclopentadienyliron dicarbonyl dimer [CpFe（CO）2]2 in non- polar solvent carbon tetrachloride （CC14） is investigated using time-resolved 2D IR spec- troscopy. One of the several possible visible-light-driven photoreaction pathways is confirmed and the product is found to contain a di-carbonyl group that exhibits quantum beating be- tween two equivalent transitions in time-resolved 2D IR spectra, which turns out to be the anti-symmetric and symmetric stretching of the terminal carbonyl stretching modes of CpFe（CO）2C1. This is the main product and its reaction pathway involves radical formation, followed by chloride addition. Quantum-chemistry computations support these experimental results. Our results indicate that 2D IR method can be used to identify in situ structures and dynamics of chemical species involved in condensed-phase chemical reactions.     

Preparation of TiO2 Nanocrystals/Graphene Composite and Its Photocatalytic Performance

TiO2 nanocrystals/graphene （TiO2/GR） composite are prepared by combining flocculation and hydrothermal reduction technology using graphite oxide and TiO2 colloid as precursors. The obtained materials are examined by scanning electron microscopy, transition electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption desorption, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse spectroscopy. The results suggest that the presence of TiO2 nanocrystals with diameter of about 15 nm prevents GR nanosheets from agglomeration. Owing to the uniform distribution of TiO2 nanocrystals on the GR nanosheets, TiO2/GR composite exhibits stronger light absorption in the visible region, higher adsorption capacity to methylene blue and higher efficiency of charge separation and transportation compared with pure TiO2. Moreover, the TiO2/GR composite with a GR content of 30% shows higher photocatalytic removal efficiency of MB from water than that of pure TiO2 and commercial P25 under both UV and sunlight irradiation.     

Asymmetric Synthesis, Antifungal Activity and Molecular Modeling of Iodiconazole Isomers

Iodiconazole is a novel antifungal agent that was developed in its racemic form. In order to investigate the ef- fects of the chiral center on the antifungal activity, R- and S-isomers of iodiconazole were prepared on the basis of the asymmetric Sharpless epoxidation. （S）-Iodiconazole was proved to have better antifungal activity than the （R）- isomer. The binding modes of the two isomers with lanosterol 14~z-demethylase were clarified by molecular dock- ing.     

Crystal Structure of 2-（2-Carboxy-4-hydroxy-6- methoxyphenoxy）-3,5-dichloro-6-hydroxy- 4-methylbenzoic Acid 1-Methyl Ester

The title compound, neogeodin hydrate （C17H14C1208, CAS： 94540-50-8）, was derived from marine fungus Aspergilhts terreus CRIM301. It was unequivocally characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopies, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography and tested for various biological activities. Neogeodin hydrate crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 8.1159（5） A, b = 8.2472（4） A, c= 14.1278（7） A, a = 81.448（2）°, β = 84.860（2）°, γ= 70.400（2）°, V = 880.13（8） A3; Z = 2. It comprises a diphenyl ether, asterric acid skeleton and dichloro substituents. The methoxyphenoxy rings of the inversely related molecules form a ribbon-like structure that is stabilized by O-H...O hydrogen bonds through the doubly disordered carboxyl groups and by C-H...O interactions, generating the same R22（8） ring motif. The chlorinated methylbenzoate rings, making mostly a right angle, link the parallel upper and lower ribbons via bifurcated O-H...O and C-H...O hydrogen bonds, yielding endless channels. The channels formed are further sustained by C-H...O and π...π interactions Neogeodin hydrate exhibits inhibition against superoxide anion radical formation in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase （XXO） assay, but has no aromatase inhibitory activity.     

Structure of Co-crystals Formation from lmidazolium and Aromatic Ligands

In this study, two new co-crystals based on rigid imidazolium ligand(2,2'-((1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diyl)bis(2H-imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-4-ium) hexafluorophosphate(L)) and 4,4'-bipyridine(Bpy) and benzene(Ben), formulated as L(Bpy)0.5(co-crystal 1) and L(Ben)(co-crystal 2), were obtained. Crystal data for 1: P1 space group with a = 10.921(4), b = 16.998(6), c = 17.666(6), α = 95.720(7), β = 104.272(7), γ = 93.340(6)°, V = 3150.5(19) 3 and Z = 2; and crystal data for 2: monoclinic C2/m space group with a = 25.90(2), b = 9.631(9), c = 6.371(6), β = 95.26(2)°, V = 1583(2) 3 and Z = 2. Co-crystal 1 was dependent on hydrogen bonds and π...π stacking, while only hydrogen bonds are present in 2. Two new co-crystals were characterized by IR, NMR spectra, thermogravimetric and ultraviolet absorption analyses.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Novel Ca(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymer Containing Dipyridine Dicarboxylic Ligand

The novel alkaline metal complex Ca(BPDCH)2(1, BPDCH2 = 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylic acid) has been synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of Ca(NO3)2·4H2O with 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylic acid. The molecular and crystal structures of complex 1 have firstly been characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The 3D MOF structure of complex 1 was interpreted by the versatile binding modes-the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions of 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylic acid ligand. The analysis results show complex 1 belongs to a coordination polymer with 3D MOF structure. The results of thermogravimetric analysis and solubility demonstrate complex 1 is a thermostable compound and does not dissolve in water and traditional organic solvents.     

Analysis of Potential Energy Surface for Butanone Isomerization

The potential energy surfaces for butanone isomerization have been investigated by density function theory calculation. Six main reaction pathways are confirmed using the intrinsic reaction coordinate method, and the corresponding isomerization products are 1-buten-2-ol, 2-buten-2-ol, butanal or 1-buten-l-ol, methyl 1-propenyl ether, methyl allyl ether, and ethyl vinyl ether, respectively. Among them, there are three pathways through butylene oxide, indicating butylene oxide is an important intermediate product during butanone isomer ization. The calculated vertical ionization energies of the reactant and its products are in a good agreement with the experimental values available. From the consideration for the relative energies Of transition states and the number of high-energy barriers we infer that the reaction pathway butanone-＊l-buten-2-ol---2-buten-2-oi is the most competitive. The obtained results are informative for future studies on isomerization of ketone molecules.     

Orientation and Structure of Ionic Liquid Cation at Air/[bmim][BF4] Aqueous Solution Interface

The watermiscible room temperature ionic liquid 1butyl3methylimidazolium tetrafluorob orate （[bmim] [BF4]） is a model system for studying the interactions between ionic liquid and water molecules. In this work the orientational structure of the low concentrated aqueous solution of [bmim] [BF4] at the air/liquid interface was investigated by sum frequency gener ation vibrational spectroscopy. It has been found that at very low concentrations, the butyl chain exhibited a significant gauche defect, indicating a disordered conformation; and the cation ring oriented with a fairly small tilting angle at the surface. When the concentration increased, the cation ring tended to lie flat at the surface, and the gauche defects of the butyl chain decreased due to the intermolecular chainchain interactions and the consequent more ordered interfacial molecular arrangement. Additionally, the antisymmetric stretching mode in the PPP and SPS spectra exhibited a peak shift, showing that there exists more than one kind of orientation or chemical environment for the butyl CH3 group. These results may shed new light on understanding the surface behavior of watermiscible ionic liquids as well as the imidazolium based surfactants.