Cerium(IV)-Catalyzed Deprotection of Acetals and Ketals under Mildly Basic Conditions

Smooth and quantitative deprotection of a wide range of acetals and ketals [Eq. (a); R, R(1)=alkyl, aryl, H] under neutral to mildly basic conditions was achieved with catalytic quantities of cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN). The reaction conditions are compatible with a variety of sensitive functional groups, and aldehydes can be liberated from acetals without being oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acids.     

Anticancer Activities of Marine-Derived Phenolic Compounds and Their Derivatives

Since the middle of the last century, marine organisms have been identified as producers of chemically and biologically diverse secondary metabolites which have exerted various biological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifouling and others. This review primarily focuses on the marine phenolic compounds and their derivatives with potent anticancer activity, isolated and/or modified in the last decade. Reports on the elucidation of their structures as well as biosynthetic studies and total synthesis are also covered. Presented phenolic compounds inhibited cancer cells proliferation or migration, at sub-micromolar or nanomolar concentrations (lamellarins D (37), M (38), K (39), aspergiolide B (41), fradimycin B (62), makulavamine J (66), mayamycin (69), N-acetyl-N-demethylmayamycin (70) or norhierridin B (75)). In addition, they exhibited anticancer properties by a diverse biological mechanism including induction of apoptosis or inhibition of cell migration and invasive potential. Finally, phlorotannins 1–7 and bromophenols 12–29 represent the most researched phenolic compounds, of which the former are recognized as protective agents against UVB or gamma radiation-induced skin damages. Finally, phenolic metabolites were assorted into six main classes: phlorotannins, bromophenols, flavonoids, coumarins, terpenophenolics, quinones and hydroquinones. The derivatives that could not be attributed to any of the above-mentioned classes were grouped in a separate class named miscellaneous compounds.     

Nitrosation of Phenolic Compounds: Effects of Alkyl Substituents and Solvent

 Nitrosation reactions of phenol, o-cresol, 2,6-dimethylphenol, o-tert-butylphenol, 2-hydroxyacetophenone, and 2-allylphenol in water and water/acetonitrile were studied. Kinetic monitoring of the reactions was accomplished by spectrophotometric analysis of the nitrosated products at 345 nm. The dominant reaction was C-nitrosation via a mechanism consisting of an attack on the nitrosatable substrate by NO⁺/NO₂H₂ ⁺ followed by a slow proton transfer. The values of the rate constants of phenolic C-nitrosation were increased by electron donating substituents, and a good Hammett correlation was observed with ρ = −6.1. The results also revealed the strong effect of pH and the permitivity of the reaction medium on the rate constant, whose maximum values were observed for pH ≈ 3, decreasing strongly for higher pH values. The study in water/acetonitrile with up to 25% acetonitrile showed that it is possible to inhibit the reaction strongly by increasing the percentage of the organic component. The conclusions drawn show that (i) it is possible to predict the rate of nitrosation of phenolics as a function of the meta-substituents on the phenol ring and (ii) the nitrosation of phenolics can be strongly inhibited by increasing the pH of the reaction medium as well as by lowering its dielectric constant.     

Preparation of Chitosan-Composite-Film-Supported Copper Nanoparticles and Their Application in 1,6-Hydroboration Reactions of p-Quinone Methides

Here, we describe the preparation of copper nanoparticles that are stabilized on a chitosan composite film (CP@Cu). This material could catalyze the 1,6-hydroboration reactions of p-quinone methides with B₂pin₂ as a boron source under mild conditions. This reaction exhibited very good functional group compatibility, and the organoboron compounds that were formed could easily be converted into corresponding hydroxyl products with good to excellent yields. This newly developed methodology provides an efficient and sequential pathway for the synthesis of gem-disubstituted methanols.     

Nitrosation of Phenolic Compounds: Effects of Alkyl Substituents and Solvent

Summary.  Nitrosation reactions of phenol, o-cresol, 2,6-dimethylphenol, o-tert-butylphenol, 2-hydroxyacetophenone, and 2-allylphenol in water and water/acetonitrile were studied. Kinetic monitoring of the reactions was accomplished by spectrophotometric analysis of the nitrosated products at 345 nm. The dominant reaction was C-nitrosation via a mechanism consisting of an attack on the nitrosatable substrate by NO⁺/NO₂H₂ ⁺ followed by a slow proton transfer. The values of the rate constants of phenolic C-nitrosation were increased by electron donating substituents, and a good Hammett correlation was observed with ρ = −6.1. The results also revealed the strong effect of pH and the permitivity of the reaction medium on the rate constant, whose maximum values were observed for pH ≈ 3, decreasing strongly for higher pH values. The study in water/acetonitrile with up to 25% acetonitrile showed that it is possible to inhibit the reaction strongly by increasing the percentage of the organic component. The conclusions drawn show that (i) it is possible to predict the rate of nitrosation of phenolics as a function of the meta-substituents on the phenol ring and (ii) the nitrosation of phenolics can be strongly inhibited by increasing the pH of the reaction medium as well as by lowering its dielectric constant. Received July 13, 2001. Accepted (revised) September 18, 2001     

Phenolic Derivatives from Fruits of Dipteryx lacunifera Ducke and Evaluation of Their Antiradical Activities

The fruits of Dipteryx lacunifera, known as ‘fava de morcego’ and ‘garampara’, comprise pleasant tasting kernels that contain high amounts of fatty acids (mainly oleic acid) and are commonly consumed by inhabitants of the northeast of Brazil. In the present study, the crude EtOH extract of the fruit kernels was separated into hexane‐, Et₂O‐, AcOEt‐, and H₂O‐soluble fractions. The Et₂O fraction was found to exhibit the highest 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activity in vitro, and was subjected to further fractionation. Column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH‐20, followed by preparative HPLC‐C₁₈, afforded (?)‐eriodictyol ( 1 ), (?)‐butin ( 2 ), luteolin ( 3 ), 3′,4′,7‐trihydroxyflavone ( 4 ), butein ( 5 ), and sulfuretin ( 6 ). The antiradical activities of compounds 1, 2, 4 , and 6 , together with the positive controls rutin, butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), and tert‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), were evaluated with the DPPH assay and were found to decrease in the order rutin> 4 > 1 > 6 > 2 >TBHQ>BHT.     

Indole Alkaloids and Chromones from the Stem Bark of Cassia alata and Their Antiviral Activities

The Cassia (Leguminosae) genus has attracted a lot of attention as a prolific source of alkaloids and chromones with diverse structures and biological properties. The aim of this study is to screen the antiviral compounds from Cassia alata. The extract of the stem bark of this plant was separated using silica gel, MCI, ODS C18, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, as well as semi-preparative HPLC. As a result, three new indole alkaloids, alataindoleins A–C (1–3); one new chromone, alatachromone A (4); and a new dimeric chromone-indole alkaloid, alataindolein D (5) were isolated. Their structures were determined by means of HRESIMS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. Interestingly, alataindolein D (5) represents a new type of dimeric alkaloid with an unusual N-2−C-16’ linkage, which is biogenetically derived from a chromone and an indole alkaloid via an intermolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction. Compounds 1–5 were tested for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and anti-rotavirus activities, and the results showed that compounds 2–4 showed high anti-TMV activities with inhibition rates of 44.4%, 66.5%, and 52.3%, respectively. These rates were higher than those of the positive control (with inhibition rate of 32.8%). Compounds 1 and 5 also showed potential anti-TMV activities with inhibition rates of 26.5% and 31.8%, respectively. In addition, compounds 1–5 exhibited potential anti-rotavirus activities with therapeutic index (TI) values in the range of 9.75~15.3. The successful isolation and structure identification of the above new compounds provided materials for the screening of antivirus drugs, and contributed to the development and utilization of C. alata.     

新型钯催化剂的制备及其在温和条件下对芳香醛的选择性还原

以邻苯二胺为配体，制备了一种新型的纳米钯催化剂（Pd-NPs），其结构经TEM, FT-IR, XRD, XPS, EA和ICP OES表征。常温常压下，以H₂作氢源，水为溶剂，研究了Pd-NPs对芳香醛选择性还原反应的影响，产物结构经¹H NMR和¹³C NMR确证。以苯甲醛的还原反应作为模板反应，研究了配体、催化剂用量和反应时间对苯甲醇产率的影响。结果表明：在最佳反应条件（配体为邻苯二胺，Pd-NPs用量10 mol%，反应5 h）下，苯甲醇产率达99%。     

掺硼纳米TiO2的制备及光催化性能研究

采用改进的Sol-gel方法,制备了单分散椭球形微孔结构的掺B纳米TiO₂光催化剂,并用TG-DTA、XRD、XPS、UV-Vis、TEM、BET等手段进行表征.以难生化降解的染料罗丹明B为目标降解物,采用HPLC检测,通过不同光照时间下染料降解率考察了产物的光催化活性.结果表明,改进的Sol-gel法制得的光催化剂具有明显的孔结构,而且比表面积大、孔径分布窄、粒径小、分散性好;适量B的掺杂能够有效促进TiO₂纳米粒子的光催化活性.最佳催化剂制备条件:B掺杂的摩尔分数为20%、450℃煅烧2 h,此时所制得的B-TiO₂光催化剂活性比纯TiO₂有显著提高.     

Preparation of Titania Containing Mixed Oxides and Their Catalytic Activities

Titania containing catalysts were prepared by conventional procedures (coprecipitation, hydrogel kneading and titania precipitation) and a complexing-agent assisted sol-gel method. The effect of preparation methods on their properties and catalytic activities in the oxidation of olefins and decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide were examined. The sol-gel method gave the best dispersion of titania. In contrast, with the kneading and titania precipitation method, titania formed crystalline particles. The sol-gel catalysts are more effective for epoxydation of olefins because of the high dispersibility of Ti in them. However, the most active catalysts in the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide are kneading ones.     

酚类衍生物的美白和抗氧化活性

一系列酚类衍生物被合成,采用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)、核磁共振波谱仪(NMR)和电喷雾质谱(ESI-MS)等波谱技术对其进行了结构表征,并对其进行美白活性测试。 结果表明,HB-1(0.229±0.026)、HB-3a(0.829±0.135)、HB-3b(0.446±0.047)、HMB-3a(1.747±0.215)、HMB-3b(1.307±0.058)和HPE-4b(2.501±0.261)对酪氨酸酶抑制作用明显优于阳性对照物α-熊果苷(3.60±0.029)。 对显示出美白活性的化合物的抗氧化活性测试结果表明,HB-3b和HMB-3a抗氧化活性与阳性对照物槲皮素和番茄红素相当。 因此该类化合物今后可作为美白剂和抗氧化剂加以开发利用。     

Preparation of Organotrifluoroborate Salts: Precipitation-Driven Equilibrium under Non-Etching Conditions

Simple, rapid, and scaleable: In contrast to current procedures using corrosive HF/MF or MHF(2) reagents (M=e.g. K), a wide range of trifluoroborates can be rapidly, simply, and safely prepared from MF (M=K, Cs), RCO(2) H, and a boronic acid/ester in regular glassware (see figure; left versus right). The use of L-(+)-tartaric acid as an alkali-metal sponge is key and allows isolation of RBF(3) M by a simple stir/filter/evaporate sequence.     

溶胶-凝胶方法制备ZnO:Al薄膜及其制备工艺条件研究

采用Sol-Gel工艺在玻璃基片上制备出C轴择优取向性、高可见光透过率以及高电导率的Al³⁺离子掺杂的ZnO透明导电薄膜ZnO:Al(ZAO薄膜).并研究了退火温度、Al掺杂量等对其光电性能的影响.结果表明,溶胶-凝胶法制备ZAO薄膜的最佳工艺条件为:溶胶浓度0.75 mol/L、掺杂量1.5 atm%,镀膜层数10层(厚度约为136 nm)、退火温度600℃.     

An Unusual N-Boc Deprotection of Benzamides under Basic Conditions

For the first time, an unusal cleavage of N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl (N‐Boc) protection from N‐Boc‐protected benzamide under basic conditions in excellent yields is reported. The deprotection involves the N‐Boc emigration from the benzamide to form 2‐O‐Boc group followed by O‐Boc deprotection on the phenyl ring.     

Preparation of Some Thiazolyl Hydrazone Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Activities

The increasing clinical importance of drug-resistant fungal and bacterial pathogens has provided additional urgency to microbiological research and to the development of new antibacterial compounds. For this purpose, new tert-butyl [1-aryl/alkyl-2[(4-aryl-2-thiazolyl)hydrazono]ethyl]carbamate derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity. The reaction of Boc-L-phenylalaninal, Boc-D-phenylalaninal, Boc-L-leucinal, and Boc-L-tryptophanal with thiosemicarbazide yielded the thiosemicarbazones, which furnished the title compounds on reaction with phenacyl bromides. The new compounds were screened for antibacterial activity. The results from the bioassay tests show that some of the compounds have notable activity against Gram-positive bacteria.     

Selective Oxidation of CO under Conditions of Catalyst Surface Ignition

Kinetics and Catalysis -     

Synthesis and Antiviral Activities of Chiral Thiourea Derivatives

An environmentally benign method has been developed for the synthesis of novel chiral thiourea derivatives in high yields in ionic liquid [Bmim]PF6. The ionic solvent can be recovered and reused without any loss of its activity. The target compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectral data. According to the preliminary bioassay, some of the chiral thiourea analogues exhibited moderate in vivo antiviral activities against TMV at a concentration of 500 mg/L. Title chiral compound 3i was found to possess good in vivo protection, inactivation and curative activities of 57.0%, 96.4% and 55.0%, respectively against TMV with an inhibitory concentration at 500 mg/L. The title chiral compound 3i revealed better inactivation effect on TMV (EC50＝50.8 µg/mL) than Ningnanmycin (EC50＝60.2 µg/mL).     

Fe3O4修饰的Pt-Ru/C纳米催化剂的制备及其在无溶剂条件下邻氯硝基苯选择性加氢的催化性能

采用浸渍法制备了一系列Pt/Ru质量比不同的Fe₃O₄修饰的Pt-Ru/Fe₃O₄/C催化剂, 运用透射电镜(TEM)、能量弥散X射线谱(EDX)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、X射线粉末衍射(XRD)等手段对Pt-Ru/Fe₃O₄/C一系列催化剂进行了表征, 并考察了Pt/Ru质量比不同对催化剂Pt-Ru/Fe₃O₄/C在无溶剂条件下催化邻氯硝基苯(o-CNB)选择性加氢制备邻氯苯胺(o-CAN)催化性能的影响. 研究结果表明, 催化剂的催化活性和对目标产物的选择性跟活性组分Pt、Ru比例有关. 随着Pt/Ru比例的减小, 目标产物o-CAN的选择性有所升高, 然而反应物o-CNB的转化率有所下降. 当Pt/Ru的质量比为2时, o-CNB的转化率降为76.5%, 而目标产物o-CAN的选择性仍然为100%. 与此同时, 我们还对Pt-Ru/Fe₃O₄/C催化剂高的催化活性和目标产物的高选择性可能的原因进行了分析.     

Efficient and Selective Halogenation of Allylic and Benzylic Alcohols under Mild Conditions

Summary. A simple, mild, and high yielding procedure for the halogenation of allylic and benzylic alcohols using a combination of SOCl₂, benzotriazole, and potassium halides in DMF is described. The effectiveness of the protocol is manifested in its selectivity towards allylic and benzylic alcohols whereas other simple alcohols such as primary, secondary, and tertiary are found to be unreactive.