Statistical optimization of biodiesel production from para rubber seed oil by SO3H-MCM-41 catalyst

The experimental parameters for biodiesel production from para rubber seed oil and methanol using a SO₃H-MCM-41 catalyst were optimized statistically. The SO₃H-MCM-41 catalyst was synthesized by co-condensation in the presence of tetraethyl orthosilicate, 3-mercaptopropyl (methyl) dimethoxysilane (MPMDS) and cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide. In the last step, the solid catalyst (SH-MCM41) was oxidized by H₂O₂ to SO₃H-MCM-41. The acid capacity of the obtained SO₃H-MCM-41 catalyst was quantified by back titration with 0.1 M sodium hydroxide. The physical and chemical properties of the SO₃H-MCM-41 were characterized by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of varying the catalyst loading (wt.%), reaction time (h) and temperature (°C) and molar composition of MPMDS on the biodiesel yield were investigated using a 2^k factorial design. The optimal conditions to maximize the biodiesel yield, obtained from the response surface analysis using a Box–Behnken design, was a 14.5 wt.% catalyst loading, and a reaction time and temperature of 48 h and 129.6 °C. Under these conditions a fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) yield of 84% was predicted, and an 83.10 ± 0.39% yield experimentally obtained.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of (S)-pindolol

Racemic 3-(4-indolyloxy)-1,2-propanediol 2 has been effectively resolved into (S)- and (R)-enantiomers by a preferential crystallization procedure. Non-racemic (S)-2 was converted into (S)-4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-1H-indole (S)-4 via a Mitsunobu reaction and then into (S)-pindolol (S)-1. The crystalline (S)-1 was studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A large number of symmetry independent molecules (Z′ = 6) led to a weakening of the system of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which combined with a loose packing (PI = 64.6%), may be the cause of the abnormally low melting point of (S)-1 as compared with rac-1.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and absolute configuration of the enantiomers of chiral drug xibenolol hydrochloride

Based on the features of its crystallization, racemic 3-(2,3-dimethylphenoxy)propane-1,2-diol 2, the synthetic precursor of the chiral drug xibenolol 1, was resolved into pure enantiomers by the direct method of entrainment. The enantiomers of diol 2 through a Mitsunobu reaction were converted into the nonracemic 1,2-epoxy-3-(2,3-dimethylphenoxy)propanes (S)- and (R)-3, and then into the xibenolol enantiomers. Single crystals of (+)- and (?)-1·HCl were studied by X-ray diffraction. On the basis of the Flack parameter, the absolute (R)- and (S)-configurations were assigned to these compounds and to the other intermediate chiral substances.     

Synthesis of chiral aza-bis(oxazolines) derived from (+)-camphor

Two novel chiral structurally azabis(oxazoline) ligands were synthesized using (+)-camphor as the starting material. Each of the ligands was prepared through the corresponding aminoalcohols. The structures of some crystalline derivatives were unambiguously established by X-ray analysis.     

Advancements in tetronic acid chemistry. Part 1: Synthesis and reactions

The preparation and the properties of the elusive tetronic acid are reviewed, including its synthesis, chemical reactivity and reactions.     

Assessment of antioxidant activities of three wild medicinal plants from Bahrain

This study reports the antioxidant properties of three wild medicinal plants from Bahrain, namely Aizoon canariense L., Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav., and Emex spinosus (L.) Campdera. Antioxidant and antiradical activities of dried materials of these plants were investigated using FRAP, DPPH and ABTS assays. Total phenolics, free phenolics and total flavonoids were also determined. E. spinosus was ranked by the assays as the plant possessing the highest antioxidant and antiradical activities with an average FRAP value of 1.84 mmol/g and IC₅₀ of 10.7 and 7.75 mg/ml for DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. A. tenuifolius ranked second with a mean FRAP value of 0.69, IC₅₀ DPPH of 1.72 and ABTS of 0.36. A. canariense possessed the lowest activities with a mean FRAP value of 0.6, and averaged IC₅₀ of 103.8 and ABTS of 14.6. E. spinosus possessed the highest content of free phenolics (mg/100 g) (64.64) followed by A. tenuifolius (45.21) and A. canariense (32.23). E. spinosus also exhibited the highest total flavonoids with an average 82.71 mg/100 g followed by A. canariense (55.92) and A. tenuifolius (49.10). The studied medicinal plants possess considerable antioxidant activities and may contribute to the well-being of individuals who consume them.     

Synthesis of some fluorinated thiazolopyridine from pentafluoropyridine and 4-phenylsulfonyl tetrafluoropyridine

In this study, the reaction of pentafluoropyridine and 4-phenylsulfonyl tetrafluoropyridine with difunctional nitrogen and sulfur nucleophiles such as thiourea, thioamide derivatives, and unsymmetrical bidentate nitrogen nucleophiles such as diamino-triazole and amino-imidazole in the presence of sodium carbonate was investigated.     

Synthesis of [2.2]paracyclophane-based bidentate oxazoline–carbene ligands for the asymmetric 1,2-silylation of N-tosylaldimines

A series of novel oxazoline-substituted imidazolium salts with planar and central chirality has been successfully synthesized and applied to copper-catalyzed enantioselective 1,2-silylation of N-tosylaldimines. The oxazoline–carbene copper complex generated in situ by the reaction of the oxazoline-substituted imidazolium and Cu₂O demonstrated an exceptionally high catalytic activity in the asymmetric 1,2-silylation of N-tosylaldimines, affording chiral α-amino silanes with excellent yields and enantioselectivities.     

Four new norlignan glycoside isomers from the twigs of Cephalotaxus oliveri Mast.

Four novel isomers of norlignan glycoside were isolated from Cephalotaxus oliveri Mast.. Their structures were elucidated as 3S-4″-O-β-d-glucopyranosylnyasol 1, 3S-4′-O-β-d-glucopyranosylnyasol 2, 3S-4″-O-β-d-glucopyranosylhinokiresinol 3, 3S-4′-O-β-d-glucopyranosylhinokiresinol 4 by extensive spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, ¹H–¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY) along with HR-ESIMS and comparison to literature data. Their absolute configurations were elucidated through CD spectra coupled with the quantum chemical CD calculations.     

Synthesis,characterization and electrochemical properties of copper(II) complexes derived from succinoyldihydrazine Schiff base ligands

Four new copper(II) complexes of the composition [Cu(H₂L)(H₂O)] have been synthesized by template method from reaction of copper(II) acetate, succinoyldihydrazine and some o-hydroxy aromatic aldehydes and ketones in aqueous methanol media. The composition of the complexes has been established on the basis of data obtained from analytical and mass spectral studies. The structure of the complexes has been discussed in the light of molar conductance, magnetic moment, Uv-vis, EPR and IR spectral studies. All of the complexes are non-electrolyte in DMSO. The μ_eff values for the complexes fall in the region 1.76–1.85 BM which rules out the possibility of any M–M interaction in the structural unit of the complexes. The ligands coordinate to the metal centre in enol form through phenolate/naphtholate oxygen atoms and azomethine nitrogen atoms. The NMR spectra show that ligands are present in anti-cis configuration in uncoordinated state. In all of the complexes the copper centre adopts square pyramidal stereochemistry. The unpaired electron is present in $d_{x^2-y^2}$ orbital in the ground state for copper centre in the complexes. The electron transfer reactions for the complexes have been studied by cyclic voltammetry.     

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles using herbal Acorus calamus rhizome extract and coating on cotton fabric for antibacterial and UV blocking applications

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been synthesized by greener method using chloroauric acid as precursor and extract of Acorus calamus rhizome as reducing agent. Formation of AuNP was confirmed by the presence of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) peak in UV–Visible spectral analysis. XRD and FT-IR spectral analyses were performed for characterization. SEM images show spherical morphology and HR-TEM images reveal nanosize of AuNPs. The AuNPs were then coated on cotton fabric by pad-dry-cure method and characterized by SEM with EDAX technique. The results reveal the deposition of AuNPs on the surface of cotton fabric. Uncoated cotton, neat extract coated cotton and extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabrics were then tested for antibacterial activity against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacterial strains by AATCC 100 test method. It showed that the extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabric had higher antibacterial activity than other test samples against E. coli. UV-DRS analysis performed on extract containing AuNPs coated cotton fabric showed improved UV-blocking property than uncoated cotton fabric and neat extract coated cotton fabric.     

Synthesis of novel rhodanine based functionalized furans from the reaction of tert-butyl isocyanide with acetylenic esters in the presence of rhodanine acetic acid derivatives

The reactive 1:1 intermediate produced from the reaction of tert-butyl isocyanide and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates was trapped by rhodanine-N-acetic acid derivatives to generate polyfunctionalized furan rings in fairly good yields.     

Synthesis of functionalized Cu:ZnS nanosystems and its antibacterial potential

Copper doped Zinc Sulfide (Cu:ZnS) nanoparticles were synthesized as potential antibacterial agents, through a solvothermal approach using Mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) and Sodium citrate (SC) as differential capping agents. Multiple variants of the Cu:ZnS nanoparticles were generated based on the refluxing intervals of the reactions and a choice of the capping agents. The microstructural properties and the elemental composition of the synthesized nanosystems were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD), along with Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES). The as-synthesized nanosystems were also characterized for their surface attributes using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), while the optical properties were studied using UV–Vis spectroscopy. The electrostatic stability of the aqueous dispersions of Cu:ZnS was studied as a function of their solvent pH, using Photon Correlation Spectroscopy. For the assessment of the antibacterial properties of the different variants of Cu:ZnS nanosystems, the disk diffusion assay was performed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The results show a promising antibacterial activity for the Cu:ZnS variants synthesized, with a prominent activity in the [email protected]:ZnS nanoparticle making them a novel class of potential antibacterial agents.     

Synthesis of the four enantiomers of diethyl 1,2-di(N-Boc-amino)propylphosphonates

A simple and efficient synthetic strategy to all four enantiomerically pure diethyl 1,2-di(N-Boc-amino)propylphosphonates has been elaborated starting from the corresponding N-[(R)-(1-phenylethyl)]aziridine-(2S)- and N-[(S)-(1-phenylethyl)]aziridine-(2R)-carboxaldehydes, employing a one-pot three-components Kabachnik-Fields reaction followed by the hydrogenolytic removal of the chiral auxiliary and aziridine ring opening with simultaneous protection of the amino groups as the N-Boc derivatives.     

Absolute configuration assignment of caffeic acid ester derivatives from Tithonia diversifolia by vibrational circular dichroism: the pitfalls of deuteration

Recently, it was observed that infrared (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) calculations including deuterated hydroxyl groups in phenolic and saccharide moieties improved significantly the agreement with experimental data obtained in methanol-d₄. In the present study, the relative and absolute configurations of three methanol-soluble caffeic acid ester derivatives 1–3, isolated from Tithonia diversifolia, were established by a combined use of experimental and calculated ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, as well as electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and VCD spectroscopies. Interestingly, the attempt to reproduce the deuteration pattern arising from possible isotopic exchange in methanol-d₄ solution led to nearly mirror image calculated VCD spectra for 1 when compared to the non-deuterated molecule with the same absolute configuration. This latter fact can potentially lead to absolute configuration misassignments. A closer inspection of the vibrational chiroptical properties of 1 revealed that the deuteration status of the tertiary hydroxyl group at C-2 is critical for the correct reproduction of experimental VCD data in protic solvents. Therefore, in the case of stereochemical analysis of polar chiral natural product molecules, a combination of VCD and ECD is recommended.     

New N,N-diamine ligands derived from (−)-menthol and their application in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

Natural (?)-menthol was applied to construction of mono-N-tosylated-1,2-diamine derivatives. The O-tosylation and elimination of the tosylate of the menthol intermediate led to trans-p-menth-2-ene. The unsaturated menth-2-ene was next transformed into a mixture of N-tosylaziridines, which upon reaction with sodium azide gave four isomeric azides. The reduction of the formed tosylazides on Pd/C gave new chiral mono-N-tosylated-1,2-diamines, which were used as ligands in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation protocol on aromatic ketones and endocyclic imine.     

Convenient and easy access to 2-hydroxycyclopent-2-enones from acylcyanohydrins

A convenient access to 2-hydroxycyclopentenones was designed from acylcyanohydrins, by using titanacyclopropane complexes as nucleophilic partners and an intramolecular aldol condensation in basic conditions. The development of a one-pot procedure allows a step- and atom-economic process, and the use of Grignard reagents other than ethylmagnesium bromide provided valuable 3,4-disubstituted 2-hydroxycyclopentenones. The utility of the hydroxy group was illustrated by further functionalization of the α-position using palladium-mediated cross-coupling reactions.     

A ceric ammonium nitrate based oxidative cleavage pathway for the asymmetric aldol adducts of oxadiazinones derived from (1R,2S)-N-p-methoxybenzylnorephedrine

An N₄-p-methoxybenzyloxadiazinone has been prepared from (1R,2S)-norephedrine through a process of reductive amination, N-nitrosation, reduction, and cyclization. The oxadiazinone was acylated and employed in the asymmetric aldol addition reaction with aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to yield aldol adducts in isolated yields ranging from 54% to 90%. Selected aldol adducts were treated with ceric ammonium nitrate in aqueous acetonitrile to afford the desired β-hydroxycarboxylic acids through a tandem process of oxidative cleavage of the N₄-p-methoxybenzyl group and acidic hydrolysis of the N₃-acyl side chain. The β-hydroxycarboxylic acids were recovered in high diastereomeric purity as determined by 500 MHz ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the absolute configuration was confirmed by polarimetry. The chiral auxiliary unit, the 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one (oxadiazinone), was converted into its corresponding 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one (oxadiazinone) through an oxidative pathway promoted by the ceric ammonium nitrate.