4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript> resonances in photoionization from 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> levels in neutral zinc

In neutral zinc the 4p ² configuration lies above the 3d ¹⁰4s ionization limit and its levels become perturbers in the continuum. Lines have been identified in the Zn I spectrum for the multiplet, whereas no lines have been found for transitions to 4p ^{2 1} D or ¹ S. In this paper, cross sections for photoionization from 4s4p levels are reported that reveal the positions and widths of the 4p ² resonances. Calculations were performed using the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) and B-spline R-matrix (BSR) method. Results from Breit–Pauli calculations that ignore the background continua are also presented. Included in the latter are energies for the levels and transition data (transition energies, line strengths, f-values, and A-rates) for all E1 transitions between these levels. Transition energies and the agreement in the length and velocity values, particularly for allowed transitions, indicate the accuracy of the computational model. Line widths are compared with other estimates. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Nickel catalysis for hydrogenation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-dinitrobenzene to <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine

The activity of supported nickel catalysts (5–20% Ni) in the hydrogenation of p-dinitrobenzene to p-phenylenediamine was investigated. The catalysts were obtained by ureainduced precipitation. Activated carbon, alumina, titania, and silica gel were evaluated as supports. The most active catalysts, 5%Ni/TiO₂ and 20%Ni/SiO₂, provided 50–54% yields of p-phenylenediamine at complete dinitrobenzene conversion.     

Conducting materials prepared by the oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinone

p-Phenylenediamine was oxidized with p-benzoquinone in the aqueous solutions of methanesulfonic acid (MSA). The conductivity of the products increased with increasing concentration of MSA from 1.5?×?10^?12 S cm^?1 in 0.1 M MSA up to 3.4?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 in 5 M MSA. The low-molecular-weight products are basically composed of one p-benzoquinone and two p-phenylenediamine molecules. Their molecular structure is discussed on the basis of mass, Fourier-transform infrared, Raman, NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. The formation of 2,5-di(p-phenylenediamine)-p-benzoquinone protonated with methanesulfonic acid best complies with the information provided by spectroscopic techniques. Its conversion to hydroquinone tautomer explains the formation of unpaired spins observed by EPR and their potential contribution to the conduction.     

Molecular structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine

The molecular structures of N-(o-and p-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine were investigated by NMR spectroscopy, x-ray structure analysis, and molecular modeling. It was found that NMR resonances of the OH and aromatic protons in N-(o-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine were doubled because of the presence of two conformers in solution. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 165–168, March–April, 2008.     

Oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Xylene

The review discusses the main procedures for producing terephthalic acid from p-xylene (primarily the Amoco process with the participation of Co, Mn, and Br salts), the oxidation mechanisms, alternative processes, and perspectives.     

Photolysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinone and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-chloranil in aqueous sodium sulfite solution

Photosubstitution of the sulfo group for hydrogen (chlorine in chloranil) is observed under irradiation of sulfonated derivatives of hydroquinone formed upon dissolving of p-benzoquinone and p-chloranil in aqueous solutions of sodium sulfite. The quantum yield of the photochemical reaction is 0.18 ± 0.02 for p-benzoquinone. The rate constant of the thermal reaction of substitution is 5.5 × 10⁻⁴ l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The substitution reaction is sensitized by eosin upon irradiation with visible light. During the course of irradiation of sulfohydroquinones, the formation of a product with an absorption maximum at 235 nm was found. The product decays with a rate constant of 0.005 s⁻¹.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-conformers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-chloroacetylcytisine

N-Chloroacetylcytisine was synthesized by acylation of (–)-cytisine. Stable Z- and E-conformers with respect to rotational isomerism around the N-12–CO bond were found in PMR spectra at room temperature. The point at which PMR resonances of the Z- and E-conformers coalesced upon heating was measured. The transition barrier between the conformers was estimated.     

Stability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>-element diphosphates in water

The mean atomic Gibbs energies of formation of (Δ _f ? _at ⁰ ) of s-, p-, and d-element diphosphates have been calculated using ion increments of the Gibbs energy (Δ _f G ⁰). The diphosphate hydrolysis kinetics is considered, and a correlation between the Δ _f ? _at ⁰ values and the hydrolysis rate constants is presented.     

Synthesis of new hydrazones based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-hydroxybenzohydrazides

o- and p-Hydroxybenzohydrazides reacted with various unsaturated aromatic aldehydes to give the corresponding N′-(hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazones. Inhibitory activity of the obtained hydrazones against cathepsin E was evaluated.     

Synthesis of oxo derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-tolysulfonyl)hexahydrocycloalka[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]indoles

Hydroxymercuration-demercuration of N-p-tolysulfonyl-4,4a,9,9a-tetrahydro-3H-carbazoles and N-p-tolyl(or methyl)sulfonyl-1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles leads to the formation of the corresponding N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-2-ols and N-p-tolyl(or methyl)sulfonyl-1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydrocyclopenta[b]indol-2-ols. The latter are oxidized to 2-oxo derivatives with potassium dichromate. The oxidation of 2-methoxy-8-methyl-N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-1-ol under analogous conditions gives 2-methoxy-8-methyl-N-p-tolysulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-1-one.     

Cotton Stalk Pretreatment Using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daedalea flavida</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phlebia radiata</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavodon flavus</Emphasis>: Lignin Degradation,Cellulose Recovery,and Enzymatic Saccharification

Lignocellulolytic enzyme activities of selective fungi Daedalea flavida MTCC 145 (DF-2), Phlebia radiata MTCC 2791 (PR), and non-selective fungus Flavodon flavus MTCC 168 (FF) were studied for pretreatment of cotton stalks. Simultaneous productions of high LiP and laccase activities by DF-2 during early phase of growth were effective for lignin degradation 27.83 ± 1.25 % (w/w of lignin) in 20-day pretreatment. Production of high MnP activity without laccase in the early growth phase of PR was ineffective and delayed lignin degradation 24.93 ± 1.53 % in 25 days due to laccase production at later phase. With no LiP activity, low activities of MnP and laccase by FF yielded poor lignin degradation 15.09 ± 0.6 % in 20 days. Xylanase was predominant cellulolytic enzyme produced by DF-2, resulting hemicellulose as main carbon and energy source with 83 % of cellulose recovery after 40 days of pretreatment. The glucose yield improved more than two fold from 20-day DF-2 pretreated cotton stalks after enzymatic saccharification.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">seco</Emphasis>-Kaurane skeleton diterpenoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Croton oblongifolius</Emphasis>

A new seco-kaurane type diterpenoid, ent-3,4-seco-17-oxo-kaur-4(19),15(16)-dien-3-oic acid, and a known compound, ent-3,4-seco-kaur-4(19),16(17)-dien-3-oic acid, were isolated from the stem bark of Croton oblongifolius. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Propanal hydroamination with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-aminobenzoic acid

The propanal hydroamination was studied. It was found that the reaction in ethanol proceeded faster than in 2-propanol. By ¹H and ¹³C NMR method the existence was proved of a tautomeric equilibrium in ethanol solution between 4-(propylideneamino)benzoic acid and its enamine form, 4-(prop-1-en-1-ylamino)benzoic acid.     

Lipids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halostachys caspica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halocharis hispida</Emphasis>

The composition of lipids from the aerial parts of two species of halophytes from the family Chenopodiaceae, Halostachys caspica C. A. Mey. and Halocharis hispida Bge. was determined. Neutral lipids (NL, 62.1 and 54.2%, respectively) dominated the total lipids (TL) of these plants. More than a third of the NL were esters of aliphatic alcohols and phytosterols (FAE). Fatty acids 16:0, 18:1, and 18:2 dominated the acids of FAE; 16:0, 18:1, and 18:3, the phospholipids. The principal fatty acids of glycolipids were unsaturated acids (68.3 and 75.1%) with linolenic acid dominating (44.9 and 43.5%). Presented at the 7th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Tashkent, October 16–18, 2007. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 276–278, May–June, 2009.     

Reactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Allyl- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Diallyltrifluoromethanesulfonamides with Carboxylic Acid Amides under Oxidizing Conditions

Reactions of acetamide and benzamide with N-allyltrifluoromethanesulfonamide in the presence of t-BuOCl–NaI afforded exclusively 2,5-bis(chloromethyl)-1,4-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)piperazine. Analogous reaction with N,N-diallyltrifluoromethanesulfonamide gave mixed halogenation product at only one C=C double bond of the substrate.     

New boron-containing bacteriochlorin <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> cycloimide conjugate

A conjugate of the bacteriochlorophyll a derivative with the cobalt bis(dicarbollide) anion [3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ was synthesized.     

Dimerization of sterically hindered <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-nitrosophenols

Dimerization of exhaustively substitute p-nitrosophenols was studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV, and IR spectroscopy. The results showed that these compounds in crystal exist as strong dimers having a diazene N,N′-dioxide structure. An equilibrium between the dimeric and monomeric forms of nitrosophenols in solution was revealed for the first time.     

Six-coordinate nitrosyl complex of Co-<Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-tetra-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-tolylporphyrin with a <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-1-methylimidazole ligand

Electron absorption and Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy was used to determine that the reaction of 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm) with a nitrosyl complex of meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrinate cobalt (Co(TTP)(NO)) at 210—240 K led to the formation of the six-coordinate complex (1-MeIm)Co(TTP)(NO), which was stable at low temperatures both in the solid state and in a solution of toluene. Based on the temperature dependence of the equilibrium constants, the thermodynamic parameters of complexation were calculated, which indicated a weak binding of the 1-methylimidazole ligand with the Co-porphyrin nitrosyl complex.     

Molecular properties of the copolymers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride and maleic acid

The hydrodynamic and conformational properties of molecules of poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) and N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride-maleic acid copolymers of different compositions in solutions with various ionic-strength and pH values, as well as of the polyelectrolyte complex based on the copolymer with dodecyl sulfate anions in chloroform, are studied. For poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) molecules in a 1 M NaCl solution, the Kuhn segment length and the hydrodynamic diameter of the chain are estimated as A = 3.9 nm and d = 0.48 nm, respectively. In acidic solutions with pH 3.5, the copolymers demonstrate behavior typical for polyelectrolytes. In an alkaline solution with pH 13, when 1 M NaCl is added to the solution of the copolymer containing 29 mol % maleic acid units, there is an antipolyelectrolyte effect that manifests itself as an increase in the intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer and in the hydrodynamic radius of its molecules. It is found that an increase in the fraction of maleic acid units in the copolymer from 12 to 42 mol % brings about a reduction in the equilibrium rigidity of its macromolecules from 4.1 to 2.2 nm. The equilibrium rigidity of polyelectrolyte-complex molecules is higher than that of initial copolymer molecules owing to steric interactions arising between the aliphatic chains of dodecyl sulfate anions. In an electric field, the molecules of the complex are oriented owing to the induced dipole moment resulting from the displacement of dodecyl sulfate anions along the chain contour.     

Copolymer of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid as drug carrier

A copolymer of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid of constant composition was prepared under the conditions of radical initiation. The possibility of the functionalization of the copolymer with drugs containing amino groups by polymer-analogous transformations was examined. Conditions were found for preparing conjugates of the copolymer with isoniazid. The structures and the quantitative compositions of the conjugates were determined by ¹³С NMR spectroscopy, and the possibility of preparing conjugates with controlled drug content was demonstrated.