One-pot synthesis of phenol and cyclohexanone from cyclohexylbenzene catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI)

Synthesis of phenol and cyclohexanone in one pot was examined by means of the NHPI-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of cyclohexylbenzene. The aerobic oxidation of cyclohexylbenzene catalyzed by NHPI followed by treatment with sulfuric acid afforded phenol and cyclohexanone in good selectivities. Thus, the reaction of cyclohexylbenzene under atmospheric dioxygen (1 atm) by NHPI at 100 °C for 3 h followed by treatment with 0.3 M sulfuric acid at room temperature for 2 h resulted in phenol and cyclohexanone in 96 and 91% selectivity, respectively, at 25% conversion. This method was successfully extended to the one-pot synthesis of 4-hydroxyacetophenone and cyclohexanone.     

Microwave-assisted alkaline digestion combined with microwave-assisted distillation for the determination of iodide and total iodine in edible seaweed by catalytic spectrophotometry

Microwave energy has been novelty applied to speed up a tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) alkaline digestion of seaweed samples and to assist distillation of iodine from seaweed alkaline digests. Iodide in the alkaline digests from seaweed and distilled iodine, reduced back to iodine in a hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution, was determined by a catalytic spectrophotometric method based on the catalytic effect of iodide on the oxidation of As(III) by Ce(IV) in H₂SO₄/HCl medium (Sandell-Kolthoff reaction). The determination of iodide was directly performed in the alkaline digests, while total iodine was assessed by analyzing the hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution after the distillation process. Microwave-assisted alkaline digestion was performed using 7.5 mL of TMAH and irradiating samples at 670 W for two 5.5 min steps. Microwave-assisted distillation was carried out using 4.0 mL of the alkaline digest and 3 mL of a 2.2 M hydrochloric acid and 0.05% (m/v) sodium nitrite solution, with a microwave power at 670 W for two 90 s steps. The distillate (iodine vapor) was bubbled in 10 mL of a 500 μg mL⁻¹ hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution (accepting solution). The linear calibration ranges were 0.30-20.0 and 0.40-20.0 μg L⁻¹ for iodide determination and total iodine determination, respectively. The limit of detection was 9.2 μg g⁻¹ for iodide and 28.5 μg g⁻¹ for total iodine. Repeatability of the overall procedures, expressed as R.S.D. for 11 determinations, was 2.6% for 196.3 μg g⁻¹ of iodide measured after microwave-assisted alkaline digestion, and 5.8% for 954.3 μg g⁻¹ of total iodine by microwave-assisted alkaline digestion followed by microwave-assisted distillation. Finally, accuracy of the methods was assessed by analyzing the NIST-09 (Sargasso) certified reference material and the methods were applied to the determination of iodide and total iodine in different Atlantic edible seaweed samples with satisfactory results.     

Microwave-assisted four-component reaction for the synthesis of a monothiohydantoin inhibitor of a fatty acid amide hydrolase

Monothiohydantoin 3a is made in seven steps from 1,4-diiodobenzene and is shown to be an inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (IC₅₀ = 23.4 ± 1.1 μM). The key step in the sequence involves a microwave-assisted four-component reaction that makes the 5,5′-disubstituted hydantoin nucleus by the sequential formation of two C-C and two C-N bonds.     

Ruthenium(III) catalysed oxidation of l-leucine by a new oxidant,diperiodatoargentate(III) in aqueous alkaline medium

The kinetics of Ru(III) catalysed oxidation of l-leucine by diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA) in alkaline medium at 298 K and a constant ionic strength of 0.60 mol dm⁻³ was studied spectrophotometrically. The oxidation products are pentanoic acid and Ag(I). The stoichiometry is [l-leucine]:[DPA] = 1:2. The reaction is of first order in Ru(III) and [DPA] and has less than unit order in both [l-leu] and [alkali]. The oxidation reaction in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a Ru(III)–l-leucine complex, which further reacts with one molecule of monoperiodatoargentate(III) (MPA) in a rate determining step followed by other fast steps to give the products. The main products were identified by spot test and spectral studies. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanism are calculated. The catalytic constant (K_c) was also calculated for the Ru(III) catalysed reaction at different temperatures. From the plots of log K_c versus 1/T, values of activation parameters with respect to the catalyst have been evaluated. The activation parameters with respect to the slow step of the mechanism are computed and discussed, and thermodynamic quantities are also determined. The active species of catalyst and oxidant have been identified.     

Synthesis of 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid from 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene using NHPI as a key catalyst

A new strategy to 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNPA) and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid from 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene and p-cymene, respectively, was developed using the NHPI-catalyzed aerobic oxidation as a principal reaction. 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthalene was oxidized by the oxidation with O₂ (1 atm) by NHPI (10 mol %) combined with Co(OAc)₂ (0.5 mol %) to give 6-acetyl-2-isopropylnaphthalene, which then was converted to 6-isopropyl-2-naphthoic acid under O₂ (1 atm) in the presence of Co(OAc)₂ (0.5 mol %) and Mn(OAc)₂ (0.5 mol %). Esterification of the resulting acid followed by the aerobic oxidation produced methyl 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoate whose hydrolysis led to the desired HNPA. An alternative route involves the oxidation of 6-acetyl-2-isopropylnaphthalene to 6-acetyl-2-naphthol on which subsequent oxidation and deacetylation gave HNPA. This method was successfully extended to the synthesis of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid from p-cymene.     

Microwave-assisted benzyne-click chemistry: preparation of 1H-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazoles

The benzotriazoles were prepared by three-component and two-component microwave-assisted [3+2] cycloadditions of various azides to benzyne, 3-methoxybenzyne, and 4,5-difluorobenzyne. In the three-component reaction, the aryne is generated, in the presence of an azide prepared in situ, by the reaction of an o-(trimethylsilylaryl) triflate with either CsF or KF/18-Crown-6. However, in the two-component reactions, a freshly prepared azide is added to the reaction vessel prior to aryne generation. Good to excellent yields of benzotriazoles were obtained in 15-20 min when the microwave-assisted reactions were carried out at 125 °C. These reaction times are significantly faster than similar reactions carried out using conventional heating.     

Microwave-assisted amination of 3-bromo-2-chloropyridine with various substituted aminoethanols

A simple method for microwave-assisted amination of 3-bromo-2-chloropyridine with various substituted aminoethanols is described. The reaction was carried out under microwave irradiation conditions (at 180 °C for 1-2 h) and the result was superior in terms of conversion and yield when compared to that of the corresponding conventional heating conditions.     

Microwave-assisted selenium dioxide oxidation of aryl methyl ketones to aryl glyoxals

We report an improved procedure for the synthesis of phenyl glyoxal and a series of para-substituted aryl glyoxals by microwave-assisted selenium dioxide oxidation. The reaction time has been reduced from several hours to three minutes for activated aryl methyl ketone substrates and 18 min for deactivated substrates, with all reactions affording quantitative conversion into the corresponding aryl glyoxals.     

Anti-AIDS agents 83. Efficient microwave-assisted one-pot preparation of angular 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromone containing compounds

A novel and efficient microwave-assisted one-pot reaction was developed to synthesize angular 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromone-containing compounds, which is the first and key step in the synthesis of potent DCK and DCP anti-HIV agents. The newly developed microwave synthesis conditions dramatically shortened the reaction time from 2 days to 4 h with improved yields.     

Improvement of an enzyme electrode by poly(vinyl alcohol) coating for amperometric measurement of phenol

A poly(vinyl alcohol) film cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (PVA-GA) was introduced to the surface of a tyrosinase-based carbon paste electrode. The coated PVA-GA film was beneficial in terms of increasing the stability and reproducibility of the enzyme electrode. The electrode showed a sensitive current response to the reduction of the o-quinone, which was the oxidation product of phenol, by the tyrosinase, in the presence of oxygen. The effects of the PVA and PVA-GA coating, the pH, and the GA:PVA ratio on the current response were investigated. The sensitivity of the PVA-GA-Tyr electrode was 130.56 μA/mM (1.8 μA/μM cm²) and the linear range of phenol was 0.5-100 μM. At a higher concentration of phenol (>100 μM), the current response showed the Michaelis-Menten behavior. Using the PVA-GA-Tyr electrode, a two-electrode system was tested as a prototype sensor for portable applications.     

Microwave-assisted preparation of cyclic ureas from diamines in the presence of ZnO

A microwave-assisted facile method for the preparation of various ureas, cyclic ureas, and urethanes has been developed that affords nearly quantitative yield of products at 120 °C (150 W), 71 kPa within 10 min using ZnO as a catalyst. The enhanced selectivity in this reaction is attributed to the deployment of ZnO whose absence results in poor yield and the generation of byproducts.     

Pyrolytic hydrolysis of polycarbonate in the presence of earth-alkali oxides and hydroxides

The rise in the use of polycarbonate (PC) calls for the development of after-use treatments. In this work, we describe a process for obtaining bisphenol A (BPA), phenol and isopropenyl phenol (IPP) from PC by hydrolysis at temperatures between 300 and 500 °C. The experiments were carried out in a steam atmosphere in the presence of MgO, CaO, Mg(OH)₂ or Ca(OH)₂ as catalysts, respectively. The results were compared with the hydrolysis of PC in the absence of any catalysts. All of these catalysts accelerated the hydrolysis of PC drastically, with MgO and Mg(OH)₂ being more effective than their Ca counterparts. The differences between oxides and hydroxides were negligible indicating the same mechanism for both, oxides and hydroxides. BPA was the main product at 300 °C, with a yield of 78% obtained in the presence of MgO. At 500 °C, BPA was mainly degraded to phenol and isopropenyl phenol (IPP). It can be shown that a combined process involving PC hydrolysis at 300 °C and BPA fission at 500 °C leads to high yields of phenol and IPP and the drastic decrease of residue.     

Monitoring yoctomole alkaline phosphatase by capillary electrophoresis with on-capillary catalysis-electrochemical detection

An electrophoretically mediated microanalysis method for detection of yoctomole (ymol) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was developed by a combination of on-capillary enzyme-catalyzed reaction and electrochemical detection. In this method, ALP molecules were electrokinetically injected into a capillary of 10 μm i.d. and then electromigrated to the section of the capillary immersed in a warm water bath of 37 °C, where ALP reacted for a certain time with disodium phenyl phosphate as the enzyme substrate. ALP could be measured through determining the electroactive product phenol of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction by using electrochemical detection. The phenol concentration was proportional to the mass of ALP. As a catalyst, ALP was not consumed during the reaction, which provided amplification of signal with prolonged the reaction time. In order to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, the detection end of the capillary was etched to a horn-shape and a single carbon fiber microcylinder electrode of 6 μm in diameter as the working electrode was inserted into the detection end of the capillary. Under these conditions, the mass of ALP as low as 1.2 × 10⁻²² mol (72 molecules) or 4.0 × 10⁻²³ mol (24 molecules) could be detected for the on-capillary reaction time of 15 min or 2 h.     

Efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of highly functionalized pyrimidine derivatives

A generally applicable one-pot procedure for the rapid, easy, and diverse asymmetric functionalization of pyrimidines was developed that requires minimum efforts for the purification of the final products. 4-Amino-6-aryl-substituted pyrimidines are prepared in good yields by combined microwave-assisted amination and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The acid-mediated amination reaction affords the products as easily separable salts in 30-40 min reaction time.     

Rapid synthesis of cyclobutene diesters using a microwave-accelerated ruthenium-catalysed [2+2] cycloaddition

A range of cyclobutene diesters was synthesised using a ruthenium-catalysed, microwave-assisted, [2+2] cycloaddition. Excellent yields of the desired products were realised using reaction times of only 2 min.     

Optimization and application of microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis for rapid quantification of protein oxidation markers using LC-MS

Simple and efficient microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis (MAAH) of proteins was used for rapid quantification of α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (AAS) and γ-glutamic semialdehyde (GGS) as major protein oxidation markers. The precursor amino acid residues corresponding to AAS and GGS in oxidized proteins were derivatized by reductive amination with sodium cyanoborohydride (NaCNBH₃) and p-aminobenzoic acid (ABA) followed by MAAH to generate the marker derivatives AAS-ABA and GGS-ABA. The quantification was performed using electrospray ionization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (ESI LC-MS). The important parameters for hydrolysis were optimized, which include the temperature, the reaction time, the acid concentration and volume as well as the microwave power. Compared to the conventional acid hydrolysis of 18-24 h using 6-12 M HCl at 110 °C applied commonly in the literature and also in this work, MAAH of proteins can be completed as fast as in only 2-10 min and, additionally, with a 3-5 times higher yield of the final derivatization products. Furthermore, a better agreement between the ratio of the detected derivatization products and the theoretical yields from the studied protein has also been achieved, which indicates that MAAH may serve as a more reliable method of acid hydrolysis for this purpose than that with conventional thermal heating. The MAAH method is demonstrated to be a time-saving, reproducible and efficient technique for studying AAS and GGS as protein oxidation markers using LC-MS.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of indole-annulated dihydropyrano[3,4-c]chromene derivatives via hetero-Diels-Alder reaction

An efficient two-step synthesis of indole-annulated dihydropyrano[3,4-c]chromene derivatives is achieved via Knoevenagel condensation of O-propargylated salicylaldehyde derivatives with indolin-2-ones followed by a microwave-assisted intramolecular-hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of the resulting (Z)-3-(2-(prop-2-ynyloxy)benzylidene)indolin-2-ones in the presence of 20 mol % CuI in acetonitrile.     

Phenanthrene degradation in subcritical water

Subcritical water (<374 °C and <221 bar) has unique characteristics such as dramatically decreased dielectric constant, surface tension, and viscosity with increasing temperature, allowing for dissolution and reaction of organics in high-temperature water to occur. Additionally, the dissociation constant of water at temperatures of 200-300 °C is three orders of magnitude greater than that of ambient water, which may also contribute to the reactivity of subcritical water with certain organic compounds. In this study, the degradation and oxidation of phenanthrene in subcritical water were investigated. Both deionized water and water with 3% hydrogen peroxide were used in the degradation and oxidation studies. The effect of temperature on degradation efficiency has been determined with a temperature range of 100-350 °C. When the temperature was increased from 150 to 350 °C, the amount of phenanthrene degraded varied from 6 to 243 μg in each milliliter of deionized water. However, these quantities were increased to 195 μg at 150 °C and 3680 μg at 350 °C in each milliliter of water with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Several degradation products including phenol, benzoic acid, and ketones were identified by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).     

Immobilization of trypsin onto multifunctional meso-/macroporous core-shell microspheres: A new platform for rapid enzymatic digestion

A simple, fast, efficient, and reusable microwave-assisted tryptic digestion system which was constructed by immobilization of trypsin onto porous core-shell Fe₃O₄@fTiO₂ microspheres has been developed. The nanostructure with magnetic core and titania shell has multiple pore sizes (2.4 and 15.0 nm), high pore volume (0.25 cm³ g⁻¹), and large surface area (50.45 m² g⁻¹). For the proteins, the system can realize fast and efficient microwave-assisted tryptic digestion. Various standard proteins (e.g., cytochrome c (cyt-c), myoglobin (MYO), β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), and bovine serum albumin (BSA)) used can be digested in 45 s under microwave radiation, and they can be confidently identified by mass spectrometry (MS) analysis; even the concentration of substrate is as low as 5 ng μL⁻¹. Furthermore, the system for the 45 s microwave-assisted tryptic digestion is still effective after the trypsin-immobilized microspheres have been reused for 5 times. Importantly, 1715 unique proteins from 10 μg mouse brain proteins can be identified with high confidence after treatment of 45 s microwave-assisted tryptic digestion.     

Rapid microwave-assisted preparation of amino-functionalized polymers

Two different methods for the rapid microwave-assisted amination of halide-functionalized polymers were investigated. Nucleophilic substitution by phthalimide, followed by ring opening with methylamine to liberate the free amine, afforded amino-substituted polymers with up to 76% conversion. The second method involves nucleophilic substitution with azide ions and subsequent treatment with triphenylphosphine. The latter method was found to be more efficient, with up to 99% conversion in favourable cases and with a reaction time of 2 × 30 min.