Factors influencing aggregation behavior of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-benzyl <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-glutamate)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">graft</Emphasis>-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer in mixed solvents

Poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG-graft-PEG) copolymer was synthesized by the ester exchange reaction of PBLG homopolymer with mPEG. Aggregation behavior of the PBLG-graft-PEG copolymer in mixtures of ethanol and chloroform was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and viscometry. Effects of the polymer solution concentration, grafting degree, test temperature, and chloroform content on the morphology, average particle diameter, and critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the micelles formed by the PBLG-graft-PEG copolymer in the mixed solvents were mainly studied. It was revealed that the PBLG-graft-PEG copolymer can self-assemble into polymeric micelles with a core-shell structure in various shapes depending on the preparation conditions.     

Modification of poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane via blending with poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-benzyl <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-glutamate)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">block</Emphasis>-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer

A series of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(γ-benzyl l-glutamate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG-b-PEG) blend membranes with different PVA/PBLG-b-PEG mole ratios were prepared by pervaporation. Structure and morphologies of PVA/PBLG-b-PEG blend membranes were investigated using Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Mechanical and chemical properties of PVA/PBLG-b-PEG blend membrane were studied by tensile testing and other physical methods. It was revealed that the introduction of PBLG-b-PEG copolymer has significant effect on the properties of a PVA membrane.     

Preparation of surfactant-free nanoparticles of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-poly(D,L-lactide-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-glycolide-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-ɛ-caprolactone)

Surfactant-free nanoparticles of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide-co-ɛ-caprolactone) diblock copolymers (MPEG-b-PDLLGCL) with different DLL:G:CL ratios were prepared by modified-spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method. Sizes of resulted colloidal nanoparticles obtained from light-scattering analysis were in the range of 121–132 nm with narrow size distribution. The nanoparticle sizes depended on the composition of the PDLLGCL block. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the nanoparticles were aggregated after drying process, suggested they were soft nanoparticles. However, their initial aggregates can be observed and it was shown that the nanoparticles have spherical shape with smooth surface. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylsulfanyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylsulfonyl(acyl)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>′-phenylthiourea sodium salts

Reactions of N-arylsulfonyl(acyl)arenesulfenamide sodium salts with phenyl isothiocyanate afforded N-arylsulfanyl-N-arylsulfonyl(acyl)-N-phenylthioura sodium salts which were found to increase thermal stability of finely dispersed poly(vinyl chloride).Translated from Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii, Vol. 40, No. 10, 2004, pp. 1532–1535.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Koval, Oleinik.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>′-tetrazolylmethoxyl derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyldiazene <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxides

A preparation method was developed for previously unknown tetrazole derivatives containing in the 1, 2, and/or 5 positions of the tetrazole ring N-methyldiazene-N-oxide-N′-oxymethyl groups.     

Directed Aminomethylation of Pyrrole,Indole, and Carbazole with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N′</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N′</Emphasis>-Tetramethylmethanediamine

Catalytic aminomethylation of pyrrole and indole with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylmethanediamine in the presence of 5 mol % of ZrOCl₂·8H₂O proceeds selectively at the positions 2, 5 of pyrrole and 1, 3 of indole. Carbazole under the same conditions affords 3-formyl-9-aminomethyl derivative. The reaction in the presence of 5 mol % of K₂CO₃ occurs as monoaminomethylation: for pyrrole at the position 2, for indole at the position 3, and for carbazole at the nitrogen atom of the substrate. Water-soluble 1,1′-(1H-pyrrole-2,5-diyl)bis(N,N-dimethylmethanamine) exhibits a fungistatic activity with respect to phytopathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani.     

Alkyl <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-cellulosides: non-reducing cellulose mimics

Non-reducing cellulose mimics, termed alkyl β-d-cellulosides, were successfully prepared by two efficient multi-step syntheses starting from commercially available microcrystalline cellulose or cellulose triacetate. Introduction of the alkoxy moiety and degradation of the cellulose backbone was carried out in the presence of a Lewis acid, on one hand. On the other hand, cellulose hydrolysis mediated by mineral acids was combined with β-glycosidation performed in the presence of silver salts. The samples obtained possess a number-average degree of polymerization from 5 to 25, determined by size-exclusion chromatography, elemental analyses, NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Samples in multi-gram quantities were available. Selective formation of a β-glycosidic bond between the C-1 atom of the reducing end group and alkoxy moieties was confirmed by a combination of 2D NMR spectroscopic and MALDI-TOF MS techniques. Due to the blocking of the aldehyde function, the cellulosides described are very useful mimics for the investigation of polysaccharide interactions with other complex molecules such as proteins or to determine polymer properties in solution or in solid state.     

Synthesis and reactivity of 2-(2-furyl)-1,7-dimethyl-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>,7<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-benzo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>: 3,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>′]diimidazole

2-(2-Furyl)-1,7-dimethyl-1H,7H-benzo[1,2-d: 3,4-d′]diimidazole was synthesized by the Weidenhagen reaction followed by N-methylation. Electrophilic substitution reactions of the title compound (nitration, bromination, sulfonation, formylation, and acylation) involved both the furan ring and central benzene fragment.     

1,3-Diamino-2-Hydroxypropane-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>′,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>′-Tetraacetic Acid: Crystal and Molecular Structures

The synthesis, IR spectroscopic study, and X-ray diffraction analysis (CIF file CCDC no. 1574078) are carried out for 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (I). The structural units of a crystal of compound I are (H_4.5HPdta)^0.5– anions, (H_5.5HPdta)^0.5+ cations, and molecules of water of crystallization joined by a branched network of hydrogen bonds: strong intermolecular O–H…O and intramolecular N–H…O bonds.     

Cyclization of the substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ortho</Emphasis>-cyclopropylphenyl)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N′</Emphasis>-aryl ureas and thioureas in the gas phase and solution

Electron ionization (EI), chemical ionization (CI), tandem mass spectrometry, high-resolution measurements, and labeling studies as well as quantum chemical calculations were used to understand the behavior of the molecular radical cations (EI) and protonated molecules (CI) of substituted N-(ortho-cyclopropylphenyl)-N'-aryl ureas and N-(ortho-cyclopropylphenyl)-N'-aryl thioureas in a mass spectrometer. Fragmentation schemes and possible mechanisms of primary isomerization were proposed. According to the fragmentation pattern, formation of the corresponding benzoxazines and benzothiazines was considered as the major process of isomerization of the original M(+.) and MH(+), although some portions of these ions definitely transformed into other structures. The treatment of N-(ortho-cyclopropylphenyl)-N'-phenyl urea and N-(ortho-cyclopropylphenyl)-N'-phenylthiourea in solution with strong acids formed predicted 4-ethyl-N-phenyl-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-2-amin and 4-ethyl-N-phenyl-4H-3,1-benzothiazin-2-amine as principal products.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-Chloro-<Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-unsaturated carbonyls as convenient precursors of highly substituted benzenes

The Diels–Alder reactions of three β-chloro-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds 1–3 with different dienes were carried out to afford highly functionalized cyclohexenes 4–9, bearing quaternary centers, in good yields. These cycloadducts (CAs) undergo dehydrochlorination with subsequent aromatization in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene DBU to produce new substituted benzenes 11–14. Compound 10 is the product of lactonization and removal of an HCl molecule from compound 7. All products were characterized by NMR, IR, elementary analysis and some of them by MS. Structure assignments of isomers were carried out on the basis of NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants using 1D, 2D and heteronOe NMR techniques.     

Synthesis of 20<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-protopanaxadiol <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-D-galactopyranosides

20S-Protopanaxadiol (3β,12β,20S-trihydroxydammar-24-ene) 3-, 12-, and 20-O-β-D-galactopyranosides were synthesized for the first time. Condensation of 12β-acetoxy-3β,20S-dihydroxydammar-24-ene (1) and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-galactopyranosylbromide (α-acetobromogalactose) (2) under Koenigs–Knorr conditions with subsequent removal of the protecting groups resulted in regio- and stereoselective formation of 20S-protopanaxadiol 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside, an analog of the natural ginsenoside Rh₂. Glycosylation of 12β,20S-dihydroxydammar-24-en-3-one (5) by 2 with subsequent treatment of the reaction products with NaBH₄ in isopropanol and deacetylation with NaOMe gave 20S-protopanaxadiol 12- and 20-O-β-Dgalactopyranosides.     

Synthesis of lupane and 19<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>,28-epoxy-18<Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-oleanane 2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">seco</Emphasis>-derivatives based on betulin

The α-hydroxyoximes of methyl betulonate and allobetulone were synthesized. Beckmann fragmentation of them produced the lupane and 19β,28-epoxy-18α-oleanane 2,3-seco-derivatives. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 491–494, September-October, 2008. Original article submitted July 4, 2008.     

Synthesis of imidazo[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis>]benzo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>;3,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>´]difuroxanes

A method for the synthesis of imidazo[4,5-e]benzo[1,2-c;3,4-c´]difuroxanes, potential nitric oxide donors, has been developed. The synthesized compounds were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis.     

Computer models of eutectic-type <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis> diagrams with allotropy

Using the eutectic-type T–x–y diagram as an example, it can be represented the analysis of its geometrical construction dependence on the temperature of a component two polymorphous modifications which participate in mono- and invariant metatectic and invariant eutectic (eutectoid) transformations above or below (and within) binary eutectics temperature intervals and below a ternary eutectic temperature. Computer models for considered phase diagrams have been designed. Such models help to solve applied tasks like visualization, isopleths and isothermal sections decoding, mass balances calculation and evaluation of phase and conglomerate concentration in microstructure.     

Novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetylglucosaminidases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio harveyi 650</Emphasis>: Cloning,expression, enzymatic properties,and subsite identification

Background  

Since chitin is a highly abundant natural biopolymer, many attempts have been made to convert this insoluble polysaccharide into commercially valuable products using chitinases and β-N-acetylglucosaminidases (GlcNAcases). We have previously reported the structure and function of chitinase A from Vibrio harveyi 650. This study t reports the identification of two GlcNAcases from the same organism and their detailed functional characterization.     

Thermophysical properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimеthylacetamide mixtures with <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butanol

The refraction, dielectric, viscosity, density, data of the binary mixtures of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) with n-butanol at 308.15 and 313.15 K. The measured parameters used to obtain derived properties like Bruggeman factor, molar refraction and excess static dielectric constant, excess inverse relaxation time, excess molar volume and excess viscosity, excess molar refraction. The variation in magnitude with composition and temperature of these quantities has been used to discuss the type, strength and nature of binary interactions. Results confirm that there are strong hydrogen-bond interactions between unlike molecules of DMA+ n-butanol mixtures and that 1: 1 complexes are formed and strength of intermolecular interaction increases with temperature.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">iso</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-Cyclopiazonic acid,a new natural product isolated from the marine-derived fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus flavus</Emphasis> C-F-3

A new natural product, iso-α-cyclopiazonic acid (1), together with its isomer α-cyclopiazonic acid (2); three mycotoxins: aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) (3), aflatoxin Q₁ (AFQ₁) (4), and O-methylsterigmatocystin (OMST) (5); two diketopiperazine alkaloids: ditryptophenaline (6) and 3-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-6-benzylpiperazine-2,5-dione (7), were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus flavus. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data. The cytotoxicities of compounds 1 and 2 were studied using HL-60, MOLT-4, A-549, and BEL-7402 cell lines.     

Synthesis of per-6-<Emphasis Type="Italic">О</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl)(diphenyl)silyl-β-cyclodextrin

Per-6-O-(tert-butyl)(diphenyl)silyl-β-silylcyclodextrin has been obtained regioselectively via the reaction with tert-butyldiphenylchlorosilane. Further treatment of the product with chlorosilanes has led to the corresponding derivatives of β-cyclodextrin with mixed silyl groups at the primary hydroxyl groups.