Ammonolysis of aziridinecarboxylic acid esters

The ammonolysis of 1-(2-methoxycarbonylvinyl)- and 1-(1,2-dimethoxycarbonylvinyl)-2-methoxycarbonylaziridines at normal pressure leads to 1-(2-methoxycarbonylvinyl)-and 1-(1,2-dicarbamoylvinyl)-2-carbamoylaziridines, respectively, whereas 1,3-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-4-one derivatives are formed under pressure.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 350–352, March, 1983.     

The arachidonic acid metabolite 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid alleviates pulmonary fibrosis

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are metabolites of arachidonic acid that are rapidly metabolized into diols by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). sEH inhibition has been shown to increase the biological activity of EETs, which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, the role of EETs in pulmonary fibrosis remains unexplored. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze EETs in the lung tissues of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF, n = 29) and controls (n = 15), and the function of 11,12-EET was evaluated in in vitro and in vivo in pulmonary fibrosis models. EET levels in IPF lung tissues, including those of 8,9-EET, 11,12-EET, and 14,15-EET, were significantly lower than those in control tissues. The 11,12-EET/11,12-DHET ratio in human lung tissues also differentiated IPF from control tissues. 11,12-EET significantly decreased transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced expression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and collagen type-I in MRC-5 cells and primary fibroblasts from IPF patients. sEH-specific siRNA and 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU; sEH inhibitor) also decreased TGF-β1-induced expression of α-SMA and collagen type-I in fibroblasts. Moreover, 11,12-EET and TPPU decreased TGF-β1-induced p-Smad2/3 and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression in primary fibroblasts from patients with IPF and fibronectin expression in Beas-2B cells. TPPU decreased the levels of hydroxyproline in the lungs of bleomycin-induced mice. 11,12-EET or sEH inhibitors could inhibit pulmonary fibrosis by regulating TGF-β1-induced profibrotic signaling, suggesting that 11,12-EET and the regulation of EETs could serve as potential therapeutic targets for IPF treatment.Subject terms: Respiratory tract diseases, Chronic inflammation     

Hydroxymethylphenylnaphthoie acid lactones

Reduction of 1-phenylnaphthalene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (I) with zinc and acetic acid or lithium aluminium hydride yields a mixture of 1-phenyl-3-hydroxymethyl-2-naphthoie acid lactone (II) and 1-phonyl-2-hydroxymethyl-3-naphthoie acid lactone (III). Catalytic hydrogenation of (I) gave the tetrahydronaphthalene dicarboxylic anhydride (IV). Oxidation of the phenyldihydronaphthofuran (X), prepared by base-catalyzed cyclization of the ether (IX), also yielded lactones (II) and (III). The phenyltetrahydronaphthofuran (XII) was similarly prepared by cyclization of the phenylpropargyl cinnamyl ether (XI).     

Protonation study of peroxynitric acid and peroxynitrous acid

The equilibrium structures and harmonic vibrational frequencies of peroxynitric acid (HOONO(2)) and seven structures of protonated peroxynitric acid, along with peroxynitrous acid (HOONO) and its 12 protonated peroxynitrous acid structures, have been investigated using several ab initio and density functional methods. The ab initio methods include second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory, quadratic configuration interaction, including single and double excitations theory (QCISD), and the QCISD(T) methods, which incorporate a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitation. The Becke three-parameter hybrid functional combined with Lee, Yang, and Parr correlation function is the density functional method used. The lowest energy form of protonated peroxynitric acid is a complex between H(2)O(2) and NO(+) rather than between H(2)O and NO(2) (+). For peroxynitrous acid, a complex between H(2)O(2) and NO(2) (+) is found to be the lowest energy structure. The ab initio proton affinity (PA) of HOONO and HOONO(2) is predicted to be 182.1 and 175.1 kcal mol(-1), respectively, at the QCISD(T)/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory. The results are contrasted with an earlier study on nitrous acid, and is shown that peroxynitric acid and peroxynitrous acid have a smaller PA than nitrous acid.     

Asymmetric synthesis of trans-2,3-piperidinedicarboxylic acid and trans-3,4-piperidinedicarboxylic acid derivatives

Asymmetric syntheses of (2S,3S)-3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-piperidinecarboxylic acid (1b), (3R,4S)-4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-3-piperidinecarboxylic acid (2b), and their corresponding N-Boc and N-Cbz protected analogues 8a,b and 17a,b are described. Enantiomerically pure 1b has been synthesized in five steps starting from L-aspartic acid beta-tert-butyl ester. Tribenzylation of the starting material followed by alkylation with allyl iodide using KHMDS produces the key intermediate 5a in a 6:1 diastereomeric excess. Upon hydroboration, the alcohol 6a is oxidized, and the resulting aldehyde 7 is subjected to a ring closure via reductive amination, providing 1b in an overall yield of 38%. Optically pure 2b has been synthesized beginning with N-Cbz-beta-alanine. The synthesis involves the induction of the first stereogenic center using Evans's chemistry and sequential LDA-promoted alkylations with tert-butyl bromoacetate and allyl iodide. Further elaboration by ozonolysis and reductive amination affords 2b in an overall yield of 28%.     

Synthesis and reactivity of 3-(trichlorogermyl)propanoic acid and 3-(triphenylgermyl) propanoic acid

3-(Trichlorogermyl)propanoic acid (la) reacts with phenylmagnesium bromide in malar ratio 1:4 to give 3-(triphenylgermyl)propanoic acid (2a).In the compounds la and 2a theβ-carboxylic functional group shows some unusual properties when they react with excess of phenylmagnesium bromide.The compound la reacts with phenylmagnesium bromide in molar ratio 1:5 to give phenyl 2-(triphenylgermyl)ethylketone (3a) and in molar ratio 1:6 to give l,l-diphenyl-3-(triphenylgermyl)propanol (4a).The compound 2a reacts with phenylmagnesium bromide in molar ratio 1:2 to give 3a and in molar ratio 1:3 to give 4a also.Dehydration of the compound 4a with dilute hydrochloric acid seems especially easy.Moreover,the compound la reacted with phenylmagnsium bromide in molar ratio 1:6,then the mixture was treated with dilute hydrochloric acid to give 1,1-diphenyl-3-(triphenylgermyl)-1-propene (5a) in one pot reaction.Alkyl Ge-C bond in the compound 5a can be cleaved selectively by lithium aluminium hydride ( LiAlH4) in good yiel     

Synthesis and characterization of metal-organic frameworks based on 4-hydroxypyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid ligands

The self-assembly of 4-hydroxypyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H(3)CAM) and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H2PDA) with Zn(II) salts under hydrothermal conditions gave two novel coordination polymers {[Zn(HCAM)].H2O}n (1) and {[Zn(PDA)(H2O)(1.5)]}n (1a). 1 and 1a comprise of a 2D (4,4) net and a 1D zigzag chain, respectively, in which a new coordination mode of PDA is found. The reactions of H(3)CAM and H2PDA with Nd2O3 in the M/L ratio 2:3 gave {[Nd2(HCAM)3(H2O)4].2H2O}n (2) and {[Nd(2)(PDA)3(H2O)(3)].0.5H2O}n (2a). In 2, a square motif as a building block constructed by four Nd(III) ions was further assembled into a highly ordered 2D (4,4) grid. 2a is a 3D microporous coordination polymer. It is interesting to note that, when Ln(III) salts rather than oxides were employed, the reaction produced {[Ln(CAM)(H2O)3].H2O}n (Ln = Gd, 3; Dy, 4; Er, 5) for H(3)CAM and {[Gd2(PDA)3(H2O)3].H2O}n (3a) for H2PDA. 3-5 are 2D coordination polymers with a 3(3)4(2) uniform net, where hydroxyl groups of H3CAM coordinate with metal ions. The reaction of H3CAM and Er2O3 instead of Er(ClO4)3 produced {[Er2(HCAM)3(H2O)4].2H2O}n (6). The compounds 2a and 3a, 2 and 6 are isomorphous. The stereochemical and supramolecular effects of hydroxyl groups result in the dramatic structural changes from 1D (1a) to 2D (1) and from 2D (2) to 3D (2a). When Ln(III) salts instead of Ln2O3 were employed in the hydrothermal reactions with H(3)CAM, different self-assembly processes gave the products of different metal/ligand ratio with reactants (3-5).     

para-Benzene disulfonic acid and its tetrachloro and tetrafluoro derivatives--studies towards polyhalogenated metal-organic-frameworks with sulfo analogues of terephthalic acid

We developed convenient synthetic routes for the preparation of para-benzene disulfonic acid (H(2)BDS) and its tetrachloro (H(2)BDSCl(4)) and tetrafluoro (H(2)BDSF(4)) derivatives. The reaction of these acids with zinc nitrate in DMF led to single crystals of [Zn(BDS)(DMF)(2)] (triclinic, P ?1[combining macron], Z=2, a=976.62(4), b=986.85(4), c=1014.40(4), α=69.106(2)°, β=68.746(2)°, γ=86.295(2)°, wR(2)=0.0627), [Zn(BDSCl(4))(DMF)(4)] (triclinic, P ?1[combining macron], Z=1, a=831.5(1), b=905.2(1), c=989.6(1), α=90.44(2)°, β=91.41 (2)°, γ=106.72(2)°, wR(2)=0.0635), and [Zn(BDSF(4))(DMF)(4)] (monoclinic, P2(1)/c, Z=2, a=889.01(3), b=968.91(3), c=1633.07(5) pm, β=106.524(2)°, wR(2)=0.0948). While [Zn(BDS)(DMF)(2)] exhibits a layer structure, the disulfonate linkers connect the zinc ions into chains in the crystal structures of [Zn(BDSCl(4))(DMF)(4)] and [Zn(BDSF(4))(DMF)(4)]. Thermoanalytical investigations revealed that desolvation of the compounds occurs in a temperature range between 100 and 200 °C. The solvent free sulfonates show remarkably high stabilities, [Zn(BDS)(DMF)(2)] is stable up to nearly 600 °C. The halogenated acids were also used to prepare copper salts from aqueous solutions and Cu(2)(OH)(2)(CO(3)) (malachite) as a copper source. The crystal structure of [Cu(H(2)O)(6)](BDSF(4)) (triclinic, P ?1[combining macron], Z=1, a=510.45(2), b=744.68(3), c=1077.77(4) pm, α=85.627 (2)°, β=77.449 (2)°, γ=76.015 (2)°) exhibits complex cations and uncoordinated sulfonate anions, while in [Cu(BDSCl(4))(H(2)O)(4)] (orthorhombic, Pnma, Z=4, a=721.27(2), b=2147.81(6), c=979.42(3) pm) the Cu(2+) ions are linked to infinite chains in the crystal structure. The most interesting structural feature of [Cu(BDSCl(4))(H(2)O)(4)] is the significant deviation from planarity of the disulfonate dianion. Theoretical investigations revealed that a boat conformation is favoured due to steric hindrance in cases where a syn coordination of the sulfonate groups occurs. The thermal behaviour of the copper compounds was also investigated by DTA/TG measurements and X-ray powder diffraction.     

Photoinduced oligomerization of aqueous pyruvic acid

The 320 nm-band photodecarboxylation of aqueous pyruvic acid (PA), a representative of the alpha-oxocarboxylic acids widely found in the atmospheric aerosol, yields 2,3-dimethyltartaric (A) and 2-(3-oxobutan-2-yloxy)-2-hydroxypropanoic (B) acids, rather than 3-hydroxy-2-oxobutanone as previously reported. A and B are identified by liquid chromatography with UV and ESI-MS detection, complemented by collisionally induced dissociation and 2H and 13C isotope labeling experiments. The multifunctional ether B gives rise to characteristic delta approximately 80 ppm 13C NMR resonances. Product quantum yields are proportional to [PA](a + [PA])(-1) in the range [PA] = 5-100 mM. CO2(g) release rates are halved, while A and B are suppressed by the addition of >1.5 mM TEMPO. A and B are only partially quenched in air-saturated solutions. These observations are shown to be consistent with an oligomerization process initiated by a bimolecular reaction between 3PA and PA producing ketyl, CH3C(OH)C(O)OH, and acetyl, CH3C(O)*, radicals, rather than by the unimolecular decomposition of 3PA into 1-hydroxyethylidene, 3HO(CH3)C: (+CO2), or [CH(3)C(O)* + *C(O)OH] pairs. A arises from the dimerization of ketyl radicals, while B ensues the facile decarboxylation of the C8beta-ketoacid formed by association of acetyl radicals with the ketyl radical adduct of PA. Since the radical precursors to A and B are scavenged by O2 with a low probability per encounter (k(sc) approximately 1 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)), PA is able to accrete into multifunctional polar species in aerated aqueous media under solar illumination.     

Multicomponent host-guest chemistry of carboxylic acid and phosphonic acid based guests with dendritic hosts: an NMR study

A new way to analyze supramolecular dendritic architectures is reported by making use of (13)C NMR and (31)P NMR. Two ethylene glycol guest molecules have been synthesized containing a (13)C labeled carboxylic acid headgroup (2) and a phosphonic acid headgroup (3). The binding of these guests to urea-adamantyl modified poly(propylene imine) dendrimers has been investigated with (13)C NMR and (31)P NMR next to 1D and 2D (1)H NMR techniques. Different amounts of guest 2 have been added to fifth generation dendrimer 1e, and the observed chemical shift values in (13)C NMR were fitted to a model that assumes 1:1 binding between guest and binding site. An association constant of 400 +/- 95 M(-)(1) is obtained for guest 2 with 41 binding sites per dendrimer. When different amounts of phosphonic acid guest 3 are added to dendrimer 1e, two different signals are observed in (31)P NMR. Deconvolution gives the fractions of free and bound guest, resulting in an association constant of (4 +/- 3) x 10(4) M(-)(1) and 61 +/- 1 binding sites. A statistical analysis shows that guest 2 forms a "polydisperse supramolecular aggregate", while guest 3 is able to form a "monodisperse supramolecular aggregate" when the amount of guest is high enough. The NMR results are compared with dynamic light scattering experiments, and a remarkable agreement is found. Phosphonic acid guest 3 is able to exchange with guest 2, which is in agreement with the obtained association constants, and shows that these techniques can be used to analyze multicomponent dendritic aggregates.     

Palladium complexes with triethylenetetraminehexa-acetic acid

The formation of complexes between palladium(II) and triethylenetetraminehexa-acetic acid (TTHA, H(6)L) was studied by measuring the hydrogen-ion concentration with a glass electrode; 1:1 and 2:1 metal to ligand complexes with different degrees of protonation were observed and the corresponding equilibrium constants evaluated.     

Solvent-dependent coordination polymers: cobalt complexes of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and 3,5-dinitro-4-methylbenzoic acid with 4,4'-bipyrdine

The synthesis, structure elucidation, and analysis of the self-assembly of Co(II) complexes of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and 3,5-dinitro-4-methylbenzoic acid with 4,4'-bipyridine have been reported. Formation of the complexes and the self-assembly in the three-dimensional structures have been found to be dependent on the solvents (such as acetone, dimethly sulfoxide, etc.) employed for the synthesis of the aggregates. 3,5-Dinitrobenzoic acid forms two coordination polymers, 1a and 1b, from methanol and a mixture of methanol and acetone solvents, respectively, with entirely different recognition patterns. Similarly, 3,5-dinitro-4-methylbenzoic acid also forms two coordination complexes, 2a and 2b, incorporating the solvent of the reaction medium into the crystal lattice. Complex 2a forms a solvated channel structure, whereas 2b gives a bilayered structure, with the layers being separated by solvent of crystallization (dimethyl sulfoxide) molecules. All the complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Complexes 1b, 2a, and 2b crystallize in a monoclinic lattice, but 1a adopts a tetragonal lattice. The unit cell dimensions are, for 1a, a = 8.095(1) A, b = 8.095(1) A, c = 46.283 (6) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 90 degrees, and gamma = 90 degrees (space group P4(3)2(1)2, Z = 4), for 1b, a = 22.774(2) A, b = 11.375 (1) A, c = 22.533(2) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 104.15(1) degrees, and gamma = 90 degrees (space group P2(1)/c, Z = 4), for 2a, a = 17.657(6) A, b = 18.709(4) A, c = 21.044(6) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 108.68(3) degrees, and gamma = 90 degrees (space group, C2/c, Z = 8), and, for 2b, a = 11.025(5) A, b = 15.139(4) A, c = 11.443(4) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 97.48(3) degrees, and gamma = 90 degrees (space group P2/n, Z = 2). In all the complexes 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b, the basic interaction between Co(II) and 4,4'-bipyridine remains the same with the formation of linear Co-N dative bonds, but the carboxylates display various modes of interaction with Co(II). The average Co-N and Co-O distances are 2.161 and 2.108 A, respectively.     

Complexes formed in solution between vanadium(IV)/(V) and the cyclic dihydroxamic acid putrebactin or linear suberodihydroxamic acid

An aerobic solution prepared from V(IV) and the cyclic dihydroxamic acid putrebactin (pbH(2)) in 1:1 H(2)O/CH(3)OH at pH = 2 turned from blue to orange and gave a signal in the positive ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) at m/z(obs) 437.0 attributed to the monooxoV(V) species [V(V)O(pb)](+) ([C(16)H(26)N(4)O(7)V](+), m/z(calc) 437.3). A solution prepared as above gave a signal in the (51)V NMR spectrum at δ(V )= -443.3 ppm (VOCl(3), δ(V) = 0 ppm) and was electron paramagnetic resonance silent, consistent with the presence of [V(V)O(pb)](+). The formation of [V(V)O(pb)](+) was invariant of [V(IV)]:[pbH(2)] and of pH values over pH = 2-7. In contrast, an aerobic solution prepared from V(IV) and the linear dihydroxamic acid suberodihydroxamic acid (sbhaH(4)) in 1:1 H(2)O/CH(3)OH at pH values of 2, 5, or 7 gave multiple signals in the positive and negative ion ESI-MS, which were assigned to monomeric or dimeric V(V)- or V(IV)-sbhaH(4) complexes or mixed-valence V(V)/(IV)-sbhaH(4) complexes. The complexity of the V-sbhaH(4) system has been attributed to dimerization (2[V(V)O(sbhaH(2))](+) ? [(V(V)O)(2)(sbhaH(2))(2)](2+)), deprotonation ([V(V)O(sbhaH(2))](+) - H(+) ? [V(V)O(sbhaH)](0)), and oxidation ([V(IV)O(sbhaH(2))](0) -e(-) ? [V(V)O(sbhaH(2))](+)) phenomena and could be described as the sum of two pH-dependent vectors, the first comprising the deprotonation of hydroxamate (low pH) to hydroximate (high pH) and the second comprising the oxidation of V(IV) (low pH) to V(V) (high pH). Macrocyclic pbH(2) was preorganized to form [V(V)O(pb)](+), which would provide an entropy-based increase in its thermodynamic stability compared to V(V)-sbhaH(4) complexes. The half-wave potentials from solutions of [V(IV)]:[pbH(2)] (1:1) or [V(IV)]:[sbhaH(4)] (1:2) at pH = 2 were E(1/2) -335 or -352 mV, respectively, which differed from the expected trend (E(1/2) [VO(pb)](+/0) < V(V/IV)-sbhaH(4)). The complex solution speciation of the V(V)/(IV)-sbhaH(4) system prevented the determination of half-wave potentials for single species. The characterization of [V(V)O(pb)](+) expands the small family of documented V-siderophore complexes relevant to understanding V transport and assimilation in the biosphere.     

小鼠早期胚胎肢体发育中的视黄酸诱导的视黄酸代谢

给怀孕10 d的小鼠胃灌流视黄酸(100 mgRA/kg体重)6和24 h后,对视黄酸合成酶基因Raldh2和代谢酶基因Cyp26a1,Cyp26b1在胚胎肢体的表达进行了分析.Cyp26a1和Cyp26b1在灌流6 h,表达增加;灌流24 h,表达恢复到正常水平.Raldh2在此时间段表达降低.这些结果提示:在小鼠早期胚胎肢体发育中,存在视黄酸诱导的视黄酸代谢.     

Adducts of tetraphenylstibium nitrate with nitric acid and of tetraphenylstibium acetate with acetic acid: Syntheses and structures

The reactions of tetraphenylstibium nitrate with nitric acid and of tetraphenylstibium acetate with acetic acid yield adducts Ph₄SbONO₂ · HNO₃ (I) and Ph₄SbOC(O)CH₃ · CHH₃COOH (II). According to X-ray diffraction data, the antimony atom in [Ph₄Sb]⁺[O₂N-O···H···O-NO₂]^? has a tetrahedral coordination. The CSbC bond angles and Sb-C bond lengths vary within 108.04(6)°–109.75(4)° and 2.096(1)–2.098(1) Å, respectively. The anion includes the intermolecular hydrogen bond O(1)–H(1)···O(1)″: the O(1)-H(1), H(1)···O(1)″, and O(1)···O(1)″ distances are 0.91(4), 1.56(4), and 2.460(2) Å, respectively; and the OHO angle is 169(5)°. The nitrate groups are usually planar. Complex II also contains the intermolecular hydrogen bond with the following parameters: O(3)-H(3), 0.92 Å; H(3)···O(2), 1.68 Å; and O(3)···O(2) 2.594 Å; the O(2)H(3)O(3) angle is 172.1°. This H-bond noticeable changes the coordination polyhedron of the antimony atom compared to that in tetraphenylstibium acetate.     

Solubility of acetic acid and trifluoroacetic acid in low-temperature (207-245 k) sulfuric acid solutions: implications for the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

The solubility of gas-phase acetic acid (CH(3)COOH, HAc) and trifluoroacetic acid (CF(3)COOH, TFA) in aqueous sulfuric acid solutions was measured in a Knudsen cell reactor over ranges of temperature (207-245 K) and acid composition (40-75 wt %, H(2)SO(4)). For both HAc and TFA, the effective Henry's law coefficient, H*, is inversely dependent on temperature. Measured values of H* for TFA range from 1.7 × 10(3) M atm(-1) in 75.0 wt % H(2)SO(4) at 242.5 K to 3.6 × 10(8) M atm(-1) in 40.7 wt % H(2)SO(4) at 207.8 K. Measured values of H* for HAc range from 2.2 × 10(5) M atm(-1) in 57.8 wt % H(2)SO(4) at 245.0 K to 3.8 × 10(8) M atm(-1) in 74.4 wt % H(2)SO(4) at 219.6 K. The solubility of HAc increases with increasing H(2)SO(4) concentration and is higher in strong sulfuric acid than in water. In contrast, the solubility of TFA decreases with increasing sulfuric acid concentration. The equilibrium concentration of HAc in UT/LS aerosol particles is estimated from our measurements and is found to be up to several orders of magnitude higher than those determined for common alcohols and small carbonyl compounds. On the basis of our measured solubility, we determine that HAc in the upper troposphere undergoes aerosol partitioning, though the role of H(2)SO(4) aerosol particles as a sink for HAc in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere will only be discernible under high atmospheric sulfate perturbations.     

Thin-layer chromatography of amino acid hydantoins

Amino acid hydantoins were detected directly in amounts of 0.2–0.5 μg with tert.-butyl hypochlorite. The amino acid hydantoins were separated by thin-layer chromatography using the following solvent systems: (I) chloroform-ethanol-formic acid (2:1:1); (II) n-butyl acetate-ethanol-formic acid (12:2:1); (III) dichloroethane-ethanol-formic acid (80:20:1); and (IV) n-butanol-acetic acid-water (15:2:5). The terminal amino groups of several proteins were detected successfully.     

On the isomerization of ent-kaurenic acid

Kaurenic acid (1a) is a tetracyclic diterpene that has an exocyclic double bond at delta16. Isokaurenic acid (2a) has an endocyclic delta15double bond. This compound has been isolated from Espeletia tenore (Espeletinae), a resinous plant from the Venezuelan Andes, but its occurrence is rare. In order to obtain a larger amount of 2a, the isomerization of la, which is easily obtained from other Espeletinae, was tried. Kaurenic acid methyl ester (1b) was treated with dil. HCl in CH3Cl/EtOH, after 6 h under reflux a yield of 41.5% isokaurenic acid methyl ester (2b) was obtained but 35.7% 16alpha-ethoxy-kauran-19-oic acid methyl ester (3b) had formed as a byproduct. Treating 1b with CF3COOH in refluxing CH2Cl2 permitted to obtain a yield of 66.6% of 2b in 4 h and only traces of 16alpha-hydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid methyl ester (3a) as a byproduct. Both isomers were separated on a silica gel column impregnated with 20% AgNO3. Treating 2b with KOH in refluxing DMSO yielded pure isokaurenic acid, no back isomerization was observed.     

Synthesis and characterization of four new manganese(III) complexes and amino acid (L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine) Schiff bases

New series of manganese(III) complexes and amino acid Schiff bases have been prepared from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and α-amino acids [L-aspartic acid (Asp), L-asparagine (Asn), L-glutamic acid (Glu) and L-glutamine (Gln)]. The structures of the ligands and manganese complexes were identified using elemental analyses, i.r, electronic spectra, ¹H-n.m.r spectra, magnetic moment measurements and thermogravimetric analyses (t.g.a). The results suggest that H₂L¹: [N-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylidene) aspartic acid] and H₂L³: [N-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylidene)glutamic acid] Schiff bases behave as trianionic tetradentate species and coordinate to Mn(III) ion according to the general formula [MnL] · xH₂O complexes. But, H₂L²: [N-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylidene) asparagine] and H₂L⁴: [N-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylidene)glutamine] Schiff bases behave as dianionic tridentate and coordinate to Mn(III) ion in the general formula for [MnL(OOCH₃)] · xH₂O complexes.     

Stabilisation of water-soluble platinum nanoparticles by phosphonic acid derivatives

Sodium 2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl phosphonate (1) was investigated as a stabilising agent for platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) in aqueous solution. This phosphino phosphonate is known to stabilise rhodium nanoparticles (NPs) in water. Here we report that in the case of Pt-NPs this ligand is indirectly involved in the stabilisation mechanism and the actual stabilisation agent is the platinum complex Na(2)[Pt(1)(2)] (2). The reduction of platinum(II) salts in the presence of the phosphonates 1, 2, sodium 2-(diphenylphosphoryl)ethyl phosphonate (3) and 3,3,3-triphenylpropyl phosphonate (4) leads to stable platinum NPs with a remarkably narrow particle size distribution. These platinum NPs show high catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of 1-hexene and 1-chloro-3-nitrobenzene under biphasic as well as heterogeneous (supported on charcoal) conditions. The activity of the supported NPs was 30 times higher than the commercially available catalyst Pt(0) EnCat?. Furthermore, the single-crystal X-ray structures of (1)(MeOH)(2)(H(2)O)(2), (3)(H(2)O)(4), and (4)(2)(H(2)O)(17) have been determined.