Carbon <Emphasis Type="Italic">versus</Emphasis> Sulfur Addition of Nucleophiles to Sulfines. Part I. The Case of Sulfinates

Summary. The nucleophilic substitution of chlorine in chlorosulfines with arylsulfinates leads to sulfonylsulfines with complete inversion of configuration within the starting sulfines. A mechanism for this displacement reaction is proposed. The sulfonylsulfines show good reactivity as heterodienophiles and the reaction with acyclic 1,3-dienes is surprisingly regio- and diastereoselective. The stereochemical details were established by X-ray crystallography and the competitive dienophilic properties were examined.Present address: University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, B-2610, Wilrijk-Antwerp, Belgium.     

Synthesis of 6-methyl-8<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-dibenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>]quinolizin-8-imines <Emphasis Type="Italic">via Reissert</Emphasis> compounds

Alkylation of Reissert compounds derived from 3-methylisoquinolines with several 2-cyanobenzylbromides followed by hydrolytic cleavage provided the corresponding 1-benzyl-3-methylisoquinolines. Treatment of the latter with methylmagnesiumiodide caused cyclization to the title compounds rather than formation of 2-acetylbenzylisoquinolines.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> study of the reaction path of the reaction HNCO+CN

We report ab initio UMP2 calculations of the reaction of CN with HNCO using 6-311G(d,p) basis sets. The obtained results show that the reaction has two product channels: HNCO+CN→HCN+NCO (1) and HNCO+CN→HNCN+CO (2). Channel (1) is a hydrogen abstraction reaction, which is a concerted process. The calculated potential energy barrier is 20.80 kJ/mol at UMP2(full)/6-311G(d,p) level. In the range of reaction temperature (1000-2100 K), the conventional transition theory rate constant for channel (1) ranges from 0.32×10⁻¹¹ to 6.9×10⁻¹¹cm³· mol⁻¹· s⁻¹, which is close to the experimental value. Channel (2) is a stepwise reaction involving an intermediate during the process of reaction. The UMP2(full)/6-311G(d,p) potential energy barrier is 83.42 kJ/mol for the rate-controlling step, which is much higher than that of channel (1).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> quantum-chemical calculations of the energies and structures of 1,2-acetylenedithiol isomers

Ab initio quantum-chemical calculations of 1,2-acetylenedithiol isomers were carried out. The MP2(full), DFT(B3PW91, MPW1PW91), G3, G3B3, and CBS-Q methods were used. According to the calculations, the most stable isomers were 1,2-dithiet, thiiranethione, and trans-1,2-dithioglyoxal. The necessity of including basis set functions with a large angular momentum in calculations was confirmed. The relatively high stability of 1,2-dithiet was attributed to the aromaticity of its four-membered ring. It was noted that the carbon-carbon bond in the three-membered rings of the cis- and trans-isomers of thiirenethiols was unusually short.     

Screening and Immobilization <Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia</Emphasis> sp. GXU56 Lipase for Enantioselective Resolution of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-Methyl Mandelate

Microorganisms producing lipase were isolated from soil and sewage samples and screened for enantioselective resolution of (R,S)-methyl mandelate to (R)-mandelic acid. A strain designated as GXU56 was obtained and identified as Burkholderia sp. Preparing immobilized GXU56 lipase by simple adsorption on octyl sepharose CL-4B, the optimum temperature was shifted from 40 °C (free lipase) to 50 °C (immobilized lipase), and the optimum pH was shifted from 8.0 (free lipase) to 7.2 (immobilized lipase). The immobilized enzyme displayed excellent stability in the pH range of 5.0–8.0, at the temperatures below 50 °C and in organic solvents compared with free enzyme. Enantioselectivity ratio for (R)-mandelic acid (E) was dramatically improved from 29.2 to more than 300 by applying immobilized lipase in the resolution of (R,S)-methyl mandelate. After five cycles of use of immobilized lipase, conversion and enantiomeric excess of (R)-mandelic acid were 34.5% and 98.5%, respectively, with enantioselectivity ratio for (R)-mandelic acid (E) of 230. Thus, octyl-sepharose-immobilized GXU56 lipase can be used as a bio-resolution reagent for producing (R)-mandelic acid.     

Rapid molecular typing of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber melanosporum</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. brumale</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. indicum</Emphasis> from tree seedlings and canned truffles

We have developed new DNA extraction and purification procedures for investigation of mycorrhized seedlings and canned truffles. Use of these procedures on approximately 100 mg initial material enabled good sample representation. For mycorrhized seedlings, Taq polymerase inhibitors were discarded irrespective of tree species. In routine analysis we systematically used consensus primers ITS1/ITS4 to check the absence of Taq polymerase inhibitors and the presence of fungus DNA. Positive response with ITS validates other positive or negative PCR results. Absence of amplification with ITS prevents validation of other results. For canned truffles, DNA harvested from ascocarps sterilized for one and a half hours at 115°C was amplified with specific primers. We have developed consensus primers, named R12/F12, to check for the presence of amplifiable fungus DNA and the absence of Taq polymerase inhibitors. Here also, positive response with consensus R12/F12 validates other positive or negative PCR results. We have developed one primer pair specific for T. brumale and another specific for T. melanosporum. We can then characterize these two taxa, which enables the use of truffle or truffled French designations. We can also characterize T. indicum, the Asiatic black truffle that might fraudulently be sold as T. melanosporum and T. brumale. These three specific primer pairs were used independently of DNA extraction from tree seedlings or canned truffles. Our process is specific, sensitive, convenient, and quick.J.P. Douet and D. Mabru have contributed equally to this work     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> investigation of aniline and <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-propylamine associates with dimethylsulfoxide,isobutyronitrile, and N-methylpiperidone

The structure of the dimer associates of aniline and n-propylamine with dimethylsulfoxide, isobutyronitrile, and N-methylpiperidone was investigated by ab initio calculations. Stable configurations of the complexes and their structural and energy characteristics have been determined. The effects of the nature of the solvent and the structure of the associate on the properties of the NH₂ group are examined.     

Antioxidant flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamus communis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cretica</Emphasis>

A new flavonoid, kaempferol-3,4′-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), and three known flavonoids (2–4) were isolated from the aerial parts of T. communis L. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 187.151 ± 0.821 μM, and 92.079±0.513 μM, respectively), whereas compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 295–297, May–June, 2009.     

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.     

Investigation of kernel oils of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus cerris</Emphasis>

The kernel oils of Quercus robur and Quercus cerris were obtained by Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether. Oil yields were found to be 5.2–5.6% and 4.3–4.8% for Q. robur and Q. cerris kernel, respectively (expressed in g per 100 g of dried plant material). The physical and chemical constants, unsaponifiable matter and total fatty acids were determined. The total fatty acid composition of oils was determined by GC in the methyl ester form. Considering the composition and content of fatty acids, the examined kernel oils were very similar. Seven fatty acid components were identified in both oils: palmitic, stearic, arachidic, palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, and -linolenic. In Q. robur and Q. cerris kernel oils the principal acids were oleic (44.3% and 43.0%, respectively) and linoleic (37.2% and 32.6%, respectively), followed by a significant amount of palmitic acid.Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 347–348, September–October, 2004.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> calculation of nitrogen oxide dimer structure and its anion-radical

A comparative quantum chemical analysis has been made for the most stable dimer of nitrogen oxide with the structure cis-ONNO in a singlet state ¹A₁ by ab initio method of SCF MO LCAO, allowing for electron correlation according to Meller-Plesset perturbation theory of the second order (MP2), and density functional technique (DFT). The computations by MP2 method show anion-radical (ONNO)^? to have a strong bond between nitrogen atoms (N-N 1.44 Å) in contrast to molecular weakly bound cis-dimer with equilibrium distance N-N 2.23 Å. Molecular orbital structure of the dimer and its anions was examined that made it possible to suggest a reason of preferable stabilization of nitrogen oxide dimer in the cis-form. Calculated high affinity to electron (E_a = ?1.55-?1.69 eV) for the molecular dimer ONNO (¹A₁) explains an intense strengthening of N-N bond in anion-radical and confirms the experimental data on a possibility of surface anion-π-radical formation on electron donor centers. The DFT computations indicate that this technique poorly reproduces the experimental geometry and electron structure of the cis-dimer ONNO having predicted a triplet ground state with the equilibrium distance N-N ≈2 Å instead of a singlet one with N-N 2.26 Å. The comparison between MP2 and DFT calculations for complex dimer ONNO with copper cation reveals the energy state of the complex (Cu-O₂N₂)⁺ corresponding to stabilization of anion-π-radical (N₂O₂)^? {term-³A₂, Cu(d)⁹-(ONNO)^?1} to be highly overestimated by DFT.     

Structural Features of ONS-Donor Salicylidene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schiff</Emphasis> Base Complexes

Summary. This review article summarizes the structural features of complexes of salicylidene Schiff bases containing, in addition to the phenolic-OH and the azomethine (–RC=N–) groups, a thiole group, and/or a sulfur atom participating in coordination. Structural aspects of metal complexes of salicylidene-2-aminothiophenol, salicylidene-3-aminothiophenol, salicylidenethiosemicarbazone, salicylidenedithiocarbazates, salicylidenedithiocarbazates, salicylideneaminopropyleneaminocyclopentenedithiocarboxylates, salicylideneimidazoles, and salicylidene-thiosalicylidene-1,3-propanediamine are reported.     

Syntheses of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)- and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-3-styrylchromones

Several (E)- and (Z)-3-styrylchromones were prepared by two different methodologies, the Wittig reaction of chromone-3-carboxaldehyde with benzylic ylides and the Knoevenagel condensation of chromone-3-carboxaldehyde with phenylacetic acids in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide under microwave irradiation. The Knoevenagel reaction followed by a decarboxylation offered an efficient and diastereoselective method for preparing (E)-3-styrylchromones in a shorter reaction time. It was also demonstrated that phenylacetic acid can also be substituted with success by phenylmalonic acid. The stereochemistry of all products was assigned by NMR experiments. Correspondence: Artur M. S. Silva, Chemistry Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.     

Theoretical Study of the Interactions between Isolated DNA Bases and Various Groups IA and IIA Metal Ions by Ab Initio Calculations

Interactions of the DNA bases adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T) with various metal ions (M) of groups IA and IIA of the periodic table of the elements were studied at the HF, MP2, and DFT levels of theory. The structures and thermodynamic stabilities of these species were studied at the gas phase. The calculations uphold that there exist two active sites in G and one in A, C, and T. The calculations also show that the O² atom in T is a more active site for metal ion bindings than that in C. The stability energies for G … M complexes are larger than those for A … M complexes and the stability energies for T … M complexes are larger than those for C … M complexes. As z/r ratio for the metal ion increases, the interaction energy for the complex increases systematically. Thermodynamic quantities such as ΔH, ΔG, ΔS, and ln K were determined for each complexation reaction, [Base+M ⁿ⁺ →(Base … M) ⁿ⁺]. A, G, and C complexation reactions except for C … Rb⁺ are exothermic. The situation is quite different for T complexation reactions and all except for T … Be²⁺ and T … Mg²⁺ are endothermic.     

An efficient <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mannich</Emphasis>-type synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>(pyrido[2,1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>][1,3,5]thiadiazin-7-yl)-methanes

Morpholinium 3-cyano-4-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridine-2-thiolate upon treatment with primary amines and a formaldehyde excess under mild conditions produces bis(pyrido[2,1-b][1,3,5]thiadiazin-7-yl)methane derivatives in good yields (67–87%). Correspondence: Victor V. Dotsenko, State Enterprise “Luganskstandartmetrology”, 91021 Lugansk, Ukraine.     

Detours for Reaching at New Germylenes,Silylenes, Carbenes,and Carbenogermylenes through Substituted Cyclopropenylidenes at <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> and DFT Levels

Summary. Heavier atom containing X ₂SiC₂, and X ₂GeC₂ cyclopropenylidenes transform into new silylenes, germylenes, and carbenogermylenes at DFT and ab initio levels (X = H, CN, NH₂, and OMe). The number of transformations or rearrangements appear roughly proportional to the covalent radii of the group 14 elements (Ge > Si > C).     

Stress Response Kinetics of Two Nisin Producer Strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactococcus lactis</Emphasis> spp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">lactis</Emphasis>

The purpose of this study is to determine the survival and nisin production behaviors of two strains of Lactococcus lactis under different stress conditions that represent the food ecosystem. In this respect, the survival ratios of two nisin producers were determined under different pH, temperature, NaCl, and bile salt concentrations. Then, nisin production levels of the strains were determined at each stress conditions. Both strains had similar growth or inactivation patterns under the same stress conditions. NaCl and bile salt stresses on the survival ratio of the strains could be successfully described by the exponential decay function, whereas Gaussian function produced good fits for temperature and pH stresses. The nisin activity of two nisin producers (in their mid-exponential and/or early stationary phase) decreased dramatically under all stress conditions, except osmotic (NaCl) and low temperature applications. The results of this study showed that two nisin producers had similar adaptive responses under severe stress conditions, which could be described by appropriate mathematical equations. Moreover, the effect of harsh environment on the nisin activity of L. lactis strains depends on the stress factors applied.     

Polyploid Formation Between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma viride</Emphasis> For Enhanced Citric Acid Production From Cellulose

The first-stage heterokaryons, obtaining from intergeneric protoplast fusion between Aspergillus niger (Y-b) and Trichoderma viride (M5S51), showed slow growth and mixed morphologies on minimal medium. The fusants were classified into heterokaryon and prototrophic haploid, showing the morphology as that of A. niger. The heterokaryon strains formed conidia with the same nutritional requirements as those of the original auxotrophic mutant strains. After several subcultivations on minimal medium containing d-camphor, some heterokaryon strains formed larger two to seven nuclei/conidium as compared to one nucleus/conidium of the auxotrophic mutant and prototrophic strains, indicating that the new hybrids were generated. Interestingly, three fusant strains AT 11-2-3, AT 11-2-10, and AT 11-2-14 produce 19.2, 6.1, and 10.5 g/l citric acid, respectively, in semisolid culture containing cellulose, whereas A. niger Yang no. 2 could not use carboxymethyl cellulose as the sole carbon source for citric acid production. In addition, the average maximum beta-glucosidase and carboxymethylcellulase productions from AT 11-2-3, AT 11-2-10, and AT 11-2-14 were about 16- and 4-folds higher than those of A. niger, respectively.     

Theoretical and experimental study of molecular structure and vibrational spectra of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-pyrazinecarboxamide

N-(2-Pyridylmethyl)-2-pyrazinecarboxamide was prepared and its crystal structure was investigated by X-ray analysis. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group \(P{\bar 1}\) with a = 4.262(3), b = 12.117(9), c = 20.840(18) Å, α = 91.802(6), β = 89.834(7), γ = 91.845(6)°, V = 1075.2(16) ų, Z = 4, and D = 1.323?Mg/m³. The structure was solved by direct method and refined to R = 0.0699 and wR ₂ = 0.1268 by full matrix anisotropic least-squares method. Using the Hartree-Fock and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-31G(d) basis set, the molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies of the title compound has been investigated and compared with experimental ones from experimental studies. The optimized bond lengths obtained by RHF method and bond angles obtained by B3LYP method show better agreement with the experimental values. The vibrations computed of the title compound by the RHF and DFT methods are in good agreement with the observed IR spectra data.     

Splitting of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis></Superscript> atomic states in icosahedral 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> metal endofullerenes M@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

Group-theoretical and quantum-chemical investigations of the spectrum of low-lying excited states have been performed by the ROHF and FCI-RAS (Full CI in Restricted Active Space) methods for 3d metal endofullerenes (MEFs) M@C₆₀ (M =Mn, Cr, and Fe) in different charged states. The major purpose of this study is quantum-chemical verification of the anomalous (“non-Bethe’s”) character of splitting of the d ^N atomic states in an electrostatic field with icosahedral symmetry, predicted previously within the theory of integral invariants theory. The interrelation between the integral invariants theory and the quantumchemical methods applied in this work is considered in detail. Our calculations suggest that the d ^N atomic states in the icosahedral field generated by fullerene C60 (I _h ) on a metal atom (ion) remain non-split for different charged states of the metal and C₆₀. Reasons for this phenomenon and other possible approaches to verification of the prediction are discussed. It is demonstrated that the d ^N states of the encapsulated metal are split in icosahedral 3d MEFs only under very strong compression of these structures.