<Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>-Cardenolides

Twelve new bis-cardenolides were synthesized by reaction of natural cardenolides with diamines to form imines and ammonium salts. Anomalous physicochemical properties consisting of resistance to hydrolysis and increased polarity were observed for the bis-ketoimines.     

Syntheses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">tetrakis</Emphasis>(benzylisocyanide)<Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>(tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">i</Emphasis>-propylphosphite) cobalt(III) tetrafluoroborate: comparison with trialkylphosphine–alkylisocyanide complexes of cobalt(III)

Tetrakis(benzylisocyanide)bis(tri-i-propylphosphite)cobalt(III) tetrafluoroborate, [Co(CNCH₂Ph)₄{P(OCHMe₂)₃}₂] (BF₄)₃, has been synthesized by ligand substitution of both [Co(CNCH₂Ph)₄{OAs(C₆H₄Me-p)₃}₂](BF₄)₃ and [Co(CNCH₂Ph)₄(OSbPh₃)₂](BF₄)₃. IR and electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility, and cyclic voltammetric measurements are reported. The data are consistent with low-spin tetragonal coordination; i.e., trans-[Co(CNCH₂Ph)₄{P(OCHMe₂)₃}₂](BF₄)₃. Comparison is made with tetrakis(alkylisocyanide)bis(trialkylphosphine) cobalt(III) complexes.     

Structural analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis> multiple emulsions by means of DSC

Summary The properties of the inner and the external aqueous phases, were studied in w/o/w multiple emulsions with light microscopic image analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The importance of multiple emulsions lies in the presence of these aqueous phases, making them available for sustained, controlled drug delivery systems. Differentiation of these two aqueous phases, studying the effect of manufacturing technology on droplet structure, quantitative determination of phase volumes and any changes occurring during storage are essential when planning w/o/w emulsions. The present study uses microscopic observations combined with DSC measurements in order to identify the formed structure, at developmental stage in case of different components, preparation methods, and stirring rates. These tools are beneficial during manufacturing as in process controls, or to ensure product quality.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylethylamine by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) complex anion

Oxidation of N-methylethylamine by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) ([Ag(HIO₆)₂]⁵⁻) in alkaline medium results in demethylation, giving rise to formaldehyde and ethylamine as the oxidation products. The oxidation kinetics has been followed spectrophotometrically in the temperature range of 20.0–35.0 °C, and shows an overall second-order character: being first-order with respect to both Ag(III) and N-methylethylamine. The observed second-order rate constants k′ increase with increasing [OH⁻] of the reaction medium, but decrease with increasing the total concentration of periodate. An empirical rate expression for k′ has been derived as: k′ = (k _a + k _b[OH⁻])K ₁/{f([OH⁻])[IO₄ ⁻]_tot + K ₁}, where k _a and k _b are rate parameters, and K ₁ is an equilibrium constant. These parameters have been evaluated at all the temperatures studied, enabling calculation of activation parameters. A reaction mechanism is suggested to involve two pre-equilibria, leading to formation of an intermediate Ag(III) complex, namely [Ag(HIO₆)(OH)(MeNHEt)]²⁻. In the subsequent rate-determining steps, this intermediate undergoes inner-sphere electron transfer from the coordinated amine to the metal center via two distinct routes, one of which is spontaneous while the other is mediated by a hydroxide ion.     

Structure and photochromism of 2-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylaminomethylene)benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thiophen-3(2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones

It was shown by electron absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis that steric strains in photochromic 2-(N-acyl-N-arylaminomethylene) benzo[b]thiophen-3(2H)-one molecules ortho-substituted in the N-phenyl ring increase the quantum yield of the N→O photoinduced rearrangement in accord with an increase in the steric constant of the ortho-substituent.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2151–2155, October, 2004.     

Synthesis from geraniol of (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,6<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,10<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,14<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-16-hydroxygeranylgeraniol and some of its derivatives

Several α,ω-bifunctional derivatives of E,E,E-geranylgeraniol were prepared via convergent synthesis starting with geraniol (8), which was converted in three steps into the tetrahydropyranyl ether of 8-chlorogeraniol (9) and 8-hydroxygeranylphenylsulfone (10). Combination of synthons 9 and 10 with subsequent reductive removal of the phenylsulfonyl group produced the tetrahydropyranyl ether of ω-hydroxygeranylgeraniol (5), hydrolysis of which gave exclusively trans-ω-hydroxygeranylgeraniol (1). Derivatives 5–7 of geranylgeraniol were synthesized using standard methods. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 231–234, May–June, 2007.     

A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study on Substitution of Aqua Ligands from <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-diaqua-<Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>-(bipyridyl)-ruthenium(II) Complex by Thiosemicarbazide in Aqueous Medium

The kinetics of the interaction of thiosemicarbazide with cis-[Ru(bipy)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ (bipy = α α′-bipyridyl) have been studied spectrophotometrically as a function of [Ru(bipy)₂(H₂O)₂²⁺], [bipyridyl] and temperature, at a particular pH (4.8), where the substrate complex exists predominantly as the diaqua species and thiosemicarbazide as the neutral ligand. The reaction proceeds via an outer sphere association complex formation, followed by two slow consecutive steps. The first is the conversion of the aforementioned complex into the inner sphere complex, and the second step involves the entrance of another thiosemicarbazide molecule in the coordination zone of Ru(II) whereby, in each step, an aqua ligand is replaced. The association equilibrium constant (K_E) for the outer sphere complex formation has been evaluated together with rate constants for the two subsequent steps. Activation parameters have been calculated for both steps using the Eyring equation (ΔH₁^# = 25.37±1.6 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS₁^# = −215.48 ± 4.5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, ΔH₂^# = 24.24 ± 1.1 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS₂^# = −207.14 ± 3.0 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹). The low enthalpy of activation and large negative value of entropy of activation indicate an associative mode of activation for both aqua ligand substitution processes. From the temperature dependence of K_E, the thermodynamic parameters calculated are: ΔH⁰ = 10.75±0.54 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS⁰ = 84.67 ± 1.75 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, which give a negative ΔG⁰ value at all temperatures studied, supporting the spontaneous formation of an outersphere association complex prior to the first step.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> study of aniline and <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-propylamine associates with nitrobenzene and <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-cresol

An ab initio (6-31G**) study of binary associates of aniline and n-propylamine with nitrobenzene and m-cresol has been carried out. The structures corresponding to the total energy minimum of the system have been found for the associates, and their geometrical and energy characteristics have been determined. Basic types of intermolecular interactions have been established, and their effects on the reactivity of the amino group have been investigated.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by I. A. Novakov, V. V. Korolkov, A. I. Pavlyuchko, B. S. Orlinson, and L. A. GribovTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 595–601, July–August, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

A kinetic investigation of the oxidation of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">dl</Emphasis>-pipecolinate by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) complex anion

Kinetics of oxidation of dl-pipecolinate by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) complex anion, [Ag(HIO₆)₂]⁵⁻, has been studied in aqueous alkaline medium in the temperature range of 25–40 °C. The oxidation kinetics is first order in the silver(III) and pipecolinate concentrations. The observed second-order rate constant, decreasing with increasing [periodate] is virtually independent of [OH⁻]. α-Aminoadipate as the major oxidation product of pipecolinate has been identified by chromatographic analysis. A reaction mechanism is proposed that involves a pre-equilibrium between [Ag(HIO₆)₂]⁵⁻ and [Ag(HIO₆)(H₂O)(OH)]²⁻, a mono-periodate coordinated silver(III) complex. Both Ag(III) complexes are reduced in parallel by pipecolinate in rate-determining steps (described by k ₁ for the former Ag(III) species and k ₂ for the latter). The determined rate constants and their associated activation parameters are k ₁ (25 °C) = 0.40 ± 0.02 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, ∆H ₁^≠ = 53 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹, ∆S ₁^≠ = −74 ± 5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and k ₂ (25 °C) = 0.64 ± 0.02 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, ∆H ₂^≠ = 41 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹, ∆S ₂^≠ = −110 ± 5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. The time-resolved spectra, a positive dependence of the rate constants on ionic strength of the reaction medium, and the consistency of pre-equilibrium constants derived from different reaction systems support the proposed reaction mechanism.     

Functionalization of sterically hindered <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinones: amino-substituted 3,6-di(<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinones

New sterically hindered functionalized o-quinones were synthesized by the 1,4-nucleophilic addition of secondary cyclic amines to 3,6-di(tert-butyl)-o-benzoquinone. The ability of these o-quinones to form o-semiquinone complexes with transition and main-group metals was studied by ESR spectroscopy in solution. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1786–1793, September, 2007.     

Ring expansion and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylformamide-solvation of the cyclodimeric complex bis(3-pyridyl)dimethylsilanedicholoropalladium(II)

The reaction of (COD)PdCl₂ (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with (3-Py)₂SiMe₂ (bis(3-pyridyl)dimethylsilane) in acetone produces single crystals consisting of cyclodimers, [PdCl₂((3-Py)₂SiMe₂)]₂, whereas the similar reaction in a mixture of dichloromethane and ethanol yields amorphous submicrospheres consisting of cyclotrimers, [PdCl₂((3-Py)₂SiMe₂)]₃. In a boiling chloroform solution, the cyclodimers are completely converted to the cyclotrimers. The structures of both cyclic species are locked at temperatures below 0 °C. The cyclotrimer equilibrates to the cyclodimer, the cyclotrimer, and cyclotrimeric mono-DMF adduct, [Pd₃Cl₅(DMF)((3-Py)₂SiMe₂)₃]Cl in the mole ratio of 6:1:5 in DMF solution at room temperature. The cyclodimer finally reaches the equilibrium in the same condition. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Synthesis of new <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-aminoglycosides based on halo-substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamines and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-aminophenols

Condensation of the monosaccharides D-glucose and D-galactose with synthesized halo-substituted p-phenylenediamines and 4-amino-2,6-dibromophenol was studied. It was found that glycosylation occurred only at the 4-amino group that was sterically unhindered by the halogen atom. The position of the aglycon in the glycoside was established by PMR spectroscopy.     

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the interaction between glycylglycine and <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-diaqua-<Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>-(bipyridine)-ruthenium(II) complex in aqueous medium

The kinetics of interaction between glycylglycine and cis-[Ru(bipy)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ have been studied spectrophotometrically as a function of [Ru(bipy)₂(H₂O) ₂ ²⁺ ], [diglycine] and temperature at a particular pH (4.8), where the substrate complex exists predominantly as the diaqua species and diglycine as the zwitter ion. The reaction has been found to proceed via two consecutive steps. The first step involves the ligand-assisted anation, while the second step involves chelation when the second aqua ligand is displaced. Rate constants have been evaluated and activation parameters calculated. The low enthalpy of activation and large negative values of entropy of activation indicate an associative mode of activation for both steps.     

Unsteady mass transfer into a sphere under equilibrium condition <Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis> = <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ax</Emphasis> + <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>

We obtained an analytical solution of a problem of unsteady mass transfer under the equilibrium condition y = Ax + B to compare results with a problem solution in the case of equilibrium condition looking as y = Ax.     

Biological Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epicoccum</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">nigrum</Emphasis>

Gold nanoparticles exhibit unique optical, thermal, chemical and physical properties. The microorganisms have high potential for production of nanoparticles with wide applications. Application of fungi to produce nanoparticles is potentially exciting because of their ability to secrete large amounts of enzymes. In this study, we investigated biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by the fungus Epicoccum nigrum isolated from Andalian gold mine in north-west of Iran. The gold nanoparticles were produced intra and extracellular by reaction of an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid with the biomass of fungus E. nigrum. The produced gold nanoparticles were in the size range of 5–50 nm in spherical and rod shapes. This is the first report on the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by the fungus E. nigrum.     

Mechanism of OH radical-induced oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-cresol to <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-methylphenoxyl radical

The OH radical-induced oxidation of p-cresol to p-methylphenoxyl radical was studied in aqueous solution in a wide pH range by means of pulse radiolysis combined with optical spectroscopy. OH-adduct cyclohexadienyl type radicals were identified as intermediates of the reaction. In the acidic pH range the first-order rate coefficient of phenoxyl radical formation was found linearly dependent on the H₃O⁺ concentration yielding a bimolecular rate coefficient of 1.8 × 10⁸ mol^–1 dm³ s^–1. In the alkaline range a linear dependence was found on the OH^– concentration with rate coefficient of 4.9 × 10¹⁰ mol^–1 dm³ s^–1. These findings were interpreted in terms of acid-base catalysis of the H₂O elimination from the OH-adduct. With the time resolution applied, 30 ns, the radical cation p-CH₃C₆H₄OH^+. was not observed as intermediate.