Chemical Constituents of Brown Rice Grain (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis>)

One new compound 3,7,11,15,19-pentamethyl-9α,10α,11α,17α,18α-pentahydroxy-n-tetracosan-1-oxy-p-hydroxycaffeoate (oryzaterpenyl caffeoate) (1), together with three known fatty acids linoleic acid, stearic acid and myristic acid were isolated and identified from the rice grain of Oryza sativa. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (¹H-¹HCOSY, ¹H-¹³C HETCOR) aided by EI-MS, and IR spectra. __________ Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 535–537, November–December, 2005.     

Kinetics of hydrolysis of five-membered <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>-nitroheterocycles: pyrazole,imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole,and isoxazole derivatives

Alkaline hydrolysis of mono-and dinitro derivatives of five-membered heterocycles, viz., pyrazole, imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, and isoxazole, is accompanied by the elimination of the nitro group in the form of a nitrite anion. The hydrolysis kinetics was studied by the polarographic and photometric methods. The experimentally determined hydrolysis rate constants depend on the nature of the heterocycle. A possible mechanism for hydrolytic transformations of the compounds under study was proposed on the basis of the calculated thermodynamic parameters of the reaction (Δ G ^≠, ΔH ^≠, ΔS ^≠). Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2719–2725, December, 2005.     

Standard molar enthalpies of formation and sublimation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenylphthalimide

The standard (p ⁰=0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation, Δ_f H ⁰ _m, for crystalline N-phenylphthalimide was derived from its standard molar enthalpy of combustion, in oxygen, at the temperature 298.15 K, measured by static bomb-combustion calorimetry, as –206.0±3.4 kJ mol^–1. The standard molar enthalpy of sublimation, Δ^g _cr H ⁰ _m , at T=298.15 K, was derived, from high temperature Calvet microcalorimetry, as 121.3±1.0 kJ mol^–1. The derived standard molar enthalpy of formation, in the gaseous state, is analysed in terms of enthalpic increments and interpreted in terms of molecular structure.     

The chemical composition of fruits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pistacia atlantica</Emphasis> desf. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">atlantica</Emphasis> from Algeria

The chemical composition of the fruits of the north algerian ecotype Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica was determined and compared to other fruits of different species in the genus growing in south Algeria and other Mediterranean regions. These fruits were analyzed for their dry matter, protein, crude oil, ash, fatty acids, and phytosterol content. The main fatty acids identified by gas chromatography were oleic (54.15%), linoleic (28.84%), and palmitic (12.21%) acids. The fruits of the north ecotype were found to be rich in protein, oil, fiber, and unsaturated fatty acids, suggesting that they may be valuable for food uses. The sterols isolated were campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and Δ⁵-avenasterol with β-sitosterol as the major constituent (85%±0.85). The biochemical data indicated an elevated MUFA rate (∼56%) in pistacia oil which may be important against certain pathologies for its nutritional and preventive virtues. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 103–105, March–April, 2007.     

Thermochemistry of europium and dithiocarbamate complex Eu(C5H8NS2)3(C12H8N2)

A solid complex Eu(C₅H₈NS₂)₃(C₁₂H₈N₂) has been obtained from reaction of hydrous europium chloride with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen⋅H₂O) in absolute ethanol. IR spectrum of the complex indicated that Eu³⁺ in the complex coordinated with sulfur atoms from the APDC and nitrogen atoms from the o-phen. TG-DTG investigation provided the evidence that the title complex was decomposed into EuS. The enthalpy change of the reaction of formation of the complex in ethanol, Δ_r H _m ^θ(l), as –22.214±0.081 kJ mol^–1, and the molar heat capacity of the complex, c _m, as 61.676±0.651 J mol^–1 K^–1, at 298.15 K were determined by an RD-496 III type microcalorimeter. The enthalpy change of the reaction of formation of the complex in solid, Δ_r H _m ^θ(s), was calculated as 54.527±0.314 kJ mol^–1 through a thermochemistry cycle. Based on the thermodynamics and kinetics on the reaction of formation of the complex in ethanol at different temperatures, fundamental parameters, including the activation enthalpy (ΔH _≠ ^θ), the activation entropy (ΔS _≠ ^θ), the activation free energy (ΔG _≠ ^θ), the apparent reaction rate constant (k), the apparent activation energy (E), the pre-exponential constant (A) and the reaction order (n), were obtained. The constant-volume combustion energy of the complex, Δ_c U, was determined as –16937.88±9.79 kJ mol^–1 by an RBC-II type rotating-bomb calorimeter at 298.15 K. Its standard enthalpy of combustion, Δ_c H _m ^θ, and standard enthalpy of formation, Δ_f H _m ^θ, were calculated to be –16953.37±9.79 and –1708.23±10.69 kJ mol^–1, respectively.     

Alpinine,A New Norditerpene Alkaloid from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Delphinium alpinum</Emphasis>

The known alkaloids deltaline, methyllycaconitine, elasine, and the new norditerpene alkaloid alpinine were isolated from the aerial part of Delphinium alpinum. The structure of the last was proposed as 1α,6β, 16β-trimethoxy-7-hydroxy-8-ethoxy-14α-propionyloxy-4β-(2″-methyl)succinylanthranoyloxymethyl-N-ethylaconitane on the basis of PMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, and mass spectra. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 469–471, September–October, 2005.     

Characterization of ganoderma spore lipid by stable carbon isotope analysis: implications for authentication

The ratios of stable carbon isotopes (¹³C/¹²C) of ganoderma fruiting body, ganoderma spore, ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) and individual fatty acids in GSL were determined by gas chromatography–stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry and elemental analysis–stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry. These values fall into a range from −26.9 to −23.3‰, suggesting that the cut log as the Ganoderma-cultivated substrate in Fujian, China, may belong to C3 plants. Eighteen fatty acids were identified and their abundances measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in the six GSL samples with C_16:0, C_18:0, C_18:1 and C_18:2 as major constituents, and C_16:1 is evidently enriched compared with the other edible vegetable oils. On the basis of the compositions of fatty acids and stable carbon isotopes in GSL, we have developed a novel method to detect the adulteration of GSL products with cheaper edible vegetable oils. An example of ideal blending between GSL and C4 or C3 vegetable oil is further provided to expound the discrimination procedures and corresponding sensitive indicators. Simultaneously, the carbon isotope fractionation in the biosynthesis of individual fatty acids was observed, revealing that the formation of C_18:0 from C_16:0 in ganodema spores had no conspicuous ¹³C enrichment of +0.4‰ for Ganoderma sinensis spore and +0.1‰ for G. lucidum spore; the desaturation of C_18:0 to C_18:1 resulted in a distinct ¹³C depletion of −1.4‰ for G. sinensis spore and −0.9‰ for G. lucidum spore; and the next desaturation from C_18:1 to C_18:2 displayed no evident ¹³C fractionation of −0.1‰ for G. sinensis spore and −0.2‰ for G. lucidum spore. Figure Ganoderma lucidum has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicines. Ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) extracted from the spores of G. lucidum has been approved as a health food supplement. However, because of rarity, GSL has become a target for adulteration with cheaper vegetable oils.     

Thermophysical Investigations of the Polymorphous Phases of Calcium Carbonate

1. Results of thermodynamic and kinetic investigations for the different crystalline calcium carbonate phases and their phase transition data are reported and summarized (vaterite: V; aragonite: A; calcite: C). A→C: T _tr=455±10°C, Δ_tr H=403±8 J mol^–1 at T _tr, V→C: T _tr=320–460°C, depending on the way of preparation,Δ_tr H=–3.2±0.1 kJ mol^–1 at T _tr,Δ_tr H=–3.4±0.9 kJ mol^–1 at 40°C, S _V ^Θ= 93.6±0.5 J (K mol)^–1, A→C: E _A=370±10 kJ mol^–1; XRD only, V→C: E _A=250±10 kJ mol^–1; thermally activated, iso- and non-isothermal, XRD 2. Preliminary results on the preparation and investigation of inhibitor-free non-crystalline calcium carbonate (NCC) are presented. NCC→C: T _tr=276±10°C,Δ_tr H=–15.0±3 kJ mol^–1 at T _tr, T _tr – transition temperature, Δ_tr H – transition enthalpy, S ^Θ – standard entropy, E _A – activation energy. 3. Biologically formed internal shell of Sepia officinalis seems to be composed of ca 96% aragonite and 4% non-crystalline calcium carbonate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study on Inclusion Complex Formation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-Aminobenzoic Acid with Native and Substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-Cyclodextrins

The complex formation of native and substituted β-cyclodextrins with m-aminobenzoic acid in water was characterized by calorimetry, ¹H NMR and UV spectroscopic studies. These studies showed that β-, hydroxypropyl-β- and methyl-β-cyclodextrins form 1:1 inclusion complexes with m-aminobenzoic acid. The thermodynamic properties of complex formation (K,Δ_c G ^o,Δ_c H ^o,Δ_c S ^o) were calculated. It was found that the processes of complexation are mainly favorable entropically. Introduction of hydroxypropyl- and methyl-substituents into the β-CD molecule results in negligible enhancement of stability of the complexes formed. The structure of these substituents has no influence on the stability constant values. The insertion of the carboxylic group of m-aminobenzoic acid into the cyclodextrin cavity was confirmed by ¹H NMR data.     

Influence of solvent structure on the aquation of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">trans</Emphasis>-[Ru(3-MePy)<Subscript>4</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript>] complex in mixed aqueous solvents

The kinetics of the solvolytic aquation of trans-[Ru (3-Me Py)₄Cl₂] was studied spectrophotometrically in water – isopropanol in the range (30–90% v/v), and water acetonitrile in the range (10–70% v/v), and in the temperature range 50–65 °C. Plots of log k versus the reciprocal of the relative permittivity and Grunwald–Winstien gave non-linear plots. This non-linearity is derived from a large differential effect of solvent structure between the initial and transition states. The plot of log k versus water concentration was also non linear; evidence for the presence of a S _N ¹ mechanism. However, extrema in the variation of enthalpy ΔH* and entropy ΔS* of activation correlate well with the extrema in physical properties of the mixtures which are related to changes in solvent structure. Linear plots of ΔH* versus ΔS* were obtained and the iso- kinetic temperature indicates that the reaction is entropy controlled.     

Study of Complex Formation between N-Phenylaza-15-Crown-5 with Mg2+, Ca2+, Ag+ and Cd2+ Metal Cations in Some Binary Mixed Aqueous and Non-aqueous Solvents using the Conductometric Method

The complexation reactions between Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ag⁺ and Cd²⁺ metal cations with N-phenylaza-15-crown-5 (Ph-N15C5) were studied in acetonitrile (AN)–methanol (MeOH), methanol (MeOH)–water (H₂O) and propanol (PrOH)–water (H₂O) binary mixtures at different temperatures using the conductometric method. The conductance data show that the stochiometry of all of the complexes with Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ag⁺ and Cd²⁺ cations is 1:1 (L:M). The stability of the complexes is sensitive to the solvent composition and a non-linear behaviour was observed for variation of log K _f of the complexes versus the composition of the binary mixed solvents. The selectivity order of Ph-N15C5 for the metal cations in neat MeOH is Ag⁺>Cd²⁺>Ca²⁺>Mg²⁺, but in the case of neat AN is Ca²⁺>Cd²⁺>Mg²⁺>Ag⁺. The values of thermodynamic parameters (ΔH _c ^o , ΔS _c ^o ) for formation of Ph-N15C5–Mg²⁺, Ph-N15C5–Ca²⁺, Ph-N15C5–Ag⁺ and Ph-N15C5–Cd²⁺ complexes were obtained from temperature dependence of stability constants and the results show that the thermodynamics of complexation reactions is affected by the nature and composition of the mixed solvents.     

DSC analysis of human fat tissue in steroid induced osteonecrosis

Osteonecrosis (ON) of the femoral frequently occurs after steroid medication. One of the final pathways leading to steroid induced ON is thought to be pathologic fat metabolism. The pathobiological mechanism underlying the induction of fat metabolism outslides by steroids leading to ON has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the intraoperative obtained gluteal fat tissue from ON patients with histology, gas chromatography (GC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and to compare them with otherwise healthy patient’s samples. The histological sections showed no significant differences compared with the control group. GC revealed that fraction of saturated fatty acids decreased in ON samples from mean values of controls of 24% to 21, the polyunsaturated fraction from 20 to 14%. The monounsaturated acids showed an increase from mean rate of 52% of the controls to 65% of steroid treated samples. DSC curves correlate with chromatographic analysis of the tissue fatty acids (Steroid treated, heating between 0–100°C: T _m=5.7°C, ΔH= −15.8J/g⁻¹; heating between −20–100°C: Tm= −9.96 and 5.85°C, ΔH= −59.17 and −16.2 J g⁻¹. Non-necrotic, heating between 0–100°C: two separable transition with Tm=5.7 and 9.9°C, total ΔH= −20.8 J g⁻¹; heating between −20–100°C: Tm= −10.9 and 4.95°C, total ΔH= −75.8 J g⁻¹.) Our preliminary findings are rather tendentious. Further investigations are needed with higher sample rate and under other anamnestic circumstances too.     

Asymmetric synthesis ofS-alkyl-substituted (R)-cysteinesvia a chiral NiII complex of the Schiff's base of dehydroalanine with (S)-2-N-(N-benzylprolyl)aminobenzophenone

An efficient procedure was developed for the asymmetric synthesis ofS-alkyl derivatives of (R)-cysteine by nucleophilic addition of alkanethiols (BuⁿSH, Bu^tSH, ortert-C₅H₁₁SH) to the C=C bond of the dehydroalanine fragment in the Ni^II complex of the Schiff's base of Δ-Ala with (S)-2-N-(N-benzylprolyl)aminobenzophenone [(S)-BPB-Δ-Ala]Ni^II. Under conditions of thermodynamic control of the reaction, the diastereomeric excess of the complexes with the (S.R)-configuration was 88–96%. After decomposition of the complexes,(R)-S-butylcysteine,(R)-S-tert-butylcysteine, and(R)-S-tert-pentylcysteine were isolated with an enantiomeric purity of >97%. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1467–1470, August, 2000.     

Polysaccharides and sterols from green algae Caulerpa lentillifera and C. sertularioides

Sterols and polysaccharides of green alga Caulerpa lentillifera grown under laboratory conditions and in mariculture and polysaccharides of green alga C. sertularioides grown under natural conditions were studied. The sterol fraction consisted of C₂₇-C₂₉ steroidal alcohols with Δ⁵-unsaturation in the steroid core regardless of the growth conditions. The dominant (79.9%) steroid component of the sterol fraction was clionasterol. The water-soluble fraction of C. lentillifera grown under laboratory conditions was a mixture of 1,4-α- and 1,3-β-D-glucans and protein. The same fraction isolated from C. lentillifera grown in mariculture contained only protein. The water-soluble fraction of C. sertularioides grown under natural conditions contained 1,3;1,6-β-D-galactan sulfated at C2. The principal components of the base-soluble polysaccharide fractions from all algae samples were 1,4-α-D-glucans. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 5-8, January-February, 2009.     

Production and Stability of Protease from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida buinensis</Emphasis>

Cow raw milk from dairy cooperatives was examined for its microbial composition. Among the isolates identified, 17.6% were yeasts. The most frequent genus was Candida, although members belonging to the genera Brettanomyces, Dekkera, and Geotricum were also identified. Although qualitative and quantitative tests for extracellular proteolytic activity were positive for all the species isolated, Candida buinensis showed the highest response (23.5 U/mg); therefore, it was selected for subsequent investigation. The results of fermentations carried out at variable temperature, pH, and soybean flour concentration, according to a 2³ full factorial design, demonstrated that this yeast ensured the highest production of extracellular proteases (573 U/mL) when cultivated at 35 °C, pH 6.5, and using soybean flour concentrations in the range 0.1–0.5% (w/v). The cell-free supernatants showed the highest activity at 25 °C and pH 7.0, and satisfactory stability in the ranges 25–30 °C and pH 7–9. The first-order rate constants of protease inactivation in the cell-free supernatants were calculated at different temperatures from semi-log plots of the residual activity versus time and then used in Arrhenius and Eyring plots to estimate the main thermodynamic parameters of thermoinactivation (E* = 40.0 kJ/mol; ΔH* = 37.3 kJ/mol; ΔS* = −197.5 J/mol K; ΔG* = 101 kJ/mol).     

Quasi-thermodynamics of Viscous Flow of Electrolyte Solutions in Aqueous, Non-aqueous and Mixed Aqueous Solvents

Viscosity B-coefficients for cesium chloride and lithium sulfate in methanol + water mixtures at 25 and 35 °C are reported. A general treatment of the quasi-thermodynamics of viscous flow of electrolyte solutions is described. ΔG ₃ ^Θ (1→1′), the contribution made to the Gibbs energy of activation of the solution by the influence of the solute on the solvent, is a function of solute–solvent interactions only; but, ΔH ₃ ^Θ (1→1′) and ΔS ₃ ^Θ (1→1′) also reflect the solvent–solvent interactions. In aqueous solution all alkali-metal ions except Li⁺ are sterically unsaturated, having solvent co-ordination numbers n<n _max, the maximum allowed sterically. Such complexes exchange molecules with the solvent more readily than saturated ones and have energy–reaction co-ordinate diagrams in forms that explain the negative B or ΔG ₃ ^Θ (1→1′) values found in aqueous solution. Saturated complexes are the norm in non-aqueous solvents, and the ΔG ₃ ^Θ (1→1′) values are determined mainly by the secondary solvation. Behavior in mixed solvents reflects the transition from aqueous to non-aqueous behavior across the range of solvent composition.     

Kinetic and equilibrium study of the deprotonation of 4-nitrophenyl[bis(ethylsulphonyl)]methane by organic bases in acetonitrile in the presence of common cation BH<Superscript>+</Superscript> and tetrabutylammonium perchlorate

The results of kinetic and equilibrium experiments with the set of reaction of proton abstraction from 4-nitrophenyl[bis(ethylsulphonyl)]methane in acetonitrile are reported. Two strong organic bases are used: 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) and 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (MTBD). The rates of proton transfer reaction have been measured by T-jump method in the presence of perchlorate of the appropriate base as a common cation BH⁺ and supporting electrolyte-tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) in the temperature range between 20–40°C are: k _H =1.32×10⁷−2.00×10⁷ and 2.82×10⁷−4.84×10⁷ dm ³mol⁻¹s⁻¹ for MTBD and TBD respectively. The enthalpies of activation ΔH _MTBD ^≠ =13.5 and ΔH _TBD ^≠ =18.1 kJmol⁻¹. The entropies of activation are negative: ΔS _MTBD ^≠ =−62.3 and ΔS _TBD ^≠ =−40.3 Jmol⁻¹K⁻¹. The change of the absorbance of the anion of 4-nitrophenyl[bis9ethylsulphonyl)]methane at the temperature 25°C in the presence of common cation BH⁺ gives the equilibrium constants K=705 and 906 M⁻¹ for MTBD and TBD respectively. Kinetic and equilibrium results are discussed. The possible mechanism of proton transfer reaction between 4-nitrophenyl[bis(ethylsulphonyl)]methane and cyclic organic bases: MTBD and TBD in acetonitrile is proposed.     

Catalytic and Thermodynamic Characterization of Endoglucanase (CMCase) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus oryzae</Emphasis> cmc-1

Monomeric extracellular endoglucanase (25 kDa) of transgenic koji (Aspergillus oryzae cmc-1) produced under submerged growth condition (7.5 U mg⁻¹ protein) was purified to homogeneity level by ammonium sulfate precipitation and various column chromatography on fast protein liquid chromatography system. Activation energy for carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrolysis was 3.32 kJ mol⁻¹ at optimum temperature (55 °C), and its temperature quotient (Q ₁₀) was 1.0. The enzyme was stable over a pH range of 4.1–5.3 and gave maximum activity at pH 4.4. V _max for CMC hydrolysis was 854 U mg⁻¹ protein and K _m was 20 mg CMC ml⁻¹. The turnover (k _cat) was 356 s⁻¹. The pK _a1 and pK _a2 of ionisable groups of active site controlling V _max were 3.9 and 6.25, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters for CMC hydrolysis were as follows: ΔH* = 0.59 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔG* = 64.57 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS* = −195.05 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. Activation energy for irreversible inactivation ‘E _a(d)’ of the endoglucanase was 378 kJ mol⁻¹, whereas enthalpy (ΔH*), Gibbs free energy (ΔG*) and entropy (ΔS*) of activation at 44 °C were 375.36 kJ mol⁻¹, 111.36 kJ mol⁻¹ and 833.06 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively.     

Structure of cyclochivinoside C from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus chivensis</Emphasis>

The new cycloartane glycoside cyclochivinoside C, 24S-cycloartan-3β,6α,16β,24,25-pentaol 3,16-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, was isolated from the aerial part of Astragalus chivensis. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by chemical transformations and PMR and ¹³C NMR spectra. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 460–462, September–October, 2007.     

Complex Formation of 1,10-Dibenzyl-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 with Ni2+, Cu2+, Ag+ and Cd2+ Metal Cations in Acetonitrile–dimethylformamide Binary Solutions

Conductance measurements are reported for nickel(II), cupper(II), silver(I) and cadmium(II), salts in acetonitrile (AN)–dimethylformamide (DMF) binary solvents containing macrocyclic ligand, 1,10-dibenzyl-1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 (DBDA18C6) at different temperatures. The changes in molar conductance caused by addition of DBDA18C6 to solutions were analyzed by non-linear least squares to give stability constants of 1:1 metal cation–DBDA18C6 complexes. The results show that the stabilities of the complexes are sensitive to solvent composition and in some cases the sequence of stabilities is changed with changing the composition of the mixed solvents. The values of thermodynamic quantities (ΔH°c and ΔS°c) for formation of DBDA18C6-Ni²⁺, DBDA18C6-Cu²⁺, DBDA18C6-Ag⁺ and DBDA18C6-Cd²⁺ complexes were obtained from temperature dependence of the stability constants and the results show that the values of ΔH°c and ΔS°c for these complexes are sensitive to the nature and composition of AN–DMF binary solutions, but they do not vary monotonically with the solvent composition.