Observation of an unprecedented Cu Bis-His site: crystal structure of the H129V mutant of nitrite reductase

Copper nitrite reductases contain both an electron-transfer type 1 Cu site and a catalytic type 2 Cu site. We have mutated one of the type 2 copper ligating histidines to observe the effect on catalytic turnover. This mutation has created a unique site where Cu is ligated by 2 His Nepsilon2 atoms alone.     

L-Amino Acid Esters Studies: Part II: Synthesis of N-(Dimethoxy/3,5-Diacetoxybenzoyl)-L-Amino Acid Hydrazides and their Reactions with Aldehydes and Ketones

The synthesis of N-(dimethoxy and 3, 5-diacetoxybenzoyl) -L- amino acid hydrazides, and their reactions with some aldehydes and ketones are described.     

Novel Foaming-Agent Free Insulating Geopolymer Based on Industrial Fly Ash and Rice Husk

This study highlights the synthesis of a new thermal insulating geopolymer based on the alkaline activation of fly ashes. A porous geopolymer material can be prepared without the addition of a foaming agent, using high ratio solution/ashes (activating solutions used are water, sodium or potassium hydroxide). In order to increase the porosity of the material and to make it more ecological, rice husks are incorporated into the formulation. The geopolymer materials were prepared at room temperature and dried at moderate temperature (105 °C) by a simple procedure. The microstructural characteristics of these new porous geopolymers were assessed by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to confirm the geopolymerisation. The effect of the ratio solution/ashes and the percentage of the rice husk addition on thermal and mechanical analysis was evaluated. An insulating material for a solution/ashes ratio of 0.9 and a rice husk content of 15% having a λ value of 0.087 W/(m·K), a porosity of 61.4% and an Rc value of 0.1 MPa was successfully prepared.     

Valence fluctuation in Ce2Co3Ge5 and crystal field effect in Pr2Co3Ge5

Polycrystalline samples of ternary rare-earth germanides R₂Co₃Ge₅ (R=La, Ce and Pr) have been prepared and investigated by means of magnetic susceptibility, isothermal magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements. All these compounds crystallize in orthorhombic U₂Co₃Si₅ structure (space group Ibam). No evidence of magnetic or superconducting transition is observed in any of these compounds down to 2 K. The unit cell volume of Ce₂Co₃Ge₅ deviates from the expected lanthanide contraction, indicating non trivalent state of Ce ions in this compound. The reduced value of effective moment (μ_eff≈0.95 μ_B) compared to that expected for trivalent Ce ions further supports valence-fluctuating nature of Ce in Ce₂Co₃Ge₅. The observed temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility is consistent with the ionic interconfiguration fluctuation (ICF) model. Although no sharp anomaly due to a phase transition is seen, a broad Schottky-type anomaly is observed in the magnetic part of specific heat of Pr₂Co₃Ge₅. An analysis of C_mag data suggests a singlet ground state in Pr₂Co₃Ge₅ separated from the singlet first excited state by 22 K and a doublet second excited state at 73 K.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of thiophene derivatives as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

A series of new thiophene derivatives has been synthesized using the Gewald protocol. The acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity was assayed according to Ellman's method using donepezil as reference. Some of the compounds were found to be more potent inhibitors than the reference. 2-(2-(4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)acetamido)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxamide (IIId) showed 60% inhibition, compared to only 40% inhibition by donepezil.     

Synthesis of attapulgite-MnO2 nanocomposite from manganese complex by ultrasound for hydrogen storage

The research included the synthesis of a new complex of manganese with 3,4,5-tri-methoxybenzoic acid in the presence of triethylamine as a base to which gives the complex with formula [Mn (TMB)₂].2H₂O. This complex was characterized by FTIR, CHN, magnetic susceptibility and thermal analysis. Furthermore, this complex was used as a novel precursor of manganese in preparing the attapulgite-MnO₂ nanocomposite by one-pot addition method using ultrasound. The resulting nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction and TEM and the results prove that this composite was found as nanochannel of the diameter 45 nm decorated with 26–41 nm of MnO₂ nanoparticles. The attapulgite-MnO₂ nanocomposite was used in the application of hydrogen storage, and the results proved that attapulgite-MnO₂ nanocomposite has the ability to store 3.55 wt% of hydrogen under a pressure of 90 bar and a temperature of 77 K. Furthermore, the measurement demonstrated that increasing the pressure increased the stored hydrogen, implying that the stored gas will be liberated by altering the pressure, implying that the storage will be of the physical kind.     

1,3,4-Oxadiazole N-Mannich Bases: Synthesis,Antimicrobial, and Anti-Proliferative Activities

The reaction of 5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thione 3 with formaldehyde solution and primary aromatic amines or 1-substituted piperazines, in ethanol at room temperature yielded the corresponding N-Mannich bases 3-arylaminomethyl-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones 4a–l or 3-[(4-substituted piperazin-1-yl)methyl]-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones 5a–d, respectively. The in vitro inhibitory activity of compounds 4a–l and 5a–d was assessed against pathogenic Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and the yeast-like pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The piperazinomethyl derivatives 5c and 5d displayed broad-spectrum antibacterial activities the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.5–8 μg/mL) and compounds 4j, 4l, 5a, and 5b showed potent activity against the tested Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, the anti-proliferative activity of the compounds was evaluated against prostate cancer (PC3), human colorectal cancer (HCT-116), human hepatocellular carcinoma (HePG-2), human epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa), and human breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines. The optimum anti-proliferative activity was attained by compounds 4l, 5a, 5c, and 5d.     

Antimicrobial and antitumor activities of 1,2,4‐triazoles/polypyrrole chitosan core shell nanoparticles

Combination of natural biodegradable polymer with a synthetic polymer offers excellent properties for the support in drug delivery system. For this purpose, biodegradable conductive nanoparticle polypyrrole based on chitosan (PPC) has been prepared via oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in presence of chitosan using FeCl₃ as oxidant in acidic medium and used as a carrier for 1,2,4‐triazoles. The resultant nanoparticles were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The results indicate that spherical nanoparticle of average diameter 52 ± 8 nm was successfully prepared. The spherical particles were composed of dark sphere surrounded by grey shell. A circumferential dark ring is observed in the shell after loading 1,2,4‐triazoles into PPC nanoparticles. The loaded triazoles were released almost linearly against time in a sustained fashion into different pH media. The mechanism of triazoles release was determined using different kinetics equations. The antibacterial activities against the gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacteria were examined. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of PPC nanoparticles loaded 1,2,4‐triazoles was also examined against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells and breast cancer cell line (MCF7). Polypyrrole chitosan loaded nanoparticles exhibited higher antitumor activity than 1,2,4‐triazoles.     

Sulfone coupling and double-elimination strategy for carotenoid synthesis

[Reaction: see text]. A highly efficient synthetic method of carotenoid compounds has been developed on the basis of the sulfone coupling and double-elimination strategy. This method highlighted the sulfone-mediated coupling with the novel C(10) dialdehyde, 2,7-dimethyl-4-octenedial, which was easily prepared and efficiently utilized in the synthesis of the conjugated polyene chains.