Glyoxalase I-type hemithioacetal isomerization reactivity of a mononuclear Ni(II) deprotonated amide complex

The synthesis, characterization, and hemithioacetal isomerization reactivity of a mononuclear Ni(II) deprotonated amide complex, [(bppppa-)Ni]ClO4.CH3OH (1, bppppa- = monoanion of N,N-bis-[(6-phenyl-2-pyridyl)methyl]-N-[(6-pivaloylamido-2-pyridyl)methyl]amine), are reported. Complex 1 was characterized by X-ray crystallography, 1H NMR, UV-vis, FTIR, and elemental analysis. Treatment of 1 with an equimolar amount of the hemithioacetal PhC(O)CH(OH)SCD3 in dry acetonitrile results in the production of the thioester PhCH(OH)C(O)SCD3 in approximately 60% yield. This reaction is conveniently monitored via 2H NMR spectroscopy. A protonated analogue of 1, [(bppppa)Ni](ClO4)2 (2), is unreactive with the hemithioacetal, thus indicating the requirement of the anionic chelate ligand in 1 for hemithioacetal isomerization reactivity. Complex 1 is unreactive with the thioester product, PhCH(OH)C(O)SCD3, which indicates that the pKa value for the PhCH(OH)C(O)SCD3 proton of the thioester must be significantly higher than the pKa value of the C-H proton of the hemithioacetal (PhC(O)CH(OH)SCD3). Complex 1 is the first well-characterized Ni(II) coordination complex to exhibit reactivity relevant to Ni(II)-containing E. coli glyoxalase I. Treatment of NiBr2.2H2O with PhC(O)CH(OH)SCD3 in the presence of 1-methylpyrrolidine also yields thioester product, albeit the reaction is slower and involves the formation of multiple -SCD3 labeled species, as detected by 2H NMR spectroscopy. The results of this study provide the first insight into hemithioacetal isomerization promoted by a synthetic Ni(II) coordination complex versus a simple Ni(II) ion.     

Synthesis of dihydrobenzisoxazoles by the [3 + 2] cycloaddition of arynes and oxaziridines

Dihydrobenzisoxazoles are readily prepared in good yields by the [3 + 2] cycloaddition of oxaziridines and arynes. The reaction involves an unusual cleavage of the C-O bond of the oxaziridine and tolerates a variety of substituents on the oxaziridine and the o-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflate to form aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkyl-, and naphthyl-substituted dihydrobenzisoxazoles. The resulting halogen-substituted dihydrobenzisoxazoles are readily elaborated to more complex products using palladium-catalyzed crossing-coupling processes.     

Synthesis and structure elucidation of 25,26,27,28-tetramethylcalix[4]arene tetraketone using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopies

The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the new calix[4]arene-based tetraketone were completely assigned by one- and two-dimensional homo- and heteronuclear experiments (¹H–¹H COSY, ¹H–¹³C HMQC, and HMBC) at 400 and 100 MHz, respectively, at 25 °C standard pulse sequence. ¹H and ¹³C spectra were measured at room temperature for 25,26,27,28-tetramethylcalix[4]arene tetraketone (1). ¹³C{¹H}, DEPT and NMR techniques were used to distinguish the methyl, methylene and methine carbon resonance signals of calix[4]arene 1. Correlation of 1D (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, DEPT) and 2D (HMQC and HMBC) NMR data was used to completely assign various overlapping and broad signals of calix[4]arene 1. Heteronuclear multibond correlation (HMBC) studies were used to completely assign various carbon resonances. Our results show that the conformation of calix[4]arene 1 in the solution is very similar to the cone conformation reported in the literature.     

Preparation, characterization, and X-ray crystal structures of helical and syndiotactic zinc-based coordination polymers

The reactions of (facac)2Zn.2H2O (facac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate) with 2,5-bis(4-ethynylpyridyl)furan (1) and 1,2-bis(4-ethynylpyridyl)benzene (2) yield, upon crystallization, coordination polymers. The former polymer, ((facac)2Zn.1)n, has an isotactic, helical structure in the solid state [monoclinic space group P2(1)/n; a = 11.0374(3) A, b = 24.2179(10) A, c = 14.3970(4) A, beta = 92.880(2) degrees; Z = 4]. The latter polymer, ((facac)2Zn.2)n, adopts a syndiotactic structure in the solid state [monoclinic space group P2(1)/n; a = 9.1344(1) A, b = 21.7985(5) A, c = 16.0322(4) A, beta = 99.6680(11) degrees; Z = 4]. The solution structures of the corresponding oligomers have been studied by low-temperature 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. Chiral polymers were prepared using the fragment [(+)-tfc]2Zn ((+)-tfc = 3-((trifluoromethyl)hydroxymethylene)-(+)-camphorate). A linear, zigzag structure was found for ([(+)-tfc]2Zn.1)n [triclinic space group P1; a = 7.4833(2) A, b = 14.1563(5) A, c = 21.21230(5) A, alpha = 78.4440(15) degrees, beta = 81.5644(15) degrees, gamma = 76.4976(13) degrees; Z = 1]. Reaction with tris(4-pyridyl)methanol (3) yielded a homochiral, helical polymer, ([(+)-tfc]2Zn.3)n [monoclinic space group C2; a = 25.0633(12) A, b = 11.8768(7) A, c = 17.1205(9) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 117.954(3) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees; Z = 4].     

Elemental analysis of topaz from northern areas of Pakistan and assessment of induced radioactivity level after neutron irradiation for color induction

To study the impurity elements, which render color-induced topaz long lived radionuclides, three samples of topaz, from three different cities of the Northern Pakistan (Baltistan, Gilgit and Mardan) were analyzed using k ₀ instrumental neutron activation analysis (k ₀-INAA). The samples were irradiated in Pakistan Research Reactor-1 (PARR-1) and PARR-2 at Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad. The method was validated by analyzing IAEA-S7 reference material. In three samples a total of 22 trace level impurity elements were quantified. Among impurities, 10 elements including As, Ce, Ga, Ge, La, Na, Sb, Sc, U and Zn were common in topaz of all the three places. The storage time has been calculated for each sample required to bring the induced radioactivity down to permissible level given by US National Regulatory Commission.     

Nitric Oxide Conversion and Ozone Synthesis in a Shielded Sliding Discharge Reactor with Positive and Negative Streamers

Positive and negative streamer discharges in atmospheric pressure air were generated in a shielded sliding discharge reactor at operating voltages as low as 5 kV for a gap length of 1.6 cm. In this reactor, electrodes are placed on top of a dielectric layer and one of the electrodes, generally the one on ground potential, is connected to a conductive layer on the opposite side of the dielectric. The energy per pulse, at the same applied voltage, was more than a factor of seven higher than that of pulsed corona discharges, and more than a factor of two higher than that of sliding discharges without a shield. It is explained on the basis of enhanced electric fields, particularly at the plasma emitting electrode. Specific input energy required for 50 % removal from ~1,000 ppm initial NO could be reduced to ~18 eV/molecule when ozone in the exhaust of negative streamers was utilized. For sliding discharges and pulsed corona discharges this value was ~25 eV/molecule and it was 35 eV/molecule for positive shielded sliding discharges. Also, the ozone energy yield from dry air was up to ~130 g/kW h and highest for negative streamer discharges in shielded sliding discharge reactors. The high energy density in negative streamer discharges in the shielded discharge reactor at the relatively low applied voltages might not only allow expansion of basic studies on negative streamers, but also open the path to industrial applications, which have so far been focused on positive streamer discharges.     

In vitro pharmacological screening of three newly synthesised pyrimidine derivatives

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of three new pyrimidine derivatives, namely, 2,6-bis(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-ylthio)benzene-1,4-diol (1),3,5-bis(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-ylthio)-2-methylbenzene-1,4-diol (2) and 3,5-bis(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-ylthio)-2-methoxybenzene-1,4-diol (3), synthesised by electrochemical method are presented here. The compounds were screened for their activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcusaureus, Escherichia coli and a pathogenic fungus Aspergillus niger. The results show that these compounds have significant activity against these bacteria and fungus. The minimum inhibitory concentration of compound 1 was determined as 62.5 μg/mL against B. subtilis, 125 μg/mL against E. coli and 250 μg/mL against S. aureus establishing its promising activities higher than susceptible ranges.     

Formal intermolecular 4 + 4 approach to cyclooctanoids: 4 + 3 capture of the Nazarov oxyallyl intermediate with simple 1,3-dienes

[reaction: see text] Simple 1,4-dien-3-ones and 1,3-dienes react in the presence of BF(3).OEt(2) via a domino Nazarov electrocyclization/intermolecular [4 + 3]-cycloaddition sequence to furnish keto-bridged cyclooctenes in good yield. Most cases showed high diastereofacial selectivity and/or endo/exo selectivity, and surprising levels of regioselectivity were observed when isoprene was used as the diene partner.     

Synthesis of haloconduritols from an endo-cycloadduct of furan and vinylene carbonate

A method for preparing haloconduritols having a conduritol-A construction is described. A mixture of endo- and exo-cycloadduct derivatives prepared from the Diels-Alder reaction of furan and vinylene carbonate was converted into diacetate derivatives by hydrolysis (K₂CO₃/MeOH) followed by acetylation (Ac₂O/pyridine). Boron trihalide (BBr₃ or BCl₃)-assisted ring-opening of the endo-diacetate in CH₂Cl₂ at −78°C gave (1α,2α,3β,6β)-6-halogeno-4-cyclohexene-1,2,3-triol 1,2-diacetate from which the corresponding triacetate was prepared by acetylation (AcCl). trans-Esterification of the triacetate (MeOH/HCl) afforded (1α,2α,3β,6β)-6-halogeno-4-cyclohexene-1,2,3-triol (X=Br or Cl). BF₃-Assisted ring-opening of the endo-diacetate in CH₂Cl₂ gave (1α,2α,3β,6β)-6-chloro-4-cyclohexene-1,2,3-triol 1,2-diacetate by means of halogen exchange.