Microwave‐Induced Stereocontrol of β‐Lactam Formation with an N‐Benzylidene‐9,10‐dihydrophenanthren‐3‐amine via Staudinger Cycloaddition

The synthesis of 3‐substituted 4‐phenyl‐1‐(9,10‐dihydrophenanthren‐3‐yl)azetidin‐2‐ones was achieved following Staudinger cycloaddition under microwave‐induced conditions. The stereoselectivity of β‐lactam formation depended on the power level of the microwave irradiation used in the experiments.     

Sodium Bismuthate–Induced Oxidation of Baccatin

Sodium bismuthate in acetic acid has proven very effective in the oxidation of allyic alcohols. An extension of this oxidation method using baccatin as the substrate has provided keto‐baccatin, an important compound for the semisynthesis of Taxol and Taxotere.     

Purification and characterization of Bacillus cereus protease suitable for detergent industry

An extracellular alkaline protease from an alkalophilic bacterium, Bacillus cereus, was produced in a large amount by the method of extractive fermentation. The protease is thermostable, pH tolerant, and compatible with commercial laundry detergerts. The protease purified and characterized in this study was found to be saperior to endogenous protease already present in commercial laundry detergents. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, concentration by ultrafiltration, anionexchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 3256.05 U/mg and was found to be amonomeric protein with a molecular mass of 28 and 31 kDa, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and nondenaturing PAGE, respectively. Its maximum protease activity against casein was found to be at pH 10.5 and 50°C. Proteolytic activity of the enzyme was detected by casein and gelatin zymography, which gave a very clear protease activity zone on gel that corresponded to the band obtained on SDS-PAGE and nondenaturing PAGE with a molecular mass of nearly 31 kDa. The purified enzyme was analyzed through matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and identified as a subtilisin class of protease. Specific serine protease inhibitors, suggesting the presence of serine residues at the active site, inhibited the enzme significantly.     

Stereoselective synthesis of novel monocyclic trans-3-halogenated-4-pyrazolyl-β-lactams: Potential synthons and promising biologically active agents

Stereoselective synthesis of novel monocyclic trans-3-halogenated-4-pyrazolyl-β-lactams 5 is described. The reaction of ketene derived from α-bromo/chloroethanoic acids 4 using POCl₃ and Et₃N with pyrazolyl substituted imines 3a–d in refluxing toluene resulted exclusive formation of trans-β-lactams through [2?+?2] through cycloaddition reaction. The chemical structures of all the newly synthesized β-lactams were verified on the basis of spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and elemental analysis (CHN). The trans configuration of β-lactams 5 was assigned with respect to position of C3-H and C4-H. The novel β-lactams 5 are potential synthons for azetidines, aziridines, 3-unsubstituted azetidinones, 3-alkyl-halo-azetidinones, and promising biologically active agents.     

Microwave-induced bismuth(III)-catalyzed synthesis of linear indoloquinolines

Microwave-induced Bi(NO₃)₃-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of a series of linear indoloquinolines is accomplished under mild reaction conditions. While majority of these examples were carried out under solvent-free conditions, in a few cases, minimal quantity of THF is used as solvent. The methodology involves several unique reaction pathways, providing different linear indolo[2,3-b]quinolines in good yields from readily available starting materials and using environmentally benign Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O as catalyst.