Flash photolytic generation and study of p-quinone methide in aqueous solution. An estimate of rate and equilibrium constants for heterolysis of the carbon-bromine bond in p-hydroxybenzyl bromide

Flash photolysis of p-hydroxybenzyl acetate in aqueous perchloric acid solution and formic acid, acetic acid, biphosphate ion, and tris(hydroxymethyl)methylammonium ion buffers produced p-quinone methide as a short-lived species that underwent hydration to p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in hydronium ion catalyzed (k(H(+)) = 5.28 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)) and uncatalyzed (k(uc) = 3.33 s(-1)) processes. The inverse nature of the solvent isotope effect on the hydronium ion-catalyzed reaction, k(H(+))/k(D(+)) = 0.41, indicates that this process occurs by rapid and reversible protonation of the quinone methide on its carbonyl carbon atom, followed by rate-determining capture of the p-hydroxybenzyl carbocation so produced by water, while the magnitude of the rate constant on the uncatalyzed process indicates that this reaction occurs by simple nucleophilic addition of water to the methylene group of the quinone methide. p-Quinone methide also underwent hydronium ion-catalyzed and uncatalyzed nucleophilic addition reactions with chloride ion, bromide ion, thiocyanate ion, and thiourea. The solvent isotope effects on the hydronium ion-catalyzed processes again indicate that these reactions occurred by preequilibrium mechanisms involving a p-hydroxybenzyl carbocation intermediate, and assignment of a diffusion-controlled value to the rate constant for reaction of this cation with thiocyanate ion led to K(SH) = 110 M as the acidity constant of oxygen-protonated p-quinone methide. In a certain perchloric acid concentration range, the bromide ion reaction became biphasic, and least-squares analysis of the kinetic data using a double-exponential function provided k(Br(-)) = 3.8 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) as the rate constant for nucleophilic capture of the p-hydroxybenzyl carbocation by bromide ion, k(ionz) = 8.5 x 10(2) s(-1) for ionization of the carbon-bromine bond of p-hydroxybenzyl bromide, and K = 4.5 x 10(5) M(-1) as the equilibrium constant for the carbocation-bromide ion combination reaction, all in aqueous solution at 25 degrees C. Comparisons are made of the reactivity of p-quinone methide with p-quinone alpha,alpha-bis(trifluoromethyl)methide as well as p-quinone methide with o-quinone methide.     

Potent and selective structure-based dibenzofuran inhibitors of transthyretin amyloidogenesis: kinetic stabilization of the native state

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidogenesis requires rate-limiting tetramer dissociation and partial monomer denaturation to produce a misassembly competent species. This process has been followed by turbidity to identify transthyretin amyloidogenesis inhibitors including dibenzofuran-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (1). An X-ray cocrystal structure of TTR.1(2) reveals that it only utilizes the outer portion of the two thyroxine binding pockets to bind to and inhibit TTR amyloidogenesis. Herein, structure-based design was employed to append aryl substituents at C1 of the dibenzofuran ring to complement the unused inner portion of the thyroxine binding pockets. Twenty-eight amyloidogenesis inhibitors of increased potency and dramatically increased plasma TTR binding selectivity resulted. These function by imposing kinetic stabilization on the native tetrameric structure of TTR, creating a barrier that is insurmountable under physiological conditions. Since kinetic stabilization of the TTR native state by interallelic trans suppression is known to ameliorate disease, there is reason to be optimistic that the dibenzofuran-based inhibitors will do the same. Preventing the onset of amyloidogenesis is the most conservative strategy to intervene clinically, as it remains unclear which of the TTR misassembly intermediates results in toxicity. The exceptional binding selectivity enables these inhibitors to occupy the thyroxine binding site(s) in a complex biological fluid such as blood plasma, required for inhibition of amyloidogenesis in humans. It is now established that the dibenzofuran-based amyloidogenesis inhibitors have high selectivity, affinity, and efficacy and are thus excellent candidates for further pharmacologic evaluation.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of novel epoxy containing silicon and phosphorus nanocomposites by sol-gel method

Organic-inorganic hybrids were prepared using diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) type epoxy and tetraethoxysilane via the sol-gel process. The DGEBA type epoxy was modified by a coupling agent to improve the compatibility of the organic and inorganic phases. The sol-gel technique was used successfully to incorporate silicon and phosphorus into the network of hybrids increasing flame retardance.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure of the hybrids. In condensed siloxane species for TEOS, silicon atoms through mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-substituted siloxane bonds are designated as Q¹, Q², Q³, Q⁴, respectively. For 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane and diethylphosphatoethyltriethoxysilane, mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-substituted siloxane bonds are designated as T¹, T², T³. Results revealed that Q⁴, Q³, T³ are the major environments forming a network structure. The morphology of the ceramer was examined by scanning electron microscopy and Si mapping. Particle sizes were below 100 nm. The hybrids were nanocomposites. The char yield of pure epoxy resin was 14.8 wt.% and that of modified epoxy nanocomposite was 31 wt.% at 800 °C. A higher char yield enhances the flame retardance. Values of limiting oxygen index of pure epoxy and modified epoxy nanocomposites are 24 and 32, respectively, indicating that modified epoxy nanocomposites possess better flame retardance than the pure epoxy resin.     

Tetracyclic triterpenoids from Melia azedarach, L.—III

From petroleum ether extracts of the bark of M. azedarach four novel tetracyclic triterpenoids have been isolated and characterized to be C₃₀ compounds of the euphane (20R) series. Previously known triterpenoids from Meliaceae have all been 20S compounds. Kulinone 1 is the first known euphane or tirucallane (20S) derivative oxygenated in the D ring; kulactone 2, kulolactone 3 and methyl kulonate 4 are additionally oxygenated in the side chain. Compounds 2 and 3 have a 2-oxa-trans-bicyclo[3,3,0]-octanone structure.     

Angle-resolved photoemission and valence band dispersions for GaAs: Direct vs indirect models

Angle-resolved photoemission measurements for GaAs(110) have been extended to hv= 100 eV. These results show that dominant emission peaks are due to direct transitions. Weaker one-dimensional density of states features sometimes observed are due to surface umklapp/secondary cone and lifetime effects. Accurate band dispersions

for all four valence bands GaAs along the [110] direction are given using simple normal emission and off-normal emission methods. Electron and hole lifetimes are directly determined.     

Fumigant Activity of Bacterial Volatile Organic Compounds against the Nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and Meloidogyne incognita

Plant-parasitic nematodes infect a diversity of crops, resulting in severe economic losses in agriculture. Microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are potential agents to control plant-parasitic nematodes and other pests. In this study, VOCs emitted by a dozen bacterial strains were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Fumigant toxicity of selected VOCs, including dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-nonanone, 2-undecanone, anisole, 2,5-dimethylfuran, glyoxylic acid, and S-methyl thioacetate (MTA) was then tested against Caenorhabditis elegans. DMDS and MTA exhibited much stronger fumigant toxicity than the others. Probit analysis suggested that the values of LC₅₀ were 8.57 and 1.43 μg/cm³ air for DMDS and MTA, respectively. MTA also showed stronger fumigant toxicity than DMDS against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, suggesting the application potential of MTA.     

Prolonged lifespan of initial-anode-free lithium-metal battery by pre-lithiation in Li-rich Li2Ni0.5Mn1.5O4 spinel cathode

Anode-free lithium metal batteries (AF-LMBs) can deliver the maximum energy density. However, achieving AF-LMBs with a long lifespan remains challenging because of the poor reversibility of Li⁺ plating/stripping on the anode. Here, coupled with a fluorine-containing electrolyte, we introduce a cathode pre-lithiation strategy to extend the lifespan of AF-LMBs. The AF-LMB is constructed with Li-rich Li₂Ni_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ cathodes as a Li-ion extender; the Li₂Ni_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ can deliver a large amount of Li⁺ in the initial charging process to offset the continuous Li⁺ consumption, which benefits the cycling performance without sacrificing energy density. Moreover, the cathode pre-lithiation design has been practically and precisely regulated using engineering methods (Li-metal contact and pre-lithiation Li-biphenyl immersion). Benefiting from the highly reversible Li metal on the Cu anode and Li₂Ni_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ cathode, the further fabricated anode-free pouch cells achieve 350 W h kg⁻¹ energy density and 97% capacity retention after 50 cycles.

Benefiting from highly reversible structure evolution of pre-lithiated Li-rich Li₂Ni_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ cathode, the corresponding anode-free pouch cell delivers a considerable energy density of 350 W h kg⁻¹ and 97% capacity retention after 50 cycles.     

Oxidative Addition vs. Ligand-Exchange: Fe(II)-Mixed-Phenylchalcogenolate Complexes fac-[PPN][Fe(CO)3(TePh)n(SePh)3-N] (n = 1, 2)

Diphenyldichalcogenides (PhE)₂ (E = Te, Se) react with Fe(0)-phenylchalcogenolate [PPN] [PhEFe(CO)₄] to yield the products of oxidative addition, Fe(II)-mixed-phenylchalcogenolate fac- [PPN][Fe(CO)₃(TePh)_n(ScPh)_3-n] (n = 1, 2). Reactions of [PPN][REFe(CO)₄] (E=Se, R=Me; E=S, R=Et) and diphenyldichalcogenides yielded ligand-exchange products [PPN][PhEFe(CO)₄] (E=Te, Se, S). The compounds [Fe(CO)₃(TePh)(ScPh)₂]^? (l) and [Fe(CO)₃(TePh)₂ (2) crystallize in the isomorphous monoclinic space group C_2/e, with a = 32.035(8), b = 11.708(6), c = 28.909(6) Å, Z = 8, R = 0.048, and R_w = 0.044 (1); with a = 32.089(5), b= 11.745(2), c = 28.990(8) Å, Z = 8, R = 0.048, and R_w = 0.048 (2). The complexes 1 and 2 crystallize as discrete cations of PPN⁺ and anions of [Fe(CO)₃(TcPh)_u(ScPh)_3-n] (n=1, 2), and one half solvent molecule THF. The geometry around Fe(II) is a distorted octahedron with three carbonyl groups and three phenylchalcogenolate ligands occupying facial positions.     

Facile synthesis of monodisperse MnO nanoparticles from bulk MnO

A simple method is presented for the one-pot synthesis of monodisperse MnO nanoparticles (NPs) using bulk MnO as the starting material. In the proposed approach, bulk MnO powder is dissolved in hot oleic acid to form manganese oleate (Mn(RCOO)₂) and a decomposition process is then performed to obtain MnO NPs. The proposed method is environmentally friendly in that the only by-product is water, which can be easily distilled out. Conceptually, the synthesis method can be viewed as a controlled dissolution recrystallization process. It is shown that the size of the NPs can be controlled over the range of 6–32 nm via an appropriate specification of the precursor-to-oleic acid ratio and the reaction temperature (by the choice of an appropriate high b.p organic solvent). Finally, the size-dependent magnetic properties of three different monodisperse MnO NPs (7.7 nm, 19.4 nm and 31.7 nm) are studied. It is shown that the monodisperse MnO NPs exhibit a weak ferromagnetic behavior due to uncompensated surface spins at low temperatures.