On the phase diagram of the [(CH3)4N]2ZnCl4−xBrx system

The [(CH₃)₄N]₂ZnCl_4?xBr_x system shows a complete miscibility with a common Pnma high temperature phase. The (x,T)-phase diagram (x given by [(CH₃)₄N]₂ZnCl_4?xBr_x) was determined by means of DSC- and X-ray measurements. In the vicinity of both end members an analogy to the (P,T)-phase diagrams of pure compounds is observed with an increasing x corresponding to an increase of pressure. In the intermediate part of the system other effects become important leading to large coexistence regions of different phases. This is evidently due to the simultaneous occupancy of anion tetrahedra by different numbers of Cl and Br atoms. The non-equivalent ZnX₄-tetrahedra of solid solutions do not suppress the occurence of the incommensurate phases. They exist between x = 0 to ?3 and are interrupted by a supposedly ferroelectric phase occuring up to x ?0.4. Around x ? 3 a triple point occurs the nature of which needs a closer elucidation.     

φ meson production in NA60

NA60 is a fixed-target experiment at the CERN SPS which measured dimuon production in nucleus–nucleus and proton–nucleus collisions. The experiment collected muon pair samples of unprecedented quality in heavy-ion experiments. This paper presents a high quality measurement of the p_T distribution of the φ meson, covering a broad p_T window. The data were collected in 2003 in In-In collisions at 158 GeV per nucleon. The results, presented as a function of centrality, were studied against several possible sources of systematic effects and proved to be fairly stable. We show that the inverse m_T slope measured in In-In collisions, in the φ→μμ decay channel, depends significantly on the range used to perform the fit. When the fit is performed at low transverse momentum, the effective inverse slope increases from peripheral to central collisions, as measured by other experiments. We finally show that our measurement for In-In is compatible with the overall systematics of T slope versus mass, measured in different collision systems by the NA49 experiment PACS 25.75.Nq; 25.75.-q; 25.75.Dw; 14.40.Cs; 12.38.Mh     

NA60 results on thermal dimuons

The NA60 experiment at the CERN SPS has measured muon pairs with unprecedented precision in 158 A GeV In–In collisions. A strong excess of pairs above the known sources is observed in the whole mass region 0.2<M<2.6 GeV. The mass spectrum for M<1 GeV is consistent with a dominant contribution from π ⁺ π ⁻→ρ→μ ⁺ μ ⁻ annihilation. The associated ρ spectral function shows a strong broadening, but essentially no shift in mass. For M>1 GeV, the excess is found to be prompt, not due to enhanced charm production, with pronounced differences to Drell–Yan pairs. The slope parameter T _eff associated with the transverse momentum spectra rises with mass up to the ρ, followed by a sudden decline above. The rise for M<1 GeV is consistent with radial flow of a hadronic emission source. The seeming absence of significant flow for M>1 GeV and its relation to parton–hadron duality is discussed in detail, suggesting a dominantly partonic emission source in this region. A comparison of the data to the present status of theoretical modeling is also contained. The accumulated empirical evidence, including also a Planck-like shape of the mass spectra at low p _T and the lack of polarization, is consistent with a global interpretation of the excess dimuons as thermal radiation. We conclude with first results on ω in-medium effects.     

Chemical constituents of Eugenia catharinae and their antioxidant activity

Nine compounds were isolated from the leaves of Eugenia catharinae, namely monomethyl olivetol (1), β-sitosterol (2), stigmasterol (3), uvaol (4), erythrodiol (5), rotundic acid (6), quercetin (7), catechin (8) and myricitrin (9). The structures of 1–9 were established through analysis of their spectroscopic (¹H and ¹³C NMR) and spectrometric (MS) data. Compounds 1 and 6 are reported the first time in the Eugenia genus. In addition, these data were compared with those reported in the literature. The antioxidant activity of plant samples and compounds was measured using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Flavonoids 7, 8, 9 and the ethanolic extract showed the best results, with IC₅₀ values of 20.94 μM, 44.20 μM, 30.01 μM and 58.82 μg/mL, respectively.     

Synthesis of 9H-pyrrolo[2,1-b][1,3,6]benzothiadiazocin-10(11H)-one 4,4-dioxide,a potential anti-HIV-1 agent

Starting from 2-(2-aminophenylthio)-1-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-1H-pyrrole a four-step synthesis of 9H-pyrrolo[2,1-b][1,3,6]benzothiadiazocin-10(11H)-one 4,4-dioxide, a new heterocycle related to anti-HIV-1 tricyclic non-nucleoside agents, is described.     

Synthesis and anti‐HIV‐1 activity of 1,3‐phenylene bis‐uracil analogues of MKC‐442

Reaction of 1,3‐phenylenediacetonitrile with the zinc organometallic reagent of ethyl 2‐bromobutyrate afforded the 1,3‐phenylene‐bis(acetoacetate) 2 which was used as the starting material for the synthesis of 1,3‐phenylene‐bis[6‐(2‐thiouracil)] 4 . Desulphurization of 4 gave the corresponding bis‐uracil 6 , which after silylation was N‐1 alkylated with bis(allyoxy)methane using TMS‐triflate as the catalyst or with chloromethyl ethyl ether to give the MKC‐442 analogues 7 and 9 . The amino‐DABO and S‐DABO derivatives 11, 12a,b and 14 were also synthesized. The anti‐HIV‐1 activity test showed that when MKC‐442 analogues were constructed with 1,3‐phenylene in all cases they were detrimental to have activity against HIV‐1.     

Antiviral properties from plants of the Mediterranean flora

Natural products are a successful source in drug discovery, playing a significant role in maintaining human health. We investigated the in vitro cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of extracts from 18 traditionally used Mediterranean plants. Noteworthy antiviral activity was found in the extract obtained from the branches of Daphne gnidium L. against human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (EC₅₀ = 0.08 μg/mL) and coxsackievirus B5 (EC₅₀ = 0.10 μg/mL). Other relevant activities were found against BVDV, YFV, Sb-1, RSV and HSV-1. Interestingly, extracts from Artemisia arborescens L. and Rubus ulmifolius Schott, as well as those from D. gnidium L., showed activities against two different viruses. This extensive antiviral screening allowed us to identify attractive activities, offering opportunities to develop lead compounds with a great pharmaceutical potential.     

Isolation and Screening of Microorganisms for R-(+)-Limonene and (−)-β-Pinene Biotransformation

This work is focused on the biotransformation of R-(+)-limonene and (?)-β-pinene to bioflavor production. To carry out the present study, 405 microorganisms were tested for their ability to bioconvert the substrates. From the isolated microorganisms, 193 were selected in the prescreening using mineral medium for limonene degradation. At the screening step, eight strains were able to convert R-(+)-limonene and 15 to transform (?)-β-pinene, both in α-terpineol. The highest concentration in α-terpineol from R-(+)-limonene was about 3,450 mg/L for Penicillium sp. isolated from eucalyptus steam. From (?)-β-pinene, the highest product concentration of 675.5 mg/L was achieved using an Aspergillus sp. strain isolated from orange tree stem.     

Synthesis and Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Novel MKC-442 Analogues Containing Alkenyl Chains or Reactive Functionalities in the 6-Benzyl Group

In an effort to obtain more insight into the anti-HIV efficacy of MKC-442 analogues (1-(alkoxymethyl)-6-benzyluracils), a new series of compounds was synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of HIV-1 replication. The modifications include a reactive center such as an aldehyde or an epoxide substituted at the benzyl group. It was believed that such reactive groups could improve the activity against HIV for the Y181C mutant by forming a covalent bond to the mercapto group in cysteine in the hydrophobic pocket. Unfortunately, only moderate activities were found in cell-based assays for such compounds against wild-type HIV and no activity against the Y181C mutant. However, higher activities were found for a corresponding oxime and the precursor molecules with butenyl and allyloxy substituents in the benzyl group. A few amino-DABO and S-DABO analogues were also synthesized, but they were found inactive against HIV.