Organic reactions in a solid matrix—V: Silica-gel supported chromic acid reagents

Pyridinium chromate-on-silica gel, and chromic acid-on-silica gel are described and evaluated as convenient off-the-shelf reagents for efficient oxidation of a variety of secondary and primary alcohols. Pyridinium chromate-on-silica gel can be safely used for the oxidation of alcohols containing acid-labile functions.     

Fission track annealing and age determination of hornblende

Hornblende which occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks is well suited for age determination by the fission track method. The tracks which are readily etched in hydrofluoric acid are annealed in 1 hr at 530° C. Extrapolation of the experimentally determined temperatures suggest that a temperature of 200° C for one m.y. will erase all the tracks present before the heating. Fission track ages of hornblende agree with the main orogenic metamorphic cycles.     

Studies in sesquiterpenes—LII: Isohimachalone: a constituent of the essential oil from wood of Cedrus deodara loud

Isolation and structure elucidation of a new bicyclic sesquiterpene of a new carbo-skeleton, from the essential oil from the wood of Credrus deodara loud., is reported. The structure rests on a direct correlation with β-himachalene.     

Melanotropin Receptors I. Synthesis and Biological Activity of Nα-(5-Bromovaleryl)-Nα-deacetyl-α-melanotropin

Chemical synthesis and biological activities of a new α-melanotropin derivative are described. N^α-(5-Bromovaleryl)-N^α-deacetyl-α-melanotropin contains the 5-bromopentanoyl group as a chemical ‘handle’ in place of the acetyl group of the natural hormone. The synthesis involved a new protected intermediate which allowed the selective deprotection of either the N^α or N^α amino group. The title compound reacted with sodium thiosulfate to give N^α-deacetyl-N^α-(5-(sulfothio)valeryl)-α-melanotropin, a key intermediate for the preparation of tobaccomosaic virus/α-melanotropin disulfide conjugates. As a basis for the study of the conjugates, biological activities of the title compound on Cloudman S-91 mouse melanoma cell cultures (tyrosinase stimulation, binding, and cyclic AMP accumulation) were determined. They proved to be quite similar to the corresponding α-melanotropin activities. Differences in bindings may be explained by stronger hydrophobic interaction of the new derivative with the lipid phase of the target cell membranes.     

Development of Pr(III) Selective Electrode Using 1,6,7,12‐Tetramine‐2,5,8,11‐tetraoxo‐1(12),6(7)‐di(biphenyl)‐dodecane (TATODBDD) as a Neutral Carrier

A polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane based Pr(III) selective electrode was constructed using 1,6,7,12‐tetramine‐2,5,8,11‐tetraoxo‐1(12),6(7)‐di(biphenyl)dodecane (TATODBDD) as a neutral carrier. The sensor exhibits a Nernstian response for Pr(III) ions, a wide concentration range of 3.9×10^?7?1.0×10^?1 mol/L with a detection limit of 5.0×10^?8 mol/L and slope of 19.5 mV/decade. The developed sensor revealed relatively good selectivity and high sensitivity for Pr(III) ions over the other lanthanide ions. The potentiometric response of the sensor is independent in the pH range 2.9–9.5. The advantages of sensor are low resistance, very fast response time (<10 s) with good selectivity. This sensor can be used up to 6 weeks without any divergences in potential response.     

Fabrication of zinc oxide nanowires/polymer composites by two‐photon polymerization

We present an approach to fabricate ZnO nanowires/polymer composite into three‐dimensional microstructures, based on two‐photon polymerization direct laser writing, a fabrication method that allows submicrometric spatial resolution. The structural integrity of the structures was inferred by scanning electron microscopy, while the presence and distribution of ZnO nanowires was investigated by energy dispersive X‐ray, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The optical properties of the produced composite microstructures were verified by imaging the characteristic ZnO emission using a fluorescence microscope. Hence, such approach can be used to develop composite microstructures containing ZnO nanowires aiming at technological applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 333–337     

Neomycin-neomycin dimer: an all-carbohydrate scaffold with high affinity for AT-rich DNA duplexes

A dimeric neomycin-neomycin conjugate 3 with a flexible linker, 2,2'-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine), has been synthesized and characterized. Dimer 3 can selectively bind to AT-rich DNA duplexes with high affinity. Biophysical studies have been performed between 3 and different nucleic acids with varying base composition and conformation by using ITC (isothermal calorimetry), CD (circular dichroism), FID (fluorescent intercalator displacement), and UV (ultraviolet) thermal denaturation experiments. A few conclusions can be drawn from this study: (1) FID assay with 3 and polynucleotides demonstrates the preference of 3 toward AT-rich sequences over GC-rich sequences. (2) FID assay and UV thermal denaturation experiments show that 3 has a higher affinity for the poly(dA)·poly(dT) DNA duplex than for the poly(dA)·2poly(dT) DNA triplex. Contrary to neomycin, 3 destabilizes poly(dA)·2poly(dT) triplex but stabilizes poly(dA)·poly(dT) duplex, suggesting the major groove as the binding site. (3) UV thermal denaturation studies and ITC experiments show that 3 stabilizes continuous AT-tract DNA better than DNA duplexes with alternating AT bases. (4) CD and FID titration studies show a DNA binding site size of 10-12 base pairs/drug, depending upon the structure/sequence of the duplex for AT-rich DNA duplexes. (5) FID and ITC titration between 3 and an intramolecular DNA duplex [d(5'-A(12)-x-T(12)-3'), x = hexaethylene glycol linker] results in a binding stoichiometry of 1:1 with a binding constant ～10(8) M(-1) at 100 mM KCl. (6) FID assay using 3 and 512 hairpin DNA sequences that vary in their AT base content and placement also show a higher binding selectivity of 3 toward continuous AT-rich than toward DNA duplexes with alternate AT base pairs. (7) Salt-dependent studies indicate the formation of three ion pairs during binding of the DNA duplex d[5'-A(12)-x-T(12)-3'] and 3. (8) ITC-derived binding constants between 3 and DNA duplexes have the following order: AT continuous, d[5'-G(3)A(5)T(5)C(3)-3'] > AT alternate, d[5'-G(3)(AT)(5)C(3)-3'] > GC-rich d[5'-A(3)G(5)C(5)T(3)-3']. (9) 3 binds to the AT-tract-containing DNA duplex (B* DNA, d[5'-G(3)A(5)T(5)C(3)-3']) with 1 order of magnitude higher affinity than to a DNA duplex with alternating AT base pairs (B DNA, d[5'-G(3)(AT)(5)C(3)-3']) and with almost 3 orders of magnitude higher affinity than a GC-rich DNA (A-form, d[5'-A(3)G(5)C(5)T(3)-3']).