Smiles rearrangements in Ugi- and Passerini-type couplings: new multicomponent access to O- and N-arylamides

The use of Smiles rearrangement in Ugi- and Passerini-type couplings with electron-deficient phenols allows very straightforward multicomponent formation of O-aryl- and N-arylamides. Best yields were observed with the highly activated o- and p-nitrophenols, salicylic derivatives giving adducts in lower yields. The scope of these new reactions is further increased by the successful couplings of heterocyclic phenols such as hydroxypyridines and hydroxypyrimidines.     

Synthesis, structure and characterisation of Fe0.50Ti2(PO4)3: A new material with Nasicon-like structure

A new iron titanyl phosphate Fe_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃ was synthesized by both solid-state reaction and Cu²⁺-Fe²⁺ ion exchange method. The material was then characterized by X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer, magnetic susceptibility measurements and optical absorption. The crystal structure of the compound was refined, using X-ray powder diffraction data, by the Rietveld profile method; it crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, space group , with a=8.511(1) Å and c=20.985(3) Å, V=1316.45(3) Å³ and Z=6. The structure, which is compared to that of Mn_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃ is built up from [TiO₆] octahedra and [PO₄] tetrahedra which are linked by corner sharing along the c-axis. Fe²⁺ cations are located in half of the antiprism M_I sites and are orderly distributed with vacancies within the two possible positions of the M_I sites of . These results were supported by the Mössbauer studies that showed the presence of one Fe²⁺ site in the high spin state (t_2g⁴e_g²). The Curie-Weiss-type behavior is observed in the magnetic susceptibility. Diffuse reflectance spectrum indicates the presence of octahedrally coordinated Fe²⁺ ions.     

Thermodynamic properties of the ternary system {yNH4Cl + (1 − y)MgCl2} (aq) at 298.15 K

The mixture {yNH₄Cl + (1 − y)MgCl₂} (aq) has been studied using the hygrometric method at the temperature 298.15 K. The water activities are measured at total molalities from 0.30 mol kg⁻¹ up to saturation for different ionic strength fractions y of NH₄Cl with y = 0.20, 0.50 and 0.80. The obtained data allow the deduction of osmotic coefficients. Experimental results are compared with the calculations using the models of Zdanovskii–Stokes–Robinson, Kusik and Meissner, Robinson and Stokes, Lietzke and Stoughton, Reilly–Wood and Robinson and Pitzer. Thermodynamic properties have been modeled using the Pitzer ion-interaction model with inclusion of an ionic strength dependence of the third virial coefficient for the binary systems. From these measurements and the obtained binary parameters β⁽⁰⁾, β⁽¹⁾, C⁽⁰⁾ and C⁽¹⁾, the mixing ionic parameters θNH₄Mg${\theta }_{\text{N}{\text{H}}_4\text{Mg}}$ and ψNH₄MgCl${\psi }_{\text{N}{\text{H}}_4\text{MgCl}}$ are determined by the standard Pitzer model. The results show that a good accuracy is obtained with the standard Pitzer model using extended binary parameters. The parameters θNH₄Mg${\theta }_{\text{N}{\text{H}}_4\text{Mg}}$ and ψNH₄MgCl${\psi }_{\text{N}{\text{H}}_4\text{MgCl}}$ were used for evaluation of activity coefficients in the mixture. The excess Gibbs energy is also determined.     

The biologically important surfactin lipopeptide induces nanoripples in supported lipid bilayers

Under specific conditions, lipid membranes form ripple phases with intriguing nanoscale undulations. Here, we show using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) that the biologically important surfactin lipopeptide induces nanoripples of 30 nm periodicity in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers at 25 degrees (i.e. well below the pretransition temperature of DPPC). Whereas most undulations formed the classical straight orientation with characteristic angle changes of 120 degrees , some of them also displayed unusual circular orientations. Strikingly, ripple structures were formed at 15% surfactin but were rarely or never observed at 5 and 30% surfactin, emphasizing the important role played by the surfactin concentration. Theoretical simulations corroborated the AFM data by revealing the formation of stable surfactin/lipid assemblies with positive curvature.     

Regioselective C-H Functionalization of the Six-Membered Ring of the 6,5-Fused Heterocyclic Systems: An Overview

The regioselective C-H functionalization of the five-membered ring of the 6,5-fused heterocyclic systems is nowadays well documented due to its high reactivity compared to the six-membered ring. So, developing new procedures of C-H functionalization of the six-membered ring “by thinking out of the box” is extremely challenging, which explains the limited number of reports published to date. This review paper aims to highlight advances achieved in this emerging chemistry research and discusses recently reported methods.     

Psychrotolerant Mesorhizobium sp. Isolated from Temperate and Cold Desert Regions Solubilizes Potassium and Produces Multiple Plant Growth Promoting Metabolites

Soil potassium (K) supplement depends intensively on the application of chemical fertilizers, which have substantial harmful environmental effects. However, some bacteria can act as inoculants by converting unavailable and insoluble K forms into plant-accessible forms. Such bacteria are an eco-friendly approach for enhancing plant K absorption and consequently reducing utilization of chemical fertilization. Therefore, the present research was undertaken to isolate, screen, and characterize the K solubilizing bacteria (KSB) from the rhizosphere soils of northern India. Overall, 110 strains were isolated, but only 13 isolates showed significant K solubilizing ability by forming a halo zone on solid media. They were further screened for K solubilizing activity at 0 °C, 1 °C, 3 °C, 5 °C, 7 °C, 15 °C, and 20 °C for 5, 10, and 20 days. All the bacterial isolates showed mineral K solubilization activity at these different temperatures. However, the content of K solubilization increased with the upsurge in temperature and period of incubation. The isolate KSB (Grz) showed the highest K solubilization index of 462.28% after 48 h of incubation at 20 °C. The maximum of 23.38 µg K/mL broth was solubilized by the isolate KSB (Grz) at 20 °C after 20 days of incubation. Based on morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization (through the 16S rDNA approach), the isolate KSB (Grz) was identified as Mesorhizobium sp. The majority of the strains produced HCN and ammonia. The maximum indole acetic acid (IAA) (31.54 µM/mL) and cellulase (390 µM/mL) were produced by the isolate KSB (Grz). In contrast, the highest protease (525.12 µM/mL) and chitinase (5.20 µM/mL) activities were shown by standard strain Bacillus mucilaginosus and KSB (Gmr) isolate, respectively.     

Natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rates in building materials used in Egypt

Natural and fabricated building materials commonly used in Egypt were surveyed for both natural radionuclides content and radon exhalation rate. These include raw as well as construction products. Concentration of natural radionuclides in all samples were determined by γ-ray spectroscopy with HPGe detector. For Radon exhalation rate measurements of fabricated samples, the seal can-technique has been applied using CR-39 plastic track detectors. The radiation hazard indices of the total natural radioactivity in the studied samples were estimated. The results were compared with the corresponding results of different countries and were found to be lying within the average world values. Radon exhalation rate in the studied samples varied between 197 (cement brick) and 907 mBq m⁻² h⁻¹ (blast furnace slag cement). The results of this survey suggest that, using blast furnace slag cement for pre-coating the internal walls of buildings in the Urban region of Egypt is discouraged and the replacement of clay brick by cement brick will be more healthy for the public.     

Absolute total cross-section measurements for electron scattering from silicon tetrachloride, SiCl, molecules

The absolute total cross-sections for electron scattering on SiCl₄ molecules have been measured in two distinct electron-transmission experiments, in Gdansk and in Trento laboratory, for impact energy ranging from 0.3 to 250 eV and from 75 to 4000 eV, respectively. The e^--SiCl₄ total cross-section function shows two very distinct resonant-like features: the strong peak at 1.9 eV and much broader main maximum centered near 10 eV with some additional substructure close to 5 eV. The present results are compared with low-energy total experimental data and elastic theoretical calculations for electron collisions with silicon tetrachloride molecules.     

Superradiant laser: First-order phase transition and non-stationary regime

We solve the superradiant laser model in two limiting cases. First the stationary low-pumping regime is considered where a first-order phase transition in the semiclassical solution occurs. This discontinuity is smeared out in the quantum regime. Second, we solve the model in the non-stationary regime where we find a temporally periodic solution. For a certain parameter range well-separated pulses may occur. Received: 19 June 1998 / Accepted: 19 October 1998     

A study of primary nucleation of calcium oxalate monohydrate: I‐Effect of supersaturation

There are various organic and inorganic constituents in kidney stones. Among them, calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) is the primary inorganic constituent of kidney stones. However, the mechanisms of formation of kidney stones are not well understood. In this regard, a basic study is carried out for better understanding of nucleation, crystal growth and/or aggregation of formed COM crystals. The primary nucleation of calcium oxalate monohydrate is studied at the laboratory scale using turbidity measurements. Calcium chloride and potassium oxalate solutions are mixed and then added to a Turbidimeter tube for continuous recording of turbidity. Induction time (time to induce formation of detectable crystals) is estimated from time‐turbidity graphs. The effect of some urinary species, such as oxalate and calcium, on nucleation and crystallization characteristics of COM is determined by particle size distribution analysis, measuring weight of crystals and calculation of relative supersaturation. The classical nucleation theory is applied at high supersaturation ratios (SR) ranging from 1.6 to 2.2. The results indicate that nucleation rate increases with increasing supersaturation ratio from 0.81 × 10²⁸ nuclei/cm³.sec at 1.6 SR, to 18.02 × 10²⁸ nuclei/cm³.sec at 2.2 SR. On the other hand, free energy change and radius of critical nucleus are decreased as supersaturation ratio is increased. The nucleation rates are higher than those reported in literature. Such discrepancy is discussed on the bases of differences in experimental techniques. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)