Speciation studies of mono- and binuclear Pd(II) complexes involving mixed nitrogen–sulfur donor ligand and 4,4′-bipiperidine as a linker

Pd(MME)Cl₂ complex, where MME = methionine methyl ester, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques. [Pd(MME)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ interacts with some DNA constituents giving 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 complexes. The binuclear complexes having 4,4′-bipiperidine as a linker and involving [Pd(MME)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ and DNA constituents were investigated. The results show formation of [(H₂O)(MME)Pd(Bip)Pd(MME)(H₂O)]⁴⁺. Inosine, uracil, and thymine interact with the previously mentioned complex by substitution of the two coordinated water molecules. Formation constants of all possible mono- and binuclear complexes were determined and their speciation diagrams were evaluated.     

Selective oxidation of sulfurs and oxidation desulfurization of model oil by 12-tungstophosphoric acid on cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles as magnetically recoverable catalyst

Silica-coated CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were prepared and used as a support for the immobilization of 12-tungstophosphoric acid, to produce a new magnetically separable catalyst. This catalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction, wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, laser par-ticle size analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The catalyst showed high activity in the selective oxidation of thioethers and thiophenes to the corresponding sulfones under mild condi-tions. The catalytic activity of the nanocatalyst in the oxidative desulfurization of model oil was investigated. The effect of nitrogen-containing compounds on sulfur removal from the model oil was also evaluated. The catalyst showed high activity in the oxidative desulfurization of diesel. The cata-lyst can be readily isolated from the oxidation system using an external magnet and no obvious loss of activity was observed when the catalyst was reused in four consecutive runs.     

The Profile of Plasma Free Amino Acids in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Insulin Resistance: Association with Microalbuminuria and Macroalbuminuria

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Altered plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and aromatic amino acids (AAAs) may predict the development of insulin resistance and other type...     

Bioassay-Guided Isolation of New Flavonoid Glycosides from Platanus × acerifolia Leaves and Their Staphylococcus aureus Inhibitory Effects

Despite the rapid advances in drug R&D, there is still a huge need for antibacterial medications, specifically for the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Inspired by the research where a viable class of MRSA inhibitors was found in the species Platanus occidentalis, a S. aureus inhibition screening-guided phytochemical reinvestigation on Platanus × acerifolia (London plane tree) leaves were performed with four flavonoid glycosides garnered, including two new compounds, quercetin-3-O-α-l-(2″-E-p-coumaroyl-3″-Z-p-coumaroyl)-rhamnopyranoside (E,Z-3′-hydroxyplatanoside, 1) and quercetin-3-O-α-l-(2″-Z-p-coumaroyl-3″-E-p-coumaroyl)-rhamnopyranoside (Z,E-3′-hydroxyplatanoside, 2). All of the isolates showed significant S. aureus ATCC 25904 inhibitory activity with MICs ranging from 4 to 64 μg/mL, suggesting the potential of discovering drug leads for the control of S. aureus from such a rich, urban landscaping plant in the Platanus genus.     

Investigation of the Chemical Composition,Antihyperglycemic and Antilipidemic Effects of Bassia eriophora and Its Derived Constituent,Umbelliferone on High-Fat Diet and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

This study was designed to investigate the chemical profile, antihyperglycemic and antilipidemic effect of total methanolic extract (TME) of Bassia eriophora and isolated pure compound umbelliferone (UFN) in high-fat diet (HFD)- and streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetic rats. TME was subjected to various techniques of chromatography to yield UFN. Diabetes was induced after eight weeks of HFD by administration of STZ (40 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, and experimental subjects were divided into five groups. The diabetic control showed an increase in levels of blood glucose throughout the experiment. Treatments were initiated in the other four groups with glibenclamide (GLB) (6 mg/kg), TME (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) and isolated UFN (50 mg/kg) orally. The effect on blood glucose, lipid profile and histology of the pancreatic and adipose tissues was assessed. Both 200 and 400 mg/kg of TME produced a comparably significant decrease in blood glucose levels and an increase in insulin levels with GLB. UFN began to show a better blood sugar-lowering effect after 14 days of treatment, comparatively. However, both 400 mg/kg TME and UFN significantly returned blood glucose levels in diabetic rats compared to normal rats. Analysis of the lipid profile showed that while HFD + STZ increased all lipid profile parameters, TME administration produced a significant decrease in their levels. Histopathological examinations showed that treatment with TME and UFN revealed an improved cellular architecture, with the healthy islets of Langerhans and compact glandular cells for pancreatic cells distinct from damaged cells in non-treated groups. Conversely, the adipose tissue displayed apparently normal polygonal fat cells. Therefore, these results suggest that TME has the potential to ameliorate hyperglycemia conditions and control lipid profiles in HFD + STZ-induced diabetic rats.     

New Amphiphilic Ionic Liquids for the Demulsification of Water-in-Heavy Crude Oil Emulsion

This work aimed to use abietic acid (AA), as a widely available natural product, as a precursor for the synthesis of two new amphiphilic ionic liquids (AILs) and apply them as effective demulsifiers for water-in-crude oil (W/O) emulsions. AA was esterified using tetraethylene glycol (TEG) in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA) as a catalyst obtaining the corresponding ester (AATG). AATG was reacted with 1-vinylimidazole (VIM) throughout the Diels–Alder reaction, forming the corresponding adduct (ATI). Following this, ATI was quaternized using alkyl iodides, ethyl iodide (EI), and hexyl iodide (HI) to obtain the corresponding AILs, ATEI-IL, and ATHI-IL, respectively. The chemical structure, surface activity, thermal stability, and relative solubility number (RSN) were investigated using different techniques. The efficiency of ATEI-IL and ATHI-IL to demulsify W/O emulsions in different crude oil: brine volumetric ratios were evaluated. ATEI-IL and ATHI-IL achieved promising results as demulsifiers. Their demulsification efficiency increased as the brine ratios decreased where their efficiency reached 100% at the crude oil: brine ratio (90:10), even at low concentrations.     

Synthesis of 4‐silaspiro[3.4]octa‐1,5‐diene derivatives: hybrid spiro compounds

Trialkynyl(vinyl)silanes CH₂?CH? Si(C?C? R)₃ (R = Bu, Ph, p‐tolyl) were prepared and treated with 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9‐BBN). Consecutive 1,2‐hydroboration and intramolecular 1,1‐carboboration reactions (each requires different reaction conditions) were studied. 1,2‐Hydroboration of the Si? vinyl group takes place at ambient temperature (23°C in tetrahydrofuran), followed by intramolecular 1,1‐vinylboration to give 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives, bearing still two alkynyl functions at the silicon atom. Further treatment with a second equivalent of 9‐BBN affords 1‐alkenyl‐1‐(alkynyl)‐1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives. These undergo intramolecular 1,1‐vinylboration to give 4‐silaspiro[3.4]octa‐1,5‐dienes bearing the boryl groups at 2 and 6 positions. Protodeborylation of all new compounds (intermediates and final products) using acetic acid in slight excess afforded corresponding silanes including spirosilanes. All compounds were characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C, ²⁹Si) in solution state. Solid‐state structures for one of the trialkynyl(vinyl)silanes (R = p‐tolyl) and one of the 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives (R = Ph) were confirmed using X‐ray diffraction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Novel and Convenient Preparation of 1-(γ-Aminoalkyl)-Substituted 1,2,4-Triazoles

1-(α-Aminomethyl)-1,2,4-triazoles readily add to enol ethers or enamides to give novel classes of compounds, 1-(γ-amino-α-alkoxy)propyl- (8) and 1-(γ-amino-α-amido)propyl- (10) substituted 1,2,4-triazoles, in excellent yields.     

γ-Al2O3-Supported 12-Tungstosilicic Acid as an Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of α-Aminonitrile

The multicomponent Strecker reaction using trimethylsilyle cyanide was performed in very short reaction times, and α-aminonitriles were prepared in excellent yields in the presence of a catalytic amount of alumina-supported tungstosilicic acid.     

Reactivity of sugar cane bagasse as a natural solid phase extractor for selective removal of Fe(III) and heavy-metal ions from natural water samples

This work introduces the feasibility of using sugar cane bagasse (SCB) – a sugar cane industry waste – as a selective solid phase extractor for Fe(III). The order of metal uptake capacities in μmol g^?1 for the extraction of six tested metal ions from aqueous solution using static technique is Fe(III) > Cu(II) > Pb(II) > Zn(II) > Cd(II) > Co(II). Since SCB exhibits remarkable binding characteristics for Fe(III), special interest was devoted for optimizing its uptake and studying its selectivity properties under static and dynamic conditions. In this respect, batch experiments were carried out at the pH range 1.0–4.0, initial concentration of metal ion (10–100 μmol), weight of phase (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mg) and shaking time (10, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min). FT-IR spectra of SCB before and after uptake of Fe(III) were recorded to explore the nature of the functional groups responsible for binding of Fe(III) onto the studied natural biosorbent. The equilibrium data were better fitted with Langmuir model (r² = 0.985) than Freundlich model (r² = 0.934). Moreover, Fe(III) sorption was fast and completed within 60 min. The adsorption kinetics data were best fitted with the pseudo-second-order type. As a view to find a suitable application of SCB based on its unique property as a benign sorbent, it was found that, Fe(III) spiked natural water samples such as doubly distilled water (DDW), drinking tap water (DTW), natural drinking water (NDW), ground water (GW) and Nile River water (NRW) was quantitatively recovered (>95.0%) using batch and column experiments, with no matrix interferences.