Synthesis of Novel Chiral Ionic Liquid and Its Application in Reduction of Prochiral Ketones to the Corresponding Chiral Alcohols Using NaBH4

A novel chiral ionic liquid (CIL) based on nicotinium salt has been synthesized and used as an efficient asymmetric chiral catalyst for reduction of acetophenone derivatives with NaBH₄ in methanol at room temperature. The optically active alcohols were obtained in low to moderate enantiomeric excess in a short reaction time.     

Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate as a Neutral and Efficient Catalyst for Synthesis of 1,8‐Dioxo‐octahydroxanthene Derivatives in Aqueous Media

A new and efficient method to synthesize a 3,3,6,6,9‐aryl‐1,8‐dioxo‐octahydroxanthene derivative using diammonium hydrogen phosphate as catalyst was performed in water at room temperature in a short periods.     

Optimization of isothermal batchwise bulk free radical polymerization with and without chain transfer agent for minimum reaction time

In this work the minimum reaction time was studied for a specific final monomer conversion and number-average chain length by adjusting the amount of initial initiator concentration in the presence of a fixed amount of chain transfer agent at the best isothermal temperature. A new method for the determination of the best initial initiator concentration ([I]₀) and isothermal temperature (T) in the presence of chain transfer agent was developed by the application of a simple optimization algorithm, based on the Lagrangian multiplier, to the basic free radical kinetics. Numerical examples for the polymerization of styrene are presented. It is shown that in the presence of a fixed amount of chain transfer agent the best isothermal policy for minimum time would deviate from dead-end polymerization. As the concentration of chain transfer agent increases, a stronger deviation from dead-end polymerization is observed. It was found that for a given pair of desired conversion and number-average chain length the usage of a chain transfer agent would result in a longer reaction time. The results give insights into operation of batchwise bulk free radical polymerization for minimum reaction time under isothermal conditions.     

Uncommon Terpenoids from Salvia Species: Chemistry,Biosynthesis and Biological Activities

The search for new bioactive compounds from plant sources has been and continues to be one of the most important fields of research in drug discovery. However, Natural Products research has continuously evolved, and more and more has gained a multidisciplinary character. Despite new developments of methodologies and concepts, one intriguing aspect still persists, i.e., different species belonging to the same genus can produce different secondary metabolites, whereas taxonomically different genera can produce the same compounds. The genus Salvia L. (Family Lamiaceae) comprises myriad distinct medicinal herbs used in traditional medicine worldwide that show different pharmacological activities due to the presence of a variety of interesting specialized metabolites, including mono-, sesqui-, di-, sester-, tri-, tetra-, and higher terpenoids as well as phenylpropanoids, phenolic acid derivatives, lignans, flavonoids, and alkaloids. We herein summarize the research progress on some uncommon terpenoids, isolated from members of the genus Salvia, which are well recognized for their potential pharmacological activities. This review also provides a current knowledge on the biosynthesis and occurrence of some interesting phytochemicals from Salvia species, viz. C₂₃-terpenoids, sesterterpenoids (C₂₅), dammarane triterpenoids (C₃₀), and uncommon triterpenoids (C₂₀+C₁₀). The study was carried out by searching various scientific databases, including Elsevier, ACS publications, Taylor and Francis, Wiley Online Library, MDPI, Springer, Thieme, and ProQuest. Therefore, 106 uncommon terpenoids were identified and summarized. Some of these compounds possessed a variety of pharmacological properties, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, cytotoxic and tubulin tyrosine ligase inhibitory activities. Due to the lack of pharmacological information for the presented compounds gathered from previous studies, biological investigation of these compounds should be reinvestigated.     

Dynamical behavior and network analysis of an extended Hindmarsh–Rose neuron model

Nonlinear Dynamics - In this paper, the extended Hindmarsh–Rose neuron model, which considers the slow intracellular exchange of calcium ions between its store and the cytoplasm, is studied....     

Interaction of longitudinal phonons with discrete breather in strained graphene

We numerically analyze the interaction of small-amplitude phonon waves with standing gap discrete breather (DB) in strained graphene. To make the system support gap DB, strain is applied to create a gap in the phonon spectrum. We only focus on the in-plane phonons and DB, so the issue is investigated under a quasi-one-dimensional setup. It is found that, for the longitudinal sound waves having frequencies below 6 THz, DB is transparent and thus no radiation of energy from DB takes place; whereas for those sound waves with higher frequencies within the acoustic (optical) phonon band, phonon is mainly transmitted (reflected) by DB, and concomitantly, DB radiates its energy when interacting with phonons. The latter case is supported by the fact that, the sum of the transmitted and reflected phonon energy densities is noticeably higher than that of the incident wave. Our results here may provide insight into energy transport in graphene when the spatially localized nonlinear vibration modes are presented.     

Ultrasound and Sonochemistry for Radical Polymerization: Sound Synthesis

The use of ultrasound as an external stimulus for promoting polymerization reactions has received increasing attention in recent years. In this Review article, the fundamental processes that can lead to either the homolytic cleavage of polymer chains, or the sonolysis of solvent (or other) small molecules, under the application of ultrasound are described. These reactions promote the production of reactive radicals, which can be utilized in chain-growth radical polymerizations under the right conditions. A full historical overview of the development of ultrasound-assisted radical polymerization is provided, with special attention given to the recently described systems that are “controlled” by methods of reversible (radical) deactivation. Perspectives are shared on what challenges still remain in polymer sonochemistry, as well as new areas that are yet to be explored.