Hydrogen bonding of water confined in mesoporous silica MCM-41 and SBA-15 studied by 1H solid-state NMR

The adsorption of water in two mesoporous silica materials with cylindrical pores of uniform diameter, MCM-41 and SBA-15, was studied by 1H MAS (MAS=magic angle spinning) and static solid-state NMR spectroscopy. All observed hydrogen atoms are either surface -SiOH groups or hydrogen-bonded water molecules. Unlike MCM-41, some strongly bound water molecules exist at the inner surfaces of SBA-15 that are assigned to surface defects. At higher filling levels, a further difference between MCM-41 and SBA-15 is observed. Water molecules in MCM-41 exhibit a bimodal line distribution of chemical shifts, with one peak at the position of inner-bulk water, and the second peak at the position of water molecules in fast exchange with surface -SiOH groups. In SBA-15, a single line is observed that shifts continuously as the pore filling is increased. This result is attributed to a different pore-filling mechanism for the two silica materials. In MCM-41, due to its small pore diameter (3.3 nm), pore filling by pore condensation (axial-pore-filling mode) occurs at a low relative pressure, corresponding roughly to a single adsorbed monolayer. For SBA-15, owing to its larger pore diameter (8 nm), a gradual increase in the thickness of the adsorbed layer (radial-pore-filling mode) prevails until pore condensation takes place at a higher level of pore filling.     

Ternäre Halogenide vom Typ A3MX6. III [1, 2]. Synthese,Strukturen und Ionenleitfähigkeit der Halogenide Na3MX6 (X = Cl,Br)

Ternary Halides of the A₃MX₆ Type. III [1, 2]. Synthesis, Structures, and Ionic Conductivity of the Halides Na₃MX₆ (X = Cl, Br) The bromides Na₃MBr₆ crystallize with the stuffed LiSbF₆-type structure (type I; M = Sm? Gd) or with the structure of the mineral cryolite (type II; M = Gd? Lu). The structure types were refined from single crystal X-ray data (Na₃SmBr₆: trigonal, space group R3 , a = 740.8(2) pm, c = 1 998.9(8) pm, Z = 3; Na₃YBr₆: monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 721.3(4) pm, b = 769.9(2) pm, c = 1 074.8(4) pm, β = 90.60(4)°, Z = 2). Reversible phase transitions from one structure to the other occur. The phase transition temperatures were determined for the bromides as well as for the chlorides Na₃MCl₆ (M = Eu? Lu). The refinement of both structures for one compound was possible for Na₃GdBr₆ (I: trigonal, space group R3 , a = 737.1(5) pm, c = 1 887(2) pm, Z = 3; II: monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 725.2(1) pm, b = 774.1(3) pm, c = 1 080.1(3) pm, β = 90.76(3)°, Z = 2). All compounds exhibit ionic conductivity of the sodium ions which decreases with the change from type I to type II. The conductivity of the bromides is always higher when compared with the respective chlorides.     

The anionic polymerization of dialkylaminoisoprenes-5-copolymerization with 1,3-butadiene

The anionic copolymerization of 5-(N,N-dialkylamino)isoprenes and 1,3 -butadiene was investigated in hexane. We found that basicity and increasing amount of the polar monomer has a strong influence on the microstructure of polybutadiene. All tested 5-(N,N-dialkylamino)isoprenes were incorporated much faster into the copolymer than butadiene. Depending on the alkyl substituents the resulting copolymer is either a nearly perfect diblock or shows a considerable tapered structure.     

Kristallstrukturen von Na3TiCl6 und K3TiCl6

Ternary Halides of the Type A₃MX₆. IX Crystal Structures of Na₃TiCl₆ and K₃TiCl₆ Light yellow single crystals of Na₃TiCl₆ and K₃TiCl₆ are obtained from the binary components, TiCl₃ and NaCl and KCl, respectively, in 1 : 3 molar ratios. Na₃TiCl₆ crystallizes with the cryolite type of structure (monoclinic, P2₁/n, Z = 2, a = 668,02(8), b = 709,13(6), c = 981,38(12) pm, β = 90,31(2)°) while K₃TiCl₆ belongs to the K₃MoCl₆ type of structure (monoclinic, P2₁/c, Z = 4, a = 1261,6(2), b = 751,36(8), c = 1210,7(2) pm, β = 108,30(2)°).     

Detection of catecholamines in single specimens of groundwater amphipods

Catecholamines play essential roles in several physiological processes in vertebrates as well as in invertebrates. While several studies have shown the presence of these substances in surface water invertebrates, their occurrence in groundwater fauna is unproven. In the present study, the presence of different catecholamines (i.e., noradrenaline, adrenaline, and dopamine) in individual specimens of groundwater amphipods of the genus Niphargus (mostly Niphargus inopinatus) was investigated via two independent analytical methods: HPLC/EcD and UPLC/TOF-MS. Mean values for catecholamine levels were 533 pg mg^?1 fresh weight for noradrenaline, 314 pg mg^?1 for adrenaline, and 16.4 ng mg^?1 for dopamine. The optimized protocol allowed the detection of CAs in single organisms of less than 1 mg fresh weight. Catecholamine concentration patterns in groundwater invertebrates are briefly discussed here with respect to their evolutionary adaptation to an environmentally stable, energy-poor habitat.

Crystal Structures and Thermal Behaviour of Lanthanide(III) Hexanoate 1, 10‐Phenanthroline Complexes, [M(C5H11CO2)3(phen)] and [Tm(C5H11CO2)2(NO3)(phen)]

Lanthanide(III) hexanoate 1, 10‐phenanthroline complexes crystallise in the space group P2₁/n. The compounds consist of dimers, whereby two lanthanide ions are held together by two bidentate bridging and two tridentate bridging carboxylate groups. The first coordination sphere of the lanthanide ions is completed by one bidentate chelating carboxylate group and by one bidentate 1, 10‐phenanthroline molecule, resulting in the coordination number 9. The dimers have a spherical form, which has important consequences for the thermal properties of complexes. The basic idea behind the preparation of this type of compounds is the stabilisation of the ionic lanthanide layer, so that the smaller lanthanide ions (from which the normal alkanoates do not show mesomorphism because they are too small) show liquid crystallinity. The stabilisation of the ionic layer was successful, expressed by the high melting temperatures, but mesomorphism is not observed. The absence of mesomorphism is related to the isotropic structure of the compounds. A lower symmetry is obtained when a hexanoate group is replaced by a nitrate group. Thulium(III) dihexanoate nitrate 1, 10‐phenanthroline crystallises in the space group P1¯. However, this compound also shows a spherical dimeric structure, but no mesomorphism.     

Solvent-free Knoevenagel condensations and Michael additions in the solid state and in the melt with quantitative yield

Numerous Knoevenagel condensations of solid or liquid aromatic aldehydes are performed with four barbituric acids, Meldrum's acid, dimedone, cyanoacetamide, malodinitrile and methyl cyanoacetate in stoichiometric mixtures of the solids or of stoichiometric melts. The product yields are quantitative in 23 reported cases and the products do not require purifying workup. Therefore, these reactions are truly solvent-free, atom economic and sustainable and no wastes are produced. They are highly superior to less productive so-called ‘solvent-free’ techniques using solid supports and microwave irradiation that require solvents for removal of the support or reagents or side products. Similarly, the solution reactions generally requiring catalysts suffer from low yields and purifying workup. The new techniques provide numerous common electron-poor alkenes very easily. These are valuable building blocks for example in Michael additions. Also the latter can be quantitatively obtained in stoichiometric melts in the absence of any auxiliaries or microwave irradiation and this is demonstrated with stable and rearranging/cyclizing Michael adducts using dimedone. The quantitative yields are most easily obtained if the products are formed in the solid-state or if they crystallize directly from the melt at the reaction temperature.     

Dihydroisocoumarins,Naphthalenes, and Further Polyketides from Aloe vera and A. plicatilis: Isolation,Identification and Their 5-LOX/COX-1 Inhibiting Potency

The present study aims at the isolation and identification of diverse phenolic polyketides from Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. and Aloe plicatilis (L.) Miller and includes their 5-LOX/COX-1 inhibiting potency. After initial Sephadex-LH20 gel filtration and combined silica gel 60- and RP18-CC, three dihydroisocoumarins (nonaketides), four 5-methyl-8-C-glucosylchromones (heptaketides) from A. vera, and two hexaketide-naphthalenes from A. plicatilis have been isolated by means of HSCCC. The structures of all polyketides were elucidated by ESI-MS and 2D ¹H/¹³C-NMR (HMQC, HMBC) techniques. The analytical/preparative separation of 3R-feralolide, 3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- and the new 6-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3R-feralolide into their respective positional isomers are described here for the first time, including the assignment of the 3R-configuration in all feralolides by comparative CD spectroscopy. The chromones 7-O-methyl-aloesin and 7-O-methyl-aloeresin A were isolated for the first time from A. vera, together with the previously described aloesin (syn. aloeresin B) and aloeresin D. Furthermore, the new 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- 3,6R-dihydroxy-8R-methylnaphtalene was isolated from A. plicatilis, together with the known plicataloside. Subsequently, biological-pharmacological screening was performed to identify Aloe polyketides with anti-inflammatory potential in vitro. In addition to the above constituents, the anthranoids (octaketides) aloe emodin, aloin, 6′-(E)-p-coumaroyl-aloin A and B, and 6′-(E)-p-coumaroyl-7-hydroxy-8-O-methyl-aloin A and B were tested. In the COX-1 examination, only feralolide (10 µM) inhibited the formation of MDA by 24%, whereas the other polyketides did not display any inhibition at all. In the 5-LOX-test, all aloin-type anthranoids (10 µM) inhibited the formation of LTB₄ by about 25–41%. Aloesin also displayed 10% inhibition at 10 µM in this in vitro setup, while the other chromones and naphthalenes did not display any activity. The present study, therefore, demonstrates the importance of low molecular phenolic polyketides for the known overall anti-inflammatory activity of Aloe vera preparations.     

Highly efficient approach to orthogonally protected (2S,4R)- and (2S,4S)-4-hydroxyornithine

[reaction: see text] A concise stereoselective approach to both orthogonally protected (2S,4R)- and (2S,4S)-4-hydroxyornithine, key constituents of the biphenomycin- and clavalanine-type antibiotics, respectively, has been developed. The approach is based on bis(oxazoline) copper(II)-complex-catalyzed diastereoselective Henry reactions of nitromethane with the homoserine-derived aldehyde 6. The synthesis of this versatile chiral building block has been markedly improved.