Vibrational spectrum and assignment of 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione

The IR and Raman spectra of 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione have been studied. A complete assignment of the observed bands is proposed on the basis of the usual criteria (contours of the IR bands in the vapour phase and depolarization state of the Raman bands). For the planar species the assignment is confirmed by a normal-coordinate calculation.     

Enantioselective hydrogen transfer reactions from propan-2-ol to ketones catalyzed by pentacoordinate iridium(I) complexes with chiral Schiff bases

Some diastereoisomeric pentacoordinate complexes of the type [Ir(COD)-(NNR)I] (COD = cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene; NNR = 2-pyridinal-1-phenylethylimine (PPEI) (I), 2-acetylpyridine-1-phenylethylimine (APPEI) (II)) have been synthesized. The complexes are active and selective catalysts for asymmetric hydrogen transfer from propan-2-ol to prochiral ketones. Optical yields of up to 84% have been obtained in the reduction of t-butyl phenyl ketone. The structure and absolute configuration of complexes I and II were determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Determination of boron in silicon-doped gallium arsenide by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry

Two methods have been developed for the determination of boron impurities in silicon-doped gallium arsenide (GaAs) for electronics. The first method employs the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), the second, the UV-Vis molecular absorption spectrophotomety. In both cases the GaAs sample is decomposed with aqua regia (1+1). To prevent Ga(III) interference on the ETAAS determination of boron, a double extraction of the chlorogallic acid (HGaCl4) in diethyl ether is performed. To improve the overall ETAAS performance, the graphite tubes were pre-treated with iridium(III) and tungsten(IV). A mixed chemical modifier containing Ni(II), Sr(II) and citric acid was also used. The characteristic mass (m0) is 301 +/- 47 pg and the detection limit (3sB) is 2.4 microg g(-1). The classic UV-Vis spectrophotometric procedure using curcumin was also extended to the determination of boron in GaAs. By masking Ga(III) with EDTA and a preliminary extraction of boron with 2-ethyl-hexane 1,3-diol, performed on a semi-micro scale, a detection limit of 0.6 microg g(-1) was achieved. Both methods were applied to the analysis of two Si-doped GaAs samples which were suspected of being boron-contaminated. Results are compared with those obtained by direct analysis of the decomposed sample solution using the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).     

Pyrrolo[3,2-c][1,2,5]benzotriazocine: A new ring system

A nucleophilic substitution reaction in the pyrrole series, achieved by a neutral nucleophile, led to the key intermediate 7 which by reduction and successive diazotization afforded the new ring system pyrrolo[3,2-c][1,2,5]benzotriazocine 9 in good yield.     

Reactivity of asymmetric benzo-condensed diazines with nitrilimine dipoles in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions

The reactivity of asymmetric benzo-condensed diazines in the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with nitrilimines was investigated. The results demonstrated that, at variance with the symmetric quinoxaline, a certain grade of diastereoselectivity emerged. Moreover in the case of the 5-methylquinoxaline and quinazoline a mono-cycloadduct was obtained.     

Synthesis of 1,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-nicotinic acid: Ochiai's route failed

The synthesis of 1,4-dihydro-2-methyl- and 1,4-dihydro-1,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-nicotinic acids was accomplished following a route other than Ochiai's procedure, which yielded the isomer 1,6-dihydro-2-methyl-6-oxo-nicotinic acid ethyl ester, and not the 4-oxo-derivative, as reported. Analytical data confirmed the identity of the two isomer oxo-nicotinic acids. UV-vis and potentiometric preliminary data showed that Al(III) does not form complexes with 1,6-dihydro-2-methyl-6-oxo-nicotinic acid ethyl ester in solution, as expected, but with 1,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-nicotinic acid.     

Design of Nanotechnological Carriers for Ocular Delivery of Mangiferin: Preformulation Study

(1) Background: Mangiferin (MGN) is a natural compound, showing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities for the potential treatment of eye diseases. The poor physicochemical features of MGN (low solubility and high instability) justify its nanoencapsulation into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) to improve its ocular bioavailability. (2) Methods: Firstly, MGN-NLC were prepared by the high shear homogenization coupled with the ultrasound (HSH−US) method. Finally, unloaded and MGN-loaded NLC were analyzed in terms of ocular tolerance. (3) Results: MGN-NLC showed good technological parameters suitable for ocular administration (particle size below 200 nm). The ORAC assay was performed to quantify the antioxidant activity of MGN, showing that the antioxidant activity of MGN-NLC (6494 ± 186 μM TE/g) was higher than that of the free compound (3521 ± 271 μM TE/g). This confirmed that the encapsulation of the drug was able to preserve and increase its activity. In ovo studies (HET-CAM) revealed that the formulation can be considered nonirritant. (4) Conclusions: Therefore, NLC systems are a promising approach for the ocular delivery of MGN.     

Optimization of the antioxidant activity of hydroxy-substituted 4-thiaflavanes: a proof-of-concept study

The design and the synthesis of a new family of hydroxy-4-thiaflavanes, in which the reactive phenolic OH is ortho to the sulfur atom of the benzofused oxathiin ring, allowed to prepare antioxidants that show rate constants for the reaction with peroxyl radicals (k(inh)), and bond dissociation energies (BDE), of the ArO-H group identical to those of α-tocopherol, the main component of vitamin E and the most effective lipophilic antioxidant known in nature. The peculiar conformation of the six-membered heterocyclic ring prevents the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the OH group and the S atom, while ensuring a good stabilization by electron donation of the phenoxyl radical formed after the reaction with peroxyl radicals. The preparation of these compounds was achieved through an inverse electron demand hetero Diels-Alder reaction of styrenes with o-thioquinones, in turn prepared from accurately designed 1,3-dihydroxy arenes. Properly arranging the substitution pattern on the aromatic ring, as in derivatives 9 and 11, allowed to reach values of k(inh) up to 4.0×10(6) M(-1) s(-1) and BDE((OH)) of 77.2 kcal mol(-1). This approach represents an innovative way to obtain highly active antioxidants without using strongly electron donating alkylamino groups which are associated with adverse toxicological profiles.