Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Six-Membered O-Heterocycles

The development of new strategies for synthesis of six-membered O-heterocycles has remained a highly attractive but challenging proposition. An overview of the application of microwave irradiation in oxygen-containing six-membered heterocyclic compounds synthesis is presented, focusing on the developments in the past 5–10 years. This contribution covers the literature concerning the total synthesis of six membered O-heterocycles.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Surface Properties of Cationic Gemini Surfactants

New pyridinium gemini surfactants have been synthesized by esterification of renewable fatty acids with mercaptoethanol furnishing respective esters (mercaptomethyl decanoate, mercaptomethyl dodecanoate, mercaptomethyl tetradecanoate, mercaptomethyl hexadecanoate) followed by their subsequent treatment with 4-dimethyl amino pyridine resulting in the formation of title gemini surfactants: 1-(5-(decanoyloxy)-2-hydroxypentyl)-4-((5-(decanoyloxy)-2-hydroxypentyl)dimethyl ammonio)pyridin-1-ium chloride (9), 1-(5-(dodecanoyloxy)-2-hydroxypentyl)-4-((5-(dodecanoyloxy)-2-hydroxypentyl)dimethyl ammonio)pyridin-1-ium chloride (10), 1-(5-(tetradecanoyloxy)-2-hydroxypentyl)-4-((5-(tetradecanoyloxy)-2-hydroxypentyl)dimethyl ammonio)pyridin-1-ium chloride (11), and 1-(5-(hexadecanoyloxy)-2-hydroxypentyl)-4-((5-(hexadecanoyloxy)-2-hydroxypentyl)dimethyl ammonio)pyridin-1-ium chloride (12). Their identifications are based on infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, distortionless enhanced polarization transfer, co-relational spectroscopy (COSY), and mass spectral studies. Their surface active properties are also evaluated on the basis of surface tension and conductivity measurements. Thermal stability of these long chain cationic gemini surfactants have been measured by thermal gravimetric analysis under nitrogen atmosphere.     

Hydrothermal conditions on Sn0.95Co0.05O2: nanostructures, ferromagnetism and optical behavior

We have studied the effect of hydrothermal conditions at constant temperature of 180 °C, varying preparation time for 15, 30 and 45 h on nanostructures of diluted magnetic semiconductor Sn_0.95Co_0.05O₂ (SC5). X-ray diffraction pattern confirm the tetragonal SnO₂ rutile phase. The transmission and scanning electron microscopy shows the resulting nanostructures i.e. nanospheres and nanorods. The proposed reaction mechanism is given. The Raman spectra show the formation of tetragonal rutile structure of SC5 nanostructures. Fourier transform infrared spectrum has been used to verify the existence of Sn–O bond. The photoluminescence spectra show that the emission spectral intensity increases gradually with decreasing grains size, increasing hydrothermal heating time of SC5 samples and exhibits an intense blue luminescence centered at a wavelength of 531 nm. The optical absorbance measurements revealed that the nanometric size of the materials influences the energy band gap. All the prepared SC5 samples exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism.     

Chemical modification of L-glutamine to alpha-amino glutarimide on autoclaving facilitates Agrobacterium infection of host and non-host plants: A new use of a known compound

Background

Accidental autoclaving of L-glutamine was found to facilitate the Agrobacterium infection of a non host plant like tea in an earlier study. In the present communication, we elucidate the structural changes in L-glutamine due to autoclaving and also confirm the role of heat transformed L-glutamine in Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation of host/non host plants.

Results

When autoclaved at 121°C and 15 psi for 20 or 40 min, L-glutamine was structurally modified into 5-oxo proline and 3-amino glutarimide (α-amino glutarimide), respectively. Of the two autoclaved products, only α-amino glutarimide facilitated Agrobacterium infection of a number of resistant to susceptible plants. However, the compound did not have any vir gene inducing property.

Conclusions

We report a one pot autoclave process for the synthesis of 5-oxo proline and α-amino glutarimide from L-glutamine. Xenobiotic detoxifying property of α-amino glutarimide is also proposed.     

Synthesis,structure and magnetic properties of unsymmetrical dodecanuclear Mn–Ln clusters

Reaction of manganese acetate and lanthanide nitrates in the presence of excess of PhCOOH affords highly asymmetric dodecanuclear mixed-metal [Mn₁₀Ln₂(OH)(O)₈(PhCOOH)(PhCOO)₁₉] (Ln = Pr^III (1), Nd^III (2)) clusters. The similar reaction, but with only 2 equiv. of PhCOOH resulted in the compounds with higher nuclearity [Mn₁₁Eu₄(O)₈(OH)₈(PhCOO)₁₈(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₆]NO₃ · 4CH₃CN (3). Variable-temperature solid-state magnetic susceptibility of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 1.8–300 K were carried out, and for both complexes antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the metal centers were observed, giving an estimated S = 17/2 ground state. AC magnetic susceptibility data have revealed out-of-phase signals, which suggest that these complexes exhibit a slow relaxation of magnetization as observed in single-molecule magnets.     

Intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonding in formohydroxamic acid

The presence of hydrogen bonding interactions in several tautomeric forms of formohydroxamic acid (FHA) and 1:1 association among the tautomeric forms and water‐coordinated tautomeric forms of FHA is explored theoretically. Out of the seven equilibrium structures, four tautomeric forms have been selected for aggregation with single water molecule and dimer formation. Fifteen aggregates of FHA with H₂O have been optimized at MP2/AUG‐cc‐PVDZ level and analyzed for intramolecular and intermolecular H‐bond interactions. Twenty‐seven dimers of the four tautomeric forms have been obtained at MP2/6‐31+G* level. The stabilization energies associated with dimerization and adduct formation with water are the result of H‐bond interactions and range from very weak to medium. The atomic charges and NBO analysis indicate that the electrostatic and the charge transfer are the important components favoring H‐bond formation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

The synthesis of dehydrotryptophan and dehydrotryptophan-containing peptides

Dehydrotryptophan and its derivatives are non-proteinogenic amino acids commonly found in peptide-based natural products produced by microorganisms, marine organisms and plants. These non-proteinogenic amino acids are found in secondary metabolites and are formed by post translational modification processes. Although comprehensive reviews on the synthesis of dehydroamino acids are available, this perspective focuses solely on methods to synthesise the dehydrotryptophan-containing segment of naturally occurring peptides, amino acids and their derivatives.     

CN- scavenger: a leap towards development of a CN- antidote

Compound 4 removes cyanide from water and human serum in the form of compound 7 (cyano-derivative of 4) and experiments show its suitability as an antidote of CN(-) poisoning.     

Poor quality drugs: grand challenges in high throughput detection, countrywide sampling, and forensics in developing countries

Throughout history, poor quality medicines have been a persistent problem, with periodical crises in the supply of antimicrobials, such as fake cinchona bark in the 1600s and fake quinine in the 1800s. Regrettably, this problem seems to have grown in the last decade, especially afflicting unsuspecting patients and those seeking medicines via on-line pharmacies. Here we discuss some of the challenges related to the fight against poor quality drugs, and counterfeits in particular, with an emphasis on the analytical tools available, their relative performance, and the necessary workflows needed for distinguishing between genuine, substandard, degraded and counterfeit medicines.