Synthesis of New Benzoxazaphosphinine/Benzoxazaphosphole/Diazaphosphaphenalene‐2‐sulfides using Lawesson's Reagent

Synthesis of new benzoxazaphosphinine/benzoxazaphosphole/diazaphosphaphenalene 2‐sulfides were accomplished by the reaction of Lawesson's reagent (LR) with 4‐bromo‐2‐[(phenylamino) methyl]phenol (1a), 4‐bromo‐2‐[(4‐chloro/bromo/methoxy/methylphenyl‐amino)methyl]phenol (1b–e), 4‐bromo‐2‐[(benzylamino)methyl]phenol (1f), 2‐amino‐4‐chlorophenol (2a)/2‐amino‐4‐methylphenol (2b), 1,8‐diaminonaphthalene (3) respectively in anhydrous toluene. Products 4a–f, 5a–b and 6 were characterized by IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR and Mass spectra.     

Synthesis of New 2,4‐Diaryl‐6‐methyl‐5‐nitropyrimidines as Antibacterial and Antioxidant Agents

A new series of 2,4‐diaryl‐6‐methyl‐5‐nitropyrimidines ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i ) were synthesized in good yields by Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of 2,4‐dichloro‐6‐methyl‐5‐nitropyrimidine ( 3 ) with various aryl boronic esters ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i ) in the presence of 1,1′‐ bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene dichloropalladium(II) (Pd(dppf)₂Cl₂). Further, antibacterial and antioxidant properties were screened for the title compounds 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i . Most of the compounds possessed significant activity against Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The antioxidant activity of the title compounds showed significant antioxidant activity when compared with vitamin C.     

Catalytic behavior of decomposed molybdophosphoric acid supported on alumina for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene

Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) to ethylene was investigated over a series of alumina supported molybdophosphoric acid (MPA) catalysts. The MPA was transformed into surface Mo oxides on Al₂O₃ when subjected to calcination at 600°C. The catalysts were characterized by N₂-adsorption, XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy and TPR techniques. The results showed that MPA loading and the source of Mo precursor had a clear influence on the catalytic performance. The evaluation of the catalysts for ODHE at temperatures between 450 and 550°C revealed superior ethane conversion (X～24%) and ethylene selectivity (S = ca. 65%) over 20 wt % MPA/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The transformation of MPA into finely dispersed Mo oxides on Al₂O₃ appeared to be responsible for this improved performance.     

Easy Access to α-Bromoketones and Epoxides from vic-Dibromides Under Aqueous Conditions

The conversion of vic-1,2 dibromides to α-bromoketones and epoxides using H₂O₂/dioxane and NaOH/water respectively under mild conditions has been described.     

Green Oxidation of Methylarenes to Benzoic Acids with Bromide/Bromate in Water

An efficient and convenient procedure has been developed for the oxidation of methylarenes to the corresponding benzoic acids using a bromide/bromate-based reagent system in water. Regeneration and reusability of the bromide/bromate reagent is demonstrated.     

Isolation and biological evaluation of chromone alkaloid dysoline,a new regioisomer of rohitukine from Dysoxylum binectariferum

The chromone alkaloid dysoline (1), a new regioisomer of rohitukine (2) along with rohitukine and rohitukine-N-oxide (3) were isolated from the stem barks of Dysoxylum binectariferum. The structure of dysoline (1) was determined by extensive 2D-NMR studies and the absolute configuration was established by NOESY and CD spectra. Dysoline (1) consisted of a 5,7-dihydroxy-2-methylchromone nucleus substituted with a 2′-hydroxylated N-Me piperidine ring at the C-6 position. Dysoline differs from rohitukine by the position of the piperidine ring on the chromone nucleus. Dysoline displayed promising cytotoxicity in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells with an IC₅₀ of 0.21 μM, and also displayed significant inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6.     

Photoinduced phase transitions

Employing actinic light to alter/stabilise a particular thermodynamic phase via the photo-isomerisation of the constituent molecules is an interesting tool to investigate soft matter from a new dimension. This article focuses on our recent results on several aspects of these non-equilibrium phase transitions, which are isothermal in nature. We specifically discuss (i) the influence of different parameters, such as confinement, applied electric field, pressure etc., on the dynamics associated with both the photochemical transition driving the equilibrium nematic to the non-equilibrium isotropic phase and the thermal back relaxation recovering the nematic phase, (ii) unique light-driven disorder–order transition in a reentrant system, (iii) dynamic self-assembly of the smectic A phase, which is stabilised only in the presence of actinic light, (iv) novel temperature-intensity phase diagrams and an example of primary and secondary photo-ferroelectric effects in an antiferroelectric smectic C system. These results highlight the fact that the actinic light can be used as a new tool to study phase transitions and the associated critical phenomena that could also bring about effects that are not seen in equilibrium situations.     

Molecular ordering of a cyano compound at a displacive transition temperature: a statistical analysis based on quantum mechanics and computer simulations

A statistical analysis has been carried out to determine the configurational preference of a pair of 4-cyanophenyl 4-n-pentylbenzoate (CPPB) molecules with respect to translatory and orientational motions. The CNDO/2 method has been employed to evaluate the net atomic charge and atomic dipole components at each atomic centre of the molecule. Configurational energy has been computed using the Rayleigh—Schodinger perturbation method. The total interaction energy values obtained through these computations were used to calculate the probability of each configuration at the phase transition temperature using the Maxwell—Boltzmann formula. An attempt has been made to identify the most probable configuration at the phase transition temperature. Further, the flexibility of various configurations has been studied in terms of variation of probability due to small departures from the most probable configuration. On the basis of stacking, in-plane and terminal interaction energy calculations, all possible geometrical arrangements of the molecular pair have been considered. The results are discussed in the light of experimental as well as theoretical observations. The nature of the mesophase has been correlated with the parameter introduced in this paper.     

Improvement of Regio-Specific Production of Myricetin-3-O-α-l-Rhamnoside in Engineered Escherichia coli

Myricetin is an important flavonol whose medically important properties include activities as an antioxidant, anticarcinogen, and antimutagen. The solubility, stability, and other biological properties of the compounds can be enhanced by conjugating aglycon with sugar moieties. The type of sugar moiety also plays a significant role in the biological and physical properties of the natural product glycosides. Reconstructed Escherichia coli containing thymidine diphosphate-α-l-rhamnose sugar gene cassette and Arabidopsis-derived glycosyltransferase were used for rhamnosylation of myricetin. Myricetin (100 μM) was exogenously supplemented to induced cultures of engineered E. coli. The formation of target product—myricetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnoside—was confirmed by chromatographic and NMR analyses. The yield of product was improved by using various mutants and methylated cyclodextrin as a molecular carrier for myricetin in combination with E. coli M3G3. The maximal yield of product is 55.6 μM (3.31-fold higher than the control E. coli MG3) and shows 55.6 % bioconversion of substrate under optimized conditions.     

Synthesis of Some Unusual (1,2,4‐Oxadiazole)‐Linked Hexenopyranosides and Mannopyranosides

A copper‐catalyzed reaction of propargyl 4,6‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2,3‐dideoxy‐α‐D‐erythro‐hex‐2‐enopyranoside with 3‐(4‐azidophenyl)‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles gave the corresponding hexenopyranosides bearing an 1,2,4‐oxadiazole subunit in the aglyconic part of the molecule. The same reaction between ethyl 4‐azido‐2,3,4‐trideoxy‐α‐D‐erythro‐hex‐2‐enopyranoside and acetylenic 1,2,4‐oxadiazoles afforded the corresponding hexenopyranosides carrying a triazole and a 1,2,4‐oxadiazole ring at C‐4 of the carbohydrate. Combination of the two sequences gave hexenopyranosides displaying two 1,2,4‐oxadiazole subunits, each one being embedded in the C‐1 and C‐4 frameworks, of the carbohydrate moiety. A simple dihydroxylation reaction of these unsaturated carbohydrates yielded a series of mannopyranosides bearing one or two 1,2,4‐oxadiazole subunits at C‐1 or C‐4. These new compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against two cell strains: NCI‐H₂₉₂ (lung carcinoma) and Hep‐2 (larynx carcinoma), some of them presenting impressive cell growth inhibitions.