Biologically active metabolites from fungi, 19: new isocoumarins and highly substituted benzoic acids from the endophytic fungus, Scytalidium sp

Six known metabolites, two new isocoumarins 4 and 8, and one new highly substituted benzoic acid derivative 9 were isolated from the ethyl acetate culture extract of a fungal endophyte, Scytalidium sp. In addition, another new benzoic acid 10 with an unusual 1,2-dicarbonyl side chain was indirectly identified from its methylated derivatives 10a-10d.     

The preparation and some reactions of 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachlorophenylmagnesium chloride

The reaction of pentachlorobenzene with metallic magnesium in THF at 10–15°C gives after hydrolysis 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachlorobenzene (76%) and pentachlorobenzene (8%); after trimethylsilylation, 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachloro-3-(trimethylsilyl)benzene (74%), pentachloro(trimethylsilyl)benzene (8%) and 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachlorobenzene (6%); after iodination, 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachloroiodobenzene (44%), pentachloroiodobenzene (12%) and 1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachlorobenzene (9%); and finally after carbonation, 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachlorobenzoic acid (58%). These products indicate that in the Grignard reaction a mixture of largely 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachlorophenylmagnesium chloride and some pentachlorophenylmagnesium chloride is formed. The formation pentachlorophenylmagnesium chloride is explained on the basis of metal—hydrogen exchange reaction between 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachlorophenylmagnesium chloride and the unreacted pentachlorobenzene.     

Studies on the thermal behaviour of detonating fuse and detonators

Investigations of the thermal stability of detonating fuse containing 10 g pentaerythrol tetranitrate (PETN) revealed that the cord burnt under unconfinement at 403 K. Under confinement in a steel pipe or copper tube there was a partial detonation at 403 K. In order to characterize the thermal stability of PETN and pyrotechnic composition used in fuse head of electric detonators differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used.The electric detonators of aluminium cell and copper cell were heated from ambient temperature to 373 K at an average rate of 0.4 deg/min. The rate of heating was increased gradually to 1.5 deg/min till explosion. The detonation temperature varied between 373 K and 375 K.The impact and friction sensitivity of detonating fuse was poor. There was no detonation when a 5 kg hammer was repeatedly hit over the fuse from a height of one metre. There was no detonation when the detonating fuse was rubbed by a blunt edge of steel plate till it was smashed.

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Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen der thermischen Stabilität von Sprengschnuren mit 10 gm^–1 PETN zeigten, daß die Schnur frei bei 403 K verbrennt. Unter Abschluß in einem Stahloder Kupferrohr tritt bei 403 K eine partielle Detonation auf. Zur Charakterisierung der thermischen Stabilität von PETN und von pyrotechnischen Mischungen, die in Zünderköpfen von elektrischen Sprengkapseln verwendet werden, wurde Differentialthermoanalyse (DTA) angewendet. Die elektrischen Sprengkapseln von Aluminium- und Kupferzellen wurden mit einer durchschnittlichen Aufheizgeschwindigkeit von 0.4 Grad/min von Raumtemperatur auf 373 K erhitzt. Die Aufheizgeschwindigkeit wurde bis zur Explosion allmählich auf 1,5 Grad/min erhöht. Die einzelnen Detonationen erfolgten bei einer Temperatur zwischen 373 und 375 K. Die Stoß- und Reibempfindlichkeit der Sprengschnur war gering. Bei einem mehrmaligen Einwirken eines 5 kg-Hammers aus einer Höhe von 1 m erfolgte keine Detonation. Bei Reiben mit der unscharfen Kante einer Stahlplatte bis zur Zerstörung erfolgte keine Detonation.

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, 10 ^–1 PETN, , 403 , 403 . PETN , , . 373 0,4°/. 1,5°/ . 373 375 . . 5 1 . , .

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The authors are indebted to the Director, Central Mining Research Station for giving permission to publish this paper. The views expressed in the paper are those of the authors and not necessarily of the institute which they belong to.     

N-Bromosuccinimide-dibenzoyl peroxide/azabisisobutyronitrile: a reagent for Z- to E-alkene isomerization

N-Bromosuccinimide-dibenzoyl peroxide/azobisisobutyronitrile is used to carry out several types of Z- to E-alkene isomerizations. The NBS-bromination conditions are sufficient for both allylic bromination and alkene isomerization. When the allylic hydrogens are not available in substrates, only the isomerization of the alkene takes place. The present conditions for isomerization of carbon-carbon double bonds are mild and efficient.     

Aqueous polymerization of acrylonitrile by ascorbic acid–peroxodisulfate redox system

The polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by an ascorbic acid–peroxodisulfate redox system was studied in an aqueous solution at 35°C in the presence of air. Molecular oxygen was found to have no effect on the polymerization reaction. An increase in ionic strength slightly increased the rate. The overall rate of polymerization, R_p, showed a square dependence on [monomer] and a half-order dependence on [peroxodisulfate]. A first-order dependence on [ascorbic acid] at low concentrations (<3.0 × 10^?3 mol L^?1) followed by a decrease in R_p at higher concentrations of ascorbic acid (>3.0 × 10^?3 mol L^?1) was also noted. R_p remained unchanged up to 40°C and showed a decline thereafter. Addition of catalytic amounts of cupric ions decreased the rate whereas ferric ions were found to increase the rate. Added sulfuric acid in the range (6.0?50.0) × 10^?5 mol L^?1 decreased the R_p.     

The preparation and characterization of mono- and bis-chelated cadmium(II) complexes of the di-2-pyridylketone Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate (Hdpksme) and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Cd(dpksme)2] · 0.5 MeOH complex

New cadmium(II) complexes of empirical formulae, [Cd(dpksme)X] (dpksme = anionic form of the Schiff base; X = NCS^–, Cl^–, I^–) and [Cd(dpksme)₂] · 0.5MeOH, respectively have been prepared and characterized. The mono-ligated cadmium(II) complexes, [Cd(dpksme)X] are four-coordinate and tetrahedral but the bis-ligand complex, [Cd(dpksme)₂] · 0.5MeOH is six-coordinate and octahedral. The crystal and molecular structure of [Cd(dpksme)₂] · 0.5MeOH has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex has a distorted mer-octahedral structure in which the ligands are coordinated as uninegatively charged tridentate chelating agents via the pyridine nitrogen atoms, the azomethine nitrogen atoms and the thiolate sulfur atoms. The distortion from regular octahedral geometry is ascribed to the restricted bite angles of the ligands. The Schiff base and its cadmium(II) complexes exhibit mild antibacterial activities against Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. They are also mildly fungitoxic against the phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria alternata and Macrophomina phaseolina.     

Production of indigotin in submerged culture using morchella nov. ES-1

A new strain of the fungusMorchella nov. ES-1 (ATCC 20951) that produces blue pigment in submerged culture has been isolated. The blue pigment was extracted by chloroform or ethyl acetate treatment. The crude extract when chromatographed yielded three fractions; a blue one has been identified by mass spectrometry as indigotin. Fermentation studies using enriched media revealed that maximum accumulation of indigotin in culture was approx 24 mg/L in 168 h.     

Computational studies on glyceraldehyde and glycine Maillard reaction—I

Mechanisms for the initial stage of glyceraldehyde and glycine Maillard reaction under different pH conditions have been proposed, following usually the Hodge-scheme. Computations have been performed on the mechanisms at the standard state to test the possibility of the formation of different compounds, through evaluating the changes in Gibb's free energy during the reaction. Electronic energy changes during the reaction have also been evaluated. Glyceraldehyde+deprotonated glycine reaction has been found to be the most favorable for the formation of the Amadori rearrangement products in both gaseous and aqueous states. Due to the possibility of the production of both enol and keto forms of the Amadori rearrangement product, the rate of browning in glyceraldehyde+deprotonated glycine reaction is assumed to be faster than the others. Glyceraldehyde+unionized glycine reaction has been found to be more plausible for the formation of the keto form of the Amadori rearrangement products, particularly, in the gaseous phase. Glyceraldehyde+protonated glycine and glyceraldehyde+glycine zwitterion reactions are not favorable for the formation of the Amadori rearrangement products. Formation of hydroxyacetaldehyde from glyceralaldehyde, as one of the possible C2-fragmentation product, has been found to be favorable in the aqueous state.     

Spectrophotometric determination of trimethoprim by oxidation in drug formulations

A spectrophotometric determination of trimethoprim is described based on the reaction of its amine group with persulfate which acts as a strong oxidizing agent in alkaline media. The reaction produces a stable yellow colored compound after heating in a boiling water bath for 30 min. At λ_max 355 nm, Beer’s law is obeyed in the concentration range 10–60 μg ml^–1 with a molar absorptivity of 2.7 × 10³ l mol^–1cm^–1. The method is applied to formulations with sulfamethoxazole. Received: 30 July 1996 / Revised: 16 October 1996 / Accepted: 22 October 1996     

Chemical and Pharmacological Profiling of Wrightia coccinea (Roxb. Ex Hornem.) Sims Focusing Antioxidant,Cytotoxic, Antidiarrheal,Hypoglycemic, and Analgesic Properties

The aim of the study was to conduct phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of Wrightia coccinea (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Sims via several in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models. A total of four compounds were identified and isolated from the methanol extract of the bark and the methanol extract of the seed pulp of W. coccinea through successive chromatographic techniques and were characterized as 3β-acetyloxy-olean-12-en-28-ol (1), wrightiadione (2), 22β-hydroxylupeol (3), and β-sitosterol (4) by spectroscopic analysis. The aqueous fraction of the bark and chloroform fraction of the fruits provided the most potent antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ = 7.22 and 4.5 µg/mL, respectively) in DPPH free radical scavenging assay compared with the standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 17.45 µg/mL). The methanol bark extract and the methanol fruit coat extract exerted anti-diarrheal activity by inhibiting 74.55 ± 0.67% and 77.78 ± 1.5% (mean ± SEM) of the diarrheal episode in mice, respectively, after four hours of loading the samples. In the hypoglycemic test, the methanol bark extract and the methanol fruit coat extract (400 mg/kg) produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the blood glucose level in mice. Both doses of the plant extracts (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) used in the study induced a significant (p < 0.05) increase in pain reaction time. The in vitro and in vivo findings were supported by the computational studies. The isolated compounds exhibited higher binding affinity compared with the standard drugs towards the active binding sites of glutathione reductase, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), kappa opioid receptor, glucose transporter 3 (GLUT 3), Mu opioid receptor, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) proteins due to their potent antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-diarrheal, hypoglycemic, and central and peripheral analgesic properties, respectively. The current findings concluded that W. coccinea might be a potential natural source for managing oxidative stress, diarrhea, hyperglycemia, and pain. Further studies are warranted for extensively phytochemical screening and establishing exact mechanisms of action.