Determination of solubility parameters of cross-linked macromonomeric initiators based on polypropylene glycol

A new type macromonomeric azo initiators also named macroinimers, MIMs, based on polypropylene glycol, PPG, with molecular weight 400 and 2000, were synthesized. Self-condensing radical polymerization of the macroinimers gave cross-linked polypropylene glycols. The solubility parameters of the cross-linked polymers determined using swelling experiments in a series of solvents have been reported. Crosss-linked PPG-400 and cross-linked PPG-2000 indicated the same solubility parameter value. But their swelling ratios were different because of the differences of the chain lengths in between of the cross-points (Mc) of the gels. Therefore, while the largest swelling ratio exhibited by a cross-linked PPG-2000 in tetrahydrofurane was being 19.48, this ratio was 6.84 for the cross-linked PPG-400 in the same solvent. The solubility parameters and constant α for these cross-linked polymers were obtained as δ_{cross-linked PPG-400} = 9.56 (cal cm⁻³)^1/2, α = 0.123 cm³ cal⁻¹ and δ_{cross-linked PPG-2000} = 8.95 (cal cm⁻³)^1/2, α = 0.107 cm³ cal⁻¹ by using the least squares regression method.     

Comparative Studies on Essential Oil and Phenolic Content with In Vitro Antioxidant,Anticholinesterase, Antimicrobial Activities of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. and A. millefolium subsp. millefolium Afan. L. Growing in Eastern Turkey

The potential applications of Achillea species in various industries have encouraged the examination of their phytochemical components along with their biological potential. In the present study, phenolic contents and essential oil compositions together with the in vitro biological activities of the aerial parts from Achillea biebersteinii Afan. and Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium Afan. collected from Turkey were evaluated. Different solvent extracts (n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, water) were prepared and their antimicrobial, anticholinesterase, and antioxidant activities were studied. The LC-MS/MS results revealed the presence of 16 different phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, and luteolin glycosides, in methanolic extracts. According to GC-FID and GC/MS results, the primary components of the oils were identified as 1,8-cineole (32.5%), piperitone (14.4%), and camphor (13.7%) in A. biebersteinii and 1,8-cineole (12.3%) and β-eudesmol (8.9%) in A. millefolium subsp. millefolium. The infusion and methanolic extracts of both species were found to be rich in their total phenolic content as well as their antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity. In contrast, the n-hexane and chloroform extracts of both species showed strong antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 15 to 2000 μg/mL. Our findings suggest that the investigated Achillea species could be evaluated as potent natural agents, and further studies into the promising extracts are needed.     

Synthesis of new boron complexes: application to transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives

Two new boron complexes were synthesized from N‐[3‐(methylmercapto)aniline]‐3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylaldimine ( LH ) with boron reagent BPh₃ or BF₃.Et₂O. These boron complexes are stable and easily soluble in protic solvents such as ethanol (C₂H₅OH) but hardly soluble in nonprotic solvents such as chloroform (CHCl₃), dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂) and tetrahydrofuran (THF). All new boron complexes have been fully characterized by both analytical and spectroscopic methods. The catalytic activities of complexes [LBPh₂], 2 , and [LBF₂], 3 , in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives were tested. Stable boron complexes were found to be efficient catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in good conversions up to 99% in the presence of iso‐PrOH/KOH. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palladium(II) complexes with aminomethylphosphine ligands as catalysts for the heck reaction

New, aminomethyldiphosphine (P C N) ligands, ((C₆H₅)₂PCH₂)₂NR (R =  C₆H₃ (CH₃)(OH) ( 1a ),  C₆H₄OC₆H₅( 1b ),  C₆H₄SC₆H₅) ( 1c )) and their Pd(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes were found to be efficient catalysts in the Heck reaction of activated and deactivated aryl halide with a variety of olefins. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:466–471, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.21038     

Fabrication of Electrochemical Immunosensor for Detection of Interleukin 8 Biomarker via Layer-by-layer Self-assembly Process on Cost-effective Fluorine Tin Oxide Electrode

A highly sensitive impedimetric immunosensor for the determination of interleukin 8 (IL 8) cancer biomarker was fabricated via simple fabrication process. A silane agent with isocyanate groups, 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate (IPTES), were utilized for binding of IL 8 antigen specific antibodies and self-assembled on the fluorine tin oxide (FTO) substrate with a standard silanization chemistry. Under optimum experimental conditions, the designed immunosensor had a wide linear detection range of 0.02–4 pg/mL, a low limit of detection of 11.9 fg/mL and a high sensitivity of 4.42 kΩ pg⁻¹ mL cm⁻². The designed biosensor displayed high reproducibility and repeatability, good selectivity against interference biomarkers.     

A practical method for the determination of sulphur in coal samples by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Sulphur in coal was determined using a high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (HR-CS-FAAS) with actylene/air flame. The C-S absorption band at 258.056 nm was found the most suitable analytical line with respect to sensitivity and spectral interferences. The instrumental parameters were optimized. The coal samples were dried and dissolved using microwave-assisted digestion technique. The validity of the method was tested using standard reference material and certified values were found in the limits of 95% confidence level. Since the concentrations of matrix elements of coal other than carbon are low enough not to cause any spectral interferences, the linear calibration method was applied in all quantifications without any problem. The calibration standards were prepared in sulphuric acid. The method was accurate, fast, simple and sensitive. The limit of detection (LOD, 3δ, N = 10) and the limit of quantification (LOQ, 10δ, N = 10) were found to be 0.01 and 0.03% (w/w), respectively. The sulphur concentrations of various kinds of the coal samples received around Turkey were determined. The sulphur contents of the coal samples were ranged from ≤LOQ to 1.2%.     

Synthesis and characterization of new (N‐diphenylphosphino)‐isopropylanilines and their complexes: crystal structure of (Ph2P S)NH?C6H4?4?CH(CH3)2 and catalytic activity of palladium(II) complexes in the Heck and Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions

Three new (N‐diphenylphosphino)‐isopropylanilines, having isopropyl substituent at the carbon 2‐ (1) 4‐ (2) or 2,6‐ (3) were prepared from the aminolysis of chlorodiphenylphosphine with 2‐isopropylaniline, 4‐isopropylaniline or 2,6‐diisopropylaniline, respectively, under anaerobic conditions. Oxidation of 1,2 and 3 with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur or gray selenium gave the corresponding oxides, sulfides and selenides (Ph₂P?E)NH? C₆H₄? 2‐CH(CH₃)₂, (Ph₂P?E)NH? C₆H₄? 4‐CH(CH₃)₂ and (Ph₂P?E)NH? C₆H₄? 2,6‐{CH(CH₃)₂}₂, where E = O, S, or Se, respectively. The reaction of [M(cod)Cl₂] (M = Pd, Pt; cod = 1,5‐cyclooctadiene) with two equivalents of 1,2 or 3 yields the corresponding monodendate complexes [M((Ph₂P)NH? C₆H₄? 2‐CH(CH₃)₂)₂Cl₂], M = Pd 1d, M = Pt 1e, [M((Ph₂P)NH? C₆H₄? 4‐CH(CH₃)₂)₂Cl₂], M = Pd 2d, M = Pt 2e and [M((Ph₂P)NH? C₆H₄? 2,6‐(CH(CH₃)₂)₂)₂Cl₂], M = Pd 3d, M = Pt 3e, respectively. All the compounds were isolated as analytically pure substances and characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Furthermore, representative solid‐state structure of [(Ph₂P?S)NH? C₆H₄? 4‐CH(CH₃)₂] (2b) was determined using single crystal X‐ray diffraction technique. The complexes 1d–3d were tested and found to be highly active catalysts in the Suzuki coupling and Heck reaction, affording biphenyls and stilbenes, respectively. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular heterogeneity of beta-thalassemia in the United Arab Emirates

The beta-thalassemia alleles in 313 national patients of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been characterized using PCR-based DNA-diagnostic techniques including DNA sequencing. A total of 212 patients had homozygous beta-thalassemia and the remaining 101 were compound heterozygotes. More than half of the patients were homozygous for the IVS-I-5 (G-->C) mutation followed by the sickle cell gene. The latter accounted for 25% of the chromosomes. In terms of frequency, five beta-thalassemia mutations; IVS-I-5 (G-->C), betaS, -25 bp del, Cd 8/9 (+G) and IVS-II-1 (G-->A) accounted for 83% of the alleles. In addition, 427 expatriate patients were studied: 256 with homozygous beta-thalassemia and 171 were compound heterozygotes. In both the UAE nationals and expatriates, the beta-thalassemia mutations and their frequency followed a similar trend. Our results indicate that the frequency of beta-globin gene defects including beta-thalassemia, sickle cell gene (betaS) and abnormal hemoglobins is significantly increased and poses a major public health problem in the UAE. The number of homozygous patients strongly suggests a high degree of consanguinity among the UAE nationals. With 50 different beta-thalassemia alleles, UAE is arguably the most heterogeneous population in the world. The diversity of these mutations reflects the historical admixture of genes and their migration from different areas in the region. Our data strongly suggest the need for a comprehensive thalassemia control program and provides a basis for population screening, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.     

Experimental and DFT studies of ethyl N′-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl) propylcarbamoyl benzohydrazonate monohydrate

The Imidazole compound, Ethyl N′-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl) propylcarbamoyl benzohydrazonate monohydrate, has been synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR, electronic spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal determination. Molecular geometry from X-ray experiment of the title compound in the ground state has been compared using the density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-31G+(d) basis set. To determine conformational flexibility, molecular energy profile of the title compound was obtained by DFT calculations with respect to two selected degrees of torsional freedom, which were varied from −180° to +180° in steps of 10°. Besides, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), natural bond orbitals (NBO), frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), and thermodynamic properties were performed at B3LYP/6-31G+(d) level of theory.     

Microdistillation and analysis of volatiles from eight ornamental Salvia taxa

Volatile compounds from seven Salvia species and one interspecific hybrid growing at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Texas, US. Salvia coccinea, S. farinacea, S. greggii, S. leucantha, S. longispicata x farinacea, S. madrensis, S. roemeriana and S. splendens were investigated for their chemical compositions using a microdistillation technique. Volatiles were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). One hundred and twenty seven compounds were identified representing 94.3-99.7% of the oils. The major components in each of the seven species were as follows: S. coccinea (Z)-3-hexenal (31%), viridiflorol (19%); S. farinacea 1-octen-3-ol (30%) and (Z)-3-hexenal (23%); S. greggii 1,8-cineole (22%), borneol (17%), camphene (11%) and alpha-pinene (10%); S. leucantha limonene (35%) and alpha-pinene (17%); S. longispicata x farinacea 1-octen-3-ol (50%) and (Z)-3-hexenal (24%); S. madrensis (Z)-3-hexenal (53%); S. roemeriana limonene (49%) and alpha-pinene (20%); and S. splendens (Z)-3-hexenal (36%), 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (19%) and linalool (11%). The microdistillation method was fast, practical and a useful technique that enabled the isolation of the volatiles in samples when only limited quantities were available.