On the characterization of electrified interface

Summary Estimation of zeta potential from experimental data on electroosmotic and electrophoretic effects for Zeokarb 225 (Na⁺ form)/methanol-water system has been made and discussed. Results indicate that zeta potentials estimated from electroosmotic flux and electrophoretic mobility are not in agreement and vary with applied potential difference in a linear manner. Reasons for the variation of zeta potential with electrical field have been discussed. It has been argued that zeta potentials estimated from electroosmotic data are more reliable in comparison to the values obtained from electrophoretic data.With 2 figures and 2 tables     

Solution- and solid-phase synthesis of natural product-like tetrahydroquinoline-based polycyclics having a medium size ring

A solid-phase synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline-derived polycyclic 4, having a medium size ring with an enamide functionality, was achieved from tetrahydroquinoline derivative 3 in five steps with overall 40-45% yield. An enantiopure, tetrahydroquinoline-derived beta-amino ester, 1, was converted into compound 2 that has a free phenolic hydroxyl group as an anchoring site for solid-phase synthesis. The solid-phase worked well for this sequence, in which the synthesis of the unsaturated eight-membered enamide lactam was obtained by a ring-closing metathesis approach. Compound 4 is a novel, natural product-like polycyclic derivative that could further be utilized in library generation for developing small molecule chemical probes.     

Nucleation of β-hairpin structure in a pyrrole amino acid containing peptide

Synthesis and conformational studies of two short peptides containing pyrrole amino acids (1, Paa), Boc-Paa-Paa-d-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Paa-Paa-OMe (2: Xaa=Ala; 3: Xaa=Val), were carried out in which it was established that replacement of Ala in 2 with a Val residue helps peptide 3 to adopt a well-defined β-hairpin conformation in a nonpolar solvent, like CDCl₃.     

Synthesis of Mannich type products via a three-component coupling reaction

The reactions of alkyl nitriles, acetyl chloride, aldehydes and β-ketoesters or simple ketones was studied for the one-pot synthesis of β-acetamido carbonyl compounds. It was observed that the reaction proceeds in the absence of Lewis acids. However, a Lewis acid catalyzes the reaction and several were tested. It was found that whereas Cu(OTf)₂ is suitable for the coupling of β-ketoesters with aldehydes, Sc(OTf)₃ is the best for ketones. A possible mechanism is proposed based on the isolation and characterization of an intermediate.     

Synthesis of carpachromene and related isopentenylated derivatives of apigenin

Acacetin (4) on reaction with prenyl bromide in the presence of methanolic sodium methoxide yielded 6,8-di-C-prenyl-(5) and 6-C-prenyl-(10) derivatives. The former (5) formed the corresponding bisdihydropyrano derivative (8). Monomethyl derivative of 10 (12) gave monodihydropyrano derivative (13). DDQ reaction of 10 followed by methylation afforded di-O-methyl carpachromene (2); whereas that of 5 gave a mixture of 21 and 22.

Nuclear prenylation of apigenin (3) in a similar way gave 6,8-di-C-C-prenyl-(16), its 7-0-prenyl-(15) and 6-C-prenyl-(18) derivatives. DDQ reaction of 18 provided natural carpachromene.¹ The structure of the isopentylated apigenin isolated by Dreyer et al.² needs further consideration.     

Sensing the ortho Positions in C6Cl6 and C6H4Cl2 from Cl2− Formation upon Molecular Reduction

The geometrical effect of chlorine atom positions in polyatomic molecules after capturing a low-energy electron is shown to be a prevalent mechanism yielding Cl₂⁻. In this work, we investigated hexachlorobenzene reduction in electron transfer experiments to determine the role of chlorine atom positions around the aromatic ring, and compared our results with those using ortho-, meta- and para-dichlorobenzene molecules. This was achieved by combining gas-phase experiments to determine the reaction threshold by means of mass spectrometry together with quantum chemical calculations. We also observed that Cl₂⁻ formation can only occur in 1,2-C₆H₄Cl₂, where the two closest C–Cl bonds are cleaved while the chlorine atoms are brought together within the ring framework due to excess energy dissipation. These results show that a strong coupling between electronic and C–Cl bending motion is responsible for a positional isomeric effect, where molecular recognition is a determining factor in chlorine anion formation.     

The Genus Cetraria s. str.—A Review of Its Botany,Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Pharmacology

The genus Cetraria s. str. (Parmeliaceae family, Cetrarioid clade) consists of 15 species of mostly erect brown or greenish yellow fruticose or subfoliose thallus. These Cetraria species have a cosmopolitan distribution, being primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, in North America and in the Eurasia area. Phytochemical analysis has demonstrated the presence of dibenzofuran derivatives (usnic acid), depsidones (fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids) and fatty acids (lichesterinic and protolichesterinic acids). The species of Cetraria, and more particularly Cetraria islandica, has been widely employed in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive and respiratory diseases as decoctions, tinctures, aqueous extract, and infusions. Moreover, Cetraria islandica has had an important nutritional and cosmetic value. These traditional uses have been validated in in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies. Additionally, new therapeutic activities are being investigated, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cytotoxic, genotoxic and antigenotoxic. Among all Cetraria species, the most investigated by far has been Cetraria islandica, followed by Cetraria pinastri and Cetraria aculeata. The aim of the current review is to update all the knowledge about the genus Cetraria covering aspects that include taxonomy and phylogeny, morphology and distribution, ecological and environmental interest, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological properties.     

Essential Oil Content and Compositional Variability of Lavandula Species Cultivated in the Mid Hill Conditions of the Western Himalaya

The increase in the utilization of Lavandula essential oil in industries led to an impressive rise in the demand for quality essential oils. However, a post-harvest drying of Lavandula species can be a decisive factor to determine the quantity and quality of essential oil. The study was conducted in western Himalayan conditions to assess the essential oil content and composition of two Lavandula species viz., lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), and lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loisel), at four different drying duration (0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after the harvest). The higher growth attributes viz., plant height (71.7 cm), ear length (8.8 cm), number of spikes (18.1), and number of flowers per ear (47.5) were higher in lavandin, while the number of branches (17.1) was higher in lavender. Essential oil content (%) and moisture reduction (%) were significantly higher at 72 h than at 0 h. The major components of lavender and lavandin essential oil were linalool (33.6–40.5%), linalyl acetate (10.8–13.6%), lavandulyl acetate (2.8–14.5%), and linalyl propionate (5.3–14.1%) in both the Lavandula species. There was a decreasing trend in linalool and an increasing trend in linalyl acetate content in lavandin, with an increase in drying duration up to 72 h; while in lavender, no regular trend was observed in linalool and linalyl acetate content. It was observed that linalool and linalyl acetate levels were the highest at 24 and 0 h of drying in lavender and lavandin, respectively, and essential oil extraction can be done according to the desire of the constituent at varied drying duration.