New sphingolipids and a sterol from a lobophytum species of the Indian ocean

Chemical investigation of a soft coral species of the genus Lobophytum has resulted in the isolation of three new sphingolipids--(2S,3S,4R)-2-nonadecanoylamino-octadecane-1,3,4-triol (1), (2S,3R,4E,8E)-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxyheptadecanoylamino]-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol (2), 1-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxynonadecanoylamino]-9-methyl-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol (3) and a sterol--(24S)-ergost-5-en-3beta,7beta-diol (4) along with the known sphingolipid--(2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-hexadecanoylamino-4,8-octadecadien-1,3-diol (5) which showed cytotoxicity against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).     

Gold nanoparticle networks with photoresponsive interparticle spacings

Photoresponsive gold nanoparticle networks were prepared by functionalizing them with azobenzene derivatives. A network can be formed when a linker molecule constituting the azobenzene moiety suitably derivatized on either side with gold surface sensitive groups such as thiols and amines is added to the nanoparticle solution. It is shown that the interparticle spacing in the networks could be controlled by the reversible trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moiety induced by UV and visible light, respectively. The photoinduced variation in the interparticle spacings is inferred by the changes in the optical spectra of the gold nanoparticles which display a red or blue shift in the surface plasmon resonance peak depending on a decrease or increase in the interparticle spacing, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy images are in consonance with the evidence from the optical spectra.     

Application of sodium metaperiodate for the determination of ribavirin in pharmaceutical formulations

Three simple and sensitive visible spectrophotometric methods (A-C) have been described for the assay of ribavirin either in pure form or in pharmaceutical formulations. They are based on the oxidation of ribavirin with excess sodium metaperiodate and estimating either the products formed (dialdehyde with MBTH, method A; iodate with metol-sulphanilamide, in the presence of Mo(VI) and iodide, method B) or the amount of periodate consumed (celestine blue in the presence of telurium (IV), method C). All of the variables have been optimized and the reaction mechanisms presented. The concentration measurements are reproducible within a R.S.D. of 1.0%. Recoveries are 99.2-101.2%.     

Spectrophotometric methods for the determination of labetalol hydrochloride in pure and dosage forms

Simple and sensitive Spectrophotometric methods for the determination of labetalol hydrochloride are described. The first two are based on the oxidative coupling reaction of labetalol hydrochloride withp-N,N-dimethyl-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (method A, _max 685 nm) and 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride (method B, _max 545 nm) in the presence of sodium hypochlorite and eerie ammonium sulphate as oxidants, respectively. The third depends on the formation of an ion-association complex of labetalol hydrochloride with suprachen violet 3B at pH 1.3, which is extracted into chloroform (method C, _max 565 nm). The methods obey Beer's law and the precision and accuracy of the methods were checked against the B.P. reference method and the relative standard deviations were in the range 0.35–0.52%. These methods are applied to the determination of labetalol in dosage forms.     

Two new 5-deoxyflavones from Albizia odoratissima

Two new 5-deoxyflavones, 7,8-dimethoxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyflavone (1) and 7,2',4'-trimethoxyflavone (2) together with a known flavone, 7,4'-dimethoxy-3'-hydroxyflavone (3) were isolated from the rootbark of Albizia odoratissima. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and 1D and 2D-NMR spectral studies including (1)H-(1)H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity (HMBC) and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY).     

Synthesis of some new metal-containing polyurethanes

Some new metal-containing polyurethanes were synthesized from manganese and lead salts of mono(hydroxyethyl)phthalate by condensing them with hexamethylene diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate in dimethylformamide as solvent. The polymers were characterized by viscometry, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The decomposition temperatures of these polymers were found to be significantly lower than those of metal-free polymers of similar structure. However, the rates of decomposition of metal-containing polyurethanes were lower than those of polyurethanes having no metal. Inherent viscosities in DMSO at 30° of these polyurethanes were low, ranging from 0.043 to 0.067.     

EPR studies on some copper(II) complexes of 1,4,7,10-tetra-azadecane and its hexamethyl derivative

EPR studies have been carried out on solutions of the complexes [Cu(trien)NCS](NO₃), [Cu(trien)I]I, [Cu(Me₆trien)NCS]B?₄ and [Cu(Me₆trien)](ClO₄)₂, (trien = 1,4,7,10-tetraazadecane; Me₆trien = hexamethyl trien) in different solvents to investigate the solute-solvent interactions. From calculations of the 4s contribution in the ground state and bond parameters it is found that the axial bond in [Cu(trien)NCS](NO₃) dissolved in pyridine is weaker than that in the other complexes dissolved in different solvents. For the two methylated complexes, in spite of the +I effect of the methyl group, the in-plane copper-nitrogen bonds are found to be weak, which is probably due to the changes in structure caused by methylation.     

Sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of osmium with 1,2,3-indanetrione monothiosemicarbazone

Summary Sensitive and Selective Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Trace Amounts of Osmium with 1,2,3-Indanetrione Monothiosemicarbazone A simple, sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of osmium using 1,2,3-indane-trione monothiosemicarbazone (ITMT). The method is based on the colour reaction between ITMT and osmium(VIII) in hydrochloric acid (0.32–0.60 M) medium. The calibration graph for measurement at 440 nm is linear in the range 1.4–33.6g of osmium per 25ml, with a molar absorptivity of 6.43×10⁴l·mole^–1·cm^–1. The effect of interferences has been studied and the method applied to the determination of osmium in synthetic samples whose composition correspond to osmiridium or syserkite, with good results.     

Keggin ion mediated synthesis of hydrophobized Pd nanoparticles for multifunctional catalysis

Development of simple and reliable protocols for the synthesis of organically soluble catalytically active metal nanoparticles is an important aspect of research in nanomaterials. We demonstrate herein the formation of Pd nanoparticles by reduction of aqueous Pd(NO(3))(2) by photoexcited Keggin ions (phosphotungstate anions). This results in the formation of Pd nanoparticles capped with with Keggin ions that render the particles negatively charged. The Keggin ion capped Pd nanoparticles may then be phase transferred into nonpolar organic solvents such as toluene by electrostatic complexation with cationic surfactants such as octadecylamine at the liquid-liquid interface. This results in a new class of catalyst wherein both the Pd core and Keggin ion shell may be used in a range of catalytic reactions leading to a truly multifunctional catalyst dispersible in organic solvents.     

Heavy-metal remediation by a fungus as a means of production of lead and cadmium carbonate crystals

We show here that reaction of the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum, with the aqueous heavy-metal ions Pb2+ and Cd2+ results in the one-step formation of the corresponding metal carbonates. The metal carbonates are formed by reaction of the heavy-metal ions with CO2 produced by the fungus during metabolism and thus provide a completely biological method for production of crystals of metal carbonates. The PbCO3 and CdCO3 crystals thus produced have interesting morphologies that are shown to arise because of interaction of the growing crystals with specific proteins secreted by the fungus during reaction. An additional advantage of this approach is that the reaction leads to detoxification of the aqueous solution and could have immense potential for bioremediation of heavy metals. Under conditions of this study, the metal ions are not toxic to the fungus, which readily grows after exposure to the metal ions.