Carboxylate Assisted Ni‐Catalyzed CH Bond Allylation of Benzamides

A one‐step synthetic method was developed for allylation of benzamides using Ni(COD)₂/RCO₂H and [Ni(μ‐H₂O)(OOCCMe₃)₂(HOOCCMe₃)₂]₂ ( A′ ) catalytic system. Efficient, well‐defined, air and moisture‐stable Ni–pivalate complex was isolated and employed in catalytic allylation. The influence of solvent on product selectivity was also investigated.     

Mesoporous Foam TiO2 Nanomaterials for Effective Hydrogen Production

Hydrolysis of TiCl₄ in a diether‐functionalized imidazolium ionic liquid (IL), namely 1‐methyl‐3‐[2‐(2‐methoxy(ethoxy)ethyl]imidazolium methane sulfonate (M(MEE)I ? CH₃SO₃), results in a heterostructured organic/inorganic and sponge‐like porous TiO₂ material. The thermal treatment (300 °C) followed by calcination (500 °C) affords highly porous TiO₂. The characterization of the obtained samples (with and without IL, before and after calcination) by XRD, SEM, and TEM reveals TiO₂ anatase crystalline phases and irregular‐shaped particles with different porous structures. These hierarchical‐structured mesoporous TiO₂ nanomaterials were employed as efficient photocatalysts in the water‐splitting process, yielding up to 1304 μmol g^?1 on hydrogen production.     

High-throughput multiplex microsatellite marker assay for detection and quantification of adulteration in Basmati rice (Oryza sativa)

Basmati rice is a very special type of aromatic rice known world-wide for its extra long grains and pleasant and distinct aroma. Traditional Basmati rice cultivars, confined to Indo-Gangetic regions of the Indian subcontinent, are often reported to be adulterated with crossbred Basmati varieties and long-grain non-Basmati varieties in the export market. At present, there is no commercial scale technology to reliably detect adulteration. We report here a CE-based multiplex microsatellite marker assay for detection as well as quantification of adulteration in Basmati rice samples. The single-tube assay multiplexes eight microsatellite loci to generate variety-specific allele profiles that can detect adulteration from 1% upwards. The protocol also incorporates a quantitative-competitive PCR-based analysis for quantification of adulteration. Accuracy of quantification has been shown to be +/-1.5%. The experiments used to develop and validate the methodology are described.     

Enhanced energy storage performance of nanocrystalline Sm-doped CoFe2O4 as an effective anode material for Li-ion battery applications

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A simple modified combustion method was demonstrated in the development of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) and samarium (Sm)-doped CoFe2O4 nanostructures. The...     

Regiospecific Synthesis of Calcium-Independent Daptomycin Antibiotics using a Chemoenzymatic Method

Daptomycin (DAP) is a calcium (Ca²⁺)-dependent FDA-approved antibiotic drug for the treatment of Gram-positive infections. It possesses a complex pharmacophore hampering derivatization and/or synthesis of analogues. To mimic the Ca²⁺-binding effect, we used a chemoenzymatic approach to modify the tryptophan (Trp) residue of DAP and synthesize kinetically characterized and structurally elucidated regiospecific Trp-modified DAP analogues. We demonstrated that the modified DAPs are several times more active than the parent molecule against antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Strikingly, and in contrast to the parent molecule, the DAP derivatives do not rely on calcium or any additional elements for activity.     

Formal synthesis of Cladospolide C & epi-Cladospolide C using R-(+)-γ-valerolactone as a chiral synthon

The formal synthesis of Cladospolide-C and its analog is achieved by using enantiopure (R)-γ–valerolactone 10. The significant points of this synthesis are the stereoselective dihydroxylation of α, β-unsaturated ester 16 using Sharpless protocol, Wittig olefination of γ –valerolactol 6 with triphenylphosphonium iodide salt 7, one pot selective oxidation of 22 and subsequent C2-homologation with good E/Z ratio.     

Enantiospecific first total synthesis of (6S,7R)-silphiperfolan-6-ol

Enantiospecific first total synthesis of the angular triquinane sesquiterpene (6S,7R)-silphiperfolan-6-ol has been accomplished, starting from 2-(3-isopropenyl-2-methylene-1-methylcyclopent-1-yl)acetic acid (readily available from (R)-limonene) employing an efficient, regioselective intramolecular rhodium carbenoid insertion into the CH bond of a tertiary methyl group as the key step.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Na0.28V2O5 Nanobelts and their Electrochemical Behavior in Lithium Batteries

A simple low temperature hydrothermal method was found to yield Na_0.28V₂O₅ nanobelts after two days at 130 °C in acidic medium (H₂SO₄) without using any surfactant. The obtained products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), and Raman spectroscopy. Their morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, their electrochemical behavior in a lithium battery was investigated. The XRD pattern shows that the product is composed of monoclinic Na_0.28V₂O₅ nanobelts. From the FTIR spectrum, the band centered at 961 cm^–1 is assigned to V=O stretching vibration, which is sensitive to intercalation and suggests that Na⁺ ions are inserted between the vanadium oxide layers. SEM/TEM analyses reveal that the products consist of a large quantity of nanobelts which have a thickness of 60–150 nm and a length of several tens of micrometers. The electrochemical results show that the nanobelts exhibit an initial discharge specific capacity of 390 mAh · g^–1, and its stabilized capacity still remained around 200 mAh · g^–1 after the 18th cycle.     

Production of Alkaline Protease by Bacillus altitudinis GVC11 using Castor Husk in Solid-State Fermentation

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important oil seed crop having its main cultivated area in India, China, and Brazil in dry land farming. Castor husk is generated as waste in castor oil production. Use of castor husk waste as substrate is studied for alkaline protease production by Bacillus altitudinis GVC11 in solid-state fermentation. Various parameters like moisture content, incubation period, particle size, effect of carbon and nitrogen sources are studied and optimized for enzyme production. Highest enzyme production of 419,293 units per gram husk is obtained. Cost of enzyme production can be reduced by using castor husk as substrate.