The catalytic performance of different promoted iron catalysts on combined supports Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> for carbon dioxide hydrogenation

Global warming, fossil fuel depletion and fuel price increases have motivated scientists to search for methods for the storage and reduction of the amount of greenhouse gases, especially CO₂. The hydrogenation process has been introduced as an emerging method of CO₂ capture and convertion into value-added products. In this study, new types of catalysts are introduced for CO₂ hydrogenation and are compared based on catalytic activity and product selectivity. The physical properties of the samples are specified using BET. Iron catalysts supported on γ-Al₂O₃ with different metal promoters (X = Ni, K, Mn, Cu) are prepared through the impregnation method. Moreover, Fe–Ni catalysts supported on HZSM5-Al₂O₃ and Ce–Al₂O₃ are synthesized. Samples are reduced by pure H₂ and involved in hydrogenation reaction in a fixed bed reactor (H₂/CO₂ = 3, total pressure = 10 MPa, temperature = 523 K, GHSV = 2000, 1250 nml/min). All catalysts provide high conversion in hydrogenation reactions and the results illustrate that the selectivity of light hydrocarbons is higher than that of methane and CO. It is found that Ni has a promoting effect on the conversion fluctuations throughout the reaction with 66.13% conversion. Using combined supported catalysts leads to enhancing catalytic performance. When Fe–Ni/γ–Al₂O₃—HZSM5 is utilized, CO₂ conversion is 81.66% and the stability of the Fe–Ni catalyst supported on Al₂O₃ and Ce–Al₂O₃ furthey improves.     

Three new sesquiterpene hemiacetals from Achillea vermicularis

Three new sesquiterpene hemiacetals, tentatively named as achilleanone (1), vermiculone (2) and vermicularone (3) have been isolated from Achillea vermicularis, along with three other known compounds beta-amyrin, oleonolic acid and beta-sitosterol. The structure elucidation of new compounds was based primarily on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques including Nuclear Overhauser Effect/Enhancement (NOE), heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) and nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) experiments. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 have displayed inhibitory potential against lipoxygenase enzyme in a concentration-dependent fashion with promising IC50 values.     

Why a hexabromodiquinoline host preferentially includes small aromatic hydrocarbon guests

The preparation and properties of the new hexabromodiquinoline derivative 4 are described. This lattice inclusion host shows a strong preference for trapping small aromatic hydrocarbons. The X-ray crystal structures of the benzene, toluene, o-xylene, and p-xylene compounds are reported, and are analysed from a crystal engineering perspective. Crystallisation of 4 from the dual-nature solvent trifluoromethylbenzene yields the solvent-free material. Comparison of the parent crystal structure with those of its inclusion compounds reveals why inclusion of aromatic hydrocarbon guests is such a favoured process. The high concentration of Br...Br interactions in the structure of pure 4 is diluted and increasingly replaced by aromatic offset face-face (OFF) and aromatic edge-face (EF) interactions in the inclusion compounds, and this results in better lattice packing energies. For toluene, o-xylene, and p-xylene the host-guest ratio is 1:1. Inclusion of the smaller benzene molecule results in a change to 2:3 stoichiometry. This increase in guest content is assisted by replacement of host-host OFF and EF motifs with host-host pi-halogen dimer (PHD) interactions, which provide space for inclusion of the additional guest molecules. These changes result in the most efficient lattice packing of the series for compound (4)2.(benzene)3.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and biological activity of the metal complexes of the Schiff base derived from phenylaminoacetohydrazide and dibenzoylmethane

A new series of mono and binuclear Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), La(III), Ru(III), Hf(IV), ZrO(II) and UO(2)(II) complexes of phenylaminodibenzoylhydrazone have been synthesized and characterized by elementals analyses, IR UV-vis spectra, magnetic moments, conductances, thermal analyses (DTA and TGA) and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. The IR spectral data show that, the ligand behaves as a neutral bidentate type (15 and 16), monobasic bidentate type (6), or monobasic tridentate type (5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17-21) or dibasic tridentate type 2-4, 9 and 12 towards the metal ion. Molar conductances in DMF solution indicate that, the complexes are non-electrolytes. The ESR spectra of solid complexes (9 and 10) show axial and non-axial types indicating a [Formula: see text] ground state with significant covalent bond character. However, complexes (11 and 12), show isotropic type, indicating manganese(II) octahedral geometry. Antibacterial and antifungal tests of the ligand and its metal complexes are also carried out and it has been observed that the complexes are more potent bactericides and fungicides than the ligand.     

Small‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering and Near‐Infrared Vibrational Spectroscopy of Water Confined in Aerosol‐OT Reverse Micelles

The state of water confined in Aerosol‐OT–hydrocarbon–water reverse micelles with cyclohexane, n‐pentane, n‐octane, and n‐dodecane as apolar solvents is investigated by small‐angle X‐ray scattering and near‐infrared vibrational spectroscopy of the first overtone of the OH stretching mode of water. The experiments focus on water/AOT molecular ratios W₀=2–20, where water is strongly affected by the confinement and surface–water interactions. The pair‐distance distribution functions derived from the small‐angle scattering patterns allows a detailed characterization of the topology of these systems, and they indicate deviations from monodisperse, spherical water pools for some of these hydrocarbon systems. In contrast to a common assumption, the pool size does not scale linearly with W₀ in going from dry reverse micelles (W₀→0) to essentially bulk‐like water (W₀>20). The first overtone of the OH‐stretching vibration exhibits highly structured spectra, which reveal significant changes in the hydrogen bonding environment upon confinement. The spectra are rationalized by a core/shell model developed by Fayer and co‐workers. This model subdivides water into core water in the interior of the micelle and shell water close to the interface. Core water is modelled by the properties of bulk water, while the properties of shell water are taken to be those of water at W₀=2. The model allows the representation of the spectra at any hydration level as a linear combination of the spectra of core and shell water. Different approaches are critically reviewed and discussed as well.     

In Vitro Alpha-Amylase and Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity and In Vivo Antidiabetic Activity of Withania frutescens L. Foliar Extract

Withania frutescens L. is a wild perennial woody plant used by the local population for diverse therapeutic purposes. This work aims to study for the first time the potential inhibitory effect of this plant hydroethanolic extract on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities using in vitro methods and its antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic activities using alloxan-induced diabetic mice as a model for experimental diabetes. Two doses were selected for the in vivo study (200 and 400 mg/kg) and glibenclamide, a well-known antidiabetic drug (positive control) in a subacute study (28 days) where the antihyperglycemic activity was also assessed over a period of 12 h on diabetic mice. The continuous treatment of diabetic mice with the extract of Withania frutescens for 4 weeks succeeded to slowly manage their high fasting blood glucose levels (after two weeks), while the antihyperglycemic test result revealed that the extract of this plant did not control hyperglycemia in the short term. No toxicity signs or death were noted for the groups treated with the plant extract, and it shows a protective effect on the liver and kidney. The in vitro assays demonstrated that the inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase might be one of the mechanisms of action exhibited by the extract of this plant to control and prevent postprandial hyperglycemia. This work indicates that W. frutescens have an important long term antidiabetic effect that can be well established to treat diabetes.     

Iridoids and Cytotoxic Terpenes from Lindenbergia indica

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - A new iridoid aglycone, 1-acetylscyphiphin B2, along with two known iridoid aglycones and three triterpenes, was isolated from the whole plant of Lindenbergia...     

A New Cyclopropyl‐Triterpenoid from Ochradenus arabicus

One new cyclopropyl‐triterpenoid ( 1 ), along with four known constituents including octacosan‐1‐ol ( 2 ), pentacosanoic acid ( 3 ), β‐sitosterol ( 4 ), and β‐sitosterol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ) were isolated from the aerial parts of Ochradenus arabicus for the first time. These compounds were isolated by repeated column chromatography followed by further purification through recycling HPLC. The structure of the new secondary metabolite 1 was established on the basis of UV, IR, 1D‐ (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐) and 2D‐NMR (HMBC and HSQC), and MS spectral data. The molecular mass was determined by HR‐MS, and hence the molecular formula was deduced. The configurations of stereogenic centers in the molecule were assigned by NOESY experiments, along with biogenetic considerations. The structures of the known compounds were confirmed by comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data with those reported in literature.     

A New Irregular Trihydroxy Sesquiterpene from Teucrium mascatense

A new trihydroxy sesquiterpene, rel‐(1R,4aR,5S,6S,7S,8aR)‐decahydro‐6,8a‐dimethyl‐5‐(propan‐2‐yl)naphthalene‐1,6,7‐triol ( 1 ), has been isolated as a result of the phytochemical investigation on the CH₂Cl₂ extract of Teucrium mascatense. The structure elucidation of the new constituent was carried out by the combined use of 1D‐ (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR) and 2D‐NMR (HMBC and HSQC) spectroscopic analysis, along with mass spectrometric techniques. In addition to the new constituent 1 , the known metabolite 2 , previously isolated from Crataegus pinnatifida, was also identified.     

A bifunctional anthraquinone synthon

Commercially available anthrarufin has been converted into a bifunctional reagent which will be useful for the preparation of anthraquinone C-glycosides.