Synthesis and coordination properties of new macrocyclic ligands: equilibrium studies and crystal structures

The synthesis and characterization of two new macrocyclic ligands, the bis-macrocyclic compound 2,6-bis(1,4,13-triaza-7,10-dioxacyclopentadec-1-ylmethyl)phenol (L) and 38-methoxy-1,4,13,16,19,28-hexaaza-7,10,22,25-tetraoxatricyclo[14.14.7.1(32,36)]octatriconta-32,34,Delta(36,38)-triene (L1) are reported. Equilibrium studies of basicity and coordination properties toward metal ions such as Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) were performed for ligand by potentiometric measurements in aqueous solution (298.1 +/- 0.1 K, I= 0.15 mol dm(-3)). L behaves as a hexaprotic base (logK(1)= 10.93, logK(2)= 9.70, logK(3)= 8.79, logK(4)= 8.05, logK(5)= 6.83, logK(6)= 2.55). All metal ions form stable mono- and dinuclear complexes: logK(MLH(-1))= 25.61 for Cu(II), 15.37 for Zn(II), 12.58 for Cd(II) and 13.79 for Pb(II); logK(M(2)LH(-1))= 31.61 for Cu(II), 23.38 for Zn(II), 24.49 for Cd(II) and 23.68 for Pb(II). All these dinuclear species show a great tendency to add the OH(-) group: the equilibrium constant for the addition reaction was found to be logK(M(2)LH(-1)OH)= 4.77 for Cu(II), 5.66 for Zn(II), 2.8 for Cd(II) and 3.18 for Pb(II). In the case of Ni(II), kinetic inertness prevents the possibility of solution studies. The dinuclear solid adducts [Ni(2)H(-1)L(N(3))(3)].EtOH and [Cu(2)H(-1)L(N(3))](ClO(4))(2) were characterized by X-ray analysis.     

Fluorinated heterocyclic compounds. An effective strategy for the synthesis of fluorinated Z-oximes of 3-perfluoroalkyl-6-phenyl-2h-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones via a ring-enlargement reaction of 3-benzoyl-5-perfluoroalkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles and hydrazine

The reaction of 3-benzoyl-5-perfluoroalkyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles with hydrazine has been investigated, evidencing the possibility of competitive reaction paths. Nucleophilic addition of the hydrazine to the electrophilic C(5) of the 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring, followed by ring opening and ring closure with enlargement, leads with high yield and in very mild experimental conditions to the formation of Z-oximes of 3-perfluoroalkyl-6-phenyl-2H-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones (11a-c) as major products of the reaction. In turn, the hydrazine can attack the electrophilic carbonyl carbon giving 4-perfluoroacylamino-5-phenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles (13a-c) through the well-known Boulton-Katritzky rearrangement of the intermediate hydrazones.     

Comparative study of the phenolic profile,antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaf extracts of five Juniperus L. (Cupressaceae) taxa growing in Turkey

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative evaluation of some biological properties of methanol and water extracts of leaves of five Juniperus taxa growing in Turkey: J. communis L. var. communis (Jcc), J. communis L. var. saxatilis Pall. (Jcs), J. drupacea Labill. (Jd), J. oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus (Joo), J. oxycedrus L. subsp. macrocarpa (Sibth. & Sm.) Ball. (Jom). The antioxidant properties were examined in vitro; both in the DPPH and in the reducing power tests, Joo methanol extract resulted the most active (IC₅₀?=?0.09?±?0.01mg/mL and ASE/mL?=?2.56?±?0.06). In the TBA assay, Jcs methanol extract exhibited the highest activity (IC₅₀?=?4.39?±?0.47?μg/mL). The extracts displayed bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, and Jd methanol extract resulted the most effective (MIC?=?19.53?μg/mL); no effect on the S. aureus biofilm formation was observed. The extracts resulted non-toxic in the Artemia salina lethality bioassay. Finally, the phenolic profile of the methanol extracts was characterized by HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS.     

Methanol Suppression of Trichloroethylene Degradation byMethylosinus trichosporium (OB3b) and Methane-Oxidizing Mixed Cultures

The effect of methanol on trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation by mixed and pure methylotrophic cultures was examined in batch culture experiments. Methanol was found to relieve growth inhibition ofMethylosinus trichosporium (OB3b) at high (14 mg/L) TCE concentrations. Degradation of TCE was determined by both radiolabeling and gas chromatography techniques. When cultures were grown on methanol over 10 to 14 d with 0.3 mg/L TCE, OB3b degraded 16.89 ±0.82% (mean± SD) of the TCE, and a mixed culture (DT type II) degraded 4.55±0.11%. Mixed culture (JS type I) degraded 4.34±0.06% of the TCE. When grown on methane with 0.3 mg/L TCE, 32.93±2.01% of the TCE was degraded by OB3b, whereas the JS culture degraded 24.3 ±1.38% of the TCE, and the DT culture degraded 34.3 ±2.97% of the TCE. The addition of methanol to cultures grown on methane reduced TCE degradation to 16.21 ±1.17% for OB3b and to 5.08±0.56% for JS. Although methanol reduces the toxicity of TCE to the cultures, biodegradation of TCE cannot be sustained in methanol-grown cultures. Since high TCE concentrations appear to inhibit methane uptake and growth, we suggest the primary toxicity of TCE is directed towards the methane monooxygenase.     

Retaining and recovering enzyme activity during degradation of TCE by methanotrophs

To determine if compounds added during trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation could reduce the loss of enzyme activity or increase enzyme recovery, different compounds serving as energy and carbon sources, pH buffers, or free radical scavengers were tested. Formate and formic acid (reducing power and a carbon source), as well as ascorbic acid and citric acid (free radical scavengers) were added during TCE degradation at a concentration of 2 mM. A saturated solution of calcium carbonate was also tested to address pH concerns. In the presence of formate and methane, only calcium carbonate and formic acid had a beneficial effect on enzyme recovery. The calcium carbonate and formic acid both reduced the loss of enzyme activity and resulted in the highest levels of enzyme activity after recovery.     

New insight into the oxidative chemistry of noradrenaline: competitive o-quinone cyclisation and chain fission routes leading to an unusual 4-[bis-(1H-5,6-dihydroxyindol-2-yl)methyl]-1,2-dihydroxybenzene derivative

Oxidation of 5×10⁻³ M noradrenaline in aqueous phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, with K₃Fe(CN)₆, NaIO₄ or Fe²⁺/EDTA/H₂O₂ followed by extraction with ethyl acetate and acetylation with Ac₂O/Pyr led to a main reaction product which was isolated and identified as 4-[bis-(1H-5,6-diacetoxyindol-2-yl)methyl]-1,2-diacetoxybenzene, an unprecedented [bis-(indol-2-yl)methyl]-benzene derivative unsubstituted on the 3-position of the indole rings. This product was also obtained in 40% yield by reaction of 5,6-dihydroxyindole with 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. Other components of the oxidation mixture were 1-acetyl-3,5,6-triacetoxyindole, derived from noradrenolutin, and 5,6-diacetoxyindole, originating from cyclisation/dehydration of the o-quinone of noradrenaline, along with some 3,4-diacetoxybenzaldehyde. Inspection of the aqueous phase revealed the presence of 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, derived from oxidative breakdown of the 2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl chain via a p-quinomethane intermediate. These results disclose new aspects of the oxidative chemistry of noradrenaline beyond the aminochrome stage and provide a route to novel [bis-(indol-2-yl)methyl]-benzene derivatives of potential pharmacological interest.     

The application of the reaction calorimetry to investigate reactions involving unstable compounds

The RC1 calorimeter revealed itself a suitable instrument to obtain information about safety and mechanisms involved in the reaction between cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (AEB) and oleum. A previous hypothesis about the existence of an unstable intermediate was confirmed and its heat of formation was calculated. The heat of sulphonation related to undesirable by-products production and the heat of protonation of AEB with H₂SO₄ were also evaluated. Therefore, it was possible to distinguish the reactions involved in the process and, through their thermal behaviour, to determine the limit conditions to avoid the by-products formation.

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Zusammenfassung Das RC1 Kalorimeter erwies sich als ein geeignetes Instrument, um Informationen über Sicherheit und Mechanismen bei der Reaktion von Cyclohexancarbonsäure (AEB) und Oleum zu gewinnen. Eine bereits bestehende Hypothese über die Existenz eines instabilen Zwischenproduktes konnte bestätigt und dessen Bildungswärme berechnet werden. Weiterhin wurde auch die Sulphonierungswärme bezogen auf die Entstehung von unerwünschten Nebenprodukten und die Protonierungswärme von AEB durch H₂SO₄ ermittelt. Es ist deshalb möglich, die einzelnen Reaktionen innerhalb dieses Prozesses über ihr thermisches Verhalten voneinander zu unterscheiden, um die Grenzbedingungen zur Vermei-dung der Bildung von Nebenprodukten zu ermitteln.

     

2-Amino-4-bromobutanoic Acid

(2S)- and (2R)-2-Amino-4-bromobutanoic acid were prepared starting from N-Boc-glutamic acid α tert-butyl ester. The double tert-butyl protection was necessary to prevent a partial racemisation during Barton’s radical decarboxylation used to transform the γ-carboxylic group into a bromide. This bromide reacted with different nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur nucleophiles to give nonnatural amino acids characterised by basic or heterocyclic side chains. The title compound was also used to prepare a conformationally constrained peptidomimetic.     

Factor probabilistic distance clustering (FPDC): a new clustering method

Factor clustering methods have been developed in recent years thanks to improvements in computational power. These methods perform a linear transformation of data and a clustering of the transformed data, optimizing a common criterion. Probabilistic distance (PD)-clustering is an iterative, distribution free, probabilistic clustering method. Factor PD-clustering (FPDC) is based on PD-clustering and involves a linear transformation of the original variables into a reduced number of orthogonal ones using a common criterion with PD-clustering. This paper demonstrates that Tucker3 decomposition can be used to accomplish this transformation. Factor PD-clustering alternatingly exploits Tucker3 decomposition and PD-clustering on transformed data until convergence is achieved. This method can significantly improve the PD-clustering algorithm performance; large data sets can thus be partitioned into clusters with increasing stability and robustness of the results. Real and simulated data sets are used to compare FPDC with its main competitors, where it performs equally well when clusters are elliptically shaped but outperforms its competitors with non-Gaussian shaped clusters or noisy data.