Crystal Nucleation Rates for Particles Experiencing Short-Range Attractions: Applications to Proteins

A kinetic model for the nucleation of a crystalline phase consisting of particles experiencing short-range attractions is developed. Of particular significance is the proximity of the metastable fluid/fluid phase boundary. The model incorporates self-consistent thermodynamics, changes in gradient diffusivity, and density fluctuations in the vicinity of the critical point. Density fluctuations associated with the spinodal of this metastable phase transition greatly enhance nucleation rates, suggesting that experimental conditions may be found where rapid nucleation and slow crystal growth can be achieved by moving the metastable critical point relative to the solubility boundary. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Coumarinolignans from the Root of Formosan Antidesma pentandrum var. barbatum

Four new coumarinolignans, antidesmanin A (=7‐(1,1‐dimethylallyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐10‐methoxy‐2‐methyl‐6H‐1,4,5‐trioxaphenanthren‐6‐one; 1 ), antidesmanin B (=3,7‐bis(1,1‐dimethylallyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐10‐methoxy‐6H‐1,4,5‐trioxaphenanthren‐6‐one; 2 ), antidesmanin C (=2,7‐bis‐(1,1‐dimethylallyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐10‐methoxy‐6H‐1,4,5‐trioxaphenanthren‐6‐one; 3 ) and antidesmanin D (=2‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐3,7‐bis(1,1‐dimethylallyl)‐2,3‐dihydroxy‐10‐methoxy‐6H‐1,4,5‐trioxaphenanthren‐6‐one or 3‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐2,7‐bis(1,1‐dimethylallyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐10‐methoxy‐6H‐1,4,5‐trioxaphenanthren‐6‐one; 4 ) have been isolated from the root of the Formosan Antidesma pentandrum var. barbatum. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 – 3 exhibited marginal cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 (breast) and SF‐268 (CNS) cancer cell lines in vitro.     

Modified Calcium Alginate Beads with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Clay as Adsorbent for Removal of Methylene Blue

In present study, we have investigated the effect of an anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and clay on calcium alginate beads was studied to remove methylene blue (MB) and to improve the adsorption capacity. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as shaking rate, initial dye concentration, temperature, and pH on the adsorption rate, have been studied. Equilibrium studies showed that the sorption of the dye was enhanced in presence of SDS. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that SDS entrapped beads have more pores and cavities which could be responsible for improved adsorption of MB. The kinetics of cationic dye adsorption nicely followed pseudo-second-order process. The evaluated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG ^o, ΔH ^o, ΔS ^o) suggest endothermic adsorption of MB. The results revealed that the surfactant entrapped alginate could be considered as potential adsorbents for MB removal from aqueous solutions.     

Synthesis,Antiproliferative, and c‐Src Kinase Inhibitory Activities of 4‐Oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran Derivatives

A new class of 4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran derivatives were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity examined against a panel of three human cancer cell lines, that is, breast carcinoma (MDA‐MB‐468), ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK‐OV‐3), and colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT‐29). Two compounds, that is, 3‐hexyl‐7,8‐dihydroxy‐4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran and (E)‐ethyl 3‐(7‐methoxy‐4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)acrylate were found to be potent against all three cancer cell lines studied at 50 μM concentration. Also, the inhibitory potency of the compounds was evaluated against active Src kinase. A few of these compounds exhibited modest Src kinase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 52–57 μM). Structure‐activity relationship studies with respect to the nature and position of substituents on the lead compounds could be further exploited for the design and development of more potent antiproliferative agents and/or Src kinase inhibitors.     

Mixed valence copper(I)–copper(II) complexes of N,S donor ligands and their 7,7′,8,8′-tetracyanoquinodimethane derivatives

The reaction of the CuCl2·2H2O with the N,S donor ligands bis(o-aminobenzenethio)ethane, bis(o-aminoben-zenethio)propane and bis(o-aminobenzenethio)butane (abbreviated as eN2S2, pN2S2 and bN2S2, respectively) yielded mononuclear CuII complexes of stoichiometry Cu(L)Cl2 (L=eN2S2, pN2S2 or bN2S2). When the reactions were performed in the presence of 2,6–diacetylpyridine and NaClO4, binuclear mixed valence CuI–CuII complexes of stoichiometry [Cu2(L)][ClO4]3 (L=eN6S4, pN6S4 or bN6S4) were formed. Metatheses between the binuclear complexes and the lithium salt of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) yielded complexes of stoichiometry Cu2(L)(TCNQ)2 (L=eN6S4, pN6S4 or bN6S4). All of the complexes were characterised by analytical and spectroscopic techniques.     

"Green"-enzymatic synthesis of pegylated phenolic macromer and polymer

Environmentally benign synthesis of novel pegylated polyphenolics, by combining the extraordinary selectivities of a lipase and an oxidase to develop polymeric electrolytes for applications in dye sensitised solar cells.     

Inositol derived crown ethers: effect of auxiliary protecting groups and the relative orientation of crown ether oxygen atoms on their metal ion binding ability

The binding constants of crown ethers prepared from tetra-O-substituted myo- and scyllo-inositol derivatives and 2-O-substituted myo- and scyllo-inositol-1,3,5-orthoformates, with metal picrates show that the O-substituents and the relative orientation of the crown ether oxygen atoms contribute significantly to the binding of crown ethers with metal ions. In particular, the binding efficiency of myo-inositol derived crown ethers to silver and potassium ions could be enhanced by introducing benzyl ethers in the inositol ring. Hence binding efficacy and selectivity of metal ions to inositol derived crown ethers can be tuned by varying substituents on the myo-inositol ring and/or the relative orientation of crown ether oxygen atoms.