Ionic discotic liquid crystals: synthesis and characterization of pyridinium bromides containing a triphenylene core

Five novel pyridinium salts tethered with hexaalkoxytriphenylene molecules were synthesized by the quaternization of pyridine with ω-bromo-substituted triphenylene derivatives. Their chemical structures were determined by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, UV spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of these salts were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. These triphenylene-based pyridinium salts with bromide as counterion were found to be mesomorphic over a wide temperature range.     

Mössbauer study on thermal decomposition of ammonium tris (malonato) ferrate (III) tetrahydrate

Thermal decomposition of ammonium tris (malonato) ferrate (III) tetrahydrate, i. e. (NH₄)₃[Fe(CH₂C₂O₄)₃]·4H₂O has been studied up to 973 K in static air atmosphere employing Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopies, and non-isothermal techniques (TG, DTG, DTA). The anhydrous complex decomposes into an iron (II) intermediate at 453 K. The iron (II) species on further heating is reoxidized to -Fe₂O₃ as the final thermolysis product. An increase in particle size of -Fe₂O₃ with increasing decomposition temperature has been observed. The results are compared with the analogous oxalate complex.     

Enantioselective oxidation of olefins catalyzed by chiral copper bis(oxazolinyl)pyridine complexes: a reassessment

Copper complexes of chiral tridentate pybox ligands synthesized using a modified procedure have been studied as catalysts for the enantioselective allylic oxidation of olefins. A variety of olefins have been used in this reaction. Using 5 mol% of a Cu(II) complex of the tridentate pybox ligand, phenylhydrazine, and tert-butyl perbenzoate as oxidant in acetone, optically active allylic benzoates were obtained up to 94% ee in few hours. It was also observed that the use of molecular sieves in the reaction did not alter the enantioselectivity. Temperature was found to be very crucial in rate of the enantioselective allylic oxidation of olefins. Using EPR spectra, it has been shown that the Cu(II) species is reduced to Cu(I) by phenylhydrazine and phenylhydrazone, but the reduction with the former is faster in comparison to the latter. It was concluded that the rate enhancement was not specific to the presence of phenylhydrazine or phenylhydrazone, but both were equally responsible provided acetone was used as a solvent.     

Poly(phenylene sulfide): Synthesis from 1,4-dibromobenzene and sodium sulfide

A new route to synthesize poly(p-phenylene sulfide) by nucleophilic substitution of 1,4-dibromobenzene with sodium sulfide in N-methylpyrrolidone is described. Kinetic evaluation shows the reaction to be of second order with two distinctive rate constant regimes. The first rate constant is higher and is operative until 50% conversion, whereas in the second regime (between 50 and 92% conversion) the rate is slower. The kinetics of this route is compared under identical conditions with the conventional synthesis based on 1,4-dichloro benzene and sodium sulfide.     

Beaded reactive polymers 3 effect of triacrylates as crosslinkers on the physical properties of glycidyl methacrylate copolymers and immobilization of penicillin G acylase

Various glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) copolymers were synthesized by suspension polymerization, using pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA), trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) as crosslinking comonomers. These copolymers were evaluated for the immobilization of penicillin G acylase. Broad pore-size distribution that was observed was in the range 5-300 nm. Both surface area and pore volume increased with increase in the mole fraction of crosslinking comonomer (increasing crosslink density). The pore volume of the copolymers was more than doubled by including lauryl alcohol as porogen. Binding of penicillin G acylase (PGA) was quantitative on highly crosslinked copolymers. The expression of bound PGA was better on the relatively more hydrophilic GMA-TMPTA and GMA-PETA copolymer supports compared to the GMA-TRIM copolymers. Among the different copolymers studied, GMA-TMPTA copolymer 7411 exhibited highest activity of immobilized penicillin G acylase (167.4 IU/g) with 35.1% expression.     

Efficient oxidizing methods for the synthesis of oxandrolone intermediates

Mild, efficient and eco-friendly oxidation of 17alpha-methylandrostan-3beta-17beta-diol (1) has been studied with three different reagents viz. pentavalent iodine reagent 2-iodoxy benzoic acid (IBX) in DMSO at 65 degrees C, sodium hypochlorite and H2O2/Na2WO4 under phase transfer conditions to give 17beta-hydroxy-17alpha-methylandrostan-3-one (mestanolone 2), a drug intermediate as oxidized product. The H2O2/Na2WO4/PTC gave mestanolone in high yield and purity whereas sodium hypochlorite/PTC system yielded some chlorinated material along with the mestanolone. However, 1 with 2.5 equivalent of IBX gave 17beta-hydroxy-17alpha-methyl-Delta1-androsten-3-one (3) under the similar reaction conditions in good yield and single step reaction.     

Vanadium oxytrichloride,a novel reagent for the oxidative trimerization of o-dialkoxybenzenes to hexaalkoxytriphenylenes

Triphenylene derivatives with six peripheral chains can make excellent discotic liquid crystals showing great promise in electronic devices. Vanadium oxytrichloride was found to be a novel reagent for the preparation of various triphenylene derivatives. Symmetrically substituted hexaalkoxytriphenylenes were obtained from o-dialkoxybenzenes by oxidative trimerization with VOCl₃ in high yields. Oxidative coupling of a 3,3',4,4'-tetraalkoxybiphenyl with 1,2-dialkoxybenzenes yielded unsymmetrically substituted derivatives of triphenylene; a direct coupling of a 3,3',4,4'-tetraalkoxybiphenyl with alkoxyphenol produced monofunctionalized triphenylenes.     

RNAi for Insect Control: Current Perspective and Future Challenges

The research on the RNA interference (RNAi) for the control of insect pests has made significant growth in recent years. The availability of the genomic sequences of insects has further widened the horizons for the testing of this technology to various insect groups. Different modes of application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) have been tested; however, the practicability of delivery of dsRNA in insects still remains the biggest challenge. Till date, the oral delivery of dsRNA in insects is one of the efficient approaches for the practical application of this technique. The uptake of dsRNA from the insect gut is mediated either by SID-1/SID-2 transmembrane proteins or by endocytosis; however, the systemic RNAi machinery still remains to be revealed in insect species. The RNAi-mediated gene knockdown has shown striking results in different insect groups, pointing it to be the upcoming technique for insect control. However, before the successful application of this technique for insect control, some potential issues need to be resolved. This review presents the account of prospects and challenges for the use of this technology for insect control.     

Convenient and Efficient Method for the Iodination of Aromatic Amines by Pyridinium Iodochloride

A simple and efficient method for the iodination of aromatic amines using pyridinium iodochloride (PyICl) in methanol as solvent is reported. Mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, and good to excellent yields of the product are the noteworthy advantages of the method. Pyridinium iodochloride is an efficient solid iodinating reagent and can be handled safely.