o-hydroxylmethylphenylchalcogens: synthesis, intramolecular nonbonded chalcogen...OH interactions, and glutathione peroxidase-like activity

[Structure: see text]. The synthesis and characterization of a series of organochalcogen (Se, Te) compounds derived from benzyl alcohol 13 are described. The synthesis of the key precursor dichalcogenides 15, 22, and 29 was achieved by the ortho-lithiation route. Selenide 18 was obtained by the reaction of the dilithiated derivative 14 with Se(dtc)2. Oxidation of 15 and 22 with H2O2 afforded the corresponding cyclic ester derivatives 17 and 24, respectively. Oxidation of selenide 18 with H2O2 affords the spirocyclic compound 19. The presence of intramolecular interactions in dichalcogenides 15 and 22 has been proven by single-crystal X-ray studies. The cyclic compounds 17 and 19 have also been characterized by single-crystal X-ray studies. GP(X)-like antioxidant activity of selenium compounds has been evaluated by the coupled bioassay method. Density functional theory calculations at the mPW1PW91 level on ditelluride 22 have identified a fairly strong nonbonding interaction between the hydroxy oxygen and tellurium atom. The second-order perturbation energy obtained through NBO analysis conveys the involvement of n(O) --> sigma(Te-Te) orbital overlap in nonbonding interaction. Post wave function analysis with the Atoms in Molecules (AIM) method identified distinct bond critical point in 15 and 22 and also indicated that the nonbonding interaction is predominantly covalent. Comparison between diselenide 15 and ditelluride 22 using the extent of orbital interaction as well as the value of electron density at the bond critical points unequivocally established that a ditelluride could be a better acceptor in nonbonding interaction, when the hydroxy group acts as the donor.     

Synthesis and binding studies of new bis-calix[4]arenes containing aromatic and heteroaromatic units

A series of new bis-calix[4]arenes containing different aromatic and heteroaromatic moieties have been synthesized. The complexing behavior of these bis-calix[4]arenes have been studied towards different metal ions and it has been found that these bis-calix[4]arenes bind silver ions selectively over other metal ions. The complexation has been studied by liquid-liquid extraction and by NMR and IR spectroscopy.     

Thermodynamics of molecular interactions in ethyl iodide+toluene mixtures

The excess Gibb's free energy of mixing, G^E, for ethyl iodide+toluene at 25°C have been obtained from the measured vapor pressuure data. The H^E and G^E values for ethyl iodide+toluene are positive throughout the ethyl iodide concentration range and G^E>H^E. The results have been analyzed in terms of Flory and ideal associated model theory of nonelectrolyte solutions. It has been observed that the ideal associated model approach which assumes the presence of AN and A₂B molecular species describes well (within±10 J-mol^–1 in the worst case) the general dependence of H^E on X_A (mole fraction of ethyl iodide) over the whole composition range for ethyl iodide+toluene mixtures. The equilibrium constants for A+A AB and 2A+BA₂B reactions along with the enthalpies of formation of AB and A₂B molecular species have been calculated.     

A new route to obtain shape-controlled gold nanoparticles from Au(III)-beta-diketonates

Ligands with a beta-diketone skeleton have been employed for the first time as reductant to produce ligand stabilized gold nanoparticles of different shapes from aqueous HAuCl(4) solution. Evolution of stable gold nanoparticles follows first order (k approximately equal to 10(-2) min(-1)) kinetics with respect to Au(0) concentration. Growth of particles of different shapes (spherical or triangular or hexagonal) goes hand in hand under the influence of different beta-diketones, which have excellent capping and reducing properties. Chlorine insertion was observed to take place in the beta-diketone skeleton.     

Natural products as scaffolds for chemical diversification: solution-phase parallel synthesis of a series of naringin analogues

The flavanone glycoside naringin hydrate is widely abundant in various citrus plants. As an ongoing effort toward the exploitation of natural products as scaffolds for chemical diversification at readily accessible positions, we have prepared a series of analogues of naringin in which the 6-hydroxyl group of the beta-d-glucopyranosyl subunit was converted to sulfonamides, amides, urethanes, and secondary and tertiary amines via the corresponding 6-amino derivative using a solution-phase parallel array protocol.     

Separation of Leucas aspera,a medicinal plant of Bangladesh,guided by prostaglandin inhibitory and antioxidant activities

According to the traditional usage of the plant for antiinflammation and analgesia, Leucas aspera was tested for its prostaglandin (PG) inhibitory and antioxidant activities. The extract showed both activities, i.e., inhibition at 3 x 10(-4) g/ml against PGE(1)- and PGE(2)-induced contractions in guinea pig ileum and a 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect. The separation guided by the activities in these dual assay methods provided eight lignans and four flavonoids, LA-1- -12, among which LA-1- -7 and LA-10- -12 were identified as nectandrin B, meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid, macelignan, acacetin, apigenin 7-O-[6"-O-(p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-glucoside], chrysoeriol, apigenin, erythro-2-(4-allyl-2, 6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol, myristargenol B, and machilin C, respectively. LA-8 was determined to be (-)-chicanine, the new antipode of the (+) compound, by spectroscopic methods including CD and ORD. Chiral-HPLC analysis of LA-9 showed that it was a mixture of two enantiomers, (7R, 8R)- and (7S, 8S)-licarin A. All of these components were first isolated from L. aspera. PG inhibition was observed in LA-1, LA-2, and LA-5, and antioxidant activity in LA-1- -3 and LA-8- -12.     

Determination of 1,3-benzodioxanes in Piper mullesua by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

A new, simple, precise, and rapid high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method was developed for the determination of 6 benzodioxanes in Piper mullesua extract: 1',3'-benzodioxole-5'-(2,4,8-triene-isobutyl nonanoate), 1',3'-benzodioxole-5'-(2,4,12-triene-isobutyl tridecanoate), fargesin, sesamin, asarinin, 1',3'-benzodioxole-5'-(2,4,8-triene-methyl nonanoate). The ingredients were separated on a precoated Silica Gel 60 F254 plate with a solvent system of toluene-acetone (92 + 8). The 6 benzodioxanes were well separated and easily identified in this chromatographic system. The separated benzodioxanes were visualized by color development with a spray reagent consisting of 1 g vanillin dissolved in 100 mL H2SO4-ethanol (5 + 95, v/v). Quantitation was performed by scanning the spots and comparing the integrated areas of compounds in samples with those of standards. Recoveries from samples spiked with known amounts of the benzodioxanes were excellent. The results were comparable with those estimated by liquid chromatography.     

Potential energy surface of thionylimide

The potential energy surface (PES) of thionylimide has been searched using ab initio MO and density functional calculations. The electronic structures of the isomers of HNSO have been studied using the HF/6‐31+G*, MP2(full)/6‐31+G*, and B3LYP/6‐31+G* levels. Final energies of these molecules have been calculated at the high‐accuracy G2 and CBS‐Q levels. The probable pathways of isomerization of thionylimide to its isomers (e.g., thiocyanic acid, HONS, nitrosothiols) have been explored by studying the three‐ or four‐membered transition states. This study identified total eight possible isomers ( 1–8 ) of HNSO, of which four ( 1–4 ) have already been realized experimentally. Of the remaining four ( 5–8 ), at least two ( 5, 7 ) can be generated experimentally. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Electric field gradients in various chemical environments of133Ba by the sum peak method

The sum peak at 437 keV (356+81 keV) has been measured in various chemical and physico-chemical environments. The fact that the intensity ratio of the sum peak to its single peak changes with the circumstances in which the radioactive source is placed is used to observe the effect of the chemical environment on directional correlation coefficients of 351–81 keV cascade in¹³³Ba−¹³³Cs decay and to detect the variations in the electric field gradient in different barium compounds. The sum peak method has been found to be useful in describing the chemical influences onG ₂₂ parameters and hence in the study of electric field gradients.     

Über die Herstellung von Äther der enantio-14, 15-Dinorlabdan-Reihe aus Eperusäure

The Conversion of Eperuic Acid into Ethers of the enantio-14, 15-Dinorlabdane Series 5 and 6 are strongly odiferous substances of the ambra-type. Their enantiomers 7 and 8 , hitherto unknown, have been synthesized from eperuic acid (4) and their olfactory properties compared with those of 5 and 6 . 4 was esterified by CH₂N₂ and dehydrogenated with (C₆H₅Se)₂/H₂O₂ to the α,β-unsaturated ester 9 (61%). Oxidation by KMnO₄ in acetone yielded the ketone 3 (60%). Epoxidation followed by treatment with acid converted 3 into the acetals 7 (61%) and 8 (14%). 7 and 8 differ from 5 and 6 in odor intensity, and 6 and 8 show slightly different odor quality.