Synthesis and studies of covalently linked meso-furyl boron-dipyrromethene-ferrocene conjugates

Four meso-furyl BODIPY-ferrocene conjugates 1–4 in which one or more ferrocene groups were connected directly to BODIPY core or meso-furyl group were synthesized by coupling of appropriate bromo meso-furyl BODIPYs with α-ethynylferrocene under mild Pd(0) coupling conditions. The compounds were characterized by HR-MS mass, NMR, absorption, electrochemistry and fluorescence techniques. The absorption studies of compounds 1–4 showed charge transfer band in addition to BODIPY absorption bands indicating that the BODIPY and ferrocene moieties interact within the conjugates. On the other hand, the charge transfer band is absent in meso-phenyl BODIPY-ferrocene conjugate due to the orthogonal arrangement of ferrocene appended meso-phenyl group with BODIPY core which prevents the interaction between the two moieties. The electrochemical studies showed strong oxidation due to ferrocene moiety and reduction due to meso-furyl BODIPY unit. The compounds 3 and 4 which contain two and three ferrocenyl groups respectively were oxidized at the same potential with two and three electrons involved in the redox process. The compounds 1–4 are weakly fluorescent due to electron transfer from ferrocene unit to BODIPY unit. However, the fluorescence can be restored by oxidizing the ferrocene to ferrocenium ion which prevents the electron transfer between the two moieties. The computational studies support the experimental results.     

Peptide peak intensities enhanced by cysteine modifiers and MALDI TOF MS

Two cysteine‐specific modifiers we reported previously, N‐ethyl maleimide (NEM) and iodoacetanilide (IAA), have been applied to the labeling of cysteine residues of peptides for the purpose of examining the enhancement of ionization efficiencies in combination with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS). The peak intensities of the peptides as a result of modification with these modifiers were compared with the peak intensities of peptides modified with a commercially available cysteine‐specific modifier, iodoacetamide (IA). Our experiments show significant enhancement in the peak intensities of three cysteine‐containing synthetic peptides modified with IAA compared to those modified with IA. The results showed a 4.5–6‐fold increase as a result of modification with IAA compared to modification with IA. Furthermore, it was found that IAA modification also significantly enhanced the peak intensities of many peptides of a commercially available proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA), compared to those modified with IA. This significant enhancement helped identify a greater number of peptides of these proteins, leading to a higher sequence coverage with greater confidence scores in identification of proteins with the use of IAA. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Production and Purification of Pectinase from Bacillus subtilis 15A-B92 and Its Biotechnological Applications

Enzymes that degrade pectin are called pectinases. Pectinases of microbial origin are used in juice clarification as the process is cost-effective. This study screened a pectinase-producing bacterium isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus subtilis 15A B-92 based on the 16S rRNA molecular technique. The purified pectinase from the isolate showed 99.6 U/mg specific activity and 11.6-fold purity. The molecular weight of the purified bacterial pectinase was 14.41 ± 1 kD. Optimum pectinase activity was found at pH 4.5 and 50 °C, and the enzyme was 100% stable for 3.5 h in these conditions. No enzymatic inhibition or activation effect was seen with Fe²⁺, Ca²⁺, or Mg²⁺. However, a slight inhibition was seen with Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺. Tween 20 and 80 slightly inhibited the pectinase, whereas iodoacetic acid (IAA), ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), urea, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) showed potent inhibition. The bacterial pectinase degraded citrus pectin (100%); however, it was inactive in the presence of galactose. With citrus pectin as the substrate, the Km and Vmax were calculated as 1.72 mg/mL and 1609 U/g, respectively. The high affinity of pectinase for its substrate makes the process cost-effective when utilized in food industries. The obtained pectinase was able to clarify orange and apple juices, justifying its application in the food industry.     

Comparative study of 110mAg(I) removal from aqueous media by humic substances

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - In this study, humic substances—dry cowdung powder and humic acid were used for the removal of precious metal ion Ag(I) from aqueous...     

Photoredox-Mediated Reaction of gem-Diborylalkenes: Reactivity Toward Diverse 1,1-Bisborylalkanes

The use of gem-diborylalkenes as radical-reactive groups is explored for the first time. These reactions provide an efficient and general method for the photochemical conversion of gem-diborylalkenes to rapidly access 1,1-bisborylalkanes. This method exploits a novel photoredox decarboxylative radical addition to gem-diborylalkenes to afford α-gem-diboryl carbon-centered radicals, which benefit from additional stability by virtue of an interaction with the empty p-orbitals on borons. The reaction offers a highly modular and regioselective approach to γ-amino gem-diborylalkanes. Furthermore, EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations have provided insight into the radical mechanism underlying the photochemistry reaction and the stability of the bis-metalated radicals, respectively.     

pH‐Independent Recognition of the dG ⋅ dC Base Pair in Triplex DNA: 9‐Deazaguanine N7‐(2′‐Deoxyribonucleoside) and Halogenated Derivatives Replacing Protonated dC

Triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) containing 9-deazaguanine N⁷-(2′-deoxyribonucleoside) 1a and halogenated derivatives 1b,c were synthesized employing solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. For that purpose, the phosphoramidite building blocks 5a – c and 8a – c were synthesized. Multiple incorporations of 1a – c in place of dC were performed within TFOs, which involved the sequence of five consecutive 1a – c ⋅ dG ⋅ dC triplets as well as of three alternating 1a – c ⋅ dG ⋅ dC and dT ⋅ dA ⋅ dT triplets. These TFOs were designed to bind in a parallel orientation to the target duplex. Triplex forming properties of these oligonucleotides containing 1a – c in the presence of Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ were studied by UV/melting-curve analysis and confirmed by circular-dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The oligonucleotides containing 1a in the place of dC formed stable triplexes at physiological pH in the case of sequence of five consecutive 1a ⋅ dG ⋅ dC triplets as well as three alternating 1a – c ⋅ dG ⋅ dC and dT ⋅ dA ⋅ dT triplets. The replacement of 1a by 9-halogenated derivatives 1b,c further enhanced the stability of DNA triplexes. Nucleosides 1a – c also stabilized duplex DNA.     

Investigation of the interaction between trazodone hydrochloride and bovine serum albumin

In this paper, the binding of trazodone hydrochloride (TZH) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by spectroscopic (fluorescence, spectrophotometry and circular dichroism) techniques under simulative physiological conditions. A strong fluorescence quenching reaction of TZH to BSA was observed and the quenching mechanism was suggested as dynamic quenching according to the Stern-Volmer equation. The binding constants of TZH with BSA at 288, 302 and 309 K were calculated as (1.56±0.003)×10⁴, (2.31±0.002)×10⁴ and (5.44±0.004)×10⁴ M⁻¹, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters, ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰ were obtained to be 39.86±0.008 kJ mol⁻¹ and 217.89±0.011 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively, which indicated the presence of hydrophobic forces between TZH and BSA. The spectral results observed showed that the binding of TZH to BSA induced conformational changes in BSA. Based on the Förster's theory of non-radiation energy transfer, the binding average distance, r between donor (BSA) and acceptor (TZH) was found to be 2.4 nm. The effect of common ions on binding of TZH to BSA was also examined.     

Development of a microstrip-based neutron detector

A gas-filled microstrip detector for thermal neutrons has been built and successfully tested in our laboratory. The detector has an active area of 20 mm × 15 mm and consists of alternate anodes and cathodes of widths 12 μm and 300 μm respectively. The anode to cathode gap is 150 μm and the pitch is 612 μm. A high resistance, meandering type horizontal strip connects the anodes at one end and aids in position sensing by charge division method. The detector is tested with gas mixtures³He+Kr (1: 2) and³He+CF₄ (2:1) at pressure of 3 atmospheres and using a Pu-Be neutron source. The pulse height spectrum shows energy resolution of ∼8% (FWHM) for the 764 keV peak at anode voltage of 525 V for³He+Kr and ∼15% at anode voltage of 800 V for³He+CF₄. Gas gains up to 6.3 × 103 and 3.6 × 103 are obtained respectively with these gas mixtures. The overall efficiency of the detector along the sensitive length is tested by exposing the active area to neutrons and recording the position spectrum. The detector shows fairly uniform efficiency (∼45%) over the active length.     

[Bu3NH][HSO4] catalyzed: an eco-efficient synthesis of 1H-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-5,10-diones and 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones under solvent-free conditions

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A Brønsted acidic ionic liquid [Bu3NH][HSO4] as an eco-efficient catalyst for the one-pot multicomponent synthesis of...