Microwave-assisted asymmetric ring opening of meso-epoxides with aromatic amines catalyzed by a Ti-S-(−)-BINOL complex

Catalytic asymmetric ring opening of cyclohexene oxide and meso-stilbene oxide with anilines was catalyzed by a Ti-(S)-(−)-BINOL complex to afford β-amino alcohols in high yield (up to 95%) and good enantioselectivities (ee up to 55%) under microwave irradiation. The reaction using a microwave was found to be 10 times faster than traditional oil-bath heating with retention of enantioselectivity.     

TLC Determination of Aliphatic Polyamines on Calcium Sulfate Layers

Biogenic polyamines are sensitive markers for various diseases including cancer. Polyamines are difficult to analyze by chromatography due to their high polarity and water-solubility so that derivatization is an essential step for their chromatographic analysis. Earlier studies have shown the efficacy of calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) as a TLC coating material for the separation of polar compounds. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of CaSO₄ for the analysis of aliphatic polyamines without derivatization. The TLC of six polyamines (ornithine, citrulline, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine) was carried out on CaSO₄ and silica gel plates using 11 different mobile phases. The results showed that CaSO₄ is superior to silica for the separation of underivatized polyamines. The development time of the CaSO₄ plates was also about one-third shorter as compared to silica. Methanol was the only solvent to produce differential R _F values for the polyamines studied. Ornithine (R _F , 0–2) and citrulline (R _F , 1–3) were separated from cadaverine (R _F , 0.93), spermine (R _F , 0.85) and spermidine (R _F , 0.85). For quantitative analysis, the polyamines were eluted from the coating material scratched from the plate and the absorbance of the supernatant was measured at 550 nm. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were found to be 0.75 and 1.88 μg, respectively. The procedure was applied to the quantitative separation of polyamines in spiked human urine samples (12.5–50 μg). This is probably the first study reporting a TLC method for the separation of underivatized polyamines.     

Effects of Organic Salts on the Rate of Alkaline Hydrolysis of Phthalimide in the Presence Ofcationic Micelles

Pseudo-first order rate constants (k_obs) for alkaline hydrolysis of phthalimide (PTH), obtained at constant concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) and 35°C, vary with the concentration of organic salts ([MX]) according to the relationship: k_obs = (k₀ + K [MX])/(1 + K [MX]) where and K are empirical parameters. The values of K at 0.01 M CTABr are nearly 2 times larger than the corresponding K values at 0.02 M CTABr for sodium benzoate, disodium phthalate and disodium isophthalate.     

A novel series of materials composed of arrays of vanadium oxide container molecules, [V18O42(X)] (X = H2O,Cl-, Br-): synthesis and characterization of [M2(H2N(CH2)2NH2)5][(M(H2N(CH2)2NH2)2]2V18O42(X)]. 9H2O (M = Zn,Cd)

The synthesis and characterization of the novel systems [Zn(2)(H(2)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2))(5)][(Zn(H(2)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2))(2))(2)V(18)O(42)(H(2)O)].9H(2)O (1), [Cd(2)(H(2)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2))(5)][(Cd(H(2)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2))(2))(2)V(18)O(42)(Br)].9H(2)O (2), and [Zn(2)(H(2)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2))(5)][(Zn(H(2)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2))(2))(2)V(18)O(42)(Cl)].9H(2)O (3) have been described. These materials represent a new class of solids that have been prepared by combining conventional coordination compounds with spherical polyoxovanadate clusters. The isomorphous structures of these hybrid solids consist of two-dimensional arrays of container cluster molecules [V(18)O(42)(X)] (X = H(2)O, Br-, Cl-) interlinked by the transition metal complex moieties [M(H(2)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2))(2)] (M = Zn, Cd). These compounds contain an unprecedented complex cation, [M(2)(H(2)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2))(5)](4+). Crystal data for 1: C(9)H(46)N(9)O(26)V(9)Zn(2), monoclinic space group P2(1)/m (No. 11), a = 12.3723(7) A, b = 20.9837(11) A, c = 15.8379(8) A, beta = 97.3320(10) degrees, Z = 4.     

Estimation of Residual Nickel and Some Heavy Metals in Vanaspati Ghee

To convert vegetable edible oils into vanaspati ghee, nickel is used as a catalyst in the hydrogenation process. A simple and fast method for the trace level determination of nickel in ghee is reported. In this work different methods were applied for the extraction of residual nickel from ghee samples. Using toluene, benzene and carbon tetrachloride as organic solvents, an acid mixture was used for the extraction of nickel. Extracted nickel was quantified with atomic absorption and colorimetric methods. Among the organic solvents, toluene proved to be the best solvent mediating a 95% extraction of nickel from ghee samples. Nickel was extracted and determined in ten different brands of ghee and in all samples its amount was well above the permissible limit of WHO (0.2 μg/g). Other metals like lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium were also determined and their concentrations were found to be much below the WHO permissible limits.     

Oxidation of l-methionine with aqueous chromic acid: a kinetic study

The kinetics of oxidation of l-methionine by chromic acid in acidic medium (pH=0.83–2.2) has been studied spectrophotometrically. The effect of l-methionine and chromium(VI) concentrations on the rate of the reaction was determined. The reaction rate decreases with increasing the pH of the medium. The kinetics of the formation of a chromium(III) complex conform to the rate law:with k1=7.5×10–2s–1 and Kes1=43.85 at constant [H+]=1.9×10–2moldm–3 and [l-methionine]T= 2.0×10–2moldm–3. The same values were found with [l-methionine]T variation at constant [H+]. The reaction proceeds through formation of chromium(VI)-l-methionine ester in a rapid pre-equilibrium step, followed by a slower redox reaction of the ester. The present study provides kinetic evidence for formation of a complex ion (ester). One mole of Cr2O72– oxidizes four moles of l-methionine, which acts as a monodentate ligand and binds to chromium(VI) through the sulfur atom. The coordinated sulfur atom of l-methionine–chromium(VI) ester is responsible for the oxidative degradation (breaking of the C1-C2 bond) of l-methionine. Coordinated oxygen of the carboxylate group inhibits the cleavage of the C1-C2 bond.