Synthesis of optically active 2-alkyl-3,4-iminobutanoic acids. Beta-amino acids containing an aziridine heterocycle

All four stereoisomers of 2-alkyl-3,4-iminobutanoic acid, a novel class of beta-amino acids bearing a chemically versatile aziridine ring, were synthesized starting with aspartic acid. The synthetic strategy involves the introduction of an alkyl group at the beta-position of fully protected optically active aspartic acid followed by the construction of an aziridine ring making use of the alpha-carboxylate and alpha-amino groups. The alpha-carboxylate was reduced to the corresponding alcohol, which was then subjected to cyclization to form an aziridine ring with the N-protected amino group. Removal of the protection groups yielded the target compounds.     

Failure of elastomeric polymers due to rate dependent bond rupture

A new cohesive zone model is developed in order to study the mechanisms of adhesive and cohesive failures of soft rubbery materials. The fracture energy is estimated here using a strategy similar to that of Lake and Thomas (LT) by considering the dissipation of stored elastic energy followed by the extension and relaxation of polymer chains. The current model, however, departs from that of LT in that the force needed to break an interfacial bond does not have a fixed value; instead, it depends on the thermal state of the system and the rate at which the force is transmitted to the bond. While the force required to rupture a chain is set by the rules of thermomechanically activated bond dissociation kinetics, extension of a polymer chain is modeled within both the linear and nonlinear models of chain elasticity. Closed form asymptotic solutions are obtained for the dependence of crack propagation speed on the energy release rate, which are valid in two regimes: (I) slow crack velocity or short relaxation time for bond dissociation; (II) fast crack velocity or long relaxation time for bond dissociation. The rate independent and the zero temperature limit of this theory correctly reduces to the fracture model of LT. Detailed comparisons are made with a previous work by Chaudhury et al. which carried out an approximate analysis of the same problem.     

A new isocoumarin from bark of Pellodendron chinense

A new isocoumarin, 3-acetyl-3,4-dihydro-5,6-dimethoxy-1H-2-benzopyran-1-one, was isolated from the cortex of Phellodendron chinense schneid. The structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidences.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,electrochemical properties and large optical limiting effect of a novel 3-(E)-ferrocenyl-vinyl-<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">N</Emphasis>-hexyl carbazole

The novel compound, 3-(E)-ferrocenyl-vinyl-N-hexylcarbazole (FVHC) was first synthesized and fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H-NMR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet (UV) absorption, cyclic voltammograms (CV) and optical limiting (OL) measurements. The result of single crystal X-ray diffraction for the compound reveals that the ferrocenyl and carbazole groups are approximately coplanar, and bridged by double-bond with E configuration, showing that there is a well-delocalized π-electron system in the molecule. The electrochemical investigation indicated that the electron in the FVHC may partially be delocalized over the π-conjugated system and CT process in functionalized carbazole systems. Besides, the compound exhibited strong UV absorption and large optical limiting effect, indicating promising potential applications as useful OL materials.     

Low-temperature synthesis of allyl dimethylamine by selective heating under microwave irradiation used for water treatment

Low-temperature synthesis of allyl dimethylamine (ADA) by selective heating under microwave irradiation (MI) used for water treatment is investigated. The effect of MI, ultrasound irradiation (UI) and conventional heating on yield of ADA, reaction time and the flocculation efficiency of polydiallyl dimethylammunion chloride (PDADMAC) prepared form ADA were studied. The results show that by selective heating at low temperature, MI not only increases yield of ADA and reduces reaction time, but also greatly enhances the flocculation efficiency of PDADMAC.     

A Novel Polyoxovanadium Cluster Shell: β‐As8V14O42

The hydrothermal reaction of VOSO₄, As₂O₅, piperazine and H₂O produces [H₂N(CH₂)₄NH₂]₄[β‐As₈V₁₄O₄₂(SO₄)]·2HSO₄ ( 1 ), which is the first arsenic‐vanadium cluster containing a spherical β‐As₈V₁₄O₄₂ shell. The structure of this compound was characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis, TG, and IR spectrum. Crystal data for 1 : Orthorhombic, Cmcm, a = 15.369(1) Å, b = 16.404(1) Å, c = 25.772(1) Å, V = 6497.4(9) ų, Z = 4.     

Density functional study of HO(H2O)n (n = 1–3) clusters

The hydrogen bonding complexes HO(H₂O)_n (n = 1–3) were completely investigated in the present study using DFT and MP2 methods at varied basis set levels from 6‐31++G(d,p) to 6‐311++G(2d,2p). For n = 1 two, for n = 2 two, and for n = 3 five reasonable geometries are considered. The optimized geometric parameters and interaction energies for various complexes at different levels are estimated. The infrared spectrum frequencies and IR intensities of the most stable structures are reported. Finally, thermochemistry studies are also carried out. The results indicate that the formation and the number of hydrogen bonding have played an important role in the structures and relative stabilities of different complexes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

A Theoretical Study on the Conductivity of Carbon Doped BNNT

From the changes in energy band, density of state (DOS) and electronic structure calculated by the DFT/B3LYP method, the conductivity of carbon doped boron‐nitride nanotube (BNNT), which is formed by C‐C bond substituting B‐N bond, was discussed. The results indicate that the substitution will strengthen the conductivity of the tube, and its semi‐conductivity might be adjusted by controlling the substitution.     

Study on Extraction Process of Root of Henry Wood Betony Polysaccharides and Their Antitumor Activity against S180

We optimized the hot water extraction of polysaccharides from the root of Henry wood betony (RHWPs) using a uniform test and explored their anti-tumor activities in vitro and in vivo. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: 40 min extraction time, liquid/solid ratio 30 mL/g, 100 min soaking time, two extraction cycles, 100% ethanol concentration, and extraction temperature of 80 °C. The molecular weight distribution of RHWPs with MWs was 228,600 g/mol and 5001 g/mol. The IR spectrum further indicated that RHWPs are acidic polysaccharides containing pyranose and furan rings. The main monosaccharides found in RHWPs were mannose, ribose, l-rhamnose monohydrate, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, and fucose. RHWPs inhibited the proliferation of S180 tumor cells and induced apoptosis in vitro. Oral administration of RHWPs to tumor-bearing mice significantly inhibited the growth of the S180 xenografts, accelerated apoptosis in tumor cells, and expanded the necrotic regions. Furthermore, RHWPs also markedly increased the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 in the sera of tumor-bearing mice, and activated immune cells such as lymphocytes, NK cells, and macrophages, thereby inducing tumor cell apoptosis. Taken together, RHWPs are a promising anti-tumor agent that ought to be explored further.     

Synthesis and Characterization of 1,8-bis(ferrocenylmethyl)-5,5,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, a Macrocyclic Ligand and its Complexes

A new diferrocenyl-substituted macrocyclic ligand (H₂L) and its complexes ML(M = Cu^II, Ni^II, Zn^II, Cd^II) were prepared and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, absorption spectra and FAB mass spectra. The ferrocenyl-substituted macrocyclic ligand was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The superconjugative effect of the cyclopentadienyl (CP) rings increase the activity of the hydrogen atoms in the tetra-azacyclotetradecane macrocyclic ligand. The imine nitrogen atoms lose two protons and coordinate to the metal. The electrochemical properties of these compounds are discussed.