Microwave-promoted catalyst- and solvent-free aza-Diels-Alder reaction of aldimines with 6-[2-(dimethylamino)vinyl]-1,3-dimethyluracil

A microwave-promoted aza-Diels-Alder reaction between 6-[2-(dimethylamino)vinyl]-1,3-dimethyluracil and aldimines has been developed for the construction of dihydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidines. Urea is effectively employed as an environmentally benign source of ammonia in the absence of any catalyst or solvent. The key step in the reaction is in situ generation and trapping of the reactive aldimine formed from urea and aldehyde by the diene system of the uracil. The reaction is clean, and excellent yields are obtained in a matter of a few minutes.     

Rhodium(I) carbonyl complexes of chalcogen functionalized tripodal phosphines, [CH3C(CH2P(X)Ph2)3] {X = O, S, Se} and their reactivity

The reaction of dimeric rhodium precursor [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ with two molar equivalent of 1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane trichalcogenide ligands, [CH₃C(CH₂P(X)Ph₂)₃](L), where X = O(a), S(b) and Se(c) affords the complexes of the type [Rh(CO)₂Cl(L)] (1a–1c). The complexes 1a–1c have been characterized by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, IR and NMR (¹H, ³¹P and ¹³C) spectroscopy and the ligands a–c are structurally determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. 1a–1c undergo oxidative addition (OA) reactions with different electrophiles such as CH₃I, C₂H₅I and C₆H₅CH₂Cl to give Rh(III) complexes of the types [Rh(CO)(COR)ClXL] {R = –CH₃ (2a–2c), –C₂H₅ (3a–3c); X = I and R = –CH₂C₆H₅ (4a–4c); X = Cl}. Kinetic data for the reaction of a–c with CH₃I indicate a first-order reaction. The catalytic activity of 1a–1c for the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid and its ester is evaluated and a higher turn over number (TON = 1564–1723) is obtained compared to that of the well-known commercial species [Rh(CO)₂I₂]⁻ (TON = 1000) under the reaction conditions: temperature 130 ± 2 °C, pressure 30 ± 2 bar and time 1 h.     

Synthesis and Thermal Decomposition of [Ni2(C4H4O6)2]·7H2O

The paper describes the synthesis, characterization and thermal decomposition of nickel(II) bis(tartrato) nickelate(II) heptahydrate [Ni₂(C₄H₄O₆)₂]·7H₂O. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic moment measurement, infrared, ESR and electronic spectroscopy. The experimental evidences indicate that complex is likely to have metal bonding. The thermal decomposition of the complex produced NiO in air at about 360°C and in nitrogen at about 380°C as the final product. Some of the intermediates produced during the thermolysis were isolated by temperature arrest technique and identified by analytical and spectroscopic methods. A tentative reaction mechanism is proposed for the thermal decomposition of the complex in air and nitrogen.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dicarbonylrhodium(I) complexes of aminophenols and their catalytic carbonylation reaction

The complexes [Rh(CO)₂ClL]( 1 ), where L = 2‐aminophenol ( a ), 3‐aminophenol ( b ) and 4‐aminophenol ( c ), have been synthesized and characterized. The ligands are coordinated to the metal centre through an N‐donor site. The complexes 1 undergo oxidative addition ( OA ) reactions with various alkyl halides ( RX ) like CH₃I, C₂H₅I and C₆H₅CH₂Cl to produce Rh(III) complexes of the type [Rh(CO)(COR)XClL], where R = ? CH₃( 2 ), ? C₂H₅( 3 ), X = I; R = C₆H₅CH₂? and X = Cl ( 4 ). The OA reaction with CH₃I follows a two‐stage kinetics and shows the order of reactivity as 1b > 1c > 1a . The minimum energy structure and Fukui function values of the complexes 1a–1c were calculated theoretically using a DND basis set with the help of Dmol³ program to substantiate the observed local reactivity trend. The catalytic activity of the complexes 1 in carbonylation of methanol, in general, is higher (TON 1189–1456) than the species [Rh(CO)₂I₂]^? (TON 1159). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Projecting low and extensive dimensional chaos from spatio-temporal dynamics

We review the spatio-temporal dynamical features of the Ananthakrishna model for the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect, a kind of plastic instability observed under constant strain rate deformation conditions. We then establish a qualitative correspondence between the spatio-temporal structures that evolve continuously in the instability domain and the nature of the irregularity of the scalar stress signal. Rest of the study is on quantifying the dynamical information contained in the stress signals about the spatio-temporal dynamics of the model. We show that at low applied strain rates, there is a one-to-one correspondence with the randomly nucleated isolated bursts of mobile dislocation density and the stress drops. We then show that the model equations are spatio-temporally chaotic by demonstrating the number of positive Lyapunov exponents and Lyapunov dimension scale with the system size at low and high strain rates. Using a modified algorithm for calculating correlation dimension density, we show that the stress-strain signals at low applied strain rates corresponding to spatially uncorrelated dislocation bands exhibit features of low dimensional chaos. This is made quantitative by demonstrating that the model equations can be approximately reduced to space independent model equations for the average dislocation densities, which is known to be low-dimensionally chaotic. However, the scaling regime for the correlation dimension shrinks with increasing applied strain rate due to increasing propensity for propagation of the dislocation bands. The stress signals in the partially propagating to fully propagating bands turn to have features of extensive chaos.     

Unique copper–salen complex: an efficient catalyst for N-arylations of anilines and imidazoles at room temperature

We have reported here the catalytic activity of a unique Cu–salen type complex in N-arylation of anilines with arylboronic acids in water. The protocol is found to be applicable for a wide range of electronically diversified arylboronic acids and anilines with excellent yields of the isolated product. Further the scope of this protocol has been extended to the synthesis of various N-aryl imidazoles in iso-propanol.     

Interactions among Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase,Cardiovascular System,and Nociception during Physiological and Pathophysiological States

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) plays important roles within the cardiovascular system in physiological states as well as in pathophysiologic and specific cardiovascular (CV) disease states, such as hypertension (HTN), arteriosclerosis, and cerebrovascular accidents. This review discusses the roles of the endothelial NOS (eNOS) and its effect on cardiovascular responses that are induced by nociceptive stimuli. The roles of eNOS enzyme in modulating CV functions while experiencing pain will be discussed. Nociception, otherwise known as the subjective experience of pain through sensory receptors, termed “nociceptors”, can be stimulated by various external or internal stimuli. In turn, events of various cascade pathways implicating eNOS contribute to a plethora of pathophysiological responses to the noxious pain stimuli. Nociception pathways involve various regions of the brain and spinal cord, including the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), caudal ventrolateral medulla, and intermediolateral column of the spinal cord. These pathways can interrelate in nociceptive responses to pain stimuli. The alterations in CV responses that affect GABAergic and glutamatergic pathways will be discussed in relation to mechanical and thermal (heat and cold) stimuli. Overall, this paper will discuss the aggregate recent and past data regarding pain pathways and the CV system.     

Intercalation of copper salt to montmorillonite K-10 and its application as a reusable catalyst for Chan–Lam cross-coupling reaction

A simple and efficient catalytic system has been developed by adsorption of copper salt in the interlayers of montmorillonite K-10. The catalytic system impressively exercises the green chemistry perspective leading to effortless recovery and recyclability for the cross-coupling of arylboronic acids and N-nucleophiles. The effect of catalytic activity was studied for electronically diverse arylboronic acids and imidazoles relying on various optimizations under optimum thermal condition. The catalytic system was characterized and the morphology was determined.     

Tetrametallic Copper Complex to Nanoscale Copper: Selective and Switchable Dehydrogenation-Hydrogenation under Light

A discrete, photoactive, ultrafine copper nanocluster of fewer than hundreds of atoms with stimuli-responsive switchable redox-active states is highly desired to control two different antagonistic reactions. Herein, a mixed-valent tetrametallic copper complex ( C-1 ) of N−O-N Schiff base ligand is disclosed, in which the five different Cu−Cu interactions were used to generate photoactive nanoscale copper [LCu⁰_n, S-1 ] through the reduction of coordinated imine to the amine of C-1 . The presence of a ligand provides stability and helps to homogenize the material ( S-1 ) in the organic solvent. The cluster showed stimuli (O₂/light)-responsive switching between its reduced ( S-1 ) and oxidized [LCu⁰_n−mCuO_m, S-2 ] states that allows it to serve as a highly and poorly active (bistate, relative rate >5–12 fold) catalyst for the dehydrogenation of alcohols to aldehydes and hydrogenation of nitroaromatics to amino aromatics under the light.