A facile synthesis of fused spiroketal skeleton: 2,2′-spirobi(4-aryl-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochroman)

A one-pot synthesis of fused spiroketal skeleton, 2,2′-spirobi(4-aryl-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochroman) 4a-c, has been achieved for the first time by an application of Michael reaction between dimedone (5,5-dimethylcyclohexan-1,3-dione) 1 and trans,trans-diarylideneacetone (1,5-diaryl-1,4-pentadien-3-one) 2 using anhydrous ZnCl₂ as catalyst. The spiroketalization was achieved efficiently via intramolecular cyclization of the Michael 1:2 adduct.     

Functionalized diacetylenes for nonlinear optical applications: Synthesis,characterization, and the properties of their monolayers

Synthesis and characterization of DA(8/1)OMe (14-{4′-[(methoxy)methoxy] biphenyl}-10,12-tetradecadiynoic acid) and DA(8/1)NBP (14-{4′-[(nitro)methoxy] biphenyl}-10,12-tetradecadiynoic acid ) are presented. Monolayers of DA(8/1)OMe at gas-water interface were investigated. It does not form a stable monolayer nor does it undergo polymerization at the gas-water interface. However, the Ba²⁺ and Cd²⁺ salts formed stable monolayer that polymerized. Polymerization was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The diacetylene analog with the more polar tail group, DA(8/1)NBP, does not form a monolayer and undergo polymerization regardless of the subphase condition. A mixed monolayer of DA(8/1)OMe and DA(8/1)NBP forms a true monolayer if the composition of DA(8/1)NBP is 50% or less. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1771–1779, 1999     

Optimizing a Multi-Stage Production Process

When articles are made by a sequence of processes, it is often necessary to make discrete batches for each process. These may not be the same size for each stage in the sequence. Two procedures are given for determining the optimum batch sizes, i.e. the batch sizes giving the lowest total for the set-up and investment costs.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Xanthene Derivatives,and Their Electrochemical Study

This work investigated the synthesis of biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride and benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride derivatives ( 3a – e and 6a – e ) with different substituted phenols via Friedel‐Crafts acylation reaction in the presence of dilute sulfuric acid. Dianhydride derivatives with 3‐N,N′‐dimethylamino phenol ( 3d and 6d ) and resorcinol ( 3e and 6e ) have been found to be highly fluorescent. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by the chromatographic, spectral and elemental data. Electrochemical study was done to determine to band gap energy, LUMO and HOMO levels energy. Band gap and LUMO energy levels were found to be lowest in xanthene derivatives substituted with 3‐N,N′‐dimethylamino group having value 2.24 and 4.85 eV respectively.     

Synthesis of Copper Oxide-Based Nanoformulations of Etoricoxib and Montelukast and Their Evaluation through Analgesic,Anti-Inflammatory,Anti-Pyretic,and Acute Toxicity Activities

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were synthesized through the coprecipitation method and used as nanocarriers for etoricoxib (selective COX-2 inhibitor drug) and montelukast (leukotriene product inhibitor drug) in combination therapy. The CuO NPs, free drugs, and nanoformulations were investigated through UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and DLS. SEM imaging showed agglomerated nanorods of CuO NPs of about 87 nm size. The CE1, CE2, and CE6 nanoformulations were investigated through DLS, and their particle sizes were 271, 258, and 254 nm, respectively. The nanoformulations were evaluated through in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, in vivo analgesic activity, in vivo anti-pyretic activity, and in vivo acute toxicity activity. In vivo activities were performed on albino mice. BSA denaturation was highly inhibited by CE1, CE2, and CE6 as compared to other nanoformulations in the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The in vivo bioactivities showed that low doses (5 mg/kg) of nanoformulations were more potent than high doses (10 and 20 mg/kg) of free drugs in the inhibition of pain, fever, and inflammation. Lastly, CE2 was more potent than that of other nanoformulations.     

Extreme positive operators on minimal and almost minimal cones

Fiedler and Pták called a cone minimal if it is n-dimensional and has n+1 extremal rays. We call a cone almost minimal if it is n-dimensional and has n+2 extremal rays. Duality properties stemming from the use of Gale pairs lead to a general technique for identifying the extreme cone-preserving (positive) operators between polyhedral cones. This technique is most effective for cones with dimension not much smaller than the number of their extreme rays. In particular, the Fiedler-Pták characterization of extreme positive operators between minimal cones is extended to the following cases: (i) operators from a minimal cone to an arbitrary polyhedral cone, (ii) operators from an almost minimal cone to a minimal cone.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of mixed-ligand copper(II)–imidazole–carboxylate complexes

The syntheses, characterization, and crystal structures of the reaction products of Cu²⁺ with imidazole (Himz) and different aromatic carboxylates, viz.: [Cu(Himz)₂(cinn)₂(H₂O)] (1), [Cu(Himz)₂(paba)₂] (2) and [Cu(Himz)₂(clba)₂] (3) (cinn^– = C₉H₇O₂^–, paba^– = C₇H₆NO₂^–, clba^– = C₇H₄ClO₂^–) are described and studied by spectroscopic (UV–visible, FTIR) measurements. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses indicate that each complex is monomeric. The metal ion in 1 adopts square-pyramidal coordination geometry arising from two imidazole nitrogens, two cinnamate oxygens, and an apical aqua. The metal ions of 2 and 3, however, assume a square planar configuration, which is realized by coordination of two nitrogens of two imidazoles and two oxygens; in both complexes, the imidazole moieties are trans to each other. TGA results indicate that upon heating, these complexes lose their carboxylate anions first, followed by removal of the imidazole molecules.     

Heat transfer mechanisms in poplar wood undergoing torrefaction

Torrefaction, a thermal treatment process of biomass, has been proved to improve biomass combustible properties. Torrefaction is defined as a thermochemical process in reduced oxygen condition and at temperature range from 200 to 300 °C for shorter residence time whereby energy yield is maximized, can be a bridging technology that can lead the conventional system (e.g. coal-fired plants) towards a sustainable energy system. In efforts to develop a commercial operable torrefaction reactor, the present study examines the minimum input condition at which biomass is torrefied and explores the heat transfer mechanisms during torrefaction in poplar wood samples. The heat transfer through the wood sample is numerically modeled and analyzed. Each poplar wood is torrefied at temperature of 250, 270, and 300 °C. The experimental study shows that the 270 °C-treatment can be deduced as the optimal input condition for torrefaction of poplar wood. A good understanding of heat transfer mechanisms can facilitate the upscaling and downscaling of torrefaction process equipment to fit the feedstock input criteria and can help to develop treatment input specifications that can maximize process efficiency.     

Calorimetry and thermal analysis studies on the binding of 13-phenylalkyl and 13-diphenylalkyl berberine analogs to tRNAphe

The interaction of 13- monophenylalkyl and diphenylalkyl berberine analogs with tRNA^phe has been investigated using various thermochemical techniques like thermal melting, isothermal titration calorimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry experiments. Thermal melting studies revealed that all the analogs stabilized the tRNA^phe better than berberine. The binding affinity for the analogs was of the order of 10⁵ M^?1. Calorimetry results suggested that the binding of these analogs was predominantly entropy driven with small negative enthalpy contribution to the standard molar Gibbs energy. The temperature dependence of the standard molar enthalpy changes yielded negative values of standard molar heat capacity changes for the complexation revealing substantial hydrophobic contribution in the RNA binding of these analogs. An enthalpy–entropy compensation behavior was also seen in all the systems. The diphenylalkyl analogs were found to be more effective tRNA^phe binders compared to the monophenylalkyl analogs. The utility of the present work lies in understanding the structural and energetic aspects of the interaction of these berberine analogs with tRNA, which may be useful in the development of RNA-targeted drugs.