Radiochemical extraction of mercury(II) from acidic chloride solutions using dialkylsulphides

The liquid-liquid extraction behavior of Hg(II) from aqueous acidic chloride solutions has been investigated by tracer techniques using dialkylsulphides (R₂S) namely, dibutylsulphide (DBS) and dioctylsulphide (DOS) as extractants. These extraction data have been analyzed by both graphical and theoretical methods by taking into account complexation of the metal ion in the aqueous phase with inorganic ligands and all plausible complexes extracted into the organic phase. The results clearly indicate that Hg(II) is extracted into xylene as HgCl₂ ^. nDBS/nDOS (where n = 2 and 3). The equilibrium constants of the extracted complexes have been deduced by non-linear regression analysis. The separation possibilities of Hg(II) from other metal ions viz. Ca(II), Mg(II), Ba(II) and Fe((III), which are present in the industrial wastes of the chlor-alkali industry has also been discussed.     

Spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) and its application to a plant sample containing zinc,iron, and manganese

Salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone instantaneously forms a green complex with copper(II) in the optimum pH range 5–7. A fivefold molar excess of the reagent is sufficient for the full development of the color. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.5–6.0 ppm of copper. The optimum concentration range as evaluated by Ringbom's method is 1.4–5.8 ppm. At 375 nm the sensitivity of the reaction and the molar absorptivity are 0.006 μg cm^?2 and 9.2 × 10³ liters mol^?1 cm^?1, respectively. The effects of pH, reagent concentration, time, order of addition of the solutions, and the interference of various ions were investigated. Copper in plant samples, containing zinc, iron, and manganese, was determined.     

Sequence selective recognition in the minor groove of dsDNA by pyrrole,imidazole-substituted bis-benzimidazole conjugates

A series of pyrrole, imidazole-substituted bis-benzimidazole conjugates, Py-Py-Im-gamma-biBenz, Py-Py-gamma-biBenz, Py-Im-gamma-biBenz, and Im-Py-gamma-biBenz (1-4), were prepared in an attempt to target dsDNA sequences possessing both A/T and G/C bps. The dsDNA interactions and sequence specificity of the conjugates have been characterized via spectrofluorometric titrations and thermal melting studies. All conjugates form 1:1 complexes with dsDNA at subnanomolar concentrations. The Im moiety selectively recognizes a G/C bp embedded in the A/T-rich binding site. This represents the first clear example of sequence selective recognition in a 1:1 motif.(1) The equilibrium association constant (K(1)) for complexation of a specific nine-bp dsDNA site, 5'-gcggTATGAAATTcgacg-3', by conjugate 1 is approximately 2.6 x 10(9) M(-1). Displacement of the G/C position or G/C-->A/T substitution within the nine-bp site decreases the K(1) by approximately 8-fold, whereas two continuous G/C bps decrease the K(1) by approximately 50-fold magnitude. The K(1) values for seven-bp dsDNA, 5'-gcggtaTGAAATTcgacg-3' and 5'-gcggtaCAAAATTcgacg-3', binding sites by conjugates Py-Im-gamma-biBenz (3) and Im-Py-gamma-biBenz (4) are approximately 2.3 x 10(9) and approximately 1.2 x 10(9) M(-1), respectively. However, the conjugates with no Im moiety, Py-Py-gamma-biBenz (2) and Py-Py-Py-gamma-biBenz (5 and 6), are specific for seven- to nine-bp A/T-rich sites and single A/T-->G/C bp substitution within the binding site decreases the K(1) values by 1-2 orders of magnitude.     

Role of Intracellular Iron in Switching Apoptosis to Ferroptosis to Target Therapy-Resistant Cancer Stem Cells

Iron is a crucial element required for the proper functioning of the body. For instance, hemoglobin is the vital component in the blood that delivers oxygen to various parts of the body. The heme protein present in hemoglobin comprises iron in the form of a ferrous state which regulates oxygen delivery. Excess iron in the body is stored as ferritin and would be utilized under iron-deficient conditions. Surprisingly, cancer cells as well as cancer stem cells have elevated ferritin levels suggesting that iron plays a vital role in protecting these cells. However, apart from the cytoprotective role iron also has the potential to induce cell death via ferroptosis which is a non-apoptotic cell death dependent on iron reserves. Apoptosis a caspase-dependent cell death mechanism is effective on cancer cells however little is known about its impact on cancer stem cell death. This paper focuses on the molecular characteristics of apoptosis and ferroptosis and the importance of switching to ferroptosis to target cancer stem cells death thereby preventing cancer relapse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to demonstrate the importance of intracellular iron in regulating the switching of tumor cells and therapy resistant CSCs from apoptosis to ferroptosis.     

2-Arylethenyl-2″-Arylethynyl Sulfones: A Potential Source for New Heterocycles

Abstract

Different heteroatoms viz., N, S & Se have been incorporated into 2-arylethenyl-2′-arylethynyl sulfones by nucleophilic reaction with benzylmine, hydrogen sulfide and sodium hydrogen selenide.     

Facile Synthesis of Novel Pentofuranose Analogs of Phospha Sugar Derivatives

Novel pentofuranose analogs of phospha sugar derivatives were synthesized starting from 1-phenyl-2-phospholene 1-oxide ( 1 ). First, the allylic oxidation of 1-phenyl-2-phospholene 1-oxide ( 1 ) with CrO 3 in Ac 2 O-AcOH or 3-hydroxy-1-phenyl-2-phospholene ( 2 ) with MnO 2 afforded 1-phenyl-4-oxo-2-phospholene 1-oxide ( 3 ). The C-5 alkylation of 3 in the presence of NaH by using benzyl bromide or methyl iodide as electrophiles afforded the target title compounds.     

The Synthesis and Bioactivity of Dimethyl (2,3- Dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]Dioxin-6-Yl)(Aryl Amino)Methylphosphonates

Abstract

A new series of α-aminophosphonates have been synthesized by a one-pot three-component reaction of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine-6-carbaldehyde, various amines, and dimethyl phosphite by using nano-TiO₂ as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 50°C. The major advantages of the present method are high yields, short reaction times, recyclable catalyst, and solvent-free reaction conditions. Among these new structurally diversified set of α-aminophosphonates, dimethyl (2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)(3-nitrophenylamino) methylphosphonate and dimethyl (2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)(4-fluoro-3-nitro-phenyl-amino) methylphosphonate have shown higher antioxidant activity in diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, reducing power assay, and lipid peroxidation methods.     

Synthesis and Bioassay of Ethyl-2- (2-((Diethoxyphosphoryl) (Aryl) Methylamino)Thiazol-4-Yl)-2-(Methoxyimino)Acetates

Abstract

A simple, efficient, and environmentally benign methodology has been accomplished for the synthesis of α-aminophosphonates by one-pot three-component reaction of ethyl-2-amino-α-(methoxy-imino)-4-thiazoleacetate, aldehydes, and diethylphosphite by using Amberlyst-15 as catalyst at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. Their chemical structures were characterized by infrared (IR), NMR (¹H, ¹³C & ³¹P), mass spectral, and elemental analysis. All the title compounds were screened for radical-scavenging activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitic oxide (NO), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) methods.

Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements for the following free supplemental files: Additional text and figures.