X-band e.p.r. spectra of mixed-ligand copper(II) complexes

E.p.r. spectra of [Cu(et2dtc)2], Na[Cu(asp/glut)(et2dtc)] and Na2[Cu(asp/glut)(et2dtc)2] in the polycrystalline state have been recorded and discussed. The complexes display an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction, increasing in the order: Na2[Cu(asp/glut)(et2dtc)2] < Na[Cu(asp/glut)(et2dtc)] < [Cu(et2dtc)2] This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Triisopropoxyniobium(V) and tantalum(V)bis-O,O′-dialkyl dithiophosphates

Summary Triisopropoxy bis(O,O-dialkyl dithiophosphates), (i-PrO)₃M[S₂P(OR)₂]₂ (M = Nb^v, Ta^v; R = n-Pr, i-Pr, i-Bu and Ph) have been prepared by reacting the appropriate triisopropoxymetal(V)dichloride, (i-PrO)₃MCl₂ (1 mol) with sodium/ammonium dialkyl dithiophosphates (2 mols)in THF. The monomeric products which are viscous liquids, soluble in common organic solvents and highly susceptible to hydrolysis, were characterized by i.r. and n.m.r. spectra which indicate a bidentate mode of attachment of dithiophosphato groups to the metal.     

Synthesis of Mannich type products via a three-component coupling reaction

The reactions of alkyl nitriles, acetyl chloride, aldehydes and β-ketoesters or simple ketones was studied for the one-pot synthesis of β-acetamido carbonyl compounds. It was observed that the reaction proceeds in the absence of Lewis acids. However, a Lewis acid catalyzes the reaction and several were tested. It was found that whereas Cu(OTf)₂ is suitable for the coupling of β-ketoesters with aldehydes, Sc(OTf)₃ is the best for ketones. A possible mechanism is proposed based on the isolation and characterization of an intermediate.     

Electron transfer reactions. Reaction of tetracyclone,tetraphenylfuran and related substrates with potassium

The reaction of tetracyclone (1) with potassium in THF gave a mixture of benzoic acid (4), tetraphenylfuran (5) and cis-1,2-dibenzoylstilbene (6). The reaction of 1 with potassium in oxygen-saturated THF gave a mixture of 2-hydroxy-2,4,5-triphenyl-3(2H)furanone (3), 4, 5 and 6, whereas the reaction of 1 with potassium superoxide gave a moderate yield of 3,4,5,6-tetraphenyl-2-pyrartone (7), besides 3, 4, 5, and 6. The reaction of tetraphenylfuran (5) itself with potassium in THF gave a mixture of 6, 1,2,3,4-tetraphenylbutan-1-one (9), 2,3-diphenyl-1-indenone (10) and 2,3-epoxy-4-hydroxy-2,3,4-tnphenyltetralone-l (11), whereas practically no reaction occurred on treatment of 5 with potassium superoxide. Treatment of 10 with potassium in THF, however, gave a mixture of 4, dibenzo[a,c]-13-fluorenone (13), 2,3-diphenyl-2-hydroxyl-1-indanone (14) and 2,3-diphenylbenzofuran (15). A similar mixture of products consisting of 4, 13, 14 and 15 was obtained when the reaction of 10 with potassium was carried out in oxygen-saturated THF or when 10 was treated with potassium superoxide. Treatment of 2,3-diphenyl-2,3-epoxy-1-indanone (16) with potassium on the other hand, gave 10 in excellent yield. Cyclic voltammetric studies have been carried out to measure the reduction potentials of 1, 5, 10 and 16 in the generation of their radical anions. The radical anions of 1, 5, 10 and 16 were also generated pulse radiolytically in methanol and their spectra showed absorption maxima in the region 320–380 nm.     

Double stage estimation of population variance

Summary Consider a normal population with mean μ and variance σ². We are interested in the estimation of population variance with the help of guess value σ ₀ ² and a sample of observations. In this paper, a double stage shrinkage estimator based on the shrinkage estimatorks ₁ ² +(1-k)σ ₀ ² ifs ₁ ² ∈R and the usual estimator ifs ₁ ² ∋R, whereR is some specified region, have been proposed. The expressions for bias and mean squared error have been obtained. Comparison with the usual estimators ² have been made. It was found that though the largest gain is obtained fork=0, we can use with 0≦k≦1/2 even when σ² is very close to σ ₀ ²     

Biomedical and Antioxidant Potentialities in Chilli: Perspectives and Way Forward

Worldwide, since ages and nowadays, traditional medicine is well known, owing to its biodiversity, which immensely contributed to the advancement and development of complementary and alternative medicines. There is a wide range of spices, herbs, and trees known for their medicinal uses. Chilli peppers, a vegetable cum spice crop, are bestowed with natural bioactive compounds, flavonoids, capsaicinoids, phytochemicals, phytonutrients, and pharmacologically active compounds with potential health benefits. Such compounds manifest their functionality over solo-treatment by operating in synergy and consortium. Co-action of these compounds and nutrients make them potentially effective against coagulation, obesity, diabetes, inflammation, dreadful diseases, such as cancer, and microbial diseases, alongside having good anti-oxidants with scavenging ability to free radicals and oxygen. In recent times, capsaicinoids especially capsaicin can ameliorate important viral diseases, such as SARS-CoV-2. In addition, capsaicin provides an ability to chilli peppers to ramify as topical agents in pain-relief and also benefitting man as a potential effective anesthetic agent. Such phytochemicals involved not only make them useful and a much economical substitute to wonder/artificial drugs but can be exploited as obscene drugs for the production of novel stuffs. The responsibility of the TRPV1 receptor in association with capsaicin in mitigating chronic diseases has also been justified in this study. Nonetheless, medicinal studies pertaining to consumption of chilli peppers are limited and demand confirmation of the findings from animal studies. In this artifact, an effort has been made to address in an accessible format the nutritional and biomedical perspectives of chilli pepper, which could precisely upgrade and enrich our pharmaceutical industries towards human well-being.     

Tantalum,easy as Pi: understanding differences in metal–imido bonding towards improving Ta/Nb separations

The separation and purification of niobium and tantalum, which co-occur in natural sources, is difficult due to their similar physical and chemical properties. The current industrial method for separating Ta/Nb mixtures uses an energy-intensive process with caustic and toxic conditions. It is of interest to develop alternative, fundamental methodologies for the purification of these technologically important metals that improve upon their environmental impact. Herein, we introduce new Ta/Nb imido compounds: M(^tBuN)(TriNOx) (1-M) bound by the TriNOx³⁻ ligand and demonstrate a fundamental, proof-of-concept Ta/Nb separation based on differences in the imido reactivities. Despite the nearly identical structures of 1-M, density functional theory (DFT)-computed electronic structures of 1-M indicate enhanced basic character of the imido group in 1-Ta as compared to 1-Nb. Accordingly, the rate of CO₂ insertion into the M N_imido bond of 1-Ta to form a carbamate complex (2-Ta) was selective compared to the analogous, unobserved reaction with 1-Nb. Differences in solubility between the imido and carbamate complexes allowed for separation of the carbamate complex, and led to an efficient Ta/Nb separation (S_Ta/Nb = 404 ± 150) dependent on the kinetic differences in nucleophilicities between the imido moieties in 1-Ta and 1-Nb.

A selective separation of the critical metals tantalum and niobium was accomplished from π-bonding-based reactivity differences of imido complexes. New insights into Ta/Nb separations were gained through detailed kinetic and computational studies.     

Spectroscopic assessment of biomolecular changes in Helicobacter pylori and Epstein–Barr virus co-infected gastric epithelial cells

Helicobacter pylori and Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) are Group 1 carcinogens that can enhance gastric cancer progression. Bioactive substances extracted from plants can be effective therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. For example, Withania somnifera extract-WSE reduces the Gankyrin oncoprotein, which is upregulated in the presence of H. pylori and EBV. The various biochemical and metabolic changes upon 24 hrs post-infection followed by W. somnifera extract (WSE) treatment on gastric epithelial cells (AGS) can be studied using spectroscopic techniques. In the biomedical sciences, Raman and NMR spectroscopy have been extensively employed to interpret cellular alterations contributing to the onset of infection and the severity of gastric cancer. More specifically, alterations in cellular biochemical homeostasis are linked to the moieties of cholesterol, collagen, choline, carbohydrate, lipids, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Further, we have found significantly elevated FWHM for carbohydrates, tumor associated protein, collagen, cholesterol, and cholesterol ester in the co-infection model. We also looked into the potential correlation between these molecules using molecular network analysis and found several related factors that can be modulated through biomolecular levels. These molecules are crucial in several physiological functions, including cell division, cell proliferation, apoptosis, necrosis, cell migration, and lipid transport. Our study paves the pathway to study H. pylori and EBV co-infection in human gastric epithelial cells and the therapeutic interventions of WSE in this scenario and highlights specific biomolecular alterations, which can be focused for further mechanistic investigations.