Studies on the characteristics of the isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCCH) by thermogravimetry

A new method of determination of HCCH isomers by thermogravimetry is described. The thermal changes of the isomers, the decomposition characteristics and the parameters for identification are discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Eine neue Methode der Bestimmung von HCCH-Isomeren durch Thermogravimetrie wird beschrieben. Die thermischen Änderungen der Isomere, die Zersetzungscharakteristika und die Identifizierungsparameter werden erörtert.

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Résumé On décrit une nouvelle méthode de détermination des isomères HCCH par thermogravimétrie. On discute les modifications thermiques des isomères, les caractéristiques de décomposition et les paramètres d'identification.

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We are grateful to Dr. B. L. Amla, Director of this Institute, for his encoragement, and to Shri Hanumantha Rao Judav for his assistance.     

Bispidine as a β-strand nucleator: from a β-arch to self-assembled cages and vesicles

The development of synthetic scaffolds that nucleate well-folded secondary structures is highly challenging. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of core-modified peptides (F1, F2, F3, and F4) that fold into β-strand structures. These bispidine-scaffolded peptides were studied by CD, IR, NMR, single crystal XRD, and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate their conformational preferences. Solid-state and solution studies revealed that bispidine is a versatile scaffold that could be placed either at the terminal or at the middle of the peptide strand for nucleating the β-strand structure. Scaffolds that nucleate an isolated β-strand conformation are rare. Bispidine placed at the C-terminus of the peptide chain could nucleate a β-strand conformation, while bispidine placed at the middle resulted in a β-arch conformation. This nucleation activity stems from the ability to restrict the psi torsion angle (ψ) through intramolecular C5 hydrogen bonding between the equatorial hydrogen(s) of bispidine and the carbonyl oxygen(s) of the amino acid close to the scaffold. Furthermore, the bispidine peptidomimetic with a super secondary structure, namely β-arch, assembled into single-hole submicron cages and spherical vesicles as evident from microscopic studies. The design logic defined here will be a significant strategy for the development of β-strand mimetics and super secondary structures.

Bispidine is a versatile scaffold that could be placed either at the terminal or at the middle of the peptide strand for nucleating β-strand structures. These β-strand mimetics self-assemble to single hole submicron cages and vesicles.     

Concentration with Selective Acid Removal from Americium Solutions Using Ion Exchange Membranes

Donnan dialysis and diffusion dialysis techniques are investigated for deacidification and possible concentration of actinide bearing acidic streams. Cation and anion exchange membranes are used in a two compartment dialysis cell to selectively remove acid from americium solutions. Acid concentrations, as high as 8.0M HNO₃ are used and the stability of membranes are ascertained. Possibility of simultaneous deacidification and concentration of acidic americium solutions are indicated by combining simple osmosis with diffusion dialysis. All the experiments are carried out under non stirring conditions at room temperature.     

Anomalous variation of magnetoresistance in Nd0.67−yEuySr0.33MnO3 manganites

A systematic investigation of Eu-doped Nd-based colossal magnetoresistive manganites with compositional formula Nd_0.67−yEu_ySr_0.33MnO₃(y=0-0.67) has been undertaken to understand their structural, magnetic as well as electrical behavior. These materials were prepared by the citrate gel route, and were later characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), AC susceptibility, electrical resistivity etc; measurements. A detailed structural characterization of the XRD data has also been undertaken, using Rietveld refinement method. From a systematic analysis of electrical resistivity versus temperature data, it has been found that the last two samples of the series (y=0.57 and 0.67) are found to exhibit charge order (CO) phenomenona, and that the CO state melts completely in the case of former sample (y=0.57) while it melts partially only in the case of later one (y=0.67), even in a magnetic field of 7 T. The observed behavior has been explained qualitatively. Some of the samples of the series are found to exhibit unusually large magnetoresistance over a wide temperature range in the low temperature region, and their behavior has been explained on the basis of phase segregation and an inter-grain spin polarized tunneling effect.     

Sulfonimidamides: efficient chiral iminoiodane precursors for diastereoselective copper-catalyzed aziridination of olefins

N-(p-Toluenesulfonyl)-p-toluenesulfonimidamide reacts with iodosylbenzene to afford in situ a chiral iminoiodane. The latter gives, in the presence of a copper(I) catalyst, a nitrene that is very efficiently transferred under stoichiometric conditions to a variety of alkenes with diastereoselectivities up to 60%. [reaction: see text]     

Concise Synthesis of 6-Cyanobenzo[b]furan,a Useful Building Block

A new three-step synthesis of 6-cyanobenzo[b]furan (6) was developed, starting from commercially available 6-hydroxybenzo[b]furan-3-one (18). Key steps in this process were the first step, which was the reductive dehydration of 18 to produce 6-hydroxybenzo[b]furan (19), and the last step, which converted the aryl triflate 20 to the aryl cyanide 6 in a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling protocol. Overall yield for this new synthesis was 49%.