Optimisation of Hydrocortisone Production by Curvularia lunata

A new method for breeding the hydrocortisone overproducing strain Curvularia lunata by screening ketoconazole-resistance mutant was developed. A hydrocortisone overproducing mutant C. lunata KA-91 with ketoconazole-resistance marker was obtained from protoplasts treated with ultraviolet radiation. The hydrocortisone conversion rate of C. lunata KA-91 was increased by 42.1% compared to the original strain CL-114 at the substrate 17α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3, 20-dione-21-acetate addition concentration of 1.0 g/L. The by-products produced by KA-91 were fewer than those of the original strain. It was assumed that the higher cytochrome P450 content of ketoconazole-resistance mutant resulted in the increase of 11β-hydroxylation capacity. The culture conditions for biotransformation of 17α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3, 20-dione-21-acetate to hydrocortisone were optimized by response surface methodology. Plackett–Burman design was applied to elucidate the key factors affecting the hydrocortisone production, and the results indicated that glucose, initial pH, and glucose to total nitrogen sources ratio (ω) had significant effects on hydrocortisone production. Box–Behnken design was employed to search for the optimal parameters of those three key factors. According to the model, the trial checking at the optimal conditions showed a high hydrocortisone conversion rate of 82.67%.     

The first synthesis of a water-soluble α-cyclodextrin/C60 supramolecular complex using anionic C60 as a building block

A novel supramolecular inclusion complex of α-CD/C₆₀ was synthesized using anionic C₆₀. The reaction progress was monitored in situ by visible and near-IR spectroscopy. The obtained complex was characterized by UV-vis, ¹³C NMR, MALDI-TOF, and cyclic voltammetry. The induction and dispersion forces are considered to be the major driving forces for the formation of a resulting α-CD/ inclusion complex.     

Multiple channel dynamics in the O(1D) reaction with alkanes

In this article, we briefly review the recent experimental studies of the multiple channel dynamics of the O((1)D) reaction with alkane molecules using the significantly improved universal crossed molecular beam technique. In these reactions, the dominant reaction mechanism is found to be an O atom insertion into the C-H bond, while a direct abstraction mechanism is also present in the OH formation channel. While the reaction mechanism is similar for all of these reactions, the product channels are quite different because of the significantly different energetics of these reaction channels. In the O((1)D) reaction with methane, OH formation is the dominant process while H atom formation is also a significant process. In the O((1)D) reaction with ethane, however, the CH(3) + CH(2)OH is the most important process, OH formation is still significant and H atom formation is of minor importance. A new type of O atom insertion mechanism (insertion into a C-C bond) is also inferred from the O((1)D) reaction with cyclopropane. Through these comprehensive studies, complete dynamical pictures of many multiple channel chemical reactions could be obtained. Such detailed studies could provide a unique bridge between dynamics and kinetics research.     

Chiral catalysis in nanopores of mesoporous materials

This article reviews the recent progress made in asymmetric catalysis in the nanopores of mesoporous materials and periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs). Some examples of chiral catalysts within the nanopores show improved catalytic performance compared to homogeneous catalysts. The factors including the confinement effect, the properties of the linkages and the microenvironment in nanopores, which affect the activity and enantioselectivity of asymmetric catalysis in nanopores, are discussed.     

Selective diethylzinc reduction of imines in the presence of ketones catalyzed by Ni(acac)2

A selective reduction method of an electronically deficient imine in the presence of ketone was developed by employing Et(2)Zn and 5 mol % of Ni(acac)(2). The method was applied in the reduction of S(S)-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines 1 to afford amines 2 in 23-92% yields and 73:27 to 98:2 diastereoselectivities. A plausible mechanism was proposed on the basis of an NMR study.     

Oleanolic triterpene saponins from the roots of Panax bipinnatifidus

Ten oleanane-type saponins (1-10), including three new compounds, namely bifinosides A-C (1-3), were isolated from the roots of Panax bipinnatifidus SEEM. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic methods.     

Novel "star anise"-like nano aggregate prepared by self-assembling of preformed microcrystals from branched crystalline-coil alternating multi-block copolymer

Nano aggregates in aqueous medium with a novel "star anise"-like morphology were prepared from a branched alternating multi-block copolymer composed of 3-arm star-like hydrophobic poly(p-dioxanone) block and linear hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) block. The influence of block length on the morphology of the nano aggregate was investigated.     

Expedient synthesis of the tetracyclic core of ent-nakadomarin A

An efficient eight-step assembly of the tetracyclic core (ABCD rings) of ent-(+)-nakadomarin A, a bioactive hexacyclic marine alkaloid, has been realized with Sonogashira coupling, platinum(II)-promoted cascade cyclizations, and saturation of a challenging carbon-carbon double bond through a hydroboration/oxidation/xanthate formation/Barton-McCombie deoxygenation sequence as key transformations.     

Stable aqueous ZnO@polymer core-shell nanoparticles with tunable photoluminescence and their application in cell imaging

Stable aqueous solutions of ZnO@polymer core-shell nanoparticles with tunable photoluminescence are prepared through a simple sol-gel route. The copolymer shell has many hydrophilic external groups and a hydrophobic internal layer which connects ZnO cores through covalent bonds. The optimal samples show quantum yield above 50% and stable emission for months. These samples with their concentrations of below 0.2 mg/mL are nontoxic to human cells. After uptake of these ZnO@polymer nanoparticles, the luminescent cells have enough life under UV light for microscopic imaging.