Synthesis,characterization and biological studies of oxovanadium(IV) complexes with triazole‐derived Schiff bases

A series of triazole‐derived Schiff bases (L¹–L⁵) and their oxovanadium(IV) complexes have been synthesized. The chemical structures of Schiff bases were characterized by their analytical (CHN analysis) and spectral (IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and mass spectrometry) data, and oxovanadium(IV) complexes were elucidated by their physical (magnetic susceptibility and conductivity), analytical (CHN analysis), conductance measurements and electronic spectral data. The molar conductivity data indicate the oxovanadium(IV) complexes to be non‐electrolyte. The Schiff bases act as bidentate and coordinate with the oxovanadium(IV)‐forming stoichiometry of a complex as [M (L‐H)₂] where M = VO and L = L¹–L⁵ in a square‐pyramidal geometry. The agar well diffusion method was used for in vitro antibacterial screening against E. coli, S. flexenari, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, S. aureus and B. subtilis and for antifungal activity against T. longifucus, C. albican, A. flavus, M. canis, F. solani and C. glaberata. The biological activity data show the oxovanadium(IV) complexes to be more antibacterial and antifungal than the parent Schiff bases against one or more bacterial and fungal strains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel cycloartane saponins from Corchorus depressus L

Two novel bidesmosidic cycloartane-type glycosides, depressosides C and D were isolated from Corchorus depressus L. Their structures were elucidated as (22R)-16beta,22-epoxy-3beta,26-dihydroxy-9,19-cyclolanost-++ +24E-ene 3, 26-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and (22R,24S)-22,25-epoxy-3beta,16beta,24-trihydroxy-9,19-cyclolano stane 3, 24-di-O-beta-glucopyranoside, respectively on the basis of chemical evidence and detailed spectroscopic studies.     

Studies on the Lewis acid mediated cleavage of alpha-aminoacetals: synthesis of novel 1,2-aminoethers,and evidence for alpha-alkoxy aziridinium ion intermediates

The nucleophilic cleavage of alpha-amino acetals induced by TMSOTf can be used to prepare a wide range of substituted 1,2-aminoethers. In particular, organometallic reagents, N-heterocycles, and enamines all react efficiently to give products in good yield. In appropriate cases, good levels of stereocontrol are possible, but this is very dependent on the nature of the nucleophile and the substrate, with diethylzinc proving particularly effective across a range of substrates. The degree of stereocontrol can be used to infer the nature of the reactive intermediates involved in the reaction. With diethylzinc, it is most likely that the reaction proceeds by coordination of the nucleophile to the amino group followed by transfer of an ethyl group to an alpha-oxocarbenium ion. With non-coordinating nucleophiles, the stereochemical outcome can be rationalised in terms of addition to the possible alpha-alkoxy aziridinium ion intermediates.     

Field in an open-ended waveguide satisfying impedance boundary conditions

Summary The problem of calculating the field within imperfectly conducting parallel-plates is considered. The solution in closed form is obtained using the Wiener-Hopf technique. The comparison has been made with that of perfectly conducting parallel plates waveguide.

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Zusammenfassung Das Problem der Feldberechnung in unvollständig leitenden parallelen Platten wird betrachtet. Die Lösung in geschlossener Form wird mittels der Wiener-Hopf Technik gefunden, sowie ein Vergleich mit der Lösung für vollständig leitende Parallelplatten-Wellenleiter durchgeführt.

     

A modeling concept of a mechanical system having a piecewise linear spring property for its diagnosis

Machine condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of rotating machinery are very important because of the wide use of rotating machinery in industry. Couplings and gears are used in many mechanical systems to connect elements and transmit power. The system is usually modeled as a single-degree-of-freedom system with a piecewise linear spring property, where the mass of main machine is only considered. In the present study, the dynamic behavior of a system with an unsymmetrical nonlinearity and a significant mass of the connecting part was investigated both experimentally and by numerical simulation. In the experiment, a 1/3 sub-harmonic oscillation was observed, but this oscillation was not found in the simulation using a single-degree-of-freedom system, in which the mass of the connecting part was ignored. However, when a two-degrees-of-freedom system was used that considered both the mass of the connecting part and the impact property, the 1/3 sub-harmonic oscillation was observed. Thus it is recognized that an adequate mathematical model for diagnosis in the early stage of abnormality must be selected on the basis of the mass ratio between the connecting part and the main body.     

Thermoresponsive copolymer nanofilms for controlling cell adhesion, growth, and detachment

This study reports the development and use of a novel thermoresponsive polymeric nanofilm for controlling cell adhesion and growth at 37 °C, and then cell detachment for cell recovery by subsequent temperature drop to the ambient temperature, without enzymatic cleavage or mechanical scraping. A copolymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-hydroxypropyl methacrylate-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (abbreviated PNIPAAm copolymer), was synthesized by free radical polymerization. The thermoresponses of the copolymer in aqueous solution were demonstrated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) through detecting the sensitive changes of copolymer aggregation against temperature. The DLS measurements revealed the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at approximately 30 °C. The PNIPAAm film stability and robustness was provided through silyl cross-linking within the film and with the hydroxyl groups on the substrate surface. Film thickness, stability, and reversibility with respect to temperature switches were examined by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements. The results confirmed the high extent of thermosensitivity and structural restoration based on the alterations of film thickness and surface wettability. The effective control of adhesion, growth, and detachment of HeLa and HEK293 cells demonstrated the physical controllability and cellular compatibility of the copolymer nanofilms. These PNIPAAm copolymer nanofilms could open up a convenient interfacial mediation for cell film production and cell expansion by nonenzymatic and nonmechanical cell recovery.     

Investigation of the pyrolysis products of methionine-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Low-temperature pyrolysis of methionine-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu has been carried out and the non-volatile residues have been analyzed. The fragments were separated and characterized by LC-UV/Vis-MS/MS. Two major types of pyrolysis products were identified by matching the experimental results with a theoretical list that contains the expected fragments. These products were mainly composed of cyclic oligopeptides and linear fragments produced from the peptide backbone. These fragments have preserved the sequence of amino acids in the peptide. In some cases, a complete or partial loss of an amino-acid side group was observed. Tandem mass spectrometry and cyanogen bromide cleavage experiments were used to confirm the nature of the cyclic and linear pyrolysates, in addition to chromatographic and mass spectrometric data of actual standard synthetic cyclic peptides.     

Evolution of Zn based high purity phases under NH3 gas atmosphere and their PL properties

We report here the evolution of zinc based high purity phases with novel morphologies such as Zn₃N₂ hollow structures, ZnO nanowires and nanopowders, as well as metallic Zn layered hexagonal microparticles at progressively increased reaction temperature of 600 °C, 700 °C, 800 °C under NH₃ gas atmosphere using Zn powder precursor and keeping all other experimental parameters unchanged. Growth mechanism for Zn₃N₂ obtained by nitridation, ZnO by oxidation and Zn microparticles via thermal evaporation & condensation process are discussed briefly. The as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Photoluminescence (PL) studies have revealed very interesting and infrequently observed emission bands at 378 and 661 nm for Zn₃N₂, 359 and 396 nm for ZnO as well as 389 nm for Zn polyhedral microparticles.     

A coumarin-based fluorescent PET sensor utilizing supramolecular pKa shifts

A new coumarin derivative containing benzothiazole and piperazine substituents was synthesized. Preferential inclusion of the benzothiazole group, over the coumarin and piperazine groups, inside the cavity of the molecular container cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) was evidenced by using optical and NMR techniques. The binding constant of the new complex with CB7 is higher in its protonated forms (e.g., K = 2.8 × 10⁶ M⁻¹) than in its neutral forms, which led to an increase in the pK_a value associated with protonation of the aza nitrogen on the benzothiazole ring of ca. 2.5 units. Such CB7-induced protonation disabled the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) in the included molecule, enhancing its coumarin fluorescence up to ca. 45-fold (pH 3.5, 410 nm). The results are discussed in the context of designing sensitive analytical tools for reversible monitoring of optically inactive analytes by competitive displacement experiments.