New methods for the detection of carboxylic acid groups in organic compounds, with acriflavine

The dye acriflavine is used for the selective detection of the carboxylic acid group in organic compounds. Two simple, rapid, and reliable colour tests are reported; these are based on the development of a violet colour and a yellow to yellowish-brown precipitate when a carboxylic acid is treated with acriflavine/sodium nitrite and acriflavine/potassium chromate respectively. Other acidic compounds such as phenols, thiophenols, sulphinic acids, sulphonamides, and acid imides do not interfere. Sulphonic acids (with the exception of their amino derivatives) interfere with both the tests. Enols and salts of organic bases do not interfere in the former test, whereas they do interfere in the latter test. The probable nature of the reaction products in both the tests has been discussed. Based on the former reaction, a procedure is described for the selective detection of nitrite ion. The limit of detection is 25 mug of nitrite per ml. Only iodide interferes.     

New spot-test for silver(I) based on double iodide formation with bismuth(III)

The formation of an intense brownish-maroon or maroon-red product by the interaction of silver(I) and bismuth(III) solution in the presence of iodide forms the basis of a new and specific spot-test procedure for silver. The test is conducted on a spot plate with 2 or 3 drops of 2% potassium iodide solution, 1 drop of 1% bismuth(III) nitrate solution, and 1 drop of test solution. Limit of detection is 0.01 mug; limit of dilution is 1:5 x 10(6). Most cations and anions do not interfere. Only Tl(I), Cs, S(2)O(2-)(3), EDTA, pyridine, excess of thiourea, oxidizing ions (NO(-)(2), IO(-)(3), IO(-)(4), MnO(-)(4), BrO(-)(3), and S(2)O(2-)(8)) and ions such as Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), SCN(-), and N(-)(3) which cause precipitation of silver, interfere. The product formed is most probably Ag(2)BiI(5).     

Solution structure of a DNA duplex containing a biphenyl pair

Hydrogen-bonding and stacking interactions between nucleobases are considered to be the major noncovalent interactions that stabilize the DNA and RNA double helices. In recent work we found that one or multiple biphenyl pairs, devoid of any potential for hydrogen bond formation, can be introduced into a DNA double helix without loss of duplex stability. We hypothesized that interstrand stacking interactions of the biphenyl residues maintain duplex stability. Here we present an NMR structure of the decamer duplex d(GTGACXGCAG) d(CTGCYGTCAC) that contains one such X/Y biaryl pair. X represents a 3',5'-dinitrobiphenyl- and Y a 3',4'-dimethoxybiphenyl C-nucleoside unit. The experimentally determined solution structure shows a B-DNA duplex with a slight kink at the site of modification. The biphenyl groups are intercalated side by side as a pair between the natural base pairs and are stacked head to tail in van der Waals contact with each other. The first phenyl rings of the biphenyl units each show tight intrastrand stacking to their natural base neighbors on the 3'-side, thus strongly favoring one of two possible interstrand intercalation structures. In order to accommodate the biphenyl units in the duplex the helical pitch is widened while the helical twist at the site of modification is reduced. Interestingly, the biphenyl rings are not static in the duplex but are in dynamic motion even at 294 K.     

New qualitative colour reaction for the identification of copper(I) compounds and complexes

The colour reaction of copper(I) salts and complexes, in sulphuric acid medium, with ferricyanide and ammonia, has been used for the general identification of cuprous compounds. A sulphuric acid solution of Cu(I) compound, when treated with a dilute ferricyanide solution in the presence of ammonia, gives a salmon-pink, red-pink, pink-purple or purple colour or precipitate, characteristic of copper(I). Copper(II) compounds fail to give a positive response. The reaction also forms the basis of a test for ammonium ion and differentiation between ferrocyanide and ferricyanide. The preparation of the copper(I) complex of 1-allyl-2-tetrazoline-5-thione is described.     

Silvestrol and episilvestrol, potential anticancer rocaglate derivatives from Aglaia silvestris

Two cytotoxic rocaglate derivatives possessing an unusual dioxanyloxy unit, silvestrol (1) and episilvestrol (2), were isolated from the fruits and twigs of Aglaia silvestris by bioassay-guided fractionation monitored with a human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cell line. Additionally, two new baccharane-type triterpenoids, 17,24-epoxy-25-hydroxybaccharan-3-one (3) and 17,24-epoxy-25-hydroxy-3-oxobaccharan-21-oic acid (4), as well as eleven known compounds, 1beta,6alpha-dihydroxy-4(15)-eudesmene (5), ferulic acid (6), grasshopper ketone (7), apigenin, cabraleone, chrysoeriol, 1beta,4beta-dihydroxy-6alpha,15alpha-epoxyeudesmane, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone, 4-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol, ocotillone, and beta-sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were also isolated and characterized. The structures of compounds 1-4 were elucidated by spectroscopic studies and by chemical transformation. The absolute stereochemistry of silvestrol (1) was established by a X-ray diffraction study of its di-p-bromobenzoate derivative, and the structure of 3 was also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The isolates and chemical transformation products were evaluated for cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines, and silvestrol (1) and episilvestrol (2) exhibited potent in vitro cytotoxic activity. Silvestrol (1) was further evaluated in vivo in the hollow fiber test and in the murine P-388 leukemia model.     

A new spot test reagent for chromium(VI), vanadium(V), and hexacyanoferrate(III) ions: the schiff base from 4,4′-methylenedianiline and 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde

Summary A new Schiff base, bis(4-dimethylaminobenzylidine)4,4-methylenedianiline (I) has been prepared by reacting 4-dimethylaminoben-zaldehyde with 4,4-methylenedianiline. A 1% solution ofI in conc. sulphuric acid gives a deep red or blood red colour with Cr(VI), and V(V), and a deep rose red colour with [Fe(CN)₆]^3-. The limits of detection and dilution are 0.7 g, 171,000 for Cr(VI); 5 g, 110,000 for V(V); and 7 g, 17,100 for [Fe(CN)₆]^3-. Cr(III), V(IV), and [Fe(CN)₆]^4- do not interfere. The effects of common anions and cations are reported.

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Zusammenfassung Durch Umsetzung von 4-Dimethylaminobenzaldehyd mit 4,4-Methylen-dianilin wurde eine neue Schiffsche Base hergestellt, deren 1%ige Lösung in konz. Schwefelsäure eine tiefrote oder blutrote Farbe mit Cr(VI) und V(V), eine tiefrosa Farbe mit [Fe(CN)₆]^3– gibt. Die Nachweisgrenzen bzw. die Grenzkonzentrationen betragen: 0,7 g, 171000 für Cr(VI), 5 g, 110000 für V(V) und 7 g, 17100 für [Fe(CN)]₆ ^3–. Cr(III), V(IV) und [Fe(CN)₆]^4– stören nicht. Der Einfluß gängiger Anionen und Kationen wird angegeben.

     

In silico targeting PAD4 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Structural Chemistry - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation with periodic bursts of activity in multiple synovial joints which lead to irreversible...     

Synthesis and Anticancer, Antiinflammatory,and Analgesic Activity Evaluation of Some Sulfa Drug and Acridine Derivatives

Summary.  Various sulfa drugs were condensed with 4-isothiocyanato-4-methyl-2-pentanone at pH∼3–5 by refluxing in methanol to give various substituted mercaptopyrimidines. On condensation with 9-chloro-2-substituted or -unsubstituted acridines, sulfathiazole gave the corresponding condensed products. N-Ethylaminoadenosine reacted with 9-chloroacridine to the coupled product. Condensation of sulfathiazole with 9-isothiocyanato-2,4-substituted or -unsubstituted acridines afforded the corresponding condensed compounds. The structures of all synthesized compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic methods. Anticancer, antiinflammatory, and analgesic activities of all compounds were investigated. Received November 18, 1999. Accepted (revised) January 12, 2000