Rime samples characterization and comparison using classical and fuzzy principal components analysis

The main objective of this paper is to introduce principal component analysis and two robust fuzzy principal component algorithms as useful tools in characterizing and comparing rime samples collected in different locations in Poland (2004–2007). The efficiency of the applied procedures was illustrated on a data set containing 108 rime samples and concentration of anions, cations, HCHO, as well as pH and conductivity. The fuzzy principal component algorithms achieved better results mainly because they are more compressible than classical PCA and very robust to outliers. For example, a three component model, fuzzy principal component analysis-first component (FPCA-1) accounts for 62.37% of the total variance and fuzzy principal component analysis-orthogonal (FPCA-o) 90.11%; PCA accounts only for 58.30%. The first two principal components explain 51.41% of the total variance in the case of FPCA-1 and 79.59% in the case of FPCA-o as compared to only 47.55% for PCA. As a direct consequence, PCA showed only a partial differentiation of rime samples onto the plane or in the space described by different combination of two or three principal components, whereas a much sharper differentiation of the samples, regarding their origin and location, is observed when FPCAs are applied.      

Synthesis and cytostatic activity of 4,7-dihydroxythioaurone derivatives. Effect of B ring substitution on the activity

Biological activity of thioaurones was not tested so far and the group constitute completely unexplored source of new molecules of pharmacological interest. We report synthesis and evaluation of cytotoxic activity of thioaurone derivatives bearing p-hydroquinone system in ring A. Their activity was found to depend strongly on substitution pattern, so eventually both the activity and pharmacokinetic parameters of the molecules could be tailored by further structural modifications.     

Ethanol production in a bioreactor with an integrated membrane distillation module

Ethanol production in a bioreactor with integrated membrane distillation (MD) module has been investigated. A hydrophobic capillary polypropylene membrane (Accurel PP V8/2 HF), with an external/internal diameter ratio, d _out/d _in = 8.6 mm/5.5 mm and pore size 0.2 μm, was used in these studies. The products (mainly ethanol and acetic acid) formed during the fermentation of sugar with Saccharomyces cerevisiae inhibited the process. These products were selectively removed from the fermentation broth by the MD process, which increased the efficiency of the conversion of sugar to alcohol from 0.45 g to 0.5 g EtOH per g of fermented sucrose. The bioreactor efficiency also increased by almost 30 %. Separation of alcohol by the MD generates a higher yield of ethanol in the permeate than in the broth. The enrichment coefficient amounted to 4-8, and depended on the ethanol concentration in the broth. The separated solutions did not wet the membrane in use for 2500 h of the MD experiments and the retention of inorganic solutes was close to 100 %.     

Synthesis of β-ketophosphonates with electron rich β-aryl groups as useful organophosphorus reagents in lignans synthesis

Investigation of the oxidation reaction of electron rich alkoxy substituted β-aryl β-hydroxyphosphonates to corresponding β-ketophosphonates, which may be utilized in syntheses of lignans with various oxidizing agents (PCC, PDC, SIBX, CAN, Oxone^®, KMNO₄/SiO₂, KMnO₄/MS 4 Å, KMnO₄/CuSO₄, KMnO₄/CuSO₄/Al₂O₃, MnO₂, CrO₃/SiO₂, H₂O₂/salen) is described. The effect of oxidants and reaction conditions on the reaction efficiency and yield was also investigated.     

Nuclear resonance vibrational spectra of five-coordinate imidazole-ligated iron(II) porphyrinates

Nuclear resonance vibrational spectra have been obtained for six five-coordinate imidazole-ligated iron(II) porphyrinates, [Fe(Por)(L)] (Por = tetraphenylporphyrinate, octaethylporphyrinate, tetratolylporphyrinate, or protoporphyrinate IX and L = 2-methylimidazole or 1,2-dimethylimidazole). Measurements have been made on both powder and oriented crystal samples. The spectra are dominated by strong signals around 200-300 cm(-1). Although the in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations are seriously overlapped, oriented crystal spectra allow their deconvolution. Thus, oriented crystal experimental data, along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, enable the assignment of key vibrations in the spectra. Molecular dynamics are also discussed. The nature of the Fe-N(Im) vibrations has been elaborated further than was possible from resonance Raman studies. Our study suggests that the Fe motions are coupled with the porphyrin core and peripheral groups motions. Both peripheral groups and their conformations have significant influence on the vibrational spectra (position and shape).     

Synthesis and characterization of two homologous series of diastereomeric 2-alkoxyphenylcarbamates

Two homologous series of racemic diastereomeric cis- and trans-(2-dimethylaminomethylcycloheptyl)-2-alkoxyphenylcarbamates with alkyl chain lengths ranging from C? to C? were synthesized by stereoselective reactions. The chemical structures of these compounds were confirmed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and IR spectroscopy and their physico-chemical properties were characterized. The two new series of diastereomeric compounds were tested for their local anesthetic activity and parabolic relationship between the local anesthetic activity and lipophilicity was found for both cis- and trans-series. Interestingly, cis-stereoisomers exhibited higher local anesthetic activity.     

The synthesis of 3,6-diamino-2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-dl-threo-hexopyranose derivatives,substrates for the synthesis of negamycin

Three synthetic routes to derivatives of 3,6 - diamino - 2,3,4,6 - tetradeoxy - DL - threo - hexopyranose were investigated. Addition of sodium azide in acetic acid to 6 - phthalimido - 5,6 - dihydro - 2 - pyrone gave 4-azido compound (7) of the erythro configuration. From methyl 2,4 - dideoxy - β -dl- erythro - hexopyranoside threo 4 - phthalimido - 6 - phthalimidomethyl - tetrahydro - 2 - pyrone (17) was obtained in three steps in low overall yield. Addition of sodium azide in acetic acid to butyl 6 - oxo - 2 - hydroxy - hex - 4 - enoate followed by methylation, amonolysis of the ester group, and reduction gave methyl 3,6 - diacetamido - 2,3,4,6 - tetradeoxy - α - DL - threo - hexopyranoside (26).     

Water environmental effect on tautomeric equilibria of 2- and 4-oxopyridines. A CNDO/2 study

The supermolecule approach is proposed to evaluate the shift of the tautomeric equilibrium of a molecule when going from the vapour phase to water solution. According to the model, a comparison of the stabilization (hydration) energies of different tautomers of a molecule surrounded by water molecules predicts changes in tautomeric equilibrium upon solvation. An application of the model (within the CNDO/2 method) to 2- and 4-oxopyridine shows that the lactam tautomers of the molecules are more stabilized by water molecules than the corresponding lactim forms by about 7–8 kcal/mole.     

Formation of the radical-cation of monomer in the photoinduced polymerization of isobutylene in the presence of SnCl4

Spectra of isobutylene with SnCl₄ were studied at the temperature of 113°K in the dark and under illumination. Radical-cations of isobutylene are formed by irradiation of the isobutylene–SnCl₄ mixture in n-heptane substantially more slowly than in the isobutylene–TiCl₄ mixture. Polymerization of isobutylene occurs after increasing the temperature up to the melting point of this mixture. The yield of polymer depends on the duration of preirradiation, while the molecular weight of polyisobutylene (M _η) does not depend on the preirradiation of reaction mixture.