Convenient Synthesis of 1,3,6-Triene Systems Through Alkylation of 3-Methyl-3-sulfolene.

Abstract: Various 1,3,6-triene systems have been synthesised through alkylation of 3-methyl-3-sulfolene with conjugated aldehydes followed by silylation and subsequent desulfonylation. A new route to synthesis of (+/?)-α-chamigrene, isofokienol and 5-hydroxy-α-farnesene has been described.     

Co‐ and Counterion Effect on the Micellization Characteristics of Dodecylpyridinium Chloride

Micellization parameters, critical micelle concentration (cmc), degree of counterion dissociation (α), aggregation number (n), critical packing parameter, and hydrophobic core volume of Dodecylpyridinium chloride (DPC) micelles were determined in presence of varying concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium acetate (SAc), sodium propionate (SPr), ethylammonium chloride (EACl), diethylammonium chloride (DEACl), tetraethylammonium chloride (TEACl), and propylammonium chloride (PACl) through conductometric investigations at 298.15 K. The resulting data suggests that both counter and coions affect the cmc values‐cmc depressing tendency of the salts varies in order PACl≈NaCl>EACl>DEACl>TEACl>SPr>SAc, while the degree of counterion dissociation is dependent on the nature and concentration range of the added salt. Increasing salt concentration increases the relative hydrophobic volume of the micelles and coion has not much effect on aggregation number.     

Palladium complex in a room temperature ionic liquid: a convenient recyclable reagent for catalytic oxidation

Palladium (Pd)-catalyzed carbonylation of alcohols proceeds in ionic liquid (IL) media (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate). Carbonylation of primary/secondary alcohols to aldehydes/ketones was greatly accelerated by the use of a Pd-based catalyst in the presence of NaOCl as an oxidant. The catalyst was more easier to recycle in the IL [Emim]PF₆ with an equal-proportioned CH₂Cl₂ than in the single CH₂Cl₂ or IL.     

[2+3] Amide Cages by Oxidation of [2+3] Imine Cages – Revisiting Molecular Hosts for Highly Efficient Nitrate Binding

The pollution of groundwater with nitrate is a serious issue because nitrate can cause several diseases such as methemoglobinemia or cancer. Therefore, selective removal of nitrate by efficient binding to supramolecular hosts is highly desired. Here we describe how to make [2+3] amide cages in very high to quantitative yields by applying an optimized Pinnick oxidation protocol for the conversion of corresponding imine cages. By NMR titration experiments of the eight different [2+3] amide cages with nitrate, chloride and hydrogen sulfate we identified one cage with an unprecedented high selectivity towards nitrate binding vs. chloride (S=705) or hydrogensulfate (S>13500) in CD₂Cl₂/CD₃CN (1 : 3). NMR experiments as well as single-crystal structure comparison of host-guest complexes give insight into structure-property-relationships.     

Trypsin Inhibitor from Edible Mushroom Pleurotus floridanus Active against Proteases of Microbial Origin

Protease inhibitors can be versatile tools mainly in the fields of medicine, agriculture and food preservative applications. Fungi have been recognized as sources of protease inhibitors, although there are only few such reports on mushrooms. This work reports the purification and characterization of a trypsin inhibitor from the fruiting body of edible mushroom Pleurotus floridanus (PfTI) and its effect on the activity of microbial proteases. The protease inhibitor was purified up to 35-fold by DEAE-Sepharose ion exchange column, trypsin-Sepharose column and Sephadex G100 column. The isoelectric point of the inhibitor was 4.4, and its molecular mass was calculated as 37 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 38.3 kDa by MALDI-TOF. Inhibitory activity confirmation was by dot-blot analysis and zymographic activity staining. The specificity of the inhibitor toward trypsin was with Ki of 1.043?×?10^?10 M. The inhibitor was thermostable up to 90 °C with maximal stability at 30 °C, active over a pH range of 4–10 against proteases from Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus sp. and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Results indicate the possibility of utilization of protease inhibitor from P. floridanus against serine proteases.     

Novel Schiff bases–based thiophenes: Design,synthesis and biological evaluation

2-amino-5-(3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)thiophene-3-carbonitrile derivatives have been synthesized from 1-(3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone, malononitrile, mild base, and sulfur powder using the Gewald method through a multistep reaction sequence. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were established on the basis of their elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral data, and then synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Among them, derivatives 3b (thiphene), 3f (pyrazole), and 3d (halogen) showed good activity and remaining derivatives exhibited moderate activity.     

High Na+ Mobility in rGO Wrapped High Aspect Ratio 1D SbSe Nano Structure Renders Better Electrochemical Na+ Battery Performance

We chose to understand the cyclic instability and rate instability issues in the promising class of Na⁺ conversion and alloying anodes with Sb₂Se₃ as a typical example. We employ a synthetic strategy that ensures efficient rGO (reduced graphene oxide) wrapping over Sb₂Se₃ material. By utilization of the minimum weight of additive (5 wt.% of rGO), we achieved a commendable performance with a reversible capacity of 550 mAh g⁻¹ at a specific current of 100 mA g⁻¹ and an impressive rate performance with 100 % capacity retention after high current cycling involving a 2 Ag⁻¹ intermediate current step. The electrochemical galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) has been employed for the first time to draw a rationale between the enhanced performance and the increased mobility in the rGO wrapped composite (Sb₂Se₃-rGO) compared to bare Sb₂Se₃. GITT analysis reveals higher Na⁺ diffusion coefficients (approx. 30 fold higher) in the case of Sb₂Se₃-rGO as compared to bare Sb₂Se₃ throughout the operating voltage window. For Sb₂Se₃-rGO the diffusion coefficients in the range of 8.0×10⁻¹⁵ cm² s⁻¹ to 2.2×10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹ were observed, while in case of bare Sb₂Se₃ the diffusion coefficients in the range of 1.6×10⁻¹⁵ cm² s⁻¹ to 9.4×10⁻¹⁵ cm² s⁻¹ were observed.     

Growth of lanthanum heptamolybdate crystals by gel technique

The growth of single crystals of lanthanum heptamolybdate is achieved by allowing controlled diffusion of La ions through silica gel using the system La(NO₃)₃ MoO₃ NH₄OH HNO₃–Na₂SiO₃. The reaction mechanism leading to the growth is reported. Mechanism of crystallization of La heptamolybdate is discussed. Formation of Liesegang rings consisting of La heptamolybdate crystals in the system is reported. It is observed that concentration programming and seeded growth enhances the size of crystals. The crystals grown in the system are single crystal platelets exhibiting squarish or octagonal facets. Some crystals exhibit a spherulitic morphology.     

Dielectric characteristics of neodymium heptamolybdate crystals grown by gel encapsulation technique

Results obtained from the dielectric studies of neodymium heptamolybdate crystals grown in the system Nd(NO₃)₃ –MoO₃ –NH₄OH– HNO₃ —Na₂SiO₃ by gel encapsulation technique are presented. The variation of dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (tanδ) and conductivity (σ) with frequency at different temperatures is studied. The dielectric constant of the material increases sharply, attains a peak value and then decreases rapidly, as material's temperature rises from room temperature to higher degrees. The temperature at which the peak value is attained is the transition temperature of the material. Dielectric loss (tan δ) follows almost a similar behaviour. The conductivity (σ) is also found to be temperature-and frequency-dependent. This sharp rise in ε′ is attributed to the contribution from space charge polarization. Theoretically obtained data using the expression ε′ = a₀ + a₁ T² and —In σ = a + b(T — T₀)² for T < T₀) fits very well with the experimentally obtained data indicating that space charge polarization increases as some power of temperature larger than one.