Improved Procedure for Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes With IO(OH)5

Oxidative cleavage of alkenes to carboxylic acids catalyzed by cis‐[RuCl₂(bipy)₂] · 2H₂O in the presence of IO(OH)₅ has been studied in a biphasic (CH₃CN‐CCl₄‐H₂O; 1∶1∶2 v/v) solvent system. Ruthenium tetraoxide seems to be the active catalyst species.     

Preparation and Rheological Characterization of Polymer Nanocomposites Based on Expanded Graphite

A new type of conductive filler, namely expanded graphite (EG), was used to prepare novel nanocomposites. The EG was incorporated into several rather different polymers, specifically polycarbonate (PC), low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), isotactic polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS), using melt mixing in a small‐scale DACA‐Microcompounder. The EG content was varied between 1 and 20 wt%. The rheological properties and morphologies of the nanocomposites were characterized by melt rheology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The melt‐state linear viscoelastic properties were investigated using an ARES rheometer, with the measurements performed in the dynamic mode at various temperatures over a wide range of frequencies. Addition of the EG increased the linear dynamic moduli and melt viscosity of the materials. Up to a certain critical concentration of EG, the materials exhibited a simple liquid‐like behavior. Above this concentration, however, significant changes in the frequency dependences of the moduli and viscosity were observed. In addition, the moduli showed a liquid‐solid transition resulting in a second plateau in the low frequency‐regime, and the complex viscosity revealed shear‐thinning behavior. Specific values of this percolation concentration were found to be at around 4 wt% in the case of PC/EG, 9 wt% for PP/EG and PS/EG, and 12 wt% for PE/EG. This critical concentration was correlated to a network‐like structure formed through interactions between the EG platelets and the polymers. The extent of these complications was found to vary from polymer to polymer, presumably due to different degrees of EG exfoliation and dispersion arising from different EG‐polymer interactions and from variable shearing forces dependent on the polymer viscosities. The formation of network‐like structures is very sensitively displayed using van Gurp‐Palmen plots, which are most suitable for identifying “rheological percolation” in our investigated systems.     

Through the eye of an electrospray needle: mass spectrometric identification of the major peptides and proteins in the milk of the one‐humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The milk of the one‐humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) reportedly offers medicinal benefits, perhaps because of its unique bioactive components. Milk proteins were determined by (1) two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass mapping and (2) liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) following one‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Over 200 proteins were identified: some known camel proteins including heavy‐chain immunoglobulins and others exhibiting regions of exact homology with proteins from other species. Indigenous peptides were also identified following isolation and concentration by two strategies: (1) gel‐eluted liquid fraction entrapment electrophoresis and (2) small‐scale electrophoretic separation. Extracts were analyzed by LC–MS/MS and peptides identified by matching strategies, by de novo sequencing and by applying a sequence tag tool requiring similarity to the proposed sequence, but not an exact match. A plethora of protein cleavage products including some novel peptides were characterized. These studies demonstrate that camel milk is a rich source of peptides, some of which may serve as nutraceuticals. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of structural analogs of dimercaptosuccinic acid-functionalized silica nanoparticles (DMSA-[silica]) to adsorption of mercury, cadmium, and lead

In order to gain additional insight into mercury selectivity with nano-sized DMSA-[silica], we investigated a series of ligands related to DMSA, these are: monomercaptosuccinic acid; MMSA, 2-mercapto-4-methyl-5-thiazoleacetic acid; MCT, ortho-thiosalicylic acid; o-TSA and para-thiosalicylic acid; p-TSA. The MMSA chelate is structurally similar to DMSA except that it has only one thiol group. The chelates o-TSA and p-TSA each have one thiol and one carboxylic acid group. MCT includes neutral S and N atoms in close proximity to the thiolate binding site. MCT, o-TSA and p-TSA resemble each other in having equal numbers of carboxylic acid and thiol groups and formation of amide bonds with the linker on silica is expected to eliminate the carboxylate binding sites, making thiolates the only binding sites for Hg(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) metals ions in the nano-sized; MMSA-[silica], MCT-[silica], o-TSA-[silica], and p-TSA-[silica]. Each of the nano-sized MMSA-[silica], MCT-[silica], o-TSA-[silica], and p-TSA-[silica], show a higher preference for Hg(II) over Cd(II) and Pb(II) compared to the same free chelates in solution, respectively. In addition, there are differences in the level of metal ion chelation for each functionalized silica nanoparticle. These differences in the degree of metal chelation for each functionalized silica nanoparticles surface are explained by the difference in thiolate/carboxylate ratio upon attachment to the surface and on steric reasons based on the orientation of the thiol groups on the surface. When attached via amide bond formation, the thiolate site in o-TSA-[silica] will face towards the silica surface, while for p-TSA-[silica], the thiolate site is expected to be pointed outwards and away from the silica surface. In comparing MMSA-[silica] to DMSA-[silica], the thiolate/carboxylate ratio decreases from 2/1 in DMSA-[silica] to 1/1 in MMSA-[silica] (assuming attachment via one amide bond in each case). This effect of increasing the ratio of thiolate to carboxylate upon attachment to the surface is believed to play a role in the selectivity enhancement towards Hg(II) over Cd(II) and Pb(II).     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with tetradentate pyridylthioazoimine [N,S,N,N] ligands: Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopy

The Ru(II) complexes cis-[Ru(L)Cl₂] (C1-C3) of novel tetradentate NSNN ligands (L) {where L is C₅H₄N-CH₂-S-C₆H₄NC(COCH₃)-NN-C₆H₄X, and X is H (L1), CH₃ (L2) and Br (L3)}, were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy (IR, UV/vis and NMR), cyclic voltammetry and crystallography. The tetradentate ligands were isolated as the amidrazones H₂L {where H₂L is C₅H₄N-CH₂-S-C₆H₄NH-C(COCH₃)N-NH-C₆H₄X and X is H (H₂L1), CH₃ (H₂L2) and Br (H₂L3)} as shown by crystallography of H₂L1, but oxidize to azoimines during the formation of the Ru(II) complexes. A crystallographic analysis of C1 showed that the Ru(II) centre is in a distorted octahedral coordination sphere in which the tetradentate ligand occupies three equatorial sites and one axial site (two azoimine nitrogens and a thio sulfur in the equatorial plane and an axial pyridine nitrogen) and two chlorides occupying axial and equatorial coordination sites. The Ru(II) oxidation state is greatly stabilized by the novel tetradentate ligand, showing Ru(III/II) couples ranging from 1.43 to 1.51 V. The absorption spectrum of C1 in acetonitrile was modelled by time-dependent density functional theory.     

Synthesis of novel spiro(indolone‐3,2′‐[1,3,4]thiadiazol)‐2‐ones and evaluation of their antidepressant and anticonvulsant activities

The reaction of 3‐(dicyanomethylene)‐2‐indolone in a solution of ethanol/piperidine with 4‐substituted thiosemicarbazides forms the derivatives of 5′‐(substituted amino)‐3′H–spiro(indoline‐3,2′‐[1,3,4]thiadiazol‐2‐one. Rationales for these conversions involving the nucleophilic addition on the dicyanomethylene carbon atom are presented. The prepared compounds were evaluated each for antidepressant activity using tail suspension behavioral despair test and anticonvulsant activity against pentylenetetrazol induced seizures in mice. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of new 1,2,4‐triazine and [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐b][1,2,4]triazine derivatives and their thioglycoside and acyclic C‐nucleoside analogs

New 1,2,4‐triazine and their derived 1,2,4‐triazolo[3,4‐b][1,2,4]triazine derivatives were synthesized starting from 5,6‐diphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazine‐3‐thiol. Furthermore, the corresponding 1,2,4‐triazolo[3,4‐b][1,2,4]‐triazine thioglycosides and acyclic C‐nucleoside analogs were synthesized. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antitumor activity and some of them showed high inhibition activities. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 2011.     

Nanocrystalline soft ferromagnetic Ni-Co-P thin film on Al alloy by low temperature electroless deposition

Soft ferromagnetic ternary Ni-Co-P films were deposited onto Al 6061 alloy from low temperature Ni-Co-P electroless plating bath. The effect of deposition parameters, such as time and pH, on the plating rate of the deposit were examined. The results showed that the plating rate is a function of pH bath and the highest coating thickness can be obtained at pH value from 8 to10. The surface morphology, phase structure and the magnetic properties of the prepared films have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and vibrating magnetometer device (VMD), respectively. The deposit obtained at optimum conditions showed compact and smooth with nodular grains structure and exhibited high magnetic moments and low coercivety. Potentiodynamic polarization corrosion tests were used to study the general corrosion behavior of Al alloys, Ni-P and Ni-Co-P coatings in 3.5% NaCl solution. It was found that Ni-Co-P coated alloy demonstrated higher corrosion resistance than Ni-P coating containing same percent of P due to the Co addition. The Ni-Co-P coating with a combination of high corrosion resistance, high hardness and excellent magnetic properties would be expected to enlarge the applications of the aluminum alloys.     

Dystrophin Protein Quantification as a Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Diagnostic Biomarker in Dried Blood Spots Using Multiple Reaction Monitoring Tandem Mass Spectrometry: A Preliminary Study

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by progressive muscle loss, leading to difficulties in movement. Mutations in the DMD gene that code for the protein dystrophin are responsible for the development of DMD disorder, where the synthesis of this protein is completely halted. Therefore, circulating dystrophin protein could be a promising biomarker of DMD disease. Current methods for diagnosing DMD have sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility limitations. Herein, a quantitative liquid chromatography–tandem spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) technique in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was designed and validated for accurate dystrophin protein measurement in a dried blood spot (DBS). The method was successfully validated on the basis of international guidelines regarding calibration curves, precision, and accuracy. In addition, patients and healthy controls were used to test the amount of dystrophin protein circulating in DBS samples as a potential biomarker for DMD disorders. DMD patients were found to have considerably lower levels than controls. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report dystrophin levels in DBS through LC–MS/MS as a diagnostic marker for DMD to the proposed MRM method, providing a highly specific and sensitive approach to dystrophin quantification in a DBS that can be applied in DMD screening.     

Studies with polyfunctionally substituted heteroaromatics: New routes for the synthesis of polyfunctionally substituted pyridines and 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines

The 1-substituted ethylidenemalononitriles 1a–c condensed with triethyl orthoformate in refluxing acetic anhydride to yield the dienes 2a–c . On the other hand, a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide and triethyl orthoformate condensed with 1a–d to yield the N,N-dimethylaminopentadienonitriles 2d–g . The pentadienonitriles 2d–g were also formed from the reaction of 1a–d with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal in refluxing acetic acid. When compounds 1a–c were treated with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal in refluxing p-xylene, a mixture of 3 , 4 and 2e–g was formed. The reaction of 2a , b with hydrazine hydrate afforded the N-amino-2-iminopyridines 5a , b . These were converted into the triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines 8a–d on treatment with benzoyl chloride and with dimethylformamide dimethylacetal. On the other hand, the reaction of 2c with hydrazine hydrate afforded the pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine 7c . Treatment of 2a , c or 2e , g with cyanoethanoic hydrazide afforded the N-(cyanoacetamido)pyridines 9a , b . The dienes 2d , f , g afforded the pyridones 11a–c on treatment with acetic acid and hydrochloric acid mixture. Compounds 11b , c were also formed on treatment of 2b , c with acetic acid hydrochloric acid mixture. The reaction of 2d , g with ethanolic sodium ethoxide gave the ethoxypyridines 13a , b .