Enantioselective Organocatalytic Diels–Alder Trapping of Photochemically Generated Hydroxy‐o‐Quinodimethanes

The photoenolization/Diels–Alder strategy offers straightforward access to synthetically valuable benzannulated carbocyclic products. This historical light‐triggered process has never before succumbed to efforts to develop an enantioselective catalytic approach. Herein, we demonstrate how asymmetric organocatalysis provides simple yet effective catalytic tools to intercept photochemically generated hydroxy‐o‐quinodimethanes with high stereoselectivity. We used a chiral organic catalyst, derived from natural cinchona alkaloids, to activate maleimides toward highly stereoselective Diels–Alder reactions. An unconventional mechanism of stereocontrol is operative, wherein the organocatalyst is actively involved in both the photochemical pathway, by leveraging the formation of the reactive photoenol, and the stereoselectivity‐defining event.     

Band structures of Ni3Pt and NiPt3

The results of self-consistent, spin-polarized LMTO band structure calculations are shown for the compounds Ni₃Pt and NiPt₃, ofL12 (Cu₃Au) structure. Lattice constants are reported together with bulk moduli, and the electronic structure is studied in relation to magnetism in both cubic compounds. Covalent magnetism is shown to act against the magnetization in Ni₃Pt.     

l-Arginine Improves Solubility and ANTI SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Activity of Rutin but Not the Antiviral Activity in Cells

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak prompts an urgent need for efficient therapeutics, and repurposing of known drugs has been extensively used in an attempt to get to anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents in the shortest possible time. The glycoside rutin shows manifold pharmacological activities and, despite its use being limited by its poor solubility in water, it is the active principle of many pharmaceutical preparations. We herein report our in silico and experimental investigations of rutin as a SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor and of its water solubility improvement obtained by mixing it with l-arginine. Tests of the rutin/l-arginine mixture in a cellular model of SARS-CoV-2 infection highlighted that the mixture still suffers from unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties, but nonetheless, the results of this study suggest that rutin might be a good starting point for hit optimization.     

Derivatives of benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]thiophene. Synthesis of 2,3,7,8-tetrahydro-3-oxothieno[1,2-b]cyclohepta[5,6,7-de]isoquinoline and 1,2,3,7,8,11b-hexahydro-3-oxothieno[1,2-b]cyclohepta[5,6,7-de]isoquinoline

The synthesis of the title compounds was carried out by cyclization via isocyanate of (E)-4,5-dihydro-10H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]-thiophene-10-ylideneacetic acid and 4,5-dihydro-10H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]-thiophene-10-ylacetic acid respectively, which were obtained by the Wadsworth-Emmons modification of the Wittig reaction of 4,5-dihydro-10H-10-oxobenzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]thiophene and triethyl phosphonacetate. The structures of these new compounds are described.     

Adsorption of citric acid from dilute aqueous solutions by hydroxyapatite

The role of citric acid in the demineralization of dental enamel, which is mainly constituted by hydroxyapatite, is important for periodontal regeneration and in the conditioning of enamel or dentin for bonding restorative resins. The adsorption of citric acid from aqueous solutions onto synthetic hydroxyapatite at 278, 288, 298, and 308 K and pH 4.8 has been studied by means of UV spectroscopy. The adsorption reaction, which takes place by an interaction between phosphate groups and citrate anions at the solid-solution interface, yields an adsorbate-adsorbent complex of high stability. The adsorption isotherms fit the Langmuirian shape. The proposed adsorption model, where citrate species interact in a bidentate manner (one citrate ion links two phosphate sites), is coherent with the experimental data. The activation standard heat and activation standard entropy were calculated. All the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were in concordance with the adsorption reaction proposed in this work.     

Synthesis of new thieno and pyrazolo[2,1]benzothiazepine derivatives with potential antidepressant properties

In this paper we describe a series of new thieno and pyrazolo[2,1]benzothiazepine derivatives 7a‐o which were synthesized by two different methods both starting from the previously described tricyclic alcohols 1–3 . Several components of this series were effective p. o. (per os, orally) in different pharmacological tests currently employed in the evaluation of antidepressant activity.     

Coupled Amplitude-Streaming Flow Equations for Nearly Inviscid Faraday Waves in Small Aspect Ratio Containers

Summary. We derive a set of asymptotically exact coupled amplitude-streaming flow ({CASF}) equations governing the evolution of weakly nonlinear nearly inviscid multimode Faraday waves and the associated streaming flow in finite geometries. The streaming flow is found to play a particularly important role near mode interactions. Such interactions come about either through a suitable choice of parameters or through breaking of degeneracy among modes related by symmetry. An example of the first case is provided by the interaction of two nonaxisymmetric modes in a circular container with different azimuthal wavenumbers. The second case arises when the shape of the container is changed from square to slightly rectangular, or from circular to slightly noncircular but with a plane of symmetry. The generation of streaming flow in each of these cases is discussed in detail and the properties of the resulting CASF equations are described. A preliminary analysis suggests that these equations can resolve discrepancies between existing theory and experimental results in the first two of the above cases.     

The catwalk task: Reflections and synthesis: Part 2

In this article we recount our experiences with a series of encounters with the catwalk task and reflect on the professional growth that these opportunities afforded. First, we individually reflect on our own mathematical work on the catwalk task. Second, we reflect on our experiences working with a group of community college students on the catwalk task and our interpretations of their mathematical thinking. In so doing we also detail a number of innovative and novel student-generated representations of the catwalk photos. Finally, we each individually reflect on the entire experience with the catwalk problem, as mathematics learners, as teachers, and as professionals.