Zwitterionic amino acids as precursors for nonmetal cation pentaborate salts

Nonmetal cation (NMC) pentaborate structures were synthesized using the amino acid molecules as cations precursors. Chemical composition analysis, infrared spectroscopy, mass analysis, boron nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA) methods were used for structural characterization. The hydrogen storage efficiency of molecules was also determined experimentally. The recorded infrared spectra support the structural similarities of the molecules. Stretchings of pentaborate rings and characteristic peaks of amino acids were detected in infrared spectra. When the thermal analysis curves were recorded, it was found that the structures showed similar decomposition steps. Due to the result of thermal decay, glassy boron oxide (B₂O₃) formation was observed as the final decomposition products of all molecules. Peaks associated with boric acid, triborate, and pentaborate were observed in the ¹¹B spectra of these salts. Powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy supports the presence of BO₃ and BO₄⁻ groups regarding the presence of pentaborate rings. It also indicates the high crystallinity of the structures. The molecular cavities detected by brunauer–emmett–teller analysis were found to be 3.586, 1.922, 1.673, and 1.923 g/cm³. Low-molecular cavities can be attributed to the high hydrogen-bonding capacity of the structures. The hydrogen capture efficiency of the pentaborate salts was found to be in the range of 0.039-0.     

Inhibitor design for 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase enzyme; molecular docking and determination of molecular and electronic properties of ligands by density functional theory method

Designing new inhibitors having less side effects is a need which also could reduce cholesterol levels. To fulfill this aim, we have carried out a molecular docking study toward 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase. A set of designed structural derivatives of statin drugs, eight ligands which are used as HIV-1 integrase inhibitor candidates, a set of terpenoids, and ligands downloaded from Zinc15 database were docked to HMG-CoA reductase enzyme which contains atorvastatin in crystal structure. The analysis of docking studies revealed that statin derivative ligands are more appropriate for inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. To define the contribution of the molecular properties to the binding of ligands to enzyme structure; the highest occupied molecular orbitals-lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, hardness, electronegativity, and chemical potential properties of ligands have best score in their sets calculated by quantum mechanical tools.     

Synthesis of the 8,19-Epoxysteroid Eurysterol A

We report the first chemical synthesis of eurysterol A, a cytotoxic and antifungal marine steroidal sulfate with a unique C8−C19 oxy-bridged cholestane skeleton. After C19 hydroxylation of cholesteryl acetate, used as an inexpensive commercial starting material, the challenging oxidative functionalization of ring B was achieved by two different routes to set up a 5α-hydroxy-7-en-6-one moiety. As a key step, an intramolecular oxa-Michael addition was exploited to close the oxy-bridge (8β,19-epoxy unit). DFT calculations show this reversible transformation being exergonic by about −30 kJ mol⁻¹. Along the optimized (scalable) synthetic sequence, the target natural product was obtained in only 11 steps in 5 % overall yield. In addition, an access to (isomeric) 7β,19-epoxy steroids with a previously unknown pentacyclic ring system was discovered.     

Synthesis, structural, spectroscopic characterization, and structural comparison of 3-hydroxybenzoate and nicotinamide/N,N-diethylnicotinamide mixed ligand complexes with Zn(II)

The mixed-ligand 3-hydroxybenzoic acid complex of Zn(II) with nicotinamide and N,N-diethylnicotinamide were synthesized and characterized (colorless single crystals, [Zn(3-hba)₂(H₂O)₂(na)₂] and [Zn(3-hba)₂(H₂O)₂(dena)₂]). The chemical, FT-IR, thermal, mass spectral analyses, and X-ray data results revealed that both of the compounds contain two water molecules, two 3-hydroxybenzoate (3-hba) and two nicotinamide (na) or two N,N-diethylnicotinamide (dena) ligands per formula unit. 3-hba and na or dena ligands bind to the Zn(II) ion monodentately through their acidic oxygen and pyridinic nitrogen atoms, respectively. The coordination of metal atoms are completed by two molecules of aqua ligands. The charge balance of complexes is accommodated by two molecules of 3-hba ions. The unit cell has two molecules coordination molecules and each of them was as settled to four surfaces of unit cell cage in na complex. There is one mole molecule that was occupied to center of unit cell cage in dena complex. The two dimensional network structure of the complex is like a hexagonal for na and square plane for dena complexes. The thermal decomposition takes place in three steps; first, dehydration of the two aqua ligands, second, elimination of the two nicotinamide ligands, finally, burning of the two benzoate ion ligands.     

Cobalt-modified nickel–zinc catalyst for electrooxidation of methanol in alkaline medium

Cobalt-modified nickel-zinc catalyst CuNi(Zn)Co is prepared on a copper substrate by using electrodeposition. Its catalytic efficiency for methanol oxidation is studied with cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and chronopotentiometry techniques. The surface morphology and chemical composition of catalyst are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The oxidation kinetic parameters activation energy (Ea), active species on the surface (Γ), and rate constant (k) are determined from cyclic voltammograms which are performed at different methanol concentrations and temperatures. The results show that Ni(Zn)Co catalyst has higher catalytic activity than Ni, Co, and NiZn coatings as a composite catalyst for a promising choice of methanol electrooxidation in the alkaline medium.     

Spectral characterization and antibacterial effect of 2-methyl-6-(5-H-Me-Cl-NO <Subscript>2</Subscript>-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenols and some transition metal complexes

2-Methyl-6-(5-H-methyl-chloro-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-phenols( HL _x :x= 1-4)ligands and HL₁ complexes with Fe(NO₃)₃, Cu(NO₃)₂, AgNO₃, Zn(NO₃)₂ have been synthesized and characterized. The structures of the compounds were confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis, molar conductivity, magnetic moment, FT-IR, ¹H-and ¹³C-NMR. Antibacterial activity of the free ligands, their hydrochloride salts and the complexes were evaluated using the disk diffusion method in dimethyl sulfoxide as well as the minimum inhibitory concentration dilution method, against nine bacteria. While HL₁ ligand has not any activity, it’s Ag(I) complex show antibacterial effect toward almost to all the bacteria. Zn(II) complex has antibacterial effect on especially K. pneumoniae, S. epidermidis and S. aureus bacteria.     

Stereoselective synthesis of optically active cyclopenta[c]pyrans and cyclopenta[c]furans by the intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction

An intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction of enynes derived from homoallyl, homopropargyl, and allyl alcohols is described. 2-Heteroaryl-substituted homoallyl, homopropargyl, and allyl alcohols are easily and efficiently resolved through enzymatic resolution in high ee (91–99%) and with a known stereochemistry. Each enantiomerically enriched enyne derived from homoallyl and homopropargyl alcohols affords the conformationally most stable diastereomeric cyclopenta[c]pyran ring system as the sole product, whereas enantiomerically enriched enynes derived from allyl alcohols give a diastereomeric cis:trans mixture of the cyclopenta[c]furan ring system.     

Multiagent cooperation for solving global optimization problems: an extendible framework with example cooperation strategies

This paper proposes the use of multiagent cooperation for solving global optimization problems through the introduction of a new multiagent environment, MANGO. The strength of the environment lays in its flexible structure based on communicating software agents that attempt to solve a problem cooperatively. This structure allows the execution of a wide range of global optimization algorithms described as a set of interacting operations. At one extreme, MANGO welcomes an individual non-cooperating agent, which is basically the traditional way of solving a global optimization problem. At the other extreme, autonomous agents existing in the environment cooperate as they see fit during run time. We explain the development and communication tools provided in the environment as well as examples of agent realizations and cooperation scenarios. We also show how the multiagent structure is more effective than having a single nonlinear optimization algorithm with randomly selected initial points.