Studies on stereoselective approaches to β-carboline derivatives

Transformation of β-carboline derivatives into optically active entities were studied and the de and ee values of the resulted compounds were detected. Dedicated to Professor Károly Lempert on his 80th birthday.     

Synthesis and crystallization kinetics of the novel ion exchanger Na<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>4</Subscript>Si<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>10</Subscript> for cesium removal

Thermodynamics and crystallization kinetics of the hydrothermal synthesis of Na₄Ti₄Si₃O₁₀ (NaTS) were systemically studied by both experiments and model simulation. Experimental results showed that the curve of crystallinity with time was a characteristic signmoid in the shape that indicated the crystallization of Na₄Ti₄Si₃O₁₀ was a typical spontaneous nucleation process on the laboratory scale. Crystallization of NaTS belongs to the liquid-liquid transformation mechanism and the reaction is endothermic (ΔH = 15.3 kJ/mol). A mathematic model of crystallization kinetics was developed to simulate the synthesis of NaTS. Runge-Kutta and simplex methods were adopted to solve the partial differential equations. Model results fitted well with the experimental data and showed that the synthesis process belongs to spontaneous nucleation and crystal growth. Moreover, the very small crystal growth constant (5.6·10⁻⁷) and gel dissolution constant (7.0·10⁻⁷) indicate they are the rate-limiting steps of the whole synthesis process.     

Groups of paramagnetic centres in coal samples with different carbon contents

Complex systems of paramagnetic centres existing in demineralised flame coal (71.4 wt% C), medium-rank coal (85.6 wt% C) and anthracite (94.9 wt% C) were analysed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). Different groups of paramagnetic centres were searched in macerals (exinite, vitrinite, inertinite) of coals with carbon contents of 73.8 wt% C and 85.6 wt% C. Experimental EPR spectra were fitted by different superposition of theoretical lines. Total concentration of paramagnetic centres both in coal and macerals increases with carbon content in the sample. Total concentration of paramagnetic centres in macerals increases from exinite to inertinite. Four groups of paramagnetic centres were found in medium-rank coal, and only two groups exist in flame coal and anthracite. The EPR spectrum of medium-rank coal is a superposition of two broad and two narrow lines. Both broad and narrow, and two narrow lines were measured in EPR spectra of flame coal and anthracite, respectively. Two types of paramagnetic centres with broad lines and one group with narrow lines exist in exinite and vitrinite from medium-rank coal. Two narrow components were observed in EPR spectra of its inertinite. Two different broad electron paramagnetic resonance signals were detected for macerals from low-coalificated coal. Paramagnetic centres systems of medium-rank coal samples reveal the most complex character. Broad EPR lines were not observed for the higher coalificated samples, i.e., anthracite and inertinite from medium-rank coal. Narrow lines do not occur in EPR spectra of low-coalificated macerals. Strong dipolar interactions and fast spin-lattice relaxation processes are characteristic for paramagnetic centres with broad lines. Strong exchange interactions and short spin-lattice relaxation time were measured for paramagnetic centres with the narrowest EPR signals.     

Oxidation of some catecholamines by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide in acid medium: A kinetic and mechanistic approach

The kinetics of the oxidation of five catecholamines viz., dopamine (A), L-dopa (B), methyldopa (C), epinephrine (D) and norepinephrine (E) by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide or chloramine-T (CAT) in presence of HClO₄ was studied at 30±0.1 °C. The five reactions followed identical kinetics with a first-order dependence on [CAT] _o , fractional-order in [substrate] _o , and inverse fractional-order in [H⁺]. Under comparable experimental conditions, the rate of oxidation of catecholamines increases in the order D>E>A>B>C. The variation of ionic strength of the medium and the addition of p-toluenesulfonamide or halide ions had no significant effect on the reaction rate. The rate increased with decreasing dielectric constant of the medium. The solvent isotope effect was studied using D₂O. A Michaelis-Menten type mechanism has been suggested to explain the results. Equilibrium and decomposition constants for CAT-catecholamine complexes have been evaluated. CH₃C₆H₄SO₂NHCl of the oxidant has been postulated as the reactive oxidizing species and oxidation products were identified. An isokinetic relationship is observed with β=361 K, indicating that enthalpy factors control the reaction rate. The mechanism proposed and the derived rate law are consistent with the observed kinetics.     

The role of neuropeptide somatostatin in the brain and its application in treating neurological disorders

Somatostatin (SST) is a well-known neuropeptide that is expressed throughout the brain. In the cortex, SST is expressed in a subset of GABAergic neurons and is known as a protein marker of inhibitory interneurons. Recent studies have identified the key functions of SST in modulating cortical circuits in the brain and cognitive function. Furthermore, reduced expression of SST is a hallmark of various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and depression. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on SST expression and function in the brain. In particular, we describe the physiological roles of SST-positive interneurons in the cortex. We further describe the causal relationship between pathophysiological changes in SST function and various neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, we discuss potential treatments and possibility of novel drug developments for neurological disorders based on the current knowledge on the function of SST and SST analogs in the brain derived from experimental and clinical studies.Subject terms: Molecular neuroscience, Drug development     

Unusual magnetic properties of one-dimensional molecule-based magnets associated with a structural phase transition

Three ion-pair complexes, [RbzPy](+)[Ni(mnt)(2)](-) (mnt(2)(-) = maleonitriledithiolate; [RbzPy](+) = 4-R-benzylpyridinium; R = Br (1), Cl (2), and NO(2) (3)), with unusual magnetic properties have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been solved. The two complexes belong to the P2(1)/c space group with Z = 4 and C(20)H(11)BrN(5)NiS(4), a = 12.0744(17) A, b = 26.369(4) A, c = 7.440(3) A, and beta = 102.63(3) degrees for 1 and C(20)H(11)ClN(5)NiS(4), a = 12.105(2) A, b = 26.218(4) A, c = 7.374(2) A, and beta = 102.55(2) degrees for 2, respectively. The [Ni(mnt)(2)](-) anions in 1-3 form uniformly spaced one-dimensional (1-D) magnetic chains of s = 1/2 at room temperature. The temperature dependences of the susceptibility for 1-3 show that they undergo phase transitions. All three complexes are paramagnetic in their high-temperature (abbreviation HT) phase and diamagnetic in the low-temperature (abbreviation LT) phase because of strong dimerization along the stacking direction. The results of thermal analysis (DSC) further confirm that the phase transition for 1 and 2 is first-order but maybe second-order for 3. The phenomena observed in this study are similar to those of the 1-D radical systems.     

Chemiluminescence sensor for isoniazid with controlled-reagent-release technology

A novel chemiluminescence (CL) sensor for isoniazid combined with flow-injection technology is presented in this paper. The analytical reagents, luminol and ferricyanide, were both immobilized on an anion-exchange column. The CL signal produced by the reaction between luminol and ferricyanide, which were eluted from the column through sodium phosphate injection, was decreased in the presence of isoniazid. The decreased CL intensity was linear with isoniazid concentration in the range 0.001–1.0 μg·ml⁻¹; and the detection limit was 0.35 ng·ml⁻¹ (3s). The whole process, including sampling and washing, could be completed in 2 min with a relative standard deviation of less than 4.1%. The sensor could be reused more than 400 times and has been applied for the determination of isoniazid in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Crystallization behavior and biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers

Block copolymerization by using isocyanates is an effective method for incorporating PHB and PEG because it can prepare copolymers with good properties, such as toughness, strength, and so on. In this study, we adopted soil suspension system to estimate the biodegradability of a series of PHB/PEG multiblock copolymers with different compositions and block lengths. In the degradation process, the changes in weight loss, molecular weight, and tensile strength were periodically measured to determine the biodegradability, and the surface morphology was also observed by SEM. In contrast to pure PHB, the weight loss of the copolymer was relatively lower. On the other hand, the tensile strength and molecular weight experienced apparent decrease, and for BHG1000-3-1, they reached 46.7% and 77.7% of the initial value, respectively. SEM observation showed that the surface was covered with numerous erosion pits. All these indicate that the degradation indeed took place and long-chain molecules have been hydrolyzed into shorter ones. The crystallization behavior was also investigated by DSC and WAXD. The results showed that both the segments, PEG and PHB, can form crystalline phases at lower PHB contents ranging from 29% to 44%, and when PHB component was more than 60%, only PHB phase can crystallize.     

Aqueous p-nitrotoluene oxidation induced with direct glow discharge plasma

A plasma induced degradation process has been studied to treat 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT) present as an aqueous pollutant. The plasma was locally generated from a glow discharge around a tip of a platinum anode in an electrolytic solution. The influence of initial pH and Fe²⁺ on the degradation was examined. Major intermediates resulting from the degradation process were identified. Amongst the aromatic intermediates, p-hydroxybenzoic acid was the predominant degradation product. The formation of oxalic acid, malic acid was also observed. The final products of degradation were NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ⁻ and CO₂. Based on the analysis of intermediates and the kinetic considerations, the degradation was shown to follow a pseudo-first order reaction hence, a possible reaction pathway was proposed.     

Preparation of a set of selectively protected disaccharides for modular synthesis of heparan sulfate fragments: toward the synthesis of several <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-sulfonated [β-D-GlcUA-(1→4)-β-D-GlcNAc]OPr types

A concise method for a stereocontrolled synthesis of a set of selectively protected disaccharides is reported. Coupling of the donor 11 onto acceptors 23 and 24, promoted by trimethylsilyl triflate-N-iodosuccinimide (TMSOTf-NIS), generated the disaccharides 25 and 26. Under typical conditions, condensation of the fully protected donor 12 onto acceptors 23 and 24 produced the disaccharides 27 and 28. The building blocks 25–28 were prepared in moderate yields having exclusive β-stereoselectivity. A unique pattern of protecting groups distinguished clearly between positions to be sulfated and functional groups remaining as free hydroxyl groups. Acetyl and/or levulinoyl esters temporarily protected the positions to be sulfated, while benzyl ethers were used for permanent protection. The anomeric positions were protected as allyl ethers, whereas the 4′-positions were masked as p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) ethers. The orthogonality of the PMB and allyl groups can then be used for further elongation of the chain by recurrent deprotection and activation steps. The hydroxyl group, OH-6, of glucosamine moieties was protected as a TBDPS ether to avoid oxidation. A five-step deprotection/sulfonation sequence was applied to the disaccharide 27 to generate the corresponding sulfated [β-D-GlcUA-2-OSO₃Na-(1→4)-β-D-Glc pNAc]-(1→O-Pro) 34.