Synthesis of Differently Protected 1‐C‐Methyl‐Ribofuranoses Intermediates for the Preparation of Biologically Active 1′‐C‐Methyl‐Ribonucleosides

Starting from D‐ribose, differently protected 1‐C‐methyl‐D‐ribofuranoses have been prepared as intermediates for the synthesis of variously modified 1′‐C‐methyl‐ribonucleosides, a class of compounds potentially endowed with interesting biological activity.     

Phase formation in mixed TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> oxides prepared by sol-gel method

Pure titania, zirconia, and mixed oxides (3–37 mol.% of ZrO₂) are prepared using the sol-gel method and calcined at different temperatures. The calcined samples are characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption porosimetry. Measurements reveal a thermal stability of the titania anatase phase that slightly increases in the presence of 3–13 mol.% of zirconia. Practically, the titania anatase-rutile phase transformation is hindered during the temperature increase above 700°C. The mixed oxide with 37 mol.% of ZrO₂ treated at 550°C shows a new single amorphous phase with a surface area of the nanoparticles double with respect to the other crystalline samples and the formed srilankite structure (at 700°C). The anatase phase is not observed in the sample containing 37 mol.% of ZrO₂. The treatment at 700°C causes the formation of the srilankite (Ti_0.63Zr_0.37O_x) phase.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure (R)-and (S)-1-benzoyloxypropane-2,3-diol and revision of the stereochemical outcome of the Candida antarctica lipase-catalyzed benzoylation of glycerol

Enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-1-benzoyloxypropane-2,3-diol have been prepared from (S)-(+)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol and used as reference compounds to correct the reported stereochemical outcome of the Candida antarctica lipase (CAL)-catalyzed benzoylation of glycerol.     

Ranking vertices or edges of a network by loops: a new approach

We introduce loop ranking, a new ranking measure based on the detection of closed paths, which can be computed in an efficient way. We analyze it with respect to several ranking measures which have been proposed in the past, and are widely used to capture the relative importance of the vertices in complex networks. We argue that loop ranking is a very appropriate measure to quantify the role of both vertices and edges in the network traffic.     

Reversible tuning of luminescence and magnetism in a structurally flexible erbium–anilato MOF

By combining 3,6-N-ditriazolyl-2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (H₂trz₂An) with NIR-emitting Er^III ions, two different 3D neutral polymorphic frameworks (1a and 1b), differing in the number of uncoordinated water molecules, formulated as [Er₂(trz₂An)₃(H₂O)₄]_n·xH₂O (x = 10, a; x = 7, b), have been obtained. The structure of 1a shows layers with (6,3) topology forming six-membered rings with distorted hexagonal cavities along the bc plane. These 2D layers are interconnected through the N4 atoms of the two pendant arms of the trz₂An linkers, leading to a 3D framework, where neighboring layers are eclipsed along the a axis, with hexagonal channels filled with water molecules. In 1b, layers with (6,3) topology in the [101] plane are present, each Er^III ion being connected to three other Er^III ions through bis-bidentate trz₂An linkers, forming rectangular six-membered cavities. 1a and 1b are multifunctional materials showing coexistence of NIR emission and field-induced slow relaxation of the magnetization. Remarkably, 1a is a flexible MOF, showing a reversible structural phase transition involving shrinkage/expansion from a distorted hexagonal 2D framework to a distorted 3,6-brickwall rectangular 3D structure in [Er₂(trz₂An)₃(H₂O)₂]_n·2H₂O (1a_des). This transition is triggered by a dehydration/hydration process under mild conditions (vacuum/heating to 360 K). The partially dehydrated compound shows a sizeable change in the emission properties and an improvement of the magnetic blocking temperature with respect to the hydrated compound, mainly related to the loss of one water coordination molecule. Theoretical calculations support the experimental findings, indicating that the slight improvement observed in the magnetic properties has its origin in the change of the ligand field around the Er^III ion due to the loss of a water molecule.

Tuning of luminescent and SIM properties is herein reported, in a novel flexible 3D anilato-based Er^III-MOF, displaying reversible shrinkage/expansion from a distorted hexagonal to a 3,6-brickwall rectangular structure.     

Lipid Peroxidation in Algae Oil: Antagonist Effects of Natural Antioxidants

Tandem mass spectrometry is proposed to check lipid oxidation, a free radical-mediated phenomenon which effects oxidative deterioration in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Antioxidants are used by the food industry to delay the oxidation process. This process can be controlled by antioxidants, which may occur as natural constituents of foods or may be intentionally added to products. Synthetic antioxidants such as BHT, BHA, and propyl gallate have been extensively used as antioxidants in the industry. The worldwide tendency to avoid or minimize the use of synthetic food additives has prompted the replacement of synthetic antioxidants with natural analogues. The entire process can be supported by the detection and characterization of the reacting species by suitable application of electrospray tandem mass spectrometry under collision-induced dissociation (ESI-CID-MS/MS). Natural antioxidants were tested in this study to check the oxidative stability of algae oil when adding the natural additive. Results were observed in algae oil in situ using electrospray mass spectrometry in tandem with collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-CID-MS/MS) and the POBN spin trapper. The results indicate that alpha-tocopherol is a better antioxidant.