Synthesis and characterization of hydroxo, pyrazolato and carboxylato derivatives of the PdR(PPh3)moiety (R = C6F5 or C6Cl5)

The hydroxo-complexes [{PdR(PPh₃)(μ-OH)}₂] (R = C₆F₅ or C₆Cl₅) have been obtained by reaction of the corresponding [{PdR(PPh₃)(μ-Cl)}2] complexes with NBu₄OH in acetone. In this solvent, the reaction of the hydroxo-bridged complexes with pyrazole (Hpz) and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (Hdmpz) in 1:2 molar ratio leads to the formation of the new complexes [{Pd(C₅F₅)(PPh₃)(μ-azolate)}2] and [{Pd(C₆Cl₅)(PPh₃)}₂(μ-OH)(μ-azolate)] (azolate = pz or dmpz). The reaction of the bis(μ-hydroxo) complexes with Hpz and Hdmpz in acetone in 1:1 molar ratio has also been studied, and the resulting product depends on the organic radical (C₆F₅ or C₆Cl₅) as well as the azolate (pz or dmpz). The identity of the isomer obtained has been established in every case by NMR (¹H, ¹⁹F and ³¹P) spectroscopy. The reaction of the bis(μ-hydroxo) complexes with oxalic (H₂Ox) and acetic (HOAc) acids yields the binucle ar complexes [{PdR(PPh₃)}2(μ-Ox)] (R = C₆F₅ or C₆Cl₅) and [{Pd(C₆F₅)(PPh₃)(μ-OAc)}2], respectively. [{Pd(C₆F₅)(PPh₃)(μ-OH)}₂] reacts with PPh₃ in acetone in 1:2 ratio giving the mononuclear complex trans-[Pd(C₆F₅) (OH)(PPh₃)₂], whereas the pentachlorophenylhydroxo complex does not react with PPh₃, even under forcing conditions.     

Functional and structural characterization of ovine ornithine transcarbamoylase

Ornithine transcarbamoylase from ovine liver has been purified to homogeneity. Like all anabolic OTCs, the ovine enzyme is a trimer, constituted by identical subunits of 34 kDa. Sequence analysis of the 54 N-terminal residues of ovine OTC shows a high degree of homology with the human enzyme. The optimum pH and the Michaelis constants for the catalytic reaction were determined. The ovine enzyme is the most thermostable one among mammals OTCs, its critical temperature being 6 degrees C higher than those measured for the other enzymes. The enzyme has been crystallised and the structure determined at 3.5 A resolution. Crystals belong to the cubic P4(3)32 space group, with a = b = c = 184.7 A and a solvent content of about 80%. There is no evidence of any ligand in the active site cavity, indicating that the crystals contain an unliganded or T state of the enzyme. The unliganded OTCase enzyme adopts a trimeric structure which, in the crystal, presents a three-fold axis coincident with the crystallographic one. The conformation of each monomer in the trimer is quite similar to that of the liganded human protein, with the exception of a few loops, directly interacting with the substrate(s), which are able to induce a rearrangement of the quaternary organisation of the trimer, that accounts for the cooperative behaviour of the enzyme following the binding of the substrates.     

BRS cohomology and topological anomalies

The occurrence of non-abelian anomalies in gauge theories and gravitation, first discovered via perturbative techniques, is now completely explained from the mathematical point of view by means of the family index theorem of Atiyah and Singer. Here we make contact between this approach and BRS cohomology, by showing that they yield the same non-abelian anomalies, provided a certain restriction to local functionals is not introduced from the very beginning. In particular, this solves the unicity problem for this kind of anomalies. Local BRS cohomology is still relevant for the abelian case.Work partially supported by Gruppo Nazionale di Fisica Matematica del CNR and Progetto Nazionale Geometria e Fisica del MPI     

On the statistical solutions of the two-dimensional,periodic Euler equation

We investigate the problem to define statistical solutions for the two-dimensional, periodic Euler Equation and prove a theorem of global existence and uniqueness for a regularized version. Moreover, we deduce the existence of the Euler flow in a weak form.     

Phytochemical Analysis,Antibacterial Activity and Modulating Effect of Essential Oil from Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

One of the main global problems that affect human health is the development of bacterial resistance to different drugs. As a result, the growing number of multidrug-resistant pathogens has contributed to an increase in resistant infections and represents a public health problem. The present work seeks to investigate the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Syzygium cumini leaves. To identify its chemical composition, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used. The antibacterial activity test was performed with the standard strains Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 25853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and multidrug-resistant clinical isolates E. coli 06, P. aeruginosa 24 and S. aureus 10. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by serial microdilution as well as the verification of the modulating effect of the antibiotic effect. In this test, the oil was used in a subinhibitory concentration. The test reading was performed after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C. The results show that the major chemical constituent is α-pinene (53.21%). The oil showed moderate activity against E. coli ATCC 25922, with the MIC of 512 µg/mL; there was no activity against the other strains. The oil potentiated the effect of antibiotics demonstrating possible synergism when associated with gentamicin, erythromycin and norfloxacin against E. coli 06 and S. aureus 10.     

Dinuclear gold(I) Complexes with Bidentate NHC Ligands as Precursors for Alkynyl Complexes via Mechanochemistry

The use of alkynyl gold(I) complexes covers different research fields, such as bioinorganic chemistry, catalysis, and material science, considering the luminescent properties of the complexes. Regarding this last application, we report here the synthesis of three novel dinuclear gold(I) complexes of the general formula [(diNHC)(Au-C≡CPh)₂]: two Au-C≡CPh units are connected by a bridging di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand, which should favor the establishment of semi-supported aurophilic interactions. The complexes can be easily synthesized through mechanochemistry upon reacting the pristine dibromido complexes [(diNHC)(AuBr)₂] with phenylacetylene and KOH. Interestingly, we were also able to isolate the monosubstituted complex [(diNHC)(Au-C≡CPh)(AuBr)]. The gold(I) species were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The emission properties were also evaluated, and the salient data are comparable to those of analogous compounds reported in the literature.