Diastereoselective synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted 5-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-5,6-dehydropiperidin-2-ones: chirality transfer in the enantioselective synthesis of ethyl (+)-(3S,4aS,7aS)-1-oxo-octahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyridine-3-carboxylate

The base-mediated reaction of enantiomerically pure -sulfinylketimine (+)-1 with (E)-,β-disubstituted propenoate esters afforded 3,4-disubstituted-5-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-5,6-dehydropiperidin-2-ones 9-13 and 14 with high or complete diastereoselectivity. A sole diastereomer of the four possible ones, with regard to the nature of ester, was isolated, which revealed the stereocontrol of the chiral sulfinyl group in the Michael reaction and transenolization steps. In addition, the enantioselective synthesis of ethyl (+)-(3S,4aS,7aS)-1-oxo-octahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyridine-3-carboxylates (+)-17 is described (five steps; 47% yield; ee 97%). The absolute configuration of stereocentres introduced in (+)-17 was assigned on the basis of ¹H NMR data.     

New antimalarial drugs

Approximately 40% of the world population live in areas with the risk of malaria. Each year, 300-500 million people suffer from acute malaria, and 0.5-2.5 million die from the disease. Although malaria has been widely eradicated in many parts of the world, the global number of cases continues to rise. The most important reason for this alarming situation is the rapid spread of malaria parasites that are resistant to antimalarial drugs, especially chloroquine, which is by far the most frequently used. The development of new antimalarial drugs has been neglected since the 1970s owing to the end colonialism, changes in the areas of military engagement, and the restricted market potential. Only in recent years, in part supported by public funding programs, has interest in the development of antimalarial drugs been renewed. New data available from the recently sequenced genome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the application of methods of modern drug design promise to bring significant development in the fight against this disease.     

Aggregation and dispersion characteristics of calcium oxalate monohydrate: effect of urinary species

In this research, screening and central composite experimental designs are used to determine the effect of various factors on the aggregation and dispersion characteristics of previously grown calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals in artificial urinary environments of controlled variables. The variables examined are pH and calcium, oxalate, pyrophosphate, citrate, and protein concentrations in ultrapure water and artificial urine. Optical density measurements, particle size analysis, optical microscopy, AFM force measurements, and protein adsorption have been used to assess the state of aggregation and dispersion of the COM crystals and to elucidate the mechanisms involved in such a complex system. The data indicate that our model protein, mucin, acts as a dispersant. This is attributed to steric hindrance resulting from the adsorbed mucoprotein. Oxalate, however, promotes aggregation. Interesting interactions between protein and oxalate along with protein and citrate are observed. Such interactions (synergistic or antagonistic) are found to depend on the concentrations of these species. Surface responses for these interactions are presented and discussed in this paper. In summary, solution, surface, and interface chemistries interact in a complex manner in the physiological environment to either inhibit or promote aggregation, and an understanding of such interactions may help determine and control the factors affecting kidney stone formation.     

A convenient one-pot synthesis of substituted 2-pyrone derivatives

2-Pyrone derivatives were prepared in a one step procedure from readily available (chlorocarbonyl)phenyl ketene and 1,3-diketones such as 2,4-pentanedione, 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione, 1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione, 1,3-cyclohexanedione, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, 1,3-dimethyl-pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione and ethyl 2,4-dioxopentanoate. A mechanism is presented to account for the formation of the products. This method provides an easy route to prepare 3,4,5,6-tetrasubstituted 2-pyrones in good to excellent yields and in a short experimental time.     

Conductivity of carbon black-loaded styrene–butadiene rubber

Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) charged with 50 phr of HAF carbon black has been found to show a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity close to 0.07/°C at 27°C. Beyond a point (75°C) of minimum conductivity, however, it behaves as a normal noncrystalline semiconductor with a resistivity which decreases with rise of temperature with an activation energy of 0.56 eV. Blending the composition with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) shifts the minimum towards lower temperatures. The descending branch of the conductivity versus reciprocal absolute temperature characteristic is probably associated with thermal expansion of tunnelling paths separating the conducting carbon particles.     

Alginate polyelectrolyte ionotropic gels. XVIII. Oxidation of alginate polysaccharide by potassium permanganate in alkaline solutions: Kinetics of decomposition of intermediate complex

The kinetics of decomposition of [Alg · Mn ^VIO₄^2?] intermediate complex have been investigated spectrophotometrically at a constant ionic strength of 0.5 mol dm^?3. The decomposition reaction was found to be first-order in the intermediate concentration. The results showed that the rate of reaction was base-catalyzed. The kinetic parameters have been evaluated and found to be ΔS^? = ?103.88±6.18 J mol^?1 K^?1, ΔH^? = 51.61 ± 1.02 kJ mol^?1, and ΔG^? = 82.57 ± 2.86 kJ mol^?1, respectively. A reaction mechanism consistent with the results is discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Potentiometric studies on the formation equilibria of binary and ternary complexes of cobalt(II) with adenosine-5′-mono-, -di-, and -triphosphate and some biologically important polybasic oxygen acids

Summary Potentiometric equilibrium measurements have been made for the interaction of adenosine-5-mono-,-di-, and -triphosphate, and Co(II) with biologically important secondary ligands (malic, maleic, succinic, tartaric, citric, and oxalic acid). The formation of various 1:1:1 mixed ligand complexes inferred from the potentiometric titration curves. Initial estimates of the formation constants of the resulting species and the acid dissociation constants ofAMP,ADP,ATP and the secondary ligand acids have been refined with a computer program. In some systems, the ternary complexes are found to be more stable than the corresponding binary ones. In some ternary systems studied, interligand interactions or some cooperativity between the coordinate ligands, possibly H bond formation, have been found to be most effective in deciding the stability of the complexes formed in solution. Stabilities of mixed ligand complexes increase in the orderAMP <ADP <ATP. With respect to the secondary ligands, the formation constants of the mixed ligand complexes decrease in the following order: succinic > maleic > tartaric > malic > citric > oxalic acid.

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Potentiometrische Untersuchung der Bildungsgleichgewichte von binären und ternären Komplexen von Kobalt(II) mit Adenosin-5-mono-, -di- und -triphosphat und einigen biologisch bedeutenden polybasischen Sauerstoffsäuren

Zusammenfassung Die Wechselwirkung vonAMP,ADP undATP mit Co(II) und einigen biologisch interessanten Sekundärliganden (Bernsteinsäure, Hydroxybernsteinsäure, Maleinsäure, Weinsäure, Zitronensäure und Oxalsäure) wurde bei 25°C und einer lonenstärke von 0.1M KNO₃ potentiometrisch untersucht. Die Titrationskurven zeigen das Vorliegen von Species der Zusammensetzung 1:1:1 an. Die geschätzten Bildungskonstanten der Komplexe und die Dissoziationskonstanten der Liganden wurden mittels eines Computerprogramms optimiert. In einigen der untersuchten Systeme sind die ternären Komplexe stabiler als die sekundären. Die Stabilität der Verbindungen hängt im wesentlichen von Interligandwechselwirkungen — möglicherweise der Ausbildung von Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen — ab. Die Stabilität der Komplexe mit gemischten Liganden steigt in der ReihenfolgeAMP <ADP <ATP und fällt entsprechend der Serie Bernsteinsäure > Maleinsäure > Weinsäure > Hydroxybernsteinsäure > Zitronensäure > Oxalsäure.

     

Reactions with heterocyclic amidines. VI. Synthesis and chemistry of pyrazol-5-yl,and 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylhydrazonyl chlorides

The 4-bromo-3-phenylpyrazol-5-ylhydrazonyl chlorides (Ia,b) and 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylhydrazonyl chlorides (IIa,b) were prepared via coupling of diazotized 4-bromo-3-phenyl-5-aminopyrazole (III) and 5-amino-1,2,4-triazole (IV) with α-chloro derivatives of acetylacetone and of ethyl aceto-acetate. Compounds Ia and IIa,b were utilised for the synthesis of several new heterocyclic derivatives.     

The W algorithm and the D transformation for the numerical evaluation of three‐center nuclear attraction integrals

Three‐center nuclear attraction integrals over exponential‐type functions are required for ab initio molecular structure calculations and density functional theory (DFT). These integrals occur in many millions of terms, even for small molecules, and they require rapid and accurate numerical evaluation. The use of a basis set of B functions to represent atomic orbitals, combined with the Fourier transform method, led to the development of analytic expressions for these molecular integrals. Unfortunately, the numerical evaluation of the analytic expressions obtained turned out to be extremely difficult due to the presence of two‐dimensional integral representations, involving spherical Bessel integral functions. % The present work concerns the development of an extremely accurate and rapid algorithm for the numerical evaluation of these spherical Bessel integrals. This algorithm, which is based on the nonlinear D transformation and the W algorithm of Sidi, can be computed recursively, allowing the control of the degree of accuracy. Numerical analysis tests were performed to further improve the efficiency of our algorithm. The numerical results section demonstrates the efficiency of this new algorithm for the numerical evaluation of three‐center nuclear attraction integrals. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Prevention of ultraviolet-B radiation damage by resveratrol in mouse skin is mediated via modulation in survivin

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in the United States, and multiple exposures to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (particularly its UV-B component, 290-320 nm), is its major cause. 'Chemoprevention' by naturally occurring agents is being appreciated as a newer dimension in the management of neoplasia including skin cancer. We recently demonstrated that resveratrol (trans-3, 5, 4-trihydroxystilbene), an antioxidant found in grapes, red wines and a variety of nuts and berries, imparts protection from acute UV-B-mediated cutaneous damages in SKH-1 hairless mice. Understanding the mechanism of resveratrol-mediated protection of UV responses is important. We earlier demonstrated that resveratrol imparts chemopreventive effects against multiple UV-exposure-mediated modulations in (1) cki-cyclin-cdk network, and (2) mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)-pathway. This study was conducted to assess the involvement of inhibitor of apoptosis protein family Survivin during resveratrol-mediated protection from multiple exposures of UV-B (180 mJ/cm(2); on alternate days; for a total of seven exposures) radiations in the SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. Our data demonstrated that topical pre-treatment of resveratrol (10 micromol in 200 microl acetone/mouse) resulted in significant inhibition of UV-B exposure-mediated increases in (1) cellular proliferations (Ki-67 immunostaining), (2) protein levels of epidermal cyclooxygenase-2 and ornithine decarboxylase, established markers of tumor promotion, (3) protein and messenger RNA levels of Survivin, and (4) phosphorylation of survivin in the skin of SKH-1 hairless mouse. Resveratrol pretreatment also resulted in (1) reversal of UV-B-mediated decrease of Smac/DIABLO, and (2) enhancement of UV-B-mediated induction of apoptosis, in mouse skin. Taken together, our study suggested that resveratrol imparts chemopreventive effects against UV-B exposure-mediated damages in SKH-1 hairless mouse skin via inhibiting Survivin and the associated events.