Efficient and green synthesis of dihydropyrimido[4,5-b]quinolinetriones using MWCNTs@TEPA/Co (II) as a novel and eco-friendly catalyst

A new heterogeneous nanocatalyst [MWCNTs@TEPA/Co (II)] was successfully prepared using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a suitable and efficient support for covalent anchoring of tetraethylene pentaamine (TEPA)/Co (II). The new heterogeneous catalyst was prepared through an easy and applicable method, and characterized by various techniques such as Fourier transform-infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, mapping, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and Brunauer−Emmett−Teller. Synthesized catalyst was used efficiently for the preparation of dihydropyrimido [4,5-b]quinolinetrione derivatives via the four-components reaction of barbituric acid, dimedone, aryl aldehyde and amines under thermal conditions. The nanostructure catalyst was easily recovered by filtration and reused several times without noticeable loss of its catalytic activity. Low amounts of catalyst (0.005 g), short reaction times and green conditions are some merits of the presented method.     

Electrocatalytic reduction of Molecular Oxygen with a Copper (II) Coordination Polymer

Oxygen reduction at the polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) interface catalyzed by a Cu (II) coordination polymer (Cu–pol) was studied with two lipophilic electron donors ferrocene (Fc) and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF). The results of the ion transfer voltammetry and two-phase shake flask experiments suggest proceeding of the catalytic reaction as proton-coupled electron transfer reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide and water. In this process, while the protons supplied from the aqueous phase, the electrons provided from the organic phase by the weak electron donor, Fc. The O₂ molecule takes a superoxide structure with Cu–pol which resulted to hydrogen peroxide or water on reduction. Furthermore, the results revealed that the apparent rate constant of TTF + Cu-pol is higher than that of Fc + Cu-pol system due to the faster kinetic reaction of TTF with respect to Fc.     

Unimolecular reactions on formaldehyde S0 PES

The competitive unimolecular reactions of formaldehyde, H₂CO→H₂+CO; H₂CO→trans-HCOH and H₂CO→H+HCO, were comparatively studied under the direct dynamics formalism, using Density functional and ab initio levels of theory. In addition, the geometric isomerization trans-HCOH→cis-HCOH was evaluated. Calculated reaction path properties were used in the determination of Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus microcanonical rate coefficients. The reaction dynamics was evaluated for each individual process based on the nuclear displacements in the reaction path and normal coordinate analysis. Our results found are in very good agreement with experimental barrier heights and quantum yields trends.     

Investigation of 3D Contour Map and Intermolecular Interaction of Dopamine with β-Cyclodextrin and 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

The interactions of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) with β-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was characterized using UV–visible, 2D fluorescence, 3D fluorescence, FT–IR, PXRD and SEM techniques. PM3, PM7 and DFT methods were used to optimize the structures of the inclusion complexes in the gas phase. The absorbance and fluorescence intensities of DA increased in the presence of CDs in aqueous solution. The binding energy, HOMO–LUMO energy gap and Mulliken atomic charges were computed for the inclusion complexes. NBO analysis revealed a greater number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in DA:HP-β-CD. Experimental and theoretical results suggested that the DA molecule is deeply embedded in the cavities of both CDs.     

Humulene derivatives from Saharian Asteriscus graveolens

Three new sesquiterpene-humulenes, (?)- asteriscunolides I (1), J (2) and (?)-(2Z,6E,9Z)-8-oxo-1α-acetoxy-2,6,9-humulatrien-12-oic acid (3) were isolated from the leaves-flowers of the Saharan medicinal plant Asteriscus graveolens along with six known compounds. The structures of the compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic mono and bidimensional NMR, mass spectrometry and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1–3 were evaluated for cytotoxic assay, no significant activity was detected.     

DFT modeling of the first step of plastoquinol oxidation by the iron–sulfur protein of the cytochrome b6f complex

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Emerging Methods and Design Principles for Cell‐Penetrant Peptides

Biomolecules such as antibodies, proteins, and peptides are important tools for chemical biology and leads for drug development. They have been used to inhibit a variety of extracellular proteins, but accessing intracellular proteins has been much more challenging. In this review, we discuss diverse chemical approaches that have yielded cell‐penetrant peptides and identify three distinct strategies: masking backbone amides, guanidinium group patterning, and amphipathic patterning. We summarize a growing number of large data sets, which are starting to reveal more specific design guidelines for each strategy. We also discuss advantages and disadvantages of current methods for quantifying cell penetration. Finally, we provide an overview of best‐odds approaches for applying these new methods and design principles to optimize cytosolic penetration for a given bioactive peptide.     

Vapour–liquid equilibrium data for the 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane (R134a) + dimethyl ether (DME) system at temperatures from 293.18 to 358.15 K and pressures up to about 3 MPa

Isothermal vapour–liquid equilibrium data have been measured for the binary system R134a + DME at five temperatures between 293.18 and 358.15 K, and pressures between 0.4899 and 2.9442 MPa. The peculiarity of this system is the existence of an azeotrope with a minimum pressure, which disappears at 358.15 K. The experimental method used in this work is of the static-analytic type, taking advantage of two pneumatic capillary samplers (Rolsi™, Armines’ patent) developed in the CENERG/TEP Laboratory. The data were obtained with uncertainties within ±0.02 K, ±0.0001 MPa and ±1% for molar compositions.

The isothermal P, x, y data are well represented with the Redlich and Kwong equation of state using the Mathias–Copeman alpha function and the Huron–Vidal mixing rules involving the NRTL model.