Microwave-assisted organocatalytic multicomponent Knoevenagel/hetero Diels-Alder reaction for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyran[2,3-c]pyrazoles

A rapid protocol for the multicomponent microwave-assisted organocatalytic domino Knoevenagel/hetero Diels-Alder reaction (DKHDA) has been developed for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyran[2,3-c]pyrazoles. The reported procedure could be used for the fast generation of novel substituted 2,3-dihydropyran[2,3-c]pyrazoles with potential anti-tuberculosis activity.     

Environmental biodegradation of synthetic polymers I. Test methodologies and procedures

Biodegradation of synthetic polymers is an important property that is used in many applications. Evaluation of the extent of biodegradation has used different methods in recent years. For each environmental compartment, different approaches have to be made in order to obtain valuable data on biodegradability.This review describes validated and accepted methods based on standardized biodegradation tests, analytical tests, enzymatic tests or tests of physical properties to evaluate the biodegradability of synthetic polymers for different types of environmental compartments (e.g., soil, compost or aqueous media).Part II of this review will subsequently report on the environmental biodegradation of different groups of synthetic polymers.     

Regioselectivity Control in the Metal‐Catalyzed Functionalization of γ‐Allenols,Part 2: Theoretical Study

Calculating cyclization : Theoretical work directed towards the elucidation of the mechanisms of the gold‐, palladium‐, and lanthanum‐catalyzed oxycyclizations (5‐exo versus 6‐endo versus 7‐endo) of γ‐allenols has been pursued in close relationship with the experimental study (Part 1, accompanying paper) and has corroborated the bench results to provide a complete study of the reactivity of γ‐allenols under different metal‐catalyzed conditions.

     

A Simple and Versatile Re‐Catalyzed Meyer–Schuster Rearrangement of Propargylic Alcohols to α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Rhenium does the job! A readily available rhenium complex efficiently catalyzed the direct Meyer–Schuster‐like rearrangement of different alkyl‐ and aryl‐substituted propargylic secondary and tertiary alcohols to the corresponding α,β‐unsaturated compounds, which were produced with virtually complete E stereoselectivity. The reaction proceeded under neutral conditions and no racemization of potentially enolizable stereocenters was observed.

     

Separation of proteins using a novel two-depth miniaturized free-flow electrophoresis device with multiple outlet fractionation channels

A novel free-flow electrophoresis glass chip design with two-depth etched structures for the separation and fractionation of proteins is presented. The microfluidic structures etched in two depths enhance the flow characteristics inside the miniaturized device. A novel nine-port outlet interface enables the fractionation of the separated analytes. The separation and focussing of a protein sample mixture demonstrated the ability of the new chip.     

Synthesis and characterization of La0.8Sr1.2Co0.5M0.5O4−δ (M=Fe, Mn)

The M⁴⁺-containing K₂NiF₄-type phases La_0.8Sr_1.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O₄ and La_0.8Sr_1.2Co_0.5Mn_0.5O₄ have been synthesized by a sol–gel procedure and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis, neutron powder diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Oxide ion vacancies are created in these materials via reduction of M⁴⁺ to M³⁺ and of Co³⁺ to Co²⁺. The vacancies are confined to the equatorial planes of the K₂NiF₄-type structure. A partial reduction of Mn³⁺ to Mn²⁺ also occurs to achieve the oxygen stoichiometry in La_0.8Sr_1.2Co_0.5Mn_0.5O_3.6. La_0.8Sr_1.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O_3.65 contains Co²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions which interact antiferromagnetically and result in noncollinear magnetic order consistent with the tetragonal symmetry. Competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions in La_0.8Sr_1.2Co_0.5Fe_0.5O₄, La_0.8Sr_1.2Co_0.5Mn_0.5O₄ and La_0.8Sr_1.2Co_0.5Mn_0.5O_3.6 induce spin glass properties in these phases.     

A new route to thiopyran S,S-dioxide derivatives via an overall ring-enlargement protocol from 3-nitrothiophene

(1E,3Z)-1-Aryl-4-methanesulfonyl-2-nitro-1,3-butadienes (8), derived from the initial ring-opening of 3-nitrothiophene (5), have been found to undergo a facile base-induced cyclization leading to thiopyran S,S-dioxides (9), thus furnishing a further example of effective ring-enlargement from 5- to 6-membered sulfur heterocycles. Compounds 9 are obtained as single racemic mixtures in satisfactory yields; they still contain a nitrovinylic moiety, which can be exploited for further modifications targeted to new derivatives endowed with either synthetic or pharmacological potentialities e.g., in the field of L-type Ca²⁺-channel blockers.     

Structural Basis and Enzymatic Mechanism of the Biosynthesis of C9‐ from C10‐Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids

Cutting carbons : The three‐dimensional structure of polyneuridine aldehyde esterase (PNAE) gives insight into the enzymatic mechanism of the biosynthesis of C₉‐ from C₁₀‐monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (see scheme). PNAE is a very substrate‐specific serine esterase. It harbors the catalytic triad S87‐D216‐H244, and is a new member of the α/β‐fold hydrolase superfamily. Its novel function leads to the diversification of alkaloid structures.

     

Structural Tracking of a Bimolecular Reaction in Solution by Time‐Resolved X‐Ray Scattering

Molecular movies : Time‐resolved X‐ray scattering provides direct structural information on an electronically excited complex while it is formed in the bimolecular reaction between excited octahydrogen[tetrakis‐μ‐diphosphito‐1κP:2κP′‐diplatinate](4‐) (PtPOP*) and thallium ions. In the exciplex one thallium(I) and two platinum(II) ions are found to be collinear.

     

Existence and symmetry of least energy solutions for a class of quasi-linear elliptic equations

For a general class of autonomous quasi-linear elliptic equations on we prove the existence of a least energy solution and show that all least energy solutions do not change sign and are radially symmetric up to a translation in .