Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-panepophenanthrin, a novel inhibitor of the ubiquitin-activating enzyme

An enantioselective total synthesis of the novel natural product (+)-panepophenanthrin has been accomplished in which a biomimetic Diels-Alder dimerisation is a key step. The monomeric precursor 2 was assembled from the readily available Diels-Alder adduct of cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone through a short, simple sequence employing chemo- and stereoselective operations.     

A study on the mechanism of failure in keratin

The mechanical behavior of keratin is studied, focusing on the mechanism of failure. For this purpose, a new procedure has been suggested to differentiate the time-dependent and time-independent losses of energy at different strain levels. The matrix of keratin fibers was found to play an important role in the mechanism of failure.     

Analyses of carcinogenic aromatic amines released from harmful azo colorants by Streptomyces SP. SS07

Extracellular fluid protein (ECFP) of Streptomyces species SS07 has been used to reduce water soluble azo dyes and the carcinogenic amines released have been compared with that from chemical reduction. The effect of temperature, pH and contact time on the recovery of amines using ECFP was studied. The ECFP releases carcinogenic amines at a pH of 9.2 and a temperature of 37 degrees C for a contact period of 24 h. The reduction products were analyzed with HPLC and their structures confirmed by LC-MS and GC-MS. It was observed that both the ECFP and chemical reduction methods released similar type of amine products. In the case of dye samples, compared to chemical reduction, 5-20% increase in the release of carcinogenic amines by ECFP was observed. The percentage of amine products released by chemical reduction was higher for leather garment samples compared to ECFP treatment.     

Synthesis of o-LiMnO2 by Microwave Irradiation and StudyIts Heat Treatment and Lithium Exchange

Microwave irradiation of a suspension of γ-MnOOH in a 4 mol dm⁻³ LiOH solution brought about a rapid formation of semicrystalline orthorhombic LiMnO₂ (o-LiMnO₂) within 30 min at 120°C. Cubic Li_1.6Mn_1.6O₄ was obtained by heating o-LiMnO₂ at 400°C; lithium could be topotactically extracted from Li_1.6Mn_1.6O₄ with acid to form cubic H_1.6Mn_1.6O₄.     

Synthesis of 2-isopropylfuro(2,3-b)quinolines-a new synthesis of (±)-lunacrine, (±)-lunasine and (±)-demethoxylunacrine

A new and convenient synthesis of 2-isopropylfuro-(2,3-b)quinolines ($\text{4}$) from 3-(3-methylbut-1-enyl)-2-quinolones ($\text{2}$) is described. A neat synthesis of the alkaloids (±)-lunacrine ($\text{1a}$), (±)-lunasine ($\text{12a}$) and (±)-demethoxylunacrine ($\text{1b}$) is also reported.     

Comparitive study of the sample decomposition procedures in the determination of trace and rare earth elements in anorthosites and related rocks by ICP-MS

ICP-MS has been used for the determination of over 30 geochemically significant trace elements (Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th, U and REEs) in anorthosites and related rock reference samples. Open acid digestion, pressure decomposition using HF, HNO₃ and HClO₄, and a fusion method using lithium metaborate and subsequent dissolution in dil. HNO₃ were adopted for the decomposition of these rock samples before analysis. The dissolution problems and interference effects are discussed. Rh and Bi were used as internal standards. The first set of data on several rare earths and other trace elements in the Russian anorthosite reference sample, MO-6 are presented along with data on other samples. The data are compared with the available data. The results obtained with different dissolution methods were found to be in good agreement for the majority of the trace elements. The accuracy and precision achieved (better than 6% RSD in most cases) suggested that the data obtained by ICP-MS for such samples are best suited for geochemical interpretations.     

Interaction of potassium hexacyanoferrate (II) with histidine

L-histidine substitutes cyano groups of K₄Fe (CN)₆ at pH 7·0 on irradiation with ultraviolet light. The reaction follows first order kinetics with reference to K₄Fe(CN)₆ and zero order with reference to histidine. The kinetic data shows the primary process to be aquation of Fe(CN) ₆ ^4? while the final product is formed through a rapid dark reaction of histidine with Fe(CN)₄ (H₂O) ₂ ^2? to give the product K₂Fe(CN)₂(histidine)₂. The final product has been subjected to chemical and infrared spectral analysis.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of oxidation by metalions. Part XI(1). Kinetics of the osmium(VIII)-catalysed oxidation of glycols by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III)

Summary The kinetics of the Os^VIII-catalysed oxidation of glycols by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III) ion exhibits zerothorder dependence in [Fe(CN) ₆ ^3– ] and first-order dependence in [OsO₄]. The order with respect to glycols is less than unity, whereas the rate dependence on [OH^–] is a combination of two rate constants; one independent of and the other first-order in [OH^–]. These observations are commensurate with a mechanism in which two complexes, [OsO₄(H₂O)G]^– and [OsO₄(OH)G]^2–, are formed either from [OsO₄(H₂O)(OH)]^– or [OsO₄(OH)₂]^2– and the glycol GH, or by [OsO₄(H₂O)₂] and [OsO₄(H₂O)(OH)]^– and the glycolate ion, G^–, which is in equilibrium with the glycol GH through the reaction between GH and OH^–. Hence there is an ambiguity about the true path for the formation of the two Os^VIII-glycol complexes. A reversal in the reactivity order of glycols in the two rate-determining steps, despite the common attack of OH^– ion on the two species of Os^VIII-complexes, indicates that the two complexes are structurally different because S changes from the negative (corresponding to k₁₁) to positive (related to k₂).     

Pd-Co-Mo electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The catalytic activity of carbon supported Pd-Co-Mo for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a single cell proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been investigated at 60 degrees C and compared with data from commercial Pt catalyst and our previously reported Pd-Co-Au and Pd-Ti catalysts. The Pd-Co-Mo catalyst with a Pd:Co:Mo atomic ratio of 70:20:10 exhibits slightly higher catalytic activity like the Pd-Co-Au catalyst than the commercial Pt catalyst, but with excellent chemical stability unlike the Pd-Co-Au catalyst. The Pd-Co-Mo catalyst also exhibits better tolerance to methanol poisoning than Pt. Investigation of the catalytic activity of the Pd-Co-Mo system with varying composition and heat treatment temperature reveals that a Pd:Co:Mo atomic ratio of 70:20:10 with a heat treatment temperature of 500 degrees C exhibits the highest catalytic activity. Although the degree of alloying increases with increasing temperature from 500 to 900 degrees C as indicated by the X-ray diffraction data, the catalytic activity decreases due to an increase in particle size and a decrease in surface area.     

Highly selective deblocking of propargyl carbonates in the presence of propargyl carbamates with tetrathiomolybdate

Propargyloxycarbonyl chloride, 1, has been used to protect the hydroxyl and amino functionalities of amino alcohols and aminophenols in one pot using triethylamine or pyridine as a base. The increased reactivity of benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate, 2, toward propargyl carbonates over propargyl carbamates is studied in detail and has been exploited further to develop an orthogonal protection strategy for the hydroxyl and amino functionalities. For example, 2-amino-1-butanol, 6a, was treated with 1 to get the N,O-diPoc compound 7a in 90% yield, which when treated with 1.1 equiv of 2 at room temperature removes the Poc group attached to oxygen while leaving the one attached to nitrogen intact to yield compound 8a in 85% yield. This particular observation offers a new protecting strategy where an amine and an alcohol group can be protected simultaneously in one pot, and in a later synthetic step, if the alcohol group has to be deprotected selectively, it can be achieved with 1 equiv of 2.