4-Aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octanone Derivatives with Antiprotozoal Activities

Summary.  4-Aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octanones which were prepared in one-pot-reactions from benzylidene acetone and dialkylammonium rhodanides were reduced stereoselectively to their corresponding alcohols. The activities of the bicyclic compounds against causative organisms of tropical deseases were examined. The 4-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ols were in general more active against Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense and Plasmodium falciparum than the corresponding keto compounds. Corresponding author. E-mail: robert.weis@uni-graz.at Received November 27, 2002; accepted December 2, 2002 Published online May 2, 2003     

Electrochromic properties of WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>:P thin films

WO₃ and WO₃:P (5 mol% H₃PO₄) thin films were prepared using the sol-gel route and the electrochromic properties of the films were investigated using in situ spectroelectrochemical methods. The measurements were performed in propylene carbonate solution with 0.1 M LiClO₄ as electrolyte. During the cathodic polarization at –0.8 V a blue coloration is observed with a reversible variation between 14% and 84% of the transmittance at λ=633 nm. The kinetics for the bleaching process is faster for the WO₃:P film than for the undoped WO₃ film. Electronic Publication     

Photoinduced electron transfer between adamantanamine-(OCH2CH2)n-phenothiazine and mono-6-p-nitrobenzoyl-β-cyclodextrin

A series of adamantanamine-(OCH₂CH₂)_n-phenothiazine (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) electron donors was synthesized. Photoinduced electron transfer was observed in the supramolecular complex of the phenothiazine derivatives with p-nitrobenzoyl-β-cyclodextrin (NBCD) through binding of the adamantyl group by the NBCD cavity, which is stabilized clearly via hydrophobic interactions in aqueous solution. Detailed Stern–Volmer constants were measured and they were partitioned into dynamic Stern–Volmer quenching constants and static binding constants. The results revealed an efficient electron transfer process inside the supramolecular systems compared to that controlled by diffusion. This observation also indicates that the chain length will influence the electron transfer efficiency of a supramolecular donor–acceptor system.     

A convenient synthesis of 2-aryl substituted benzo[f] [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]azepine derivatives

A convenient synthetic pathway to 2-aryl-5,6-dihydro-4H-benzo[f][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-α]azepine derivatives 7 was developed. The synthesis was based on the cycloaddition of the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene a-acetoxy azo compounds 3 with Ar-CN in the presence of AlCl3 and the consecutive ring enlargement.     

Metal Nanoparticles on Stainless Steel Surfaces as Novel Heterogeneous Catalysts

The goal of this work was the development of a novel type of heterogeneous catalyst, consisting of bare metal nanoparticles on stainless steel foils, which can be shaped to any kind of architecture and, if necessary, heated electrically. Solutions of pre-prepared, ligand protected and monodispersed gold, palladium, platinum and rhodium nanoparticles were sprayed onto stainless steel foils, followed by the careful removal of the ligand molecules by an oxygen plasma treatment. Due to this, bare particles become irreversibly fixed on the steel support. It could be shown that the original particle sizes do not change during the plasma treatment. Foils, densely coated with the nanoparticles, were used for gas phase catalyses in a self-made reactor at room temperature or at 60 °C. Hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene at 15 nm Pd and 2 nm Pt, CO oxidation at 16 nm, 8 nm and 1.4 nm gold and NO reduction with NH₃ at 2 nm Rh particles were performed, indicating that the novel catalysts might in principle be applicable in technical processes if the experimental conditions like form and temperature would be optimized. Dedicated to Professor Dieter Fenske on the occassion of his 65th birthday.     

Chemical constituents from the roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygonum bistorta</Emphasis>

Investigation of the roots of Polygonum bistorta L. afforded seven compounds including five triterpenoids, a coumarin, and a steroid, the structures of which were identified by EIMS, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, and HMBC experiments. All the compounds have been isolated from Polygonum genus for the first time. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 463–465, September–October, 2007.     

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), palladium(II) and dioxouranium(VI) complexes of the antipyrine Schiff base of 3-formylsalicylic acid

A new Schiff base has been synthesized from 4-aminoantipyrine and 3-formylsalicylic acid. The ligand has a dianionic tetradentate compartmental OONO donor system. The cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and dioxouranium(VI) complexes exist in phenolato-bridged dinuclear species, while palladium(II) gives a mononuclear complex with free –COOH groups. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, i.r., u.v.-vis, thermal and magnetic measurements.     

Carboxylic Acids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus urinaria</Emphasis>

Five compounds, terephthalic acid mono-[2-(4-carboxy-phenoxycarbonyl)-vinyl] ester (1), (E)-3-(5′-hydroperoxy-2,2′-dihydroxy[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2-propenoic acid (2), 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (3), succinic acid (or butanedioic acid) (4), and 2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxybenzoic acid (5), were isolated from Phyllanthus urinaria. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by means of spectral techniques including IR, MS, and 1D/2D NMR. 1 and 2 are new compounds.__________Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 14–17, January–February, 2005.     

Sol–gel preparation and properties of hydroxypropylcellulose–titania hybrid thin films

Hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC)–titania hybrid thin films were prepared by sol–gel method where titanium tetraisopropoxide Ti(OC₃H₇ ⁱ )₄ was hydrolyzed under acidic conditions in the presence of HPC, followed by dip-coating and drying at 120 °C for 24 h. The viscosity average molecular weight of HPC was 55,000–70,000 or 110,000–150,000, and the TiO₂/(HPC + TiO₂) mass ratio ranged from 0 to 1, which was calculated on the assumption that all Ti(OC₃H₇ ⁱ )₄ is converted into TiO₂. The films were 0.35–1.0 μm thick, transparent in visible region and opaque in ultraviolet (UV) region, where the optical absorption coefficient in UV region increased with increasing titania content. The refractive index increased with increasing titania content, ranging from 1.6 to 1.8 for the hybrid thin films. The pencil hardness increased from 6B to 5H, the durability in hot water significantly increased and the contact angle of water on films increased from 35° to 89° with increasing titania content. Crack-free films could be deposited on organic polymer substrates irrespective of titania or HPC contents, where cracking did not occur at higher HPC contents even when the substrate was bent.     

Study of Manganese Promoter on a Precipitated Iron-Based Catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

The effects of Manganese(Mn)incorporation on a precipitated iron-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis(FTS)catalyst were investigated using N_2 physical adsorption,air differential thermal analysis (DTA),H_2 temperature-programmed reduction(TPR),and M(?)ssbauer spectroscopy.The FTS perfor- mances of the catalysts were tested in a slurry phase reactor.The characterization results indicated that Mn increased the surface area of the catalyst,and improved the dispersion ofα-Fe_2O_3 and reduced its crystallite size as a result of the high dispersion effect of Mn and the Fe-Mn interaction.The Fe-Mn inter- action also suppressed the reduction ofα-Fe_2O_3 to Fe_3O_4,stabilized the FeO phase,and(or)decreased the carburization degree of the catalysts in the H_2 and syngas reduction processes.In addition,incorporated Mn decreased the initial catalyst activity,but improved the catalyst stability because Mn restrained the reoxidation of iron carbides to Fe_3O_4,and improved further carburization of the catalysts.Manganese suppressed the formation of CH_4 and increased the selectivity to light olefins(C_(2-4)~=),but it had little effect on the selectivities to heavy(C_(5 )) hydrocarbons.All these results indicated that the strong Fe-Mn interaction suppressed the chemisorptive effect of the Mn as an electronic promoter,to some extent,in the precipitated iron-manganese catalyst system.