Neosappanone A, a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory dimeric methanodibenzoxocinone with a new carbon skeleton from Caesalpinia sappan

A novel dimeric methanodibenzoxocinone, named neosappanone A (1), possessing a unique unprecedented novel carbon framework, has been isolated from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L. of Vietnam, and its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Neosappanone A (1) competitively inhibited xanthine oxidase in a concentration-dependent manner (IC₅₀, 29.7 μM; K_i, 16.3 μM).     

Laccase-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation: oxidative dimerization of salicylic esters by air in aqueous solution

The laccase catalyzed oxidative dimerization of salicylic esters, a rare example of a laccase-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation, was studied. This reaction allows the use of air as stoichiometric oxidant and proceeds in aqueous solution. The preparative scope and the mechanism of the method, which provides a new and convenient access to functionalized biaryls under mild conditions, were investigated.     

Determinations of combustion and formation enthalpies of C60 and C70

By using a micro-bomb calorimeter, the standard enthalpies of combustion of C₆₀ and C₇₀ have been determined to be - (25 947.1±8.5) and - (29 956.1 ± 8.9) kJ/mol respectively. A g. 1. c. analysis indicated that the amounts of residual organic solvents in the samples were very small, and their effects on the final results were negligible. The energy of combustion ofC60 determined in this work is in agreement in the uncertainty interval with that determined by means of traditional calorimeter using macro amount of sample. The enthalpies of formation of these two substances have been derived. The strain energies in the molecules of C₆₀ and C₇₀ were estimated by a bond energy scheme and by using corannulene as the model compound, the results estimated from different methods are very close. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 29473143)     

Diterpene derivative and chromone from Hypericum perforatum

A novel diterpene derivative, 5-methyl-5-(4,8,12-trimethyl-tridecyl)-dihydro-furan-2-one (1) and a new chromone, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-methyl-chromen-4-one (2), along with a known compound, phytol (3) have been isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with published values.     

Ion Chromatographic determination of trace anions and cations in high-purity water

An ion chromatographic measuring system for the off-line and on-line determination of some trace anions and cations in high-purity water is presented. The ng/L level of anions and cations in 20-130 mL high-purity water can be analyzed after preconcentration on ion exchange columns. The concentrated solutes are eluted by eluents from the trap column and separated using a Dionex analytical column. The quantification of each ion is achieved using the suppressor technique and conductivity detector. The influence of various parameters on the results is discussed. The detection limits of cations and anions are between 10 and 30 ng/L for chloride, bromide, nitrate, phosphate, sulphate, sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium and calcium ions.     

High-performances membranes for pervaporation I. Poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) blends

Dense membranes were prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVA–PVP) blends of different compositions and studied in swelling and dehydration by pervaporation of three organic solvents contaminated by 5 wt% water. The swelling generally increases with the PVP content. No extraction occurs in water–tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water–methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) mixtures. In ethanol containing 10 wt% of water, there is no extraction for blends containing less than 40 wt% PVP and an increasing extraction beyond this PVP content. The pervaporation flux of the water–ethanol mixture increases drastically at the same threshold whereas the water permselectivity falls to a low level. The values of the diffusion and permeability coefficients determined from transient permeation of the test water–ethanol mixture exhibit a similar sudden increase at the same PVP content threshold. This singular behavior of the blend membranes is interpreted by a strong affinity of the PVP component to ethanol, combined with a disappearance of crystallites in the blend at this threshold. Consequently the amorphous membrane can swell freely according to the affinity of the PVP component, leading to the observed behavior.     

Action des bromures de perfluoroalkylmagnésiums sur les aldéhydes α,βéthyléniques

Perfluoroalkylmagnesium bromide, C_nF_2n+1MgBr (n = 2, 6, 8), reacts with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to give allylic alcohols as the sole products. No attack on the β-carbon atom of the carbonyl was detected, even when the reaction was carried out in the presence of CuCl. Part of the Grignard reagent decomposes to trans-R_FCFCFBr and trans-R_FCFCFI. Neither a mechanism involving dissociation into R⁺_F MgX^- nor the formation of a carbene intermediate is capable of explaining the thermal decomposition of the Grignard reagent.     

Motion of foam films in diverging-converging channels

Existing theories of the motion of foam films in capillaries often assimilate the pressure drop over the foam films to the static capillary pressure obtained from the Young-Laplace equation. Hence, they ignore the contribution of dynamic effects associated with the rapid stretching and contraction of the foam films to the overall viscous dissipation. This paper reports an investigation of the motion of foam films in axisymmetric diverging-converging channels, taking into account surface viscosity and elasticity. First, a phenomenological theory for the motion of the foam films is developed using simple physical arguments. We show that the displacement of the film obeys a nonlinear second-order differential equation, which can be solved numerically for the (dimensionless) distance from the inlet and the pressure drop as a function of time. Experiments with foam film motion, conducted using glass diverging-converging channels (minimum radius = 3.00 +/- 0,01 mm, maximum diameter = 7,98 +/- 0,01 mm) and nitrogen foam stabilized with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in brine, are discussed. For a single film motion in the diverging channel, we find that (a) the static pressure drop is a concave-upward function of distance and decreases from 1.0 to about 0.3, whereas (b) the dynamic pressure drop is concave downward and increases from 1 to a maximum of 1.3 and then decreases to 0.7. In the converging channel both the static and dynamic pressure drops are concave-downward functions, but the dynamic pressure drop values are always higher than the static ones. For two films the motions were found to be rather sensitive to the initial arrangement in the channel. The experiments are found to be in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. These observations imply that the large flow resistance obtained during foam flow in granular porous media, where converging-diverging channels are abundant, is largely due to the surface elasticity and viscosity of the films.     

Synthesis of a model system for the preparation of phloroglucinol containing natural products

A model system for the synthesis of phloroglucinol containing natural products was synthesized. Key steps include a manganic acetate-mediated cyclization and the facile conversion of an alkene into a β-bromoenone.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Based on Octamolybdates and Benzimidazole Molecules [Hbenzimi]4 [(benzimi)2Mo8O26] · 2H2O (benzimi?=?benzimidazole)

A novel organic/inorganic compound [Hbenzimi]₄[(benzimi)₂Mo₈O₂₆] · 2H₂O (1) has been prepared hydrothermally and characterized by elemental analyses, i.r., x.p.s., t.g. and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound (1) consists of the [Mo₈O₂₆]⁴⁻ cluster as the structural motif covalently linked by benzimidazole molecules and protonated benzimidazole molecules as charge compensation cations. It is interesting that the benzimidazole molecules were synthesized from 1,2-phenylenediamine and oxalic acid. The [Mo₈O₂₆]⁴⁻ polyoxoanions and organic ligands in compound (1) interact with each other via extensive hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional supramolecular framework.