Synthesis and protein degradation capacity of photoactivated enediynes

[structure: see text] The viability of proteins as targets of thermally and photoactivated enediynes has been confirmed at the molecular level. Model studies using a labeled substrate confirmed the efficacy of atom transfer from diyl radicals produced from enediynes to form captodatively stabilized carbon centered aminoacyl radicals, which then undergo either fragmentation or dimerization. To exploit this finding, a family of enediynes was developed using an intramolecular coupling strategy. Derivatives were prepared and used to target specific proteins, showing good correlation between affinity and photoinduced protein degrading activity. The findings have potential applications in the design of artificial chemical proteases and add to our understanding of the mechanism of action of the clinically important enediyne antitumor antibiotics.     

Water Pollution Threat to the Environment by a Urea Plant

Disposal of untreated industrial effluents is drastically deteriorating the quality of underground water. Research work has been conducted to analyze the effect of disposal of urea plant effluent on the quality of ground water of the District Mianwali Daudkhail, Pakistan. For this purpose the effluent and ground water samples were analyzed for pH, TDS, TSS, Cl, F, COD, BOD, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Mn, and As. Results obtained were compared with WHO and NEQS standards for drinking and effluent emission limits, respectively. Moreover, effluent samples were also evaluated for irrigation purposes and results compared with criteria recommended for irrigation water. Results showed though the effluents were according to the standards given by National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) for liquid emission and fit for irrigation purposes, the quality of underground water was below standard due to having a higher quantity of total dissolved solids than permissible.     

Development and evaluation of a monolithic floating drug delivery system for acyclovir

Acyclovir (ACV), a model drug for this study, is one of the most effective drugs against viruses of the herpes group. Absorption of orally administered ACV is variable and incomplete, with a bioavailability of ca. 15-30%. The drug is absorbed in the duodenum after oral administration and hence, preparation of a floating drug delivery system (FDDS) for ACV may increase oral absorption of the drug. ACV matrix tablets (200?mg) containing an effervescent base (sodium bicarbonate and citric acid) and a binary combination of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) K4M with carbopol or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na CMC) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and/or sodium alginate were prepared by the direct compression method. The tablets were evaluated for physicochemical properties and in vitro floating ability (floating lag-time and duration), bioadhesiveness and drug release. The drug release studies were carried out in 0.1?N HCl (pH 1.2) at 37±0.5°C. At appropriate time intervals, samples were withdrawn and assayed spectrophotometrically at λ(max)=259?nm. The floating test showed tablets containing 15% effervescent base had a floating lag time of 10-30?s and a duration of floating time of 24?h. The formulations containing HPMC-PVP, HPMC-Na CMC, HPMC-carbopol, and HPMC-sodium alginate released about 60-90% of their drug content during a 12-h period. Increasing carbopol caused slower drug release. We concluded that the proposed tablets with 15% effervescent base, 20-30% HPMC, 30% Na CMC (and/or 20% PVP or 20% sodium alginate) showed good floating and drug release properties in vitro, and should be considered as FDDS for ACV.     

Density functional theory for investigation of optical and spectroscopic properties of zinc-quinonoid complexes as semiconductor materials

Structural Chemistry - Three Zn(II) complexes of a new organic compound [(E)-4-methyl-N1-((E)-4-methyl-6-(p-tolylimino) cyclohex-3-en-1-ylidene)-N2-(p-tolyl) benzene-1, 2-diamine] (HMBD) were...     

HBPE-g-PVDF/PVDF blend nanofiltration membrane: preparation and characterization

Hyperbranched polyester-grafted poly(vinylidene fluoride) (HBPE-g-PVDF) was synthesized and used as additive in preparation of PVDF blend membranes. HBPE-g-PVDF copolymer was characterized with FTIR and TGA techniques. The prepared membranes were also characterized with SEM, AFM and contact angle measurement. The performance of prepared membranes as nanofiltration membrane was studied by pure water flux (PWF), salt rejection, dynamic and static fouling tests. The results showed that hydrophilicity of prepared membranes greatly increased after blending, and their pore size and pore size distribution and so PWF of blend membranes increased.     

Identification tree based on fragmentation rules for structure elucidation of organophosphorus esters by electrospray mass spectrometry

Organophosphorus compounds have played important roles as pesticides, chemical warfare agents and extractors of radioactive material. Structural elucidation of phosphonates poses a particular challenge because their initial forms can be hydrolyzed, thus, degradation products may predominate in samples acquired in the field. The analysis of non‐volatile organophosphorus compounds and their degradation products is possible using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry ESI‐MS/MS. Here, we present a generic strategy that allows the unambiguous identification of substituents for two families of organophosphorus compounds: the phosphonates and phosphates. General fragmentation rules were deduced based on the study of decomposition pathways of 55 organophosphorus esters, including examples found in the literature. Multistage MS (MSⁿ) experiments at high resolution in a hybrid mass spectrometer provide accurate mass measurements, whereas collision‐induced dissociation experiments in a triple quadrupole give access to small fragment ions. The creation of a specific nomenclature for each possible structure of organophosphorus compound, depending on the alkyl side chain linked to the oxygen, was achieved by applying these fragmentation rules. This led to the creation of an ‘identification tree’ based upon the unique consecutive decomposition pathways uncovered for each individual compound. Hence, seven structural motifs were created that orient an unequivocal identification using the ‘identification tree’. Despite the similar structures of the ensemble of phosphate and phosphonate esters, distinct identifications based upon characteristic neutral losses and diagnostic fragment ions were possible in all cases. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reactions with 2-aminonicotinic acid,I Some 8-aza analogs of quinazolinones and derived tricyclic compounds

The fusion of 2-acetamidonicotinic acid witho-toluidine,p-bromoaniline oro-chloroaniline afforded the corresponding 3-aryl-2-methyl-pyrido-[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones (4), the 8-aza analogs of 3-aryl-2-methyl-4-quinazolinones, alongside 2-aminonicotinic acid. 2-Methyl-3-2(2-methylphenyl)-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one (4a), the 8-aza analog of methaqualone, was converted to the 2-substituted styryl derivatives6 by condensation with some aromatic aldehydes and to the tricyclic system, 10-aza-5,6-dihydro-3-hydroxy-5-(2-methylphenyl)-2-substituted-1H-pyrido [1,2-a] quinazoline-1,6-diones (8) by reaction with monosubstituted bis-2,4,6-trichlorophenyl malonates.     

Atmospheric pressure microwave assisted heterogeneous catalytic reactions

The purpose of the study was to investigate microwave selective heating phenomena and their impact on heterogeneous chemical reactions. We also present a tool which will help microwave chemists to answer to such questions as "My reaction yields 90% after 7 days at reflux; is it possible to obtain the same yield after a few minutes under microwaves?" and to have an approximation of their reactions when conducted under microwaves with different heterogeneous procedures. This model predicting reaction kinetics and yields under microwave heating is based on the Arrhenius equation, in agreement with experimental data and procedures.     

Spectral and Thermal Studies of Some New Metal Complexes Derived from N-[(Phenylamino)Thioxomethyl] Hydrazinocarbonyl Methyl Pyridinium Chloride (PTHMPC)

New metal complexes derived from the reaction of N-[(phenylamino)thioxomethyl] hydrazino carbonyl methyl pyridinium chloride (H₂L; PTHMPC) with some metal salts of the general formula MX₂ [(X = Cl^? and/or CH₃COO^?; M = Cd(II), UO₂(II), Mn(II) and Zr(IV)] were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, spectral analyses (IR, UV-vis., ¹H NMR), thermal analyses (TGA, DTG), and conductance and magnetic measurements. The results showed that the ligand exists in metal complexes either in the keto form or in the enol form. Moreover, the IR spectral data suggest that the acetate ion behaves in a monodentate manner. Semi-empirical calculations ZINDO/1, PM3, and AM1 have been used to study the molecular geometry and the harmonic vibrational spectra of the ligand and its metal complexes with the purpose of assisting the experimental assignment of the complexes. Generally, there is an agreement between the observed and the calculated spectra. Finally, the thermodynamic parameters (ΔE*, ΔH, ΔG, and ΔS) have been calculated from the data of thermal analyses (TGA and DTG).

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

Optical properties of nanostructure boron doped NiO thin films

Boron doped NiO films were prepared by sol–gel method. The effects of B content on the morphological and optical properties of NiO films were studied with atomic force microscopy, and optical characterization method. The average transmittance at the visible region is reached to 75 % for lower doped films (0.1 and 0.2 % B), whereas, the recorded average value of transmittance was about 62 % for doped film with 1 % B throughout the region. The optical energy gap value for pure NiO film was found to be 3.73 eV. These values were affected by B doping with non-monotonic variation and reached to 3.64 eV for 0.1 % B doped NiO. Also, the refractive index dispersion and dielectric constants of the NiO films were studied throughout the investigated range of wavelengths. The obtained results indicate that the optical parameters of the NiO film are controlled with boron doping.