Semi-analytic time-marching algorithms for semi-linear parabolic equations

New time marching algorithms for numerical solution of semi-linear parabolic equations are described. They are based on the approximation method proposed by the first author. An important feature of the algorithms is that they are both explicit and stable under mild restrictions to the time step, which come from the non-linear part of the equation.     

Hydrogen peroxide and dioxygen activation by dinuclear copper complexes in aqueous solution: hydroxyl radical production initiated by internal electron transfer

Dinuclear Cu(II) complexes, CuII2Nn (n = 4 or 5), were recently found to specifically cleave DNA in the presence of a reducing thiol and O2 or in the presence of H2O2 alone. However, CuII2N3 and a closely related mononuclear Cu(II) complex exhibited no selective reaction under either condition. Spectroscopic studies indicate an intermediate is generated from CuII2Nn (n = 4 or 5) and mononuclear Cu(II) solutions in the presence of H2O2 or from CuI2Nn (n = 4 or 5) in the presence of O2. This intermediate decays to generate OH radicals and ligand degradation products at room temperature. The lack of reactivity of the intermediate with a series of added electron donors suggests the intermediate discharges through a rate-limiting intramolecular electron transfer from the ligand to the metal peroxo center to produce an OH radical and a ligand-based radical. These results imply that DNA cleavage does not result from direct reaction with a metal-peroxo intermediate but instead arises from reaction with either OH radicals or ligand-based radicals.     

Estimation of trace elements in some medicinal plants used in anti‐cancer drugs by PIXE

A trace elemental analysis was carried out in various parts of 12 anticancer medicinal plants, using the PIXE (particle‐induced X‐ray emission) technique. A 3‐MeV proton beam was used to excite the samples, and spectra were recorded using a Si (Li) detector. Data analysis was done using the GUPIX software. The elements Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Sr were identified, and their concentrations estimated. The results of the present study provide justification for the usage of these medicinal plants in the development of anticancer drugs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Glycosides ofPatrinia sibirica. I

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - Three glycosides, named sibirosides A, B, and C, have been detected in the roots ofPatrinia sibirica (L.) Juss. All three are derivatives of hederagenin....     

Dicopper(I) complexes of unsymmetrical binucleating ligands and their dioxygen reactivities

The design, synthesis, and characterization of binuclear copper(I) complexes and investigations of their dioxygen reactivities are of interest in understanding fundamental aspects of copper/O2 reactivity and in modeling copper enzyme active-site chemistry. In the latter regard, unsymmetrical binuclear systems are of interest. Here, we describe the chemistry of new unsymmetrical binuclear copper complexes, starting with the binucleating ligand UN2-H, possessing a m-xylyl moiety linking a bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]amine (PY2) tridentate chelator and a 2-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]pyridine bidentate group. Dicopper(I) complexes of UN2-H, [Cu2(UN2-H)]2+ (1), as PF6- and ClO4- salts, are synthesized. These react with O2 (Cu:O2 = 2:1, manometry) resulting in the hydroxylation of the xylyl moiety, producing the phenoxohydroxodicopper(II) complex [Cu2(UN2-O-)(OH-)(CH3CN)]2+ (2). Compound 2(PF6)2 is characterized by X-ray crystallography, which reveals features similar to those of a structure described previously (Karlin, K. D.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106, 2121-2128) for a symmetrical binucleating analogue having two tridentate PY2 moieties; here a CH3CN ligand replaces one pyridylethyl arm. Isotope labeling from a reaction of 1 using 18O2 shows that the ligand UN2-OH, extracted from 2, possesses an 18O-labeled phenol oxygen atom. Thus, the transformation 1 + O2-->2 represents a monooxygenase model system. [CuI2(UN2-OH)(CH3CN)]2+ (3), a new binuclear dicopper(I) complex with an unsymmetrical coordination environment is generated either by reduction of 2 with diphenylhydrazine or in reactions of cuprous salts with UN2-OH. Complex 3 reacts with O2 at -80 degrees C, producing the (mu-1,1-hydroperoxo)dicopper(II) complex [CuII2(UN2-O-)(OOH-)]2+ (4) (lambda max 390 nm (epsilon 4200 M-1 cm-1), formulated on the basis of the stoichiometry of O2 uptake by 3 (Cu:O2 = 2:1, manometry), its reaction with PPh3 giving O=PPh3 (85%), and comparison to previously studied close analogues. Discussions include the relevance and comparison to other copper bioinorganic chemistry.     

Contrasting copper-dioxygen chemistry arising from alike tridentate alkyltriamine copper(I) complexes

Copper(I)-dioxygen interactions are of great interest due to their role in biological O2-processing as well as their importance in industrial oxidation processes. We describe here the study of systems which lead to new insights concerning the factors which govern Cu(II)-mu-eta2:eta2 (side-on) peroxo versus Cu(III)-bis-mu-oxo species formation. Drastic differences in O2-reactivity of Cu(I) complexes which differ only by a single -CH3 versus -H substituent on the central amine of the tridentate ligands employed are observed. [Cu(MeAN)]B(C6F5)4 (1) (MeAN = N,N,N',N',N'-pentamethyl-dipropylenetriamine) reacts with O2 at -80 degrees C to form almost exclusively the side-on peroxo complex [{CuII(MeAN)}2(O2)]2+ (3) in CH2Cl2, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, and diethyl ether solvents, as characterized by UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopies. In sharp contrast, [Cu(AN)]B(C6F5)4 (2) (AN = 3, 3'-iminobis(N,N-dimethyl-propylamine) can support either Cu2O2 structures in a strongly solvent-dependent manner. Extreme behavior is observed in CH2Cl2 solvent, where 1 reacts with O2 giving 3, while 2 forms exclusively the bis-mu-oxo species [{CuIII(AN)}2(O)2]2+ (4Oxo). Stopped-flow kinetics measurements also reveal significant variations in the oxygenation reactions of 1 versus 2, including the observations that 4Oxo forms much faster than does 3; the former decomposes quickly, while the latter is quite stable at 193 K. The solvent-dependence of the bis-mu-oxo versus side-on peroxo preference observed for 2 is opposite to that reported for other known copper(I) complexes; the factors which may be responsible for the unusual behavior of 1/O2 versus 2/O2 (possibly N-H hydrogen bonding in the AN chemistry) are suggested. The factors which affect bis-mu-oxo versus side-on peroxo formation continue to be of interest.