A quantum and deductive chemical study for all congeners of polybromo/chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and polybromo/chlorodibenzofuran

We have performed semiempirical quantum chemical calculations to obtain the optimized structure and the free energy (DeltaG) for all congeners (1701) of polybromo/chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, which include all the isomers of all the homologues, and those for (3321) polybromo/chlorodibenzofurans. Then, to apply the "Quantum and Deductive Chemistry Approach" on the dioxin chemistry, we have carried out the multiple linear regression (MLR) as functions of temperature and the substituted numbers and positions of chlorine and bromine. The optimized structure of dibenzo-p-dioxin and the dibenzofuran ring is significantly influenced by the substitutions of the peri and lateral halogen atoms. The bond length between the aromatic ring and halogen atom also is influenced by the neighboring atoms. The bromine substitution at the 2 and 8 positions of dibenzofuran reduces the steric repulsion between the chlorine atoms at the 1 and 9 positions. The coefficients of the predicting equation of DeltaG derived by MLR suggest that the probabilities of chlorine elimination from the peri and lateral positions for polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxin are nearly equal.     

Studies on the constituents of the leaves of Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae) and their cytotoxic activity

A new sesquiterpene, named baccharisketone (1), and a new monoterpene, p-methoxythymol acetate (2), were isolated from the leaves of Baccharis dracunculifolia along with seventeen known compounds (3-19). The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic means. The growth inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds against leukemia cells (L 1210) was tested and three terpene phenols (4, 6, 17) and five sesquiterpene alcohols (8, 10, 11, 13, 16) were found to exhibit strong cytotoxic activity.     

Regulation of melanin synthesis by selenium-containing carbohydrates

This study reports depigmenting potency of selenium-containing carbohydrates, which would be based upon the finding of direct inhibition to mushroom tyrosinase. Two selenoglycosiede, SG-3 (bis(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-arabinopyranosyl) selenide) and SG-8 (4'-methylbenzoyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-D-selenomanopyranoside) among eleven selenium-containing compounds examined, were discovered to be effective depigmenting compounds on a mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory assay. SG-3 exhibited a competitive inhibition effect that was similar to kojic acid, well-known tyrosinase inhibitor. At 100 microM and 150 microM, SG-8 had an uncompetitive inhibitory effect that was higher than kojic acid. A study of a melan-a cell originated-tyrosinase inhibition assay showed that SG-8 had a lower inhibitory effect than kojic acid. SG-3 showed a similar inhibition effect to kojic acid on the melan-a cell-originated tyrosinase inhibitory assay. SG-8 showed dose-dependently cytotoxicity in a study of inhibition melanin synthesis by melan-a cells. Most melan-a cells did not survive after being treated with 20 microM of SG-8. At 10 microM, SG-3 inhibited melanin synthesis in the melan-a cells, and the effect was similar to phenylthiourea, which is a well-known inhibitor of melanin synthesis. Therefore, SG-3 is a new candidate for depigmenting reagents.     

One-electron redox processes during polyoxometalate-mediated photocatalytic reactions of TiO(2) studied by two-color two-laser flash photolysis

The one-electron redox processes of several compounds during polyoxometalate (POM)-mediated photocatalytic reactions of TiO(2) were investigated using the two-color two-laser flash-photolysis technique. The efficiency of the one-electron oxidation of aromatic sulfides by the trapped hole (h(tr) (+)) or the surface-bound OH radical (OH(s) (.)) is found to be significantly enhanced due to electron transfer from the conduction band (CB) of TiO(2) to the POM. The efficiency of the electron transfer from the CB of TiO(2) to the POM decreases in the order H(2)W(12)O(40) (6-) < SiW(12)O(40) (4-) < PW(12)O(40) (3-), that is, it depends on the reduction potential (E(red)) of the POMs. Electron injection from PW(12)O(40) (4-) in the excited state (PW(12)O(40) (4-*)) to the CB of TiO(2) was clearly observed using the two-color two-laser flash-photolysis technique. Storage of electrons in the TiO(2)/PW(12)O(40) (3-)/methyl viologen (MV(2+)) ternary system was also achieved upon two-color two-laser irradiation.     

Auger-free luminescence due to interatomic p–d transition and self-trapped exciton luminescence in Rb2ZnCl4 crystals

It is reported that Auger-free (AF) luminescence appears with two bands at 4.5 and 6.3 eV in Rb₂ZnCl₄. This luminescence originates from a radiative transition of the Cl 3p valence electrons into the Zn 3d outermost-core holes. The present work is the first observation of AF luminescence due to interatomic p–d transitions in halide crystals. The appearance of two AF luminescence bands suggests the existence of two types of AF transitions following core hole creation. A largely Stokes-shifted luminescence band is also found to appear at 1.9 eV. This band has an excitation threshold at the fundamental absorption edge, and is ascribed to the radiative decay of a self-trapped exciton.     

Syntheses of cyanoselenoamides and diselenoamides: Conversion into selenazoles and selenazines

Reactions of dicyano compounds with a potassium selenocarboxylate afforded the corresponding cyanoselenoamides and diselenoamides in good yields of experimentally determined ratios. The obtained cyanoselenoamides were allowed to react with potassium selenocarboxylate, again to afford the corresponding diselenoamides in higher yields. The cyanoselenoamides and diselenoamides were investigated as substrates for preparations of selenazoles and selenazines. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:106–110, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10111     

Syntheses of 2‐alkylthio‐1,3‐thiazine derivatives from S‐alkyldithiocarbamates and α,β‐unsaturated ketones

Various 2‐alkylthio‐1,3‐thiazine derivatives were synthesized by the reactions of S‐alkylthiocarbamates with α,β‐unsaturated ketones in the presence of BF₃ · Et₂O. The thiazine was converted into two isomeric dehydrated products in the presence of a Lewis acid. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 13:377–379, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10055