Pregnane‐Based Steroids from a Formosan Gorgonian Subergorgia Mollis

A new steroid, 11α, 15α‐diacetoxy‐17α‐pregna‐4,20‐dien‐3‐one ( 1 ), and a known one, 17α‐pregna‐4,20‐dien‐3‐one ( 2 ), have been isolated from a Formosan gorgonian Subergorgia mollis. The structures of both compounds were determined on the basis of extensive NMR experiments, including HMQC, HMBC, ¹H‐¹H COSY and NOESY. Metabolite 2 has not been isolated from a natural source before. The detailed ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data of 2 are reported for the first time.     

Determination of chlorophenols in soil samples by microwave-assisted extraction coupled to headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-electron-capture detection

Microwave-assisted extraction coupled to headspace solid-phase microextraction was studied and applied for one-step in-situ sample preparation prior to analysis of chlorophenols (CPs) in soil samples. The CPs in soil sample were extracted into the aqueous solution and then directly onto the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber in headspace under the aid of microwave irradiation. After being desorbed from SPME fiber in the GC injection port, CPs were analyzed with a GC-electron-capture detection system. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as the extraction solutions, the pH in the slurry, the humic acid content in the soil, the power and the irradiation time of microwave as well as the desorption parameters were investigated. Experimental results indicated that the extraction of a 1.0 g soil sample with a 6-ml aqueous solution (pH 2) and a polyacrylate fiber under the medium-power irradiation (132 W) for 9 min achieved the best extraction efficiency of about 90% recovery and less than 10% RSD. Desorption was optimal at 300 degrees C for 3 min. Detection limits were obtained at around 0.1-2.0 microg/kg levels. The proposed method provided a simple, fast, and organic solvent-free procedure to analyze CPs from soil sample matrix.     

Novel Anti‐Inflammatory Constituents of Artocarpus rigida

A novel phenolic compound containing an oxepine ring, artocarpol I ( 1 ), and a new biphenylpropanoid, artocarpol J ( 2 ), were isolated from the root bark of Artocarpus rigida. The structures, including relative configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic data. Compound 1 and artocarpol J peracetate ( 3 ) strongly inhibited in a concentration‐dependent manner the formyl‐Met‐Leu‐Phe (fMLP)/cytochalasin B (CB)‐stimulated superoxide anion formation in neutrophils with IC₅₀ values of 17.1±0.40 and 20.5±2.60 μM , respectively. Biogenetically, all the novel phenolic compounds isolated from this plant seem to be derived from stilbene.     

Monosubstituted Trinuclear and Tetranuclear VIB Metal Carbonyl Complexes: Syntheses of [{M(CO)5}3(Pf-Pf-Pf)] [Pf-Pf-Pf = PhP(CH2CH2PPh2)2] and [{M(CO)5}4(P-Pf3)] [P-Pf3 = P(CH2CH2PPh2)3] (M = Cr,Mo) and Crystal Structures of the Latter Three

The triligate trimetallic complexes, [{M(CO)₅}₃(Pf-Pf-Pf)] and tetraligate tetrametallic complexes, [{M(CO)₅}₄(P-Pf₃)] (M = Cr and Mo), were prepared from [M(CO) ₆] and the corresponding ligands in MeCN/CH₂Cl₂ promoted by Me₃NO at 0 °C. Crystals of trimer lb are monoclinic, space group P 2₁/n, with a = 13.407(3), b = 15.002(5), c = 26.52(1) Å, β = 90.65(2)°, Z = 4, and R = 0.060 for 2760 observed reflections. Crystals of tetramer 2a are monoclinic, space group P 2₁/c, with a – 14.183(8), b = 29.880(4), c = 16.103(2) Å, β = 94.98(3)°, Z = 4, and R = 0.039 for 5014 observed reflections. Crystals of 2b are monoclinic, space group C 2/c, with a = 42.120(8), b = 13.679(1), c = 23.486(2) Å, β = 92.14(1)°, Z = 8, and R = 0.032 for 6897 observed reflections. Each phosphorus atom of the ligands is coordinated to the M(CO)₅ moiety in each title compounds. The geometry of the four metals is a distorted tetrahedron for the tetramers.     

Fabrication of aligned TiO2 one-dimensional nanostructured arrays using a one-step templating solution approach

In this letter, we report a one-step templating synthetic strategy to prepare aligned TiO2 nanotube and nanowire arrays on Si substrate from a solution at ambient temperature. The deposition of TiO2 and the selective-etching of the ZnO template proceeded at the same time through the careful control of process parameters. The different thickness of TiO2 sheaths, leading to the formation of nanotubes or nanorods, can be precisely controlled by the deposition time. The idea of selective etching and deposition is applicable to other oxide materials, and such a facile method is expected to find widespread applications.     

Designing optical-fiber modulators by using magnetic fluids

To reduce interface loss between optical fibers and devices in telecommunication systems, the development of an optical-fiber-based device that can be fused directly with fibers is important. A novel optical modulator consisting of a bare fiber core surrounded by magnetic fluids instead of by a SiO2 cladding layer is proposed. Applying a magnetic field raises the refractive index of the magnetic fluid. Thus we can control the occurrence of total reflection at the interface between the fiber core and the magnetic fluid when light propagates along the fiber. As a result, the intensity of the outgoing light is modulated by variation in field strength. Details of the design, fabrication, and working properties of such a modulator are presented.     

Metal-acetylacetonate chelate crosslinked gels

Polymers containing pendant acetylacetonate (acac) groups suitable for crosslinking through metal complex formation are described. Diene-based copolymers, polystyrene, and polydimethylsiloxane, each containing a measurable number of acac groups distributed along the chains, were synthesized. The polymers were studied both for the amount of acac ligand and for their crosslinking reactions with selected transition metals by ultraviolet (UV) second-derivative spectroscopy. The UV analyses of the polymer systems were compared with their monomer analogs, and the results confirm that the crosslinking chelation reactions of polymer compounds are similar to those of model compounds. Homogeneous chelate crosslinking conditions were developed by using transition-metal salts such as Cu(laurate)₂, Fe(laurate)₃, and Cr(laurate)₃ in solvents such as chloroform and benzene. Polymeric ligands containing 1–5% acac in solution at various concentrations were reacted to form both inter- and intramolecular crosslinkages. The kinetic stability of the chelate crosslinks has been studied by a unique ligand exchange–gel solubility relationship.     

Thermal analyses of home-made zeolite by DSC and TG

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases are the main factors involved in pollution control and global warming. Various treatment methods involving incineration, adsorption, etc., have been employed to reduce VOCs and greenhouse gases concentration in the operating environment and atmosphere. Activated carbon, zeolite, silica gel, and alumina have been broadly used to adsorb pollutants in various industrial applications. Based on the promising effect of adsorption, we analyzed and identified the thermal phenomena of home-made zeolite using various instruments. The endothermic reaction under 100?°C of home-made zeolite was identified as steam adsorption, which is an important discovery. The optimal adsorption temperatures of home-made zeolite have been determined at 200?C550?°C.     

Promoting self-assembly of collagen-related peptides into various higher-order structures by metal-histidine coordination

Collagen is an important and widely used biomaterial and therapeutic. The construction of large-scale collagen structures via the self-assembly of small collagen-related peptides has been extensively studied in the past decade. Here, we report a highly effective and simple means to assemble small synthetic collagen-related peptides into various higher-order structures by utilizing metal-histidine coordination. In this work, two short collagen-related peptides in which histidine residues were incorporated as metal binding sites were designed and chemically synthesized: HG(PPG)(9)GH (X9) and HG(PPG)(4)(PHG)(PPG)(4)GH (PHG). Circular dichroism measurements indicated that these two peptides form only marginally stable collagen triple helices but that their stability can be increased upon the addition of metal ions. Dynamic light scattering analyses, turbidity measurements, TEM, and SEM results demonstrated the metal ion-dependent self-assembly of X9 and PHG into supramolecular structures ranging from various nanofibrils to microscale spherical, laminated, and granulated assemblies. The topology and size of these higher-order structures depends both on the metal ion identity and the location of the binding sites. Most intriguingly, the assembled fibrils show similar D-periodicity to that of natural collagen. Our results demonstrate that metal-histidine coordination can serve as an effective force to induce the self-assembly of unstable collagen-related peptides into higher-order structures.     

Self‐Assembly and Structure of Cobalt(II) Complexes Using Diaminodiamide Ligands

The self‐assembly of Co(II) with two diaminodiamide ligands, 4,7‐diazadecanediamide and 4,8‐diazaundecanediamide, gave two different crystals, [(C₈H₁₈N₄O₂)Co(OH)₂Co(C₈H₁₈N₄O₂)]Cl₂ ( 1 ) [Co(C₉H₂₀N₄O₂)(Cl)(H₂O)]·Cl·2H₂O ( 2 ). Structures of 1 and 2 were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Structural data for 1 shows a novel type of binuclear complex with distorted octahederal coordination geometry around the Co atoms through the hydroxo bridges. By using inter‐connector N‐H···N hydrogen bonding interactions as building forces, each cationic moiety [(C₈H₁₈N₄O₂)Co(OH)₂Co(C₈H₁₈N₄O₂)]²⁺ is linked to neighboring ones, producing a charged hydrogen‐bonded 1D chain‐like structure. The chains are further connected into a 2D layer in a (4,4)‐topology via N‐H···Cl_free hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Structural data for 2 indicate that the cobalt atom adopts a six‐coordinated N₂O₄ environment, giving a distorted octahedral geometry, where two N‐ and two O‐donor sets of ligand located at equatorial positions and one water and one chloride occupied at axial positions. Through NH···Cl‐Co and OH···Cl‐Co contacts, each cationic moiety [Co(C₉H₂₀N₄O₂)(Cl)(H₂O)]⁺ in 2 is linked to neighboring ones, producing a charged hydrogen‐bonded 1D chainlike structure. Thus, the crystal‐engineering approach has proved successful in the solid‐state packing due to steric strain effect of the diaminodiamide ligand.