Thermal and thermoxidative degradations of starch and thermosensitive starch-g-BAM copolymers

Summary Thermal degradation under N₂atmosphere and thermoxidative degradation under air atmosphere of increasingly grafting efficiency values (i.e. GE%=0.0 to 35.5) for starch and starch grafted with N-tert-butylacrylamide thermosensitive copolymers (starch-g-BAM) by Ozawa and Kissinger methods using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry techniques (DSC) at 10, 30 and 50% mass losses respectively have been studied. Influence of physical inter and intra molecular interactions on grafting and consequently on activation energy of degradation (E_a,d) was investigated using Ozawa's method, whereas linear dependence of E_a,don GE% by scaling relations using Kissinger's method was determined. Furthermore, the thermoxidative degradation induces the possibility of molecular rearrangement, cyclization and partial crosslinking that is deduced from the activation energy of degradation (E_a,d) and residual mass of TG profile. Thermal stability of starch does not alter as a result of different grafting efficiency percentages.     

Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of Schiff bases derived from 2,6-diacetylpyridine and S-methyldithiocarbazate and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Pd(mdapsme)Cl] complex

Condensation of 2,6-diacetylpyridine (dap) with S-methyldithiocarbazate (smdtc) in a 1:2 molar ratio yields a bicondensed pentadentate Schiff base (H₂dapsme) which reacts with K₂MCl₄ (M = Pd^II, Pt^II) giving stable complexes of empirical formula, [M(dapsme)] · 0.5Me₂CO. These complexes have been characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. Condensation of dap with smdtc in a 1:1 molar ratio also yields the bicondensed Schiff base (H₂dapsme) as the major product, but a mono-condensed one-armed Schiff base (Hmdapsme) is also obtained as a minor product. The latter reacts with K₂PdCl₄ in an EtOH–H₂O mixture yielding a crystalline complex of empirical formula, [Pd(mdapsme)Cl], the crystal structure of which has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex has a distorted square-planar structure in which the ligand is coordinated to the palladium(II) ion as a uninegatively charged tridentate chelating agent via the pyridine nitrogen atom, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulfur atom; the oxygen atom of the acetyl group does not participate in coordination.     

Novel coated-graphite membrane sensor based on N,N′-dimethylcyanodiaza-18-crown-6 for the determination of ultra-trace amounts of lead

A novel selective membrane electrode for determination of ultra-trace amount of lead was prepared. The PVC membrane containing N,N′-dimethylcyanodiaza-18-cown-6 (DMCDA18C6) directly coated on a graphite electrode, exhibits a Nernstian response for Pb²⁺ ions over a very wide concentration range (from 1.0×10⁻² to 1.0×10⁻⁷ M) with a limit of detection of 7.0×10⁻⁸ M (∼14.5 ppb). It has a fast response time of ∼10 s and can be used for at least 2 months without any major deviation in potential. The electrode revealed very good selectivity with respect to all common alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The proposed sensor was used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of lead ions and in determination of lead in edible oil, human hair and water samples. The proposed sensor was found to be superior to the best Pb²⁺-selective electrodes reported in terms of detection limit and selectivity coefficient.     

Reduced viscosity polymer matrices for microchip electrophoresis of double-stranded DNA

On a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microchip, double-stranded DNA fragments with a wide size range from 50 bp to 20 kbp were separated by two polymer solutions. One was a hydroxypropylmethylcellulose-4000 (HPMC-4000) solution of 1.3% (w/v) to separate fragments below 590 bp, and another was a mixed four molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) solution at a total concentration of 0.1% to separate fragments above 520 bp. The widths at half height (wh) of the fragments had a good relationship with their migration times (tR) in both polymer solutions. Such a relationship was suitable for obtaining the wh values of unresolved peaks, calculating the resolution of two adjacent fragments, and optimizing microchip separation matrices. Based on the relativity, a low viscosity medium containing 2% HPMC-50 and 8% glucose was optimized for high-performance separation of a phiX174 HaeIII restriction fragment digest.     

A new synthesis of highly functionalized 2H-pyran derivatives

Ethyl oxo-(2-oxo-cycloalkyl)-ethanoates undergo a smooth reaction with triphenylphosphine and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates via intramolecular Wittig reaction to produce spiro-cyclobutene derivatives. These spiro systems undergo electrocyclic ring opening reaction to produce electron-deficient 1,3-dienes, which spontaneously cyclize to 2H-pyran derivatives.     

Theoretical determination of chromophores in the chromogenic effects of aromatic neurotoxicants

We report the first computational study of the chromophores responsible for the chromogenic effects of aromatic neurotoxicants containing a 1,2-diacetyl moiety in their oxidation metabolites. A series of ab initio electronic structure calculations was performed on two representative aromatic compounds, 1,2-diacetylbenzene (1,2-DAB) and 1,2-diacetyl tetramethyl tetralin (1,2-DATT), the putative active metabolites of the neurotoxic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds 1,2-diethylbenzene (1,2-DEB) and acetyl ethyl tetramethyl tetralin (AETT), and on the products of their possible reactions with proteins that result in chromogenic effects. The electronic excitation energies determined by three different computational approaches were found to be consistent with each other. The calculated results are consistent with the conclusion/prediction that the chromogenic effects of 1,2-DAB (or 1,2-DEB) and 1,2-DATT (or AETT) could result from ninhydrin-like reactions, rather than the formation of pyrrole-like compounds. Our pK(a) calculations further indicate that the chromophore, i.e., the product of the ninhydrin-like reaction showing the blue color, is deprotonated in neutral aqueous solution. The corresponding protonated structure has a different color as it absorbs in the blue region of the visible spectrum, and its chromogenic contribution would be significant in solution at low pH.     

Reaction of ethyl γ-bromo-β-methoxycrotonate with carbonyl compounds. Synthesis of 4-methoxy-6-substituted-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones and 3-substituted 3-pyrazolin-5-ones

Ethyl β-methoxycrotonate I reacts with substituted carbonyl compounds II in benzene to give 4-methoxy-6-substituted-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones III. The reaction of IIIa and j with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol leads to 3-[(1′-thienyl-1-hydroxy)methyl]-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole (IVa) and 3-[1′-styryl-1′-hydroxy)methyl]-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole (IVj) in good yields. The structure of the products were assigned and confirmed on the basis of their elemental analysis and the electronic absorption, infrared and nmr spectra.     

Mild and Efficient Deprotection of 1,3‐Dithianes with N,N′‐ Diiodo‐N,N′‐1,2‐Ethanediyl‐Bis(p‐Toluenesulphonamide)

Aliphatic and aromatic 1,3‐dithiane are oxidized to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in good yields under mild conditions by N,N′‐diiodo‐N,N′‐1,2‐ethanediyl‐bis(p‐toluenesulphonamide) [NIBTS] and silver nitrate.     

Kinetics and electrochemical studies on superoxide

Rate constants for the reaction of superoxide O^- ₂ with various substrates were obtained through stationary electrode polarography theory and technique. In solvent acetonitrile, the substrate and the rate constants of the reaction O^- ₂ + AH^{- k2}Product, are, AH = isopropanol (k₂ < 0.01 M^-1 s^-1); ethanol (k₂ = 1.42 × 10² M^-1 s^-1); methanol (k₂ = 1.1 × 10⁷ M^-1 s^-1), H₂O (k₂ = 1.0 × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1). In MeCN, O^-2 was found to be rather unreactive towards glucose and acetone but it reacts with fructose and sucrose catalytically. However, in DMF2, O^- ₂reacts with glucose and fructose with k2 order of 105 M-1 s-1. The mechanism of the reaction of O^- ₂ with the substrates (AH) is proposed as O^- ₃ + AH k₂O, AH^k2 _k-1 k [O₂H + AH]^-, _k-2O₂H + A^- with k₁ = 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1 and k^-1 = 10⁸ -10⁹ s^-1. With these values of k_-1 and k₁, k k₂(obs). The reversible E_1/2 for O₂ + e O^- ₂ in various solvents: MeCN, acetone, isopropanol, methanol, H₂O were obtained either directly from the reversible voltammogram or from experimental voltammograms and the rate constants obtained (as above) using stationary electrode polargraphy theory; E_1/2 being -0.82 (MeCN),-0.85 (acetone),-0.72 (isopropanol);-0.66 (MeOH),-0.56 (H2O) vs SCE.     

Optimization of the extraction of paclitaxel from Taxus baccata L. by the use of microwave energy

A simple and rapid microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) procedure was developed and optimized for the extraction of paclitaxel (Taxol) from the needles of yew trees Taxus baccata L. grown in Iranian habitats. The samples, immersed in a methanol-water mixture, were irradiated with microwaves in a closed-vessel system. The method was evaluated using a factorial design approach based on parameters such as extraction time, temperature, methanol concentration in water (v/v), and the ratio of grams of sample to 10 mL of solvent. Statistical treatment of the results revealed that the selected parameters were all significant except the extraction time. Optimum conditions would be 1.5 g samples in 10 mL solvent (90% methanol), an extraction temperature of 95 degrees C, and an extraction time of 7 min. The extracts has been analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (LC/UV) at 227 nm for quantification. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for confirmation. The main advantage of the proposed MAE method versus conventional solvent extraction (CSE) are the considerable reductions in time (7 min versus 16 h) and in solvent consumption (20 mL versus 150 mL). The MAE procedure yielded extracts that could be analyzed directly without any preliminary clean-up or solvent exchange steps. Both extraction methods show RSDs lower than 10% and lead to comparable recoveries of paclitaxel (87-92%).