Synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of six [TeL4][MF6] salts, where L is ethylene- or trimethylene-thiourea, and M is Si, Ge or Sn. Five Te(II) complexes with a novel type of structure linked together by unusual N–HF hydrogen bonds

The complexes [Te(etu)₄][SiF₆] (1), [Te(etu)₄][SiF₆] · H₂O (2), [Te(trtu)₄][SiF₆] (3), [Te(etu)₄][GeF₆] · H₂O (4), [Te(trtu)₄][GeF₆] (5) and [Te(etu)₄][SnF₆] (6) (etu = ethylenethiourea, trtu = trimethylenethiourea) have been prepared and their crystal structures determined by X-ray crystallographic methods. The crystals of 1, 3 and 5 are tetragonal; space groups P4cc (No. 103) with Z = 4 for 1, P4nc (No. 104) with Z = 2 for 3, and I4 (No. 79) with Z = 2 for 5. The crystals of 2, 4 and 6 are orthorhombic, space group Pccn (No. 56) with Z = 8 for 2 and 4 and Z = 4 for 6; those of 2 and 4 being isomorphous. The cations contain square planar or slightly distorted square planar TeS₄ coordination groups. In 1, 3 and 5 the Te atoms are located on fourfold rotation axes; the cations have fourfold rotational symmetry and the four thiourea ligands extend to the same side of the TeS₄ plane. These are the first examples of [TeL₄]²⁺ conformers of this type. In 2 and 4 the Te atoms lie on general positions; the cations are distorted versions of those in 1, and also in these the four ligands extend to the same side of the TeS₄ plane. In 6 the Te atoms are located on twofold rotation axes, the conformation of the cations corresponds to the point group C₂ with two neighbouring ligands extending to one side of the coordination plane and the remaining two to the opposite side. In 1–5 each of the four ligands forms a N–HF bond to the same F atom in the counter ion. The crystals of 1–5 are red, and those of 6 are yellow. The red colour is attributed to interactions of Te and S lone electron pairs caused by ligand TeS₄/TeSC tilt angles markedly different from 90°.     

Gallium metal mediated allylation of carbonyl compounds and imines under solvent-free conditions

Gallium metal is effective in mediating the allylation of various carbonyl compounds and imines under solvent-free conditions, with the application of sonic energy, affording the corresponding homoallylic alcohols and amines. The imines themselves were also prepared under solventless conditions in high yield, thereby establishing a two-step solvent-free synthesis of homoallylic amines. In comparison, indium metal produced a mixture of the desired homoallylic secondary amine and the bis-allylated species via an iminium ion intermediate.     

Novel anti-Plasmodial hits identified by virtual screening of the ZINC database

Increased resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to most available drugs challenges the control of malaria. Studies with protease inhibitors have suggested important roles for the falcipain family of cysteine proteases. These enzymes act in concert with other proteases to hydrolyze host erythrocyte hemoglobin in the parasite food vacuole. In order to find potential new antimalarial drugs, we screened in silico the ZINC database using two different protocols involving structure- and ligand-based methodologies. Our search identified 19 novel low micromolar inhibitors of cultured chloroquine resistant P. falciparum. The most active compound presented an IC₅₀ value of 0.5 μM against cultured parasites and it also inhibited the cysteine protease falcipain-2 (IC₅₀ = 25.5 μM). These results identify novel classes of antimalarials that are structurally different from those currently in use and which can be further derivatized to deliver leads suitable for optimisation.     

Rapid conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using single and combined metal chloride catalysts in ionic liquid

Direct conversion of cellulose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(HMF) was performed by using single or combined metal chloride catalysts in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride(Cl) ionic liquid.Our study demonstrated formation of 2-furyl hydroxymethyl ketone(FHMK),and furfural(FF) simultaneously with the formation of HMF.Various reaction parameters were addressed to optimize yields of furan derivatives produced from cellulose by varying reaction temperature,time,and the type of metal chloride catalyst.Catalytic reaction by using FeCl3 resulted in 59.9% total yield of furan derivatives(HMF,FHMK,and FF) from cellulose.CrCl3 was the most effective catalyst for selective conversion of cellulose into HMF(35.6%) with less concentrations of FHMK,and FF.Improving the yields of furans produced from cellulose could be achieved via reactions catalyzed by different combinations of two metal chlorides.Further optimization was carried out to produce total furans yield 75.9% by using FeCl3/CuCl2 combination.CrCl3/CuCl2 was the most selective combination to convert cellulose into HMF(39.9%) with total yield(63.8%) of furans produced from the reaction.The temperature and time of the catalytic reaction played an important role in cellulose conversion,and the yields of products.Increasing the reaction temperature could enhance the cellulose conversion and HMF yield for short reaction time intervals(5~20 min).     

The phase-dependent photochemical reaction dynamics of halooxides and nitrosyl halides

Recent progress in understanding the phase-dependent reactivity of halooxides and nitrosyl halides is outlined. Halooxide reactivity is represented by the photochemistry of chlorine dioxide (OClO) and dichlorine monoxide (ClOCl). The gas phase photochemical dynamics of OClO are contrasted with the dynamics in condensed environments. The role of excited-state symmetry in defining the reaction dynamics and the observation of photoisomerization resulting in the production of ClOO are discussed. The current understanding of the excited-state reaction dynamics of ClOCl and evidence for photoisomerization of this species resulting in the production of ClClO are outlined. Finally, the photochemical reaction dynamics of the nitrosyl halide ClNO are presented. The main difference between the gas and condensed phase reaction dynamics of this species is that whereas photodissociation to form Cl and NO dominates the gas phase reaction dynamics, photoisomerization resulting in ClON production occurs to an appreciable extent in condensed environments. The observation of photoisomerization for OClO, ClOCl and ClNO suggests that this process is a general feature of the condensed phase reaction dynamics for smaller halooxides and nitrosyl halides. Finally, future areas for study in both halooxide and nitrosyl halide photoreactivity are outlined.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Sterically Encumbered Derivatives of Aluminum Hydrides and Halides: Assessment of Steric Properties of Bulky Terphenyl Ligands

The synthesis and characterization of several sterically encumbered monoterphenyl derivatives of aluminum halides and aluminum hydrides are described. These compounds are [2,6-Mes(2)C(6)H(3)AlH(3)LiOEt(2)](n)() (1), (Mes = 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2)-), 2,6-Mes(2)C(6)H(3)AlH(2)OEt(2) (2), [2,6-Mes(2)C(6)H(3)AlH(2)](2) (3), 2,6-Mes(2)C(6)H(3)AlCl(2)OEt(2) (4), [2,6-Mes(2)C(6)H(3)AlCl(3)LiOEt(2)](n)() (5), [2,6-Mes(2)C(6)H(3)AlCl(2)](2) (6), TriphAlBr(2)OEt(2) (7), (Triph = 2,4,6-Ph(3)C(6)H(2)-), [2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)AlH(3)LiOEt(2)](2) (8) (Trip = 2,4,6-i-Pr(3)C(6)H(2)-), 2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)AlH(2)OEt(2) (9), [2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)AlH(2)](2) (10), 2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)AlCl(2)OEt(2) (11), and the partially hydrolyzed derivative [2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)Al(Cl)(0.68)(H)(0.32)(&mgr;-OH)](2).2C(6)H(6) (12). The structures of 2, 3a, 4, 6, 7, 9a, 10a, 10b, 11, and 12 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The structures of 3a, 9a, 10a, and 10b, are related to 3, 9, and 10, respectively, by partial occupation of chloride or hydride by hydroxide. The compounds were also characterized by (1)H, (13)C, (7)Li, and (27)Al NMR and IR spectroscopy. The major conclusions from the experimental data are that a single ortho terphenyl substituent of the kind reported here are not as effective as the ligand Mes (Mes = 2,4,6-t-Bu(3)C(6)H(2)-) in preventing further coordination and/or aggregation involving the aluminum centers. In effect, one terphenyl ligand is not as successful as a Mes substituent in masking the metal through agostic and/or steric effects.     

CoMFA and docking studies on glycogen phosphorylase a inhibitors as antidiabetic agents

Glycogen phosphorylase (GP(a)) is a specific target for the design of inhibitors and may prevent glycogenolysis under high glucose conditions in type II diabetes. The carboxamides first reported by Hoover D. J. et al. (J. Med. Chem. 1998, 41, 2934-2938) are one of the major classes of GP(a) inhibitors other than glucose derivatives. The recent, X-ray crystallographic analyses (Oikonomakos et al. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2003, 1647, 325-332) have revealed a distinct mechanism of action for these inhibitors, which bind at a new allosteric site away from the inhibitory and catalytic sites. To elucidate the essential structural and physicochemical requirements responsible for binding to the GP(a) enzyme and to develop predictive models, CoMFA and docking studies have been carried out on a series of indole-2-carboxamide derivates. The CoMFA model developed using pharmacophoric alignments and hydrogen-bonding fields demonstrated high predictive ability against the training (r2 = 0.98, q2 = 0.68) and the test set (r2pred = 0.85). Further the superimposition of PLS coefficient contour maps from CoMFA with the GP(a) active site (PDB: 1lwo) has shown a high level of compatibility.     

IR and raman spectra of two layered aluminium phosphates Co(en)3Al3P4O16.3H2O and

The FT IR and FT Raman spectra of Co(en)3Al3P4O16.3H2O (compound I) and [NH4]3[Co(NH3)6]3[Al2 (PO4)4]2.2H2O (compound II) are recorded and analysed based on the vibrations of Co(en)(3)3+, Co(NH3)(6)3+, NH4, Al-O-P, PO3, PO2 and H2O. The observed splitting of bands indicate that the site symmetry and correlation field effects are appreciable in both the compounds. In compound I, the overtone of CH2 deformation Fermi resonates with its symmetric stretching vibration. The NH4 ion in compound II is not free to rotate in the crystalline lattice. Hydrogen bonding of different groups is also discussed.     

Titanium imido complexes containing 1,3,5-triazacyclohexane ligands

The syntheses of the 1,3,5-trimethyl- and tri-tert-butyl-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane-supported imido complexes [M(NR)(R′₃tach)Cl₂] (M = Ti or Zr (NMR only); R = Bu^t or 2,6-C₆H₃Prⁱ₂; R′ = Me or Bu^t) are reported, along with that of the thermally robust dibenzyl derivative [Ti(NBu^t)(Me₃tach)(CH₂Ph)₂]. The tert-butylimido ligand in [Ti(NBu^t)(Me₃tach)Cl₂] undergoes exchange with ArNH₂ (Ar = 4-C₆H₄Me or 2,6-C₆H₄Me or 2,6-C₆H₃Prⁱ₂) to form the corresponding arylimides [Ti(NAr)(Me₃tach)Cl₂]. The Me₃tach ring in [Ti(NR)(Me₃tach)Cl₂] undergoes slow exchange with Bu^t₃tach or Me₃tacn (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) to give the ring-exchanged products [Ti(NR)(Bu^t₃tach)Cl₂] and [Ti(NR)(Me₃tacn)Cl₂], respectively. The complexes [Ti(NR)(Me₃tach)X₂] (R = Bu^t or 2,6-C₆H₃Prⁱ₂; X = Cl or CH₂Ph) exhibit room-temperature dynamic NMR behaviour via an unusual trigonal twist of the facially coordinated Me₃tach ligand, and the activation parameters for these processes have been measured and are discussed. The X-ray structures of [Ti(NR)(Bu^t₃tach)Cl₂] (R = Bu^t or 2,6-C₆H₃Prⁱ₂) and [Ti(NBu^t)(Me₃tach)(X)₂] [X= Cl or CH₂Ph) are reported. Me₃tach and Bu^t₃tach = 1,3,5-trimethyl- and tri-tert-butyl-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane, respectively.     

A novel approach to modelling counter-current chromatography

Literature lists a number of counter-current chromatography (CCC) models that can predict the retention time and to a certain extent the peak width of a solute eluting from a CCC column. The approach described in this paper distinguishes itself from previous reports by relating all model parameters directly to column dimensions and experimental settings. Most importantly, this model can predict a chromatogram from scratch without resorting to traditional calibration using empirical values. The model validation with experimental results obtained across a range of CCC instruments demonstrated that the solute retention time, peak width, and peak resolution could be predicted within reasonable accuracy. Additionally, the effect of several process parameters, such as mobile phase flow rate, rotational speed of the column or β-value, showed that the model is robust and applicable to a wide range of CCC instruments. Overall, this model proved to be a useful tool for parameter estimation and, most significantly, separation optimisation.