A bidirectional approach to the synthesis of a complete library of adjacent-bis-THF annonaceous acetogenins

Thirty-six stereoisomers of bifunctional adjacent bis-THF (tetrahydrofuran) lactones have been synthesized, which can afford a complete library of the adjacent bis-THF Annonaceous acetogenins. The bis-THF lactones were synthesized, starting from the enantioselectively pure 8,9:12,13-(E,E and Z,E)-16-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-hexadeca-1,4-olide, in a highly distereoselective manner using oxidative reactions, including rhenium(VII) oxides-mediated oxidative cyclization, Shi's asymmetric epoxidation, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions. Using the nonsymmetrical bis-THF lactones, syntheses of two nonnatural acetogenins were achieved.     

Degradation of textile dyes mediated by plant peroxidases

The peroxidase enzyme from the plants Ipomea palmata (1.003 IU/g of leaf) and Saccharum spontaneum (3.6 IU/g of leaf) can be used as an alternative to the commercial source of horseradish and soybean peroxidase enzyme for the decolorization of textile dyes, mainly azo dyes. Eight textiles dyes currently used by the industry and seven other dyes were selected for decolorization studies at 25–200 mg/L levels using these plant enzymes. The enzymes were purified prior to use by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and ion exchange and gel permeation chromatographic techniques. Peroxidase of S. spontaneum leaf (specific activity of 0.23 IU/mg) could completely degrade Supranol Green and Procion Green HE-4BD (100%) dyes within 1 h, whereas Direct Blue, Procion Brilliant Blue H-7G and Chrysoidine were degraded >70% in 1 h. Peroxidase of Ipomea (I. palmata leaf; specific activity of 0.827 U/mg) degraded 50 mg/L of the dyes Methyl Orange (26%), Crystal Violet (36%), and Supranol Green (68%) in 2–4 h and Brilliant Green 54%), Direct Blue (15%), and Chrysoidine (44%) at the 25 mg/L level in 1 to 2 h of treatment. The Saccharum peroxidase was immobilized on a hydrophobic matrix. Four textile dyes, Procion Navy Blue HER, Procion Brilliant Blue H-7G, Procion Green HE-4BD, and Supranol Green, at an initial concentration of 50 mg/L were completely degraded within 8 h by the enzyme immobilized on the modified polyethylene matrix. The immobilized enzyme was used in a batch reactor for the degradation of Procion Green HE-4BD and the reusability was studied for 15 cycles, and the halflife was found to be 60 h.     

Partial wetting of chemically patterned surfaces: the effect of drop size

Partial wetting of chemically heterogeneous substrates is simulated. Three-dimensional sessile drops in equilibrium with smooth surfaces supporting ordered chemical patterns are considered. Significant features are observed as a result of changing the drop volume. The number of equilibrated drops is found either to remain constant or to increase with growing drop volume. The shape of larger drops appears to approach that of a spherical cap and their three-phase contact line seems, on a larger scale, more circular in shape than that of smaller drops. In addition, as the volume is increased, the average contact angle of drops whose free energy is lowest among all equilibrium-shaped drops of the same volume appears to approach the angle predicted by Cassie. Finally, contrary to results obtained with two-dimensional drops, contact angle hysteresis observed in this system is shown to exhibit a degree of volume dependence in the advancing and receding angles. Qualitative differences in the wetting behavior associated with the two different chemical patterns considered here, as well as differences between results obtained with two-dimensional and three-dimensional drops, can possibly be attributed to variations in the level of constraint imposed on the drop by the different patterns and by the dimensionality of the system.     

Determination of methyl salicylate in black tea

Summary Methyl salicylate is a naturally occurring compound in black tea. A method has been developed for the determination of the methyl salicylate in tea samples. The method consists of hot extraction of the teas withn-hexane, distilling off the solvent and steam distillation of the resinous mass to obtain the volatile oil. This oil was analysed gas chromatographically using suitable standards. The effect of methyl salicylate on the overall flavour quality is also reported.

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Zusammenfassung Methylsalicylat ist ein natürlicher Bestandteil in schwarzem Tee; für dessen Bestimmung wurde eine Methode ausgearbeitet. Sie beruht auf der Extraktion der Teeblätter mit heißemn-Hexan; das Lösungsmittel wird dann abdestilliert und der harzartige Rückstand einer Wasserdampfdestillation unterzogen, um das flüchtige Öl zu gewinnen. Dieses wird gaschromatographisch unter Verwendung geeigneter Standardproben analysiert. Der Einfluß von Methylsalicylat auf das Aroma wurde besprochen.

     

On the NH3+HCO3H→HCOOH+H3NO mechanism: a density functional theory study

The B1LYP, B3LYP and MPW1PW91 density functional theory methods combined with the 6-311G(2d, 2p) basis set were used to carry out a density functional theory study of the NH₃+HCO₃H→HCOOH+H₃NO reaction. The purpose of this work is to study the reaction mechanism from the viewpoint of bond order transformations throughout the course of the reaction, and propose the reasons for the apparent differences in activation barriers.     

Absorbable biopolymers derived from dimer fatty acids

A new class of aliphatic copolyanhydrides was synthesized from nonlinear hydrophobic dimers (FAD) of erucic acid and sebacic acid which possessed the desired physico-chemical and mechanical properties for use as a carrier for drugs. The polymers were synthesized by melt condensation to yield film-forming polymers with molecular weights of 250,000. The copolymer composition was determined by ¹H-NMR and gravimetric methods. In vitro degradation studies showed that these polymers degrade following a first-order kinetics with a rapid degradation in the first 10 days leaving a residue which is mostly the FAD comonomer. The drug release from the polymer also followed a first-order kinetics which correlates with the degradation process of the polymer. Drugs like carboplatin, methotrexate, tetracycline, and gentamicin were released in vitro for over 2 weeks and in some cases over 6 weeks. In vivo biocompatibility tests in rats and rabbits in the brain, muscle, and subcutaneously, demonstrated their toxicological inertness and biodegradability. The 1 : 1 copolymer of FAD : SA was selected as a carrier for various applications including a gentamicin-releasing implant which is now undergoing human clinical trials for the treatment of osteomyelitis. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

(3h)J((15)N-(31)P) spin-spin coupling constants across N[bond]H....O[bond]P hydrogen bonds

Equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) calculations have been performed to evaluate three-bond (15)N-(31)P coupling constants ((3h)J(N[bond]P)) across N[bond]H....O[bond]P hydrogen bonds in model cationic and anionic complexes including NH(4)(+):OPH, NH(4)(+):OPH(3), NH(3):(-)O(2)PH(2), NFH(2):(-)O(2)PH(2), and NF(2)H:(-)O(2)PH(2). Three-bond coupling constants can be appreciable when the phosphorus is P(V), but are negligible with P(III). (3h)J(N[bond]P) values in complexes with cyclic or open structures are less than 1 Hz, a consequence of the nonlinear arrangement of N, H, O, and P atoms. For complexes with these structures, (3h)J(N[bond]P) may not be experimentally measurable. In contrast, complexes in which the N, H, O, and P atoms are collinear or nearly collinear have larger values of (3h)J(N[bond]P), even though the N[bond]P distances are longer than N[bond]P distances in cyclic and open structures. In linear complexes, (3h)J(N[bond]P) is dominated by the Fermi-contact term, which is distance dependent. Therefore, N[bond]P (and hydrogen-bonding N[bond]O) distances in these complexes can be determined from experimentally measured (15)N-(31)P coupling constants.     

Crystal Structure Approach of the Disordered New Compounds Bi∼1.2M∼1.2PO5.5 (M=Mn, Co, Zn): The Role of Oxygen-Centered Tetrahedra Linkage in the Structure of Bismuth-Transition Metal Oxy-phosphates

The crystal structures of some recently published bismuth-transition metal oxy-phosphates are described as the association of complex infinite one-dimensional polycations and phosphate anions. The complex cations are built from oxygen-centered tetrahedra sharing edges to form infinite ribbons of n tetrahedra width. This structural concept allows one to describe the essential structural features of new highly disordered bismuth-transition metal oxy-phosphates, Bi_∼1.2M_∼1.2PO_5.5 (M=Mn, Co, Zn). The new compounds have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The three compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Ibam (No. 72), Z=8. The lattice parameters are a=15.079(2), b=11.247(2), c=5.437(1) Å for M=Mn, a=14.752(3), b=11.205(3), c=5.434(2) Å for M=Co and a=14.809(2), b=11.214(1), c=5.440(1) Å for M=Zn. Because of a high disorder over several cationic sites, only an approach of the crystal structure determination has been achieved. Actually, the structure is characterized by perfectly defined ribbons parallel to the (010) plane and built from a central chain of edge-shared OBi₄ tetrahedra running along the c axis and linked by edges to two other edge-shared O(Bi,M)₄ tetrahedra chains. The positions at the border of ribbons are randomly occupied by bismuth and M atoms. The formula of the three tetrahedra width ribbons is (O₃Bi_2.4M_1.6)^+4.4. The phosphate ions and M²⁺ cations are disordered in the interspace between the ribbons.