Synthesis and characterization of new epoxy and cyanate ester resins

New epoxide and cyanate ester resins with an aromatic ester backbone namely 1,3-[di-(4-glycidyloxy diphenyl-2,2^′-propane)]-isophthalate (DGDPI) and 1,4-[di-(4-cyanato diphenyl-2,2^′-propane)]-terephthalate (DCDPT) were synthesized and the intermediates were characterized by IR, 1H-/¹³C-NMR spectroscopic methods. The cured products from DGDPI and DHDPI exhibited higher T_g compared with standard epoxy system. The increase in the T_g may be due to the cyanate ester and rigid aromatic backbones present in the curing system.     

A note on a result of Zolotarev and Bernstein

In this note we obtain error bounds to x²ⁿ⁺¹–x²ⁿ on [–1, 1] by polynomials of degree at most (2n–1). The result proved here improves and extends some of the known results of Zolotarev and Bernstein. The proof presented here is different (and simple) from the one adopted by Zolotarev and Bernstein.     

LiBF4-Catalyzed three-component coupling of an aldehyde, acetic anhydride and allyltrimethylsilane/TMSCN

Lithium tetrafluoroborate is found to be an efficient catalyst for allylation and cyanation of aldehydes with allyltrimethylsilane and trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of acetic anhydride at room temperature to produce homoallylic acetates and α-cyano acetates in excellent yields. A solution of 10 mol % of LiBF₄ in acetonitrile provides a convenient reaction medium to carry out allylation and cyanation reactions under very mild and neutral conditions.     

Intramolecular nucleophilic activation promoting efficient hydrolytic cleavage of DNA by (aqua)bis(dipyridoquinoxaline)copper(II) complex

The axial aqua bound copper(II) complex [Cu(dpq)2(H2O)](ClO4)2, having a planar NN-donor heterocyclic base dipyridoquinoxaline (dpq) as the DNA minor groove binder, shows efficient hydrolytic cleavage of supercoiled DNA in the dark and in the absence of any external reagents, as evidenced from T4 ligase experiments, with a rate of 5.58 +/- 0.4 h(-1) and a rate enhancement of 1.55 x 10(8).     

Precipitation of zinc ammonium phosphate from homogeneous solution

Urea hydrolysis has been employed to raise the pH for homogeneous precipitation of zinc ammonium phosphate. From 30 to 100 mg of zinc can conveniently be determined by this technique (relative standard deviation 0.2% for 89 mg). The interference of nickel was minimized by using ammonium tartrate as masking agent, but copper could not be effectively masked with the same tartrate. Ammonium tartrate obtained from a different source was found to mask the copper more effectively. Investigations showed that the latter tartrate contained an appreciable amount of ammonium oxalate.     

Glycosylidene Carbenes. Part 15. Synthesis of disaccharides from allopyranose-derived vicinal 1,2-diols. Evidence for the protonation by a H-bonded hydroxy group in the σ-plane of the intermediate carbene,followed by attack on the oxycarbenium ion in the π-plane

The α-D -allo-diol 9 possesses an intramolecular H-bond (HO? C(3) to O? C(1)) in solution and in the solid state (Fig. 2). In solution, it exists as a mixture of the tautomers 9a and 9b (Fig. 3), which possess a bifurcated H-bond, connecting HO? C(2) with both O? C(1) and O? C(3). In addition, 9a possesses the same intramolecular H-bond as in the solid state, while 9b is characterized by an intramolecular H-bond between HO? C(3) and O? C(4). In solution, the β-D -anomer 12 is also a mixture of tautomers, 12a and presumably a dimer. The H-bonding in 9 and 12 is evidenced by their IR and ¹H-NMR spectra and by a comparison with those of 3–8, 10 , and 11 . The expected regioselectivity of glycosidation of 9 and 12 by the diazirine 1 or the trichloroacetimidate 2 is discussed on the basis of the relative degree of acidity/nucleophilicity of individual OH groups, as governed by H-bonding. Additional factors determining the regioselectivity of glycosidation by 1 are the direction of carbene approach/proton transfer by H-bonded OH groups, and the stereoelectronic control of both the proton transfer to the alkoxy-alkyl carbene (in the σ-plane) and the combination of the thereby formed ions (π-plane of the oxycarbenium ion). Glycosidation of 9 by the diazirine 1 or the trichloroacetimidate 2 proceeded in good yields (75–94%) and with high regioselectivity. Glycosidation of 9 and 12 by 1 or 2 gave mixtures of the disaccharides 14–17 and 18–21 , respectively (Scheme 2). As expected, glycosidation of 12 by 1 or by 2 gave a nearly 1:1 mixture of regioisomers and a slight preference for the β-D -anomers (Table 4). Glycosidation of the α-D -anomer 9 gave mostly the 1,3-linked disaccharides 16 and 17 (α-D β-D ) along with the 1,2-linked disaccharides 14 and 15 (α-D < β-D , 1,2-/1,3-linked glycosides ca. 1:4), except in THF and at low temperature, where the β-D -configurated 1,2-linked disaccharide 15 is predominantly formed. Similarly, glycosidation of 9 with 2 yielded mainly the 1,3-linked disaccharides (1,2-/1,3-linked products ca. 1:3 and α-D /β-D ca. 1:4). Yields and selectivity depend upon the solvent and the temperature. The regioselectivity and the unexpected stereoselectivity of the glycosidation of 9 by 1 evidences the combined effect of the above mentioned factors, which also explain the lack of regio-complementarity in the glycosidation of 9 by 1 and by 2 (Scheme 3). THF solvates the intermediate oxycarbenium ion, as evidenced by the strong influence of this solvent on the regio- and stereoselectivity, particularly at low temperatures, where kinetic control leads to a stereoelectronically preferred axial attack of THF on the oxycarbenium ion.     

Spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) and its application to a plant sample containing zinc,iron, and manganese

Salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone instantaneously forms a green complex with copper(II) in the optimum pH range 5–7. A fivefold molar excess of the reagent is sufficient for the full development of the color. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.5–6.0 ppm of copper. The optimum concentration range as evaluated by Ringbom's method is 1.4–5.8 ppm. At 375 nm the sensitivity of the reaction and the molar absorptivity are 0.006 μg cm^?2 and 9.2 × 10³ liters mol^?1 cm^?1, respectively. The effects of pH, reagent concentration, time, order of addition of the solutions, and the interference of various ions were investigated. Copper in plant samples, containing zinc, iron, and manganese, was determined.     

Cost optimal, parallel reliability systems with fixed repair sanction

Optimisation methods under varied criteria for different parameters in stochastic reliability systems are being increasingly developed and have been reported in recent literature. The large interest evinced in this fascinating area is primarily due to its applicational value and operational role in the decision making process. Recently a parallel system has been considered and the optimal number of units discussed, as well as optimal replacement times for the system based on acquisition and replacement costs.In this paper we consider an improved version of the model formulation, by bringing in additionally the maintenance and per unit repair time costs, and develop a procedure to obtain the optimal number of components in the system with the condition that the system is allowed to undergo a prefixed maximum number of repairs, after which the system is to be replaced.The applicational use of the results is illustrated through numerical work, specialising to some known laws governing the system parameters and corresponding to different fixed number of repair sanctions.     

Role of Intracellular Iron in Switching Apoptosis to Ferroptosis to Target Therapy-Resistant Cancer Stem Cells

Iron is a crucial element required for the proper functioning of the body. For instance, hemoglobin is the vital component in the blood that delivers oxygen to various parts of the body. The heme protein present in hemoglobin comprises iron in the form of a ferrous state which regulates oxygen delivery. Excess iron in the body is stored as ferritin and would be utilized under iron-deficient conditions. Surprisingly, cancer cells as well as cancer stem cells have elevated ferritin levels suggesting that iron plays a vital role in protecting these cells. However, apart from the cytoprotective role iron also has the potential to induce cell death via ferroptosis which is a non-apoptotic cell death dependent on iron reserves. Apoptosis a caspase-dependent cell death mechanism is effective on cancer cells however little is known about its impact on cancer stem cell death. This paper focuses on the molecular characteristics of apoptosis and ferroptosis and the importance of switching to ferroptosis to target cancer stem cells death thereby preventing cancer relapse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to demonstrate the importance of intracellular iron in regulating the switching of tumor cells and therapy resistant CSCs from apoptosis to ferroptosis.     

Influence of fluorine substituent on the mesomorphic properties of five-ring ester banana-shaped molecules

The synthesis and characterization of more than a hundred achiral compounds composed of banana-shaped molecules and belonging to eleven different homologous series are reported. All these symmetrical five-ring compounds are esters and are derived from resorcinol. The compounds have been systematically substituted by fluorine on the phenyl rings of the arms of these banana-shaped molecules. The mesophases exhibited by these compounds have been characterized using a combination of polarized light optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies. Electro-optical investigations have been carried out on several compounds and both ferroelectric and antiferroelectric properties are observed. The influence of the position of the fluorine substituent on the nature of the mesophase obtained has been examined.