Synthesis of lariat organochalcogenoethers based on azacalix[3]arenes for the potentiometric detection of [UO2] ions

The syntheses of organochalcogen-supported azacalix[3]arenes are described in a one-pot manner in satisfactory yields. A remarkably selective potentiometric response was accomplished for uranyl ions over a variety of other metal ions, including alkali (Na⁺, K⁺), alkaline-earth (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺), transition and heavy metal ions (Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ag⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺) using an ion-selective electrode based on compound 3 incorporated into a polymeric (PVC) membrane.     

Behaviour of pure water and water mixture with benzene or chloroform adsorbed onto ordered mesoporous silicas

Structural characteristics of synthesized ordered mesoporous silicas MCM-41, MCM-48 and SBA-15 were studied using XRD, nitrogen adsorption and FTIR methods. Pure water and mixtures with water/benzene and water/chloroform-d adsorbed onto silicas were studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy with layer-by-layer freezing-out of bulk and interfacial liquids. Concentrated aqueous suspensions of MCM-48 and SBA-15 were studied by thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) method. Benzene and chloroform-d can displace a portion of water to broad pores from the pore walls and from narrower pores, especially in the case of a large excess of an organic solvent. This process is accompanied by diminution of both interaction energy of water with an adsorbent surface and freezing temperature depression of adsorbed water. The effect of nonpolar benzene on pore water is much stronger than that of weakly polar chloroform-d. Modifications of the Gibbs-Thomson relation to describe the freezing point depression of mixtures of immiscible liquids confined in pores allow us to determine distribution functions of sizes of structures with unfrozen pore water and benzene. Former address: Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry, 31 Prospect Nauki, Kiev, Ukraine     

WxC-MCM-48催化剂的合成、表征及加氢脱硫催化性能

以正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)为硅源，十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)为表面活性剂，仲钨酸铵为钨源，采用水热晶化法一步合成了不同钨含量(以Si、W物质的量比n_Si/n_W表示)的WO₃-MCM-48，然后经甲烷/氢气(V/V=1/4)混和气体程序升温还原碳化(TPC)，制备出了W_xC-MCM-48(x=1、2)催化剂，采用XRD、N₂吸附-脱附和NH₃-TPD对样品的结构进行了表征，用噻吩作为模型化合物，对W_xC-MCM-48催化剂的加氢脱硫催化活性进行了评价。结果表明，在一定钨含量的条件下，WO₃-MCM-48和W_xC-MCM-48样品仍然保持MCM-48的三维立方有序介孔结构，n_Si/n_W=30～15时，碳化钨的物相为W₂C；n_Si/n_W=7.5时，碳化钨为W₂C和WC物相，W_xC-MCM-48催化剂表现出了良好的加氢脱硫催化性能。     

KN03／MCM-48催化酯交换法合成碳酸二丙酯

对KNO，／MCM-48用于丙醇和碳酸二甲酯进行酯交换合成碳酸二丙酯的催化性能进行了考察．用X射线衍射（XRD）、红外光谱（IR）和X射线荧光法研究了催化剂的结构特征和表面性质．XRD结果表明，随着K负载量的增加，载体特征峰强度逐渐减弱，但仍保留MCM-48的晶体结构．随着焙烧温度的升高，KNO3逐渐分解成K2O．分别考察了活性组分负载量、焙烧温度、焙烧时间和催化剂的用量以及反应时间对反应的影响．结果表明，KNO3／MCM-48催化剂对碳酸二丙酯的合成具有很高的催化活性．在反应温度363K，反应时间6h，催化剂用量5％，丙醇与碳酸二甲酯摩尔比为4的条件下，碳酸二甲酯的转化率可达99．9％，产物碳酸二丙酯选择性93．4％，产率93．3％．     

介孔分子筛MCM-48的室温合成与表面修饰

在室温条件下的碱性介质中合成了介孔分子筛MCM-48，并对其进行了有机官能团表面修饰。利用HRTEM、低温N₂吸附、XRD、TG、IR和NMR等手段对产物进行了结构和性能分析。实验结果表明，合成产物MCM-48具有规则的孔道结构、大比表面积、大孔容和窄分布的孔径。由硅烷试剂表面修饰后的MCM-48，由于有机官能团接枝在MCM-48的内表面，占据了孔道内部空间，使其比表面积、孔容和孔径都减小。     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution approach toward enantiomerically enriched 1-(β-hydroxypropyl)indoles

In a route towards enantiomerically enriched 1-(β-hydroxypropyl)indoles, which are potentially useful building blocks for high value-added chemicals synthesis, a kinetic resolution approach by means of lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation as well as hydrolysis/methanolysis has been elaborated for the first time. The enzymatic resolution of chiral N-substituted indole-based sec-alcohols was successfully accomplished, yielding both enantiomeric forms of the employed derivatives with up to >99% enantiomeric purity via an enantioselective transesterification under mild reaction conditions. The most selective resolutions were obtained using fungal (CAL-B and TLL) and bacterial (PFL and BCL) lipases and vinyl acetate as the acyl?group donor. The synthetic protocol described herein is very simple, user-friendly and efficient, thus paving the way for future access towards more complex compounds of this type. The absolute configurations of novel enantiomeric derivatives, and thus stereoselectivity of the described enzymatic reactions were confirmed by application of CDA-based NMR methodology and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Evolution of synthetic routes towards homochiral Tapentadol

Analysis of the literature shows that the development of synthetic approaches to Tapentadol, an agonist of the μ-opioid receptor and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, has followed four, partially overlapping, phases. The most advanced approaches, based on stereoselective syntheses, appeared only after 2010. The majority of the chemistry examples presented in this review come from patent applications and as such have not been subjected to rigorous peer review, but may serve well as an inspiration to organic chemists for solving analogous synthetic problems.     

Anti-Obesity Effects of Matoa (Pometia pinnata) Fruit Peel Powder in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

Fruit peels, pericarps, or rinds are rich in phenolic/polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant properties and potentially beneficial effects against obesity and obesity-related non-communicable diseases. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of matoa (Pometia pinnata) and salak (Salacca zalacca) fruit peel. Neither matoa peel powder (MPP) nor salak peel powder (SPP) affected the body weight, visceral fat weight, or serum glucose or lipid levels of Sprague–Dawley rats when included as 1% (w/w) of a high-fat diet (HFD). However, MPP significantly decreased the hepatic lipid level. MPP at a dose of 3% (w/w) of the HFD decreased body weight, visceral fat, and serum triglyceride levels as well as the hepatic lipid content. The inhibitory effect of MPP on hepatic lipid accumulation was not enhanced when its concentration was increased from 1% to 3% of the HFD. The anti-obesity effect of matoa was partly explained by the inhibitory effect of the matoa peel extract on fatty acid-induced secretion of ApoB-48 protein, a marker of intestinal chylomicrons, in differentiated Caco-2 cell monolayers. We identified hederagenin saponins that are abundant in MPP as potential anti-obesity substances. These results will contribute towards the development of functional foods with anti-obesity effects using the matoa fruit peel.     

Curcumin Analogue L48H37 Suppresses Human Osteosarcoma U2OS and MG-63 Cells’ Migration and Invasion in Culture by Inhibition of uPA via the JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway

Osteosarcoma, the most prevalent malignant bone tumor in the pediatric age group, is responsible for the great majority of cancer-associated deaths owing to its highly metastatic potential. The anti-metastatic effects of the new curcumin analogue L48H37 in human osteosarcoma are still unknown; hence, we investigated whether L48H37 represses human osteosarcoma cells’ biological behavior of migratory potential and invasive activities and attempted to delve into its underlying mechanisms. L48H37 up to 5 μM inhibited, without cytotoxicity, the motility, migration, and invasion of human osteosarcoma U2OS and MG-63 cells. In U2OS cells, the human protease array revealed an obvious decrease in urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) expression after L48H37 treatment, and L48H37 actually reduced the level, protein and mRNA expression, and promoter activity of uPA dose-dependently. L48H37 decreased the phosphorylation of STAT3, JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3 in U2OS cells, but did not affect the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and Akt. Using colivelin, an activator of STAT3, the L48H37-induced decrease in uPA and migratory potential could be countered as expected. Collectively, L48H37 represses the invasion and migration capabilities of U2OS and MG-63 cells by the suppression of uPA expression and the inhibition of JAK/STAT signaling. These results suggest that L48H37 may be a potential candidate for anti-metastatic treatment of human osteosarcoma.