Mechanism of oxidation of iron(II) chelates by hexavalent chromium and heptavalent manganese in aqueous sulfuric acid and micellar media - a kinetic approach

Summary Oxidation of the Fe^II chelates [FeL] (L = phen or bipy) by Cr^VI and Mn^VII in H₂SO₄ medium was found to proceed through the formation of a bimetallic insertion complex which decomposes in the slow step, followed by electron transfer from [FeL] to the oxidant. The reactions are catalysed by both anionic and non-ionic micelles [SDS and triton-x (Tx), respectively]. A mechanism is suggested involving electrostatic stabilization of the cationic forms of the Fe^II chelates by anionic SDS and the partial anionic character of polyoxyethylene moiety of Tx, respectively. The marginal catalysis of cationic micelles (CTAB) is attributed to co-anion-micellar interactions.     

New Theta-Function Identities of Level 6 in the Spirit of Ramanujan

Mathematical Notes - Michael Somos discovered several theta-function identities of various levels by computer and offered no proof for them. These identities highly resemble some of...     

Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide as an Efficient Catalyst for Regioselective Bromination of Alkoxy Naphthalenes with Trimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Tribromide: Synthetic and Kinetic Approach

Bromination of 2‐alkoxynaphthalene (2‐ANP) and its derivatives with trimethyl benzyl ammonium tribromide (TMBATB) did not proceed smoothly even under reflux conditions. But the addition of microconcentrations of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) to the reaction afforded dramatic rate accelerations as well as good‐to‐excellent yield of the products ranging from 70% to 90%. Reactions underwent regioselective monobromination at 1‐position of 2‐alkoxynaphthalene. The rate of bromination has been followed conductometrically. The reaction kinetics indicated first‐order kinetics in [2‐ANP] as well as in [TMBATB]. Kinetic results in the presence of CTAB were explained on the basis of the Raghavan–Srinivasan model as applied to micelle‐mediated bimolecular reactions.     

Kinetics and mechanism of trichloroisocyanuric acid/NaNO2-triggered nitration of aromatic compounds under acid-free and Vilsmeier-Haack conditions

Kinetics and mechanism of nitration of aromatic compounds using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA)/NaNO₂, TCCA-N,N-dimethyl formamide (TCCA-DMF)/NaNO₂, and TCCA-N,N-dimethyl acetamide (TCCA-DMA)/NaNO₂ under acid-free and Vilsmeier-Haack conditions. Reactions followed second-order kinetics with a first-order dependence on [Phenol] and [Nitrating agent] ([TCCA], [(TCCA-DMF)], or [(TCCA-DMA)] >> [NaNO₂]). Reaction rates accelerated with the introduction of electron-donating groups and retarded with electron-withdrawing groups, but did not fit well into the Hammett's theory of linear free energy relationship or its modified forms like Brown-Okamoto or Yukawa-Tsuno equations. Rate data were analyzed by Charton's multiple linear regression analysis. Isokinetic temperature (β) values, obtained from Exner's theory for different protocols, are 403.7 K (TCCA-NaNO₂), 365.8 K (TCCA-DMF)/NaNO₂, and 358 K (TCCA-DMA)/NaNO₂. These values are far above the experimental temperature range (303-323 K), indicating that the enthalpy factors are probably more important in controlling the reaction.     

Micellar Mediated Halodecarboxylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aliphatic and Aromatic Carboxylic Acids—A Novel Green Hunsdiecker–Borodin Reaction

A Novel Hunsdiecker‐Borodin reaction (HBR) has been carried out efficiently with α,β‐unsaturated aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids by using N‐halo succinimides such as N‐chloro succinimide (NCS), N‐bromo succinimide (NBS), and N‐iodo succinimide (NIS) under micellar media. The reaction with α,β‐unsaturated aromatic carboxylic acids afforded β‐halo styrenes in excellent yield while α,β‐unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids underwent decarboxylation and to give corresponding halo derivatives. The reactions are dramatically accelerated in micellar media. This procedure works efficiently in CTAB (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide), SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), and TX (Triton‐X‐100) media under stirred conditions at room temperature. At reflux temperatures the yield of reaction products were further enhanced from good to excellent.     

Brain delivery of transferrin coupled indinavir submicron lipid emulsions--pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution

Indinavir, an antiretroviral protease inhibitor used in treatment of HIV infection has limited penetration into brain due to efflux of P-glycoprotein. The aim of this work was to develop transferrin coupled submicron lipid emulsions (SLEs) containing indinavir for delivery to brain. Stearylamine containing SLEs were prepared, characterized, tested for stability and optimized formulation (SLE-4) was developed. Transferrin was coupled to get SLE-6 by water soluble EDC method and purified by gel filtration. The coupled transferrin was quantified by modified Bradford dye assay method. The fluorescent dye (DiD oil) incorporated SLEs were used to check the brain specific delivery of SLEs. The in vivo pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution were conducted in mice. During pharmacokinetic studies, there was no significant difference in the serum levels of indinavir from SLE-1, SLE-4 and SLE-6 formulations at all time points. In tissue distribution studies the therapeutic availability (TA) of indinavir in brain from SLE-6 was 4.69, 3.1 and 1.7 times higher than drug solution, SLE-1 and SLE-4 respectively whereas, the TA of indinavir from SLE-4 was 2.76 and 1.82 times the drug solution and SLE-1. The brain to serum ratios with SLE-6 were above one indicates the brain specific delivery. The brain delivery of indinavir was improved with transferrin ligand attachment to SLEs by receptor mediated transcytosis.     

Synthesis of a new class of spiro heterocycles

A new class of spiro heterocycles viz., spiropyrazolidinediones, isoxazolidinediones, pyrimidinetriones or thioxopyrimidinediones are developed from methyl 3‐aryl‐2‐(Z‐arylethenenylsulfonyl)acrylate by double Michael addition reaction with dimethyl malonate followed by cyclocondensation with appropriate nucleophiles.     

Synthesis and bioassay of amino-pyrazolone, amino-isoxazolone and amino-pyrimidinone derivatives

Novel amino-pyrazolone, amino-isoxazolone and amino-pyrimidinone derivatives were prepared from ethyl 4-phenylsulfonyl-2-(2'-phenylsulfonylethyl)-2-cyanobutyrate (1), ethyl 4-arylsulfonyl-3-aryl-2-cyanobutyrate (7) and ethyl 4-arylmethylsulfonyl-3-aryl-2-cyanobutyrate (8). The lead molecules have been tested for their antimicrobial activity and antioxidant property.     

Development of a microstrip-based neutron detector

A gas-filled microstrip detector for thermal neutrons has been built and successfully tested in our laboratory. The detector has an active area of 20 mm × 15 mm and consists of alternate anodes and cathodes of widths 12 μm and 300 μm respectively. The anode to cathode gap is 150 μm and the pitch is 612 μm. A high resistance, meandering type horizontal strip connects the anodes at one end and aids in position sensing by charge division method. The detector is tested with gas mixtures³He+Kr (1: 2) and³He+CF₄ (2:1) at pressure of 3 atmospheres and using a Pu-Be neutron source. The pulse height spectrum shows energy resolution of ∼8% (FWHM) for the 764 keV peak at anode voltage of 525 V for³He+Kr and ∼15% at anode voltage of 800 V for³He+CF₄. Gas gains up to 6.3 × 103 and 3.6 × 103 are obtained respectively with these gas mixtures. The overall efficiency of the detector along the sensitive length is tested by exposing the active area to neutrons and recording the position spectrum. The detector shows fairly uniform efficiency (∼45%) over the active length.