5-Spirocyclopropane Isoxazolidines as Versatile Intermediates in Organic Synthesis

The review outlines the various different azaheterocycles available from 5-spirocyclopropane isoxazolidines. These compounds can be regarded as versatile direct precursors of tetrahydro-, dihydropyridone and azetidinone derivatives. The current scope and limitations, and the selectivity aspects of the different processes are discussed therein.     

Solid-state interactions and drug release of teicoplanin in binary combinations with peracetylated α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins

Triacetyl α-cyclodextrin, triacetyl β-cyclodextrin and triacetyl γ-cyclodextrin were tested as possible hydrophobic carriers to prolong the release of hydrophilic teicoplanin (TCP). Physical–chemical characterization of individual components, drug-carrier physical mixtures at 0.5, 0.67 and 0.75 mass fraction of carrier, and the respective interaction products by kneading or evaporative crystallization under microwave irradiation was carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In vitro drug release in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer at 37 °C was determined by intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) measurements on non disintegrating compressed discs. Solid-state interactions of TCP with triacetyl α-cyclodextrin by evaporative crystallization and kneading and with triacetyl β-cyclodextrin by evaporative crystallization (probably resulting in carrier amorphization) were demonstrated. The role of carrier hydrophobicity, carrier mass fraction and preparation method of solid drug-carrier combinations on solid-state drug-carrier interactions and slowing down of TCP release was assessed. Modulation of drug release can be achieved using TCP-triacetyl γ-cyclodextrin combinations at 0.5 mass fraction of carrier.     

Understanding the role of stereoelectronic effects in determining collagen stability. 2. A quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical study of (Proline-Proline-Glycine)(n) polypeptides

The importance of vicinal and long-range interresidue effects in determining the stability of the collagen triple helix has been investigated by quantum mechanical (QM) and molecular mechanical (MM) computations on suitable model polypeptides, taking into account solvent effects by the polarizable continuum model (PCM). At the QM level, the PII conformation corresponds to an energy minimum for pentapeptide analogues incorporating the sequence Gly-Pro-Pro-Gly, irrespective of the down or up puckering of the pyrrolidine ring. However, our computations indicate that the alternation of down and up prolines characterizing collagen and collagen-like peptides is not due to an intrinsic preference of the Pro-Pro-Gly sequence. This result is confirmed by MM computations of longer polypeptides. Next, MM computations on model triple helices show that a better packing is obtained for specific values of backbone dihedrals, which, in turn, favor the alternation of down and up prolines along each chain.     

Coordination properties of 6-deoxy-6-[1-(2-amino) ethylamino]-β-cyclodextrin and the ability of its copper(II) complex to recognize and separate amino acid enantiomeric pairs

The functionalized cyclodextrin 6-deoxy-6-[1-(2-amino)ethylamino]--cyclodextrin was synthesized, and an NMR, EPR, pH-metric, and calorimetric investigation was carried out in aqueous solution in order to ascertain its behaviour towards protonation and copper(II) complex formation. The thermodynamic parameters of the ternary complex formation with alanine, phenylalanine and tryptophan enantiomeric pairs were also determined (25° C andI=0.1 mol dm^–3). No thermodynamic enantioselectivity was observed in these systems, while a chiral, though poor, discrimination was observed in LEC: c.d. spectra also show enantiomeric stereoselectivity. The results of the present investigation, compared with previously reported results, suggest the occurence of acis-complex trans-complex equilibrium in such systems.     

Thermal behavior of Cu(II)-, Cd(II)-, and Hg(II)-exchanged montmorillonite complexedwith cysteine

The thermal behavior of montmorillonite and organically modified montmorillonite, both treated with heavy metal cations [Cu(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II)], was characterized via thermal analyses (TG, DTG and DTA) combined with evolved species gas mass spectrometry (MS-EGA), and X-ray diffraction at in situ controlled temperature (HTXRD). The reactions involving Cu(II)- and Cd(II)-montmorillonite samples are mostly related to H₂O and OH loss, unlike Hg(II)-montmorillonite, where effects associated to Hg(II) loss are also present. Finally reactions related to dehydration, dehydroxylation and to organic matter decomposition can be observed in montmorillonite samples treated with cysteine.     

Commuting traces of multilinear maps on invertible elements

Let R be a unital simple ring. Under some technical restrictions, we characterize m-linear mappings G:R^m→R satisfying [G(u,…,u),u]?=?0 for all unit u∈R.     

Un'estensione del teorema di dualità di Poincaré

Riassunto In questo lavoro si generalizza la dualità di Poincaré a spazi topologici localmente omeomorfi con insiemi analitici realin-dimensionali con singolarità isolate; tali spazi non sono in generale orientabili, nè sono muniti di una struttura analitica globale. Rispetto ad un analogo risultato diL. Kaup ([6]), il nostro Teorema 2 si dimostra a prescindere dall'esistenza di normalizzazioni topologiche (nel senso di [6]).

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Summary In this paper we generalize Poincaré duality to topological spaces locally homeomorphic with real analyticn-dimensional sets with isolated singularities; these spaces are in general neither orientable nor globally analytic. Compared with a similar result ofL. Kaup ([6]), our Theorem 2 is proved without supposing the existence of a topological normalization (in the sense of [6]).

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Lavoro eseguito come borsista del C.N.R. nell'ambito del G.N.S.A.G.A.     

Interaction of NO with nanosized Ru-, Pd-, and Pt-Doped SnO2: electron paramagnetic resonance, Mössbauer, and electrical investigation

The mechanism of NO interaction with nanosized Ru(Pd,Pt)-doped SnO(2) was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance, M?ssbauer, and electric resistance measurements. Three steps were proposed for the reaction between the semiconductor oxide and the gaseous component: (i) the formation of bielectronic oxygen vacancies (V(o)) in SnO(2); (ii) their single-ionization (V(o)(*)) with injection of electrons into the SnO(2) conduction band; (iii) the subsequent transfer of electrons from V(o)(*) to [Ru(Pd,Pt)](4+). The last process induces the formation of further oxygen vacancies which reduce the transition metal centers to lower oxidation states; the redox processes is enhanced and the electrical resistance in transition metal-doped SnO(2) is stronger modified with respect to the undoped material.     

Energy and frames of reference in general relativity

Summary When relativistic theory amalgamates space and time into event, other magnitudes of classical mechanics merge or superimpose. In special relativity it is still easy to find them again by referring to the inertial frame of reference, but general relativity presents them to us as already identified in the curvatures of the Riemannian universe, which admits of no inertial frames, except local ones. It is a search for particular magnitudes and relations (such as momentum and conservation laws), physically interpretablein the classical sense, which specifies a privileged frame. Starting from this frame of reference, the present Note sets out to define the energy-momentum density and super-potentials that give rise, in the same frame, to the known integral results due to the Einstein and Freud psendotensors. Thus the snags arising out of the transformation laws of these pseudotensors are eliminated at the same time.

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Sommario Quando, nelle teorie relativistiche, si sostituisce alle grandezze spazio e tempo la loro fusione nell'evento, altre grandezze della meccanica classica si fondono e sovrappongono. Nella relatività ristretta è ancora agevole ritrovarle, riferendosi all'osservatore inerziale; ma la Relatività generale ce le presenta già fuse nelle curvature dell'Universo riemanniano, che non ammette osservatori inerziali, se non locali. E' la ricerca di particolari grandezze e relazioni, (come la quantità di moto e le leggi di conservazione), fisicamente interpretabili nel senso classico, che precisa un riferimento privilegiato. Valendosi di questo riferimento, vengono definiti, nella presente Nota, densità di energia-quantità di moto e superpotenziali che danno luogo, nello stesso riferimento, ai noti risultati integrali dovuti agli pseudo-tensori di Einstein e Freud. Risultano così eliminati, nello stesso tempo, gli inconvenienti dovuti alle leggi di trasformazione di questi pseudo-tensori.

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Study conducted under the auspices of the mathematical teams of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.     

Organocatalytic,Asymmetric Eliminative [4+2] Cycloaddition of Allylidene Malononitriles with Enals: Rapid Entry to Cyclohexadiene‐Embedding Linear and Angular Polycycles

A direct aminocatalytic synthesis has been developed for the chemo‐, regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselective construction of densely substituted polycyclic carbaldehydes containing fused cyclohexadiene rings. The chemistry utilizes, for the first time, remotely enolizable π‐extended allylidenemalononitriles as electron‐rich 1,3‐diene precursors in a direct eliminative [4+2] cycloaddition with both aromatic and aliphatic α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. The generality of the process is demonstrated by approaching 6,6‐, 5,6‐, 7,6‐, 6,6,6‐, and 6,5,6‐fused ring systems, as well as biorelevant steroid‐like 6,6,6,6,5‐ and 6,6,6,5,6‐rings. A stepwise reaction mechanism for the key [4+2] addition is proposed as a domino bis‐vinylogous Michael/Michael/retro‐Michael reaction cascade. The utility of the malononitrile moiety as traceless activating group of the dicyano nucleophilic substrates is demonstrated.