Biologically active cyclic polypeptides with fragments of β-amino acid derivatives isolated from marine organisms (review)

Published data on the structure, stereochemistry, and biological activity of natural cyclic polypeptides containing fragments of β-amino acids are reviewed, and an attempt is made to relate the structure to the biological activity.     

Enhanced stability of symmetrical polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell single cells based on novel hierarchical microporous-mesoporous carbon supports

Fuel cell electrodes were prepared from Pt nanocluster activated hierarchical microporous-mesoporous carbon powders. The carbon supports were synthesized from molybdenum carbide applying the high-temperature chlorination method. Six different synthesis temperatures within the range from 600 to 1000 °C were used for preparation of carbon supports. Thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen sorption, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy methods were used to characterize the structure of the electrode materials and symmetrical membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). The MEAs prepared were used to conduct the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)single-cell measurements. The polarization and power density curves for single cells were calculated to evaluate the activity of the catalyst materials synthesized. The electrochemically active surface area (from 2.4 to 11.9 m² g^?1) was obtained in order to estimate the contact surface areas of platinum and Nafion® electrolyte. The values of the electrolyte resistance, polarization resistance, and cell degradation rate were calculated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data. The carbon materials synthesized within temperature range from 600 to 850 °C were found to be the most suitable supports for PEMFCs, having higher maximum power density values and better stability (cell potential degradation 240 μV h^?1) than commercial carbon-based (Vulcan XC72; 670 μV h^?1) single cells.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of chiral azetidin-2-ones and azetidine-2-thiones. 3. Stereodirected construction of theβ-lactam fragment of the thienamycin molecule

It has been shown possible to introduce an -hydroxyethyl group trans-stereospecifically into position 3 of 4-methyl-1-(-methyl-benzl)azetidin-2-one. The stereochemistry of the asymmetric centers C₍₃₎, C₍₃₎, and C₍₄₎ of the diastereoisomers of the 3--hydroxyethyl derivative obtained in larger amount and of the corresponding three adjacent chiral centers C₍₈₎, C₍₆₎, and C₍₅₎ in thienamycin are the same.For part 2 see [1].M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 254–257, February, 1995. Original article submitted December 14, 1994.     

Supercapacitors based on carbide-derived carbons synthesised using HCl and Cl2 as reactants

Micro- and mesoporous carbide-derived carbons (CDCs) were synthesised from TiC powder via a gas-phase reaction using HCl and Cl₂ within the temperature range of 700–1,100 °C. Analysis of X-ray diffraction results show that TiC-CDCs consist mainly of graphitic crystallites. The first-order Raman spectra showed the graphite-like absorption peaks at ~1,577 cm^?1 and the disorder-induced peaks at ~1,338 cm^?1. The low-temperature N₂ sorption experiments were performed, and specific surface areas up to 1,214 and 1,544 m²?g^?1 were obtained for TiC-CDC (HCl) synthesised at T?=?800 °C and TiC-CDC (Cl₂) synthesised at T?=?900 °C, respectively. For the TiC-CDC powders synthesised, a bimodal pore size distribution has been established with the first maximum in the region up to 1.5 nm and the second maximum from 2 to 4 nm. The energy-related properties of supercapacitors based on 1 M (C₂H₅)₃CH₃NBF₄ in acetonitrile and TiC-CDC (Cl₂) and TiC-CDC (HCl) as electrode materials were also investigated by cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, galvanostatic charge/discharge and constant power methods. The specific energy, calculated at U?=?3.0 V, are maximal for TiC-CDC (Cl₂ 800 °C) and TiC-CDC (HCl 900 °C), which are 43.1 and 31.1 W?h?kg^?1, respectively. The specific power, calculated at cell potential U?=?3.0 V, are maximal for TiC-CDC (Cl₂ 1,000 °C) and TiC-CDC (HCl 1,000 °C), which are 805.2 and 847.5 kW?kg^?1, respectively. The Ragone plots for CDCs prepared by using Cl₂ or HCl are quite similar, and at high power loads, the TiC-CDC material synthesised using Cl₂ at 900 °C, i.e. the material with optimal pore structure, delivers the highest power at constant energy.     

Electrochemical and physical characterization of Pt–Ru alloy catalyst deposited onto microporous–mesoporous carbon support derived from Mo2C at 600 °C

The electrochemical reduction of oxygen on binary Pt–Ru alloy deposited onto microporous–mesoporous carbon support was studied in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution using cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrode (RDE), and impedance method. The microporous–mesoporous carbon support C(Mo₂C) with specific surface area of 1,990 m²?g^?1 was prepared from Mo₂C at 600 °C using the chlorination method. Analysis of X-ray diffraction, photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy data confirms that the Pt–Ru alloy has been formed and the atomic fraction of Ru in the alloy was ～0.5. High cathodic oxygen reduction current densities (?160 A?m^?2 at 3,000 rev?min^?1) have been measured by the RDE method. The O₂ diffusion constant (1.9?±?0.3?×?10^?5?cm²?s^?1) and the number of electrons transferred per electroreduction of one O₂ molecule (～4), calculated from the Levich and Koutecky–Levich plots, are in agreement with literature data. Similarly to the Ru/RuO₂ system in H₂SO₄ aqueous solution, nearly capacitive behavior was observed from impedance data at very low ac frequencies, explained by slow electrical double-layer formation limited by the adsorption of reaction intermediates and products into microporous–mesoporous Pt–Ru–C(Mo₂C) catalyst. All results obtained for C(Mo₂C) and Pt–Ru–C(Mo₂C) electrodes have been compared with corresponding data for commercial carbon VULCAN® XC72 (C(Vulcan)) and Pt–Ru–C(Vulcan) electrodes processed and measured in the same experimental conditions. Higher activity for C(Mo₂C) and Pt–Ru–C(Mo₂C) has been demonstrated.     

The electrochemical activity of two binary alloy catalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction in 0.1 M KOH

The platinum group metals (Pt, Ir and Ru) and the carbide-derived carbon support with the very high specific surface area were used to synthesise the low noble metal loading Pt-C, IrPt-C and RuPt-C alloy catalysts. The alloying of the platinum group metals in the studied catalysts was proved by the several independent physical characterization methods like: the X-ray diffraction, time of flight secondary ion mass-spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction of the synthesised catalysts in an alkaline solution was studied and compared with the commercially available Pt-Vulcan. The combined and detail approach using the transmission electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for estimation of the surface area of metal particles is provided. The noticeably higher calculated mass corrected and specific kinetic current density values for Pt-C catalyst were established. For IrPt-C and RuPt-C alloy catalysts, mass corrected current density values are comparable with the commercial Pt-Vulcan. The specific kinetic current density values increase in the following sequence: RuPt-C < IrPt-C < Pt-Vulcan < Pt-C.     

Stereochemistry of the methylation of the (11S,4S) and (11S,4R) diastereomers of 4-methyl-1-(α-methylbenzyl)azetidin-2-one

The methylation of the lithium derivatives of the (1¹S,4S) and (1¹S,4R) diastereomers of 4-methyl-1-(-methylbenzyl)azetidin-2-one proceeds stereospecifically with the formation of only trans-(3S,4S)- and trans-(3R,4R)-dimethyl-1-[(S)--methylbenzyl] azetidin-2-one, respectively. The process is accompanied by epimerization at the asymmetric center of the N--methylbenzyl substituent.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 914–920, July, 1990.     

Analytical applications of 3-(2′-thiazolylazo)-2,6-diaminopyridine: Spectrophotometric determination of palladium

3-(2′-Thiazolylazo)-2,6-diaminopyridine reacts with palladium(II) in strongly perchloric acid media, to produce a blue 1:1 complex (λ_max = 665 nm, ? = 1.37 × 10⁴ liters · mol^?1 · cm^?1), which allows the spectrophotometric determination of 0.6 to 4.5 ppm of palladium. The method is applied to the determination of palladium in small samples of hydrogenation catalysts.     

Influence of chemical composition and amount of intermixed ionomer in the catalyst on the oxygen reduction reaction characteristics

Influence of chemical composition of the ionomers (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or Nafion®) on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics has been studied. The 5 wt% Nafion-Vulcan showed higher electrochemical activity toward ORR compared with that for the 5 wt% PVA-Vulcan. Four different Nafion® amounts were used to intermixing a carbide-derived carbon (CDC) or Pt-modified CDC catalysts and the highest electrochemical activity toward ORR was established for the 30 wt% Nafion-Pt/CDC catalyst. Influence of the different amounts of Nafion® ionomer in the catalyst is moderate compared to the effect of variation of the carbon support (Vulcan vs. CDC) or the ionomer (PVA vs. Nafion®). The Randles–?evcik relationship was used to estimate the effective electrochemical active surface area (S _eff) of the electrodes, depending on the chemical composition of the ionomer studied.