Unprecedented stereoselective synthesis of 3-methylisoxazolidine-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and study of their in vitro antioxidant activity

The stereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between allyl cyanide and a menthone-derived nitrone led to the desired isoxazolidine in good yield. Once the nitrile group transformed to an amidoxime group, the cyclocondensation of various aldehydes with chiral amidoxime led to unprecedented enantiopure 3-methylisoxazolidine-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles. The menthone chiral auxiliary was then removed with acid hydrolysis. The new compounds were also screened for their in vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP assays. Some of the compounds showed promising antioxidant activity.     

Capillary electrophoresis of anthraquinones from Cassia siamea

The separation and determination of two anthraquinones, emodin and chrysophanol, and two bianthraquinones, cassiamin A and cassiamin B, were achieved by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The running electrolyte used in this method was 0.05 M hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin in 0.1 M borate buffer (pH 9) containing 10% acetonitrile, with an applied voltage of 20 kV. Application of this technique in the determination of the main bianthraquinones, cassiamin A and cassiamin B, of Cassia siamea is demonstrated in this paper.     

Surface characterisation of TiCxN1 − x coatings processed by cathodic arc physical vapour deposition: XPS and XRD analysis

The properties of titanium carbonitride (TiCN) can be controlled by maintaining the C―N ratio within the coating to a certain level. An experimental study was carried out to vary the composition and properties of TiCN using cathodic arc physical vapour deposition (CAPVD). The substrate used was tungsten carbide (WC-6Co), which was prepared in-house through a powder metallurgy process. In order to form the TiC_xN_1 − x coatings, titanium (Ti) was used as the cathode, while methane (CH₄) and nitrogen (N₂) gases were used as sources for C and N, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate the composition, chemical state, and bonding structure of the deposited coatings. The results show that the composition, intensity of elements, lattice parameter, and d-value of TiC_xN_1 − x coatings were successfully varied by controlling the CH₄ fraction (CH₄/N₂ ratio). With the increase in CH₄ fraction, the intensity of C and N within the TiC_xN_1 − x coatings increased and decreased, respectively. Consequently, the C―Ti and C―N bonds were increased and N―Ti bonds were decreased.