A Nonsymmetric Dy2 Single-Molecule Magnet with two Relaxation Processes Triggered by External Magnetic Field: Theoretical and Integrated EPR study of the Role of Magnetic-Site Dilution

The 1:2 reaction between Dy(O2CMe)34H2O and 1-acetyl-2-napthol (LH) in MeOH has provided access to complex [Dy2L6(MeOH)]MeOH (1.MeOH) in good yield. The structures of the isomorphous complexes 1MeOH and its doped...

Tungsten(VI) selenide tetrachloride, WSeCl4 - synthesis, properties, coordination complexes and application of [WSeCl4(SenBu2)] for CVD growth of WSe2 thin films

WSeCl4 was obtained in good yield by heating WCl6 and Sb2Se3 in vacuo. Green crystals grown by sublimation were shown by an X-ray structure analysis to contain square pyramidal monomers...

Synthesis and Exon-Skipping Properties of a 3′-Ursodeoxycholic Acid-Conjugated Oligonucleotide Targeting DMD Pre-mRNA: Pre-Synthetic versus Post-Synthetic Approach

Steric blocking antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) are promising tools for splice modulation such as exon-skipping, although their therapeutic effect may be compromised by insufficient delivery. To address this issue, we investigated the synthesis of a 20-mer 2′-OMe PS oligonucleotide conjugated at 3′-end with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) involved in the targeting of human DMD exon 51, by exploiting both a pre-synthetic and a solution phase approach. The two approaches have been compared. Both strategies successfully provided the desired ASO 51 3′-UDC in good yield and purity. It should be pointed out that the pre-synthetic approach insured better yields and proved to be more cost-effective. The exon skipping efficiency of the conjugated oligonucleotide was evaluated in myogenic cell lines and compared to that of unconjugated one: a better performance was determined for ASO 51 3′-UDC with an average 9.5-fold increase with respect to ASO 51.

Submergence Gene Sub1A Transfer into Drought-Tolerant japonica Rice DT3 Using Marker-Assisted Selection

Flash flooding is a major environmental stressor affecting rice production worldwide. DT3 is a drought-tolerant, recurrent parent with a good yield, edible quality, and agronomic traits akin to those of an elite Taiwanese variety, Taiken9 (TK9). Progenies carrying Sub1A can enhance submergence stress tolerance and can be selected using the marker-assisted backcross (MAB) breeding method. For foreground selection, Sub1A and SubAB1 were utilized as markers on the BC2F1, BC3F1, and BC3F2 generations to select the submergence-tolerant gene, Sub1A. Background selection was performed in the Sub1A-BC3F2 genotypes, and the percentages of recurrent parent recovery within individuals ranged from 84.7–99.55%. BC3F3 genotypes (N = 100) were evaluated for agronomic traits, yield, and eating quality. Four of the eleven BC3F4 lines showed good yield, yield component, grain, and eating quality. Four BC3F4 lines, SU39, SU40, SU89, and SU92, exhibited desirable agronomic traits, including grain quality and palatability, consistent with those of DT3. These genotypes displayed a high survival rate between 92 and 96%, much better compared with DT3 with 64%, and demonstrated better drought tolerance compared to IR64 and IR96321-345-240. This study provides an efficient and precise MAB strategy for developing climate-resilient rice varieties with good grain quality for flood-prone regions.

Why farmers use so many different maize varieties in West Kenya

In this article we reflect on the discussions as to whether breeding and seed system development should proceed along its current well established route of developing varieties with a higher agricultural productivity or if the diversity of farmers, their contexts and rationales requires broader approaches. We make use of data from a recently held survey (2018) in West Kenya. The data show that some 80% of the households in the survey planted both local and hybrid maize varieties. The choices that people make about which variety to plant are many. Apart from rainfall, the availability of cash, the promise of a good yield, the presence of projects and programs and the culture of seed also influences these choices. We argue that an inclusive demand-oriented maize breeding and seed system needs to include a range of varieties and seed sources and to develop and support different delivery pathways to fit farmers’ diverse use of seeds and varieties. Our findings also indicate the need for more systematic study of the diversity of farmers’ rationales and the performance of crop varieties. This would provide useful information for all the actors involved.

New Sustainable Synthetic Routes to Cyclic Oxyterpenes Using the Ecocatalyst Toolbox

Cyclic oxyterpenes are natural products that are mostly used as fragrances, flavours and drugs by the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. However, only a few cyclic oxyterpenes are accessible via chemical syntheses, which are far from being ecofriendly. We report here the synthesis of six cyclic oxyterpenes derived from ß-pinene while respecting the principles of green and sustainable chemistry. Only natural or biosourced catalysts were used in mild conditions that were optimised for each synthesis. A new generation of ecocatalysts, derived from Mn-rich water lettuce, was prepared via green processes, characterised by MP-AES, XRPD and TEM analyses, and tested in catalysis. The epoxidation of ß-pinene led to the platform molecule, ß-pinene oxide, with a good yield, illustrating the efficacy of the new generation of ecocatalysts. The opening ß-pinene oxide was investigated in green conditions and led to new and regioselective syntheses of myrtenol, 7-hydroxy-α-terpineol and perillyl alcohol. Successive oxidations of perillyl alcohol could be performed using no hazardous oxidant and were controlled using the new generation of ecocatalysts generating perillaldehyde and cuminaldehyde.

An Efficient Synthesis of 4-Aminomethyl-1-(2-Phenylethyl)-Piperidin-4-ol: A Key Intermediate in Fenspiride HCl Synthesis

The article confers a scalable manufacturing process of Fenspiride HCl. 4-aminomethyl-1-(2-phenylethyl)-piperidin-4-ol is the main building block in Fenspiride HCl synthesis. The reported reagents for 4-aminomethyl-1-(2-phenylethyl)-piperidin-4-ol synthesis are costly, explosive, highly toxic, produce hazardous waste, and also need to be handled with most care. The paper introduces aqueous ammonia as an alternate reagent in Fenspiride HCl and used in 4-aminomethyl-1-(2-phenylethyl)-piperidin-4-ol synthesis. The new green chemistry aspect makes the process environment-friendly and cheaper. It also eliminates toxic, sensitive, and hazardous reagents and makes the process safe on uncomplicated on bulk scale production. The high pure Fenspiride HCl is obtained by following this process and meets the ICH limits with good yield.

Production of cereals from bioactivated grain of naked barley

Биоактивированное или, проще, пророщенное зерно и продукты из него пользуются спросом у некоторых поборников здорового питания. Однако производство таких продуктов ограничивается домашними условиями. В статье приводятся результаты апробации возможности получения целой крупы из голозерного биоактивированного ячменя сортов Омский 1, Омский 2, Омский 4 (Россия, ФГБНУ «Омский АНЦ» и ООО «Никольские проростки», г. Ижевск) урожая 2017-2020 гг. в промышленных условиях. В результате шлифования зерна ячменя различной степени биоактивации (проращивание 18-30 ч) удалось получить качественную крупу с достаточно хорошим выходом и небольшим количеством дробленой крупы. С точки зрения технологии производства процесс переработки пророщенного ячменя в крупу не отличается от традиционного, за исключением предварительных операций проращивания и подсушивания. В производственных условиях потребуется корректировка режимов обработки. C технологической точки зрения предпочтение можно отдать сорту Омский 4 - высокая производительность шлифования при сопоставимом выходе дробленой крупы. Целесообразное время биоактивации составляет 24 ч. Bioactivated or, more simply, sprouted grain and products from it are in demand among some advocates of a healthy diet. However, the production of such products is limited to home conditions. The article presents the results of testing the possibility of obtaining whole cereals from bare bioactivated barley varieties Omsk 1, Omsk 2, Omsk 4 (Russia, FGBNU «Omsk ANC» and LLC «Nikolsky sprouts», Izhevsk) harvest 2017-2020 in industrial conditions. As a result of grinding barley grain of various degrees of bioactivation (germination of 18-30 hours), it was possible to obtain high-quality cereals with a fairly good yield and a small amount of crushed cereals. From the point of view of production technology, the process of processing sprouted barley into cereals does not differ from the traditional one, with the exception of preliminary germination and drying operations. In production conditions, adjustment of processing modes will be required. from a technological point of view, preference can be given to the Omsk 4 variety - high grinding performance with a comparable output of crushed cereals. The appropriate bioactivation time is 24 hours.

Non-C2-Symmetric Bis-Benzimidazolium Salt Applied in the Synthesis of Sterically Hindered Biaryls

A novel non-C2-symmetric bis-benzimidazolium salt derived from (±)-valinol has been prepared by a simple and straightforward process in good yield. The structure of bis-benzimidazolium salt provided a bulky steric group on the ethylene bridge; which facilitates the catalytic efficacy in the C(sp2)–C(sp2) formation. Its catalytic activity in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of unactivated aryl chlorides has been found to have high efficacy in 1 mol% Pd loading. This protocol demonstrated the potential on the synthesis of sterically hindered biaryls.

Palladium-Catalyzed Desulfurative Hiyama Coupling of Thioureas to Achieve Amides via Selective C–N Bond Cleavage

Palladium-catalyzed Hiyama coupling of active thioureas via selective C–N bond cleavage is reported. Notably, the new approach employed active thioureas as coupling partners in the presence of arylsilanes to give amides in good yield. Further, this strategy, which utilized CuF2 as a key oxidant and activator, afforded various amide products under mild conditions and an easy to handle procedure without extra base.