A Chiral Sulfoxide-Based C–H Acid

We report the design and synthesis of a strong, chiral, enantiopure sulfoxide-based C–H acid. Single crystal X-ray analysis confirms the proposed structure and its absolute configuration. The new motif shows a high acidity and activity in Brønsted and Lewis acid catalyzed transformations. So far, only low enantioselectivities were achieved.

Processing technology and electrical decontamination of bedding manure and litter in ground trenches and bioreactors

The paper presents data on the effect of electric current on the quantitative index of Mucor and Bacillus fungal colonies in bedding litter. It was found that with an increase in direct current to 3A, the quantitative index (%) of Mucor fungal colonies sharply decreases from 45 to 3 (by 42%), and the quantitative index (%) of Bacillus fungal colonies decreases from 70 to 50 (by 20%). Fresh litter has high acidity, and it cannot be used without preliminary processing and electrical decontamination in ground trenches and bioreactors.

Synthesis of polyhydroquinolines and 2-amino-4H-chromenes and their alkylene bridging derivatives using Sulfonic acid functionalized heterogeneous nanocatalyst based on modified poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)

: A highly efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst based on modified poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (MPSAMA) in three steps was fabricated. Then, the MPSAMA surface was modified using chlorosulfonic acid (CAS) to achieve a sulfonated MPSAMA (SMPSAMA) with high acidity and efficiency. FT-IR spectroscopy, CHNS analysis, FESEM, and TGA were employed to characterize the prepared nanocatalyst. The catalytic activity of the SMPSAMA was examined for the formation of the polyhydroquinoline derivatives through Hantzsch condensation and the synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives. This new heterogeneous nanocatalyst has been efficiently used for the synthesis of bifunctional bis polyhydroquinoline, and new alkylene bridging bis 2-amino-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-benzo[b]pyran derivatives.

Molecular and cellular basis of acid taste sensation in Drosophila

Acid taste, evoked mainly by protons (H+), is a core taste modality for many organisms. The hedonic valence of acid taste is bidirectional: animals prefer slightly but avoid highly acidic foods. However, how animals discriminate low from high acidity remains poorly understood. To explore the taste perception of acid, we use the fruit fly as a model organism. We find that flies employ two competing taste sensory pathways to detect low and high acidity, and the relative degree of activation of each determines either attractive or aversive responses. Moreover, we establish one member of the fly Otopetrin family, Otopetrin-like a (OtopLa), as a proton channel dedicated to the gustatory detection of acid. OtopLa defines a unique subset of gustatory receptor neurons and is selectively required for attractive rather than aversive taste responses. Loss of otopla causes flies to reject normally attractive low-acid foods. Therefore, the identification of OtopLa as a low-acid sensor firmly supports our competition model of acid taste sensation. Altogether, we have discovered a binary acid-sensing mechanism that may be evolutionarily conserved between insects and mammals.