Synthesis and Oxidative Transformations of New Chiral Pinane-Type γ-Ketothiols: Stereochemical Features of Reactions

Chiral γ-ketothiols, thioacetates, thiobenzoate, disulfides, sulfones, thiosulfonates, and sulfonic acids were obtained from β-pinene for the first time. New compounds open up prospects for the synthesis of other polyfunctional compounds combining a biologically active pinane fragment with various pharmacophore groups. It was shown that the syntheses of sulfanyl and sulfonyl derivatives based on 2-norpinanone are characterized by high stereoselectivity in comparison with similar reactions of pinocarvone. The conditions for the preparation of diastereomerically pure thioacetyl and thiobenzoyl derivatives based on pinocarvone, as well as for the chemoselective oxidation of γ-ketothiols with chlorine dioxide to the corresponding thiolsulfonates and sulfonic acids, were selected. The effect of the VO(acac)2 catalyst on the increase in the yields of thiosulfonates was shown. A new direction of the transformation of thiosulfonates with the formation of sulfones was revealed. In the case of pinocarvone-based sulfones, the configuration is inversed at the C2 atom. An epimerization scheme is proposed.

Heterogeneous palladium catalysts in the hydrogenation of the carbon-carbon double bond

: The results of studies over the past ten years in the field of C=C bond hydrogenation in the presence of palladium catalysts deposited on various inorganic and organic carriers such activated carbons, carbon nanotubes, alumina, zeolites, or composite materials based on Al2O3-SiO2, polystyrene, polypropyleneimine, polyamidoamine and hybrid inorganic/polymer carriers are presented. The selectivity and rates of the hydrogenation process are considered and some comparisons are made. Porous supports and containing dendrimers generally retain palladium particles more effectively. Nanosized palladium stabilized by different dendrimers catalyzes the hydrogenation of C=C bonds in polyfunctional compounds chemoselectively without affecting functional groups such as CHO, C=O, C(O)OR, CN, NO2, and halogens.

Algae Polyphenolic Compounds and Modern Antibacterial Strategies: Current Achievements and Immediate Prospects

The increasing drug resistance of pathogenic microorganisms raises concern worldwide and necessitates the search for new natural compounds with antibacterial properties. Marine algae are considered a natural and attractive biotechnological source of novel antibiotics. The high antimicrobial activity of their polyphenolic compounds is a promising basis for designing innovative pharmaceuticals. They can become both a serious alternative to traditional antimicrobial agents and an effective supplement to antibiotic therapy. The present review summarizes the results of numerous studies on polyphenols from algae and the range of biological activities that determine their biomedical significance. The main focus is put on a group of the polyphenolic metabolites referred to as phlorotannins and, particularly, on their structural diversity and mechanisms of antimicrobial effects. Brown algae are an almost inexhaustible resource with a high biotechnological potential for obtaining these polyfunctional compounds. An opinion is expressed that the effectiveness of the antibacterial activity of phlorotannins depends on the methods of their extraction aimed at preserving the phenolic structure. The use of modern analytical tools opens up a broad range of opportunities for studying the metabolic pathways of phlorotannins and identifying their structural and functional relationships. The high antimicrobial activity of phlorotannins against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria provides a promising framework for creating novel drugs to be used in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.

Nanostructured Polyelectrolyte Complexes Based on Water-Soluble Thiacalix[4]Arene and Pillar[5]Arene: Self-Assembly in Micelleplexes and Polyplexes at Packaging DNA

Controlling the self-assembly of polyfunctional compounds in interpolyelectrolyte aggregates is an extremely challenging task. The use of macrocyclic compounds offers new opportunities in design of a new generation of mixed nanoparticles. This approach allows creating aggregates with multivalent molecular recognition, improved binding efficiency and selectivity. In this paper, we reported a straightforward approach to the synthesis of interpolyelectrolytes by co-assembling of the thiacalix[4]arene with four negatively charged functional groups on the one side of macrocycle, and pillar[5]arene with 10 ammonium groups located on both sides. Nanostructured polyelectrolyte complexes show effective packaging of high-molecular DNA from calf thymus. The interaction of co-interpolyelectrolytes with the DNA is completely different from the interaction of the pillar[5]arene with the DNA. Two different complexes with DNA, i.e., micelleplex- and polyplex-type, were formed. The DNA in both cases preserved its secondary structure in native B form without distorting helicity. The presented approach provides important advantage for the design of effective biomolecular gene delivery systems.

Atmospheric fate of a series of saturated alcohols: kinetic and mechanistic study

The atmospheric fate of a series of saturated alcohols (SAs) was evaluated through kinetic and reaction product studies with the main atmospheric oxidants. These SAs are alcohols that could be used as fuel additives. Rate coefficients (in cm3 molecule−1 s−1) measured at ∼298 K and atmospheric pressure (720±20 Torr) were as follows: k1 ((E)-4-methylcyclohexanol + Cl) = (3.70±0.16) ×10-10, k2 ((E)-4-methylcyclohexanol + OH) = (1.87±0.14) ×10-11, k3 ((E)-4-methylcyclohexanol + NO3) = (2.69±0.37) ×10-15, k4 (3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol + Cl) = (2.69±0.16) ×10-10, k5 (3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol + OH) = (5.33±0.16) ×10-12, k6 (3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol + Cl) = (1.21±0.07) ×10-10, and k7 (3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol + OH) = (10.50±0.25) ×10-12. The main products detected in the reaction of SAs with Cl atoms (in the absence/presence of NOx), OH radicals, and NO3 radicals were (E)-4-methylcyclohexanone for the reactions of (E)-4-methylcyclohexanol, 3,3-dimethylbutanal for the reactions of 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol, and 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone for the reactions of 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol. Other products such as formaldehyde, 2,2-dimethylpropanal, and acetone have also been identified in the reactions of Cl atoms and OH radicals with 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol and 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol. In addition, the molar yields of the reaction products were estimated. The products detected indicate a hydrogen atom abstraction mechanism at different sites on the carbon chain of alcohol in the case of Cl reactions and a predominant site in the case of OH and NO3 reactions, confirming the predictions of structure–activity relationship (SAR) methods. Tropospheric lifetimes (τ) of these SAs have been calculated using the experimental rate coefficients. Lifetimes are in the range of 0.6–2 d for OH reactions, 7–13 d for NO3 radical reactions, and 1–3 months for Cl atoms. In coastal areas, the lifetime due to the reaction with Cl decreases to hours. The calculated global tropospheric lifetimes, and the polyfunctional compounds detected as reaction products in this work, imply that SAs could contribute to the formation of ozone and nitrated compounds at local, regional, and even global scales. Therefore, the use of saturated alcohols as additives in diesel blends should be considered with caution.

Atmospheric fate of a series of Methyl Saturated Alcohols (MSA): Kinetic and Mechanistic study

The atmospheric fate of a series of Methyl Saturated Alcohols (MSA) has been evaluated through the kinetic and reaction product studies with the main atmospheric oxidants. Rate coefficients (in cm3 molecule−1 s−1 unit) measured at ~ 298 K and atmospheric pressure (~ 740 Torr) were as follows: (3.71 ± 0.53) × 10−10, (1.91 ± 0.65) × 10−11 and (2.92 ± 1.38) × 10−15 for reaction of E-4-methyl-cyclohexanol with Cl, OH and NO3, respectively. (2.70 ± 0.55) × 10−10 and (5.57 ± 0.66) × 10−12 for reaction of 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol with Cl and OH radical respectively and (1.21 ± 0.37) × 10−10 and (10.51 ± 0.81) × 10−12 for reaction of 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol with Cl and OH radical respectively. The main detected products were 4-methylcyclohexanone, 3,3-dimethylbutanal and 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone for the reactions of E-4-methyl-cyclohexanol, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol and 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol respectively with the three oxidants. A tentative estimation of yields have been done obtaining the following ranges (25–60) % for 4-methylcyclohexanone, (40–60) % for 3,3-dimethylbutanal and (40–80) % for 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone. Other products as HCOH, 2,2-dimethylpropanal and acetone have been identified in the reaction of 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol and 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol. The yields of these products indicate a hydrogen abstraction mechanism at different sites of the alkyl chain in the case of Cl reaction and a predominant site in the case of OH and NO3 reactions, supported by SAR methods prediction. Tropospheric lifetimes (τ) of these MSA have been calculated using the experimental rate coefficients. Lifetimes are in the range of 0.6–2 days for OH reactions, 8–13 days for NO3 radical reactions and 1–3 months for Cl atoms. In coastal areas the lifetime due to the reaction with Cl decreases to hours. The global tropospheric lifetimes calculated, and the polyfunctional compounds detected as reaction products in this work, imply that the Methyl Saturated Alcohols could contribute to ozone and nitrated compound formation at local, but also regional and even to global scale. Therefore, the use of large saturated alcohols as additives in biofuels must be taken with caution.