Application of surfactants as anticorrosive materials: A comprehensive review.

Corrosion is the degradation of a metal due to its reaction with the environment. One of the most efficient ways of securing metal surfaces from corrosion is the use of corrosion inhibitors. Their efficacy is connected to their chemical composition, their molecular structures, and their adsorption affinities on the metal surface. This review article focuses on the prospects of different types of monomeric and gemini surfactants, mixed surfactants systems, surfactants- additives mixed systems, inhibitors-surfactants (as additives) mixed systems, and ionic liquid based surfactants as promising corrosion-inhibiting formulations in the aqueous phase and the role of surfactants in developing protective coatings. The analysis starts with an accurate overview of the characteristics, types, and structure-property-performance relationship of anti-corrosion formulations of such inhibitors.

Recent advances on mycotic keratitis caused by dematiaceous hyphomycetes.

Dematiaceous hyphomycetes (DH) are darkly pigmented fungi ubiquitously found all over the world as plant pathogens and saprophytes, and many of the members of this group have emerged as opportunistic pathogens. These fungi are responsible for a wide variety of infections including mycotic keratitis, which is considered as one of the major causes of corneal blindness, particularly in tropical and subtropical countries with an annual global burden of about 1 000 000 patients. The infection is more common in workers working in an outdoor environment. Moreover, trauma is found to be the most important predisposing cause of mycotic keratitis. Considerable delay in diagnosis and scarcity of effective pharmacological drugs are the major factors responsible for increased morbidity and visual impairment. Considering the crucial role of DH in mycotic keratitis, in the present review, we have focused on major DH with special emphasis on their pathogenicity, diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Nitric oxide-induced synthesis of hydrogen sulfide alleviates osmotic stress in wheat seedlings through sustaining antioxidant enzymes, osmolyte accumulation and cysteine homeostasis.

Nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have been shown to act as signaling molecules in various physiological processes, play significant roles in plant cellular processes, and also mediate responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. The present investigation was carried out to test the effect of exogenous NO on endogenous synthesis of H2S in osmotic-stressed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. The results show that application of NO to wheat seedlings, suffered from PEG8000-induced osmotic stress, considerably enhanced the activities of H2S-synthesizing enzymes l-cysteine desulfhydrase (LCD) and d-cysteine desulfhydrase (DCD) leading to enhanced level of endogenous H2S content. At the same time exogenous NO also enhanced the activity of cysteine (Cys)-synthesizing enzyme O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OAS-TL) and maintained Cys homeostasis under osmotic stress. NO and H2S together markedly improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes viz. ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, NO and H2S caused additional accumulation of osmolytes proline (Pro) and glycine betaine (GB), all these collectively resulted in the protection of plants against osmotic stress-induced oxidative stress. On the other hand, NO scavenger cPTIO [2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide] and H2S scavenger HT (hypotaurine) invalidated the effect of NO on endogenous H2S levels and Cys homeostasis which resulted in weak protection against osmotic stress. Application of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) suppressed GR activity and caused an increase in oxidative stress. We concluded that NO in association with endogenous H2S activates the defense system to the level required to counter osmotic stress and maintains normal functioning of cellular machinery.

Role of nanomaterials in plants under challenging environments.

The application of nanostructured materials, designed for sustainable crop production, reduces nutrient losses, suppresses disease and enhances the yields. Nanomaterials (NMs), with a particle size less than 100 nm, influence key life events of the plants that include seed germination, seedling vigor, root initiation, growth and photosynthesis to flowering. Additionally, NMs have been implicated in the protection of plants against oxidative stress as they mimic the role of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX). However, besides their beneficial effects on plants, applications of NMs have been proved to be phytotoxic too as they enhance the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The elevated level of ROS may damage the cellular membranes, proteins and nucleic acids. Therefore, in such a conflicting and ambiguous nature of NMs in plants, it is necessary to decipher the mechanism of cellular, biochemical and molecular protection render by NMs under stressful environmental conditions. This review systematically summarizes the role of NMs in plants under abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, temperature, metal, UV-B radiation and flooding. Furthermore, suitable strategies adopted by plants in presence of NMs under challenging environments are also being presented.

The development of fluorescence turn-on probe for Al(III) sensing and live cell nucleus-nucleoli staining.

The morphology of nucleus and nucleolus is powerful indicator of physiological and pathological conditions. The specific staining of nucleolus recently gained much attention due to the limited and expensive availability of the only existing stain "SYTO RNA-Select". Here, a new multifunctional salen type ligand (L1) and its Al3+ complex (1) are designed and synthesized. L1 acts as a chemosensor for Al3+ whereas 1 demonstrates specific staining of nucleus as well as nucleoli. The binding of 1 with nucleic acid is probed by DNase and RNase digestion in stained cells. 1 shows an excellent photostability, which is a limitation for existing nucleus stains during long term observations. 1 is assumed to be a potential candidate as an alternative to expensive commercial dyes for nucleus and nucleoli staining.

MDGC-MS analysis of essential oils from Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl. ) and their antifungal activity against Candida specie / Análise MDGC-MS de óleos essenciais de Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl. ) e sua atividade antifúngica contra espécies de Candida

ABSTRACT Protium heptaphyllum is found in the Amazon region, and in various Brazilian states and South American countries. Also Known as almecega, it produces an oil resin used in traditional medicine as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cicatrizant and expectorant, it is rich in pentacyclic triterpenes and essential oil. The main objective of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of P. heptaphyllumresin (OEPh) over different extraction times and to evaluate their antifungal activity against Candida species, obtained from gardeners with onychomycosis, using the disk diffusion method. The OEPh was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Multidimensional Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (MDGC / MS). Candida species were obtained from lesions on the nails of horticulturist from a community garden in the city of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. The antifungal activity in concentrations of 1000 µg/L, 500 µg/L and 250 µg/L, PROTOCOL M44-A2 (CLSI 2009) OEPh was tested. The main constituents identified were: l-limonene, α-terpineol, p-cineol, o-cymene and α-phellandrene, however, its composition varies significantly with extraction time. All species, except C. rugosa, were inhibited with halo (≥ 14 mm) at 1000 μg / L. C. krusei is naturally resistant to the drug fluconazole, but when tested with OEPh the clinical species (case 9) demonstrated sensitivity in three dilutions (halo ≤ 10 ≥ 14) and the standard strain was inhibited at concentration of 1000 μg/Lg / L (halo 14mm). A similar situation also occurred with the standard strain of C. parapsilosis (halo ≥ 11mm). OEPh has considerable antifungal activity, which merits further investigation for alternative clinical applications, since this species is widely distributed in our community, and it presents good yields, and also has important therapeutic applications.

RESUMO Protium heptaphyllum é encontrada na região amazônica, em vários estados do Brasil e países da América do Sul. Conhecida como almecega produz uma resina oleosa usada na medicina popular como analgésica, antiinflamatória, cicatrizante e expectorante, é rica em triterpenos pentaciclicos e óleo essencial. O objetivo principal do presente trabalho foi analisar a composição química do óleo essencial da resina P. heptaphyllum (OEPh) em diferentes tempo de extração e avaliarsuaatividade antifúngica contra espécies de Candida, isoladas de horticultores com onicomicoses, por método de disco-difusão. O OEPh foi obtido por hidrodestilação, analisado por Cromatografia Gasosa Multidimensinal Acoplada a Espectrometria de Massas (MDGC/MS). As espécies de Candida foram obtidas de lesões nas unhas de horticultores de uma horta comunitária na cidade de Teresina, Piauí, Brasil. Testou-se a atividade antifúngica do OEPhnas concentrações de 1000 μg/L, 500 μg/L e 250 μg/L, protocolo M44-A2 (CLSI 2009). Os principais constituintes identificados foram l- limoneno, α-terpineol, p-cineol, o-cimeno e α-felandreno, entretanto, sua composição varia significativamente em decorrência do tempo de extração. Todas as espécies, exceto a C. rugosa, foram inibidas com halo ( Χ ≥ 14 mm) na concentração de 1000 μg/L. C. krusei é naturalmente resistente ao fármaco fluconazol, mas quando testado com OEPh,a espécie clínico (caso 9) demonstrou sensibilidade nas três diluições (halo Χ ≤ 10 ≥ 14) e a cepa padrão foi inibida na concentração de 1000 μg/L (halo Χ 14mm). Fato semelhante também ocorreu com a cepa padrão de C. parapsilosis (halo Χ ≥ 11mm). O OEPh possui atividade antifúngica considerável, merecendo uma investigação mais aprofundada para aplicações clínicas alternativas, uma vez que esta espécie é amplamente distribuída em nossa comunidade, apresenta bom rendimento e, ainda, aplicações terapêuticas importantes.

Targeted water soluble copper-tetrazolate complexes: interactions with biomolecules and catecholase like activities.

Two new mononuclear water soluble copper(II) complexes, [Cu{(5-pyrazinyl)tetrazolate}2(1,10-phenanthroline)] 1 and [Cu{(5-pyrazinyl)tetrazolate}(1,10-phenanthroline)2](NO3)0.5(N3)0.5 2, have been synthesized using the metal mediated [2 + 3] cycloaddition reaction between copper bound azide and pyrazinecarbonitrile. The interactions of these copper tetrazolate complexes 1 and 2 with biomolecules like DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) are studied and the catecholase like catalytic activity of compound 2 is also explored. Structural determination reveals that both compounds 1 and 2 are octahedral in nature. Screening tests were conducted to quantify the binding ability of complexes (1 and 2) towards DNA and it was revealed that complex 2 has a stronger affinity to bind to CT-DNA. DFT studies indicated that a lower HOMO-LUMO energy gap between the DNA fragment and metal complexes might be the reason for this type of stronger interaction. DNA cleavage activity was explored by gel-electrophoresis and moderate to strong DNA cleavage properties were observed in the presence and absence of co-reagents. Inhibition of cleavage in the presence of sodium azide indicates the propagation of the activity through the production of singlet molecular oxygen. Furthermore enzyme kinetic studies reflect that complex 2 is also effective in mimicking catecholase like activities. An ESI-MS spectral study indicates the probable involvement of dimeric species [(phen)2Cu-(OH)2-Cu(phen)2](2+) in the catalytic cycle.

Thyroid hormone stimulates hepatic lipid catabolism via activation of autophagy.

For more than a century, thyroid hormones (THs) have been known to exert powerful catabolic effects, leading to weight loss. Although much has been learned about the molecular mechanisms used by TH receptors (TRs) to regulate gene expression, little is known about the mechanisms by which THs increase oxidative metabolism. Here, we report that TH stimulation of fatty acid ß-oxidation is coupled with induction of hepatic autophagy to deliver fatty acids to mitochondria in cell culture and in vivo. Furthermore, blockade of autophagy by autophagy-related 5 (ATG5) siRNA markedly decreased TH-mediated fatty acid ß-oxidation in cell culture and in vivo. Consistent with this model, autophagy was altered in livers of mice expressing a mutant TR that causes resistance to the actions of TH as well as in mice with mutant nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR). These results demonstrate that THs can regulate lipid homeostasis via autophagy and help to explain how THs increase oxidative metabolism.

Gold(III) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes mediated synthesis of ß-enaminones from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and aliphatic amines.

A series of gold(III) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes [1-(R(1))-3-(R(2))imidazol-2-ylidene]AuBr(3) [R(1) = i-Pr, R(2) = CH(2)Ph (1c); R(1) = mesityl, R(2) = CH(2)Ph (2c); R(1) = i-Pr, R(2) = CH(2)COt-Bu (3c), and R(1) = t-Bu, R(2) = CH(2)COt-Bu (4c)] act as effective precatalysts in the synthesis of ß-enaminones from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and primary amines under ambient conditions. Specifically the 1c-4c complexes efficiently catalyzed the condensation of a variety of cyclic as well as acyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, namely, acetyl acetone, benzoylacetone, 2-acetylcyclopentanone, and ethyl-2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate with primary aliphatic amines, viz., methylamine, ethylamine, n-propylamine, i-propylamine, and n-butylamine, yielding ß-enamines at room temperature. Interestingly enough, the more electrophilic gold(III) 1c-4c complexes exhibited superior activity in comparison to the gold(I) counterparts 1b-4b. A comparison along a representative 4a-c series further underscored the importance of gold in the reaction as both the gold(I) 4b and gold(III) 4c complexes were more effective than the silver analogue 4a. The density functional theory (DFT) study revealed that the strong σ-donating nature of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand results in a strong C(carbene)-Au(III) interaction in the 1c-4c complexes.

Titanium isopropoxide complexes of a series of sterically demanding aryloxo based [N2O2]2- ligands as precatalysts for ethylene polymerization.

Several titanium isopropoxide complexes [N,N'-bis(2-oxo-3-R(1)-5-R(2)-phenylmethyl)-N,N'-bis(methylene-p-R(3)-C(6)H(4))-ethylenediamine]Ti(O(i)Pr)(2) [R(1) = t-Bu, R(2) = Me, R(3) = H (1b); R(1) = R(2) = t-Bu, R(3) = H, (2b); R(1) = R(2) = Cl, R(3) = H, (3b), R(1) = t-Bu, R(2) = Me, R(3) = Cl (4b); R(1) = R(2) = t-Bu, R(3) = Cl, (5b); R(1) = R(2) = R(3) = Cl, (6b)] supported over sterically demanding aryloxy based [N(2)O(2)]H(2) ligands have been designed as precatalysts for the ethylene polymerization. Specifically, the 1b-6b complexes, when treated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) under 88 ± 0.5 psi of ethylene at 30 °C for 3 h, produced polyethylene polymers of high molecular weight (M(w) = ca. 7.2-8.3 × 10(5) g mol(-1)) having broad molecular weight distribution (PDI = ca. 13.1-14.6). The 1b-6b complexes were conveniently synthesized from the direct reaction of the [N(2)O(2)]H(2) ligands, 1a-6a, with Ti(O(i)Pr)(4) in 69-86% yield.

Highly efficient palladium precatalysts of homoscorpionate bispyrazolyl ligands for the more challenging Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl chlorides.

Highly efficient palladium precatalysts {[RN{-(CH(2))(n)-pz(3,5-Me)(2)}(2)]PdCl(2)}(m) [m = n = 1; R = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3) (1), 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2) (2), CH(2)Ph (3) and m = n = 2; R = CH(2)Ph (4)] of a series of homoscorpionate bispyrazolyl ligands for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of the more challenging aryl chloride substrates are reported. In particular, the palladium 1-4 precatalysts carried out the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of a wide variety of aryl chloride substrates bearing electron withdrawing, electron donating and heteroaryl substituents. Remarkably enough, the molecular structure determination of the 1-4 precatalysts by X-ray diffraction studies revealed the presence of anagostic [C-H...Pd] type interactions in the mononuclear 1-3 complexes of methylene bridged bispyrazolyl ligands whereas the ethylene bridged analog 4 yielded an interesting dimeric 20-membered macrometallacyclic complex devoid of any such interaction.

Highly convenient regioselective intermolecular hydroamination of alkynes yielding ketimines catalyzed by gold(I) complexes of 1,2,4-triazole based N-heterocyclic carbenes.

A series of highly efficient gold(I) precatalysts of 1,2,4-triazole based N-heterocyclic carbenes, [1-R-4-R'-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene]AuCl [R = CH(2)CO(t)Bu, R' = CH(2)Ph (1c); R = CH(2)CONH(t)Bu, R' = CH(2)Ph (2c); R = CH(2)CO(t)Bu, R' = CH(2)CO(t)Bu (3c), and R = C(6)H(10)OH, R' = CH(2)Ph (4c)] are reported for the hydroamination of terminal alkynes with a variety of sterically demanding o/p-substituted aryl amines yielding the corresponding ketimines in air. The gold 1c-4c complexes exhibited extremely high activity in comparison to the silver analogues 1b-4b, thereby highlighting the role of gold as a metal in the catalysis of the hydroamination reaction. Additionally, the 1,2,4-triazole based 1c-4c precatalysts showed significantly superior activity in comparison to the two representative imidazole analogues, namely, [1-(benzyl)-3-(N-t-butylacetamido)imidazol-2-ylidene]AuCl and [1-(2-hydroxy-cyclohexyl)-3-(benzyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]AuCl, thereby underscoring the importance of the 1,2,4-triazole based N-heterocyclic carbenes over the imidazole based ones in designing the gold(I) precatalysts for the hydroamination reaction. The gold(I) complexes (1c-4c) were synthesized by transmetalation reaction of the silver analogues 1b-4b with (SMe(2))AuCl in 60-76% yield while the silver 1b-4b complexes in turn were synthesized from the respective 1,2,4-triazolium halide salts by treatment with Ag(2)O in 43-64% yield.

A comparison between nickel and palladium precatalysts of 1,2,4-triazole based N-heterocyclic carbenes in hydroamination of activated olefins.

A comparison is drawn between the nickel and palladium precatalysts of 1,2,4-triazole based N-heterocyclic carbenes in the hydroamination of activated olefins. Though all of the newly designed nickel and palladium precatalysts, trans-[1-i-propyl-4-R-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene](2)MBr(2) [R = Et, M = Ni (1b); R = Et, M = Pd (1c); R = CH(2)CH=CH(2), M = Ni (2b) and R = CH(2)CH=CH(2), M = Pd (2c)], are moderately active for hydroamination reaction of a variety of secondary amines viz. morpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine and diethylamine with activated olefins like, acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate and t-butyl acrylate at room temperature in 1 hour, the nickel complexes (1b and 2b) exhibited superior activity compared to its palladium counterparts (1c and 2c). The better performance of the nickel complexes has been correlated to the more electron deficient metal center in the nickel 1b and 2b complexes than in the palladium 1c and 2c analogs based on the density functional theory studies. The 1b-c and 2b-c complexes were synthesized by the reaction of 1-i-propyl-4-R-1,2,4-triazolium bromide [R = Et (1a) and R = CH(2)CH=CH(2) (2a)] with MCl(2) [M = Ni, Pd] in presence of NEt(3) as a base.

Controlled oxidation of organic sulfides to sulfoxides under ambient conditions by a series of titanium isopropoxide complexes using environmentally benign H2O2 as an oxidant.

Controlled oxidation of organic sulfides to sulfoxides under ambient conditions has been achieved by a series of titanium isopropoxide complexes that use environmentally benign H(2)O(2) as a primary oxidant. Specifically, the [N,N'-bis(2-oxo-3-R(1)-5-R(2)-phenylmethyl)-N,N'-bis(methylene-R(3))-ethylenediamine]Ti(O(i)Pr)(2) [R(1) = t-Bu, R(2) = Me, R(3) = C(7)H(5)O(2) (1b); R(1) = R(2) = t-Bu, R(3) = C(7)H(5)O(2) (2b); R(1) = R(2) = Cl, R(3) = C(7)H(5)O(2) (3b) and R(1) = R(2) = Cl, R(3) = C(6)H(5) (4b)] complexes efficiently catalyzed the sulfoxidation reactions of organic sulfides to sulfoxides at room temperature within 30 min of the reaction time using aqueous H(2)O(2) as an oxidant. A mechanistic pathway, modeled using density functional theory for a representative thioanisole substrate catalyzed by 4b, suggested that the reaction proceeds via a titanium peroxo intermediate 4c', which displays an activation barrier of 22.5 kcal mol(-1) (DeltaG(++)) for the overall catalytic cycle in undergoing an attack by the S atom of the thioanisole substrate at its sigma*-orbital of the peroxo moiety. The formation of the titanium peroxo intermediate was experimentally corroborated by a mild ionization atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectrometric technique.

Palladium complexes of abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes as precatalysts for the much preferred Cu-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling in air in a mixed-aqueous medium.

A series of new PEPPSI (Pyridine Enhanced Precatalyst Preparation Stabilization and Initiation) themed precatalysts of abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes for the highly desirable Cu-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling in air in a mixed-aqueous medium is reported. Specifically, the PEPPSI themed (NHC)PdI2(pyridine) type precatalysts, 1b-4b, efficiently carried out the highly convenient Cu-free and amine-free Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides and iodides with terminal acetylenes in air in a mixed aqueous medium. Complexes, 1b-4b, were synthesized by the direct reaction of the corresponding imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinium iodide salts, 1a-4a, with PdCl2 in pyridine in the presence of K2CO3 as a base while the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinium iodide salts, 1a-4a, were in turn synthesized by the alkylation reactions of the respective imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives with alkyl iodides. The density functional theory (DFT) studies revealed that these imidazol-3-ylidene[1,2-a]pyridine derived abnormal carbenes are strongly sigma-donating and consequently significantly weaken the catalytically important labile trans pyridine ligand in 1b-4b.

Role of the orientation of -OH groups in the sensitivity and selectivity of the interaction of M(2+) with ribosyl- and galactosyl-imino-conjugates.

Three glyco-conjugates, viz., L(1), L(2) and L(3), which differ either in their carbohydrate moiety or in their aromatic moiety or both, were synthesized and characterized and were shown to have beta-anomeric form based on (1)H NMR and optical rotation studies. Metal ion interaction studies carried out in solution by emission and absorption spectral techniques exhibited selectivity towards Cu(2+) in HEPES buffer and a two fold higher sensitivity for L(2) as compared to L(1). The composition of the complexed species has been established based on ESI MS. Dinuclear-Cu(II) complexes of all these conjugates have been synthesized and characterized based on analytical and spectral methods including FTIR, (1)H NMR, FAB MS, EPR, ORD, CD and magnetism, and the structures of and have been established based on single crystal XRD. The structures revealed subtle differences present in the orientation of the -OH groups and also their ion binding preferences both at the molecular level as well as at the lattice levels. In the dinuclear-Cu(II) complexes, while C3-O(-) of ribosyl acts as a bridging moiety in , it is the C2-O(-) of galactosyl that bridges in and the Cu(2)O(2) cores are stabilized by two intra-complex H-bond interactions formed using C4-OH in the case of and C3-OH in the case of . While the glyco-moiety is poised perpendicular to the average plane of the Cu(2)O(2) core in , this is in plane in the case of 3.

Mimicking the intradiol catechol cleavage activity of catechol dioxygenase by high-spin iron(III) complexes of a new class of a facially bound [N2O] ligand.

A series of high-spin iron(III) complexes, {N-R-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]acetamide}FeCl(3) [R = mesityl (1b), 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3) (2b), and 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3) (3b)], that functionally emulate the intradiol catechol dioxygenase enzyme are reported. In particular, these enzyme mimics, 1b, 2b, and 3b, which utilized molecular oxygen in carrying out the intradiol catechol cleavage of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol with high regioselectivity (ca. 81-85%) at room temperature under ambient conditions, were designed by employing a new class of a facially bound [N(2)O] ligand, namely, N-R-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]acetamide [R = mesityl (1a), 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3) (2a), and 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3) (3a)]. The density functional theory studies revealed that the intradiol catechol cleavage reaction proceeded by an iron(III) peroxo intermediate that underwent 1,2-Criegee rearrangement to yield the intradiol catechol cleaved products analogous to the native enzyme.

Unprecedented long-range 1,7-bromination in gold complexes of N-(aryl)imino functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes.

An unique long-range 1,7-bromination reaction is observed in gold(III) complexes of N-(aryl)imino functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene with the bromination occurring at two different carbon (sp2 and sp3) centers spatially separated by ca. 6.4 A but existing in extended conjugation to each other. In particular, the unusual distant 1,7-brominated gold(III) complexes [1-R-3-{N-(p-bromo-2,6-di-i-propylphenylimino)-2-phenyl-1-bromoethyl}imidazol-2-ylidene]AuBr3 [R = Me (1d), i-Pr (2d), t-Bu (3d), -CH2Ph (4d)] were synthesized cleanly at room temperature under ambient conditions from the reactions of molecular bromine with the gold(I) complexes [1-R-3-{N-(2,6-di-i-propylphenylimino)-2-phenylethyl}imidazol-2-ylidene]AuCl [R = Me (1c), i-Pr (2c), t-Bu (3c), -CH2Ph (4c)]. All of the 1,7-bromination products (1d, 2d, 3d and 4d) have been structurally verified by X-ray diffraction studies.

Highly convenient amine-free sonogashira coupling in air in a polar mixed aqueous medium by trans- and cis-[(NHC)2PdX2] (X=Cl, Br) complexes of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes.

Two new trans- and cis-[(NHC)(2)PdX(2)] (X=Cl, Br) complexes of N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes employed in a highly convenient amine-free Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction in air in a polar mixed aqueous medium are reported. Specifically, the trans-[{1-benzyl-3-(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxobutyl)imidazol-2-ylidene}(2)PdBr(2)] (3) and cis-[{1-benzyl-3-(N-tert-butylacetamido)imidazol-2-ylidene}(2)PdCl(2)] (4) complexes effectively catalyzed the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of aryl iodides with substituted acetylenes in air in a mixed solvent (DMF/H(2)O, 3:1 v/v) under amine-free conditions. Interestingly, these trans- and cis-[(NHC)(2)PdX(2)] (X=Cl, Br) complexes, with two N-heterocyclic carbene ligands, exhibited superior activity compared with the now popular PEPPSI (pyridine enhanced precatalyst preparation, stabilization and initiation)-themed analogues, trans-[(NHC)Pd(pyridine)X(2)] (X=Cl, Br), 3 a and 4 a, with one N-heterocyclic carbene ligand and a "throw away" pyridine ligand in a trans disposition to each other. The higher activities of 3 and 4 compared with PEPPSI analogues 3 a and 4 a are attributed to more-electron-rich metal centers, as revealed by DFT studies, in the former complexes and is in concurrence with a more electron-rich metal center being effective in facilitating the oxidative addition of aryl halide, often a rate-determining step in palladium-mediated cross-coupling reactions. Complexes 3 and 4 were prepared from the corresponding silver analogues by transmetalation with [(cod)PdCl(2)], whereas the corresponding PEPPSI analogues 3 a and 4 a were obtained directly from the imidazolium halide salts by reaction with PdCl(2) in pyridine in the presence of K(2)CO(3) as base.

Structural and functional mimic of galactose oxidase by a copper complex of a sterically demanding [N2O2] ligand.

A structural and functional mimic of the galactose oxidase (GOase) enzyme active-site by a copper complex supported over a sterically demanding ligand having [N2O2] donor sites is reported. Specifically, the binding of the histidine (496 and 581) and tyrosine (272 and 495) residues to the copper center in a square-pyramidal fashion in the active-site of galactose oxidase (GOase) enzyme has been modeled in a copper complex, ([(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-hydoxybenzyl)(3'-tert-butyl-5'-methyl-2'-oxobenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)]amine)Cu(OAc)) (1b), stabilized over a sterically demanding ligand in which the two phenolate-O atoms mimicked the tyrosine binding while an amine-N and pyridyl-N atoms emulated the histidine binding to the metal center, similar to that in the enzyme active-site. Furthermore, the copper complex 1b is found to be an effective functional model of the enzyme as it efficiently catalyzed the chemoselective oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes in high turnover numbers under ambient conditions. An insight into the nature of the active-species was obtained by EPR and CV studies, which in conjunction with the DFT studies, revealed that the active-species is an anti-ferromagnetically coupled diamagnetic radical cation, (1)1b+, obtained by one electron oxidation at the equatorial phenolate-O atom of the ligand in the 1b complex.