The unusual formation of methyl alpha-(5,6-dimethoxycarbonyl-2,3-dimethoxyazepin-7-ylidene)-alpha-[5-methoxycarbonyl-2,3-dimethoxypyrid-6-yl)acetate during the pyrolysis of ''azido-meta-hemipinate'' - First example of a reaction involving a concomitant ring expansion and ring extrusion

he ortho methoxycarbonyl substituent constitutes a sole exception in the ring closure reactions of ortho substituted aryl azides, as it provides no rate acceleration to this reaction. Pyrolysis of ''azido-meta-hemipinate'', an aryl azide containing such a substituent, led us to the title compound, a new azepinylidenepyridylacetic ester, whose structure has been established unambiguously by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. This is the first report of a reaction involving both a ring expansion to an azaheptafulvalene and a ring extrusion to a pyridyl ring residue.

Structure of 7-ethylamino-6-methyl-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin

C13H12F3NO2, M(r) = 271.2, triclinic, P1BAR, a = 5.029 (2), b = 7.479 (2), c = 17.073 (5) angstrom, alpha = 97.98 (2), beta = 95.54 (3), gamma = 103.62 (3)-degrees, V = 612.4 (4) angstrom 3, Z = 2, D(m) = 1.463, D(x) = 1.471 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K-alpha) = 0.71069 angstrom, mu = 1.23 cm-1, F(000) = 280, T = 298 K, final R value is 0.041 for 2047 observed reflections with \F(omicron)\ greater-than-or-equal-to 6-sigma(\F(omicron)\). The N-C(sp2) bond length is 1.356 (2) angstrom. The N and C atoms of the ethylamino group deviate by < 0.15 angstrom from the plane of the aromatic ring. Short intramolecular contacts, C(3)...F(17) 2.668 (3) angstrom [H(3)...F(17) 2.39 (2) angstrom, C(3)-H(C3)...F(17) 98 (1)-degrees], C(5)...F(18) 3.074 (3) and C(5)...F(19) 3.077 (3) angstrom exist in the structure. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular N-H...O hydrogen bonds with N(12)-H(N12) 0.79 (3), H(N12)...O(11)' 2.36 (3), N(12)...O(11)' (x - 1, y + 1, z) 3.105 (3) angstrom and N(12)-H(N12)...O(11)' 155 (2)-degrees.

ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis Based on Cyclohexadienes. Part 16. Synthesis of Methyl 2,7-Dimethyltricyclo (5.2.2.01,5)undec-5-ene-6-carboxylates

Synthesis of methyl 2, 7-dimethyltricyclo{5.2.2.0(1,5}undec-5-en-6-carboxylates, the tricyclic skeleton present in (+)-allo-cedrol (1) is described using the Diels-Alder strategy. Thus, Birch reduction of the aromatic acid 8 gives 5, the methyl ester of which is isomerised with DBU to a 1:1 mixture of the dienes 6 and 4. Cycloaddition of this mixture with 2-chloroacrylonitrile followed by hydrolysis yields the ketone 60 having the tricyclo{5.2.2.0(1.5)}undec-5-ene framework. Similar reaction with methyl vinyl ketone affords the regioisomeric adducts 61 and 62.

Vilsmeier-Haack reaction of 1-methyl-34-dihydroisoquino lines-unexpected formation of 2,3-bisdimethylamino-5,6-dihydropyrrolo [2,1-Image]isoquinolines

Novel pyrroloisoquinolines 4 are obtained from 1-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines 1 by the action of POCl3 and DMF, along with the expected mono- and dialdehydes 2 and 3 respectively and also directly from N-acetyl-2-phenethylamines.

Intramolecular Reactivity - Keto Participation in the Hydrolysis of N-Methyl-N-(9-Oxobicyclo[3.3.1]Nonan-2-Alpha-YL) Morpholinium Iodide, and A Cannizzaro-Type Reaction of 3-(2-Oxocyclohexyl)Propanal

Mechanistic studies of two intramolecular processes, nucleophilic displacement of N-methylmorpholinium in N-methyl-N-{9-oxobicyclo[3,3,1]nonan-2 alpha-yl}morpholinium iodide, anchimerically assisted by keto carbonyl, and a Cannizzaro-type reaction of 3-(2-oxocyclohexyl)propanal, occurring via axial hydride transfer onto the cyclohexanone, are reported.

A natural compound, methyl angolensate, induces mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in Daudi cells

Natural products discovered from medicinal plants have played an important role in the treatment of cancer. In an effort to identify novel small molecules which can affect the proliferation of lymphoma cells, we tested methyl angolensate (MA), a plant derived tetranortriterpenoid, purified from the crude extract of the root callus of Soymida febrifuga commonly known as Indian red wood tree. We have tested MA for its cytotoxic properties on Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines, using various cellular assays. We observed that MA induces cytotoxicity in Daudi cells in a dose-dependent manner using trypan blue, MTT and LDH assays. We find that the treatment with MA led to activation of DNA double-strand break repair proteins including KU70 and KU80, suggesting the activation of nonhomologous DNA end joining pathway in surviving cells. Further, we find that methyl angolensate could induce apoptosis by cell cycle analysis, annexin V-FITC staining, DNA fragmentation and PARP cleavage. Besides, MA treatment led to reactive oxygen species generation and loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. These results suggest the activation of mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Hence, we identify MA as a potential chemotherapeutic agent against Daudi cells.

Stabilization of thermal degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) by polysulfide polymers

The thermal degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in the presence of polysulfide polymers, namely, poly( styrene disulfide) (PSD) and poly(styrene tetrasulfide) (PST) was studied using thermogravimetry (TG) and direct pyrolysis-mass spectrometric (DP-MS) analysis. Both PSD and PST were found to stabilizethe PMMA degradation, which was explained by both radical recombination and a chain-transfer mechanism. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Growth inhibitory, apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities displayed by a novel modified triterpenoid, cyano enone of methyl boswellates

Triterpenoids are pentacyclic secondary metabolites present in many terrestrial plants. Natural triterpenoids have been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities. Here, we show that modifications of ring A of boswellic acid (2 cyano, 3 enone) resulted in a highly active growth inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, pro-differentiative and anti-tumour triterpenoid compound called cyano enone of methyl boswellates (CEMB). This compound showed cytotoxic activity on a number of cancer cell lines with IC50 ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 mu M. CEMB inhibits DNA synthesis and induces apoptosis in A549 cell line at 0.25 mu M and 1 mu M concentrations, respectively. CEMB induces adipogenic differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells at a concentration of 0.1 mu M. Finally, administration of CEMB intra-tumourally significantly inhibited the growth of C6 glioma tumour xenograft in immuno-compromised mice. Collectively, these results suggest that CEMB is a very potent anti-tumour compound.

Determination of the reactivity ratios for the oxidative copolymerizations of indene with methyl, ethyl and butyl acrylates

Full Paper: The copolyperoxides of various compositions of indene with methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate and butyl acrylate have been synthesized by the free-radical-initiated oxidative copolymerization. The compositions of copolyperoxide obtained from H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra have been used to determine the reactivity ratios of the monomers. The copolyperoxides contain a greater proportion of the indene units in random placement. The NMR studies have shown irregularities in the copolyperoxide chain due to the cleavage reactions of the propagating peroxide radical. The thermal analysis by differential scanning calorimetry suggests alternating peroxide units in the copolyperoxide chain. From the activation energy for the thermal degradation, it was inferred that degradation occurs via the dissociation of the peroxide (O-O) bonds of the copolyperoxide chain. The flexibility of the polyperoxides in terms of glass transition temperature (T-g) has also been examined.

DNA binding properties of novel dansylated distamycin analogues in which the fluorophore is directly conjugated to the N-methyl-pyrrole carboxamide backbone

Polyamides that are structural analogues of the naturally occurring DNA minor groove binding antibiotic distamycin (Dst) are promising candidates as gene modulators. Developing strategies for the large scale screening and monitoring of the cellular distribution of such ligands would aid the faster discovery of molecules, which would have eventual utility in molecular biology and medicine. Attachment of fluorescent tags would be a useful step towards this end. A fundamental question in this connection is whether the tag modifies the DNA binding affinity of the parent compounds. Towards answering this question, we have developed two oligopeptides that bear the dansyl (N, N-dimethylaminonaphthalene sulfonamido fluorophore) coupled directly to the N-terminus of the conjugated N-methylpyrrole carboxamide network, and possess three or four N-methyl pyrrole carboxamide units (abbreviated as Dn3 and Dn4 respectively). DNA binding abilities of these molecules were assessed from fluorescence titration experiments, duplex-DNA T-m analysis (employing both UV and fluorescence spectroscopy), induced circular dichroism measurements (ICD), salt dependence of ICD and apparent binding constant measurements (K-app) employing ethidium bromide (EtBr) displacement assay. Both these molecules 'reported' DNA binding in the form of an enhanced fluorescence emission. As judged from the ICD measurements, salt dependence of ICD, T-m analysis and K-app measurements, the binding affinities of the molecules that possessed dansyl group at their N-termini were lower than the ones with equivalent number of amide units, but possessed N-methylpyrrole carboxamide unit at their N-termini. These results would have implications in the future design of fluorescent polyamides.

High-pressure kinetics of oxidative copolymerization of styrene with alpha-methyl styrene

This is the first report on the study carried out on high-pressure free-radical initiated oxidated copolymerization of styrene (STY) with alpha-methylstyrene (AMS) at various temperatures (45-65degreesC) at constant pressure (100 psi) and then at various pressures (50-300 psi) keeping the temperature (50degreesC) constant. The compositions of the copolyperoxides obtained from the H-1 NMT spectra were utilized to determine the reactivity ratios of the monomers. The reactivity ratios indicate that STY forms an ideal copolyperoxide with AMS and the copolyperoxide is richer in AMS. The effect of temperature and oxygen pressure in the reactivity ratios of the monomers was studied. The rates of copolymerization (R-p) were used to determine the overall activation energies (E-a) and activation volume (DeltaV(#)) of copolymerization. The unusually higher values of the DeltaV(#) may be due to the pressurizing fluid oxygen which itself is a reactant in the copolymerization, the side reactions, and the chain-transfer reactions occuring during copolymerizations.

A comparison of the DNMR behaviour of methyl 5,6-bis(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-dimethyl-7-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-endo-carboxylate and its 7-oxa analogue

Methyl 5,6-Bis(2-methoxyphenyt)-1,4-dimethyl-7-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-endo-carboxylate, a moderately crowded norbornenone ester, exhibits complex VT-DNMR behaviour. A similar behaviour is not seen in its 7-oxa analogue, showing that conformational transmission from position 7 has a crucial influence on the distance parameters that govern the dynamic processes involving the substituents on the bicycloheptene framework.

Reactivity ratios for the oxidative copolymerizations of indene with methyl methacrylate and methacrylonitrile

The copolyperoxides of indene with methyl methacrylate and methacrylonitrile have been synthesized by the free-radical-initiated oxidative copolymerization of indene and the monomers. The compositions of copolyperoxides, obtained from H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra, have been utilized to determine the reactivity ratios. The reactivity ratios indicate that the copolyperoxides contain a large proportion of the indene units in random placement. Thermal degradation studies of the copolyperoxides by differential scanning calorimetry and electron-impact mass spectroscopy support alternating peroxide units in the copolyperoxide chain. The energy of activation for thermal degradation suggests that the degradation is controlled by the dissociation of the peroxide (-O-O-) bonds in the copolyperoxide chain. The flexibility of copolyperoxide in terms of glass transition temperature (T-g) has also been examined. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The hydrolytic reactivities of N-methyl-N(methylthiomethyl)acetamide and N-acetyl-1,3-thiazolidine: the influence of the sulfur atom

The sulfur atom in the substrates leads to modest enhancements in the titled phenomena: these are essentially derived from favourable enthalpies of activation, the negative entropies of activation possibly indicating a measure of stereoelectronic control.

Continuous distribution kinetics for ultrasonic degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate)

Ultrasonic degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was carried out in several solvents and some mixtures of solvents. The time evolution of molecular weight distribution (MWD), determined by gel permeation chromatography, is analysed by continuous distribution kinetics. The rate coefficients for polymer degradation are determined for each solvent. The variation of rate coefficients is correlated with the vapour pressure of the solvent, kinematic viscosity of the solution and solvent-polymer interaction parameters. The vapour pressure and the kinematic viscosity of the solution are found to be more critical than other parameters (such as the Huggins and Flory-Huggins constants) in determining the degradation rates. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.