Magneto-optical rotation of heavy-metal oxide glasses

Magneto-optical rotation was measured at room temperature for glasses containing Bi2O3-CdO-GeO2 (BCG), and Bi2O3-PbO-GeO2-B2O3 (BPGP). A pulsed magnetic field between 50 and 80 KG was used to measure Faraday rotation at 632.8 nm as a function of the concentration of Bi and Cd for BCG and Bi and Pb for BPGB. Verdet constant as high as 0.162 min G-1 cm-1 at 632.8 nm for the BPGB sample with the highest concentrations of Bi and Cd was found. Verdet constant increases linearly with the heavy-metal concentration for the BPGB whereas it reaches some saturation for the BCG system. Measurements of the magneto-optical rotation at other wavelengths in the visible and the refractive index at 632.8 nm are also reported. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

High Verdet constant Ga : S : La : O chalcogenide glasses for magneto-optical devices

The magneto-optical rotation at room temperature was measured for three Ga:S:La:O chalcogenide glasses at several laser lines in the visible. The first sample was a binary system constituted by 70 mol % Ga2S3 and 30 mol % La2O3, whereas in the second and third ones the lanthanum oxide was partially substituted by lanthanum sulfide, keeping the amount of gallium sulfide fixed. A pulsed magnetic field between 50 and 80 kG was used for the Faraday rotation measurements. The Verdet constant for one of the ternary samples was found to be as high as 0.205 min G(-1) cm(-1) at 543 nm, indicating that these chalcogenide glasses are very promising for magneto-optical applications. The data for each sample were fitted using the expected analytical expression for the magneto-optical dispersion. Measurements of the refractive index of the glasses at 632.8 nm are also reported. Data on the magneto-optical properties of two high Verdet constant, heavy-metal oxide diamagnetic glasses are also included for comparison. (C) 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S0091-3286(99)00102-6].

Optical properties of chiral thin films and microparticles

In this work I study the optical properties of helical particles and chiral sculptured thin films, using computational modeling (discrete dipole approximation, Berreman calculus), and experimental techniques (glancing angle deposition, ellipsometry, scatterometry, and non-linear optical measurements). The first part of this work focuses on linear optics, namely light scattering from helical microparticles. I study the influence of structural parameters and orientation on the optical properties of particles: circular dichroism (CD) and optical rotation (OR), and show that as a consequence of random orientation, CD and OR can have the opposite sign, compared to that of the oriented particle, potentially resulting in ambiguity of measurement interpretation. Additionally, particles in random orientation scatter light with circular and elliptical polarization states, which implies that in order to study multiple scattering from randomly oriented chiral particles, the polarization state of light cannot be disregarded. To perform experiments and attempt to produce particles, a newly constructed multi stage thin film coating chamber is calibrated. It enables the simultaneous fabrication of multiple sculptured thin film coatings, each with different structure. With it I successfully produce helical thin film coatings with Ti and TiO_{2}. The second part of this work focuses on non-linear optics, with special emphasis on second-harmonic generation. The scientific literature shows extensive experimental and theoretical work on second harmonic generation from chiral thin films. Such films are expected to always show this non-linear effect, due to their lack of inversion symmetry. However no experimental studies report non-linear response of chiral sculptured thin films. In this work I grow films suitable for a second harmonic generation experiment, and report the first measurements of non-linear response.

Assignment of the absolute configuration at the sulfur atom of thioridazine metabolites by the analysis of their chiroptical properties: The case of thioridazine 2-sulfoxide

Thioridazine (THD) is a commonly prescribed phenotiazine neuroleptic drug, which is extensively biotransformed in the organism producing as main metabolites sulfoxides and a sulfone by sulfur oxidation Significant differences have been observed in the activity of the THD enantiomers as well as for its main metabolites, and enantioselectivity phenomena have been proved in the metabolic pathway. Here the assignment of the absolute configuration at the sulfur atom of enantiomeric THD-2-sulfoxide (THD-2-SO) has been carried out by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy The stereoisomers were separated by HPLC on Chiralpak AS column, recording the CD spectra for the two collected enantiomeric fractions The theoretical electronic CD spectrum has been obtained by the TDDFT/B3LYP/6-31G*. as Boltzmann averaging of the contributions calculated for the most stable conformations of the drug The comparison of the simulated and experimental spectra allowed the absolute configuration at the sulfur atom of the four THD-2-SO stereoisomers to be assigned The developed method should be useful for a reliable correlation between stereochemistry and activity and/or toxicity

Endophytic fungi found in association with Smallanthus sonchifolius (Asteraceae) as resourceful producers of cytotoxic bioactive natural products

Smallanthus sonchifolius is a traditional Andean plant which has been cultured mainly in Brazil, Japan and New Zealand due to its medicinal properties. A study of the endophytic fungi associated to the plant was carried out in order to characterize new cytotoxic agents. Thirty two fungal strains were isolated and submitted to cultivation and extraction producing 186 extracts. Of these, 12% displayed moderate to high cytotoxic activities and were considered promising anticancer compound sources. The ethyl acetate fractions of Nigrospora sphaerica and Phoma betae liquid fermentations contained the synergistic compounds 8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methylisocoumarin and (22E,24R)-ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one which are potential compounds for drug discovery. Another isolated compound, pimara-7,15-dien-3-beta-ol diterpene is being characterized for the first time through a detailed spectroscopic analysis including GC/MS, homo- and hetero-nuclear correlated NMR experiments (HMQC, HMBC, COSY and NOEdiff) along with its optical rotation.

Synthesis of iminosugars through diastereo/enantioselective diels-alder cycloaddition

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências (Especialidade em Química)

Investigation phytochimique d'une plante médicinale malgache Hypoestes serpens (Vahl) R. Br. (Acanthaceae) variété glabre et étude comparative avec la variété poilue

Résumé A Madagascar, comme dans plusieurs pays en développement, une grande partie de la population utilise les plantes pour se soigner. Plusieurs espèces des plantes sont ainsi utilisées en médecine traditionnelle malgache. Par ailleurs, la plupart de ces plantes ne font l'objet que de très peu d'étude scientifique. En effet, dans le cadre de l'investigation phytochimique de plantes utilisées en médecine traditionnelle malgache et dans la recherche des nouvelles substances biologiquement actives, Hypoestes serpens (Vahl) R. Br. (Acanthaceae) a été étudiée. Elle se présente sous deux variétés (glabre et poilue) qui sont tous utilisées dans la région sud-centre de Madagascar pour traiter la blennorragie. De l'extrait dichlorométhanique des feuilles de H. serpens (Vahl) R. Br. variété glabre, 12 diterpénoides dont 8 nouveaux ont été isolés. Ils ont tous montré une activité antifongique contre un champignon pathogène des plantes, Cladosporium cucumerinum, dans la bioautographie directe sur CCM. Quelques-uns ont également présenté une activité contre une levure saprophyte chez l'homme, Candida albicans et une activité inhibitrice de l'enzyme acétylcholinesterase. Les diterpènoïdes sont déjà considérés comme les principaux métabolites secondaires du genre Hypoestes. Le fractionnement de l'extrait méthanolique a conduit à l'isolement de 5 glycosides des flavonoïdes dont 4 sous formes C-g,lycosides qui n'ont jamais été identifiés dans la famille Acanthaceae. Ces flavonoïdes ont présenté une activité antiradicalaire contre le DPPH. Le fractionnement et la purification des extraits ont été effectués à l'aide des différentes techniques chromatographiques telles que la chromatographie sur colonne ouverte, la filtration sur gel, la chromatographie liquide à haute pression, la chromatographie liquide à moyenne pression et la chromatographie liquide à basse pression. Par ailleurs, les structures des composés isolés ont été élucidées par des techniques spectroscopiques (UV, MS, RMN) et de méthode chimique (hydrolyse acide). En plus de ces techniques, certaines méthodes physiques (cristallographie par rayons-X, mesure de rotation optique) ont été réalisées pour confirmer certaines structures. Comme l'espèce Hypoestes serpens (Vahl) R. Br. se présente en deux variétés, une étude comparative a été effectuée. Cette étude avait montré que ces deux variétés ont une activité biologique similaire. Finalement, une technique analytique couplée, HPLC-UV-APC1-MS a permis de montrer la présence de toutes les substances isolées de la variété glabre dans la variété poilue. Second résumé Depuis des milliers d'almées, l'homme utilise les plantes pour se soigner. De nos jours, même avec le développement de la médecine moderne, la phytothérapie reste toujours la forme des soins de santé abordable et accessible pour la majorité des populations rurales des pays en développement. En outre, les plantes médicinales constituent une source potentielle de molécules biologiquement actives pour les industries pharmaceutiques et actuellement, on estime que 25% des médicaments commercialisés dans le monde sont à base de plantes Dans le cadre de la recherche des nouvelles molécules à intérêt thérapeutique qui pourraient devenir un médicament ou un modèle de structure ("lead compound") pour le développement de nouveaux médicaments, nous avons fait une étude sur l'espèce, Hypoestes serpens (Vahl) R. Br, plante utilisée en médecine traditionnelle malgache. Cette espèce existe en deux variétés, une glabre et une autre poilue qui sont tous utilisées dans la région sud-centre de Madagascar pour traiter la blennorragie. Par ailleurs, les tradipraticiens utilisent de préférence la variété poilue. Dans la première partie de ce présent travail, une investigation phytochimique de H serpens, variété glabre (variété moins utilisée) a d'abord été effectuée afm d'isoler et d'identifier le maximum des molécules biologiquement actives qu'elle contient. De ce fait, 17 composés dont 8 nouveaux ont été isolés. Les potentiels d'activités thérapeutiques des substances isolées ont ensuite été dépistés sur les différents cibles suivants.: deux souches de champignons (Cladosporium cucumerinum et Candida albicans), l'enzyme acétylcholinesterase et le radical DPPH. La deuxième partie de ce travail a été consacrée sur l'étude comparative des deux variétés (glabre et poilue) de H. serpens à la fois sur le plan biologique et sur le plan phytochimique. A l'issue de cette comparaison, nous avons constaté que l'utilisation de ces deux variétés en médecine traditionnelle malgache n'est pas un hasard ; les deux variétés avaient présenté une activité biologique très remarquable et contiennent les mêmes substances actives. Ces résultats démontrent les potentiels thérapeutiques de H serpens en médecine traditionnelle malgache et pourraient également encourager les tradipraticiens à utiliser la variété glabre tout en protégeant la variété poilue qui est en voie de disparition actuellement. En bref, l'investigation phytochimique de H. serpens justifiée par l'isolement et l'identification de certains de ses principes actifs ouvre la voie aux recherches des médicaments d'origine naturelle. Abstract In Madagascar, as in many developing countries, most people use plants to cure. A large number of plant species are employed in Malagasy traditional medicine. Moreover, most of these plants have been subject only very little scientific study. As part of a phytochemical investigation of plants used in Malagasy traditional medicine and in the search for new biologically active substances, Hypoestes serpens (Vah1) R.Br. (Acanthaceae) was investigated. This species exists in two varieties (glabrous and hairy) which are used in the south-center part of Madagascar to treat gonorrhoea. From the dichloromethane extract of the leaves of H. serpens (Vah1) R. Br. glabrous variety, 12 diterpenoids 8 of which were new, were isolated. They showed antifungal activity against the plant pathogen Cladosporium cucumerinum, in the direct TLC bioautography. Some of them also had activity against the yeast Candida athicans and inhibited acetylcholinesterase. The diterpenes are considered as the principal secondary metabolites of the genus Hypoestes. Fractionation of the methanol extract led to the isolation of 5 flavonoid glycosides, 4 of which were C-glycosides, never before identified in the Acanthaceae family. These flavonoids showed radical scavenging activity against DPPH. The fractionation and the purification of the extracts were achieved by different chromatographic techniques such as open-column chromatography, gel filtration, high- pressure liquid chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography and low-pressure liquid chromatography. Moreover, the structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques (UV, MS, NMR) and chemical technique (acid hydrolysis). In addition, some physical methods (X-ray crystallography, measurement of optical rotation) were performed to confirm some structures. As the species Hypoestes serpens (Vah1) R. Br. is present in two varieties, a comparative study was carried out. This study showed that these two varieties had similar biological activity. Finally, a coupled analytical technique HPLC-UV-APCI-MS showed the presence of the same compounds in both the glabrous and hairy varieties.

An investigation into the oxidation of organic sulphides, organic selenides and simple hydrocarbons by Mortierella isabellina NRRL 1757

The work presented in this thesis is divided into three separate sections 4!> Each' 'section is involved wi th a different problem, however all three are involved with a microbial oxidation of a substrate~ A series of 'aryl substituted phenyl a.nd be,nzyl methyl sulphides were oxidized to the corre~pondi~g sulphoxides by 'Mo:rtierellai's'a'b'e'llina NRR.L17'S7 @ For this enzymic Qxidation, based on 180 labeled experiments, the oxygen atom is derived fr'orn the atmosphere and not from water. By way of an u~.traviolet analysis, the rates of oxidation, in terms of sulphox~ de appearance, were obtained and correlated with the Hatnmett p s~grna constants for the phenyl methyl sulphide series. A value of -0.67 was obtained and, is interpreted in terms of a mechanism of oxidation that involves an electrophilic attack on the sulphide sulphur by an enzymic ironoxygen activated complex and the conversion of the resulti!lg sulphur cation to sulphoxide. A series of alkyl phenyl selen~des have been incubated with the fu~gi, Aspergillus niger ATCC9l42, Aspergillus fO'etidus NRRL 337, MIIJisabellina NF.RLl757 and'He'lminth'osparium sp'ecies NRRL 4671 @l These fu?gi have been reported to be capable of carrying out the efficient oxidation of sulphide to sulphoxide, but in no case was there any evidence to supp'ort the occurrence of a microbialox,idation. A more extensive inves·t~gation was carried out with'M,e 'i's'a'b'e'l'l'i'na, this fu~gus was capable of oxidizing the correspondi~g sulphides to sulphoxi.de·s·$ Usi:ng a 1abel.edsubstra.te, [Methyl-l4c]-methyl phenyl selenide, the fate of this compound was invest~gated followi!lg an i'ncubation wi th Me isabellina .. BeSUldes th. e l4C-ana1YS1Q S-,'. a quant"ltta"lve selen'lum ana1Y"S1S was carried out with phenyl methyl selenide. These techniques indicate that thesel'enium was capable of enteri!1g thefu!1gal cell ef'ficiently but that s'ome metabolic cleav~ge of the seleni'um-carbon bond' may take plac'e Ie The l3c NMR shifts were assigned to the synthesized alkyl phenyl sulphides and selenides@ The final section involved the incubation ofethylben~ zene and p-e:rtr.hyltoluene wi th'M ~ 'isab'e'llina NRRL 17574b Followi~ g this incubation an hydroxylated product was isolated from the medium. The lH NMR and mass spectral data identify the products as I-phenylethanol and p-methyl-l-phenylethanol. Employi!lg a ch'iral shift re~gent,tri~ (3-heptafluorobutyl-dcamphorato)'- europium III, the enantiomeric puri ty of these products was invest~gated. An optical rotation measurement of I-phenylethanol was in ~greement with the results obtained with the chiral shift re~gen,te 'M.isabe'l'lina is capable of carryi~g out an hydroxylation of ethylbenzene and p-ethyltoluene at the ~ position.

4,5-Dihydro-1,3-dioxepine als chirale Bausteine in der enantioselektiven organischen Synthese

Durch asymmetrische Doppelbindungsisomerisierung mittels Me-DuPHOS-modifizierter Dihalogen-Nickel-Komplexe als Katalysatorvorstufen lassen sich aus 2-Alkyl-4,7-dihydro-1,3-dioxepinen hochenantiomerenreine 2-Alkyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-dioxepine erhalten. Ein Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die bisher noch unbekannte Absolutkonfiguration dieses Verbindungstyps zu bestimmen und darüber hinaus ihre Einsatzfähigkeit in der enantioselektiven organischen Synthese zu untersuchen. Zu diesem Zweck wurden enantiomerenangereichertes 2-Isopropyl- und 2-tert-Butyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-dioxepin mit m-Chlorperbenzoesäure epoxidiert. Dabei bildeten sich die entsprechenden 3-Chlorbenzoesäure-(2-alkyl-5-hydroxy-1,3-dioxepan-4yl)-ester in hohen Ausbeuten und Diastereoselektivitäten. Von den vier zu erwartenden Diastereomeren wurden jeweils nur zwei mit einer Selektivität von mehr als 95:5 gebildet. Im Fall des 3-Chlorbenzoesäure-(2-isopropyl-5-hydroxy-1,3-dioxepan-4yl)-esters konnte das Haupt-diastereomer kristallin erhalten werden. Durch röntgenspektroskopische Untersuchung war es möglich, die Relativ-Konfiguration dieser Verbindung zu bestimmen. Die Ester lassen sich unter Ringverengung in 2-Alkyl-1,3-dioxan-4-carbaldehyde umlagern. Ausgehend von diesen Carbaldehyden stehen zwei Synthesewege zur Verfügung, welche zu Verbindungen führen deren Absolutkonfiguration bereits bekannt ist. So erhält man durch Reduktion 2-Alkyl-1,3-dioxan-4-yl-methanole, welche sich in 1,2,4-Butantriol überführen lassen. Oxidation ergibt die 2-Alkyl-1,3-dioxan-4-carbonsäuren, aus denen 3-Hydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-on gewonnen werden kann. Messung des Drehwertes dieser beiden literaturbekannten Verbindungen liefert nicht nur Information über deren Enantiomerenreinheit sondern ebenfalls über die Konfiguration ihres Stereozentrums. In Kombination mit der Relativ-Konfiguration des Esters ist somit ein Rückschluss auf die Absolutkonfiguration der eingesetzten 4,5-Dihydro-1,3-dioxepine möglich. Die auf den beschriebenen Wegen gewonnenen Substanzen finden Anwendung in der stereoselektiven organischen Synthese. Löst man die Chlorbenzoesäureester in Dichlormethan und behandelt sie mit wässriger Salzsäure, so entstehen die bicyclischen 2-Alkyltetrahydrofuro[2,3-d][1,3]dioxole. Auch bei diesen Verbindungen konnten hohe Enantio- und Diastereoselektivitäten erzielt werden. Der intermolekular verlaufende Reaktionsmechanismus der Bicyclus-Bildung, welcher unter Abspaltung eines den Alkylrest tragenden Aldehyds und dessen Neuanlagerung unter Ausbildung eines Acetals verläuft, konnte in dieser Arbeit durch ein Kreuzungsexperiment bestätigt werden. Umacetalisierung der Bicyclen liefert 2-Methoxytetrahydrofuran-3-ol, aus dem durch Acetalspaltung Tetrahydrofuran-2,3-diol erhalten wird, das die Halbacetalform der entsprechenden Desoxytetrose darstellt, die auf diese Weise in einer de novo-Synthese hergestellt werden kann.

A calibrated, non-invasive method for measuring the internal interface height field at high resolution in the rotating, two-layer annulus

We describe a remote sensing method for measuring the internal interface height field in a rotating, two-layer annulus laboratory experiment. The method is non-invasive, avoiding the possibility of an interaction between the flow and the measurement device. The height fields retrieved are accurate and highly resolved in both space and time. The technique is based on a flow visualization method developed by previous workers, and relies upon the optical rotation properties of the working liquids. The previous methods returned only qualitative interface maps, however. In the present study, a technique is developed for deriving quantitative maps by calibrating height against the colour fields registered by a camera which views the flow from above. We use a layer-wise torque balance analysis to determine the equilibrium interface height field analytically, in order to derive the calibration curves. With the current system, viewing an annulus of outer radius 125 mm and depth 250 mm from a distance of 2 m, the inferred height fields have horizontal, vertical and temporal resolutions of up to 0.2 mm, 1 mm and 0.04 s, respectively.

Chiral poly(aromatic amide ester) dendrimers bearing an amino acid derived C-3-symmetric core: synthesis and properties

The effect of hyperbranched macromolecular architectures (dendrimers) upon chirality has received significant attention in recent years in the light of the proposal of amplification of chirality. In particular, several studies have been carried out on the chiroptical properties of dendrimers that contain a chiral core and achiral branches in order to determine if the chirality of the central core can be transmitted to the distal. region of the macromolecule. In addition to interest of a pure academic nature, the presence of such chiral conformational order would be extremely useful in the development of asymmetric catalysts. In this paper, a novel class of chiral dendrimers is described - these perfect hyperbranched macromolecules have been prepared by a convergent route by the coupling of a chiral central core based upon tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and poly(aromatic amide ester) dendritic branches. The chiral properties of these dendrimers have been investigated by detailed optical rotation studies and circular dichroism analysis; the results of these studies are described herein. (C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Co.

Resolution and Absolute Configuration Assignment of a Natural Racemic Chromane from Peperomia obtusifolia (Piperaceae)

The resolution of the natural racemic chromane 3,4-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2,7-dimethyl-8-(3 ``-methyl-2 ``-butenyl)-2-(4`-methyl-1`,3`-pentadienyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6-carboxylic acid (1) isolated from the leaves of Peperomia obtusifolia has been accomplished using stereoselective HPLC. The absolute coil figuration of the resolved enantiomers was determined by the analysis of optical rotations and CD spectra. The finding of a racemic mixture instead of an enantiomerically pure metabolite raises questions about the final steps in the biosynthesis of this class of natural products, suggesting that the intramolecular chromane ring formation step may not be enzymatically controlled at all in P. obtusifolia. Chirality 21:799-801, 2009. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Structure Elucidation and Absolute Stereochemistry of Isomeric Monoterpene Chromane Esters

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Resolution and Absolute Configuration Assignment of a Natural Racemic Chromane from Peperomia obtusifolia (Piperaceae)

The resolution of the natural racemic chromane 3,4-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2,7-dimethyl-8-(3 ''-methyl-2 ''-butenyl)-2-(4'-methyl-1',3'-pentadienyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6-carboxylic acid (1) isolated from the leaves of Peperomia obtusifolia has been accomplished using stereoselective HPLC. The absolute coil figuration of the resolved enantiomers was determined by the analysis of optical rotations and CD spectra. The finding of a racemic mixture instead of an enantiomerically pure metabolite raises questions about the final steps in the biosynthesis of this class of natural products, suggesting that the intramolecular chromane ring formation step may not be enzymatically controlled at all in P. obtusifolia. Chirality 21:799-801, 2009. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.