The single-crystal structure of largely ammonium-exchanged zeolite Y dehydrated at room temperature (293 K) and 1 ${\times}\;10^{-6}$ Torr. has been determined using synchrotron X-radiation in the cubic space group $Fd\overline{3}m\;(a=24.9639(2)\AA)$ at 294 K. The structure was refined to the final error index $R_1$ = 0.0429 with 926 reflections where $F_o>4\sigma(F_o)$; the composition (best integers) was identified as |$(NH_4)_{60}Na_{11}$|[$Si_{121}Al_{71}O_{384}$]-FAU. The 11 $Na^{+}$ ions per unit cell were found at three different crystallographic sites and 60 ${NH_4}^{+}$ ions were distributed over three sites. The 3 $Na^{+}$ ions were located at site I, the center of the hexagonal prism ($Na-O\;=\;2.842(5)\;\AA\;and\;O-Na-O\;=\;85.98(12)^{\circ}$). The 4 $Na^{+}$ and 22 ${NH_4}^{+}$ ions were found at site I' in the sodalite cavity opposite the double 6-rings, respectively ($Na-O\;=\;2.53(13)\;\AA,\;O-Na-O\;=\;99.9(7)^{\circ},\;N-O\;=\;2.762(11)\;\AA,\;and\;O-N-O =\;89.1(5)^{\circ}$). About 4 $Na^{+}$ ions occupied site II ($(Na-O\;=\;2.40(4)\;\AA\;and\;O-Na-O\;=\;108.9(3)^{\circ}$) and 29 ${NH_4}^{+}$ ions occupy site II ($N-O\;=\;2.824(9)\;\AA\;and\;O-N-O\;=\;87.3(3)^{\circ}$) opposite to the single 6-rings in the supercage. The remaining 9 ${NH_4}^{+}$ ions were distributed over site III' ($N-O\;=\;2.55(3),\;2.725(13)\;\AA\;and\;O-N-O\;=\;94.1(13),\;62.16(15),\;155.7(14)^{\circ}$).

The ytterbium catalyst immobilized on the cross-linked poly(4-vinylpyridine/styrene) copolymer (P/S-Yb) was applied in the Mannich-type, three component one-pot synthesis of $\beta$-aminoketones. This catalytic system showed excellent catalytic activity and selectivity which resulted in the exclusive formation of $\beta$-aminoketone. The applicability of this immobilized catalyst system was shown by the reusability test and again highlighted by the synthesis of a $\beta$-aminoketone library using a broad range of substrates.

Aggregation behavior of three kinds of benzindocarbocyanine dyes in aqueous methanol solution was studied by UV-Vis absorption spectrum. The results indicated that the three dyes all existed monomer-dimer equilibrium in aqueous methanol solution (concentration range $10^{−5}\;to\;10^{−6}$ M) at 25.0$\sim$41.0 ${^{\circ}C}$ for Dye 1, 28.0$\sim$49.0 ${^{\circ}C}$ for Dye 2 and 26.0$\sim$47.0 ${^{\circ}C}$ for Dye 3. The fundamental property of the three dyes as the dimeric association constant KD, the dimeric free energy ${\Delta$}G_D, the dimeric entropy ${\Delta$}S_D, and the dimeric enthalpy ${\Delta$}H_D were determined. The ${\Delta$}H_D of three dyes: Dye 1, Dye 2 and Dye 3 was -42.5, -15.1 and -18.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The experimental observations were the subject of a theoretical study including the ground-state geometries which were fully optimized using DFT at B3LYP/6-31G level. The effect of dye molecule structure on ${\Delta$}H_D was discussed by theoretical calculations.

Chloroacylation of 3-amino-2-phenylpyrazole-4-carboxamide (2) using chloroacetyl-(propionyl) chloride affording 6-chloromethyl(ethyl)-1-phenylpyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4[5H]-one (3) or (6). Chlorine atom in compound (3) or (6) underwent nucleophilic substitution reaction with primary or secondary amines to give 6-alkyl(aryl)aminomethyl(ethyl)-1-phenylpyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4[5H]-one (4a-g,7a-f). When arylaminomethyl( ethyl)pyrazolopyrimidine was treated with formaline (30%) solution in ethanol, underwent Mannich reaction to afford imidazopyrazolopyrimidines (5a-e) and pyrazolopyrimidopyrimidines (8a-e). Chloromethylpyrimidine derivative 3 was converted into the corresponding mercaptomethylpyrazolopyrimidene 9, Which cyclized using bromomalononitrile or phenacyl bromide into pyrazolopyrimidothiazine 11,12.

In this study, the effects of counter ion valency of the electrolyte on the colloidal repulsion between two parallel cylindrical particles were investigated. Electrostatic interactions of the cylindrical particles were calculated with the variation of counter ion valency. To calculate the electrical repulsive energy working between these two cylindrical particles, Derjaguin approximation was applied. The electrostatic potential profiles were obtained numerically by solving nonlinear Poission-Boltzmann (P-B) equation and calculating middle point potential and repulsive energy working between interacting surfaces. The electrical potential and repulsive energy were influenced by counter ion valency, Debye length, and surface potential. The potential profile and middle point potential decayed with the counter ion valency due to the promoted shielding of electrical charge. On the while, the repulsive energy increased with the counter ion valency at a short separation distance. These behaviors of electrostatic interaction agreed with previous results on planar or spherical surfaces.

The reaction of $(en)Pd(NO_3)_2$ (en = ethylenediamine) with 1,4-bis(dimethyl-4-pyridylsilyl)benzene (L) affords cyclodimer, $[(en)Pd(L)]_2(NO_3)_4$, whereas the reaction of $(tmeda)Pd(NO_3)_2$ (tmeda = N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediamine) with L gives cyclotrimer, $[(tmeda)Pd(L)]_3(NO_3)_6$. Both complexes exist as catenane in water. The catenated cyclodimer is rigid whereas the catenated cyclotrimer is dynamic in water. The catenated cyclotrimers afford hydrogel containing 98.5% water below 2 ${^{\circ}C}$. The hydrogel changes to its sol around 38 ${^{\circ}C}$, and to its clear solution at 78 ${^{\circ}C}$. Such a notable difference between $[(en)Pd(L)]_2(NO_3)_4$ and $[(tmeda)Pd(L)]_3(NO_3)_6$ might be explained by their different dynamic behavior via ring size effects.

Interactions between the surface and capsid proteins of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are critical for the assembly of virus particles. In this study, we developed a cell-based method to visualize the interactions between the capsid and surface proteins of HBV. Capsid-GFP, a capsid protein fused to a green fluorescence protein (GFP), forms nucleocapsid-like structures in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. It relocates to the plasma membranes in cells expressing PH-PreS, a fusion protein consisting of the PreS region of the HBV surface protein and the PH domain of PLC-$\gamma$. Membrane localization of the capsid-GFP in these cells is prevented by an inhibitory peptide that blocks the interaction between the capsid and surface proteins. This dynamic localization of capsid-GFP is applicable for screening compounds that may potentially inhibit or prevent the assembly process of HBV particles.

Direct electron transfer of hemoglobin (Hb) in the chitosan (CTS) and $TiO_2$ nanoparticles (nano-$TiO_2$) composite films was achieved by using a room temperature ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ($BMIMPF_6$) modified carbon paste electrode (CILE) as the basal electrode. UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy indicated that Hb in the film retained the native structure. Electrochemical investigation indicated that a pair of well-defined quasi-reversible redox peaks of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) was obtained with the formal potential located at -0.340 V (νs. SCE) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The electrochemical parameters such as the electron transfer coefficient (α), the electron transfer number (n) and the standard electron transfer rate constant ($k_s$) were got as 0.422, 0.93 and 0.117 $s^{-1}$, respectively. The fabricated CTS/nano-$TiO_2$/Hb/CILE showed good electrocatalytic ability to the reduction of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), which exhibited a potential application in fabricating a new kind of third generation biosensor.

We have performed DFT B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculations to investigate the complexation behaviors of the ethyl ester derivative of p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene (1) toward a variety of alkylammonium ions. We have studied the binding sites of these host-guest complexes focusing on the p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene pocket (endo) of 1. The smaller alkylammonium cations have the better complexation efficiency than the bulkier alkylammonium ions with the p-tert-butylcalix[6]aryl ester. The hydrogen-bonding of N-H$\ldots$O is one of the important factors for the complexation behavior of the p-tert-butylcalix[6]aryl ester, in addition to the NH-aromatic π, CH-aromatic π and electrostatic interactions, and the steric hindrance of alkylammonium cation. The hydrogen-bonded distances and angles of N-H$\ldots$O are reported for the complexes of the p-tert-butylcalix[6]aryl ester with various alkylammonium ions.

The authors describe an analytical method to determine total chlorine in a sanitizer liquid, incorporating a lab-made He-rf-plasma within a PDMS polymer microchip. Helium was used instead of Ar to produce a plasma to achieve efficient Cl excitation. A quartz tube 1 mm i.d. was embedded in the central channel of the polymer microchip to protect it from damage. Rotational temperature of the He-microchip plasma was in the range 1350-3600 K, as estimated from the spectrum of the OH radical. Chlorine was generated in a volatilization reaction vessel containing potassium permanganate in combination of sulfuric acid and then introduced into the polymer microchip plasma (PMP). Atomic emission lines of Cl at 438.2 nm and 837.7 nm were used for analysis; no emission was observed for Ar plasma. The achieved limit of detection was 0.81 ${\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ (rf powers of 30-70 W), which was sensitive enough to analyze sanitizers that typically contained 100-200 ${\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ of free chlorine in chlorinated water. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the devised PMP system in the food sciences and related industries.

A series of conjugated cyclic and linear enkephalin analogs, Tyr-c[D-A2bu-Gly-Phe-Asp(NH-X)], where X = methyl, stearyl or$ PEG_350$, and Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Cys(S-X), where X = methyl, octyl, or farnesyl, were synthesized in solution to investigate the receptor selectivity of opioids based on Schwyzer's membrane compartment $concepts.^{5,6}$ Cyclizations of the target compounds were achieved in high yields (> 60%) employing BOP, $NaHCO_3$ in DMF despite the steric hindrance of the bulky pendant groups. In the binding assay, the hydrophobic fatty acyl conjugates retained $\mu$-receptor selectivity. The unsaturated farnesyl conjugate exhibited the increased binding affinity than the saturated stearyl conjugate for both $\mu$-and $\delta$-opioid receptors. The PEG conjugates displayed the $\delta$-receptor selectivity. The low molecular weight $PEG_350$ conjugate exhibited the increase selectivity than the high molecular weight $PEG_5000$ conjugate to the $\delta$-receptor. The results of this study support the membrane compartment concepts.

The local structures of the boron and vanadium sites in the ternary glass $xV_2O_5-B_2O_3-yNa_2O$ were studied by $^{11}B\;and\;^{51}V$ magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). With increasing x, the mole ratios of the $BO_3\;and\;BO_4$ structures were enhanced, as were the quadrupole asymmetry parameters for the $BO_3$ structures, while the quadrupole coupling constants for the sites were reduced. However, the opposite trends were observed with increasing y, implying that $V_2O_5$ and $Na_2O$ play opposite roles. The $VO_4,\;VO_5\;and\;VO_6$ structures with all oxygens bonded to the vanadium neighbors were identified. Vanadiums bonded to the greater number of oxygens were more populated at higher contents of $Na_2O\;and\;V_2O_5$. In addition, the $VO_4$ structures with at least one oxygen bonded to boron instead of vanadium were detected at low $Na_2O$ contents. The electron densities of various vanadium oxide structures were affected by the weight densities and vanadium ion densities. The $VO_4$ structures were more likely to be vanadium oxide structures right next to $V4^{+}$ ions.

3D-QSARs for the inhibition activities against protox by herbicidal 2-N-phenylisoindolin-1-one derivatives were studied quantitatively using CoMFA and CoMSIA methods. The result of the statistical quality of optimized CoMSIA model 2 ($FF:\;{r^2}_{cv.};\;0.973\;&\;{r^2}_{ncv.};\;0.612$) was higher than that of CoMFA model 1 ($AF:\;{r^2}_{cv.};\;0.414\;&\;{r^2}_{ncv.};\;0.909$). Also, the relative contribution of the optimized CoMSIA model 2 showed the steric (24.6%), electrostatic (31.0%), hydrophobic (ClogP, 23.4%) and H-bond acceptor field (21.0%), respectively. From the results of the contour maps, the protox inhibition activities are expected to increase when steric favor and H-bond acceptor favor groups are substituted on $R_2$ position and positive favor group are substituted on $C_2,\;C_3,\;and\;C_5$ atom in phenyl ring of $R_2$ position. And the inhibition activities are expected to increase when hydrophobic favor group is substituted on $C_1,\;C_3$ atom in phenyl ring of $R_2$ position and $C_1$ atom of $R_2$ position and hydrophilic favor groups are substituted on $C_4$ atom in phenyl ring of $R_1$ position and the terminal group of $R_1$ position.

The new candidates for OTFTs, which were composed of naphthalene, anthracene, benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene and 2-decylbithiophene end-capper were synthesized under Suzuki coupling reaction conditions. All of the oligomers were characterized by FT-IR, mass analysis, UV-vis, PL spectrum, cyclic voltametry (CV), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), $^1H-NMR\;and\;^{13}C-NMR$. Investigation of physical properties showed that all of the oligomers have higher oxidation potential and good thermal stability. Especially, DBT-DtB-DBT is soluble in common solvents and suitable for low cost processing technologies.

We have performed replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations on 41 residue peptide mainly composed of NAC (non A$\beta$ component) sequence in $\alpha$-Synuclein. To investigate conformational characteristics of intrinsically unstructured peptides, we carried out structural analysis on the ‘representative structures’ for ensemble of structures occurring at different temperatures. The secondary structure profile obtained from our simulations suggests that the NAC region of $\alpha$-synuclein can be divided into roughly three helical-like segments. It is found that the overall helix-turn-helix like topology is conserved even though the conformational fluctuations grow as the temperature increases. The coordinate-based and the distance-based representative structures exhibit noticeable differences at higher temperatures while they are similar at lower temperatures. It is found that structural variations for the coordinate-based representative structures are much larger, suggesting that distance-based representative structures provide more reliable information concerning characteristic features of intrinsically unstructured proteins. The present analysis also indicates that the conformational features of representative structures at high temperatures might be related to those in membrane or low pH environment.

For use as a photocatalyst, bismuth tungsten oxide, $Bi_2WO_6$, was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal treatment at pH = 11 and heating at 200 ${^{\circ}C}$ for 24h, and samples were subsequently thermal treated at 400, 600, and 800 ${^{\circ}C}$ to increase crystallinity. TEM results revealed that the initial untreated particles were sheet‐shaped, grain size was below 80 nm, and it increased with treated temperatures. These $Bi_2WO_6$ samples absorbed at around 400 nm in the visible light range and the intensity of absorption was particularly strongest in samples thermal treated at 600 ${^{\circ}C}$. Their photoluminescence abilities, related to the recombination between the excited electrons and holes, were overall small for other general photocatalysts such as TiO2, and the smallest in the case of thermal treatment at 600 ${^{\circ}C}$, as reversible result of UV‐visible absorbance. Methyl orange of 5.0 ppm aqueous solution was almost completely removed after 2 h when treated over the $Bi_2WO_6$ thermal treated at 600 ${^{\circ}C}$.

A series of the noble palladium complexes containing $\beta$-ketoiminate ligands with internal bases, [Pd(${\eta}^3$-allyl)($\beta$- ketoiminate)], [Pd(Me)($PPh_3$)($\beta$-ketoiminate)] and [Pd(Me)($\beta$-ketoiminate)], have been successfully prepared. Crystallographically determined structures showed that these complexes are distorted square planar and pendant bases of the $\beta$-ketoiminate ligands fail to coordinate to the metal in the first two classes of complexes while bases do coordinate in the 3rd class complexes. These complexes are active towards norbornene polymerization on activation with $H(OEt_2)_2BAr^'_4$ (Ar' = 3,5-bistrifluoromethylphenyl) and modified methylalumioxane (MMAO). MMAO is more efficient for the activation for polymerization. Generally, the polymerization activity increases with the following order; [Pd(allyl)($\beta$-ketoiminate)] < [Pd(Me)($PPh_3$)($\beta$-ketoiminate)] < [Pd(Me)($\beta$-ketoiminate)].

A novel spiro-type host material, 5-[4-(1-naphthyl)phenyl]-spiro[fluorene-7,9'-benzofluorene] (BH-1PN) and three new dopants, namely, 5-[diphenylamino)phenyl]-spiro[fluorene-7,9'-benzofluorene] (BH-1TPA), 5-[4-(N-phenyl (m-tolyl)amino]-spiro[fluorene-7,9'-benzofluorene] (BH-1MDPA) and 5-[(N-phenyl)-2-naphthyl]amino-spiro[fluorene- 7,9'-benzofluorene] (BH-1NPA) were designed and successfully prepared using the Suzuki or amination reactions. The electroluminescence characteristics of BH-1PN as a blue host material doped with each of the blue dopants were evaluated. The structure of the device is ITO/DNTPD/NPB/BH-1PN:5% dopant/Alq3/Al-LiF. The device obtained from BH-1PN doped with diphenyl-[4-(2-[1,1;4,1]terphenyl-4-yl-vinyl)phenyl]-amine (BD-1) showed good color purity, efficiency, luminance, and current-density characteristics.

3-Dimensionally ordered macroporous $LiMn_2O_4$ thin film was prepared by a sol-gel and dip coating method on Pt/Ti/$SiO_2$/Si substrate. An opal structure consisting of mono dispersed polystyrene beads (300 nm) was used as a template. After solution containing Mn and Li precursors was coated on the template-deposited substrate, the template and organic materials in the precursors was removed by calcination at 400 ${^{\circ}C}$. And then the 3-dimensional $LiMn_2O_4$ thin film with spinel structure was fabricated by heat treatment at 700 ${^{\circ}C}$. The structural and electrochemical property was investigated by XRD, SEM and charge-discharge cycler.

The surface of $Li[Ni_{0.8}Co_{0.15}Al_{0.05}]O_2$ cathode particle was modified by lanthanum based oxide to improve electrochemical property and thermal stability. The XRD pattern of surface layer was indexed with that of $La_4NiLiO_8$. The discharge capacity of modified electrode was higher than that of pristine sample, specially at fast charge-discharge rate and high cut-off voltage. In the DSC profile of the charged sample, the generation of heat by exothermic reaction was decreased by surface modification. Such enhancement may by attributed to the presence of stable lanthanum based oxide, which effectively suppressd the reaction between electrode and electrolyte on the surface of $Li[Ni_{0.8}Co_{0.15}Al_{0.05}]O_2$ electrode.

1-{2,4-Di-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl}-2-(2-thienyl)ethene (5) was prepared and condensed with terephthaloyl chloride to yield polyester (6). Polymer 6 was reacted with tetracyanoethylene to give novel Y-type polyester (7) containing 1-(2,4-dioxyethoxy)phenyl-2-{5-(2,2,3-tricyanovinyl)-2-thienyl)}ethenyl groups as NLO-chromophores, which are parts the polymer backbones. Polymer 7 is soluble in common organic solvents such as acetone and N,N-dimethylformamide. It showed thermal stability up to 300 ${^{\circ}C}$ in thermogravimetric analysis with glasstransition temperature obtained from differential scanning calorimetry near 134 ${^{\circ}C}$. The second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficient ($d_33$) of poled polymer film at the 1560 nm fundamental wavelength was around 6.74 x $10^{-9}$ esu. The dipole alignment exhibited high thermal stability up to the glass-transition temperature ($Tg$), and there was no SHG decay below 135 ${^{\circ}C}$ because of the partial main-chain character of polymer structure, which is acceptable for NLO device applications.

The understanding of behaviors of hydroperoxyl/superoxide anion radicals (${H_2O_2}^./{O_2}^{-.}$) generated from a photoirradiated $TiO_2$ surface is essential to improve the efficiency of $TiO_2$ photocatalytic reactions by decreasing the recombination of photoinduced electron-hole ($e^--h^+$) pairs. In contrast with previous studies, we found that ${H_2O_2}^./{O_2}^{-.}$ generated on the surface of illuminated $TiO_2$ particles are mobile. ${H_2O_2}^./{O_2}^{-.}$ formed by the photocatalysis of $TiO_2$ particles immobilized onto the inner surface of a coil-quartz tube were forced under a continuous flow through a knotted tubing reactor (KTR) and into the aqueous phase completely separated from the $TiO_2$ particles, and were measured by a chemiluminescence (CL) technique using 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[ 1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one (MCLA) as the reagent. The initial concentration of the ${H_2O_2}^./{O_2}^{-.}$ stream entering the KTR was determined by its half-life (98 s) at pH 5.8. We suggests that the efficiency of $TiO_2$ photocatalytic reactions may be further improved by utilizing the mobility of ${H_2O_2}^./{O_2}^{-.}$.

In this work, high-aspect-ratio graphite nanofibers (GNFs) were used to improve the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer, as well as those of PMMA composites suitable for use in bipolar plates. In the result, an electrical percolation threshold for the composites was formed between 1 and 2 wt% GNF content. This threshold was found to be influenced strongly by the three separate stages of the meltblending process. The composites exhibited higher thermal and mechanical properties and lower thermal shrinkage compared with the neat PMMA. Thus, GNFs were demonstrated to have positive impacts on the thermo-mechanical properties of PMMA composites and showed, thereby, reasonable potential for use in composites employed in the fabrication of bipolar plates.

$Fe_2O_3,\;Ag_2O,\;CaWO_4$ and $Gd_2O_2S$:Tb loaded on titanium dioxide photocatalysts (P25, Degussa) were prepared by a calcination. Their composite films containing water-born polyurethane used as a material for immobilization were obtained by spray coating technique. The photocatalytic activity of the titanium dioxide films was characterized by decrease of UV-vis absorption spectra for methylene blue and gas chromatography for photocatalytic decomposition of formaldehyde diluted in water. It was shown that the $Gd_2O_2S$:Tb modified titanium dioxide films had good photocatalytic properties and followed the first-order kinetic model with regard to photocatalytic decoloration of methylene blue. Especially in formaldehyde photodegradation experiment, decrease rate of concentration of the titanium dioxide films with $Gd_2O_2S$:Tb modifying was about 35% larger than that of the unloaded titanium dioxide film.

Utilizing a planar five coordinating N3S2 ligand, 2,6-bis(2-methylthiophenyliminomethyl)pyridine, a pseudo 7-coordinated manganese(II) complex with two labile triflate anions in the axial positions was synthesized. The reaction of the manganese(II) complex with an oxidant, iodosylbenzene, produced a metastable high-valent manganese(IV)-oxo species at 0 ${^{\circ}C}$. The high-valent Mn(IV)-oxo intermediate was characterized with a UV-vis spectrophotometer and an electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy. Reactivity studies of the Mn(IV)=O species revealed that the intermediate is capable of oxygenating $PPh_3$ and N-dealkylating N,N-dimethyl-toludine.

Slurry phase reaction of elemental silicon with methanol has been studied in the presence of copper using a small amount of cuprous chloride as an activator in DBT (dibenzyltoluene) at various temperatures from 200 ${^{\circ}C}$ to 320 ${^{\circ}C}$. Trimethoxysilane (1a) with a Si-H unit was obtained as the major product and tetramethoxysilane (1b) as the minor product. The reaction worked well using a 0.5 wt % CuCl as an activator. The optimum temperature for this direct synthesis of 1a was 240 ${^{\circ}C}$. Methoxysilanes were obtained in 95% yield with 81% selectivity to 1a from 85% conversion of elemental silicon.

A series of novel 1,3-diallyltrisulfane analogues were synthesized and assayed in vitro for antimicrobial activity against Gram positive, Gram negative bacteria and fungi. The antimicrobial activity of the 1,3-diallyltrisulfane derivatives showed, on the whole, very potent towards all the tested Gram positive, Gram negative and fungi (MIC ranging from 4 to 256 μg/mL). 1,3-Di(pent-4-enyl)trisulfane 3b and 1,3-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)trisulfane 3e exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity among all the compounds, and both of them were more active than 1,3-diallyltrisulfane (DATS). Results indicated the relationship of either carbon number or lipophilicity with antimicrobial activity presented “V” shape. These observations provided some predictions in order to further design 1,3-diallyltrisulfane derivatives with antimicrobial activity.

Pauson-Khand reaction of hydroxyenynes with $Co_2(CO)_8$ in the presence of N-methylmorpholine N-oxide or trimethylamine N-oxide as a promoter produced polycyclic $gamma$-lactams as single stereoisomers in moderate to excellent yield. These are the first examples of an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction on a hydroxyenyne system tethered to a three- and four-membered ring as new skeletons with 5,6,5 fused ring systems.

A short and efficient synthesis of (2S,3S)-safingol from commercially available D-ribo-(2S,3S,4R)-phytosphingosine is described. The highlights of the synthesis are a stereoselective one-pot transformation of a diol into an epoxide under phase transfer catalytic conditions and a regioselective epoxide-opening reduction with a hydride reagent.