Low-Valent Titanium Induced Carbonyl Coupling Reactions

Interest in the use of low-valent titanium species as reagents in organic synthesis began with Van Tamelen and his research team in 1965, when they reported the first ever low-valent titanium-induced reductive dimerization of alcohols to give hydrocarbons [1]. In the early seventies shortly after the Van Tamelen report, the research teams of Mukaiyama,[2] Tyrlik[3] and McMurry[4] made the independent and simultaneous discovery that ketones and aldehydes undergo reductive dimerization to yield olefins on treatment with low-valent titanium reagents. Particularly McMurry and his co-workers [5,6,7] have extensively investigated this reaction, therefore this process is now generally referred to as the “McMurry reaction”

Demographic characteristics associated with Isinuka Traditional Spa near Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Curortology – the science of natural therapy that combines the effects of climate, water and mud  treatment and other forms of traditional healing practices – is enjoying a phenomenal comeback. Behind  the re-emergence of curortology lies the current popular revolt against synthetic products and the  demand for more natural ways of treatment, especially for rheumatoid arthritis, for which there is no  effective synthetic treatment. The comeback of curortology is greatly aided by advances in science,  which shed much light on the healing properties of clays. In its current form, curortology has evolved to  encompass holiday spas, day spas, hotel spas, all of which are seen as European. At the same time, indigenous African approaches, though widespread, have not evolved and have largely remained  underdeveloped and undocumented. This has far reaching economic consequences, as exemplified by the traditional spa at Isinuka; though in existence for hundreds of years, this spa has little infrastructure and  remains very poor. The current off-sales of Isinuka clay are about R7,00 per bag of approximately 2kg,  while retail price of cleansing mud masks in pharmacies reaches R16,00 per 25g packet. Monthly returns from Isinuka sales range from only R350,00 to R500,00. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Isinuka and locals from Port St. Johns, and villages and towns beyond, revere this healing system as holistic and handed down by their ancestors. While we should remain sensitive to, and respect the culture of the people, there is an urgent need to educate and train them to add value to their natural products, and improve their way of life.Keywords: Isinuka spring, clay, healing water, visitors, income, inhaling gases

Bio-Catalysis in Multicomponent Reactions

Enzyme catalysis is a very active research area in organic chemistry, because biocatalysts are compatible with and can be adjusted to many reaction conditions, as well as substrates. Their integration in multicomponent reactions (MCRs) allows for simple protocols to be implemented in the diversity-oriented synthesis of complex molecules in chemo-, regio-, stereoselective or even specific modes without the need for the protection/deprotection of functional groups. The application of bio-catalysis in MCRs is therefore a welcome and logical development and is emerging as a unique tool in drug development and discovery, as well as in combinatorial chemistry and related areas of research

Comments on clay bodies used by two potters in the Port St. Johns region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

This collaborative study has brought together our various backgrounds in art history, ceramics practice, chemistry, and clay mineralogy, so as to contextualise properties and ideas about the clay bodies used by octogenarian potters Alice Gqa Nongebeza and Debora Nomathamsanqa Ntloya. Nongebeza works from her homestead at Nkonxeni village [31º 37’59.66”S, 29º 23’22.26”E] in the Tombo area, and Ntloya is based at Qhaka village [31º36’34.04”S, 29º 24’34.78”E] in the Chaguba area, these sites being within about 5 kilometres of each other on the R61 road from Mthatha towards Port St Johns. Working separately, these potters have been digging clay from their respective mining sites and making pots for approximately the past sixty years. In this paper notions about why those specific clays were chosen and why their characteristics are desirable are enframed by comparative chemical analyses thereof as well as by a broad overview that places these clays in a wider perspective.Iizimvo ngomsebenzi wodongwe olusetyenziswe ngabaxonkxi ababini kwisithili saseSajonisi kwiphondo leMpuma Kapa eMzantsi Afrika Le ntsebenziswano izise ndawonye inkcubaphuchopho ezisuka kwinkalo ezahlukeneyo ngembali yenkcubeko, umsebenzi wezandla, ikhemestri nokombiwa kodongwe ukifumana izizathu nezimvo ngodongwe olusetyenziswe ziinkonde zabaxonkxi u-Alice Gqa Nongebeza no-Debora Nomathamsanqa Ntloya. U-Nongebeza usebenzela emzini wakhe kwilali yaseNkonxeni [31º 37’59.66”S, 29º 23’22.26”E] kwisiphaluka saseThombo. U-Ntloya yena uzinze kwilali yaseQhaka [31º36’34.04”S, 29º 24’34.78”E] kwisiphaluka saseChaguba. Ezindawo zabo zingumgama wekhilomitha ezintlanu ukusuka kwenye kuhola wendlela u-R61ukusuka eMthatha ukuya eSajonisi. Besebenza ngokwahlukana, ababaxonkxi bebesomba udongwe kwindawo zabo ezahlukeneyo besenza iimbiza zomdongwe isithuba seminyaka engamashumi amathandathu egqithileyo. Kweliphepha izinto ezinjengokuba kutheni udongwe oluthile luye lwasetyenziswa/lwakhethwa nokuba kutheni izinto ezifunyanwa koludongwe zifuneka ziye zaqaqanjiswa ngokuthi kwenziwe uhlalutyo olukhethekileyo lwekhemikhali kunye nembono ebanzi ebeka ezintlobo zodongwe kwimo ephangaleleyo