Patterns of genetic diversity in southern and southeastern Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze relict populations

Habitat fragmentation and a decrease in population size may lead to a loss in population genetic diversity. For the first time, the reduction in genetic diversity in the northernmost limit of natural occurence (southeastern Brazil) of Araucaria angustifolia in comparison with populations in the main area of the species continuous natural distribution (southern Brazil), was tested. The 673 AFLPs markers revealed a high level of genetic diversity for the species (Ht = 0.27), despite anthropogenic influence throughout the last century, and a decrease of H in isolated populations of southeastern Brazil (H = 0.16), thereby indicating the tendency for higher genetic diversity in remnant populations of continuous forests in southern Brazil, when compared to natural isolated populations in the southeastern region. A strong differentiation among southern and southeastern populations was detected (AMOVA variance ranged from 10%-15%). From Bayesian analysis, it is suggested that the nine populations tested form five “genetic clusters” (K = 5). Five of these populations, located in the northernmost limit of distribution of the species, represent three “genetic clusters”. These results are in agreement with the pattern of geographic distribution of the studied populations

Tribromoisocyanuric Acid/Triphenylphosphine: a New System for Conversion of Alcohols into Alkyl Bromides

An efficient and facile method has been developed for the conversion of alcohols into alkyl bromides under neutral conditions using tribromoisocyanuric acid and triphenylphosphine (molar ratio 1.0:0.7:2.0, alcohol/tribromoisocyanuric acid/triphenylphosphine) in dichloromethane at room temperature. This method can be applied for the conversion of primary, secondary, benzylic and allylic alcohols, and their corresponding bromides are obtained in 67-82 % yield. Tertiary alcohols do not react under these conditions

Uma metodologia simples e eficiente para a cloração de compostos aromáticos ativados utilizando o ácido tricloro-isocianúrico A simple and efficient methodology for chlorination of activated aromatic compounds using trichloroisocyanuric acid

<abstract language="eng">The chlorination of activated aromatic rings is efficiently achieved under mild conditions by reaction of aromatic compounds with trichloroisocyanuric acid in acetonitrile, at room temperature, leading to products in 60-95% isolated yields and good regioselectivity

The reaction of (R)-limonene with S-thioacids

The reaction of (R)-limonene with equimolar amount of S-thioacetic or S-thiobenzoic acids in refluxing toluene proceeded regioselectively in anti-Markovnikoff fashion forming 9-[(4R, 8RS)-p-menthenyl] S-thiocarboxylates (71 and 61% yield, respectively). The montmorillonite K-10 clay-catalyzed reaction of (R)-limonene with S-thioacetic acid led to the S-thioester (65%) along with p-menthadienes and p-cymene. It was observed that K-10 clay promoted the isomerization of limonene to p-menthadienes and further disproportionation to p-cymene