Reduction of Nitro-Compounds by Iron Pentacarbonyl - New Approach to Drug Precursors

Reduction of nitro compounds lies at the center of most of the major areas of modern chemical industry, such as pharmacy and dye manufacturing. The precursors in these industrial processes predominantly possess multiple functional groups, including those highly susceptible to reduction by most of the currently used reducing agents. Therefore, the non-selective methods of reduction of precursors result in the loss of such functional groups. Furthermore, common reducing agents can potentially trigger the undesired intramolecular interactions between the substrate molecules and in turn make it impossible to obtain the end product. The rising demand for a cheap and efficient approach to reduction of nitro compounds makes finding an optimal reducing agent increasingly relevant. In the present research, iron pentacarbonyl was chosen as an efficient and sustainable alternative to the primarily hydrogen-based reducing agents currently in use. Iron pentacarbonyl is a cheap and widely available chemical, which is produced in thousands of tons annually. Unlike the other available reducing agents, iron pentacarbonyl makes the selective and tolerant reduction of nitro compounds with multiple functional groups possible. Therefore, the implementation of iron pentacarbonyl as a reducing agent allows to significantly simplify and reduce the cost of synthesis of a number of pharmaceuticals, such as Cinacalcet, Maraviroc, Pramipexole, and Sertraline. The primary model used to investigate the reactivity of iron pentacarbonyl was reductive amination of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde with pyrrolidine. We were able to successfully carry out reductive amination of the aldehyde group and the reduction of the nitro group in just one step with high yields

Hybridogenic Activity of Invasive Species of Asteraceae

We studied taxa from genus Bidens, Solidago, and Erigeron, sect. Conyza (Asteraceae). By analyzing the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1)-ITS2 site, the hybrid origin of the Bidens × decipiens, previously attributed to the North American alien species B. connata, was confirmed. The analysis of trnL-trnF sequences showed that the native B. cernua is the maternal species and the invasive B. frondosa is the paternal species in all probabilities. Diagnostic morphological features of the three Solidago taxa growing together in the vicinity of Pskov have been studied: a native S. virgaurea, an invasive species of North American origin S. canadensis, and their hybrid S. × niederederi. S. × niederederi has an intermediate position between S. virgaurea and S. canadensis. The hybrid origin of S. × niederederi is proven by molecular analysis of nuclear DNA nucleotide sequences (ITS1-ITS2 site). It is not yet possible to unambiguously answer the question which parent species is maternal and which is paternal. We also studied invasive species of the genus Erigeron sect. Conyza in the Mediterranean. Occasionally occurring in Southern Europe, individuals of E. canadensis × E. sumatrensis with intermediate morphological features, described as “Conyza × rouyana,” are likely unstable and soon “absorbed” by the parent species E. sumatrensis. Contrary to the hypothesis by C. Elton explaining the success of plant invasion in a new homeland by strengthening hybridization processes in the secondary distribution range

Genetic structure of Solidago × niederederi (Asteraceae) population in the «Aleksin Bor» Natural Monument (European Russia)

Solidago × niederederi (Asteraceae) is a natural hybrid of the native S. virgaurea and the alien invasive S. canadensis, originated in Europe. Its naturalisation potential is still questionable. One of the largest (more than 20 ramet clusters, treated as individuals) known population of this nothospecies, is located in the «Aleksin Bor» Natural Monument (Aleksin town, Tula Region, Russia) in the floodplain of the River Oka. We studied its genetic structure with the help of chloroplast and nuclear markers. Analysis of sequence of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer ITS 1–2 showed that all individuals with intermediate morphology are actually hybrids. Data on the intergenic chloroplast non-coding spacer rpl32–trnL showed that S. canadensis is the maternal species in 60% of the studied individuals. It was shown that even closely located individuals were not clones; therefore, they were results of sexual, rather than vegetative reproduction. Analysis of ISSR markers showed that the studied individuals of S. × niederederi in this population are not only F1 hybrids, but also their descendants (F2 hybrids and/or backcrosses, mostly with S. canadensis). We conclude that S. × niederederi has successfully been naturalised in the studied community and, possibly, is outcompeting its native parental species, S. virgaurea, through introgression

Sensemaking of environmental commitment: a socio-historical contextualization of post-Soviet managers’ views

The different social contexts and historical backgrounds of countries in which companies operate may influence how their managers understand and apply the concept of environmental commitment. Thus, the understanding of environmental commitment in the post-communist societies of Central and Eastern Europe can be expected to be different from the Western markets. This study sheds light on these issues by analyzing managerial stories about environmental commitment in Russia. It explains how managers’ sensemaking is shaped by the Soviet socio-historical context. This study contributes to the limited literature on environmental commitment in postcommunist societies and provides a link between environmental commitment and sensemaking research, thus responding to recent calls for a clarification of the microfoundations of corporate social responsibility.</p

Statistics of Productivity and Effectiveness of Experimental Support of the Educational System (For Scientists and Education Experts)

The present article focuses on the issues of productivity and effectiveness of research providing educational system. This work describes research activity as an activity of the authors- individuals and groups of the authors, and also an activity of scientific and educational institutions which are carrying out their activity within the education system in the field of development, registration, approbation and implementation of teaching and education techniques and technologies, new mechanisms of management in the education system, control of the quality of education and also in other directions provided by the programs of education development and other normative legal acts defining priorities of the state education policy of the Russian Federation. The article has considered the dynamics of a branch registration of the results of intellectual activity (RIA) in the field of education in recent years. It has also given the statistics of scientific providing education system on materials of a database and information collections of the Joint fund of Electronic Resources "Science and education" (JFERSaE). The examples of integrating collections of electronic resources developed by the JFERSaE experts have been considered. The systematized review of specifics of the technology of a branch registration of electronic resources is a distinctive feature of the work. Now an actual problem for many authors creating various objects of the intellectual property for the education system is a legal protection of their rights. The legislator for computer programs says, many types of works existing only in the electronic form do not provide for a special registration, databases, etc. A the same time, the authors- workers of educational institutions in the course of implementation of the labor functions often face a need of the authors’ rights confirmation for their electronic works included in electronic educational systems and forming in turn information and education space of a country. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s3p6

STAT4 is expressed in neutrophils and promotes antimicrobial immunity

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) is expressed in hematopoietic cells and plays a key role in the differentiation of T helper 1 cells. Although STAT4 is required for immunity to intracellular pathogens, the T cell-independent protective mechanisms of STAT4 are not clearly defined. In this report, we demonstrate that STAT4-deficient mice were acutely sensitive to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. We show that STAT4 was expressed in neutrophils and activated by IL-12 via a JAK2-dependent pathway. We demonstrate that STAT4 was required for multiple neutrophil functions, including IL-12-induced ROS production, chemotaxis, and production of the neutrophil extracellular traps. Importantly, myeloid-specific and neutrophil-specific deletion of STAT4 resulted in enhanced susceptibility to MRSA, demonstrating the key role of STAT4 in the in vivo function of these cells. Thus, these studies identify STAT4 as an essential regulator of neutrophil functions and a component of innate immune responses in vivo

S1P1 receptor directs the release of immature B cells from bone marrow into blood

S1P1 receptor expression is required for the egress of newly formed T cells from the thymus and exit of mature T and B cells from secondary lymphoid organs. In this study, we deleted the expression of the S1P1 receptor gene (S1pr1) in developing B cells in the bone marrow. Although B cell maturation within the bone marrow was largely normal in the B cell–specific S1pr1 knockout (B-S1pr1KO) mice, their newly generated immature B cells appeared in the blood at abnormally low numbers as compared with control mice. In the bone marrow of B-S1pr1KO mice, immature B cells in contact with the vascular compartment displayed increased apoptosis as compared with control mice. Forced expression of CD69, a negative regulator of S1P1 receptor expression, in developing bone marrow B cells also reduced the number of immature B cells in the blood. Attenuation of CXCR4 signaling, which is required for the proper retention of developing B cells in bone marrow, did not release immature B cells into the blood of B-S1pr1KO mice as effectively as in control mice. Our results indicate that the S1P1 receptor provides a signal necessary for the efficient transfer of newly generated immature B cells from the bone marrow to the blood

Vascular Cellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) Expression in Mice Retinal Vessels Is Affected by Both Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been proposed to be important in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. An early feature of inflammation is the release of cytokines leading to increased expression of endothelial activation markers such as vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Here we investigated the impact of diabetes and dyslipidemia on VCAM-1 expression in mouse retinal vessels, as well as the potential role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Expression of VCAM-1 was examined by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy in vessels of wild type (wt), hyperlipidemic (ApoE(-/-)) and TNFα deficient (TNFα(-/-), ApoE(-/-)/TNFα(-/-)) mice. Eight weeks of streptozotocin-induced diabetes resulted in increased VCAM-1 in wt mice, predominantly in small vessels (<10 µm). Diabetic wt mice had higher total retinal TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA than controls; as well as higher soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) in plasma. Lack of TNFα increased higher basal VCAM-1 protein and sVCAM-1, but failed to up-regulate IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA and VCAM-1 protein in response to diabetes. Basal VCAM-1 expression was higher in ApoE(-/-) than in wt mice and both VCAM-1 mRNA and protein levels were further increased by high fat diet. These changes correlated to plasma cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, but not to triglycerides levels. Diabetes, despite further increasing plasma cholesterol in ApoE(-/-) mice, had no effects on VCAM-1 protein expression or on sVCAM-1. However, it increased ICAM-1 mRNA expression in retinal vessels, which correlated to plasma triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Hyperglycemia triggers an inflammatory response in the retina of normolipidemic mice and up-regulation of VCAM-1 in retinal vessels. Hypercholesterolemia effectively promotes VCAM-1 expression without evident stimulation of inflammation. Diabetes-induced endothelial activation in ApoE(-/-) mice seems driven by elevated plasma triglycerides but not by cholesterol. Results also suggest a complex role for TNFα in the regulation of VCAM-1 expression, being protective under basal conditions but pro-inflammatory in response to diabetes