Pressure shift of the superconducting T_c of LiFeAs

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the superconductivity in LiFeAs is investigated up to 1.8 GPa. The superconducting transition temperature, T_c, decreases linearly with pressure at a rate of 1.5 K/GPa. The negative pressure coefficient of T_c and the high ambient pressure T_c indicate that LiFeAs is the high-pressure analogue of the isoelectronic SrFe_2As_2 and BaFe_2As_2.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figure

Boron-mediated directed aromatic C–H hydroxylation

Transition metal-catalysed C–H hydroxylation is one of the most notable advances in synthetic chemistry during the past few decades and it has been widely employed in the preparation of alcohols and phenols. The site-selective hydroxylation of aromatic C–H bonds under mild conditions, especially in the context of substituted (hetero)arenes with diverse functional groups, remains a challenge. Here, we report a general and mild chelation-assisted C–H hydroxylation of (hetero)arenes mediated by boron species without the use of any transition metals. Diverse (hetero)arenes bearing amide directing groups can be utilized for ortho C–H hydroxylation under mild reaction conditions and with broad functional group compatibility. Additionally, this transition metal-free strategy can be extended to synthesize C7 and C4-hydroxylated indoles. By utilizing the present method, the formal synthesis of several phenol intermediates to bioactive molecules is demonstrated

Antioxidative and Hepatoprotective Activities of Deinoxanthin-Rich Extract from Deinococcus radiodurans R1 against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effect of deinoxanthin-rich extract from Deinococcus radiodurans (EDR) against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice.Methods: The ethanol extract of EDR was analyzed by liquid  chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), and its antioxidant activity was examined using in vitro assays for reducing power, iron chelating activity and lipid peroxidation. The extract was also evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate  aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum, and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver tissue, as well as hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, were measured to monitor liver injury. Damage to liver cells was assessed by histology.Results: EDR displayed strong reducing activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity in vitro. Pretreatment with EDR (400 mg/kg b.w.)  significantly reduced activities of serum ALT, AST and ALP, as well as hepatic MDA levels (p < 0.05), but increased the activities of GSH-Px, CAT and SOD. Histopathological assessment showed that liver tissue damage was decreased by the protective effect of EDR.Conclusion: The results show that EDR can protect mice against  CCl4-induced hepatic damage by its antioxidant and free radical  scavenging activities.Keywords: Antioxidant, Deinoxanthin, Deinococcus radiodurans,   Hepatoprotective, Carbon tetrachloride, Liver damag