Imidazolium based zwitterions, 1,2-dimethylimidazolium-3-n-propanesulfonate (DMIm-3S) and 1-Butylimidazolium-3-n-butanesulphonate (BIm-4S), were synthesized, and utilized them as additive for Li ion cell comprising of graphite anode and $LiCoO_2$ cathode. The use of 10 wt% of DMIm-3S in 1 M $LiPF_6$, EC-EMCDMC (1:1:1 (v/v)) resulted in the increased high rate charge-discharge performance. The low temperature performance of the Li ion cells at about −20 ${^{\circ}C}$ was also enhanced by these zwitterion additives. The DMIm- 3S additive resulted in the better capacity retention by the Li-ion cells even after 120 cycles with 100% depth of discharge (DOD) at 1 C rate in room temperature. Surface morphology of both graphite and $LiCoO_2$ electrode before and after 300 cycles was studied by scanning electron microscopy. An analogous study was performed using liquid electrolyte without any additive.

The reaction of copper(II) chloride with phenyl-N-[(pyridine-2-yl)methylene]methaneamide (ppmma) leads to a new $\mu$ -chloro bridged dimeric [Cu(ppmma)$Cl_2$]$_2$ complex, whereas a reaction of copper(II) bromide with ppmma affords a monomeric Cu(ppmma)$Br_2$ complex. Both complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography and electronic absorption spectroscopy. The crystal structural analysis of [Cu(ppmma)$Cl_2$]$_2$ shows that the two Cu(II) atoms are bridged by two chloride ligands, forming a dimeric copper(II) complex and the copper ion has a distorted square-pyramidal geometry ($\tau$ = 0.2). The dimer units are held through a strong intermolecular $\pi-\pi$ interactions between the nearest benzyl rings. On the other hand, Cu(ppmma)Br2 displayed a distorted square planar geometry with two types of strong intermolecular π-π interaction. EPR spectrum of [Cu(ppmma)$Cl_2$]$_2$ in frozen glas s at 77 K revealed an equilibrium between the mononuclear and binuclear species. The magnetic susceptibilities data of [Cu(ppmma)$Cl_2$]$_2$ and Cu(ppmma)$Br_2$ follow the Curie-Weiss law. No significant intermolecular magnetic interactions were examined in both complexes, and magnetic exchange interactions are discussed on the basis of the structural features.

The 70 kDa heat-shock protein (Hsp70) involved in various cellular functions, such as protein folding, translocation and degradation, regulates apoptosis in cancer cells. Recently, it has been reported that the green tea flavonoid (−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) induces apoptosis in numerous cancer cell lines and could inhibit the anti-apoptotic effect of human Hsp70 ATPase domain (hATPase). In the present study, docking model between EGCG and hATPase was determined using automated docking study. Epi-gallo moiety in EGCG participated in hydrogen bonds with side chain of K71 and T204, and has metal chelating interaction with hATPase. Hydroxyl group of catechin moiety also participated in metal chelating hydrogen bond. Gallate moiety had two hydrogen bondings with side chains of E268 and K271, and hydrophobic interaction with Y15. Based on this docking model, we determined two pharmacophore maps consisted of six or seven features, including three or four hydrogen bonding acceptors, two hydrogen bonding donors, and one lipophilic. We searched a flavonoid database including 23 naturally occurring flavonoids and 10 polyphenolic flavonoids with two maps, and myricetin and GC were hit by map I. Three hydroxyl groups of B-ring in myricetin and gallo moiety of GC formed important hydrogen bonds with hATPase. 7-OH of A-ring in myricetin and OH group of catechin moiety in GC are hydrogen bond donors similar to gallate moiety in EGCG. From these results, it can be proposed that myricetin and GC can be potent inhibitors of hATPase. This study will be helpful to understand the mechanism of inhibition of hATPase by EGCG and give insights to develop potent inhibitors of hATPase.

An efficient synthetic route for carbocyclic versions of stavudine analogues and their evaluation on antiviral activity are described. The construction of an ethynylated quaternary carbon at the 4'-position of carbocyclic nucleosides was accomplished using Claisen rearrangement of 11 and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of dienyne 14 as key transformations. An antiviral evaluation of the synthesized compounds, 20, 21, 22, and 25 against HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2, and HCMV showed that only the guanine analogue 25 is moderately active against HIV-1 in the MT-4 cell line ($EC_{50}$ = 11.91 $\mu$mol).

Colloidal solutions of crystalline PbSe nanoparticles have been synthesized by hot solution chemical process using PbO in oleic acid and tributylphosphine (TBP) bonded selenium. The use of TBP as a capping agent along with oleic acid gives a very good yield (around 10% at 180 ${^{\circ}C}$) with an average diameter of particle of about < 6.6 nm. The effects of temperature on size and production yield of PbSe quantum dots are studied. Xray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV/VIS/NIR absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the samples.

The endogenous dipeptides, carnosine and related compounds, are the naturally occurring dipeptides with multiple neuroprotective properties. We have examined the protective effects of carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine on the aggregation of neurofilament-L (NF-L) induced by neurotoxin, acrolein. When NF-L was incubated with acrolein in the presence of carnosine, homocarnosine or anserine, protein aggregation was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. These compounds inhibited the formation of protein carbonyl compounds and dityrosine in acrolein-mediated NF-L aggregates. The aggregates of NF-L displayed thioflavin T reactivity, reminiscent of amyloid. This thioflavin T reactivity was inhibited by carnosine and related compounds. This effect was associated with decreased formation of oxidatively modified proteins. Our results suggested that carnosine and related compounds might have protective effects to brain proteins under pathophysiological conditions leading to degenerative damage such as neurodegenerative disorders.

The electrochemical and thermal stability of $LiNi_{0.8}Co_{0.16}Al_{0.04}O_2$ were studied before and after $Co_3(PO_4)_2$ coating. Different to conventional coating material such as $ZrO_2$ or AlPO4, the coating layer was not detected clearly by TEM analysis, indicating that the $Co_3(PO_4)_2$ nanoparticles effectively reacted with surface impurities such as $Li_2CO_3$. The coated sample showed similar capacity at a low C rate condition. However, the rate capability was significantly improved by the coating effect. It is associated with a decrease of impedance after coating because impedance can act as a major barrier for overall cell performances in high C rate cycling. In the DSC profile of the charged sample, exothermic peaks were shifted to high temperatures and heat generation was reduced after coating, indicating the thermal reaction between electrode and electrolyte was sucessfully suppressed by $Co_3(PO_4)_2$ nanoparticle coating.

Catechol and caffeine were simultaneously analyzed with a bismuth-immobilized carbon nanotube paste electrode (BPE) using square wave (SW) stripping voltammetry. Optimum analytical conditions were determined. Simultaneous working ranges of 100-1,500 $mgL^{-1}$ for caffeine and 5-75 $mgL^{-1}$ for catechol were obtained. In the separated cell systems, a working range of 0.1-2.1 $mgL^{-1}$ catechol with a correlation coefficient of 0.9935, and a working range of 10-210 $mgL^{-1}$ caffeine with a correlation coefficient of 0.9921 were obtained. A detection limit (S/N) of 0.15 $mgL^{-1}$ (7.7 ${\times}$ $10^{-7}$ M) and a detection limit of 0.02 $mgL^{-1}$ (1.82 ${\times}$ $10^{-7}$ M), respectively, manifested for catechol and caffeine. It was found that three macro-type electrode systems could be implanted in fish and rat neuro cells. For both ions, the ion currents were observed. The physiological impulse conditions and the neuronal thinking current were also obtained.

Reactions of n-propyl fluoroformate in a variety of pure and binary solvents have been studied at 40.0 {^{\circ}C}. The extended (two-term) Grunwald-Winstein equation has been applied to the specific rates of solvolysis of npropyl fluoroformate. The sensitivities (l = 1.80 ${\pm}$ 0.17 and m = 0.96 ${\pm}$ 0.10) to changes in solvent nucleophilicity and solvent ionizing power and the $k_F/k_{Cl}$ values are similar to those for solvolyses of n-octyl fluoroformate over the full range of solvents, suggesting that the addition step of an addition-elimination mechanism is ratedetermining. These observations are also compared with those previously reported for the corresponding chloroformate and fluoroformate esters.

A simple and efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones or thiones is described, using silica-supported perchloric acid ($HClO_4-SiO_2$) as a heterogeneous catalyst from an aldehyde, $\beta$-dicarbonyl compound, and urea or thiourea under solvent-free conditions. Compared to the classical Biginelli reactions, this method consistently has the advantage of high yields, short reaction time, easy separation, and tolerance towards various functional groups.

Energy minimization and conformational studies of molecular ions generated by ESI (electrospray ionization) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) can be used for the discrimination of stereoisomeric permethylated and sodium cationized trisaccharides. Sets of fucose-containing trisaccharides having different internal and terminal linkages have been synthesized to analyze the reducing terminal linkage positions using BT and IT fusion approaches. A detailed investigation has been undertaken on the conformational behaviors of four trisaccharide fragments from human milk and blood group determinants of Type 1 and Type 2, namely Fuc($\alpha$1- 3)Gal($\beta$1-3)GalNAc and Fuc($\alpha$1-3)Gal($\beta$1-X)GlcNAc where X = 3, 4 and 6 using molecular modeling methods. Three dimensional rigid and adiabatic phi-psi-energy maps (Surfer program) describing the energy as a function of rotation around corresponding glycosidic linkages were calculated by SYBYL molecular modeling and MM4 force field programs conjunction with cleavage energies of ESI MS/MS for the side group orientations. This approach predicted conformational behaviors exhibited by isomer saccharides for future applications on biologically active glycoconjugates and to exploit a faster method of synthesizing a series of structural isomeric oligosaccharides.

The adsorption structure and binding of maleimide (MI) and succinimide (SI) on silver nanocolloidal surfaces have been comparatively investigated by means of pH-varied surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The two molecules appeared not to adsorb onto Ag surfaces at pH values below 5. The appearance of a ring ν (CH) band at ~3100 $cm^{-1}$ denoted the standing geometry of MI’s aromatic ring on Ag. The absence or weakness of in-plane vibrational modes of MI and SI also supported a perpendicular orientation of MI and SI on Ag from the electromagnetic selection rule. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to examine the vibrational frequencies of MI’s and SI’s neutral and anionic states.

Functionalized benzoxazole derivatives were designed and synthesized based on the structural features of PIB and FDDNP, which show excellent binding affinities to aggregated A$\beta$ 42 fibrils. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated by competitive binding assay against aggregated A$\beta$ 42 fibrils using [$^{125}$I]TZDM and displayed good in vitro binding affinities with Ki values (0.47-15.3 nM) from subnanomolar to nanomolar range. Among them, benzoxazoles 1f and 1a having malononitrile and ester moieties at C-6 exhibited superior binding affinities ($K_i$ = 0.47 and 0.61 nM, respectively) to PIB ($K_i$ = 0.77 nM).

fThe kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of Y-O-aryl phenylphosphonochloridothioates with X-pyridines are investigated in acetonitrile at 35.0 ${^{\circ}C}$. The negative value of the cross-interaction constant, $\rho$XY = −0.46, indicates that the reaction proceeds by concerted $S_N2$ mechanism. The observed $k_H/k_D$ values involving d-5 pyridine ($C_5D_5N$) nucleophiles are greater than unity (1.05-1.11). The net primary deuterium kinetic isotope effects, $(k_H/k_D)_{net}$ = 1.28-1.35, excluding the increased $pK_a$ effect of d-5 pyridine are obtained. The transition state with a hydrogen bond between the leaving group Cl and the hydrogen (deuterium) atom in the C-H(D) is suggested for the studied reaction system.

New PVC based polymeric membrane electrodes (PME) and coated glassy carbon electrodes (CGCE) based on synthesized Schiff base complexes of Co(III); [Co(Salen)$(PBu_3)_2$]$ClO_4$, [Co($Me_2$Salen)$(PBu_3)_2$]$ClO_4$, [Co(Salen)$(PBu_3)H_2O$]$ClO_4$; as anion carriers for potentiometric determination of $ClO_4\;^-$were studied. The PME and also CGCE electrodes prepared with [Co(Me2Salen)$(PBu_3)_2$]$ClO_4$ showed excellent response characteristics to perchlorate ions. The electrodes exhibited Nernstian responses to $ClO_4\;^-$ ions over a wide concentration range with low detection limits ($1.0 {\times} 10^{-6}\;mol\;L^{-1}$ for PME and $9.0 {\times} 10^{-7}\;mol\;L^{-1}$ for CGCE). The electrodes possess fast response time, satisfactory reproducibility, appropriate lifetime and, most importantly, good selectivity toward $ClO_4\;^-$ relative to a variety of other common inorganic anions. The potentiometric response of the electrodes is independent of the pH in the pH range 2.5-8.5. The proposed sensors were used in potentiometric determination of perchlorate ions in mineral water and urine samples. The interaction of the ionophore with perchlorate ions was shown by UV/Vis spectroscopy.