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Item Item Item The alkaloids of the Amaryllidaceae : the isolation and structures of two new alkaloids from Haemanthus natalensis and Nerine krigeii and contributions to the chemistry of coccinine : the absolute configuration of alkaloids based on the 5:10b-Ethanophenanthridine nucleus.(1960) Jeffs, P. W.; Warren, Frank Louis.No abstract available.Item The chemistry of river waters with special reference to the rivers of Natal.(1969) Kemp, P. Hayden.No abstract available.Item Studies of some new Euphorbiaceae diterpenes.(1971) McGarry, Joan Margaret.; Candy, H. A.The heartwoods of two species of South African Euphorbiaceae have been chemically investigated. From Cleistanthus schlechteri three new diterpenes possessing the hitherto unknown ent-isopimara-8(14),15-diene skeleton were isolated. By means of chemical and spectroscopic methods these were shown to be 3a-hydroxy-ent isopimara-8(14),15-diene, I, 3a-hydroxy-ent-isopimara- 8(14},15-dien-12-one, II, and 3a,12a-dihydroxy-ent-isopimara- 8(14),15-diene, III. A biogenetic sequence has been proposed in which it is suggested that these compounds are probably the precursors of the major diterpenoid, cleistanthol, IV, previously isolated from this source. From the second species, Spirostachys africana, a new diterpenoid seco-acid, spirostachic acid, VIII, was obtained in addition to the beyerene derivatives previously reported. Mass spectral fragmentation patterns of the seco-acid and its methyl esters proved to be useful as a diagnostic tool in structure elucidations.Item The chemistry of novel diterpenes from androstachys johnsonii Prain.(1973) Piacenza, Lorenzo Piero Luigi.; Pegel, Karl H.No abstract available.Item Extractives from the Meliaceae.(1979) Mulholland, Dulcie Aca.; Taylor, D. A. H.Abstract available in PDF file.Item The influence of primary and secondary nitrogen donor atoms on the thermodynamics of complex formation in aqueous solution.(1987) Martincigh, Bice Susan.; Marsicano, Fabrizzio.Item The structure and synthesis of metabolites from virgilia oroboides and chlorophora excelsa (Iroko)(1989) Swinny, Ewald Eugene.; Malan, E.In the present study the acetone extract of the heartwood of two trees, Virgilia oroboides and Chlorophora excelsa, were investigated. The heartwood of Virgilia oroboides afforded a variety of known flavonoids, as well as a new pterocarpene and a new Ī±-hydroxydihydrochalcone, viz.; 3-hydroxy-8, 9-methylenedioxy-6a,11a-dihydropterocarpan (Ī±S), 2' ,4'-trihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone. A series comprising substituted hydroxygeranylstilbenes, substituted benzenoid compounds and quercitin-type flavones were isolated from the acetone extract of the heartwood of Chlorophora excelsa. The new compounds isolated from this tree are: 3,5-dihydroxy-4-geranylbenzaldehyde; 3' ,4,5'-trihydroxy-4'-geranylstilbene; 2'-methoxy-3, 4',7-tri-O-methylquercitin. A combination of solvent extraction, Craig countercurrent, column (LH 20 and silica gel) and thin layer chromatography procedures were used to isolate and purify the compounds mentioned. Structures were elucidated by high resolution (300 MHz) Ā¹HNMR spectroscopy (including NOE and spin-spin decoupling experiments) and mass spectrometry. The proposed structural assignments of the following compounds were confirmed by synthesis: 3, 5-dihydroxy-4-geranylbenzaldehyde; 3' ,4 ,5'-trihydroxy-4' -geranylstilbene; 2 ,3' ,4 ,5'-tetrahydroxy-4' -geranylstilbene (chlorophorin). The modified Wittig reation was used to synthesize 3' ,4 ,5' trihydroxystilbene. U.V. irradiation experiments were performed on chlorophorin in an attempt to synthesize the cis-isomer and a phenanthrene-type compound. Biosynthetic pathways showing the structural relationships of the identified compounds in Virgilia oroboides and Chlorophora excelsa were proposed. An attempt to synthesize (+)-catechin lignoid involved the coupling of (+)-catechin to sinapyl alcohol, with the latter synthesized from 2 ,6-dimethoxyphenol via vinyl quinone methide. Further investigations on lignoid currently in progress.Item The liquid-liquid extraction of Germaniun with the 7-alkylated 8- hydroxyquinoline derivative - KELEX 100.(1990) Pellow-Jarman, Martin Vincent.; Salter, Leo F.Germanium can be extracted from aqueous solutions by KELEX 100 dissolved in an appropriate diluent. KELEX 100 is a commercially available chelating extractant containing the active constituent 7-(4ethyl-l-methyloctyl)-8-hydroxyquinoline. Previous work in the solvent extraction of germanium with this reagent has shown that germanium is extracted most efficiently at low pH. When the germanium is present in sulphuric acid solutions at pH less than 2, the extracted complex is GeL3+HS04-,however at pH 3 to 8, the metal is extracted as GeL2(OH)2 (where HL = KELEX 100). In this work, the extraction kinetics and equilibrium extraction of germanium in the GeKELEX 100 solvent extraction system is examined by AKUFVE and shaking assemblies, which both employ rapid mixing of the organic and aqueous phases, and by a quiescent interface Lewis Cell. The AKUFVE is a Swedish designed apparatus for solvent extraction, its performance and suitability for solvent extraction studies is evaluated using the extraction experiments carried out on the GeKELEX 100 solvent extraction system. Experiments conducted using an experimental set-up with a large interfacial area to phase volume ratio reveal that the extraction of germanium occurs in two distinct kinetic regimes. The first regime occurs in the first few minutes of an extraction experiment and is fast relative to the second kinetic regime which follows this fast initial extraction period and occurs until the extraction of germanium attains the equilibrium value. In this work an extraction mechanism involving interfacial reaction of germanium and extractant is proposed to explain this kinetic behaviour. An increase in ionic strength is shown to reduce the rate of germanium extraction in the Ge-KELEX 100 solvent extraction system. Modifiers, such as organic alcohols, are shown to greatly improve extraction kinetics.Item Toxic compounds in cycads.(1990) Nair, Jerald James.; Osborne, Roy.The present-day cycads comprise the diverse, modified, remnants of a much larger group of gymnosperms which flourished in the Mezozoic era. The systematic position that the cycads occupy in the botanical hierarchy is significant in that they represent relatively unchanged survivors from prehistory. The present global complement of 182 species occur in tropical and mild temperate regions in both hemispheres. Despite the density of proliferation of species, about one-half of the extant taxa are considered endangered, vulnerable or rare. Apart from characteristic features such as differences in growth forms, variation in reproductive structures and anatomical details, cycads are distinguished from all other plant groups by the unique phytotoxins, azoxyglycosides, which they possess. The toxicity of cycads is well-documented in cases which refer to both man and animals. Cycasin, which together with macrozamin represent the major azoxyglycosides occurring in cycads, has been reported to elicit responses similar to those that have been observed during carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and neurotoxicity assays. It has become apparent that the mechanism by which azoxyglycosides manifest their toxicity involves deglucosylation, by enzyme systems, which releases the aglycone, methylazoxymethanol (MAM), and sugar moieties. Metabolic activation of MAM succeeds deglucosylation to generate methylene carbene units (: CH2) which are capable of methylating macromolecules including DNA, RNA and protein. During this investigation, macrozamin was extracted from seed kernels of Encephalartos transvenosus and cycasin was tentatively identified in seed kernels of Cycas thouarsii . The hexa-acetate derivative of macrozamin was prepared whereas the tetra-acetate derivative of cycasin was not secured in a pure form. The spectroscopic techniques employed for identification include DV-absorption, infra-red and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, all of which are useful for detecting signals which arise as a result of the azoxy function. A kinetic study was carried out to determine the rate of hydrolysis of macrozamin with 4M sulphuric acid, and to allow calculation of the activation energy for the process. A comparison of the kinetic parameters determined for the above process with those derived for the hydrolysis of cycasin and methylazoxymethanol under similar conditions followed. The rates of hydrolysis increase in the order macrozamin, cycasin, methylazoxymethanol since the molecules contain two, one and zero glycosidic linkages respectively. Additional glycosidic bonds are observed to decrease the rate of reaction. Consequently, activation energies for hydrolysis of the above molecules decrease in the above-stated order. Macrozamin and cycasin were quantified in cycad material by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and by the chromotropic acid assay. The results of the quantitative analysis has highlighted certain limitations of the methods of detection, and has been found to be applicable to a taxonomic evaluation and a proposal for the biosynthesis of the azoxyglycosides.Item Extractives from the Meliaceae and Icacinaceae.(1990) Akerman, Leigh-Anne.; Mulholland, Dulcie Aca.; Pegel, Karl H.The wood, leaf and seed extracts of Apodytes dimidiata, Turraea floribunda and Turraea obtusifolia were examined. Two new limonoids belonging to the Toonafolin group were isolated from the seeds, two known havanensin-type limonoids were isolated from the leaves and both stigmasterol and sitosterol were isolated from the wood of Turraeafloribunda. Sitosterol as well as a limonoid which could not be characterised were isolated from the seeds, phytol, melianone and a protolimonoid similar to sapelin-F were isolated from the leaves and three protolimonoids: melianodiol, melianotriol and 7,8-dihydroturraeanthin 3-acetate were isolated from the wood of Turraea obtusifolia. An ester was isolated from the seeds of Apodytes dimidiata. Appropriate reactions were performed, where possible, on the compounds isolated.Item Investigations into the reactions of enamines and imines.(1990) Rae, Bruce.; Hickmott, Peter W.The alkylation of 2-methylcyclohexanone imines using methyl acrylate has been investigated with a view to optimising the reaction conditions. The mechanism of this alkylation reaction has been investigated and it has been shown that the alkylation does not proceed via a 2,6-intermediate which subsequently undergoes a rearrangement to the 2,2-product, but rather proceeds directly to the 2,2-product. As it had been shown that the alkylation of 2-substituted cyclohexanone imines in dry methanol occurred at the more substituted position, it was decided, in the light of certain apparently anomolous patent work, to investigate the alkylation of unsubstituted cyclohexanone imines using a variety of electrophilic alkenes. The results show that in certain instances, 2,2-bis-alkylation occurs and in others, mono-alkylation and that it is the strength of the electron-withdrawing group attached to the alkene which determines whether 2,2-bis-alkylation occurs or not. The reasons for this are discussed in the text. The preparation of a number of novel 2,2-bis-eyclohexanones and an octahydroquinoline are described. The reaction of I-phenyl-2-propen-l-one (phenyl vinyl ketone) with the benzylaluine imines of 2-butanone and I-phenyl-2-propanone in methanol gave gave two novel bicyclic diones, whereas the reaction between the benzylamine imine of 3-pentanone with I-phenyl-2-propen-l-one gave only mono-eyclic products only even though there appeared to be no impediment to the formation of the bicyclic compound. The structures were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The reaction between I-phenyl-2-propen-l-one and N-(l-phenyl-l-ethylidene)benzylamine gave after hydrolysis only the mono-substituted product, 1,5-diphenyl-l ,5-pentandione.Item An investigation of the solvent extraction kinetics of Germanium by 7- alkylated.-8-hydroxyquinoline extractants.(1990) Foster, Stephen James.; Salter, Leo F.Equilibrium and kinetic data for the solvent extraction of germanium by three impure commercial 7-alkylated-8hydroxyquinoline extractants which vary in structure at the 7alkyl group, are evaluated in order to elucidate an holistic kinetic extraction model which accounts for the various reactions and partition effects occurring during the metal-ion chelation process. It is proposed that for the extraction process, which is first order in germanium concentration, by the ligand reagents Lix 26, TN 01787 and TN 02181, the rate-determining step, on stereochemical grounds, is the attachment of either a neutral ligand or a protonated ligand species-to the biligand intermediate GeL2 2+ (L:ligand) at the interface. In high speed shaking/mixing assemblies the extraction process was observed to occur in two discrete reaction regimes : a fast initial rate for which the orders with respect to ligand reagent are 1,06, 2,10 and 1,77 for TN 02181, Lix 26 and TN 0178-7 respectively, and a slower subsequent rate for which the apparent reaction orders with respect to ligand concentration are 1,12, 2,70 and 3,08 for TN 02181, Lix 26 and TN 01787 respectively. For the slower reaction regime, orders between 1 and 3 are explicable if the steady state approximation is invoked for the intermediate germanium species GeL3+ and GeL2 2+ formed at the interface. In the fast reaction regime, it is proposed that the accelerated extraction rates are a function of (i) the speciation of germanium and (ii) participation in the rate-determining step by the protonated ligand moiety H2L+HS04- which is rapidly formed after phase contact. At low ligand concentration, the following order of ligand efficacy has been observed : TN 01787 < Lix 26 < TN 02181 whereas at high concentration ligand efficacies are similar because the interface is saturated with ligand. Orders with respect to [H+] for the reagents vary from -1 to - 3 during the course of reaction, indicating complex mixedorder behaviour. The effects upon extraction of ionic strength, temperature, the addition of organic modifiers and diluent nature are investigated as well as the kinetics of germanium stripping by aqueous hydroxide. The physical effects of interfacial tension, viscosity and relative dielectric constant are also reported and suggestions are made as to their effect upon the extraction characteristics. Computer modelling of the extractants has been used as an aid in describing size, structure and stereochemical considerations of the ligands and the chelate products.Item The destabilising effects of various cations on a surfactant derivative of poly iso-butenyl succinic anhydride.(1990) Rutherford, Christine Elizabeth.; Salter, Leo F.The interfacial behaviour of two amphiphillic poly iso-butenyl succinic anhydride (PIBSA)-derived surfactants and the effect of their interaction with various nitrate salts on the stability of a water-in-oil type emulsion has been investigated. The adsorption of the esterification product of PIBSA and coco-diethanolamide (PICDEA) and of Experse-70 (E-70) at the equilibrated aqueous-fuel oil interface was investigated via the measurement of interfacial tension using the ring detachment method.The interfacial pressure of PICDEA decreased in the presence of excess unreacted coco-diethanolamide (CDE) and for both PICDEA and E-70 interfacial pressure decreased with an increase in the length of the poly iso-butenyl (PIB) hydrocarbon tail. Interfacial tension-concentration curves and the Gibbs Equation were used to determine surfactant surface excess concentration and the packing efficiency of the surfactant in the interphase. The double hydrocarbon PICDEA molecule was found to occupy a larger interfacial area than the single hydrocarbon E-70 molecule. The pH of the aqueous phase effects the interfacial activity and nature of, PICDEA and E-70 at the interface. PICDEA is protonated at pH values less than 4.6 and deprotonated at higher pH values. E-70 is neutral at low pH and deprotonated at pH values greater than approximately 2.The effect of sodium, calcium and ferric nitrate salts on the interfacial free energy of the surfactant saturated interface was also determined. The interfacial tension at the E-70 aqueous nitrate interface was dependent on ionic strength alone with a general decrease in interfacial free energy as nitrate concentration was increased. In the case of PICDEA, however, a surfactant-cation orientation effect was observed. The divalent Ca2+ cation attracts two adjacent PICDEA anions resulting in the adverse interaction of hydrocarbon tails in the interphase. This produces an interface with a higher than expected interfacial free energy. The Na+ cation produces an interface with a more energetically stable orientation. PICDEA in the presence of a ferric nitrate solution (pH 1 to 2) is protonated and therefore the univalent nitrate anion forms the counterion layer at the positively charged surfactant interface. Stability studies were carried out on aqueous nitrate salt in diesel emulsions using PICDEA as the stabilizing surfactant. Droplet coalescence rates were determined from droplet size distribution data in the presence of varying concentrations of sodium, calcium and ferric nitrate salts. Droplets were sized microscopically at progressive time intervals and the rate of coalescence determined from the change in droplet concentration with time. Coalescence was found to follow two or more consecutive first order reactions. After an initial period of rapid droplet coalescence, involving small droplets with diameters of 5~m and less, a droplet distribution is attained conducive to a more stable emulsion which then undergoes a slower rate of coalescence involving larger droplets. The effect of the nitrate salt type on the initial droplet coalescence rate (in order of increasing rate) is as follows: Ca2+< Na+< Fe3+. The opposite trend was observed for the slower long term rate of coalescence, i.e. Fe3+< Na+< Ca2+. These trends are explained in terms of the surfactant cation orientation effect, the effect of the droplet's radius of curvature on the potential energy barrier against coalescence and the effect of the droplet distribution of the emulsion system.Item Complexes formed by zinc and cyanide ions at elevated pH.(1990) Monberg, Christian.; Marsicano, Fabrizzio.The experimental work described in this thesis is aimed primarily towards elucidation of the speciation of zinc-cyanide systems at elevated pH. In this study the formation and stability of H+-eN-, binary Zn2+-eN- and ternary Zn2+-CN--QH- complexes were studied by glass electrode potentiometry in aqueous solutions at 25.0Ā°0 and in a medium of ionic strength of 0.1 mol dm-3. The solution pH was varied to cover the range 4 to 11. The study was undertaken with a view to establishing whether and under what conditions soluble binary zinc-cyanide complexes and ternary zinc-cyanide-hydroxide complexes form, and to determine formation constants for any such species that are found. This information would be useful in defining more precisely the speciation of solutions containing zinc and cyanide ions at elevated pH values. A titration method was used, in which hydrogen ion concentration was monitored by means of a glass indicating electrode. The cell was calibrated to allow measurements of hydrogen ion concentration rather than hydrogen ion activity. Owing to precipitation difficulties, the reagents were used at sub-millimolar concentration levels. The potentiometric data was interpreted with the aid of various formation function plots together with the use of various computer programs, such as HALTAFALL and ESTA. The results show that the ternary complex Zn(ON)3(OH)2- is formed in significant amounts in solutions of pH > 8.5. Some evidence was also obtained for the existence of the five coordinated species Zn(CN)3(OH)~- and Zn(CN)~- in these solutions, but existence of the latter two species cannot yet be regarded as firmly established. No polynuclear complexes were detected at the sub-millimolar concentrations used. Formation constants are reported for H+-eN- and both binary Zn2+-eN- and ternary Zn2+-eN--QH- species.Item An investigation of the complexes of zinc and germanium with 8-hydroxyquinoline.(1991) Maharaj, Vanitha.; Martincigh, Bice Susan.; Salter, Leo F.The experimental work described in this thesis is aimed at the elucidation of the speciation of the zinc and germanium 8-hydroxyquinoline systems. A knowledge of this speciation could aid in modelling the kinetics of solvent extraction of zinc and germanium with 7alkyl derivatives of 8-hydroxyquinoline. In this study the stability constants of the ligand 8hydroxyquinoline with the ions H+, Zn2+ and Ge4+ have been investigated by potentiometry at 25Ā°C in a partially aqueous medium. A titration technique was used in which the hydrogen ion concentration was monitored using a glass indicating electrode. The partially aqueous medium comprised of O. 1 mol dm- 3 NaCl04 in 60% (v/v) dioxane and the concentration levels of the reagents were at least millimolar. The analysis of the potentiometric data was carried out with the aid of the computer programs HALTAFALL, ESTA and STATGRAPHICS. The results obtained for the systems involving the H+ and Zn2+ ions compare with those reported in the literature. The stability constant of a protonated species in the zinc-8-hydroxyquinoline system (ZnLH) was established for the first time. Precipitates obtained from the Zn2+ titrations were identified as zinc 8-hydroxyquinolate dihydrate. The germanium 8-hydroxyquinoline system has not been studied previously via potentiometry techniques. The complex hydrolysed species of germanium in aqueous solutions and the unusual features displayed in the formation curves increased the complexity of species selection. Although a suitable model of the species present could not be determined some evidence suggests the presence of protonated species. Hence, a prerequisite for resolving the germanium-8hydroxyquinoline system could be a more complete understanding of the hydrolysis of germanium in the partially aqueous medium used.Item The determination of activity coefficients at infinite dilution using gas liquid chromatography.(1991) Moollan, Warren Charles.; Letcher, Trevor M.The aim of this investigation was to develop and test a theory that allowed for the calculation of the activity coefficients at infinite dilutions (l' ~ 3) from G.L.C. measurements using moderately volatile solvents. The solvents chosen for study were straight chained (Cs to C7) and cyclic (Cs, C6 and benzene) liquid hydrocarbons using cis- and trans-decahydronaphthalene (decalin) as the stationary liquid phase (solvent). The systems were studied at two different temperatures, 283.15 K and 298.15 K. The solutes were n-pentane~ n-hexane, n-heptane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane and benzene. This method for the determination of activity coefficients has the advantage of being able to work at infinite dilution, whereas in other techniques, extrapolation to infinite dilution of finite-concentration data is necessary. In addition solutes are separated from impurities when chromatographed so that only very small quantities of moderately pure material need beĀ· used. However the technique is also limited since the solute studied (injected reagent) needs to be volatile, while the solvent (liquid stationary phase) should be involatile. The solvents chosen in this experiment (cis- and transdecalin) are moderately volatile which introduces many limitations since the theory developed for the determination of activity coefficients at infinite dilution is restricted to involatile solvents. However a novel method for working with moderately volatile solvents is developed by relating the loss of solvent to its partial pressure and modifying the existing theory. In the past the use of precolumns and/or saturators, coarse packing, small pressure gradients, and internal standards were used when working with volatile solvents. However employing this new method excludes the use of precolumns, saturators, or internal standards, and allows any type of packing and pressure gradient to be used. The calculated activity coefficients are compared with literature values, where the wor~ers employed G.L.C. techniques, and with predicted values. The activity coefficients calculated at both temperatures are used in the calculation of excess partial molar enthalpies. These results are compared with values obtained from finite concentration data by other workers.Item Extractives from the Meliaceae.(1991) Monkhe, Thabo Vincent.; Mulholland, Dulcie Aca.No abstract available.Item Investigations in dienamine chemistry.(1991) Simpson, Richard.; Hickmott, Peter W.Reaction of the pyrrolidine dienamines of ~1,8a-2-octalones with methyl vinyl ketone is complex. In methanol as solvent, the reaction occurs primarily with the linear dienamine isomer and results in annulation of the 8,8a-positions and, to a lesser extent, the 1,2-positions to give the corresponding octahydro-1 Hbenzo[d]naphthalene-2,10(3H,111-1)-dione and 3,4,5,6,7,8,8a,9-ctahydrophenanthren-2(10H)-one respectively. In toluene the dienamines react mainly in their cross-conjugated form. Diels-Alder addition of methyl vinyl ketone occurs across the 3,8a-positions to give the corresponding 9-acetylperhydro-2,4aethanonaphthalen-3-one and annulation of the 2,3-positions gives the 4,4a,5,5a,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-2(3H)-one. The reaction of methyl vinyl ketone with the pyrrolidine dienamine of 4amethyl- 5-oxo-~ 1,8a-2-octalone is reported to give the aromatic product 3a, 7dimethyl- 2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydrophenalen-3,6-dionearisingfromp,o-annulation and in a related investigation with dienamines derived from isophorone it was reported that only products of Stork alkylation and Diels-Alder cycloaddition were isolated, there being no evidence for the reaction of methyl vinyl ketone with either the endo- or exocyclic o-positions of the dienamines. In an attempt to ascertain the reason for the apparently random changes in the regioselectivity of these related reactions some of this work was repeated and the reaction of methyl vinyl ketone applied to two other dienamines derived from 5,6,7,7a-tetrahydroindan-5-one and 4a,6-dimethyl-5-oxo-~1,8a-2-octalone. The reactions proved to be more complex than reported and several additional products have been isolated. Finally, reaction of phenyl vinyl ketone with dienamines derived from a1,8a_2-octalone was investigated. With the exception of the reaction of the 4amethyl dienamine, the main products isolated were those arising from addition of p.henyl vinyl ketone across the 3,8a-position to give the corresponding 9-benzoylperhydro-,4a-ethanonaphthalen-3-one. Reaction of the 4a-methyl dienamine with two equivalents of phenyl vinyl ketone gave a product tentatively assigned as the octahydrophenalenone. The mechanism of formation and spectral properties of the various products are discussed.