The effect of different artificial redox mediators on the anaerobic reduction of azo dyes by Sphingomonas sp. strain BN6 or activated sludge was investigated. Reduction rates were greatly enhanced in the presence of sulfonated anthraquinones. For strain BN6, the presence of both cytoplasmic and membrane-bound azo reductase activities was shown.

[reaction: see text] A general method for the synthesis of benz[a]anthraquinones is reported. The key step is a catalytic cobalt-mediated [2+2+2]-cycloaddition of a triyne, which affords an angularly substituted tetracycle. Oxidation of this core gives the typical structure of angucyclinone antibiotics.

Our ongoing investigations on the stem bark of Mesua beccariana afforded a novel cyclodione coumarin, beccamarin, together with two known xanthones, mesuarianone, mesuasinone, two anthraquinones, 4-methoxy-1,3,5-trihydroxy-anthraquinone and 2,5-dihydroxy-1,3,4-trimethoxyanthraquinone and one coumarin, mammea A/AB. The structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and MS techniques.

The direct oxidation of benzene into phenol using hydrogen peroxide has been achieved in the absence of any acid with Tp(x)Cu(NCMe) complexes as the catalysts. In the case of anthracenes as the substrates, valuable anthraquinones have been quantitatively obtained in the same manner.

The flora of Malaysia is one of the richest flora in the world due to the constantly warm and uniformly humid climate. Malaysia is listed as 12th most diverse nation (Abd Aziz, 2003) in the world and mainly covered by tropical rainsforests. Tropical rainforests cover only 12% of earth’s land area; however they constitute about 50% to 90% of world species. At least 25% of all modern drugs origin...