Is Stereoselectivity a problem? Try Enzymes

Stereoselectivity is a major issue in synthetic organic chemistry. The use of chiral reagents and catalysts can solve the problem to a greater extent. But there are problems associated with the use of these chemicals as they may be expensive, hard to get, and most of the time not friendly for the environment. Enzymes, the biological catalysts, have been used as chiral catalysts for carrying out stereoselective reactions, mainly because of their specific nature. Enzymes are proven to be environmentally benign.

Protein Microchips: A New Era of Drug Discovery, Biocatalysis and Diagnosis

 

Over the last decade or so, the field of drug discovery, diagnosis, high-throughput screening, and biochemical analyses have been revolutionized with the discovery of modern and sophisticated instruments and new technologies. Protein microchips is one of them.

Chemistry of Life: From Fertilization to Death

Human life starts with the fertilization of sperm with egg and ends when all the body functions cease to work. This whole time span is a complex combination of chemical reactions and processes, taking place frequently and continuously. A very important thing to be kept in mind before reading the article is that the terms steroids, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, hormones, DNA, RNA etc., wherever used in the article, are all chemical compounds or macromolecules composed of chemical entities, in other words, it’s all about chemistry.

SIGNAL GENERATION IN NMR

  

We know that a spin active nucleus behaves as a tiny magnet under the influence of a strong magnetic field. Such nuclei have an intrinsic property of arranging themselves in all possible spin states in the presence of a magnetic field. The possible spin states can be calculated from the spin quantum number.

PRINCIPLE OF NMR SPECTROSCOPY

 

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique employed for various analytical purposes, especially structural characterization of organic compounds.

NMR deals with the behavior of nucleus under the influence of a strong magnetic field and absorption of radiofrequency. Not all nuclei can be studied in NMR.

Woodward Fieser Rules for Enones and Benzophenones

Woodward Fieser Rules can be applied to enones and benzophenones as well, for calculating their wavelength of maximum absorption.

Woodward Fieser Rules for Dienes (With subtitles) | Examples | UV/Vis Sp...

Woodward Fieser Rules for dienes help in calculating wavelength for maximum absorption. In most cases, the calculated value conforms with the observed value. 

The Chemistry of Love

 

To love or being loved is a great feeling. I am not going to tell you how you do that, but I will give you an overview of the chemistry involved while you are in love. Our emotions and behaviors are controlled, influenced, and measured by certain chemicals commonly known as hormones. Some of the most important chemicals involved in the feeling of love are dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin, phenylethylamine, adrenaline, norepinephrine, testosterone, and estrogen.

HOW TO DRAW A COUPLING/SPLITTING TREE IN NMR?

  

Coupling tree is a pattern developed as a result of the splitting of signals in 1H-NMR due to spin-spin coupling. The tree tells us about the splitting pattern of the signal and also helps in calculation of the coupling constant.

HOW TO CALCULATE THE YIELD OF A REACTION?

  

In chemistry, especially in organic chemistry, it is very important to calculate the yield of any reaction. It is reported in percentage. The percent yield of a reaction is an indication of the feasibility of reaction, reactivity and compatibility of the reactants, solvents, and reagents used in the reaction, and validity of the methodology employed in the reaction. This is the reason why scientists talk big about the high yields of products in their synthetic accomplishments. Percent yield is calculated from the following simple equation:

Graphene: The Super Carbon

 

Scientists over the centuries have been looking for discoveries, unveiling the mysteries of the Nature. The scientific methodology is based on hypotheses, leading to theories, turning into laws and finally well-defined facts. Graphene, is one such discovery, thought of by the scientists over the centuries and finally accomplished in 2003, by Prof. Andre Geim and Prof. Kostya Novoselov, which for no surprise led to the award of the Physics Nobel prize.

Are E-cigarettes safe?

 

Smoking is one of the major causes of deaths and disabilities, killing millions of people every year. Tobacco cigarettes, apart from nicotine, contains other toxins which are highly hazardous. Over the last decade or so, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have gained much attractiveness, mainly because of the nonexistence of tobacco and other toxic raw materials. Its usage has dramatically increased in USA and UK after bans on conventional smoking at public places.

Not Focused at Workpkace? Try Modafinil..

Modafinil is a wakefulness agent used for the treatment of sleeping disorders. Recently it has been credited as the best workplace drug. In a much recent report, it is believed to be the secret behind success of the great business minds who are supposed to work day and night. Students are another larger user groups of this extraordinary drug, which has been regarded as “SAFE” by the researchers at Harvard and Oxford, with the good effects such as improving decision making, and creative thinking. Structurally modafinil is an aromatic compounds with an amide group.

Is Cannabis good against Cancer?

 

 Cannabis is known for its pharmacological properties for centuries. It got recognized as a medicine only in the nineteenth century. Still it is used in several parts of the world, like the Middle east, Southern Africa and Asia. A genus of three species (sativa, indica, and ruderalis), Cannabis has an old history of cultivation and use for physical and mental disorders and as a recreational drug. In the 20^th century it got banned in many countries of the world.

HOW TO CALCULATE COUPLING CONSTANTS IN NMR?

 

The signals of protons, which have other magnetically inequivalent protons at geminal or vicinal positions are split because of spin-spin coupling between these neighboring protons. The splitting of the signal can be measured by calculating the coupling constant of the concerned signal. Coupling constant is a constant value, independent of the magnetic field strength and it mostly depends upon the extent of interaction between two proton systems. Denoted by “J”, the values of coupling constants are calculated in Hz.

HOW TO DRAW REACTION MECHANISM IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY?

 

Organic reactions follow a logical pathway involving the atoms and groups of atoms interacting with each other. The route followed by the reactants to produce products is known as the reaction mechanism. Organic chemists are usually asked to draw a suitable (plausible) mechanism for different chemical reactions. There are a few things that need to be kept in mind while drawing reaction mechanisms correctly, keeping in view the basic concepts of chemistry in general and organic chemistry in particular.

How to Calculate Oxidation state?

 

 Oxidation and reduction are two processes encountered during chemical reactions. Generally, oxidation involves the loss of electrons, while reduction means the gain of electrons. During this loss and gain of electrons the electronic distribution on atoms in a molecule changes. Oxidation state or oxidation number therefore is the degree of loss of electrons by an atom.

Calculation of Formal Charge

 

Organic compounds are characterized by the presence of covalent bonds. The structures of organic compounds can be drawn by using Lewis method. Atoms of different elements may carry some charge, known as the formal charge. A neutral molecule may also have charged atoms, but in that case the number of positive charges must be exactly equal to negative charges.

Prediction of Earthquakes: Chemistry May Help!

 

The earth is composed of four layers; the inner core, outer core, mantle, and the crust. The surface of the earth is made up of plates lying together like a puzzle. These plates, AKA the tectonic plates, are always moving. They slide and bump over each other. There is a rise in energy, which when released causes an earthquake, shaking the earth’s surface and everything above it. The earthquake is measured by a Richter scale, but several other methods have been developed by scientists to measure the intensity of an earthquake. A serious jolt took place two days back in Afghanistan and Pakistan with a reported value of 8.1 on the Richter scale, causing serious damage. Ten years back in October 2005, thousands of people died and whole colonies vanished in northern areas of Pakistan, with people left stranded and homeless.

Biocatalysis and Biotransformation

 

Catalysts are chemicals that speed up a reaction, causes the reaction to occur but do not take part in it. Enzymes are the biological catalysts, found inside the body, catalyzing variety of reactions going on in vivo. The term “Biocatalysis” or “Biotransformation” is used when enzymes catalyze a reaction or help in transformations.

Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

 

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy is one the most reliable, efficient, and sophisticated technique used in different areas of scientific research.

What is NMR?

10 Most Interesting Acronyms in NMR Spectroscopy

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most powerful analytical tools used for various purposes in scientific research. Chemists are the largest group of users of NMR, employed mainly for structure elucidation of unknown compounds.

Six Things you should not do in a chemistry lab

 

Following are the things one should avoid while working in a chemistry lab.

HAWK-EYE: SPORTS GETTING TECHNOLOGIZED

 

All sports being played across the world are monitored and officiated by a team of highly competent, neutral, and diligent umpires and referees. Rules are set for the players and they have to comply with the decisions made by these officials. Despite the efforts made by these umpires and referees to keep the game fair and give each opponent a level playing field, there are incidents where the players seem not too happy with the decisions of the officiating staff. Several changes had then to be made to the law to make the game even more fair.