The development of biological tools to aid in the genetic investigation of the black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros mitochondrial genomes
- Authors: Parsons, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/56059 , vital:26769
- Description: The black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros are found in South Africa. A decline in the populations of these species has resulted due to human activities such as habitat fragmentation and poaching. This has contributed to the loss of genetic diversity amongst the black and white rhinoceros. Conservation and anti-poaching efforts are needed to help maintain genetic diversity. These efforts could be improved through the development of non-invasive techniques to examine DNA from threatened animals. The aim of this research was to develop a molecular technique which would allow for the identification of the black and white rhinoceros and to develop a molecular technique which would allow for intraspecies genetic variation to be examined. DNA extractions were performed on matched faecal and tissue samples that were collected from two regions in South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets were designed to investigate several regions of the rhinoceros mitochondrial genome. PCR optimisation was completed for the target regions. Sequencing was conducted on all final PCR products. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIi) gene allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. This region was digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme, which allowed for the specific identification of either the black or white rhinoceros. A subsequent region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIii) as well as the D-loop, hypervariable regions (HV1 and HV2), cytochrome b (cytb) and 16s rRNA regions were investigated. These regions displayed potential for establishing geographic origin for black rhinoceros samples, whereas the D-loop and HV2 show potential for the white rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros displayed sequence variation in the HV2 and cytb region, while variation was observed in the COIi and HV1 for the black rhinoceros. All investigated target regions allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. The COI (COIi and COIii), HV2 and cytb regions allowed for the subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however the D-loop was not able to identify the white rhinoceros species. The 16s rRNA and HV1 regions allowed for the correct subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however as the primers were only compatible for the black rhinoceros therefore a subsequent investigation is required for the white rhinoceros. The establishment of this novel PCR based technique to identify white and black rhinoceros will allow for efficient species identification in wildlife forensic cases. A biological method was established to study intraspecies variation for the white and black rhinoceros; however the investigated target regions did not yield sufficient genetic variation. The core techniques developed in this study will be valuable for future studies that wish to investigate genetic variation in mammal species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Odd notes - Harpephyllum caffrum
- Authors: Skead, C J (Cuthbert John)
- Date: 196u
- Subjects: Harpephyllum caffrum -- South Africa , Anacardiaceae -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: mixed material , essay
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/111859 , vital:33514
- Description: Field notes taken by C.J. Skead relating to Harpephyllum caffrum, around early 1960's.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 196u
Fungal remediation of winery and distillery wastewaters using Trametes pubescens MB 89 and the enhanced production of a high-value enzyme therein
- Authors: Strong, Peter James
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Fungal remediation Distilleries -- Waste disposal Wine and wine making -- Waste disposal Bioremediation Laccase Enzymes -- Biotechnology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3932 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003991
- Description: In this study white-rot fungi were investigated for their efficiency at distillery wastewater remediation and the production of laccase as a valuable by-product. Distillery wastewaters are high in organic load and low in pH. The presence of phenolic compounds can lead to extremely colour-rich wastewaters and can be toxic to microorganisms. The presence of the inorganic ions may also affect biological treatment. White-rot fungi are unique among eukaryotic or prokaryotic microbes in possessing powerful oxidative enzyme systems that can degrade lignin to carbon dioxide. These ligninolytic enzymes, such as lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase, are capable of degrading a vast range of toxic, recalcitrant environmental pollutants and this makes the white-rot fungi strong candidates for the bioremediation of polluted soils and waters. The laccase enzyme alone has shown remediation potential in wastewaters such as beer production effluent, olive mill wastewater, alcohol distillery wastes, dye-containing wastewaters from the textile industry as well as wastewaters from the paper and pulp industry. It has been shown to be capable of remediating soils and waters polluted with chlorinated phenolic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosubstituted compounds and fungicides, herbicides and insecticides.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The use of Landsat ETM imagery as a suitable data capture source for alien acacia species for the WFW programme
- Authors: Cobbing, Benedict Louis
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Geographic information systems , Global Positioning System , Landsat satellites , Agriculture -- Remote sensing , Geography -- Remote sensing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4856 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005532 , Geographic information systems , Global Positioning System , Landsat satellites , Agriculture -- Remote sensing , Geography -- Remote sensing
- Description: Geographic Information System technology today allows for the rapid analysis of vast amounts of spatial and non-spatial data. The power of a GIS can only be effected with the rapid collection of accurate input data. This is particularly true in the case of the South African National Working for Water (WFW) Programme where large volumes of spatial data on alien vegetation infestations are captured throughout the country. Alien vegetation clearing contracts cannot be generated, for WFW, without this data, so that the accurate capture of such data is crucial to the success of the programme. Mapping Invasive Alien Plant (IAP) data within WFW is a perennial problem (Coetzee, pers com, 2002), because not enough mapping is being done to meet the annual requirements of the programme in the various provinces. This is re-iterated by Richardson, 2004, who states that there is a shortage of accurate data on IAP abundance in South Africa. Therefore there is a need to investigate alternate methods of data capture; such as remote sensing, whilst working within the existing WFW data capture standards. The aim of this research was to investigate the use of Landsat ETM imagery as a data capture source for mapping alien vegetation for the WFW Programme in terms of their approved mapping methods, for both automated and manual classification techniques. The automated and manual classification results were compared to control data captured by differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS). The research tested the various methods of data capture using Landsat ETM images over a range of study sites of varying complexity: a simple grassland area, a medium complexity grassy fynbos site and a complicated indigenous forest site. An important component of the research was to develop a mapping (classification) Ranking System based upon variables identified by WFW as fundamental in data capture decision making: spatial and positional accuracy, time constraints and cost constraints for three typical alien invaded areas. The mapping Ranking System compared the results of the various mapping methods for each factor for the study sites against each other. This provided an indication of which mapping method is the most efficient or suitable for a particular area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
3-Methyl-1-phenyl-4-[(phenyl)(2-phenylhydrazin-1-yl)methylidene]-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one
- Identifier: http://vital.seals.ac.za8080/10353/7489 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5328 , vital:29192
- Full Text:
Synthesis and characterisation of lanthanide complexes with nitrogen- and oxygen-donor ligands
- Authors: Madanhire, Tatenda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Rare earth metals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13127 , vital:27154
- Description: The reactions of Ln(NO3)3∙6H2O (Ln = Pr, Nd or Er) with the potentially tridentate O,N,O chelating ligand 2,6-pyridinedimethanol (H2pydm) were investigated, and complexes with the formula, [Ln(H2pydm)2(NO3)2](NO3) (Ln = Pr or Nd) and [Er(H2pydm)3](NO3)3 were isolated. The ten-coordinate Pr(III) and Nd(III) compounds crystallise in the triclinic space group P-1 while the nine-coordinate Er(III) complex crystallises in the monoclinic system (P21/n). The reaction of PrCl3∙6H2O with H2pydm yielded the compound, [Pr(H2pydm)3](Cl)3, that crystallises in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c with α = 90, β = 98.680(1) and γ = 90°. The nine-coordinate Pr(III) ion is bound to three H2pydm ligands, with bond distances Pr-O 2.455(2)-2.478(2) Å and Pr-N 2.6355(19)-2.64(2) Å. X-ray crystal structures of all the H2pydm complexes reveal that the ligand coordinates tridentately, via the pyridyl nitrogen atom and the two hydroxyl oxygen atoms. The electronic absorption spectra of complexes show 4f-4f transitions. Rare-earth complexes, [Ln(H2L1)2(NO3)3] [Ln = Gd, Ho or Nd], were also prepared from a Schiff base. The X-ray single-crystal diffraction studies and SHAPE analyses of the Gd(III) and Ho(III) complexes shows that the complexes are ten-coordinate and exhibit distorted tetradecahedron geometries. With proton migration occurring from the phenol group to the imine function, complexation of the lanthanides to the ligand gives the ligand a zwitterionic phenoxo-iminium form. A phenolate oxygen-bridged dinuclear complex, [Ce2(H2L1)(ovan)3(NO3)3], has been obtained by reacting Ce(NO3)3∙6H2O with an o-vanillin derived Schiff base ligand, 2-((E)-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-ylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol (H2L1). Hydrolysis of the Schiff base occurred to yield o-vanillin, which bridged two cerium atoms with the Ce∙∙∙Ce distance equal to 3.823 Å. The Ce(III) ions are both tencoordinate, but have different coordination environments, showing tetradecahedron and staggered dodecahedron geometries, respectively. The reaction of salicylaldehyde-N(4)-diethylthiosemicarbazone (H2L2) in the presence of hydrated Ln(III) nitrates led to the isolation of two novel compounds: (E)-2[(ortho-hydroxy)benzylidene]-2-(thiomethyl)-thionohydrazide (1) and bis[2,3-diaza4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1-thiomethyl-buta-1,3-diene]disulfide. The latter is a dimer of the former. For this asymmetric Schiff base, 1 and the symmetric disulfide, classical hydrogen bonds of the O–H∙∙∙N as well as N–H∙∙∙S (for 1) type are apparent next to C–H∙∙∙O contacts. 4-(4-Bromophenyl)-1-(propan-2-ylidene)thiosemicarbazide was also prepared upon reacting 4-(4-bromophenyl)-3-thiosemicarbazide with acetone in the presence of ethanol and La(NO3)3∙6H2O. The C=S bond length was found to be 1.6686(16) Å which is in good agreement with other thioketones whose metrical parameters have been deposited with the Cambridge Structural Database. Classical hydrogen bonds of the N–H∙∙∙N and the N–H∙∙∙Br type are observed next to C–H∙∙∙S contacts. All synthesised compounds were characterised by microanalyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (except for [Nd(H2L1)2(NO3)3]), 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Reactivity of Rhenium (iii) and Rhenium (V) with multidentate NN-and no-donor ligands
- Authors: Yumata, Nonzaliseko Christine
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Rhenium , Ligands
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10373 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1085 , Rhenium , Ligands
- Description: The reaction of the potentially tridentate Schiff-base chelate Hhaep [Haep = N’-(1- (2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylidene)benzohydrazide] with [ReCl3(benzil)(PPh3)] and trans-[ReOCl3(PPh3)2] produced the neutral oxorhenium(V) complexes cis- [ReOCl2(mep)] [Hmep = 2-(1-iminoethyl)phenol] and cis-[ReOCI2(meb)(PPh3)] [Hmeb = N’-(propan-2-ylidene)benzohydrazide] in ethanol and acetone respectively. In both reactions the Hhaep molecule cleaves to give different coordinated bidentate NO-donor chelates coordinated to the rhenium(V) centers. The X-ray studies reveal that mep is present as a bidentate, monoanionic Schiffbase coordinating through the neutral imino nitrogen and the deprotonated phenolate oxygen in cis-[ReOCl2(mep)]. The bond distances and angles in cis- [ReOCI2(meb)(PPh3)] confirm that meb coordinates to the metal in the enolate form. The distorted octahedral complex fac-[ReCl3(dpa)(PPh3)] was prepared by the reaction of trans-[ReCl3(MeCN)(PPh3)2] with a twofold molar excess of dpa in acetonitrile under a nitrogen atmosphere. The compound dpa.HCl.2H2O was obtained as a by-product in the reaction of dpa with trans-[ReCI3(MeCN)(PPh3)2] in acetonitrile. The reaction of trans-[ReCl3(MeCN)(PPh3)2] with a twofold molar excess of 6- amino-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-azahept-2-ene-1-one (Hamp) in acetonitrile led to the isolation of cis-[ReCl2(bat)(PPh3)2]. On complexation to the metal center Hamp decomposed to give the coordinated benzoylacetone (bat). Bat is present as a monoanionic bidentate chelate. The complexes [ReVOCI(had)] and [ReIVCl(had)(PPh3)](ReO4) were prepared from the reaction of trans-[ReCl3(MeCN)(PPh3)2] with N,N-bis((2-hydroxybenzyl)-2- aminoethyl)dimethylamine (H2had) in ethanol under various reaction conditions. The treatment of [ReCl3(benzil)(PPh3)] with 2-[((2- pyridinylmethyl)amino)methyl]phenol (Hham) in a 2:1 molar ratio in acetonitrile led to the isolation of the hydrogen-bonded dimer [ReOCl2(ham)]2. The distorted octahedral complex [ReOCl(hap)] [H2hap = N,N-bis(2- hydroxybenzyl)aminomethylpyridine] was prepared from the reaction of trans- [ReCl3(MeCN)(PPh3)2] with a twofold molar excess of H2hap in acetonitrile. The X-ray crystal structure analysis shows that the chloride is coordinated trans to the tripodal tertiary amino nitrogen, with a phenolate oxygen trans to the oxo oxygen.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Synthetic approaches to marine labdane diterpenes
- Authors: Wisch, Gregory Albert
- Date: 2002 , 2013-05-10
- Subjects: Diterpenes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003131 , Diterpenes
- Description: The work presented in this thesis describes the synthesis of labd-13-en-8ß, 15-diol (46) a stable reduced derivative of an unstable marine natural product aldehyde [8ß-hydroxylabd-13E-en-15-al (6)] isolated by Cimino, et al. from the skin of a Notaspidean mollusc Pleurobranchaea meckelii. The rationale for the synthesis was to provide sufficient 46 for eventual mild oxidation to 6 and investigation of the biological activity of this latter compound. (-)-Sclareol (32), a common diterpene synthetic precursor, was the starting point for the ten step synthesis of 46 described in this thesis. A search of the literature revealed that only one non stereospecific synthesis of 46 had been previously reported. To provide the necessary background to the synthetic component of this thesis, both the occurrence of labdane and ent-labdane in the marine environment and the use of sclareol in the synthesis of marine natural products, was reviewed. The initial step in the synthesis of 46 was the potassium permanganate oxidation of sclareol to give a bisnorlabdane ketone. Reduction of this ketone with lithium aluminium hydride produced a mixture of diols which, through t-butyldimethysilyl triflate protection, afforded a quantitative route to protecting the C-13 ketone in an effort to prevent unwanted intramolecular cyclization reactions. Dehydration of the tertiary alcohol moiety at C-8 with phosphorous oxychloride yielded the Δ⁸·¹⁵ exocyclic alkene required for the next oxidation step. Ozonolysis succeeded in producing the desired C-8 ketone after much deliberation and research into alternative oxidation strategies. Methyl lithium methylation quantitatively afforded the desired a-methyl substitution at C-8, identified at the onset as the key step in the synthesis. Tetra-butylarnmonium fluoride deprotection yielded the 8ß,13-dihydoxylated product, which was in turn subjected to a Swern oxidition to give the desired 8ß-hydroxy-bisnorlabda-13-one. A modified Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction allowed for elaboration at C-13 to yield a to Δ¹³ olefin with a terminal C-15 ethyl ester. Diisobutylaluminium hydride reduction of the ester produced the desired labd-13-en-8ß, 15-diol (46) in a low overall yield of 3.4%. Although opportunities for optimization of at least three steps in the synthesis exist, time constraints prevented both optimization of these steps and an investigation of the oxidation of 46 to 6. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
Agreement and coordination in XiTsonga, SeSotho and IsiXhosa: an optimality theoretic perspective
- Authors: Mitchley, Hazel
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3423 , vital:20491
- Description: This thesis provides a unified Optimality Theoretic analysis of subject-verb agreement with coordinated preverbal subjects in three Southern Bantu languages: Xitsonga (S53), Sesotho (S33), and isiXhosa (S41). This analysis is then used to formulate a typology of agreement resolution strategies and the contexts which trigger them. Although some accounts in the Bantu literature suggest that agreement with coordinate structures is avoided by speakers (e.g. Schadeberg 1992, Voeltz 1971) especially when conjuncts are from different noun classes, I show that there is ample evidence to the contrary, and that the subject marker used is dependent on several factors, including (i) the [-HUMAN] specification on the conjuncts, (ii) whether the conjuncts are singular or plural, (iii) whether or not the conjuncts both carry the same noun class feature, and (iv) the order of the conjuncts. This thesis shows that there are various agreement resolution strategies which can beused: 1) agreement with the [+HUMAN] feature on the conjuncts, 2) agreement with the[-HUMAN] feature on the conjuncts, 3) agreement with the noun class feature on both conjuncts, 4) agreement with the noun class feature on the conjunct closest to the verb, and 5) agreement with the noun class feature on the conjunct furthest from the verb. Not all of these strategies are used by all languages, nor are these strategies interchangeable in the languages which do use them – instead, multiple factors conspire to trigger the use of a specific agreement strategy within a specific agreement featural context. I show that these effects can be captured using Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 2004). The analysis makes use of seven constraints: RES#, MAX[+H], MAX[-H], DEP[-H], MAXNC, DEPNC, and AGREECLOSEST. The hierarchical ranking of these constraints not only accounts for the confinement of particular strategies to specific agreement featural contexts within a language, but also accounts for the cross-linguistic differences in the use of these strategies. I end off by examining the typological implications which follow from the OT analysis provided in this thesis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Economic dualism and labour re-allocation in South Africa, 1917-1970
- Authors: Hindson, Douglas Carlisle
- Date: 1975
- Subjects: Labor policy -- South Africa -- History -- 20th century , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Labor economics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:1090 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012294 , Labor policy -- South Africa -- History -- 20th century , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Labor economics -- South Africa
- Description: The central concern of this study is to analyse how the pattern of development in South Africa has influenced the long term growth of productive employment in the economy. The approach adopted is to appply a model of economic dualism to the South African case. Chapter 1, p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1975
The doctrine of the holy spirit in pentecostalism and neo-pentecostalism, with special reference to the work of Frederick Dale Bruner
- Authors: Higgs, Michael John
- Date: 1974
- Subjects: Bruner, Frederick Dale Pentecostalism Holy Spirit -- Biblical teaching Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1259 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012269
- Description: The problem of 'authority' is of paramount importance in determining the theological stance of any religious movement and not least is this the case where the movement is labelled 'fundamentalist' both by its protagonists and its antagonists. Intro. p. 1.
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- Date Issued: 1974
A study of a class of invariant optimal control problems on the Euclidean group SE(2)
- Authors: Adams, Ross Montague
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Matrix groups Lie groups Extremal problems (Mathematics) Maximum principles (Mathematics) Hamilton-Jacobi equations Lyapunov stability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5420 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006060
- Description: The aim of this thesis is to study a class of left-invariant optimal control problems on the matrix Lie group SE(2). We classify, under detached feedback equivalence, all controllable (left-invariant) control affine systems on SE(2). This result produces six types of control affine systems on SE(2). Hence, we study six associated left-invariant optimal control problems on SE(2). A left-invariant optimal control problem consists of minimizing a cost functional over the trajectory-control pairs of a left-invariant control system subject to appropriate boundary conditions. Each control problem is lifted from SE(2) to T*SE(2) ≅ SE(2) x se (2)*and then reduced to a problem on se (2)*. The maximum principle is used to obtain the optimal control and Hamiltonian corresponding to the normal extremals. Then we derive the (reduced) extremal equations on se (2)*. These equations are explicitly integrated by trigonometric and Jacobi elliptic functions. Finally, we fully classify, under Lyapunov stability, the equilibrium states of the normal extremal equations for each of the six types under consideration.
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- Date Issued: 2011
The eucharist in St John's Gospel : an examination of the extent to which it is justifiable to see allusions to the eucharist in St John's Gospel
- Authors: Verryn, Paul
- Date: 1979
- Subjects: Bible -- John -- Commentaries Lord's Supper
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
- Identifier: vital:1229 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007273
- Description: This thesis shows that the incarnation of Jesus Christ is an ever present reality for St. John. Christ's abiding presence is known to those who are committed to him because he is their Saviour and Lord. This presence is especially real when his disciples, the believers, the Church gather for worship. In the eucharist, which is an act of worship, the meaning and purpose of the incarnation becomes apparent for St. Paul. By showing that aspects of John's understanding of the incarnation co-incide with the early Church's doctrine of eucharist (as portrayed by St. Paul) the conclusion is reached that we have eucharistic allusions in the gospel of John. Furthermore, John presents Jesus in contrast to the Old Covenant. Jesus supersedes the Old Covenant and establishes the new covenant of love. Just as the Old Covenant was celebrated in the Passover, so the eucharist re-enacts the new covenant. By alluding to the old sacrament, John shows how the eucharist fulfils the true meaning of Passover. After a brief examination of existing methodologies, I present the working hypothesis for this dissertation as outlined above. In a fairly detailed exegesis of Jn 6 (with digressions to other relevant passages in John) which is divided into three sections (In 6:1-21 6:22-48, 6:49-71), I have tried to show that John sees the eucharist as a celebration which emphasises the community of the church, which re-enacts God's great demonstration of love (typified especially in the death of Jesus) and which foreshadows that great heavenly banquet, when, all will be gathered to him. I reach the conclusion therefore that we are justified in finding allusions in the eucharist in the gospel of John.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1979
Asymmetric induction in reactions of chiral carboxylic esters and silyl enol ethers
- Authors: Evans, Melanie Daryl
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Ethers -- Synthesis Esters -- Synthesis Chirality Asymmetric synthesis Organic compounds -- Synthesis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4409 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006762
- Description: Several camphor and pinane derivatives have been synthesised and evaluated for use as chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis. Various blocking groups have been attached to the camphor skeleton in attempts to improve stereofacial selectivity; these include α-methoxybenzyl and xylyl groups, and novel stereoisomeric ketal moieties derived from meso- and (R,R)-(-)-2,3-butanediol. Benzylation reactions carried out on the lithium enolates of ester derivatives of the camphor-derived chiral auxiliaries afforded α-benzylated products in 5-60% diastereomeric excess. Stereochemical aspects have been explored using high resolution NMR, X-ray crystallographic and computer modelling techniques, and hydrolysis of selected α-benzylated products has permitted the diasteroselective bias to be confirmed. Opposite configurations at the new stereogenic centre are clearly favoured by the xylyl and ketal blocking groups - an observation rationalised in terms of the presence or absence of chelating potential in the blocking group. Baylis-Hillman reactions carried out on a series of specially prepared camphor-derived acrylic esters containing the ketal blocking group exhibited both low diastereoselectivities (0-30% d.e.) and very long reaction times. Chiral silyl enol ethers, synthesised using both pinane and camphor derivatives as chiral auxiliaries, showed up to 20% diastereomeric excess in MCPBA oxidation, alkylation and Mukaiyama reactions. Attempts to bring the prochiral centre in the silyl enol ether substrates closer to the chiral auxiliary, and thus improve the stereofacial selectivity, proved unsuccessful. The silyl enol ether derivatives, however, display interesting fragmentation patterns in their electron impact mass spectra, which were investigated using a combination of high resolution MS, comparative low resolution MS and metastable peak analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
Rhenium complexes with multidentate benzazoles and related N,X-donor (X = N, O, S) ligands
- Authors: Potgieter, Kim Carey
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Rhenium , Benzimidazoles , Ligands (Biochemistry)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10438 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020773
- Description: The coordination behaviour of 4-aminoantipyrine (H2pap) and its Schiff base derivatives with the oxorhenium(V) and tricarbonyl rhenium(I) cores are reported. The reactions of trans-[ReOX3(PPh3)2] (X = Cl, Br) with H2pap were studied, and the complexes cis-[ReX2(pap)(H2pap)(PPh3)](ReO4) were isolated. The ligand pap is coordinated monodentately through the doubly deprotonated amino nitrogen as an imide, and H2pap acts as a neutral bidentate chelate, with coordination through the neutral amino nitrogen and the ketonic oxygen. The reactions of trans-[ReOBr3(PPh3)2] and cis-[ReO2I(PPh3)2] with -(2-aminobenzylideneamino)-1,2-dihydro-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one (H2nap) and 4-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-1,2-dihydro-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one (Hoap) are also reported. The complexes cis-[Re(nap)Br2(PPh3)]Br, [ReO(OEt)(Hnap)(PPh3)]I and [ReO(OMe)(oap)(PPh3)]I were isolated and structurally characterized. The reactions of the Schiff base derivatives 1,2-(diimino-4’-antipyrinyl)ethane (dae) and 2,6-bis(4-amino-1,2-dihydro-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one)pyridine (bap) with [Re(CO)5X] (X = Br or Cl) produced fac-[Re(CO)3(dae)Cl] and fac-[Re(CO)3(bap)Br] respectively. A series of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes containing bidentate derivatives of aniline was synthesized and structurally characterized. With 1,2-diaminobenzene (Hpda) the ‘2+1’ complex salt fac-[Re(CO)3(κ1-Hpda)(κ2-Hpda)]Br was isolated, but with 2-mercaptophenol (Hspo) the bridged dimer [Re2(CO)7(spo)2] was found. The neutral complex [Re(CO)3(ons)(Hno)] was isolated from the reaction of [Re(CO)5Br] with 2-[(2-methylthio)benzylideneimino]phenol (Hons; Hno = 2-aminophenol), with ons coordinated as a bidentate chelate with a free SCH3 group. In the complex [Re(CO)3(Htpn)Br] (Htpn = N-(2-(methylthio)benzylidene)benzene-1,2-diamine) the potentially tridentate ligand Htpn is coordinated via the methylthiol sulfur and imino nitrogen atoms only, with a free amino group. These rhenium(I) complexes, with the exception of [Re2(CO)7(spo)2], revealed broad emissions centred around 535 nm. The reactions of the rhenium(V) complex cis-[ReO2I(PPh3)2] with 2-aminothiophenol (H2atp), benzene-1,2-dithiol (H2tdt) and 2-hydroxybenzenethiol (H2otp) led to the formation of the rhenium(III) compounds [Re(Hatp)(ibsq)2].OPPh3, [Re(sbsq)3].OPPh3 and [Re(obsq)3].OPPh3 (ibsq = 2-iminothiobenzosemiquinonate, sbsq = 1,2-dithiobenzosemiquinonate, obsq = 2-hydroxothiobenzosemiquinonate) respectively. The complexes adopt a trigonal prismatic geometry around the rhenium centre with average twists angles between 3.20-26.10˚. The E1/2 values for the Re(III)/Re(IV) redox couple were found to be 0.022, 0.142 and 0.126 V for [Re(Hatp)(ibsq)2].OPPh3, [Re(sbsq)3].OPPh3 and [Re(obsq)3].OPPh3 respectively. The reactions of the benzoxazole ligands, 3-(benzoxazol-2-yl)pyridin-2-ol (Hbop) and 5-amino-2-(benzoxazol-2-yl)phenol (Habo) with a [ReO]3+ precursor led to the rhenium(III) complex, [ReCl2(bop)(PPh3)2], and the complex salt, [ReO(abo)I(PPh3)2]ReO4, respectively. A variety of benzothiazole and benzimidazole derivatives were reacted with [Re(CO)5Br]. In the case of bis(benzothiazol-2-ylethyl)sulfide (bts), the neutral complex fac-[Re(CO)3(bts)Br] was obtained. The dimeric complexes (μ-dbt)2[Re(CO)3]2 and (μ-mbt)2[Re(CO)3]2 were formed when 1,3-bis(benzothiazol-2-yl)thiourea (Hdbt) and 1-(benzothiazol-2-ylidene)-3-methylthiourea (Hmbt) were used as ligands. The reaction of 2,2’-(oxybis(methylene))bis(benzimidazole) (bmb) with [Re(CO)5Cl] resulted in the rhenium(I) complex salt fac-[Re(CO)3(bmb)]+, with the tri-μ-chlorohexacarbonyl dirhenate [Re2(CO)6Cl3]- as the counter anion. The neutral complex fac-[Re(CO)3(btp)Cl] was isolated from the reaction of the 2,9-bis(benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (btp) ligand and [Re(CO)5Cl]. The reactions of trans-[ReOCl3(PPh3)2] with bis(benzimidazol-2-ylethyl)sulfide (btn) and 1-(benzothiazol-2-ylidene)-3-methylthiourea (Hmbt) led to the formation of the cationic compounds (μ-O)2[Re2O2(btn)2]I2 and [ReCl2(bte)(PPh3)2]Cl (bte = (benzothiazole-2-yl)-N-ethylidenemethanamine) respectively.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Three new pentacyclic triterpenoids from twigs of Manniophyton fulvum (Euphorbiaceae)
- Authors: Mbeunkeu, Ahri B D , Noundou, Xavier S , Krause, Rui W M , Teinkela, Jean E M , Laatsch, Hartmut , Azebaze, Anatole G B , Vardamides, Juliette C , Tala, Michel F
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126782 , vital:35922 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2018.06.019
- Description: Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extracts of the twigs of Manniophyton fulvum has led to the isolation and characterization of three new pentacyclic triterpenoids, designated as 3α,28-dihydroxyfriedelan-1-one (1), manniotaraxerol A (3) and manniotaraxerol B (4), along with fourteen known compounds, 3α-hydroxy-1-oxofriedelane (2), betulinic acid (5), friedelin (S1), taraxerol (S2), a mixture of stigmasterol (S3) and β-sitosterol (S4), herranone (S5), docosanoic acid (S6), ursolic acid (S7), nasutin B (S8), bergenin (S9), stigmasterol-3-O-β-Dglucopyranoside (S10), 1,2-di-O-palmitoyl-3-O-(6-sulfo-α-D-quinovopyranosyl)glycerol (S11), and aridanin (S12). The structures of all compounds were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses (1D and 2D NMR, EI and ESI-MS). 3α,28-Dihydroxyfriedelan-1-one (1), 3α-hydroxy-1-oxofriedelane (2), manniotaraxerol A (3), manniotaraxerol B (4), and betulinic acid (5) were evaluated against HeLa (human cervix adenocarcinoma) cancer cells. Manniotaraxerol A (3) showed weak in vitro cytotoxicity with a cell viability value of 49.3%. Betulinic acid (5) also showed significant cytotoxicity against HeLa cell with a cell viability value of 4.0%; the other compounds were inactive in this test.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Contributions to the study of a class of optimal control problems on the matrix lie group SO(3)
- Authors: Rodgerson, Joanne Kelly
- Date: 2009 , 2013-07-12
- Subjects: Matrix groups , Lie groups , Maximum principles (Mathematics) , Elliptic functions , Extremal problems (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5421 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007199 , Matrix groups , Lie groups , Maximum principles (Mathematics) , Elliptic functions , Extremal problems (Mathematics)
- Description: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate a class of four left-invariant optimal control problems on the special orthogonal group SO(3). The set of all control-affine left-invariant control systems on SO(3) can, without loss, be reduced to a class of four typical controllable left-invariant control systems on SO(3) . The left-invariant optimal control problem on SO(3) involves finding a trajectory-control pair on SO (3), which minimizes a cost functional, and satisfies the given dynamical constraints and boundary conditions in a fixed time. The problem is lifted to the cotangent bundle T*SO(3) = SO(3) x so (3)* using the optimal Hamiltonian on so(3)*, where the maximum principle yields the optimal control. In a contribution to the study of this class of optimal control problems on SO(3), the extremal equations on so(3)* (ident ified with JR3) are integrated via elliptic functions to obtain explicit expressions for the solution curves in each typical case. The energy-Casimir method is used to give sufficient conditions for non-linear stability of the equilibrium states. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Date Issued: 2009
Mechanistic studies of unusual Miruta-Baylis-Hillman reactions
- Authors: Nyoni, Dubekile
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Chemical reactions Benzaldehyde Acrylonitrile Methyl acrylate Coumarins
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4400 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006692
- Description: This study has focussed on the application of synthetic, kinetic and exploratory theoretical methods in elucidating the reaction mechanisms of four Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) type reactions, viz, i) the reactions of the disulfide 2,2'-dithiodibenzaldehyde with various activated alkenes in the presence of DBU and Ph₃P, ii) the reactions of chromone-3-carbaldehydes with MVK, iii) the reactions of chromone-2-carbaldehydes with acrylonitrile and iv) with methyl acrylate. Attention has also been given to the origin of the observed regioselectivity in Michaelis-Arbuzov reactions of 3-(halomethyl)coumarins. Cleavage of the sulfur-sulfur bond of aryl and heteroaryl disulfides by the nitrogen nucleophile DBU has been demonstrated, and a dramatic increase in the rate of tandem MBH and disulfide cleavage reactions of 2,2'-dithiodibenzaldehyde with the activated alkenes, MVK, EVK, acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate and tert-butyl acrylate has been achieved through the use of the dual organo-catalyst system, DBU-Ph₃P – an improvement accompanied by an increase in the yields of the isolated products. Detailed NMR-based kinetic studies have been conducted on the DBU-catalysed reactions of 2,2'-dithiodibenzaldehyde with MVK and methyl acrylate, and a theoretical kinetic model has been developed and complementary computational studies using Gaussian 03, at the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory have provided valuable insights into the mechanism of these complex transformations. Reactions of chromone-3-carbaldehydes with MVK to afford chromone dimers and tricyclic products have been repeated, and a novel, intermediate MBH adduct has been isolated. The mechanisms of the competing pathways have been elucidated by DFT calculations and the development of a detailed theoretical kinetic model has ensued. Unusual transformations in MBH-type reactions of chromone-2-carbaldehydes with acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate have been explored and the structures of the unexpected products have been established using 1- and 2-D NMR, HRMS and X-ray crystallographic techniques. Attention has also been given to the synthesis of 3-(halomethyl)coumarins via the MBH reaction, and their subsequent Michaelis-Arbuzov reactions with triethyl phosphite. An exploratory study of the kinetics of the phosphonation reaction has been undertaken and the regio-selectivity of nucleophilic attack at the 4- and 1'-positions in the 3-chloro- and 3-(iodomethyl)coumarins has been investigated by calculating Mulliken charges, LUMO surfaces and Fukui condensed local softness functions.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Warthog as an introduced species in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Nyafu, Kanyisa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Warthog -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10701 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1058 , Warthog -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The introduced common warthog, Phacochoerus africanus, in the Eastern Cape is increasing rapidly both in numbers and distribution, despite attempts by landowners to reduce numbers and exclude warthogs. These control attempts are motivated by concerns over the impacts of warthogs, on vegetation, soil and other animal species. This expansion of warthog populations is paradoxical given that a species of warthog occurred historically in this part of the world, apparently at low densities and was wiped out in the mid-1800s. The question therefore arises as to why warthogs are able to overcome population regulation attempts now, and this becomes an invasive species issue as the species now occurring in the Eastern Cape is in fact an introduced species. The objectives of the study were to investigate the status of warthogs as an introduced invasive species in the Eastern Cape by documenting the rate and direction of population expansion, ecological impacts and possible dietary shift of the introduced species, P. africanus compared to the extinct species P. aethiopicus. The research approach adapted here was to test the hypotheses that, (1) the success of P. africanus in the Eastern Cape reflects dietary differences of the two species based on observations of different dental adaptations, as P. africanus has functional incisors, which are absent in P. aethiopicus. Stable carbon isotope analysis of the tooth enamel was used to determine the diet of the two species. (2) Common warthogs are specialized grazers and will impact on a limited range of grass species, this hypothesis was addressed by describing the diet of common warthogs in one site in the Eastern Cape to identify plant species at risk due to invasion by P. africanus, and microhistological faecal analysis was used. (3) Common warthogs have successfully expanded their range in the Eastern Cape since their introduction and are now showing impact, this was addressed by describing the range of expansion of P. africanus in the Eastern Cape, as well as reviewing landowner perceptions of the impacts of warthogs, this was based on questionnaire surveys distributed in the Sundays and the Fish River valleys. The results of the study showed that there are differences in the diet of Cape warthog P. aethiopicus and common warthog P. africanus. The Cape warthog was largely a grazer (86 percent C4 grasses in their diet), while P. africanus is also a grazer (71 percent of C4 grasses in their diet), but with a larger proportion of browse in their diet. These results support the hypothesis that the presence of functional incisors in the common warthog might provide the common warthog with foraging advantages over the Cape warthog. This might be a contributing factor to the success of this invasive species in the Eastern Cape, and might explain the rapid disappearance of Cape warthogs in the 1800s, which coincided with rapid expansion of herds of domestic grazers. A total of twelve grass species are used by common warthogs and are therefore most vulnerable to impacts of this invasive species. Common warthogs are rapidly expanding their range particularly around the Sundays and the Great Fish River valleys and they are perceived by landowners to have impacts on grass cover, soils and fencing. This spread of warthog in the Eastern Cape exhibits characteristics of an invasive species. In light of the findings of this study, it is therefore important that government authorities and other parties concerned recognize that common warthogs are invasive in the Eastern Cape.
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- Date Issued: 2009
The selection and evaluation of grey-level thresholds applied to digital images
- Authors: Brink, Anton David
- Date: 1988
- Subjects: Image processing -- Digital techniques
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5443 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001996
- Description: Many applications of image processing require the initial segmentation of the image by means of grey-level thresholding. In this thesis, the problems of automatic threshold selection and evaluation are addressed in order to find a universally applicable thresholding method. Three previously proposed threshold selection techniques are investigated, and two new methods are introduced. The results of applying these methods to several different images are evaluated using two threshold evaluation techniques, one subjective and one quantitative. It is found that no threshold selection technique is universally acceptable, as different methods work best with different images and applications
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- Date Issued: 1988