Unsaturated amino acids derived from isoleucine trigger early membrane effects on plant cells.

Unsaturated amino acids (UnsAA) have been shown to affect the activity of various biological processes. However, their mode of action has been investigated poorly thus far. We show in this work that 2-amino-3-methyl-4-pentenoic acid (C2) and 2-amino-3-methyl-4-pentynoic acid (C3) structurally derived from isoleucine (Ile) exhibited a multisite action on plant cells.

Biological pretreatment for production of lignocellulosic biofuel.

Lignocellulosic biomass was submitted to a biological pretreatment prior to a catalytic hydroliquefaction in order to produce biofuel. The biodegradation process was conducted over 3 months in a reactor under controlled conditions. During the biodegradation process the organic matter was characterised and its evolution was correlated with physico-chemical parameters.

Hydroliquefaction of green wastes to produce fuels.

The direct liquefaction of a biomass composed of a mixture of wastes (straw, wood and grass) was studied using Nickel Raney as catalyst and tetralin as a solvent. Tetralin allows to solubilize green waste from 330°C at relatively low hydrogen pressure, and avoids the recondensation of the intermediate products. The green waste deoxygenation results mainly from a decarboxylation reaction.

Microwave-assisted [3 + 2] cycloadditions of azomethine ylides.

The microwave-assisted intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides to activated and nonactivated alkenes and alkynes is described. The procedure allows the synthesis of pyrrolidines and pyrrole products in good to excellent overall yields in short reaction times. It appears from parallel comparative studies that the microwave procedure favors the reaction times and overall purity of the crude reaction mixture.