Many computational chemistry analyses require the generation of conformers, either on-the-fly, or in advance. We present Confab, an open source command-line application for the systematic generation of low-energy conformers according to a diversity criterion.

This critical review, which is relevant to researchers in synthetic organic chemistry, focuses on asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with acrylamides. The use of chiral acrylamides as dipolarophiles leads to high levels of stereocontrol, due to conformational constraint in the acrylamides. Employment of chiral tertiary acrylamides containing nitrogen heterocycles is particularly effective in controlling the stereoselectivity. Following a general overview of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions, the main body of the review focuses on asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of acrylamides with nitrile oxides, nitrones, diazoalkanes and azomethine ylides, with particular emphasis on the rationale for the observed stereocontrol (215 references).

Nuts contain bioactive constituents that elicit cardio-protective effects including phytosterols, tocopherols and squalene. The objective of the present study was to determine the total oil content, peroxide value, fatty acid composition and levels of tocopherols, squalene and phytosterols in oil extracted from freshly ground brazil, pecan, pine, pistachio and cashew nuts. The total oil content of the nuts ranged from 40.4 to 60.8% (w/w) while the peroxide values ranged from 0.14 to 0.22 mEq O2/kg oil. The most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1), while linoleic acid (C18:2) was the most prevalent polyunsaturated fatty acid. The levels of total tocopherols ranged from 60.8 to 291.0 mg/g. Squalene ranged from 39.5 mg/g oil in the pine nut to 1377.8 mg/g oil in the brazil nut. beta-Sitosterol was the most prevalent phytosterol, ranging in concentration from 1325.4 to 4685.9 mg/g oil. In conclusion, the present data indicate that nuts are a good dietary source of unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, squalene and phytosterols.