The present disclosure provides a composition comprising brazilein which can be used as a fluorescent dye for enhanced visualization of nucleic acids such as DNA, and RNA. Also provided in the specification is a simple, time and cost effective method of extraction of brazilein from bark starting material.

The present disclosure provides a composition comprising brazilein which can be used as a fluorescent dye for enhanced visualization of nucleic acids such as DNA, and RNA. Also provided in the specification is a simple, time and cost effective method of extraction of brazilein from bark starting material.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to methods for preparation of terpene and terpene-like molecules. In a further aspect, the disclosure relates to the products of the disclosed methods, i.e., terpene and terpene-like molecules prepared using the disclosed methods. Intermediates for the synthesis of a wide variety of terpenoids are -allyl Knoevenagel adducts or quasi -allyl Knoevenagel adducts are disclosed. In various aspects, methods of preparing terpenoids through these intermediates are disclosed. The methods can comprise -alkylation of an allylic electrophile followed by ring-closure metathesis to a polycyclic terpenoid structure. In a further aspect, the disclosure pertains to terpenoid frameworks, and compounds prepared via disclosed oxidation and substitution reactions on the disclosed terpenoid frameworks. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to methods for preparation of terpene and terpene-like molecules. In a further aspect, the disclosure relates to the products of the disclosed methods, i.e., terpene and terpene-like molecules prepared using the disclosed methods. Intermediates for the synthesis of a wide variety of terpenoids are -allyl Knoevenagel adducts or quasi -allyl Knoevenagel adducts are disclosed. In various aspects, methods of preparing terpenoids through these intermediates are disclosed. The methods can comprise -alkylation of an allylic electrophile followed by ring-closure metathesis to a polycyclic terpenoid structure. In a further aspect, the disclosure pertains to terpenoid frameworks, and compounds prepared via disclosed oxidation and substitution reactions on the disclosed terpenoid frameworks. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Improved processes for the extraction of quassinoids such as quassin and neoquassin from natural substances containing these compounds are described. The process uses compounds that are Generally Recognized As Safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In a first embodiment, the process includes a sonication method using water and no organic solvent. The process is highly efficient and comprises fewer steps than other processes known in the art. In a second embodiment, a method of extracting quassinoids from natural substance comprising bark of a plant of the plant family Simaroubaceae is also disclosed. In a third embodiment, indirect sonication of quassinoids is described using a mixture of polar and non-polar organic solvents.

Improved processes for the extraction of quassinoids such as quassin and neoquassin from natural substances containing these compounds are described. The process uses compounds that are Generally Recognized As Safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In a first embodiment, the process includes a sonication method using water and no organic solvent. The process is highly efficient and comprises fewer steps than other processes known in the art. In a second embodiment, a method of extracting quassinoids from natural substance comprising bark of a plant of the plant family Simaroubaceae is also disclosed. In a third embodiment, indirect sonication of quassinoids is described using a mixture of polar and non-polar organic solvents.

The present invention relates to photochromic indeno fused phenanthrenopyran compounds represented by the following Formula (I). With some embodiments, the photochromic compounds represented by Formula (I) include at least one lengthening group (e.g., R.sup.6 and/or R.sup.7 each independently being a lengthening group) and the compounds of the present invention are photochromicdichroic compounds. The present invention also relates to photochromic compositions and photochromic articles, such as photochromic ophthalmic articles that include one or more photochromic compounds represented by Formula (I).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to photochromic indeno fused phenanthrenopyran compounds represented by the following Formula (I). With some embodiments, the photochromic compounds represented by Formula (I) include at least one lengthening group (e.g., R.sup.6 and/or R.sup.7 each independently being a lengthening group) and the compounds of the present invention are photochromicdichroic compounds. The present invention also relates to photochromic compositions and photochromic articles, such as photochromic ophthalmic articles that include one or more photochromic compounds represented by Formula (I).

##STR00001##

A photochromic compound is provided, which may be a pyran, an oxazine, or a fulgide. The photochromic compound has at least one substituent Q attached thereto, each Q independently being N.sub.3, CN, COOR, CCR, C(R)C(R)R, OCOR, OCOOR, SR, OSO.sub.2R, and/or CON(R)R, wherein each R is hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, an unsubstituted or substituted alkene or alkyne group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents are halo or hydroxyl and R is CF.sub.3 or a perfluorinated alkyl group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms The number, locations and nature of the constituents Q are dependent upon the structure of the photochromic compound.

A photochromic compound is provided, which may be a pyran, an oxazine, or a fulgide. The photochromic compound has at least one substituent Q attached thereto, each Q independently being N.sub.3, CN, COOR, CCR, C(R)C(R)R, OCOR, OCOOR, SR, OSO.sub.2R, and/or CON(R)R, wherein each R is hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group, an unsubstituted or substituted alkene or alkyne group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents are halo or hydroxyl and R is CF.sub.3 or a perfluorinated alkyl group having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms The number, locations and nature of the constituents Q are dependent upon the structure of the photochromic compound.