Persulfate promoted tandem radical cyclization of ortho-cyanoarylacrylamides with oxamic acids for construction of carbamoyl quinoline-2,4-diones under metal-free conditions

An efficient and practical methods for the synthesis of carbamoyl quinoline-2,4-diones via the reaction of ortho-cyanoarylacrylamides with oxamic acids was described. This cyclic reaction could be performed efficiently under metal free conditions. Various products with functional groups could be obtained with moderate to high yields via radical mechanism.     

The Fruits of Paris polyphylla Inhibit Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration Induced by Fusobacterium nucleatum-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Gut microbiota are highly associated with CRC, and Fusobacterium nucleatum was found to be enriched in CRC lesions and correlated with CRC carcinogenesis and metastases. Paris polyphylla is a well-known herbal medicine that showed anticancer activity. The present study demonstrates that P. polyphylla inhibited the growth of CRC cells. In addition, treating with active compounds pennogenin 3-O-beta-chacotrioside and polyphyllin VI isolated from P. polyphylla inhibited the growth of F. nucleatum. We also found that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from F. nucleatum could promote mitochondrial fusion and cell invasion in CRC cells, whereas active components from P. polyphylla could dampen such an impact. The data suggest that P. polyphylla and its active ingredients could be further explored as potential candidates for developing complementary chemotherapy for the treatment of CRC.     

A scalable chemoenzymatic process for 7-amino-3-[Z-2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)vinyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA)

An efficient chemoenzymatic process has been developed for preparation of 7-amino-3-[Z-2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)vinyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid, featuring removal of para-methoxybenzyl by trichloroacetic acid and cleavage of phenylacetyl E-isomer by immobilized penicillin acylase enzyme. The E-isomer of 7-amino-3-[Z-2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)vinyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid could be easily decreased to less than 0.2 % by salt formation. Importantly, trichloroacetic acid and immobilized penicillin acylase enzyme could be recovered and reused. The enzyme reaction could be run in a flow reactor. Only two crystallizations are involved as the purification procedure in the six-step sequence.     

Das erste [1]Titanocenophan mit Phosphor-Brücke

PhPCp ₂ could be prepared by the reaction ofPhPCl₂ withCpNa. The metallation ofPhPCp ₂ withn-BuLi and the following reaction with TiCl₄ led to the first P-bridged [1]titanocenophane. Structural assignments of this compound could be made on the base of its₁H-NMR spectrum.     

Rapid authentication of Gastrodiae rhizoma by direct ionization mass spectrometry

In this study, direct ionization mass spectrometry (DI-MS) for rapid authentication of Gastrodiae rhizoma (known as Tianma in Chinese), a popular herbal medicine, has been developed. This method is rapid, simple and allows direct generation of characteristic mass spectra from the raw herbal medicines with the application of some solvents and a high voltage. The acquired DI-MS spectra showed that gastrodin, parishin B/parishin C and parishin, the major active components of Gastrodiae rhizoma, could be found only in genuine Gastrodiae rhizoma samples, but not in counterfeit samples, thus allowing rapid authentication of Gastrodiae rhizoma. Moreover, wild and cultivated Gastrodiae rhizoma could be classified and Gastrodiae rhizoma from different geographical locations could be differentiated based on their different intensity ratios of characteristic ions or principal component analysis (PCA). This method is simple, rapid, reproducible, and can be extended to analyze other herbal medicines.     

Bioconversion of Corncob Acid Hydrolysate into Microbial Oil by the Oleaginous Yeast Lipomyces starkeyi

For the first time, corncob acid hydrolysate was used for microbial oil production by the oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi. After hydrolysis by dilute sulfuric acid, corncob could turn into an acid hydrolysate with a sugar concentration of about 42.3 g/L. Detoxified by overliming and absorption with activated carbon, the corncob hydrolysate could be used by L. starkeyi efficiently that a total biomass of 17.2 g/L with a lipid content of 47.0 % (corresponding to a lipid yield of 8.1 g/L) and a lipid coefficient of 20.9 could be obtained after cultivation on the corncob hydrolysate for 8 days. Therefore, L. starkeyi is a promising strain for microbial oil production from lignocellulosic biomass. Glucose and xylose were used by L. starkeyi simultaneously during lipid fermentation while arabinose could not be utilized by it. Besides, the lipid composition of L. starkeyi was similar to that of vegetable oils; thus, it is a promising feedstock for biodiesel production.     

Synthesis, characterization and self-assemble behavior of chitosan-O-poly(ε-caprolactone)

A facile strategy was proposed for synthesizing chitosan-O-poly(ε-caprolactone) (CS-O-PCL). Stoichiometric sodium dodecyl sulfate-chitosan complex (SCC) which was soluble in common organic solvents was adopted as an intermediate. Regioselective conjugation of PCL onto SCC could be achieved through condensation reaction between isocyanate-terminated PCL and hydroxyl groups of chitosan. The grafting level of PCL could be modulated by varying PCL/SCC weight ratio. SDS was removed from SCC-O-PCL using trihydroxymethylamine (Tris) as a decomplexation agent. The self-assemble behavior of the amphiphilic copolymers was studied by fluorometry, TEM and laser light scattering. The morphology of the CS-O-PCL nanoparticles was found to be dependent on PCL grafting level. Both spherical micelles and vesicle could be formed by dialysis method.     

Aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles catalyzed by cobalt porphyrin

An efficient catalytic procedure has been developed for the aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles by cobalt porphyrin in the absence of any additives. The catalytic system could tolerate various 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives and some other N-heterocycles. The corresponding N-heteroaromatics could be obtained in 59–86% yields. The mechanism investigation suggested that the aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation might proceed with imine intermediate through radical paths.     

A Review of Bacteriochlorophyllides: Chemical Structures and Applications

Generally, bacteriochlorophyllides were responsible for the photosynthesis in bacteria. Seven types of bacteriochlorophyllides have been disclosed. Bacteriochlorophyllides a/b/g could be synthesized from divinyl chlorophyllide a. The other bacteriochlorophyllides c/d/e/f could be synthesized from chlorophyllide a. The chemical structure and synthetic route of bacteriochlorophyllides were summarized in this review. Furthermore, the potential applications of bacteriochlorophyllides in photosensitizers, immunosensors, influence on bacteriochlorophyll aggregation, dye-sensitized solar cell, heme synthesis and for light energy harvesting simulation were discussed.     

Facile synthesis of both enantiomers of (pyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonate from l-proline

Diastereoselective introduction of phosphono groups into l-proline derivatives at the 5-position was achieved with suitable selection of N-protecting group. N-Benzoyl-l-prolinate preferentially gave trans-phosphorylated products, which could be easily transformed into (S)-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonates. On the other hand, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-prolinate reacted with phosphite to give cis-substituted products, which could be easily transformed into (R)-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonates.     

A concept to explain the variation of the triplet zero-field splitting parameters with the structure of aromatic hydrocarbons in terms of local benzenoid characteristics

The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters D and E of the lowest electronically excited triplet state T₁ of a series of systematically selected pyrene derivatives have been determined by ODMR techniques. With this class of compounds as an example we intended to gain some insight into the variation of the ZFS-parameters with the structure and topology of aromatic hydrocarbons. The variation of the experimental ZFS-parameters could be explained in terms of the dipole—dipole model together with criteria describing the local benzene likeness of single C₆-rings in the molecule. For these the character orders according to Polansky were calculated on an MO-basis and the local benzenoid indices according to Randi? on a graph-theoretical basis. As these quantities for the local aromaticity were in accordance with Clar's qualitative sextet concept a qualitative principle could be formulated explaining the variation of the D-parameter with molecular structure. This principle correctly describes all known D-parameters of aromatic molecules measured so far. So for the first time, a clear and consistent explanation for the variation of D with molecular structure can be given. Also for the E-parameter a connection with molecular structure could be established; it could be demonstrated in which way the criteria of local aromaticity mentioned can be applied to decide on the sign of E. For the acene-analogue pyrene derivatives linear correlations could be established between the averaged local quantities and the ZFS-parameters D and E. These correlations allow a quantitative determination of the ZFS-parameters of further analogue pyrene compounds. Also for other series of aromatic hydrocarbons such correlations could be found as shown for the polyacene series as an example. For the latter also a strong similarity to the series of the acene-analogue pyrene derivatives was found. D- and E-values are given for the six molecules pentacene to decacene. These were calculated from both the correlation with the character orders and that with the Randi?-indices, and the result of both methods are compared.     

Asymmetric cyanosilylation of ketones catalyzed by novel chiral N,N′-dioxide titanium complexes

A novel C₂-symmetric chiral N,N′-dioxide titanium complex was described, which could efficiently catalyze the asymmetric cyanosilylation of ketones in high yields with up to 92% ee under mild conditions. In addition, the catalyst system was simple and the ligands could be easily prepared from commercially available chiral amino acid.     

Direct Conversion of Pretreated Straw Cellulose into Citric Acid by Co-cultures of Yarrowia lipolytica SWJ-1b and Immobilized Trichoderma reesei Mycelium

The immobilized cellulase-producing mycelium of Trichoderma reesei was found to produce 2.9 U/ml of cellulase activity within 144 h while 2.1 U/ml of cellulase activity was produced within 120 h by the free mycelium of the same strain. When the immobilized mycelium of T. reesei was co-cultivated with the free cells of Yarrowia lipolytica SWJ-1b in flask, Y. lipolytica SWJ-1b could yield 10.7 g/l of citric acid and 3.9 g/l of isocitric acid from 40.0 g/l pretreated straw within 240 h. Under the similar conditions, Y. lipolytica SWJ-1b could yield 32.8 g/l of citric acid and 4.7 g/l of isocitric acid from 40.0 g/l pretreated straw supplemented with 20.0 g/l glucose within 288 h. When the co-cultures were grown in 10-l fermentor, Y. lipolytica SWJ-1b could yield 83.4 g/l of citric acid and 8.7 g/l of isocitric acid from 100.0 g/l of pretreated straw supplemented with 50.0 g/l glucose within 312 h.     

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of β-haloalkenyl chalcogenides by addition of dichalcogenides to internal alkynes and its application to synthesis of (Z)-tamoxifen

A copper-catalyzed synthesis of β-haloalkenyl sulfides or selenides was carried out by addition of dichalcogenides and tetrabutylammonium halides to internal alkynes. The present reaction anti- and regio-selectively afforded the corresponding alkenyl chalocogenides, and took advantage of both organochalcogenide-groups on dichalcogenide. Furthermore, the reaction under oxygen atmosphere could employ thiols. The use of the procedure could easily synthesize (Z)-tamoxifen from diphenyl acetylene in three steps.     

Oxanorbornenes: promising new single addition monomers for the metathesis polymerization

Higher ring-opening metathesis propagation rates of exo-norbornene derivatives over endo derivatives are well established in the literature. Here, we report for the first time that endo-isomers of oxanorbornene derivatives show higher reactivity towards ring-opening metathesis with Grubbs'' 3rd generation catalyst (G3) than the corresponding exo-isomers. A very high selectivity for the reaction of G3 with endo over the exo-isomers could be shown. Furthermore, single molecular addition of the endo-isomers with G3 was observed. On the other hand, pure exo-monomers could successfully be homopolymerized. Mixtures of exo- and endo- monomers, however, prevented the homopolymerization of the exo-monomer. Such mixtures could successfully be copolymerized with cycloalkenes, resulting in alternating copolymers. An oxanorbornadiene derivative could be shown to undergo single addition reactions, exploited in the preparation of mono-end functional ROMP polymers. These could be selectively derivatized via endgroup selective thiol-ene click reactions. A thiol and alcohol end functional ROMP polymer was synthesized, and the efficient end functionalization was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-ToF spectrometry.

Bridgehead revisited: endo-7-oxa norborneneimide derivatives (green) initiate faster but propagate more slowly than the analogous exo-derivatives (red) in ring-opening metathesis allowing the synthesis of alternating and end functional polymers.     

Facile synthesis of isoquinolines by imination and subsequent palladacycle-catalyzed iminoannulation of internal alkynes

An efficient and facile synthesis of isoquinolines has been described via a tandem reaction of imination of o-halobenzaldehydes with tert-butyl amine and subsequent palladacycle-catalyzed iminoannulation of internal alkynes. This tandem reaction could be carried out successively in one pot without any special operation, and the annulation step could afford isoquinolines derivatives in moderate to good yields with high regioselectivity. In addition, the simple synthesis of indoles was realized by palladacycle-catalyzed annulation of o-iodoaniline or o-bromoanilines with internal alkynes.     

Stereoselective synthesis of azetidine-derived glutamate and aspartate analogues from chiral azetidin-3-ones

The stereoselective syntheses of cis conformationally constrained glutamate and aspartate analogues, containing an azetidine framework were accomplished from (S)-N-tosyl-2-phenylglycine in moderate overall yields. The key steps in these syntheses involved an efficient Wittig olefination of an azetidin-3-one, followed by a highly stereoselective rhodium catalyzed hydrogenation. The route could also be applied to the synthesis of a trans glutamate analogue, since epimerization of cis to trans isomer could be performed using DBU in toluene at reflux.     

Nickel electrodes as a cheap and versatile platform for studying structure and function of immobilized redox proteins

Practical use of many bioelectronic and bioanalytical devices is limited by the need of expensive materials and time consuming fabrication. Here we demonstrate the use of nickel electrodes as a simple and cheap solid support material for bioelectronic applications. The naturally nanostructured electrodes showed a surprisingly high electromagnetic surface enhancement upon light illumination such that immobilization and electron transfer reactions of the model redox proteins cytochrome b₅ (Cyt b₅) and cytochrome c (Cyt c) could be followed via surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy. It could be shown that the nickel surface, when used as received, promotes a very efficient binding of the proteins upon preservation of their native structure. The immobilized redox proteins could efficiently exchange electrons with the electrode and could even act as an electron relay between the electrode and solubilized myoglobin. Our results open up new possibility for nickel electrodes as an exceptional good support for bioelectronic devices and biosensors on the one hand and for surface enhanced spectroscopic investigations on the other hand.     

β-1,2-Mannan-based glycoconjugates as potential antifungal vaccines

Phosphorylated di-, tri- and tetra-saccharides of β-1,2-mannan antigen derived from Candida albicans (C. albicans) cell wall were synthesized and covalently conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and human serum albumin (HSA) via a bifunctional linker under mild conditions. The semi-synthetic β-1,2-mannoside–KLH conjugates were evaluated for the immunization of BALB/c mice. The ELISA results revealed that all three conjugates could elicit high levels of specific IgG antibodies and the acquired antisera could effectively identify the β-1,2-mannan epitope. Furthermore, the immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assays also uncovered that the induced antibodies, especially that obtained from immunization with β-1,2-mannotriose–KLH conjugate (1b), could bind well to fungi cell. Eventually, the structure–immunogenicity relationship analysis of β-mannan showed that the length of oligo-β-mannoses had a big impact on their immunogenicity and β-1,2-mannotriose showed the strongest immunogenicity. The results suggested the great potential of β-1,2-mannotriose–KLH conjugate as an antifungal vaccine candidate.