Synthesis of new calix[4]pyrrole derivatives via 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions

Octamethylcalix[4]pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde 1 and 3-(octamethylcalix[4]pyrrol-2-yl)propenal 5 were used as precursors of azomethine ylides, which were trapped in situ with a range of dipolarophiles, such as 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and fumaronitrile. Aldehyde 1 showed very low reactivity but the azomethine ylide generated from the reaction of aldehyde 5 with N-methylglycine could be trapped with those dipolarophiles to afford new β-substituted octamethylcalix[4]pyrrole derivatives in moderate yields. The resulting cycloadducts show high affinity constants for fluoride and acetate anions; compounds 7 and 8 display sharp changes in color in the presence of these anions.     

New lipophilic 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonate iron(III) complexes: synthesis and EXAFS structural characterisation

New tris-iron(III) chelates of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone ligands derived from maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) or ethylmaltol (2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyrone), including a variety of N-aryl (phenyl, 4'-tolyl, 4'-(n-butyl)phenyl, 4'-(n-hexyl)phenyl) and N-benzyl (4'-methylbenzyl, 4'-fluorobenzyl and 4'-(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine) substituents on the nitrogen atom of the pyridinone ring, have been prepared. Characterization by C,H,N elemental analysis and thermogravimetric measurements indicates that most of the complexes are obtained as hydrates of general formula ML3.xH2O. Structural characterization of these difficult to crystallize lipophilic complexes has been achieved by EXAFS spectroscopy. Solutions of iron(III) complexes of maltol, ethylmaltol, 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone and 1-phenyl-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone in methanol-water mixtures were also examined by EXAFS. Distances from the central atom to ligand atoms, within 6 A of the metal, have been determined in the solid and solution samples and the results show that the structure observed in the powder is maintained in solution. The local structure around the metal centre, bond distances and bond angles, does not change significantly with variable lipophilicity, thus indicating that ligands may be tailored according to specific needs without altering their chelation properties. EXAFS data analysis for this set of tris-iron(III) compounds illustrates the important contribution of both intra-ligand and inter-ligand multiple scattering pathways through the metal centre to a peak observed in the FT spectrum at twice the metal ligand distance (approximately 4 A). The present results demonstrate that EXAFS features at twice the metal-ligand distance are valuable in the assignment of molecular geometry and that location of hydration water molecules, by EXAFS analysis, is limited by the geometry of the complexes, in particular for those in which ligands containing phenyl rings are present.     

Computer‐aided design of a novel ligand for retinoic acid receptor in cancer chemotherapy

The isotypes of RAR and RXR are retinoic acid and retinoid X acid receptors, respectively, whose ligand‐binding domain contains the ligand‐dependent activation function, with distinct pharmacological targets for retinoids, involved in the treatment of various cancers and skin diseases. Due to the major challenge which cancer treatment and cure still imposes after many decades to the international scientific community, there is actually considerable interest in new ligands with increased bioactivity. We have focused on the retinoid acid receptor, which is considered an interesting target for drug design. In this work, we carried out density functional geometry optimizations and different docking procedures. We performed screening in a large database (hundreds of thousands of molecules which we optimized at the AM1 level) yielding a set of potential bioactive ligands. A new ligand was selected and optimized at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level. A flexible docking program was used to investigate the interactions between the receptor and the new ligand. The result of this work is compared with several crystallographic ligands of RAR. Our theoretically more bioactive new ligand indicates stronger and more hydrogen bonds as well as hydrophobic interactions with the receptor. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Kinetic Modeling of Solvent-Free Lipase-Catalyzed Partial Hydrolysis of Palm Oil

This work reports the experimental data and kinetic modeling of diacylglycerol (DAG) production from palm oil using a commercial immobilized lipase (Lipozyme RM IM) in a solvent-free medium. The experiments were performed in batch mode, at 55?°C and 400?rpm, and the effects of enzyme concentration (0.68?C2.04?wt% related to the mass of substrates), initial water concentration (5?C15?wt% related to the mass of oil), and reaction time were evaluated. A novel kinetic model is presented based on the ordered-sequential bi?Cbi mechanism considering hydrolysis and esterification steps, in which a correlation between water-in-oil solubility and surfactant molecules concentration in the oil allowed the model to describe the induction period in the beginning of the hydrolysis reaction. Moreover, mass transfer limitations related to the enzyme concentration in the system were also taken into account. The proposed model presented a very satisfactory agreement with the experimental data, thus allowing a better understanding of the reaction kinetics. The best conditions obtained for the product (partially hydrolyzed palm oil) in terms of DAG yield (35.91?wt%) were 2.87?wt% enzyme/substrate, 2.10?wt% water/oil, and 72?h of reaction.     

Half‐lanthanocene/dialkylmagnesium‐mediated coordinative chain transfer copolymerization of styrene and hexene

The Cp*La(BH₄)₂(THF)₂/n‐butylethylmagnesium (BEM) catalytic system has been assessed for the coordinative chain transfer copolymerization of styrene and 1‐hexene. Poly(styrene‐co‐hexene) statistical copolymers were obtained with number‐average molecular weight up to 7600 g/mol, PDI around 1.4 and 1.5 and up to 23% hexene content. The occurence of chain transfer reactions in the presence of excess BEM is established in the course of the statistical copolymerization. Thanks to this transfer process, the quantity of 1‐hexene in the copolymer is increased by a factor of about 3 for high ratio of hexene in the feed, extending the range of our concept of a chain transfer induced control of the composition of statistical copolymers to poly(styrene‐co‐hexene) copolymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Isoprene–Styrene Chain Shuttling Copolymerization Mediated by a Lanthanide Half‐Sandwich Complex and a Lanthanidocene: Straightforward Access to a New Type of Thermoplastic Elastomers

A lanthanide half‐sandwich complex and a ansa lanthanidocene have been assessed for isoprene–styrene chain shuttling copolymerization with n‐butylethylmagnesium (BEM). In the presence of 1 equiv BEM, a fully amorphous multiblock microstructure of soft and hard segments is achieved. The microstructure consists of poly(isoprene‐co‐styrene) blocks, with hard blocks rich in styrene and soft blocks rich in isoprene. The composition of the blocks and the resulting glass transition temperatures (T_g) can be easily modified by changing the feed and/or the relative amount of the catalysts, highlighting a new class of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with tunable transition temperatures. The materials self‐organize into nanostructures in the solid state.     

Development,optimization and application of an analytical methodology by ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for determination of amanitins in urine and liver samples

Amanitins, highly toxic cyclopeptides isolated from various Amanita species, are the most potent poisons accounting for the hazardous effects on intestinal epithelium cells and hepatocytes, and probably the sole cause of fatal human poisoning.     

Correlations between the number of thiophene units and the photovoltaic behavior of fluorene–oligothiophene copolymers

The photophysical and photovoltaic properties of three alternated fluorene–thiophene copolymers were studied. With similar structure the copolymers differed by the numbers of thiophene units linked to each fluorene group:one, two and three. The electronic properties were analyzed through mobility measurements and the overall properties pointed out to the one containing the three rings as the best material, as anticipated, due to the larger number of thiophene units. However, after thermal annealing the polymer containing two thiophene rings presented the best photovoltaic efficiency, seven fold greater than the pristine material. The morphology, studied by atomic force microscopy, revealed to be one of the key factors for the performance of the materials as solar cells.