(−)-6-epi-Artemisinin,a Natural Stereoisomer of (+)-Artemisinin in the Opposite Enantiomeric Series,from the Endemic Madagascar Plant Saldinia proboscidea,an Atypical Source

Chemical and biological investigation of the Madagascar endemic plant Saldinia proboscidea led to the isolation of an isomer of artemisinin, (−)-6-epi-artemisinin (2). Its structure was elucidated using a combination of NMR and mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration was established by chemical syntheses of compound 2 as well as a new stereoisomer (3). The comparable bioactivities of artemisinin (1) and its isomer (−)-6-epi-artemisinin (2) revealed that this change in configuration was not critical to their biological properties. Bioactivity was assessed using an apoptosis induction assay, a SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor assay, and a haematin polymerization inhibitory activity (HPIA) assay. This is the first report of an artemisinin-related compound from a genus not belonging to Artemisia and it is the first isolation of an artemisinin-related natural product that is the opposite enantiomeric series relative to artemisinin from Artemisia annua.     

Liquid Crystalline Properties of Side-chain Polymers Bearing the Same Mesogenic Group

The synthesis and properties of a series of new ferroelectric liquid crystal side-chain polymers with the same mesogenic side group but different polymer backbones (polyacrylate, polymethacrylate and polysiloxanes) are described. The polymorphism is studied by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. All the monomers exhibit at least an S_A and a ferroelectric S*_C phase, as the polymethacrylate and the copolysiloxane. These two polymers and the polyacrylate exhibit also an S*_F phase. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of organometallic (organo‐transition metal) pharmaceuticals

This paper is aimed at introducing the organometallic chemist to the fascinating area of organometallic pharmaceuticals. It commences by identifying the properties of organometallic (transition metal) compounds that lend themselves to medical applications. Next, the specialized techniques and methods that are used to assess the medicinal properties of compounds are summarized, and although these techniques are not restricted to organometallic compounds, all examples are concerned with organometallic compounds. The design and evaluation of organometallic compounds for medicinal applications are described in context with the diseases they have been evaluated against, and areas are identified that may have most potential for organometallic pharmaceuticals. Some new results, including the first example of an organo‐osmium compound that might exhibit effective anticancer properties, are also described. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sequence and three-dimensional structure of cycloreticulins A and B, new cyclooctapeptides from the seeds of Annona reticulata

Two cyclooctapeptides, cycloreticulin A, cyclo(Pro¹-Gly²-Asp³-Ile⁴-Ser⁵-Ile⁶-Tyr⁷-Tyr⁸) (1) and cycloreticulin B, cyclo(Pro¹-Mso²-Tyr³-Gly⁴-Thr⁵-Val⁶-Ala⁷-Val⁸) (2), have been isolated from the methanol extract of the seeds of Annona reticulata L. The sequences were elucidated on the basis of the MS/MS fragmentation using a QTOF mass spectrometer equipped with an ESI source, chemical degradation and extensive 2D-NMR. The solid state conformation of cycloreticulin A, carried out by X-ray study, is characterised by the presence of two β-turns (types II and III) and an inversed γ-turn. Its solution structure appeared quite similar to the crystal one. The cyclic backbone solution structure of cycloreticulin B, close to that of the cyclooctapeptide squamin A, from which its sequence only differs by a Val⁸/Ile⁸ substitution, involves three β-turns, two of type I and one of type III, being similar to the crystal structure of squamin A.     

Amplified emission of phthalocyanine isolated in cryogenic matrices

Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of free-base (H(2)Pc) and zinc (ZnPc) phthalocyanines trapped in rare gas and nitrogen matrices reveals a quite unexpected phenomenon with a moderate increase in the laser intensity. In all matrices except Xe, a huge increase occurs in the intensity of an emission band near 755 nm when pumping the S(1) <-- S(0) transition. The band involves a vibrational mode of the ground state, located at 1550 and 1525 cm(-1) for H(2)Pc and ZnPc, respectively. Many of the characteristics of amplified emission (AE) are exhibited by this vibronic transition. Excitation scans recorded for the AE band yield greatly enhanced site selectivity compared to what is obtained in normal fluorescence excitation scans.     

Two-photon transitions in quadrupolar and branched chromophores: experiment and theory

A combined experimental and theoretical study is conducted on a series of model compounds in order to assess the combined role of branching and charge symmetry on absorption, photoluminescence, and two-photon absorption (TPA) properties. The main issue of this study is to examine how branching of quadrupolar chomophores can lead to different consequences as compared to branching of dipolar chromophores. Hence, three structurally related pi-conjugated quadrupolar chromophores symmetrically substituted with donor end groups and one branched structure built from the assembly of three quadrupolar branches via a common donor moiety are used as model compounds. Their photophysical properties are studied using UV-vis spectroscopy, and the TPA spectra are determined through two-photon excited fluorescence experiments using femtosecond pulses in the 500-1000 nm range. Experimental studies are complemented by theoretical calculations. The applied theoretical methodology is based on time-dependent density functional theory, the Frenkel exciton model, and analysis in terms of the natural transition orbitals of relevant electronic states. Theory reveals that a symmetrical intramolecular charge transfer from the terminal donating groups to the middle of the molecule takes place in all quadrupolar chromophores upon photoexcitation. In contrast, branching via a central electron-donating triphenylamine moiety breaks the quadrupolar symmetry of the branches. Consequently, all Frank-Condon excited states have significant asymmetric multidimensional charge-transfer character upon excitation. Subsequent vibrational relaxation of the branched chromophore in the excited state leads to a localization of the excitation and fluorescence stemming from a single branch. As opposed to what was earlier observed when dipolar chromophores are branched via the same common electron-donating moiety, we find only a slight enhancement of the maximum TPA response of the branched compound with respect to an additive contribution of its quadrupolar branches. In contrast, substantial modifications of the spectral shape are observed. This is attributed to the subtle interplay of interbranch electronic coupling and asymmetry caused by branching.     

The Synthesis and One‐ and Two‐Photon Optical Properties of Dipolar,Quadrupolar and Octupolar Donor–Acceptor Molecules Containing Dimesitylboryl Groups

Two series of related donor–acceptor conjugated dipolar, pseudo‐quadrupolar (V‐shaped) and octupolar molecular systems based on the p‐dimesitylborylphenylethynylaniline core, namely, 4‐(4‐dimesitylborylphenylethynyl)‐N,N‐dimethylaniline, 4‐[4‐(4‐dimesitylborylphenylethynyl)phenylethynyl]‐N,N‐dimethylaniline, 3,6‐bis(4‐dimesitylborylphenylethynyl)‐N‐n‐butylcarbazole and tris[4‐(4‐dimesitylborylphenylethynyl)phenyl]amine, and on the E‐p‐dimesitylborylethenylaniline motif, namely, E‐4‐dimesitylborylethenyl‐N,N‐di(4‐tolyl)aniline, 3,6‐bis(E‐dimesitylborylethenyl)‐N‐n‐butylcarbazole and tris(E‐4‐dimesitylborylethenylphenyl)amine have been synthesised by palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling and hydroboration routes, respectively. Their absorption and emission maxima, fluorescence lifetimes and quantum yields have been obtained and their two‐photon absorption (TPA) spectra and TPA cross‐sections have been examined. Of these systems, the octupolar compound tris(E‐4‐dimesitylborylethenylphenyl)amine has been shown to exhibit the largest TPA cross‐section among the two series of approximately 1000 GM at 740 nm. Its TPA performance is comparable to those of other triphenylamine‐based octupoles of similar size. The combination of such large TPA cross‐sections and high emission quantum yields, up to 0.94, make these systems attractive for applications involving two‐photon excited fluorescence (TPEF).     

Effects of addition of nitrogen on bioglass properties and structure

Bioglasses have been developed for use in surgery because of their ability to form a hydroxy-carbonate apatite (HCA) layer on their surface which facilitates bonding to natural bone. However, they do not have sufficient strength for use in load-bearing situations and therefore improving their mechanical properties would allow their use in more robust applications. The purpose of this work was to study the effects of nitrogen addition on the physical and mechanical properties and the structure of oxynitride bioglasses based on the system Na₂O–CaO–SiO₂–Si₃N₄. The density, glass transition temperature, hardness and elastic modulus were measured and observed to increase linearly with nitrogen content. These increases are consistent with the incorporation of N into the glass structure in three-fold coordination with silicon which results in extra cross-linking of the glass network. The characterization of these oxynitride bioglasses using solid state nuclear magnetic resonance ²⁹Si MAS NMR and infrared spectroscopy have shown firstly that all the N atoms are bonded to Si atoms and secondly that this increase in rigidity of the glass network can be explained by the formation of SiO₃N, SiO₂N₂ tetrahedra and Q⁴ units with extra bridging anions at the expense of Q³ units. The oxynitride bioglasses in simulated body fluid form a hydroxy-carbonate apatite (HCA) layer on their surfaces showing that bioactivity is retained.