Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of 3‐(Substituted arylmethyl)‐4‐acylaminomethyloxazolidin‐2‐ones and Derivatization to Symmetrical Twin‐Drug Type Molecules

In connection with our studies on antibacterial active compounds in the class of new oxazolidinones against Gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli) strains, some molecular modifications were attempted. In this study, molecular modifications of 4‐aminomethyloxazolidin‐2‐ones ( 3a ) to the corresponding 4‐acylaminomethyloxazolidin‐2‐one derivatives ( 3c–d ) and preparations of the represented twin‐drug type molecules ( 10–14 ) were investigated. Some additional 4‐dialkylaminomethyloxazolidin‐2‐ones ( 2 ) were also synthesized. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activity with Gram‐positive (S. aureus) and Gram‐negative (E. coli) strains.     

Syntheses and Properties of Graphyne Fragments: Trigonally Expanded Dehydrobenzo[12]annulenes

We present herein the synthesis and properties of the largest hitherto unknown graphyne fragment, namely trigonally expanded tetrakis(dehydrobenzo[12]annulene)s (tetrakis‐DBAs). Intramolecular three‐fold alkyne metathesis reactions of hexakis(arylethynyl)DBAs 9 a and 9 b using Fürstner’s Mo catalyst furnished tetrakis‐DBAs 8 a and 8 b substituted with tert‐butyl or branched alkyl ester groups in moderate and fair yields, respectively, demonstrating that the metathesis reaction of this protocol is a powerful tool for the construction of graphyne fragment backbones. For comparison, hexakis(arylethynyl)DBAs 9 c – g have also been prepared. The one‐photon absorption spectrum of tetrakis‐DBA 8 a bearing tert‐butyl groups revealed a remarkable bathochromic shift of the absorption cut‐off (λ_cutoff) compared with those of previously reported graphyne fragments due to extended π‐conjugation. Moreover, in the two‐photon absorption spectrum, 8 a showed a large cross‐section for a pure hydrocarbon because of the planar para‐phenylene‐ethynylene conjugation pathways. Hexakis(arylethynyl)‐DBAs 9 c – e and 9 g and tetrakis‐DBA 8 b bearing electron‐withdrawing groups aggregated in chloroform solutions. Comparison between the free energies of 9 e and 8 b bearing the same substituents revealed the more favorable association of the latter due to stronger π–π interactions between the extended π‐cores. Polarized optical microscopy observations, DSC, and XRD measurements showed that 8 b and 9 e with branched alkyl ester groups displayed columnar rectangular mesophases. By the time‐resolved microwave conductivity method, the columnar rectangular phase of 8 b was shown to exhibit a moderate charge‐carrier mobility of 0.12 cm² V^?1 s^?1. These results indicate that large graphyne fragments can serve as good organic semiconductors.     

Synthesis of cis-3-arylated cycloalkylamines through palladium-catalyzed methylene sp carbon–hydrogen bond activation

Methylene sp³ carbon–hydrogen bond activation of N-picolinoylcycloalkylamines provides a useful method for synthesizing cis-3-arylated cycloalkylamine derivatives. Pd(II) species catalyzed the γ-arylation of N-picolinoylcycloalkylamines with aryl iodides in the presence of silver carbonate to afford cis-3-arylated N-picolinoylalkylamines in up to 87% yield. Hydrolysis of the amide linkage to give the corresponding cis-3-arylated cycloalkylamines was also demonstrated.     

Synthesis and characterisation of p-diethylaminomethylthiacalix[4]arene for selective recovery of platinum from automotive catalyst residue

The ability of chloroform solutions of p-diethylaminomethylthiacalix[4]arene 1 to extract platinum from HCl media was tested. As an ion-pair extractant, compound 1 had the highest platinum extraction ability among all the thiacalix[n]arene derivatives tested in this study. Compound 1 was a highly specific extractant for Pt(IV) ions from single-metal solutions and platinum-group metal solutions from automotive catalyst residue. Various conditions such as contact time, pH, concentration of 1, effect of chloride ions, effect of acidity and Pt(IV) concentration were studied. The distribution ratio of platinum ions (D) was calculated. The platinum complex stoichiometry ratio was obtained using slope analysis. The 1–Pt(IV) complex was characterised using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-IR and ¹H NMR. Finally, the Pt(IV) extraction percentage of compound 1 was compared with that of previously reported thiacalix[n]arene-based extractants.     

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)–hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) based hydrogels: synthesis and characterization

A novel carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)–hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC)-based hydrogel with sensitivity to environmental changes, pH and salts was synthesized by using fumaric acid and malic acid at various concentrations. Water uptake capacity of hydrogels was investigated in distilled water, various salt and pH solutions. From pH-dependent studies, it was found that greater water uptake values were observed at greater pH values (7.4), and reversible pH responsiveness of CMC–HEC based hydrogels was obtained. Decreasing the water uptake capacity with increasing of the charge of the metal cation (Al³⁺ < Ca²⁺ < Na⁺) demonstrated metal ion responsiveness of CMC–HEC-based hydrogels. From tensile tests of the hydrogels, a greater crosslinker concentration led to greater tensile strength values. Thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy images were used to determine the thermal stability and to observe morphological properties of the samples, respectively.     

Serine‐Selective Aerobic Cleavage of Peptides and a Protein Using a Water‐Soluble Copper–Organoradical Conjugate

The site‐specific cleavage of peptide bonds is an important chemical modification of biologically relevant macromolecules. The reaction is not only used for routine structural determination of peptides, but is also a potential artificial modulator of protein function. Realizing the substrate scope beyond the conventional chemical or enzymatic cleavage of peptide bonds is, however, a formidable challenge. Here we report a serine‐selective peptide‐cleavage protocol that proceeds at room temperature and near neutral pH value, through mild aerobic oxidation promoted by a water‐soluble copper–organoradical conjugate. The method is applicable to the site‐selective cleavage of polypeptides that possess various functional groups. Peptides comprising D ‐amino acids or sensitive disulfide pairs are competent substrates. The system is extendable to the site‐selective cleavage of a native protein, ubiquitin, which comprises more than 70 amino acid residues.     

Photoluminescent Ferroelastic Molecular Crystals

Ferroelasticity has been reported for several types of molecular crystals, which show mechanical‐stress‐induced shape change under twinning and/or spontaneous formation of strain. Aiming to create materials that exhibit both ferroelasticity and light‐emission characteristics, we discovered the first examples of ferroelastic luminescent organometallic crystals. Crystals of arylgold(I)(N‐heterocyclic carbene)(NHC) complexes bend upon exposure to anisotropic mechanical stress. X‐ray diffraction analyses and stress‐strain measurements on these ferroelastic crystals confirmed typical ferroelastic behavior, mechanical twinning, and the spontaneous build‐up of strain. A comparison with single‐crystal structures of related gold‐NHC complexes that do not show ferroelasticity shed light on the structural origins of the ferroelastic behavior.